ASSESSMENT: Research Proposal

This assessment is designed to allow students to present and justify appropriate method(s) for a research project designed to address the research question posed.

This assessment relates to Learning Outcomes a, b and d.

There are two components of the assessment:

Written proposal Oral presentation

Based on the Research Question developed in Assessment 2, students should develop a research design aimed at providing insights and/or answers to the question. Students should make any recommended adjustments to the content of Assessment 2, based on feedback provided, prior to including it in Assessment 4.

This assessment requires students to choose and justify the most appropriate research design, clearly explaining WHY the chosen design will best answer the research question and is most appropriate in the specific circumstances. Students should clearly justify their recommended research and analysis methods.

Written Proposal: The proposal will contain the following information:
1. Title Page
2. Abstract/Executive Summary
3. Introduction to the research (assessment 2, revised if necessary)
4. Research Problem and Research Objective (assessment 2, revised if necessary)
5. Theoretical Background/Literature review (Based on assessment 3, expand and elaborate)
6. Research Methodology
7. Reference List: Formatted using Harvard (Anglia) style.
8. Appendix: include proposed ethical approval form and informed consent form if relevant.

Criteria

Makes adjustments to Assessment 2 elements based on feedback provided

Addresses each of the elements of the proposal

Provides evidence of knowledge and skills specific to the research question

Uses appropriate theoretical support and applies creativity in the application of theory to the research question

Discusses and justifies the decisions made in choice of research and analysis methods

Organises information coherently and communicates ideas accurately and appropriately

Present the information in a professional manner with correct referencing.

Guideline

1. Title Page
Choose an interesting title for the report, the title should indicate the nature of problem/research being investigated. If client organisation is used, the name of the organisation should be part of the title.

2. Abstract/Executive Summary
Executive summary should provide key information of your research, 1 page is preferable. Provide summary of:
- The introduction of the research
- The matter being investigated
- The research design and methodology

3. Introduction to the research
This section should give convincing background about the research and why the topic is worth to research, by providing evidences to support your arguments. Key points to be included in this section are:
- Introduce the topic of the research
- Overview of client organisation (if any)
- What real problem does the research seek to resolve and why is it important to research this topic
- Outline the structure of this proposal.

4. Research problem and research objectives
This section should be straightforward, state the overall research problem and research objectives based on your brief research plan (A1), revised A1 if necessary.

5. Theoretical Background/Literature review
This section is expected to be the extended version of your A3 (structure literature review), therefore, you should not copy paste your A3 into this section, instead you need to use your A3 is a basis to do a comprehensive literature review. Around 10 extra literatures are required (on top of the four articles you used in your A3). Link your literature review back to your research problem.

6. Research Design and Methodology
This section should provide detail plan of research design and research methodology. It should consist information:
- Inform and justify the type of research (exploratory, descriptive or causal)
- Inform and justify the research approach (quantitative, qualitative or mixed approach)
- Describe the type of data will be used (primary or secondary data)
- Describe how data will be collected: interview, focus group or observation for qualitative research, and/or survey and experiment for quantitative research
- Describe and justify the sample: sampling frame, sampling methods and technique, sampling characteristics and size.

- Inform how the data will be analysed : theme-based analysis for qualitative research and statistical analysis for quantitative research, or a combination of both for mixed approach)
- Explain how the methodology plan address all ethical concern.
Please note: only provide an overview of YOUR research design and methodology, do not discuss theory on research methodology.

7. Reference List : Formatted using Harvard (Anglia) style.

Oral Presentation:

Students are to present their proposal to the class as if the audience had the authority to grant
approval for the research to ‘go ahead'.
The presentation should contain the following information:
a) Research project title
b) Introduction to the research
c) Research problem and objectives
d) Literature review
e) Research design and methodology
f) Ethical consideration
g) Summary

Presentation Details
- Individual Assessment
- Oral Presentations should be 5 minutes
- The slides should be be supported using appropriate visual, Presentation power point template is provided (downloadable from Moddle).
- Students should not just read their proposal - students reading rather than presenting will find it difficult to pass this part of the assessment.