research proposal writing

Achieving ‘EDUHK’ inResearch Proposal Development Mark Raygan E. Garcia

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Leveling Of Expectations

Why are you here?

MOTIVATION

FEARS

Getting Down to Business1 of 2

What is a ‘research proposal’? RESEARCH a scientific process of inquiry or investigation that elevates knowledge; product of a research proposal

PROPOSAL a recommendation seeking consideration or approval from a second party on ‘what is to be done and how to do it’

What is a ‘research proposal’? RESEARCH PROPOSAL a document that outlines:

(1) what the proposed research is about(2) what it is trying to find out or achieve(3) how it will go about doing that(4) what we will learn from it and why that is worth learning

Why develop a ‘research proposal’? • Captures “what we want to find out” and “how we

are going to do it” • Strengthens the study and its relevance,

addressing potential inconsistencies or duplication

• Achieves structure, direction and efficiency• Facilitates collective understanding of research

goals• Increases chances at funding and broader

acceptability

‘4Ps’ View of Research Proposal(Punch, K. [2000])

PHASE crucial first phase that launches the research project

PROCESS involves the critical processes of planning, designing and setting up the research, including contextualization and literature support

PRODUCT a product of study in itself presented as a document for approval before proceeding with the research project

PLAN outlines the proposed plan for the execution of the research

‘EDUHK’ Qualities of a Research Proposal

Engaging DirectiveUniqueHolistic Keen


Engaging • sparks active curiosity• establishes connection• builds shared ownership

“This research seeks to assess the correlation between the number of recorded interracial marriages in communities X and Y on revenues generated from tourism.”


Directive • outlines implementation • sets limitations and

parameters• provides theoretical

grounding

“While more dynamism could be achieved if viewed from the perspective of same-sex marriage, this research will be limited to interracial marriages between biologically opposite sexes.”


Unique • offers ‘new’ knowledge • avoids duplication or

overlapping data • builds on and expands

breadth of current literature

“Interracial marriages are commonly viewed from a sociological and socio-cultural perspective. Instead of understanding them through the same lenses, this study focuses more on their socio-economic relevance— how the same draw in more tourists and impact on income opportunities.”


Holistic • covers all aspects of

research work • clearly identifies value and

relevance • aims for larger continuing

benefit

“The study argues that when people realize the tangible benefits of cultural sensitivity from interracial marriages, they naturally build inclusive communities.”


Keen • projects credibility • underline familiarity with

procedures • reinforce passion and

commitment

“Mixed method will be used in undertaking this research. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches will be utilized to determine the extent to which interracial marriages reflect openness to policy reforms and responsiveness to the needs of foreign clients or tourists, and their implication on the overall reputation of the community for leisure and business.”

Mind Break

Group Exercise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzrjEP5MOT4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzrjEP5MOT4



Getting Down to Business2 of 2

Parts of a Research Proposal

Title Page I. Rationale II. Statement of the ProblemIII. Scope and Limitation IV. Significance of the Study V. Operational Definition of Terms VI. Literature Review VII. Methodology VIII. Timetable and Budget XI. References


Title Page

Speed of Community Action Mobilization through Social Media

Mark Raygan E. Garcia

Supervisor: Dr. Paul Adams Department of Strategic Communication

24 October 2016

Title

Name of Student

Name of Supervisor

Department

Submission Date

Title should be brief; tells purpose of study; desired outcome


Rationale A catchy summary of what the proposed research is about, why you are pursuing it, what you want accomplished, and how you intend to pursue the project.

(Some would use “abstract” or “introduction”, instead of “rationale”.)


Rationale (Sample) Social media has become a convenient internet street to where citizens actively take their issues and concerns without need for physical presence. With its reach across demographics and its access global, it quickly provides that virtual intersection at which ever-expanding and -increasing internet streets converge. And over a short period of time, social media influences what unfolds on the ground. This research seeks to determine the extent to which messages posted in social media are translated to actual action on the ground, if standard conversion rates could be assigned to call for actions circulated in social media to estimate the speed or time period over which the they mobilize community action…


Statement of the Problem Answers: (1) Why did you choose this research topic? (2) What is lacking in current literature? (3) What specific questions do you want to answer in this research? (4) What do you want to prove?


Statement of the Problem (Sample) There are studies pointing to how fast information is relayed on the internet and the rate at which it is passed on. But there is a dearth of comparative studies pointing to a common “conversion period” or “conversion rate” (virtual-to-action) involving significant world events. This research seeks to address that. Research Questions

1. Is there a standard time to approximate how quickly a post in social media is converted from something “virtual” to “actual”? 2. How fast can a post in social media spread? 3. What variables drive the propensity of people to make a post viral?


Scope and Limitation

Contextualizes the proposed research; discusses coverage, market segment/respondents/demographics; what it includes and what is not part of the research; what limitations it has in terms of access to respondents and data, resources and time, etc.


