Research Project: Proposal Instructions (10% of final grade)
Your proposal will be a formal elaboration of your project outline. You will incorporate feedback from your outline to expand on several sections. The formal proposal explains in full detail: the rationale for your specific research question and hypothesis, the proposed research methods and procedures, and the data analysis plan (your TA will provide assistance with this portion during tutorial). Your proposal will also include a thorough reference section, appendices (i.e., consent form, debrief form, questionnaire(s), etc.) and the ethics checklist which must be included at the end of your proposal.
Below is a breakdown of the general expectations and grade value for each section of your proposal:
Introduction – background literature review, rationale, question, and hypothesis (2 marks)
A review of five journal articles (1 mark)
Articles can be the same as other group members as long as your summary is unique, and the article makes sense given your IV
Explanation about the relationship between those papers and your study (0.5 marks)
g., limitations of previous studies that are addressed in your study, contradicting findings across different previous studies, etc.
A clear hypothesis (0.5 marks)
Remember my feedback that I left on the Research Project Outline.
Methods (3 marks)
Participants subsection (0.5 marks)
Describe the necessary characteristics of your proposed sample of participants.
Design subsection (0.5 marks)
Operationalization of the IV and DV.
Procedures subsection (1.5 marks)
What is happening in the study? Summarize consent, debrief, and experimental procedures; be sure to cite your appendices.
Materials subsection (0.5 marks)
Describe your task and/or questionnaire, e.g., what scale does it use? What is the total score? What do higher scores represent? Did you adapt this from an existing questionnaire?
Data analysis plan (1 mark)
How will you analyze your data? (E.g., Student t-test, content analysis, etc.)
Your TA will help you identify an appropriate data analysis plan, and it is up to you to understand and explain the rationale for it.
References (1 mark)
APA formatted reference list for all cited sources.
https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/cite-write/citation-style-guides/apa
Appendices (2 marks)
Consent form, debrief form, and questionnaire are separate appendices (i.e., Appendix A, Appendix B, and Appendix C).
Ethics Checklist (1 mark)
This form must be submitted with your proposal.
A failure to submit this form will result in your inability to collect data (including simulated data).