Research Proposal Chapter 3 PDF

Research Proposal Chapter 3  What is Research? It is a method of Enquiry to look for reality. Research is a process that entails many steps to complete it successfully.  Why do we do Research? To add to the body of knowledge about human life. Researchers try to bu...

Research Proposal Chapter 3  What is Research? It is a method of Enquiry to look for reality. Research is a process that entails many steps to complete it successfully.  Why do we do Research? To add to the body of knowledge about human life. Researchers try to build on existing knowledge to complete or refine the profession’s knowledge, so that practitioners can use the knowledge in their practice. There are different ways to learn about human existence, but psychological research strives to gather information in a scientific and unbiased way.  How do we do Research? We do it systematically. According to a set procedure. This procedure entails many aspects that a researcher has to consider.  Research considerations 1. You need a research topic or idea. 2. You need to discover what is already known about this topic. What has been researched and published? - Called “Literature Review” 3. After reviewing what is already known about the topic, where are the gaps in knowledge? - Called “Problem Formulation” 4. This determines what you intend to focus on with your research project. - Called “Aim and Objectives” An aim is a broad statement of the focus of your study and objectives breaks the aim into specific and measurable smaller chunks.  Research considerations 5. How will you conduct the study? - Called “Research Design” 6. How will you collect information or data for the study? - Called “Measures” or “Data Collection” 7. Who will you collect the data from and how will you select them? - Called “Participants and Sampling” 8. What is your research plan step by step? - Called “Procedure” 9. How will you analyse the data from the participants to make sense of it? - Called “Data Analysis”  Research considerations 10. How will you ensure the scientific rigour of you study? - Called “Validity and Reliability” or “Trustworthiness” 11. What are the ethical concerns of your study and how will you address them? - Called “Ethical Considerations” 12. How will you report the findings to the academic community? - Called “Dissemination of Results” 13. When will you do the whole research study? - Called “Work and Time Schedule” 14. How much money will it cost to perform the research? - Called “Budget”  Qualitative Proposal Quantitative Proposal Cover Page Contents Abstract Literature Review Research Proposal Structure Theoretical Framework Problem Formulation Aim and Objectives Research Method Research Design Data Collection Measures - Validity and Reliability Participants and Sampling Procedure Data Analysis Trustworthiness Ethical Considerations Pilot Study (if needed) Dissemination of Results Time Schedule Budget References Appendix A: Letter of Invitation Appendix B: Informed Consent Appendix C [Interview Schedule] [Questionnaire]  Research Process 1. Write a research proposal - To ask for permission to conduct your research. - Written in future tense “eg. The proposed research will…” 2. Apply for permission and ethics approval from the University. 3. Apply for research funding. 4. Approach gatekeepers and participants. 5. Conduct the study. 6. Analyse the results. 7. Write up the completed study. - In past tense. What you did. 8. Inform the academic community of the study’s findings.  Ethical Considerations Ethical considerations form an important aspect when planning and conducting research. Importance of the Belmont Report (1979) Aspects of Research Ethics: - Obtaining permission for research - Informed assent and consent - Anonymity and confidentiality - Right to withdraw participation - Non-maleficence and beneficence - Safe-keeping of data. What data will be included in the research. - Social value of the research - Facilitating counselling