1. ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL Module 1 Week 2 Supplement 3

2. Elements of a Research Proposal Guidelines for Writing a Research Proposal See McMillan pages 234-242 Week 2 Pre-Class Assignment (see Moodle) Adapted by P. Soneral from T. DeGolier, Bethel University

3. Goals and Objectives On completion of this exercise you will be able to: 1. List and describe the structure of a research proposal 2. Analyze the elements of a research proposal

4. Writing a Research Proposal Title Background and Significance (the question, why this question) Experimental Design and Methods Experimental Logic Proposed Statistical Treatment Itemized Budget Literature Cited

5. Title Informative Specific: focus Concise Considers audience

6. Examples of good and bad titles Good Negative Impact of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Neurobiology DNA Replication Control and Its Application to Selective Killing of Cancer Cells Bad Will Public Health Authorities Be Ready When and If the Horrors of Bioterrorism Unfold in Their Cities? Public Health and Bioterrorism

7. Background and Significance: The question and why this question? Orient the reader by summarizing pertinent literature in your field General to specific Know your audience Citations Explain the rationale for your study What contribution to the field does your own study make? State your objectives and experimental logic

8. Experimental Logic H 0 (null hypothesis) A hypothesis formulated to be rejected Clearly state your hypothesis and predictions

9. Experimental Design and Methods Include enough information that your study can be executed by the reader Specimen and specimen acquisition Equipment/sampling devices Chemicals

10. Experimental Design and Methods Describe procedures consider audience Cite methods Field studies where and when the work will be carried out

11. Organize your methods logically subheadings are okay! Use specific, informative language Use future voice Omit unnecessary information use only what is practical to understanding results Experimental Design and Methods

12. Proposed Statistical Treatment Choose the correct test

13. Itemized Budget Include salary of all personnel Identify suppliers and quantities Give a breakdown of exactly what you will need (use a table) Quantity Vendor Item # Description Cost per unit Total cost

14. Literature Cited ~15 references minimum CSE (LSE) Style: name-year McMillan Ch. 6 Alphabetically Electronic sources

15. Length 5-10 page minimum Well articulated Subject-verb agreement Spell check Cohesive paragraphs

16. Meet deadlines and requirements Failure to do so often suggests to the funding agency that you are incapable of adequate planning and a professional approach = automatic rejection of funds.

17. Results A research proposal is missing a results section. There is no analysis and interpretation of results. Instead: propose and justify your research plans