Unit 2 Research Proposal Tentative Schedule Week Intro to research proposals 2-20-Intro to primary research/research questions Week Interivew strategies /SoP Survey +Observation strategies 2-27-Short Proposal Peer Review & Methodology Minor Essay 2- Short Research Proposal Due Week Statement of Qualification/APA Format 3-4- Lit Review & Abstract 3-6-Peer Review & Final Debates Research Proposal Final Draft- Due 3/6 by midnight

Today’s Goals Finish up debate planning activity (from Friday) Discuss methods and strategies for conducting interviews Discuss requirements of purpose statements in research proposal writing

U20 Debate Topics 3/2 Genetic modification War on terror 3/4 Work placement & rehabilitation for former prisoners

U23 Debate Topics 3/2 Police Effects of social media 3/4 Effects of video games

U65 Debate Topics Social media and its effects Polygamy Mental health patient sentencing

Group Activity: Debate Planning In your unit 2 groups Brainstorm ideas for how to structure your group’s debate as well as ideas for the content of your team’s speaking points 1. Generate at least 4 solid supporting reasons you could use for your argument (utilize each rhetorical appeal at least once) 2. What kind of data will you look for to support each of these main points? Who will be responsible for finding this data? 3. What kind of organization/order will your group use for its presentation? Will you follow a set order or respond to the content of your opposing team? 4. Will your group have an appointed leader or make decisions as a group? Who will this leader or ruling body be?

Research Proposal Overview Title page Abstract (100 words or less) Identify research question, research methods, & most important points of research Statement of Purpose (usually 100+ words. Often the second longest section of the essay) State research question and hypothesis Convince readers why the research is necessary Statement of Qualification (approximately 100 words but may be longer) Explain why you are qualified to conduct this research Mention qualifications as well related personal experiences Literature Review (200+ words. Often the longest section of the essay) Briefly sum up the secondary sources you are using and how they are relevant to your research Methods (approximately 100 words) Name your primary research method and explain your general strategy for it (i.e. what do you hope to find) References The APA version of a Works Cited page Appendix Usually includes supplementary information The appendix for our research proposals will include detailed information about your primary research (such as interview, questions surveys, or observation goals)

Statement of Purpose Goals: State research question (focused, determinate) State hypothesis: what do you anticipate the results of your research will show? Convince readers why your research is necessary Suggestions: often the second longest section of your essay (after the literature review) Should utilize an attention grabbing strategy to explain why the research is important and necessary (logos is most commonly used here but pathos will work for certain topics) Economy of information is not as important here as in the abstract. Feel free to explain yourself in detail and defend your position or the purpose of your research Citations and secondary source information can be used here (especially helpful for logos)

Example Purpose Statement “The primary purpose of this research is to explore the effects of video games on the minds of minors. With the United States’ technology improving quite rapidly throughout the years, violent video games are at a closer reach to children now than ever. In fact, over 183 million Americans report playing one or more hours of video games a day (TED, 2012). That is more than half the population of the country. The concern is, are violent video games actually capable of causing behavioral issues in these young gamers? According to Kaplan (2012), “high exposure to […] video games can lead to changes in brain function” (p. 11) which includes showing aggression towards others. By viewing these graphic images and partaking in virtual killing, desensitization occurs and kids are no longer phased by violence. Although this research primarily focuses on violent video games found in the United States, it is noteworthy to know that this is a problem that goes far outside of this country, and that violent video games also seem to be affected minors across the world; Kaplan (2012) states that these places include “Japan, Singapore, Germany, [and] Portugal” (p.8). This has clearly become a global issue. By not allowing kids to play violent video games until they reach a certain level of maturity, or by reducing the time spent playing will diminish the risk of them developing behavioral problems. This research needs to be conducted for the well-being of young people, to help parents choose games that are appropriate for their children instead of thwarting their mental development with video games. It is anticipated that results will show and fortify the connection between violent behavior and playing video games.

