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4000-word Quantitative Research Proposal<br>
NB: submission deadline is 16 December 2015<br>
Programme of study: MA in Disability Studies (School of Policy and Social Sciences)<br>
Module/Unit: Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences. <br>
The assignment for this unit requires you to develop a quantitative research proposal. We would like you to design a study in a policy area of your choice.<br>
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The study could be a: <br>
• Observational survey <br>
• Experimental trial <br>
• Secondary analysis of existing observational or experimental data <br>
• Systematic review.<br>
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Part One (no more than 2000 words) <br>
In the first part of the assignment we would like you to describe a study you have designed to answer a research question in a policy area of your choice. The proposal should contain a clear outline of the:<br>
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• Theoretical background to the area that you wish to explore <br>
• Research question/s that will be answered <br>
• Hypotheses that will be tested – highlighting the independent and dependent variables <br>
• Methods to be used including detail on o Study design <br>
o Sampling frame <br>
o Data collection/Access procedures <br>
o Data Analysis plan (Using Statistical Package for Social sciences-SPSS)<br>
.Anticipated ethical issues in the study,<br>
.Preliminary studies or pilot tests <br>
.Significance of the study<br>
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Part Two (no more than 2000 words) <br>
The second part of the assignment should draw on methodological literature and analyse the strengths and weakness of the proposed research and methods. Your analysis should consider:<br>
. The philosophycal underpinnings <br>
• The strengths and weaknesses of the design/methods selected <br>
• Practical difficulties in conducting the research <br>
• Threats to validity (internal, external, construct etc validity) & reliability and steps taken to control for them. <br>
• Ethical issues raised by the proposal<br>
. Conclusions<br>
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Guidance <br>
• Your essay should use <a href=”https://1.5″ target=”_blank”>1.5</a> line spacing; no less than 12 pt font <br>
• Include exact word count – <br>
• The main section including parts one and two (no more than 4000 words, including figures and tables but not reference lists) <br>
• A complete reference list presented according to the Harvard system1. <br>
• Include page numbers at the bottom of each page <br>
• Remember that you may lose marks if you exceed the word limit, do not reference properly, or submit the assignment late without a pre-approved extension.<br>
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Marking: <br>
Briefly assignments should demonstrate:<br>
• Knowledge of the relevant literature <br>
• Independent and critical evidence synthesis <br>
• An acquisition relevant skills <br>
• Clear presentation and use of referencing system <br>
• The ability to write well and draw valid conclusions <br>
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Tips: To check the quality of your essay, consider asking yourself the following questions and noting in the margins of your final draft where you have addressed each point. <br>
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Purpose and Objectives:<br>
• Is the main purpose clear? In your words, what is it? <br>
• Are objectives stated early on and major issues clearly identified? Are they linked in obvious ways to the main research question? <br>
• Will the reader quickly see how the question relates to the area of interest? <br>
• Are the style and tone of the essay appropriate to the audience and the occasion?<br>
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Structure:<br>
• Are subsections and paragraphs unified – each focusing on one central topic? <br>
• Does your format (headings, bullets, boldface, etc) explicitly describe the text that follows? Do headings summarise key points? <br>
• Are there clear ‘road signs’ indicating how your arguments move towards your conclusions? <br>
• Are there any redundant/repetitive parts? Can they be combined or deleted? <br>
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Development:<br>
• Do you indicate awareness of the difference between facts and opinions?<br>
• Are opinions sufficiently supported by relevant data/sources/theory? <br>
• Are issues overdeveloped; too detailed or contain less relevant arguments?<br>
• Could some information be presented more clearly in a table/figure/graph?<br>
NB: submission deadline is 16 December 2015
