Format and Grading Criteria for the
Research Proposal
- The Research Proposal is is comprised of the following sections:
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- Introduction -
- The introduction outlines the background of the problem area you are going to study.
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- Statement of the Problem -
- This is precise statement of the problem to be studied. It should follow directly from the introduction. (Do NOT state the purpose of the study here.)
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- Purpose of the Study -
- This section identifies the purpose of the study.
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- Significance of the Study -
- This section is a discussion of why this study and its potential findings are important to society or a particular discipline.
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- Limitations of the Study -
- This section delimits the scope of the research to its narrowest concerns. It describes the limitations to generalizability of findings and/or limitations on the validity of the results of the study.
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- Methodology -
- The design of the research, the sample to be used, the method of obtaining data, the types of data to be collected, and the kinds of statistical analyses to be used on the data are explained in this section.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- The topic must be a relevant one for the course of study in which you are enrolled.
- Use the American Psychological Association (APA) STYLE conventions for footnoting, referencing, etc.
- You must write in the THIRD PERSON SINGULAR.
- Your proposal must be written in the FUTURE TENSE. Remember, this is a description of what you will do, not what you have done. The only things that should be written in past tense are any findings or other information you cite from previous research.
- Have someone PROOFREAD your paper for errors.
- The paper must be NEATLY TYPED and free of grammatical, spelling, structural and typographical errors.
- The paper is NOT RETURNABLE, so make a copy to keep.
- Select a topic that is of interest to you, so if later you find you need to accomplish a thesis or dissertation, you will have begun the "groundwork" on an interesting study.
GRADING CRITERIA
Chapter 1 of your Research Proposal will be graded according to the following point distribution. There is a possible total of
20 points for this assignment. Grading is based on the elements laid out in the center section of the table below. NOTE: Only the areas listed below will be graded.
| Introduction | Background leading up to (or setting the stage for) the problem statement. | up |
Problem
Statement | A concise statement of the problem you will be researching. Note: the problem must be RESEARCHABLE (not all problems are). | to |
| Purpose | A concise and precise statement of what your research will attempt to do. |
10 |
Significance
of the Study | Why is this study important? Why is it necessary? This is the "so what" section. | points |
| |
| Limitations | Limits to generalizability of findings, unresolved weaknesses in the study, etc. | up to |
| Methodology | Is the research design described in detail? How will the study be conducted? Method of obtaining data? How will data be analyzed? |
10 points |
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Points will be deducted if you have numerous grammatical, spelling, structural, and typographical errors.
- Any evidence of plagiarism will necessitate an immediate failing grade
(zero points) for this written assignment. To avoid the possibility of plagiarizing, be sure to cite references (use APA STYLE) for any direct quotations or paraphrases from other sources.
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