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Format for Research Proposal
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print as a PDF click here)
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Author
Release
(This form must be signed
and submitted with the finished copies of the Research Proposal.)
Name _______________________________
Group No. _______________
The College of Professional
Studies has permission to use my research proposal as an
example of acceptable work. This authority includes the right to duplicate
the manuscript as well as check out the proposal from one of the College
libraries.
Signature _____________________________________________
Date _____________________
The College of Professional
Studies may not use my research proposal as an example of
acceptable work. Duplication of the manuscript as well as circulation
of the work is prohibited.
Signature _____________________________________________
Date ___________________________
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Sample
Title Page for Research Proposal
A Study of the
Relationship Between
Career Development
and Retention of
Clerical Employees
at Bypass Valve Company
A Proposal Submitted
by
Alice Jones
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
the Bachlor
of Science
in Organizational
Behavior
The University
of San Francisco
(Month, Date,
Year)
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Sample
Approval Page for Research Proposal
Evaluation of Research by USF
Faculty
Student Name_________________________________________
Group__________________
Proposal Title__________________________________________
Instructor's Comments:
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Proposal Evaluation |
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Meets Minimun Standards
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Unsatisfactory
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USF Faculty
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Table
of Contents
Abstract
..eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeePage
Chapter 1: Introduction.........................................................................................................................
Background
Problem Statement
Research Question
Hypothesis/Research Objectives
(as appropriate)
Definition of Terms
Importance of the Study
Scope and Delimitations of
the Study
Chapter 2: Review of the Literature
Chapter 3: Methodology
Introduction
Subjects
Research Design
Instrumentation
Procedures
Treatment of Data
References
Appendices
Appendix A: Data Collection
Instrument
Appendix B: Consent Form (if warranted)
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Abstract
of the Research Proposal
1.Title
2.Brief Statement
of the Problem or Issue
3.Research Objectives
- Make sure these are investigative and relate directly to the
problem or issue. Terms such as test, investigate, evaluate,
compare and measure are appropriate.
4.Brief Statement
of Research Method - Make sure to indicate the population
and sample to be studied, type of research that will be done
(e.g., experimental, correlational, survey, or mixed), and the kind
of data collection techniques that will be used (i.e., questionnaires,
interviews, tests, etc.).
5.Resources Needed
and Available
6.Project Start and
Completion Dates
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Sample
Abstract
1.Title: A Study
of Career Development Opportunities and Retention of Clerical Employees
at Bypass Valve Company.
2.Statement of the
Problem: High turnover among clerical employees at Bypass Valve
has been a persistent problem. Attempts to reduce turnover through financial
incentives have met with little success and other contributing factors
need to be examined. Would clerical employees at Bypass Valve be motivated
to remain with the company by a company sponsored program to help them
develop professional skills, provided there were opportunities for advancement
with the company?
3.Research Objectives:
(1) To assess clerical employees' attitudes towards Bypass Value
and (2) to test the following hypotheses: (A) There is a positive relationship
between clerical staff attrition and dissatisfaction with existing opportunities
to acquire professional skills. (B) There is a positive relationship
between the retention and a company sponsored professional development
program.
4.Research Method:
Out of 275 entry level personnel, a random sample of 50 clerical employees
will be selected and surveyed to determine any relationships between
their intention to pursue long-term careers with the company and the
existence/non-existence of career development and promotion potential
at Bypass Valve. Through questionnaires and follow-up interviews, employees
will be asked to assess both their level of satisfaction with the present
state of affairs and their probable response to a company effort to
help them develop professional skills and advance in the company. Data
will be analyzed in terms of statistical correlations between measured
variables.
5.Resources Needed
and Available: Management approval of study; off-site clerical help
to prepare and mail questionnaires; budget of $250
6. Projected Start and
Completion Date: July 15, 2000 - November 1, 2000.
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Chapters
Chapter
One: Introduction
Purpose:
This chapter should clearly
and precisely explain the issue/problem that has been selected for study.
It is, in essence, your theory about your topic. The reader should know
what the project is about and why it is important.
Sections:
1. Background of the problem.
This section discusses history and trends related to the topic, unresolved
issues, social concerns, etc. It provides the reader with a conceptual
and contextual overview and understanding of the proposed study. This
section moves from the general to the specific.
