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WRITING THE RESEARCH PROPOSALResearch process

Writing the proposalSession1

Select a topic

Think of a problem

Conduct a literature review

Determine methodological orientation, data collection & data analysis procedures

Research process

Write Research Proposal

Topic should be: Appealing Interesting Manageable Beneficial BUT not controversial or theory-generating

PHRASINGIV and DV – Quantitative eg correlational studiesThe effectiveness of motivation program on students’ CGPAPhenomena observed – Qualitative eg case studyArabic women and English language learning: A case study

ACTIVITY: BrainstormList ALL the topics that you can do.

Select a topic

Let’s explore I-portal for thesis titles

http://iportal.ump.edu.my

Teaching English in South Korea: Studying, shaping, and representing my expatriate experiences Theory and original fictionArabic women and English language learning: A case studyThe Effect of an English Language Learner Program on Student Achievement Outcomes in Language, Reading, and MathAssessing the Impact of Computer Programming in Understanding Limits and Derivatives in a Secondary Mathematics Classroom

Engineering & Applied Sciences (eg computer)Integrated Thermal Design and Optimization Study for Active Integrated Power Electronic Modules (IPEMs) Applying convex optimization techniques to energy minimization problems in computer visionDomain adaptation of natural language processing systems

Present your working title.Explain to the class why you have chosen this title – rationale/ problem you observed/ new invention/ necessity to society, etc.Give feedback to friends’ titles.Use powerpoint for your presentation – 1 slide is ENOUGH.

Individual presentation

Statement of problem should be answering these questions:

what is the problem that you observe/encounter?how does your work link to the work of others in the same or related fields? would your work support or contest the work of others? what difference do you think your research will make/what new insights may be found?  what research ‘gaps’ will you be filling by undertaking your 

project? how might your research ‘add value’ to the subject?why is your research important?  

Think of a problem

Read the Statement of problem provided. Identify: What is the importance of this study?  What is the problem identified?  What is the aim of the study?

Task

Structure of SoP

Background (how does your work li

nk to the work of others in

 the field - situating your study in the field)

Problem observed/ faced (clear

articulation of problem)

Purpose of study (identify gap - The

purpose/ aim of this study is….an overview of what you plan to do)

Research Objectives &/

Questions

Research Objectives &/ Questions

Purpose of study (identify gap - The

purpose/ aim of this study is….an

overview of what you plan to do)

Situating your study - how does your work lin

k to the work of others in the same or related fie

lds

Problem observed/faced

Try and draft your problem statement for tomorrow’s class.Use the same powerpoint as continuation of today’s presentation – 1 slide is enough.

Homework for tomorrow’s class

1. Read your problem statement to the class by reading from your slide.2. The class needs to identify:

What is the importance of this study?  What is the problem identified?  What is the aim of the study?Review of homework taskSession2

Research aim or objective: the specific accomplishments the researcher hopes to achieve by conducting the study

• Research objective is stated in a To + infinitive clause

Research question: statement of specific query the researcher wants to answer to address the research problem

• Research question is stated as a question

Research Objectives &/ Questions

Building up to your RO & RQ

"I want to learn about MUSIC."

“I want to study general intellect and the ‘social worker’ in the post modern, globalised world

"I want to find out about teen gangs."

I want to learn about teen pregnancy. "I want to find out about

immigrant criminality!”

"I want to learn about what kind of social phenomena influenced the music of the ’50s“

My research question deals with the transformation of non manual work after the 70s fordist dismissal, inthe x-y-z sectors. More in detail, I want to analyse the changes in the Gallino (19xx) dimensions of work quality…

"I want to study gang activity and to discover if they can be understood as a matter of marginality or of they can be analysed as a real enterprise, acting and re-acting according to a RAT paradigm, according to main economic theory."

"I want to know : 1) about the social, familial, educational, racial, economic and cultural conditions affecting teenage pregnancy and 2) whether and how teenage pregnancy affects young fathers and young mothers differently."

