Proposal Development

Proposal Development

MIS773Research Seminar in IS

Jerry Chang

Research Plan of research - research proposal

Describes research question within the domain of study, the importance of that question, plan of study, and competency of the investigator

Conduct of research - methods and analysis Helps the investigator test the research

question Outcome of research - publications

Disseminates study findings and results to appropriate audience

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Your proposal must: be clear and concise not exceed 5000 words be written in non-technical language cite all sources used include a bibliography following

appropriate format (MISQ, APA etc.) be submitted early as a draft for

feedback propose a faculty advisor and describe

why that advisor is suitable for the project

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Your proposal must: identify general problem domain provide a review of the literature for

that problem domain define specific research question(s) to

be investigated describe the method(s) to be used and

why those methods are appropriate describe the expected outcome for the

research project give a projected timetable to carry out

the research

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Proposal content Flow is important in communicating

ideas In general, proposal must have a

beginning, a middle part, and an ending The introduction and background make up

the beginning Literature review, research hypotheses,

supporting arguments, and methods make up the middle part

Discussion, conclusion, and suggested limitations from expected findings for the study make up the ending

Resource (funding) requirements should be outlined and included

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Introduction1. The topic is important; what is its

theoretical and/or practical significance Improve something Understand something Personal and professional reasons Quickly answers “why?” & “so what”

questions2. What we know about the topic; who has

done what, what the literature says3. What we don’t know about the topic;

what has not been done or done incorrectly

4. What the proposed study intends to do; based on #3; in most cases as research question(s) 6

Literature review1. Reinforce importance of the topic through

recognition of past research in the area2. Demonstrate thoroughness in understanding

of the topic3. Describe the important constructs and key

variables involved in the study4. Describe known relationships between

constructs; dependent and independent variables, diagram and schema

5. Identify areas of weaknesses or omissions in the literature; leading to necessity for the proposed study

Always record and organize citations7

Research development1. Summarize what is know and what is

missing2. Develop research hypotheses; what’s to

be tested Synthesis of literature that leads to new

insights from the current study Addition or modification to existing

understanding of constructs and their relationships

Logical justifications and/or arguments for each hypothesis

Aided by developed research model(s) when appropriate

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Notes: Distinguish between research question

or proposition and research hypothesis Research question or proposition is more

exploratory, has tentative literature support, and is more difficult to formulate

Research hypothesis is more definitive, supported more clearly by literature; and tested for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer

Both research question and research hypothesis must be stated clearly in a single testable statement

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Research hypotheses Hypothesis testing is primarily used in

quantitative research In hypothesis testing a null hypothesis

and an alternative hypothesis are formulated and tested

In developing hypotheses, the emphasis should be on the intent of what the researcher hopes to prove

A hypothesis must relate to one specific research question to avoid confusion in testing and interpretation

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Method Description of research method Justification of the chosen method Positivist approach

Survey Experiment Content analysis Secondary data Interviews Observation

Interpretive approach Tentative subjects and questions Focus may change as study unfolds Interviews Observation

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Positivist approach Step-by-step research methodology With an eye to replication Testable hypotheses Operationalization of constructs Identification of appropriate research

subjects Psychometric tools and analysis Pilot study

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Discussion & conclusion Discussion, conclusion, and limitations Interpret results and findings within the

context of literature described earlier Describe implications for research and

practice Describe limitations of the study and

how they might influence results Future research and what others should

consider when replicating the study

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Resource requirement Describe required resource for the study

Project timetable Human resource Funds

Yourself, staff, consultant, etc. Supplies and equipments Travel cost Indirect cost Research support

Others

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Ethics in research No compromises, no evasions, no

shortcuts, no excuses and no saving face

Consequences for many years to come Institutions and faculty need to

socialize students into ethical norms Self study, informal discussions, workshops

and symposia on ethics

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Ethics and the research process National Academy of Science (NAS)

define scientific misconduct. Three Broad Categories

Scientific misconduct (falsifying data, plagiarism)

Questionable Research procedures (keeping inadequate records, careless data collection)

Other misconduct (Violation of Govt. regulations, sexual harassment, etc)