2. Statement of the problem.
This section succinctly specifies the focus of the proposed study; that
is, the basic difficulty, the area of concern, the need, etc. It presents
the overall purpose of the study, and, as such, is goal oriented and
emphasizes practical outcomes or products. This section should flow
naturally out of the background.
3. Research question(s)
to be answered. This section is a restatement of the problem statement
in the form of a question. It should be brief, clear and concise, and
inform the reader exactly what the research is about.
4. Statement of hypothesis(es),
or research objectives. In this section, the projected and predicted
outcomes of the investigation are stated.
5. Definition of terms.
This section includes the normative (conceptual) definitions of the
independent and dependent variables. Any control variables are also
identified and defined.
6. Importance of the study.
This section, which may overlap with the statement of problem , discusses
the value and benefits associated with this study.
7. Scope and delimitations
of the study. This section provides a description of the focus of the
study, and identifies what will and will not be accomplished by this
research, and specifies the generalizability of findings.
Chapter Two:Review
of Related Literature
Purpose:
To place the current study
into the context of previous, related research. As such, the literature
review emphasizes the relatedness between the current study and the
work of other authors. The reader should be familiarized with points
of agreement and disagreement among the previous studies, as well as
with the theoretical and/or empirical relevance of each to the present
research. (See Guide
to Literature Review)
Contents:
This section should contain
a review of five studies. At least two of the articles should be empirical
studies (see Reviewing
an Article). The selection and arrangement of the books
and/or articles reviewed is often in terms of questions to be considered,
hypotheses set forth, or the objectives or specific purposes delineated
in Chapter One.
Chapter Three: Methodology
Purpose:
This chapter presents the
methodological procedures that have been selected to address the issue/problem
delineated in Chapter One. It should be presented with the necessary
detail to allow someone unfamiliar with the study to replicate it.
Sections:
1. Introduction. This section
includes a restatement of the research question(s).
2.Selection of subjects.
This section describes the sample and the population from which it was
drawn, and a description of the sampling procedure to be followed.
3. Research design. This
section provides a description of the nature of the study (i.e., exploratory,
descriptive, explanatory) and research method or approach to be followed
in answering the research question (e.g., survey, experiment, quasi-experiment,
correlational study).
4.Instrumentation.
This section has two parts: operational definitions and research instruments.
Operational definitions build on normative definitions by clearly spelling
out how the independent and dependent variables will be measured. The
research instruments are the particular questionnaires, tests, observations,
scales, etc. that will be used to gather data. (See Data
Collection and Using
Standardized Tests links)
5. Procedures. This section
describes exactly what you will do to implement the study, including
instructions to be given to subjects or comments on the distribution
of materials.
6. Treatment of data.
This section discusses how the data will be analyzed and the
rationale for the selection of the particular technique.
References
1. All sources cited
in the text are referenced in the bibliography, and vice versa.
2. All citations listed
according to the American
Psychological Association Publications Manual.
Appendices
A. A copy of the data collection
instrument
B. Consent form, if applicable.
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Informed
Consent Form
This is to certify that
I, _____________________________, hereby agree to participate as a volunteer
in a research project sponsored by _________________________________________________________________,
under the supervision of______________________________________________.
The investigation and my
part in the investigation have been adequately explained and defined to
me, and I understand the explanation. The procedure of this investigation
and their risks and discomforts have been described.
•I understand
that I am free to not answer specific items or questions in the interview
or questionnaire.
•I understand
that any data or answers to questions will remain confidential with
regard to my identity.
•I understand
that the general results of the study will be made available to me,
if requested.
•I understand
that no other interventions or administrative decisions will result
from my participation in this study.
•I FURTHER
UNDERSTAND THAT I AM FREE TO WITHDRAW MY CONSENT AND TERMINATE MY
PARTICIPATION AT ANY TIME.
________________________________________________________
Date........................................Subject's
Signature
________________________________________________________________
(Subject's address, optional;
provide if you wish results sent.)
I, the undersigned, am
sponsoring ________________________in this study. The witness whose signature
appears below, attests to this.
______________________________________________________________
Date ......................................Investigator
_______________________________________________
Witness
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