Homework: Research Studies Brief
This document has been produced to provide guidance on how your proposal could be structured.
You do not have to follow the structure to the letter, but referring to the guidance can give you some insight into how you can approach the homework.
In addition to reading this document, you should also refer to:
A. The module definition form, please note that as changes have been recently applied to the unit, learning outcome 1 and the assessment details may not have been updated yet.
• For a detailed comparison between the previous and current content, please see the canvas module page title ‘important update' within the ‘Module Information' section.
B. The module learning outcomes:
• This are clearly summarised on the canvas module page ‘Learning Outcomes' within the ‘Module Information' section
C. The generic guidance in the ‘Assessment' module area of canvas
D. The marking grid
• This is available within the ‘Homeworks' area of canvas
• A link to this section is available vie the purple coloured text links on the left side in canvas or via a hyperlink in the ‘Assessment' module area in canvas.
Assessment Type = 4,000 word research proposal.
You do not have to have exactly 4,000 words, though it is advisable to write close to this amount to cover the content fully. The written homework must not exceed the maximum word limit set for that homework.
Students are required to enter an accurate word count on the Homework Cover Sheet (this will be available on canvas closer to the submission date).
In determining the text to be included within the maximum word limit, the following items are excluded:
o Abstracts
o Data
o Tables
o Figures
o Diagrams
o In-text references/citations e.g. "Baxter (2018)"
o Footnotes/endnotes used for reference purposes and kept within reasonable limits
o List of references and/or bibliography
o Appendices
Homework Structure
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
• Ensure that your introduction includes the following information:
o A background/ contextualisation of the research topic
o The reason/rationale for investigation of the research problem
3. Literature Review
• Remember that this section should include:
o An outline of the research paradigm your proposed research falls into
o Details of typical methodological approaches used for related research
o The benefits/advantages of the proposed methodological approaches
a) This is essentially where you are justifying the methods you are proposing in the subsequent sections
o How do other researchers deal with ethical issues related to your proposed research area?
4. Proposed Methods
• For the collection of data and data analysis
• With justification of the appropriateness (strengths and limitations of the chosen approach),
o Provide some links/references to the literature review section. You do not need to type the same information, just show a coherent progression and application of the evidence you are using for your proposed research
• Validity (Quantitative Research) or Truthfulness (qualitative research)
o Based on references and concepts in the introduction and literature review
• Reliability
5. Ethical implications and procedures
• Consider factors such as:
o Voluntary Participation and Consent
a) How will you gain access to potential participants?
b) Use of a gatekeeper is recommended i.e. someone (who is not you) contacting them with the patient information sheet or providing the anonymised data to you from a database.
c) Are you gaining consent?
d) Are you accessing information which people gave consent for third parties to use?
o Confidentiality
o WMA Declaration Of Helsinki
o GDPR
a) How will you store your data?
b) Who will have access and when will it be deleted.
o Application to an ethical committee
a) Will you need to do this?
b) Which committee?
6. Potential implications for policy and practice
• What will the impact of the proposed research be?
• Try not to be too superficial, link this back to your introduction and give specific examples.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.