Methods of Research

Projects

Mid-Term Project

A mid-term project is a report composed of (minimum 1500 words) the first section (Problem Statement) of the final project and a draft (minimum 1500 words) of a Review of the Literature section and a draft of the corresponding Bibliography (with at least the minimum number of citations and references in APA format as described below).

As a model for the structure of the Problem Statement section, view a Sample of a Problem Statement from a published dissertation (Faculty Use of Network Communications as a Medium for Scholarly Work © 1998 by Paul David Henry).

Headings and content for the Problem Statement section:

Problem Statement (Section Heading)

Introduction - Characterize and justify (with at least two citations of articles, books, speeches, etc. from authoritative sources) the problem area of the proposed study and its importance (within which your proposed research problem is situated). Short quoted excerpts and statistics can also be used if available.
Objectives of the Study - Characterize and justify (with citations as needed) the purpose and objectives (min. of two objectives) of the study as knowledge to be gained about the problem.
The Problem - Characterize and justify (with least two citations of research articles from peer-reviewed scholarly journals) the main research problem and its related sub-problems.
Significance of the Study - Characterize and justify (with citations as needed) the possible benefits of the (results of the) study in terms of added general understanding of the problem, as an impetus and guide for further research of some aspect of the problem, and as a source of empirical knowledge for possible application by two or more classes of practitioners related to the research problem (describing who might apply it and how they might apply it) such as teachers, administrators, counselors, therapists, etc.
Definitions - (optional) Identify and briefly define any important terms that the readers of the proposal may not understand, especially insomuch as these definitions are pertinent or unique to your proposed study.

As a model for the structure and format of a literature review for a research proposal, read the section: Review of the Literature from a published dissertation (Faculty Use of Network Communications as a Medium for Scholarly Work © 1998 by Paul David Henry). Note how the review briefly summarizes the results of empirical research (published in peer-reviewed, scholarly journals) which support your formulation of related subproblems and their conceptualization in your study.

Final Project

The final project is composed of a research proposal report and a presentation that describes a field study which initially tests the proposed empirical research method. The method (of data collection and analysis) chosen can be either a quantitative survey or a qualitative case study. These methods are typically used in business applications.

The report should be in the form of a research proposal that provides a basic systematic description of the proposed study. It should be composed of 5 main headings which include (listed below along with their minimum word count):

Problem Statement (minimum 1500 words)
Conceptual Framework (minimum 1500 words)
Review of Related Literature (minimum 1500 words)
Method (minimum 1000 words)
Bibliography

Note: For the final report submission, The Problem Statement, Review of Literature, and Bibliography are submitted as refinements to the drafts previously submitted as the mid-term project. The Conceptual (or Theoretical) Framework and the Method sections are submitted as first review drafts (on the final report).

This report is due at the end of the course.

As models for the structure of the Conceptual Framework and Method sections, view the Sample of a Conceptual Framework and Sample of a Method sections from a published dissertation (Faculty Use of Network Communications as a Medium for Scholarly Work © 1998 by Paul David Henry).

Headings and content for the Conceptual Framework section:

Conceptual Framework (Section Heading)

The Conceptual Model - Briefly describe (with text followed by diagram) the important concepts (master variables) and their relationship. Also describe (and list in diagram) the important specific variables that are characteristics (properties) of these master variables - especially those that map from the conceptual to operational (i.e., can be used as measure). (Note: If you are planning a primarily qualitative study, include a description of what is conceptually bounded - inside and outside - by the scope of your proposed study).
Research Questions - List (min. of two) questions (as interrogative statements) that you plan to address in the proposed study to find out more about the research problem. And also, state two research questions, each of which addresses a univariate measure (i.e., how much, how often, to what extent, etc.) of one of the specific variables (under IV or DV).
Hypotheses - List (min. of two) hypotheses (as predictive declarations) that you plan to test in your proposed study (Note: If you are planning a primarily qualitative study, include those conceptual formulations that you will be initially guided by). State two hypotheses that predict a change in the bi-variate relationship (with magnitude and direction) between the independent and dependent (specific) variables (e.g., the more of IV, the less of DV, or the less of IV, the more of DV, or the more of IV, the more of DV, or the less of IV, the less of DV).
Rationale - Describe (and support with relevant citations) why your conceptual framework, research questions, and hypotheses are conceived as they are.

Headings and content for the Method section:

Method (Section Heading)

Justification for Method - Brief discussion of why the proposed design and type of data collection and analysis (quantitative and/or qualitative) was chosen with respect to subjects, settings, and other elements of the problem and its conceptualization.
- Selection of Setting - Characterize and justify selection and use of setting(s) for data collection.
- Selection of Subjects - Characterize and justify selection and use of sampling frame and sampling/selection of subjects/cases.
Instrumentation - Describe and justify type(s) of instruments and/or related tools, personnel, and techniques for data collection.
Field Study - Summarize results of field study (as conducted for this course) and its relevance to a refinement of certain aspects of your proposal.
Operationalization of Variables - Describe how you plan to operationalize the major concepts of your conceptual framework as specific variables in your data collection.
Data Collection Procedures - Describe and justify (with least one citations from a research article or scholarly book describing this method) with relevant citations your proposed data collection procedures with respect to your chosen design (quantitative and/or qualitative) and for your problem, setting, and subjects/cases.
- Protection of Human Subjects' Rights - Describe the proposed procedure for the corresponding source and method of "informed consent" approval. As there may be no Human Subjects Committee and/or Human Subjects Policy (per se) at your proposed site, you should specify the corresponding source and method of approval, e.g., formal approval by administrators at the proposed site, and/or consent forms that may be needed for some of your subjects who are (by age) legal minors, etc.
Data Processing - Describe and justify (with least one citations from a research article or scholarly book describing this method) your proposed data preparation (post-collection verifying, validating, and coding) procedures, including the use of computer software.
Data Analysis - Describe and justify (with least one citations from a research article or scholarly book describing this method) your proposed data analysis procedures. If a qualitative method is used, this would include the means of comparing subject responses and identifying themes for emergent theorizing. If a quantitative method is used, it would include indicating the appropriate type of statistical test(s) for each of your research questions and hypotheses.

Project Presentation

The project presentation will consist of a visual presentation (i.e., created in PowerPoint or similar software) that summarizes the results of an ethnographic (qualitative) field study of subjects (minimum of 3) and/or other types of cases (documents, etc.) that are similar to those units of analysis in the proposed empirical study.

This presentation should briefly describe how observations (over a short period, minimum of an hour) and collected, interactional data (responses to several interview questions and/or brief questionnaire) have provided a better understanding of one or more aspects of the proposed study (related to the problem, conceptual framework, and/or method).

The summary of field study findings should take the following form:

(Your) Name
Date of Field study
Brief description of setting
Brief description of subjects - You should generalize these descriptions to make them confidential as needed (i.e., using pseudonyms such as subject 1, etc.).
Summary description of collected data - focusing on the categories and related summary data of phenomena that emerged during your field study that relate to the problem and/or conceptual framework of your proposed study.