"I want to know whether young 15-35 male immigrants from w-x-y-z countries have a higher propensity to criminal behaviors than their native counterparts”

You need to be sharp. You could try making two lists of questions: "factual" questions

and "substantive" questions. The answers to factual questions: gives your readers the basic

background information they need to understand your topic. Asking Factual questions: Assume your readers knows nothing

about your subject. Make a list of specific questions that ask : Who? What? When? Where? ….

The answers to substantive questions show your creative thinking (*) and can become the basis for your thesis statement.

Asking Substantive Questions: these kinds of questions are the result of your own original thinking. … They can be based on the preliminary research you have done on your chosen topic. They should provide a (tentative) interpretation for the phenomenon you want to study.

How to define a good research question?

Hypothetical / counterfactual: (Weber) How would things be different today if something in the past had been different? Example: What would have happened to the entire western civilization, with its rationalisms, if Persians should have not been defeated in the Salamina battleship? It would have been “strangled in its cradle” in favour of the political despotism and the theological dogmatisms of the Persians…

Prediction: How will something look or be in the future, based on the way it is now? Example: What will happen to Italian Population if Womens’ age at first child continue to increase at the rate it increased in the last XXyears and the average number of children per woman continue to decrease as it did in the last xx years?

Solution: What solutions can be offered to a problem that exists today? Example:

How could we increase female LM participation in Italy? What can be done to decrease the age at which young people in Southern European countries leave parental home?

Comparison or Analogy: Find the similarities and differences between your main subject and a similar subject, or with another subject in the same time period or place. Example: In what ways the Nordic system of Flexicurity deals with LM redundancies of adult-aged male industrial workers and what are the differences with the way the Italian WS managed such a situation?

Substantive Questions

To what extent are final projects/theses written in English?

What is the estimate of the level of English of theses written in English?

What are the current methods of language help available/used?

What challenges are reported when it comes to the current processes?

What improvements could be made either by joint efforts or at the level of individual institutions?

The aim of this study is to fill this gap by analyzing the feedback provided on students’ writing through their Wiki sites and assessing its impact on ESL student’s engineering report writing skills. The objective of the research is:

to investigate the impact of feedback given via Wiki on ESL students’ report writing.

RQ1: How has the language used by ESL engineering students in their reports improved after receiving feedback via Wiki?

RQ2: How has the quality of ESL engineering students’ reports improved after receiving feedback via Wiki?

Engineering RO & Scope

This study aims to:

1.4.1 To fabricate a biosensor using graphene for the detection of Hepatitis B virus.

1.4.2 To optimize the immobilization of Hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (HBsAg) onto the fabricated biosensor.

1.4.3 To investigate the structural characterization, electrochemical properties and biocompatibility property of the fabricated biosensor.

SCOPE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH

Graphene, Hepatits B Virus and Hepatitis B antibodies (anti-HBsAg) will be used in this research. Graphene oxide (GO) will be synthesized from natural graphite based on the modified Hummer’s methods. This GO will then be reduced to graphene. Raman Spectroscopy (RS) will be used for the carbon nanosheet samples identification. In this study, functionalized carbon nanosheet must go through the surface characterization procedure using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Besides, the identification of the functional groups of graphene samples will require the usage of Infrared Spectroscopy (IS). Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) will be used to gather graphene samples compositional and plane orientation information. Immobilization of anti-HBsAg on the fabricated biosensor is based on carbodiimide-assisted amidation reaction. The assay conditions on immobilization time of anti-HBsAg on the carbon nanosheet, the pH of HAc–NaAc buffer, temperature and incubation time will be studied.

