Unit 2 Research Proposal Tentative Schedule (Updated)Week 62-18-Intro to research proposals2-20-Intro to primary research/research questionsWeek 72-23-Interivew strategies /SoP2-25- Survey +Observation strategies, Methods 2-27-Short Proposal Peer Review, Statement of Qualification, APA

format Minor Essay 2- Short Research Proposal Due

Week 83-2- Debates3-4- Lit Review & Abstract3-6-Peer ReviewResearch Proposal Final Draft- Due 3/6 by midnight

U20 Debate Topics3/2Genetic modificationWar on terror3/4Work placement & rehabilitation for former

prisoners

U23 Debate Topics3/2Police Effects of social media3/4Effects of video games

U65 Debate Topics3/2Mental health patient sentencingSocial media and its effects3/4Polygamy

Today’s GoalsDiscuss the requirements of and how to

construct a methods section for your research proposal

Learn about strategies for creating surveys and conducting observations

Research Proposal Overview Title page Abstract (100 words or less)

Identify research question, research methods, & most important points of research Statement of Purpose (usually 100+ words. Often the second longest section of the essay)

State research question and hypothesis Convince readers why the research is necessary

Statement of Qualification (approximately 100 words but may be longer) Explain why you are qualified to conduct this research Mention qualifications as well related personal experiences

Literature Review (200+ words. Often the longest section of the essay) Briefly sum up the secondary sources you are using and how they are relevant to your research

Methods (approximately 100 words) Name your primary research method and explain your general strategy for it (i.e. what do you

hope to find) References

The APA version of a Works Cited page Appendix

Usually includes supplementary information The appendix for our research proposals will include detailed information about your primary

research (such as interview, questions surveys, or observation goals)

Methods SectionShould explain any and all methodologies you intend to use in your

researchFocus on what primary research you will conduct; it is already

assumed that you will find background secondary research information

Your primary method should be one or more of the three previously mentioned (interview, observation, or surveys). For each primary method: Indicate whom you will be interviewing or surveying or what

setting/activity you will be observing Explain what, specifically, you will be attempting to find out from your

primary research. This can include questions you intend to ask or what you will be looking for in observations

Note: you should not list every question here, only the most important ones for your research and what sorts of connections between questions you will look for

Example Methods SectionThis research will attempt to gain insight about whether the benefits of

stem cell research outweigh its ethical costs by examining the public’s opinion on the ethics and moral issues related to stem cell research. Using primary research, a random group of people will be selected to take an online survey. This survey will ask several background questions to see how stem cell research is viewed amongst the general population as well as how knowledgeable the general population is on this topic. The survey will also attempt to see if a person’s view on the ethics of stem cell research is related to several aspects of their lives. It will determine if there is a correlation between gender, age, religious involvement, and major/career and their views on stem cell research. It will also see if a person’s personal experiences affect their views. Therefore, the group of people that will take this survey must have a lot of variation. It must be done in a location where there is a lot of variation of age, gender, religious involvement, and major/career. This survey can be done online since a wide range of people have access and use the internet on a daily basis.

A complete copy of the survey can be found in Appendix A.  

Surveys/QuestionnairesAdvantages DisadvantagesGreat method for getting

the layman’s perspective on an issue

Has strongest logos of the three methods by providing statistics, graphs, percentages, etc.

Easiest citationsCan reach the largest

number of subjects

Longer preparation time than other research methods

You cannot get in-depth responses or a personal understanding of most of your participants

Extremely sensitive to subject selection; picking the wrong subjects will skew your results. Look for a uniform subject pool

Interpreting results may require more math skills than results from other methods

Survey RequirementsSurvey at least 20 subjects, who should be

appropriate to your inquiry and requirementsProvide a copy of your surveySurvey must have at least 10 questionsProvide a detailed list of the results to your

survey questions (this can be filled out, hard copy surveys or a print out of your results from qualtrics)

Survey Procedure1. Write out your purpose and main research

question2. Figure out how to reach the respondents

you need (your method of distribution)3. Draft potential questions4. Test the questions on several people before

widespread distribution. Revise questions that seem ambiguous or too subjective

5. Look for connections between answers. This will often be in the form of a correlation or comparison

Survey CitationsAPA/MLA

None!

