1. Elke Johanna de Buhr, PhD Tulane University
Designing Research
Elke Johanna de Buhr, PhD
Tulane University

2. Textbook Chapters Creswell, Chapter 3, 4, 6 and 7
Salkind, Chapter 2 and 13

3. Your Research Proposal
I. Introduction
A. Problem/purpose statement
B. Research question(s)
C. Hypothesis
D. Definitions of terms
II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better)
A. Importance of the question being asked
B. Current status of the topic
C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement 
III. Method
A. Target population
B. Research design and sampling
C. Data collection plans
D. Proposed analysis of the data
IV. Implications and limitations 

4. Research Proposal: Part I
I. Introduction
A. Problem/purpose statement
B. Research question(s)
C. Hypothesis (if any)
D. Definitions of terms

5. Research Proposal: Part II
II. Review of the relevant literature (the more complete, the better)
A. Importance of the question being asked
B. Current status of the topic
C. Relationship between the literature and the problem statement 

6. Research Proposal: Part III
III. Method
A. Target population
B. Research design and sampling
C. Data collection plans
D. Proposed analysis of the data

7. Research Proposal: Part IV
IV. Implications and limitations (Section discussing generalizability, reliability and validity of the collected data.)

8. How to Start You start with an idea… Relevant? Feasible? Ethical?
Based on knowledge
Based on experience
Relevant?
Feasible?
Ethical?
Original?

9. Refining Your Idea Review of the literature Scope of the research?
Regional focus?
Thematic focus?
Types of data collection?

10. Part 1: Problem/Purpose Statement
Problem statement:
Describes the problem or issue leading to the need for the study
Purpose statement:
Establishes the intent of the study
Qualitative vs. quantitative purpose statements (see Creswell, pp )

11. Example: Case Study
Creswell

12. Example: Experimental Study
Creswell

13. Example: Mixed Methods Study
Creswell

14. Part 2: Research Questions
Questions that the research will attempt to answer
Methodology needs to enable you to answer these questions
Often one (broad) central question, followed by sub-questions
Qualitative vs. quantitative research questions (see Creswell, pp )

15. Example: Case Study
Creswell

16. Example: Mixed Methods Study
Creswell

17. Part 3: Hypotheses Research questions vs. hypotheses:
Quantitative research questions inquire about the relationships among variables that the investigator seeks to know
Quantitative hypotheses are predictions the researcher makes about the expected relationships among variables
Null hypotheses vs. directional/non-directional hypotheses (see Creswell, pp )

18. Example: Null Hypotheses
Creswell

19. Example: Directional/Non-Directional Hypotheses
Creswell

20. Standard Use of Language in Hypotheses
Creswell

21. Dependent vs. Independent Variables
Dependent (outcome) variables
Results of the influence of independent variables
In experiments, they are examined as the outcome of an intervention
Independent (predictor) variables
(Probable) cause, influence or affect the outcome
In experiments, they are manipulated or changed to examine their effects on the dependent variables

22. Part 4: Definition of Terms
All key terms need to be clearly defined
Critical concepts need to be operationalized
Review the literature for standard definitions and established ways of measurement

23. Writing a Research Proposal

24. Writing the Proposal
What are the major points that will be addressed in the proposal?
How will these major points convey a coherent study?
What are the core arguments to be advanced in the proposal?
Creswell

25. 9 questions one should ask when writing a research proposal:
What do readers need to better understand the topic?
What do readers need to know about the topic?
What do you propose to study?
What is the setting, and who are the people you will study?
What methods do you plan to use to collect data?
How will you analyze the data?
How will you validate the findings?
What ethical issues will your study present?
What do preliminary results show about the practicability and value of the proposed study?
Creswell

26. Designing the Sections of a Proposal
Specify the sections early in the design of a proposal
Find proposals that other students have authored under your advisor and look at them closely
Determine whether your program or institution offers a course on proposal development or some similar topic
Sit down with your advisor, and go over his or her preferred format for a proposal
Creswell

27. Writing Ideas Read widely fiction and nonfiction Read good literature
Always think about how the ideas writers share in their works might be applied in writing good research
Creswell

28. Writing as Thinking
Write ideas down early in the process rather than talking about them
Work through several drafts of a proposal rather than trying to polish the first draft
Do not edit at the early-draft stage
Start with an outline
Write a draft and shift and sort ideas
Finally, edit and polish each sentence
Creswell

29. The Habit of Writing Make writing a daily activity
Chart your daily activities in one-hour blocks so you can identify possible writing time
Write while you are fresh
Avoid writing in binges
Write in small regular amounts
Schedule writing to allow for work on specific manageable chunks
Keep a daily chart, account for a) time spent writing, b) page equivalents finished, and c) percentage of planned task completed
Plan beyond daily goals
Share your writing with supportive, constructive peers before going public
Try to work on two or three writing projects concurrently so that you do not become overloaded with any one
Creswell

30. The Habit of Writing (cont.)
The following are suggested exercises that may improve one’s writing:
Describe an object by its parts and dimensions
Write a conversation between two people
Write a set of directions for a complicated task
Take a subject and write about it three different ways
Choose a physical location for writing that is not a distraction
Creswell

31. Readability of the Manuscript
Before writing, consider how you will enhance its readability for the audience:
Use consistent terms throughout the proposal
Consider how narrative thoughts of different types guide the reader:
Umbrella thoughts: General or core ideas
Big thoughts in writing: Specific ideas
Little thoughts: Reinforcing ideas
Attention or interest thoughts: Meant to keep the reader on track, organize ideas
Use coherence to add to the readability of the manuscript: Connect sentences and paragraphs in the manuscript
See Example 4.5
Creswell

32. Voice, Tense, and “Fat”
Keep the essential words and delete the passive voice
Scale down qualifiers, eliminate overused phrases
Reduce excessive quotations, use of italics, and parenthetical comments
Use the active voice as much as possible, if the subject acts, the voice is active
Use strong active verbs
Pay close attention to the tense of your verbs, use the present tense to add vigor to the study
Expect to edit and revise drafts of a manuscript to trim fat, this process typically consists of writing, reviewing, and editing
Creswell

33. Judging a Research Proposal

34. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal
Salkind

35. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal (cont.)
Salkind

36. Criteria for Judging a Research Proposal (cont.)
Salkind

37. Group Discussion Initial research ideas
Quantitative vs. qualitative research proposals
Primary vs. secondary data
Use of theory
Review of the available evidence
Other questions/concerns