© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. Chapter 13 Writing a Research Proposal

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. CHAPTER OBJECTIVES - STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO: Identify the components/sections of a typical research proposal. List the guidelines advocated by the APA (2001) regarding proposal preparation. List the ten most pressing criticisms of research articles as discussed in the text. Apply the criteria for judging a research study.

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. CHAPTER OBJECTIVES - STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO: Demonstrate how to list activities and estimate the time involved in each when writing a research proposal. Discuss how to select a dependent variable. Discuss how to review a test using the outline provided in the text. Discuss considerations in selecting a sample.

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. CHAPTER OVERVIEW The Format of a Research Proposal Evaluating the Studies You Read Planning the Actual Research Reviewing a Test Selecting a Sample

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. THE FORMAT OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. THE FORMAT OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL Introduction A (brief) review of the relevant literature Method Proposed analysis of the data Implications and limitations Appendices

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. INTRODUCTION A. The problem statement B. A rationale for the research 1. Statement of the research objectives C. Hypothesis D. Definition of terms E. Summary

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. LITERATURE REVIEW A. The importance of the question asked B. The current status of the topic C. The relationship between the literature and problem statement D. Summary

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. METHOD A. Participants B. Research design C. Data collection plans 1. Operational definitions 2. Reliability and validity of instruments 3. Results of pilot studies D. Proposed analysis of data E. Results of data

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. IMPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. APPENDICES A. Copies of instruments that will be used B. Results of pilot studies C. IRB (Institutional Review Board (IRB) application and letter of approval D. Participant approval form E. Timeline F. Actual data

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. NEATNESS Follow APA (American Psychological Association)guidelines

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. EVALUATING THE STUDIES YOU READ

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. EVALUATING THE STUDIES YOU READ Understand the literature you read Critically evaluate the studies you read

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING A RESEARCH STUDY The review of previous research The problem and the purpose The hypothesis The method The sample Results and discussion References General comments about the report

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. PLANNING THE ACTUAL RESEARCH

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. PLANNING THE ACTUAL RESEARCH What activities must be completed? How much time will it take to complete each step?

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. SELECTING A DEPENDENT VARIABLE Try to use proven measures Ensure that the measure is valid Ensure that the measure is reliable Consider what training you might need in order to use the measure Be sure the test is available to you If norms are needed, be sure they are available Obtain the most recent version of the test Be sure that the test is appropriate for the age group you intend to sample Read any reviews of the test that are available

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. REVIEWING A TEST

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. REVIEWING A TEST If you use a test to measure the dependent variable Review and evaluate the test on these criteria  Basic information  General test information  Design and appearance  Reliability  Validity  Norms  Evaluation

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. SELECTING A SAMPLE

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. SELECTING A SAMPLE Others may also be seeking participants Think about whether group membership poses a problem Know exactly how you intend to approach your participants Clearly identify the population from which you intend to sample The size of your sample depends on the type of research you are doing Consider both validity and reliability Consider how much money you can spend The number of variables and groups you study affects required sample size

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Have you: 1. Developed a data collection form? 2. Specified appropriate descriptive statistics for your data? 3. Identified what other demographic information you will need? 4. Collected and analyzed pilot data?

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. SELECTING AN INFERENTIAL STATISTIC Using a flow chart like Figure 8.3 can be useful for common analyses But there is no substitute for a good statistics course

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. PROTECTING HUMAN SUBJECTS Institutional Review Board (IRB) Informed consent

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. HAVE WE MET THE OBJECTIVES? CAN YOU: Identify the components/sections of a typical research proposal? List the guidelines advocated by the APA (2001) regarding proposal preparation? List the most pressing criticisms of research articles? Apply the criteria for judging a research study?

© 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall, Salkind. HAVE WE MET THE OBJECTIVES? CAN YOU: Demonstrate how to list activities and estimate the time involved in each when writing a research proposal? Discuss how to select a dependent variable? Discuss how to review a test using the outline provided in the text? Discuss considerations in selecting a sample?