Journal Entry 17 Focus: Draft Statement of Purpose Take a few minutes to begin drafting the statement of purpose for your research proposal (or at least the ideas that you will use for it). You may wish to consider? What is your research question? (remember to keep this focused and determinate, as we discussed last class) What do you expect to find as a result of your research? This will become your hypothesis and should be stated in the Purpose Statement Why is your research so important? Who will benefit from it? This is likely the question you should spend the most time on as it will take up the most content of the Purpose Statement You may also wish to consider what types of background information you can use to support this

Interviews Advantages Disadvantages Strongest ethos of all the research methods Allows for a variety of quotes that can be incorporated into your essay Best research method for showing expert opinion or view Excellent practice for social science/media majors Arguably the most time consuming of the research methods Interviewing unqualified subjects or asking poorly formed questions will be extremely counterproductive (more so than other research methods) Produces so much material that deciding which quotes to use can often be difficult Forming questions for interviews can often be more difficult than surveys

Interview Method Requirements Interview at least five subjects, who should be appropriate to your inquiry and requirements, in separate interviews Ask each interviewee at least 10 questions You may have some questions that you ask all interviewees, but some questions will have to be tailored to each specific subject Must use at least one quote from each person interviewed (in the informative article) Interviewees should usually be experts in the field or subjects who can speak with personal experience Provide a transcript or recording of your interviews Use proper interview citation:

Interviews-Procedure Before the interview Consider your purpose Learn about your subject Formulate your questions Gather your supplies During the interview Manage your time Be courteous Take notes Be flexible After the interview Review notes/results soon after Note: the more professional and prepared you are for your interview, the more seriously your subjects will respond (A&B p )

Interview Citations MLA In-text citation: (Anderson) Works Cited citation Anderson, Nicholas. Personal Interview. 20 Oct APA In-text citation: (N. Anderson, personal communication, October 20, 2014) References: APA does not include interviews in the reference section, only in its in-text citations

Creating Interview Questions You may want a few (2-3 at most) background questions to find out about your subject and to get them comfortable speaking before proceeding into your main questions Your main questions should be open ended enough to allow your subjects sufficient freedom to answer as they see fit Should be focused enough to keep your subjects on topic If your subject gets off topic, that is ok! Sometimes the best information will come from this. Do not rush your subject or force them back on topic before they are ready Do not ask leading or determinate questions. You do not want yes/no answers, and you do not want to color your subjects’ perceptions of your expectations Do not discuss your hypothesis or goal with the subject ahead of time. You should only tell them your general topic

Creating Interview Questions You should include at least one “Danger of death” question These questions do not have to literally ask someone about a time they died, but they should ask the subject something they feel a deep, personal connection to Danger of death questions are the best way to get your subjects comfortable, speaking openly, and sometimes providing the best information

Group Activity-Interview Brainstorm In your unit 2 groups Create 5 sample interview questions that you could use to learn more about a specific topic (you may use one of the topics of your group members or select a research question below). Additionally, be prepared to tell the class: 1. Who will you interview with these questions? Why does this person/group of people constitute good interview subjects? 2. What do you expect to find? 3. What kind of background research on the subjects can you do before this interview? Sample topics: What is the main cause of students failing courses in college? How do politicians use rhetorical appeals and persuasive strategies during political debates? What are the main stressors that college students have to deal with? Does fraternity enrollment have an effect on academic success? Is it more academically advantageous for students to live on or off campus? How might the college/education system in the US differ from the system in other countries? How do environmental conditions affect students’ study habits?

Homework Read A&B p Journal Entry 18 Focus: RP Source Evaluation 1 Find the first source you will be using for your research proposal (a peer reviewed article) Read and analyze the first source you will be using for your Research Proposal. Sum up the argument it makes in the journal entry as well as the most important or convincing facts in the article. Then reflect on how that article has changed your perspective. General suggestion: focus on logos for all RP source evaluations Minor Essay 2: Short Proposal (due Friday 2/27) In a single page, typed, double spaced, APA essay Identify your research question, hypothesis, selected research method, and why your research is important Including all required information in the clearest way possible is more important than artful prose here.