Detailed Description of Each Section of the Prospectus
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION (Developed in 3500 and Advanced Research Methods Course)
Students work on Section 1: Introduction in RES3500 and the Advanced Research Methods courses. If you are enrolled in RES3500, Section 1: Introduction will be approximately 3-5 pages. If you are enrolled in an Advanced Research Methods course, expect this section to be 5-8 pages.
In this section, you address each of the items listed below (as appropriate for the research method you plan to use for your study). This section will be included in your key assignment for both RES 3500 and your Advanced Research Method course. You must use the Saybrook Handbook of Format and Style (2020), Sixth Edition, and APA style for writing mechanics, organization, and formatting.
Introduction to the Topic
The introduction explains your interest in the topic of the study and why it is important.
Include an advance organizer paragraph foreshadowing this section’s material and the stated order.
Problem Statement
The problem statement articulates the problem to be addressed in your study in one sentence.
Provide a general explanation/overview of the problem or issue and an argument for doing this study.
What makes it a problem? For whom? Who says so? (Cite sources)
Why is the problem or issue important to your field of study? What studies or practical circumstances confirm that it is a real problem?
Purpose Statement
The purpose statement articulates the purpose of the study by addressing the problem in one sentence.
Provide a purpose statement that describes the study’s goal and mirrors the problem’s statement.
Research Question(s)
The research question presents the problem statement as a question.
Provide your research question(s) based on the problem or issue.
What are your tentative hypotheses if your study is quantitative or mixed methods?
Research Method
The research method is the specific method you will use to collect and analyze data to answer the research question and, in turn, address the problem.
Identify the selected research method to best answer the research question(s).
Feasibility
Feasibility describes if the study can be achieved practically within your dissertation research.
Identify the resources needed to conduct the study. Do you have the resources and ability to conduct the proposed study? Describe these resources and processes.
Significance of the Study
The significance of the study describes specific contributions your study may make to your field, impacted individuals or communities, and advancement of the scholarship about your topic.
Describe how your study may make to your field, its impact on individuals or communities, and the advancement of the scholarship about your topic.
Summary
Summarize the introduction and foreshadow the literature review.
SECTION 2: LITERATURE REVIEW (completed in 3500)
In this section, you will write 10-15 pages that address each of the items listed below (as appropriate for the research method you plan to use for your study). This section will be included in your key assignment for RES 3500. You must use the Saybrook Handbook of Format and Style (2020), Sixth Edition, and APA style for writing mechanics, organization, and formatting.
Background of the Problem
The background of the problem should present current evidence-based peer-reviewed research demonstrating that your problem is a problem that needs to be addressed by your proposed study. If your problem is framed as a lack of knowledge or a gap in the literature, you must describe and cite the literature that HAS been done about your topic to demonstrate the need for your study.
Provide a written review of current empirical research (quantitative and qualitative) regarding the problem statement establishing knowledge of extant literature and rationale for the need for your study.
Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
Provide a written conceptual or theoretical framework describing and justifying your approach to the research as situated within the theoretical literature in your field. Make sure to cite theory, key figures, and/or practitioner-based approaches to the concepts framing your topic.
Methodological Literature
The methodological framework describes how the problem has been researched to present a rationale for your method of choice. The methodological literature review may indicate precedent for your method, suggesting that if the topic has been explored using the method, you also argue for using it. Or the methodological literature review may demonstrate the absence of a particular methodological approach to the problem, therefore establishing a rationale for the need for your approach.
Write a synthesis of the strengths or gaps in the methodologies used to study your problem/topic.
Summary
Summarize the section and key findings. Foreshadow the next section.
SECTION 3: METHODOLOGY (to be completed in Advanced Research Methods Course)
Section 3 will be completed in your Advanced Research Methods course. In this section, you will write 8-12 pages addressing each listed item below (as appropriate for the research method you plan to use for your study). You must use the Saybrook Handbook of Format and Style (2020), Sixth Edition, and APA style for writing mechanics, organization, and formatting.
Problem and Purpose Statement
Restate the problem and purpose statement from the introduction section.
Research Question(s)
Provide your research question(s) based on the problem or issue.
What are your tentative hypotheses if your study is quantitative or mixed methods?
Research Method
Provide a brief historical background of the development of the research method in social or natural sciences, including citations and key figures, instruments, or landmark publications noted and cited.
Provide a rationale for using the research method based on extant methodological literature.
Population and Sampling Method
Describe the setting, population, and sample of potential participants for your proposed study. Include the approximate size(s) of the group(s) and indicate the inclusion and exclusion criteria you use to define and select your sample.
Identify if your participants in this research project are considered “vulnerable.” Explain what makes these participants “vulnerable.” What will you do to mitigate any risks associated with the vulnerability of this group?
Specifically, outline how you will recruit participants for your study. What materials will be used to conduct the recruitment?
Identify if you need any permissions to access and recruit these individuals. Why or why not?
Identify if you have personal or professional relationships with these individuals. If so, describe the relationship and address whether this relationship might influence one’s decision to participate in your study. How will you mitigate this risk?
Address issues related to feasibility regarding your population and sampling. What will you do if you cannot obtain permission to access and recruit these individuals for research? In other words, what is your backup plan?
Instrumentation
Separately describe the instruments needed to collect your data (i.e., surveys, interview questionnaires, observation protocols, and so forth).
Describe if permission is needed to use any of the instruments in your study. If so, how do you intend to obtain permission?
Data Collection
Separately address quantitative and qualitative data collection for each of the following elements.
Describe what data collection technique(s) you will use to collect data to address the research question.
If your data already exists (archived data), describe what permissions are needed to access this data for research purposes.
Describe where you will collect your data (i.e., Where will the interviews, observations, or surveys occur?). Do you need to implement strategies to promote the confidentiality of participants during data collection? If so, describe these plans.
Describe the procedures you will use to collect your data. Cite methodological precedence.
Describe the ethical considerations regarding the type(s) of data you want to collect, including informed consent or site permissions. If your data includes individual identifiers, describe when the identifiers will be removed and destroyed to protect confidentiality.
Explain if your data will be collected and maintained as hard copies or as electronic files. Do your data management plans adequately describe how this data will be secured?
Data Analysis Procedures
Separately address quantitative and qualitative forms of data analyses for each of the processes.
Describe the step-by-step processes of analyzing data for the results according to design. Cite methodological thought leaders, key publications, and methodological precedence in the topic area.
Rigor
Account for standards of rigor aligned with the research design and verification methods you might use to promote trustworthiness, credibility, and reliability (where appropriate). Cite methodological precedence.
Ethical Issues in the Proposed Study
Describe limitations that might be present.
Describe what ethical considerations will be made to manage researcher bias that aligns with your method.
Describe other feasibility concerns not already addressed.
Summary/Conclusion
Summarize the section.
REFERENCES
Include your reference for all sections using APA 7 style and formatting.
Detailed Description of Research Prospectus revised June 2023
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