Student Research Conference 2019 Submitting a Research Conference Proposal

The Student Research Conference A student-led conference Share, practice, present, learn Format is similar to most professional conferences Simultaneous sessions throughout the day Several different ways to participate This year’s conference theme: The Multiplicity of Research: Identifying and Meeting the Needs of All Students Students from many schools may participate Other schools at Harvard Many students from other universities

Choosing a topic The conference is a forum for all types of research related to education Quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods Pilot studies are fine Preliminary or interim results are welcome Reviews of theories, issues or policies Ideas leading up to research proposals Research-based programs or curricula

Presentation formats Individual papers (panel sessions) Presentations of research results Will be placed in panels with other papers Multiple authors or teams are okay Presentations, questions, discussion Roundtable discussions Will be grouped with others to form a table Brief presentations, extensive discussion Good for preliminary results, work in progress, etc. Poster sessions Presented along with many others

Panel sessions / Roundtable discussions! Right: A panel presentation about writing development Left: Professor Harris is helping out at a roundtable discussion.

Another panel presentation Here is an example of a “pre-formed panel” where the presentations were on a common theme and the students requested to be put together.

The poster session!

Poster examples : Fancy poster examples

Poster examples : A basic poster example

Writing a conference proposal Proposals are brief! You must be concise. Title (no more than 100 characters) Abstract (100 words) Proposal (500 words total, 100 words for each of 5 sections) A good proposal will have: A connection to existing or related research A clear statement of the problem and/or research question(s) A description of the study design and research methods A hint at the findings or anticipated results Implications for research, theory or practice

1. Set the context for your study Conceptual background for your work Relate your work to other studies or literature Identify the main issues or ideas you will address Include some citations Show that you have done some homework

2. Clear statement of your topic What is the topic or project you will be presenting? What research questions will you address? State at least one research question Or state a problem or position statement Keep this simple and clear

3. Design and methods Type of research? What data will you use? Pilot study, literature review, case study, policy analysis, ethnography, intervention, synthesis of research or theory, an explication of a theory What data will you use? Interviews, observations, questionnaires, secondary data from other studies What methods will you use? For collecting data For analyzing data For empirical studies: describe analyses, comparisons, etc. For literature reviews or theoretical papers: what is the argument, and how will you address other perspectives and counter arguments?

4. Findings / Conclusions Preliminary findings or conclusions Anticipated findings or predictions

5. Discussion and implications How will your findings contribute to the field? Link your work and your anticipated findings back to the literature and your research questions What implications might there be? For further research For theory For policy For practice

Writing a conference proposal (A summary) A good proposal will have: Research context/literature review: A connection to existing or related research Research question(s)/ Problem statement: A clear statement of problem and/or research questions Methods: A description of the study design and research methods Findings/ Conclusions: A hint at the findings or anticipated results Implications: Conclusions and implications

Presenting a research-based program/ curriculum? A good proposal for these proposals will have: Research context/literature review: A connection to existing or related research Research question(s)/ Problem statement: A clear statement of problem and/or goal of the program Methods: Theory of Action behind the program Findings/ Conclusions: Summary of the content and/or innovation for the program Implications: Implications of the program, limitations, future directions

Criteria for evaluation of proposal A committee of students will review the proposals Blind review process They will look for the five elements! Follow the recommended outline! Time and space are limited, so you may be assigned to a presentation format that was not your first choice Notification by mid-February

Getting help Check the Student Research Conference resources: Web site: https://src.gse.harvard.edu/ Also: Talk with others about your idea Ask faculty members and other students

See you at the conference on Good Luck! Proposals must be submitted via the SRC website: https://src.gse.harvard.edu/ Proposals submissions will open on Friday, December 14, 2018 Deadline is Friday, February 1, 2019 at 11:59pm Work on drafting your proposal ahead of time! Select the format (poster, roundtable, panel) Then just fill in: Title (no more than 100 characters) Abstract (100 words) Proposal (500 words): Context, RQs, Methods, Findings, Implications See you at the conference on Monday, March 11th, 2019