last updated 3/14/22 [in-person version] -  paradigm support teams added at bottom

  

 

►► Research Proposal Written & Oral Components

 

 

         DUE DATES:    

Due: W 3/16/22 @ 12:30pm < in-class Presentations to be done via small group sessions>
Due: W 3/16/22@  12:30pm - earlier is OK as well<Formal Document submission for Professor review & grading | :HARD COPY || See  Proposal Grading checklist.
Due: 3/2-through- 3/3 < an early written DRAFT due for your Conference with Professor {note, Prof will be only skimming the draft during these meetings ( via screen share but you should have your own copy open in front of you in a separate window  for reference, Also, YOU should come prepared w/ YOUR specific questions.
 

 

  End Product:

 This is a three to five (3-5) page document in which you specify your:

(1)  research question or hypothesis (as appropriate for your research approach) and

(2) the structure of your planned investigative  project.

 

 The seven(7) separate parts of this document are outlined below.

 As you probably realize by now, the investigative study that you are conducting for your Senior Thesis will be your contribution to the "body of Communication knowledge" that you began exploring during your earlier review of the literature (in the form of an annotated Bibliography.

 


 

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Rationale: This Proposal document serves as a research plan in that it outlines how you will be conducting your actual original investigative study & then writing the paper. If you create a concrete, well thought-out outline/proposal, the strategic work is all done. All you have to do is carry it out.

 


 

Suggested Procedures:  

 (1) Continue with your ongoing Review-of-the-Literature to make yourself more and more familiar with the extant primary research in your area-of-curiosity.  As you continue to read & summarize the articles, keep in mind how this previous research can support your Toulmin-based argument {particularly the warrant component}.

 

 (2) You will have a brief conference with the Professor to troubleshoot your proposal ideas and intended research methods before your oral presentation to your seminar-mates.

 

 (3) In essay format, create the detailed, written plan of how you intend to conduct your study. You should bring [S'22 = emailed in advance] a preliminary draft of your proposal document with you to your conference with the Professor, but the formal proposal submission is due on the same day as the oral presentations. (see date indicated above)

 


 

 

Proposal Components  : [ 7 categories]

 

     1. abstract (one paragraph explaining what you are investigating and why) (be sure to include your Research Question/Hypothesis)

 

     2. Explain your planned research design. (using the appropriate, "scholarly"  terminology, specify your epistemological paradigm, methodology, forms/units of measurement, timeline)

 

    3.  Give specific details as applicable to your project.

       (e.g. *What steps have you taken to assemble your sample? 

                 *Have you obtained the appropriate permissions/clearances? 

                 *How many questions will you have in your questionnaire? 

                 *What question structure are you planning to use & why?

                 *How have you arranged to distribute & collect your survey? 

                 *What are the names & dates for any in-depth interviews that you need to conduct? 

                 *How have you determined your "coding"?

                 *What analytical assistance will you need - e.g. someone to help you process the numerical data 

                       etc.) 

 

    4.  Specify which Communication theories "underlie" &/or will be applied to your research area.

 

    5. Specify what steps you are taking to ensure the validity of your results.

 

    6. Specify your argument. {Claim, evidence, warrant, backing, reservation, qualifier} See Toulmin model below. [click or scroll down]

 

    7. a Working Bibliography (citation listings only of source you are using- no annotations needed this time , use CURRENT & CORRECT APA style. )

 

 

 


 

Presentation guidelines & timing :  to be done via small group format in class on 3/16/22. Each person's presentation to the small group of 3-4 people will be a 7-10 minute explanation which summarizes:

          - your specific plan for continuing to investigate your Hypothesis/Research Question

           - an explanation of where this current project falls within the larger body of literature

           - the details of, and the rationale underlying, your choices concerning method & measurement.  (including the details of exactly how you will get access to your subjects / informants / texts / data - as  applicable for your study).

 

<Everyone will complete a written feedback sheet to give to each other presenter in his/her group.>

- S'22 feedback procedure: The small group presentation sessions will be moderated by a designated moderator {name is capitalized}. Everyone  will give at least one SPECIFIC item of feedback to each other presenter in his/her group - either during this session or via email, within 2-3 hours.  Use the basic proposal grading checklist  as a guide on what sorts of things warrant your feedback. This is only a guide. You do not need to complete the entire form. 

 

 It is understood that some people's preferred/ideal research design may be constrained by logistical, time restrictions, & /or access limitations due to pandemic circumstances which may lead to revisions of the original plan.

 


SECTION BELOW  UPDATED FOR S'22


S'22 Paradigm Partnerships

 

1 -_x JACK_/ _x Declan _ /_x Kyle_/_x Andrew_/F2F motivation pragmatics

 

2 - _x ______/_x MARISA_ /_x Ben_/_x Natalia_/ critical studies

 

3 - _x SEBASTIAN_ /_x Christina_/ x Alex_/ Eden  / mediated messages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

►► Research Proposal    Grading  Checklist to:___________________from _Dr. Plummer_

Proposal Components:

  

Required Item

Comments

 

1. abstract  (/ incl. RQ/H)

 

 

 

 

 

2. research design (incl. 

    - terminology[Scholarly Language],

    - epistemological paradigm,

    - methodology,

    - forms/units of measurement,

    - procedural timeline)

 

 

 

3. applicable specific details

   * sample? 

    * permissions/clearances? 

    * # survey questions?

    * question structure & why?

    * distribution/collection? 

    * in-depth interviews info? 

    * "coding" determinations?

    * assistance w/ analytics?

 

 

4. Comm. theories

 

 

 

 

5. Validity assurances

 

 

 

 

 

6. Your argument. {Claim,

      evidence, warrant, backing,

      reservation, qualifier}

 

 

 

 

7.  Working Bibliography

     (citation listings only, via

     CURRENT & CORRECT APA)

 

 

 

 

Any additional issues

(incl. writing style)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most symbols explained on back

 

Overall Grade:

 

(including consideration of Oral Presentation’s specificity)