Research Proposal Paper Organizational Headings

1.                 

Title page

2.                 

Abstract page (include only down to results.

3.                 

Introduction

*  Purpose of study
or the problem under study ” This explains why you are doing the study.  The purpose of my study is to.

*  Research questions, hypothesis, or objectives
” May be similar to #1 above.  However, if you are using hypotheses you may want to state it as a null hypothesis (e.g., there will be no significant difference on reducing headaches between drug A or drug B). 

*  Literature review
” after your topic has been approved, conduct a library search of the significant research (literature review) that involves your topic.
The literature section should end with a clear testable hypothesis or researchable problem that has been developed from the problem statement through the literature.
If you were doing something with ADHD then you would want to report some of the most significant studies that show various causes of ADHD and then transition into therefore, my study plans to

4.                 

Method

*  Research design ” Describe the between-subjects or participants designthat you must use and why it is appropriate for your study. 

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*  Participants ” What criteria will you use to select participants? Where do you plan to get your participants?  How will you recruit them?  What sampling procedure would you use to select your participants and place them into groups? What demographics will you collect from your participants? Define your control and experimental groups.

* Materials or apparatus “ Describe any materials (e.g., tests, photos, printed materials, etc.) or apparatus such as computers, tape recorders, etc.

*  Variables” Define and or describe your independent (treatment), dependent (measurements/materials), and extraneous variables (variables that you may not be able to control for but may effect the outcome of your study).

*  Procedures ” Describe what you plan to do so that anyone who wishes could replicate the study.  Include any materials you would use here.

5.                 

Results:

·        

The Data Analysis and the Audience Implication
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What statistical tests would you use (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, etc.).  Don”t just name them but explain WHY you would use them. Describe how the analysis is suited for your research design.   Audience implication
addresses the utilization of possible results were the research conducted and the desired results found.  Who would be interested in the results and why?

·        

Since you didn”t actually conduct the study you will not have any results
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6.                 

Discussion ”
Since you didn”t actually conduct the study you will not have anything here.
Ethics and human relations” An informed consent form is needed for all research. For example, if you were planning to use high school students to determine the effects of alcohol seminars on teenage alcohol activity you would need permission form the school board, principals of involved schools, teaches of the specific classes, and informed consent form from parents or guardians of the participating students.  What efforts have you made to protect your participants (e.g., confidentiality, from harm, etc)?

7.                 

References
” All APA format.

How the Research Proposal Will Be Graded (see rubric in course materials, syllabus, and LiveText)

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