Scope and Limitation (Sample) This study seeks to do an analysis of major world events that transpired over the past five years around the globe where social media played a significant role in its initiation, spread, and realization. These are events that have mobilized community action towards two things: (1) reforms in government, and (2) rehabilitation during natural calamities…It is not the objective of the project to compare which form of social media (i.e. Facebook vs Twitter) facilitates a faster conversion period or rate, or to establish the importance of internet speed… It will not also be within the scope of the study to establish how posts can sustain public support or interest after mobilization is achieved. Among possible constraints in the implementation of the study is face-to-face access to individuals who played key roles in the major world events that would be included in the study.


Significance of the Study This highlights the relevance of the proposed research. Why is it important to do this? To whom or which sector is this most significant? What can be gained from this in terms of scholarly/academic benefit and/or practical solutions? What “newness” does it offer?


Significance of the Study (Sample) The study will be most significant to at least three sectors: civil society organizations (CSOs), governments, and advocacy groups. No doubt, social media has become a catalytic tool that makes or breaks communities. This phenomenon significantly impacts on organizations that successes and survival rates can now depend on social media utilization (Kietzmann, Hermkens, McCarthy, et. al 2011). Governance and public affairs take on a different level of discourse in social media with it attracting a broader participation base. Advocacies and fundraising campaigns are better communicated via social media where the pass-on rate is fast and public visibility high. And, responses to calls for action in social media form an avalanche as it is pervasive and cuts across cultures, ideologies and social status.


Operational Definition of Terms What are the terms that are frequently used in this study? In what context are they used? Operational definition of terms enable readers to have a similar understanding of the usage of terms. This also eliminates the need to elaborate on each term every time they pop up in the proposal.


Operational Definition of Terms (Sample) Speed is a quantifiable description of movement of social media posts into a form of community action. In this study, it is expressed in minutes, hours, days, weeks or months. Community Action / Social Mobilization is a collective term for large-scale public activities conducted on the ground. In this study, community action or social mobilization is a direct response to posts that call for it in social media. Actual is the realization of the desired community action or social mobilization that used to be circulated virtually.


Literature Review This gives a picture of your leg work — how far you have gone to know more about your proposed research topic based on current literature and prevailing relevant theories. This is not mere articulation of what you have read; this is a critical review or analysis of information/data/theories gathered vis-a-vis the intent of your research.


Literature Review (Sample) Democratized Journalism

Eugenia Sephera (2012) in the book Understanding New Media discusses how Web 2.0, which includes social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, democratizes politics and has become an alternative to mainstream media. Journalism holds a political function which is to help shape public opinion and make governments accountable for their actions (Habermas, 1996, cited in Sephera, 2012). But there is a sense that journalism has failed to fulfill this political function…

Social media has taken over this role. People, who now have control in social media, are able to carry out the same political function of disseminating information, influencing public opinion, and being watchdogs on key actors in governance.


Methodology This portion explains how yo are going to undertake your research; what methods you are going to use, how you are going to use them, and why they are your choice.

Qualitative vs quantitative? Mixed? FGDs, surveys, questionnaires?


Methodology (Sample)

Quantitative approach will be done through content analysis of social media posts on identified major world events. It will extract data from printed and online resources on significant dates, timelines, number of people initiating action, estimates on number of people taking action, number of shares, likes and tags in social media (Facebook and Twitter), and geographical distribution and number of people per geographic area involved in the social media campaign.


Timetable and Budget Efficiency is of equal importance in research implementation. Creating a timetable based on availability of resources (personnel, time, funds) will assist you in keeping track of your progress. The timetable contains the time period with corresponding deliverables or actions

Budgets are usually developed separately in tabular form. In some instances, they are consolidated into the time table where each deliverable is assigned a cost equivalent or requirement.


Timetable (Sample)

www.tmrc.net.au

http://www.tmrc.net.au/


References No research proposal or paper can stand without references. Attributions of ideas to their respective owners is a must. Citations reinforce how research expands the reservoir or knowledge, and how it builds on previous scholarly works. You need to decide on your desired citation format and ensure you use the same all throughout the proposal. Referencing should also be apparent throughout the article, to ensure that proper acknowledgment is made for ideas that support your arguments/research interests.


References (Sample) References Alstott, J., Madnick, S. & Velu, C. (2010). Measuring and predicting speed of social mobilization. Retrieved from the Cornell University Library website: http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1303/1303.3805.pdf Beckett, C. & Ball, J. (2012). WikiLeaks: News in the networked era. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press Eaton, T. (2013). Internet activism and the Egyptian uprisings: Transforming online dissent into the offline world. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 9 (2), pages 3-24 Kietzmann, J., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I, et. al (2011). Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Retrieved from the University of Winnipeg website: http://busandadmin.uwinnipeg.ca/silvestrepdfs/PDF06.pdf Lievrouw, L. (2011). Alternate and activist new media: digital media and society series. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press

Simple Reminders • Use simpler fonts; be

consistent • Avoid jargons • Observe proper grammar and

correct spelling • Use ‘written language’

(“obtain” vs “get”)• Use simple sentences; the

shorter, the better • Caption visuals/graphics• Accept that everything is a

learning process

Mind Break

Lessons on life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKleQ1MXMCs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKleQ1MXMCs



research proposal writing

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