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Protection of human subjects All universities receiving Federal funding must

have a mandatory review of research proposals Understand the guidelines before preparing

your proposal Determine if you are subject to additional

ethical guidelines Humane treatment of human beings is far

easier to build in than to add on Right to protection begins with the right of free

and informed choice Every human has the right not to be used by

other people People asked to participate have a right to

know what they are getting into and the right to give or withhold their cooperation

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UNLV ORI (IRB) Informed, voluntary, benefits > risks,

equality, privacy, and confidentiality Research Protocol Proposal

Exempted, excluded Faculty PI with CITI Informed consent

Online submission Board review when necessary Web site:

http://www.unlv.edu/research/ORI-HSR

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The ethics of writing Plagiarism

Ideas and words = Valuables of scholarship Grand theft

Failure to use quotation marks Omitting citations Carelessness in preparing list of references Failure to obtain permission for use of figures,

tables, illustrations from another document Providing all the facts

All relevant facts vs. favorable facts Deliberate omission of information Accidental omission of information

Manufacturing the facts Fabricating data Falsifying data

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Ethics in publishing Pay attention to names to appear, what

order, who to be acknowledged? Follow rules established by

Universities, Journals, Govt. Agencies, etc.

Duplicate submissions are absolutely prohibited.

Never submit an abstract until the research is finished.

Never pad your resume.

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Personal and professional relationships Relationships with faculty mentors

Pressure to go beyond the expected academic or professional relationship

Pressure from faculty to perform tasks not part of the academic program

Discovery and obligation Protect yourself from involvement or

reprisal Any institution receiving federal funding

has procedures for investigating violations of research ethics

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Style and form in writing the proposal Writing

The most important factor in conveying your ideas Presentation of the idea:

Clear Straightforward Concise

The research proposal should address Exact nature of the matter to be investigated Detailed account of the methods to be employed

Stick to the topic No need to praise the importance of the field Do not manipulate the opinions of the readers “Does the reader really need to consider this point in

order to judge the adequacy of my thinking?”

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Title Title is the first contact Communicate a concise, thorough, and

unambiguous picture of the content Use similar terms as other researchers –

keywords Include:

Dependent and independent variables, performance component, administrated treatment, underlying model, purpose of study and any unusual contribution of the study

Don’t include Population, research design, instrumentation

Two line title is long enough. Avoid redundancy

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Quotation Number of citations doesn’t add to the

weight of the argument Have all the citations needed? Enough! Non-selective references: inability to

differentiate between important and trivial Direct quotation: Be careful

Nobody will read “a lengthy quotation” “who said it” or “how it was said” is critically

important Otherwise, paraphrase

Less distracting Speak directly to the reader Prevents unintentional plagiarism

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Clarity and precision Common language vs. language of research

Common language Acquired gradually, unsystematically and mostly

unconsciously Language of research

In a system, each word should mean one thing for both writer and reader

Don’t invent new words, if there is one out there

Define the word, if there is doubt about the meaning

Use system meanings of words, that’s what reader expects

Use footnotes to clear the real meaning Import new words very carefully

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Editing Examine the proposal for clarity and

grammar Each sentence should fit with the

surrounding sentences Review by colleagues and/or copy editor Strictly avoid:

Mechanical errors Irritating confusion Shoddy formatting

Double spacing, margins, headings Charts Appendix

High quality print

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Master thesis Originality

All studies deliberately employed to test the accuracy of results or the applicability of conclusions developed in previous studies.

Replication Direct – students must not only correctly identify all

the critical variables in the original study but also create equivalent conditions for the conduct of their own study.

Revised – a student may repeat an interesting study considered to have been defective in sample, method, analysis, or interpretation.

Advisor selection – competence, interest, energy, time, interaction

Thesis committee – usually between 3 – 6 faculty members

Formatting guideline from the Graduate College

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Search for funding Locate the nearest grant library National or Regional conferences Institutional retrieval systems Federal and State funding Foundations and charities Commercial search services Business UNLV OSP Web site:

http://research.unlv.edu/osp/ Apply early and often Apply to multiple places - You can accept them Money does not make good research - good

researchers do DO NOT SELF-FUND - This can erode your

quality of life