When referencing the results of your own survey for a project, you do not need to provide citations for MLA or APA format

However, you should explain in your essay some of the basics of the survey, such as whom you surveyed, how many people, etc

If you reference a survey from a past project or essay, even if it was your own, you should reference that essay or article regularly

Survey QuestionsThese should be predominately determinate questions that can be

answered by entry of a single number or selection of one of several predetermined multiple choice answers

You should, again, have 2-3 background questions to better understand your subjects

Construction of the survey/questionnaire is important; there is visual rhetoric involved here. Short questionnaires are more likely to be finished. Many respondents

will have limited attention spans or interest Ordering and layout of questions is important; don’t give away the

purpose of your experiment Avoid any and all ambiguity in your question wording; you do not have

the opportunity to explain a question as you might in an interviewYou may want one or two short answer questions, but limit these.

Keep in mind you will not be able to easily use them for data tables or statistics

Group Activity: SurveysIn your unit 2 groupsSelect a topic from your group members that might

use surveys as a research methodDevelop 5 survey questions you could use for this

topic. Focus on important questions rather than background questions for this activity

Be sure to include what answer options, usually in multiple choice, that you will provide with the questions

Finally, in a couple sentences, describe what connections between questions you will be looking for

ObservationsAdvantages DisadvantagesAllows you to gain

firsthand experiences with the setting or topic you are investigating

Arguably the most professional/scientific of the research methods we have covered

May allow access to subjects’ ‘natural’ behavior while many subjects will lie on surveys

Observer’s paradox will automatically bring all results into question

Research method that is most sensitive to research bias; you must work diligently to remain objective

Obtaining permission for observations can be difficult; many potential subjects will be reluctant

Observer’s ParadoxThe observation of an event or

experiment is influenced by the presence of the observer/investigator

A term coined by the sociolinguist William Labov

How might this affect your strategies for conducting observations?

Observation Research RequirementsFind an appropriate setting or condition for observation that

is appropriate to your topic and research questionConduct at least 2 observation sessions totaling 1 hour or

more eachUse a dual column research log technique

Use a small notebook that you bring with you In the left column, write down observations of occurrences in a

completely objective and descriptive way In the right column, attempt to interpret those occurrences, looking

for why a particular action may have taken place and how it relates to your research

Keeping your physical observations and interpretations separate in this way can help you remain objective in your observations

Provide a copy of your observation notes (detailed and with the dual column technique) and recordings

Observation Steps/Strategies1. Determine purpose and research question2. Make arrangements ahead of time. Do not

record people without their permission3. Take clear, usable notes while observing; the

dual column technique with observation/interpretation is required for our methodology

4. Go through notes soon afterwards: fill in gaps, elaborate

Observation Examples Topic: Violence in video games

Ex setting 1: FIU Piano room Observe students’ behavior as they play video games with one another in the

piano room, keeping a look out for what games they are playing (especially if there is violence in the game) and whether there is violence or aggressive behavior between the participants

Ex setting 2: Arcade (owner permission required) Observe arcade patrons’ behavior as they play video games with one another,

keeping a look out for aggressive behavior as well as which types of arcade games incite it

Politician’s use of rhetorical appeals Ex setting 1: Recorded political debate on youtube Ex setting 2: City Hall meeting In each different venue, special attention is paid to the words and

actions of the current speaker as well as how the audience reacts to their rhetorical effects. For any parts that seem effective, the observer will attempt to interpret how ethos, pathos, logos, and angle of vision are used

Group Activity 2: Observation Brainstorm In your unit 2 groups Select 3 example informative article topics. If possible, these should be

topics from your group members. However, if your group members’ topics seem incompatible with this type of research, feel free to use one of the examples below

1. For each topic, select one setting that could be observed in order to gain firsthand knowledge of it

2. For each setting, select two things you would be on the look out for in terms of actions or occurrences

Sample topics: How do politicians use rhetorical appeals and persuasive strategies during

political debates? What are the main stressors that college students have to deal with? Does fraternity enrollment have an effect on academic success? Is it more academically advantageous for students to live on or off campus? How might the college/education system in the US differ from the system in

other countries? How do environmental conditions affect students’ study habits?

HomeworkRead EW p.203-206 and A&B p.284-286Journal Entry 19

Focus: RP Source Evaluation 2 Find the first source you will be using for your research proposal (a

peer reviewed article) Read and analyze the first source you will be using for your Research

Proposal. Sum up the argument it makes in the journal entry as well as the most important or convincing facts in the article. Then reflect on how that article has changed your perspective.

General suggestion: focus on logos for all RP source evaluationsMinor Essay 2: Short Proposal (due Friday 2/27)

In a single page, typed, double spaced, APA essay Identify your research question, hypothesis, selected research

method, and why your research is important Including all required information in the clearest way possible is more

important than artful prose here.