RESEARCH PROPOSALASSIGNMENT
For this assignment you will write a research proposal describing a project that you would like to do. A proposal is a document designed to convince grant committees to fund your research, and is done before any research actually begins.
You are not expected to conduct research, but you will be using your sociological imagination to create a research project you would find valuable if you had unlimited time and resources.
Your paper must include the following:
I. Introduction - explain how your topic fits within the current sociological literature, describe why your topic is important and what contributions your research will make, and bring in the theoretical framework from which you are approaching your topic.
o Include a hypothesisor research questionthat states what it is you hope to find in your research.
II. Literature Review - discuss the sociological literature relevant to your topic and how it compares to what you plan to do (minimum of 3 academic journal sources).
o How does this body of research inform what you plan to research?
o Are there any holes in the existing literature?
o Make sure to use and cite at least three journal articles, and you will turn in the articles with your paper.
III. Data and Methods - describe how you will study the topic you have introduced. Here is where you want to include:
o conceptualization
o choice of method
o operationalization
o sampling method
o how you would collect the data
o how you would process the data
IV. Conclusion - briefly restate your topic, how you will proceed in examining it, and its sociological relevance. Describe the conclusions you expect to draw from your research.
ADDITIONAL PAPER REQUIREMENTS:
• Must use appropriate headings (as outlined above).
• Page length: 5 (full) to 8 pages.
• Cover sheet, which includes: title, your name, course and section number, and due date
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point
• Margins: 1 inch all around
• Citations: American Sociological Association (ASA)
• References: (ASA):
• You may use APA style, if you are not a Sociology or Social Services major.
• Spelling, grammar and formatting.