Moving Forward with Your Research Proposal

January 23, 2006

Today’s Schedule

• 3:00 - 3:40PM Summary and discussion of Lowenthal paper (led by Dr. Wright)

• 3:40 - 4:15PM Developing a hypothesis and Elements of the proposal (by Dr. Nolin)

• 4:15 - 4:45PM Students write their research hypothesis and brief explanation

• 4:45 - 5:20PM Students break into groups and critique each others' work

Discussion of Lowenthal paper…

Outline

• Developing a testable and tractable hypothesis

• Elements of a proposal

• Developing a detailed proposal outline

• Scientific writing style

What is a good idea?1. Innovative, major advances in the field

• exciting new method• new way of looking at old problem• novel application of existing methods in a new

field or region

2. Certain, feasible, incremental additions to existing base of knowledge

3. Combining research efforts usually kept separate

What makes a good idea a good research topic?

• Scientifically interesting to geographers• Important to non-scientists• Feasible (in terms of available resources)• Have clear objectives:

– Specific– Measurable– At least one objective should involve obtaining an

answer to a scientific question or falsifying a hypothesis

• Should have the enthusiastic support of your research advisor

Clear objectives

Important - needs to matter to

others

Feasible

Personal factors in

place

Interesting - scientifically and to you

Well-planned

What is a hypothesis?

• A hypothesis is a provisional concept that, after careful evaluation is either accepted or rejected– It should be falsifiable based on

observations– If it is confirmed by observations, that does

not mean that it has been proven

Conjecture vs. Hypothesis

• Conjecture is a statement that cannot be proved or disproved

• A conjecture is frequently misconstrued as a hypothesis

• Example of a conjecture:

“God is male”

The Research Proposal

Should try to answer the following basic questions:–What (research problem are you proposing

to answer)?–Why (are these research problems

significant)?– How (do you propose to answer these

problems)?

Elements of a Proposal• Title• Abstract• Purpose/Significance and Research

Objectives• Relevant Background Information• Methods• Timetable• Budget (where appropriate)• References• Figures and Tables

Title

• Should be as short as possible but convey a sense of what the proposal involves

• Use an “action title”

• Make first word significant if possible

• Strong, precise words

Abstract

• Concise summary of the proposal in less than 250 words (1 page)

Purpose/Significance and Research Objectives

• Spell out the geographic problem you are addressing

• State the objectives (list form)

• Describe the significance of the proposed research

• Be specific

Relevant Background Information

• Provide specific data and theories from previous studies that are relevant to understanding your research problem

• What were their strengths and limitations?• Convey the pertinent geographic information

with appropriate and thorough literature references

• Relate to your objectives

Methods

• State and describe specific methods• Provide sufficient detail that the reader

can understand the method• Avoid jargon!• If equipment and facilities are not

readily available in the Dept. of Geosciences, state your plans to obtain access elsewhere

Timetable

• Provide a tentative schedule in tabular form– Completion of classes– Field studies– Laboratory work– Preparation of thesis (plan for at least one

term!)

Budget• If funding for expenses is needed then a

budget should be included:– Field work– Laboratory analyses– Special software, etc.

• Prepare itemized list

• Outline your plans for funding

References

• List all the references cited in text by alphabetical order of first author

• Follow the format of a major geography journal

Figures and Tables

Examples: map of study area, table of instrument characteristics.

• They must be legible and of excellent quality

• Should be original if at all possible

• Figure captions appear below the figure

• Table captions appear above the figure

Writing your Proposal Outline

• Use section headings that convey information

• Provide sufficient detail

• You should have at least ten headings in your outline

Interrelation of landscape and climate controls on streamflow in the Oregon Cascades

1. Streamflow patterns in the Oregon Cascades2. Two types of landscape controls:

a) Geologyb) Vegetation

3. Snow vs. Rain and their contributions to streamflow4. Climate warming will reduce low flows and increase

peak flows in the Cascadesa) Shift from snow- to rain-dominated precipitationb) Increase in fire frequency will change land coverc) Basalt permeability will mitigate effects in the high

Cascades

5. A new coupled climate-hydrology-ecosystem model6. Noble gas measurements establish temperature

and elevation of groundwater recharge zone

Scientific Writing Tips• Think of your audience -- who are they and

what do they want to know?• Language:

– Mechanics -- grammar, spelling– Precise– Clear– Familiar

• Style should be interesting and forthright• Structure:

– Clear outline– Linear– Common threads– Concise

The Writing CenterWriting assistants are available to help with

brainstorming, organization, grammar and usage, and all aspects of writing

Online writing lab for assessment of writing problems (24-48 hour turnaround)

Waldo 123

http://cwl.oregonstate.edu/

737-5640

Academic Success CenterThey will help you with

Goal settingStudy skillsListening habitsTime managementWellness

101 Waldo Hallhttp://success.oregonstate.edu/737-2272