Formulate your:

Research objective/s Research questions/ Scope of study Present on powerpoint slide as such:

- Title- Statement of Problem- RO - RQ

Task

In evaluating literature the following questions should be asked

1. What type of research has been done in the area? 2. What research questions have been asked (what theories have been posed)?3. How have researchers gone about answering those questions? That is how did they define variables? What research methods did they use?4. What suggestions do other researchers make for further study?5. What has not been investigated?6. How can the proposedstudy add to further knowledge in the area?

Conduct a literature review

Citation

Research Objectives &/ Questions

Methodology

Findings Your reflections

Literature review table

Conduct a literature review Go to the library/ iportal Browse for journals relevant to your study Use keyword search to find a minimum of five journal

articles relevant to your study Read the journals and complete the literature review

table as shown. Put the table on the powerpoint slide that you have

been using. In the next class, present to the class what you have

found.

Homework for tomorrow’s class

Present you Literature Review table to the class.

Review of homework taskSession3

The literature review:

helps place the proposed study under the general body of knowledge & saves duplication

helps anticipate possible causes, effects, and complex processes of the problem under investigation

is NOT a summary of related works nor a mere listing of previous research BUT a critical appreciation of relevant literature conceptually integrated within the logic of the proposed investigation

should show similarities & differences with other relevant research

provides the theoretical foundations/ framework of the study

can provide conceptual/operational definitionsLiterature review in proposal

Go to:http://uhe3142project-based-proposal-writing.wikispaces.com/Literature+Review

Identify:- the structure of a good literature review

paragraph- useful language expressions- techniques of being critical

Theories underlying the study:

Title: The effect of online chat on students’ revision process

Theoretical foundation/framework: process writing, computer-mediated communication, interaction

Group your literature review to areas/ issues/ theories in your Theoretical foundation/framework

Theoretical foundation/ framework

1.5 WIKIS IN THE ESL WRITING CLASSROOM

The application of computer technology in ESL writing classroom is not something new and has been found to be beneficial in developing students‟ writing skills (Cunningham , 2000; Goldberg, Russell and Cook, 2003) and enhancing their writing process (Price, 1997; Lee, 2004; Ware, 2004). The tools used have evolved from the use of software, word processor to synchronous or asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools. Today, Web 2.0 applications like blog and wikis are seen as the “second generation Web which offer powerful opportunities for online collaboration for both language professionals and learners” (Godwin-Jones, 2003: 12). Wikis is an editable, web-based free authoring tool which allows users to create a fully editable website (Boulos, et al., 2006). Visitors to the website can easily read, and edit or modify content, structure or design of the website directly on the page, often without the need for registration (Augar, et al., 2004; Tonkin, 2005; Boulos, et al., 2006; Wang & Turner, 2004; Charles & Ranmi, 2007).

Wikis can be easily used for writing instruction especially for process and collaborative writing activities (Chen et al., 2005). The software makes the writing process visible, for example, the writer‟s edits can be viewed on the screen. It provides a platform for instructors to monitor the students‟ writing development and give feedback at any stage of their writing process (Carr, et al., 2007:280). In addition a group of students can work together on a writing task, editing and building on one another‟s work or a student can work with the instructor one-on-one receiving feedback and revising the written work without having to meet face-to-face. The tool also allows those browsing the wikis site to take a dual role of reader and writer (LeLoup & Ponterio, 2006). Thus this tool can free students and teachers from the rigid time-constraints of the classroom and facilitates meaningful creation of knowledge online (Lamb, 2004). The facilities available on wikis make it a feasible tool for teaching writing. It can be used to easily monitor students‟ writing progress. The students do not have to meet lecturers face-to-face. Instead, wikis can be used to provide support and feedback to students‟ written work without the constraints of time and place as compared to face-to-face consultations (Godwin-Jones, 2003).

Sample

Write one section of your literature review

Homework: submitted at end of week

Determine methodological orientation, data collection & data analysis procedures

Session4

Quantitativeis upon facts that are the products of

direct or indirect observations,

upon concepts, and their

indicators, hypothesis

testing based upon sample

survey, and upon statistical

analysis of data. Researchers are concerned with

relationships among variables and patterns e.g cause - effect

Qualitativeexamines social phenomena in their natural settings and emphasises

verbal descriptions and explanations of

human behaviour.

