Assignment One: Research Proposal
Your first assignment is your research proposal, (for both the literature review option or the small-scale empirical (action research) study) which should include the following components:
Title
The title should be brief but clearly describe the topic/research focus.
Background and Context
In this section the research focus is described. You will need to briefly outline your topic of interest, and why this topic is important to you in your professional life. It must contain enough information to let the reader know what this study is about and specifically what aspect your study will address.
Outline your topic and generate between 1-3 research questions relevant to your topic (some of these questions may emerge from your preliminary literature review - i.e., they will emerge from the literature). These questions may change as the study progresses. Any changes to questions or emergent new questions should be discussed in the final project.
Positionality
Present your position on this topic:
• What is your personal/professional journey to this point?
• Why have you chosen this topic and these questions?
• What theoretical perspective are you drawing on?
• What do you hope to learn from this literature review?
Initial Literature Review
Present a brief review of literature on the topic and outline further areas and possibilities for your final project.
Methodology
The methodology section will vary depending on the type of study you will conduct. The Table below outlines the points that should be address for each option.
| Literature Review |
Small-scale Empirical (action research) Study |
1. Databases selected
2. Search terms (key words)
3. Inclusion criteria (which sources will you focus
on?)
4. Search results (how many publications resulted
from your search?)
5. Literature analysis method (how do you intend
to analyse the literature?)
6. Timeline -you will need to provide details
about how you will implement your research in
the allocated time. |
1. Participants - (Age, gender, number, etc.)
2. Data source - (e.g. questionnaires, interviews,
classroom observation, reflective journal).
3. Data analysis method (e.g. statistics,
commentary) that you plan to implement.
4. Ethical Issues -remember to address the ethical
issues of informed consent, permission,
confidentiality, consideration to avoid harm and
proper acknowledgement as you describe what
you will do. At this stage your ethical application
should be approved.
5. Timeline - you will need to provide details
about how you will implement your research in
the allocated time. |
Assignment Two: Final Report
The format for your final assignment will vary depending upon whether you are doing a full literature review or small-scale empirical (action research) study but should include the following sections:
Title
? Abstract
? Introduction -including the context, the topic, your positionality and theoretical framework, and the clearly stated research questions
? Methodology
? Discussion and Analysis- discuss and critically analyze the literature by contrasting, critiquing and clarifying multiple points of view (use subheadings to outline emergent themes or issues).
This section is more than mere description - it is ‘discussion'
? Findings and Conclusion - what this all means for knowledge and understanding of the problem and your own professional context
? References and Appendices