Quantitative Research Plan - SOE
School of Education Research Plan
Quantitative Methods Working Document – Sections 3, 4
Section 1: Learner and Topic Information
1.1 Learner Information
Learner Name:
Learner Email:
Learner Phone number:
Mentor Name:
Mentor Email:
Mentor Phone Number:
Specialization:
Specialization Chair:
1.2 Proposed Dissertation Title:
(Usually a statement based on the research question--short and to the point.)
1.3 Research Topic
Describe the specific topic to be studied in a paragraph. (Be certain that the research
question relates to the topic.)
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Quantitative Research Plan - SOE
1.4 Research Problem
Write a brief statement that fully describes the problem being addressed. Present this in
one sentence or no more than one clear concise paragraph.
1.5 Research Purpose
Write a brief statement that fully describes the intent of the study or the reason for
conducting the study. Present this in one sentence or no more than one clear concise
paragraph.
1.6 Research Question(s)
List the primary research question that the proposed study will address. Although not
required, sub-questions for quantitative questions are permissible, and should also be
listed. Include hypothesis(es) as appropriate.
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1.7 Literature Review Section
Provide a brief overview of the theoretical framework upon which your study is based.
Identify the seminal research and theories that inform your study. Discuss the topics and
themes that you will use to organize your literature review. Attach the most current list of
references with your Research Plan.
1.8 Need for the Study
Describe the need for the study. Provide a rationale or need for studying a particular issue
or phenomenon. Describe how the study is relevant to your specialization area.
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Section 2: Methodology
2.0 Methodology
Describe the basic quantitative approach and methodology that you propose to use. State whether
the study will be experimental, quasi-experimental, or non-experimental. State the name of the
specific type of design to be used and describe the method(s) will you use to collect the data.
Section 3: Advancing the Scientific Knowledge base
3.1 Advancing Scientific Knowledge
Demonstrate how the study (a) will advance the scientific knowledge base; (b) is grounded in the
field of education; and (c) addresses something that is not known, something that is new or
different from prior research, something that extends prior research, or something that fills a gap in
the existing literature. Describe precisely how your study will add to the existing body of literature
on your topic. It can be a small step forward in a line of current research but it must add to the body
of scientific knowledge in your specialization area and on the topic.
To respond to this question you will need to:
1. Provide a paragraph that describes the background for your study and how your
research question relates to the background of the study.
2. Then, in a second paragraph discuss previous research and demonstrate exactly how
your study (answering research question) will advance the scientific knowledge base on
this topic. Include in-text citations and place the references in the reference section.
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3.2 Theoretical Implications
Describe the theoretical implications you believe your study could have for the field of education
and your specialization area.
3.3 Practical Implications
Describe any practical implications that may result from your research. Specifically, describe any
implications the research may have for understanding phenomena for practitioners, the population
being studied, or a particular type of work, mental health, educational, community, stakeholders or
other setting.
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Section 4: Contributions of the Proposed Study to the Field
4.1 Contributions to the Field
Briefly describe the primary theoretical basis for the study. Describe the major theory (or
theories) that will serve as the foundation for the research problem and research questions
and provide any corresponding citations.
4.1 Contributions to the Field
Your study should contribute to research theory in your field by meeting one or more of
these four criteria:
A.
B.
C.
D.
The study should generate new theory.
The study should refine or add to an existing theory.
The study should test to confirm or refute a theory.
The study should expand theory by telling us something new about
application or processes
Describe how your study will contribute to research theory in your field by meeting one or
more of these four criteria.
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Quantitative Research Plan - SOE
Section 5: Methodology Details
5.1 Purpose of the Study
Describe the purpose of the study.
Why are you doing it? (The answer must be grounded in the literature in what has been done-hasn’t been done or needs to be done.)
State the research problem, each research question and any sub questions. Specifically state the
corresponding hypotheses for each research question.
How will the methods to be used actually answer the research question?
5.2 Research Design
Describe the research design you will use. Start by specifically stating the type of quantitative
approach you will use (experimental, quasi-experimental, or non-experimental), include the exact
name or type of design to be used and describe the exact method(s) (archival, survey, observations)
you will use to collect the data. Briefly describe how the study will be conducted.
5.3 Population and Sample
Describe the characteristics of the larger population from which the sample (study participants) will
be drawn. Next describe the sample that will participate in the study and justify the sample size
using a power analysis or some other justification supported in the literature.
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5.4 Sampling Procedures
Describe how you plan to select the sample. Be sure to list the name of the specific sampling
strategy you will use. Describe each of the steps from recruitment through contact and
screening to consenting to participate in the study. Provide enough detail so that someone else
would be able to follow this recipe to replicate the study.
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