Assessment 2: Written research proposal
Worth 45% of final grade
Complete your answers in this assignment template
Name: xxxxxxx
Student ID: xxxxxxx
Title: xxxxxxx
Exact word count (exc. cover sheets and reference list; max. 2,000 words): x,xxx
Please specify the research methodology are you proposing to use:
☐ Quantitative ☐ Qualitative
1. If you are proposing to do a quantitative study, what is your research hypothesis and is it directional or non-directional, and what are the independent variable/s, dependent variable/s, and main confounding variable/s?
(6 MARKS)
2. If you are proposing to do a qualitative study, what is your research question, and what are the other main variable/s or phenomena of interest that would also need to be considered?
(6 MARKS)
3. Provide a brief literature review, (i) identifying which databases, search terms, keywords, and other criteria you used to find the relevant literature, and (ii) justifying the logic and significance of your hypothesis or research question.
(14 MARKS)
4. If you are proposing to do a quantitative study, which of the following designs – (i) classic experiment, (ii) quasi-experiment, (iii) descriptive study, (iv) correlational study, and (v) comparative study – would you use, and why are they the best fit your hypothesis?
(10 MARKS)
5. If you are proposing to do a qualitative study, which of the following designs – (i) phenomenology, (ii) grounded theory, (iii) ethnography, and (iv) historical analysis – would you use, and why are they the best fit your research question? Identify 1 or 2 theoretical frameworks that you could use to help interpret your study’s findings and explain why they are relevant.
(10 MARKS)
6. If you are proposing to do a quantitative study, which of the following threats to validity – (i) selection bias, (ii) testing, (iii) instrumentation, (iv) history, (v) maturation, (vi) mortality/attrition, and (vii) reactivity – are relevant, and how will you address/acknowledge them?
(10 MARKS)
7. If you are proposing to do a qualitative study, which of the following checks on confirmability – (i) credibility, (ii) auditability, and (iii) transferability – would you use, and how would they be implemented?
(10 MARKS)
8. What is your target sample size, and inclusion/exclusion criteria, to help ensure sample representativeness?
(10 MARKS)
9. Which of the following sampling techniques – (i) simple random, (ii) stratified random, (iii) multistage (cluster), (iv) systematic, (v) accidental (convenience), (vi) purposive (judgmental), (vii) quota, and (viii) snowball – would you use, and why are they the best fit your hypothesis or research question?
(10 MARKS)
10. Which of the following data collection methods – (i) questionnaires, (ii) interviews, (iii) surveys, (iv) focus groups, (v) participant observation, (vi) field observation, (vii) secondary analysis (available data/written records), (viii) video recording, and (ix) physiological measures – would you use, and why are they the best fit your hypothesis or research question?
(10 MARKS)
References