Researchers try to understand behaviour and institutions by

getting to know the persons involved by

getting to know their rituals,

symbols, beliefs and emotions.

Mixed methodmixing of

quantitative and qualitative

methods

Triangulationthe use of diverse data, it involves combining different methods and theories, as well as perspectives of different investigators• data triangulation - the

use of variety of data sources and data sets in a study. Data may be both qualitative and quantitative, gathered by different methods or by the same method from different sources or at different times.

• investigator triangulation - the use of several different researchers. Here the importance of partnership and teamwork is underlined as the way of bringing in different perspectives.

• theory triangulation - the use of different theoretical viewpoints for determining competing hypotheses as well as for interpreting the single set of data.

• methodological triangulation - the use of multiple methods to study a single problem or phenomenon. It may also include the use of the same method on different occasions and situations.

Methodological orientation

QuantitativeDesign:

Surveys, experimental designs, natural scientific enquiryData collection instruments:

Questionnaire, pre-post test, lab experiments

Data analysis procedures:Statistical analysis e.g. t-test,

ANOVA/MANOVASoftware: SPSS, Rasch

Methodology

Divide this section into: Research design, Population/ Participants, Sample & sampling, Data collection instrument/s, Validity, reliability, Procedures for data collection.

for each of these you must provide: A clear and meaningful reason for choosing your

methodology such as from literature review. example

Data collection

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGNThis study adopted the case study approach as it aimed at looking at one particular phenomenon. McMillan (2004: 271) provides a comprehensive definition of a case study research below:

A case study is an in-depth analysis of one or more events, settings, programs, social groups, communities, individuals and other bounded systems.

The case study is an investigation of one entity, which is carefully defined and characterized by time and place. The single entity could be a person, a school or even an event. Yin (2003: 13) further emphasizes that the case study method is an empirical inquiry that can provide a holistic understanding of real-life events “especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident”. What this highlights is that case study can facilitate meaningful enquiry into everyday phenomena. The researcher believes that the context is as important as the phenomenon itself and seeks to find out how each contributed to and influenced the other. 3.3.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen undergraduate ESL engineering students from three intact classes enrolled in the Undergraduate Research Project 1 at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Faculty of Electrical Engineering were selected as participants for this study. Non-random purposive sampling method was used to select the participants in order to elicit the data pertinent to this study. Random sampling is the primary method used to ensure external validity but non-random sampling is preferred when the nature of research or size of population under study is unsuitable for random sampling which requires a relatively large population (Babbie, 2001). Three possible methods of non-random sampling are systematic, convenience and purposive sampling (Mackey & Gass, 2005). Purposive sampling is commonly used when the researcher has selected the participants based on his/her knowledge of the participants and their relevance to the purpose of the study (Babbie, 2001). Purposive sampling is the main sampling strategy in qualitative research because it seeks rich and thick description through in-depth study of particular subjects (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2006, Patton, 1990, Wiersma, 2000).

The participants were students who stayed on in the class for the ten-week period of the study and continually posted drafts on their wikispaces. All of the participants were 21 year-old, fourth year students. They had completed their compulsory eight credits of English and a total of 80 credits of the graduation requirements. These courses were the pre-requisite for URP 1.

Divide this section into: Describing the method/ procedure/ scheme you are

going to use to analyse each type of data collected- You might have a coding system/ sheet to

analyse each data Rationale for choosing that particular method/

procedure/ scheme (literature review)

Data analysis procedures

Title Background of the study Statement of the problem RO – RQ Methodology – data collection and data analysis

procedures Expected outcome (engineering research) Scope of study (engineering research) Gantt chart - milestones

Write the research proposal

{Thank you & Good luck

Questions????