ASSIGNMENT 2 -Research Proposal Weighting 30% towards final

ASSIGNMENT 2 -Research Proposal Weighting: 30% towards final grade Word limit: 3000 (-/+10%) – text only, excluding tables,appendices, references, covers page, contents. This is an individual piece ofwork Apply the requirements of the Harvard Referencing Systemthroughout the report. Use the structure appearing below: Research ProposalSpecifics You are about to commence a new research project in a fieldof your choice. You are expected to write a report that constitutes a researchproposal. 1. Working individually, you will: – Have chosen a clear andspecific research question/ aim/ hypothesis for your research; – Havecontextualised your research question/ aim within the academic literature; -Understand the philosophical and methodological bases for your research; – Havea sound method to address the research question/ aim/ hypothesis.2. Use Harvard stylein-text citation and referencing. 3. Do not copy any materials you use word for word unlessyou identify these sections clearly as quotations.4. If you paraphraseany materials, you must identify sources through in-text referencing.5. This is anindividual assignment please do not work closely with anyone else. 6. Write 3000 words (+ or – 10%) excluding the header sheet,cover page, contents page, reference list, footnotes and appendices. Marks for criteria: Criteria 10% Focus and Completion Doesthe proposal address the set tasks in a meaningful manner? 20% ResearchObjective Does the proposal clearly articulate 20% Synthesis and Soundness Doesthe proposal place the research objective in the context of the relevantacademic literature and any relevant past studies? Does the discussiondemonstrate a comprehensive understanding of that literature? 30% ResearchMethods and Methodology Does the proposal sensibly outline methods foraccessing sources of data that will address or answer the research objective?Is the method consistent with the methodology? 10% Clarity of Approach Is theproposal well organised, logically constructed and attentive to the needs ofthe reader? Does the timeline include an Gantt chart or key milestones forresearch? 10% Mechanical Soundness Is the portfolio clearly written, spell Structuring theresearch proposal 1. Introduction (~200 words) · Explain the issue you are examining and why itis significant. · Describe the general area to be studied Explainwhy this area is important to the general area under study (e.g., psychology oflanguage, second language acquisition, teaching methods) 2. Background/Review of the Literature (~1000words) A description of what has already knownabout this area and short discussion of why the background studies are notsufficient. · Summarise what is already known about the field.Include a summary of the basic background information on the topic gleaned fromyour literature review · Discuss several critical studies that havealready been done in this area (cite according to Harvard style). · Point out why these background studies areinsufficient. In other words, what question(s) do they leave unresolved thatyou would like to study? 3. Research Objective (~500 words)Acontextualisation and description of the questions you are examining and anexploration of the claims. · Outline the methodological position you willtake (ontology and epistemology) · Outline the overarching research aim, objectiveor hypothesis that you will explore. · List the specific question(s) that you areexploring.· Explainhow these research questions are related to the larger issues raised in theintroduction. 4. Method and Design (~900 words) A description of how you would go aboutcollecting data and test the questions your are exploring. (You are notrequired to come up with a new or original method!).· Describe the general method you choose for yourstudy, in order to explore your research objective or test your hypothesis(es).· Explain why this method is the best for yourpurposes. · Explain any potential difficulties in collectingdata and how these will be overcome· Explain the design features that ensureacceptability for ethical purposes · Describe the participants (if any) and explainhow you selected the sample · Explain how you will present the collected dataand how it will be able to be analysed the results to explore the research aimor to test the research hypothesis 5. Significance and Conclusion (~400 words) Discuss, in general, how your proposedresearch would lead to a significant improvement over the original studies, andhow it would benefit the field. (In other words, why should someone care? 6. References (not in word count) Include all references in Harvard style. Appendix: (not in word count)Dissertation structure in chapters Gantt Chart or timeline