Quantitative Research Proposal Guidelines
EDUC6482 Trends and Issues in Educational Research, Zhang
Please carefully read the textbook chapter on preparing research proposals and
report. A title and the following sections are needed for the Quantitative Research
Proposal. By following this guideline, once you complete the research study, you can
easily change your proposal to a manuscript that can be submitted to a scholarly journal
for publication.
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Introduction
Theoretical framework and Literature Review
Methodology
Findings (Optional, for bonus points)
Conclusion and Discussion (Optional, for bonus points)
References
Appendix (attach instruments being used)
Below is a detailed explanation of the requirements for each section. I provide
you with this material to not only help you with your successful completion of this
assignment, but also help you when you actually write papers for scholarly publication.
Introduction
(1) Purpose of the study.
(2) Justification for the study (Why this particular research problem is important
to investigate).
(3) Research Question and hypotheses.
(4) Definition of terms.
Operationally define all key terms. For the independent variable, identify the
number of levels and define each. Example: The independent variable
teaching method has three levels: Interactive, Cooperative, and Traditional.
Interactive is a Socratic-like teaching method involving extensive discussion
or interaction between teacher and students; Cooperative teaching involves
extensive structured group work with peer tutoring; Traditional is the typical
lecture method with some limited discussion. Another example: In this study,
minority student was defined as “Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian
American, or Native American.”
(5) Brief overview of study.
(6) Identify variables
1. Independent (or research) variable/s of interest.
2. Dependent variable/s: identify the construct, not the measurement (e.g.,
"achievement in reading" not "reading pretest and posttest")
3. Possible intervening variables:
a. Tell why you think each matters, and
b. Identify how you will control for each (or, if applicable, why you
cannot control for).
In summary, the introductory section of the proposal should tell the readers what you are
studying and sell the reader the idea that the study is worth doing.
Theoretical framework and Literature Review
(1) Theoretical framework
Your research problem and methodology should be grounded in a deep
understanding of the existing knowledge base, as represented in the literature.
There usually are a few studies and theoretical works that have a critical bearing
on a proposed research project. These studies and theoretical works should be
described in the introductory section of the research proposal as part of the
rationale for the project. They can be discussed at greater length in the literature
review section of the proposal.
(2) Literature review of existing studies
a. Studies directly related to the proposed study
b. Studies tangentially related to the proposed study
Include the findings of the existing studies relevant to the proposed study.
If applicable, provide a brief critique of methods used in these studies. Include
conclusions drawn by researchers who previously have reviewed the literature
relevant to your proposed study. Briefly describe applications, if any, of
previous research findings to professional practice.
SHORTCUT: Find the most recent article available on your topic; it will likely contain a
review of the literature you are interested in. Summarize these authors' review; then, add
their findings to complete your review.
Methodology
(1) Research Design
Propose a design for your study and describe how you will implement it in the
particular setting that your have chosen to investigate. For this proposal, the research
designs can be described using the symbols in Fraenkel & Wallen (2008), specifically,
Experimental study or Quasi-experimental study—Chapter 13
Correlational study—Chapter 15
Causal-comparative study—Chapter 16
Design Title: Many designs have relatively common usage in the research
literature, for example the quasi-experimental "pretest-posttest control group
design." A descriptive title such as this should be used where applicable (see FW,
Ch. 13). You can create a title for your design as long as it is descriptive and
appropriate.
Design diagram.
For a correlation research, see FW p. 336 7th Edition, (Ch. 15); or p. 343 6th
Edition;
For causal-comparative research, see FW p. 367 7th Edition or p. 374 6th Edition
(Ch. 16);
For experimental or quasi-experimental research, see FW p. 265 to p. 273 7th
Edition, or FW p. 271 to p. 280 6th Edition.
(2) Research Sample
Specify demographic and other pertinent characteristics of your subjects. If
you are using a sample, describe your sampling design (e.g., simple random
sample, stratified random sample, etc.), size of sample and, if known, the size
and characteristics of the underlying population. Indicate in considerable
detail how you will obtain the subjects-the sample, for the study. Explain how
your sample is representative of a defined population. If generalization is
intended, a random sample should be used. If a convenient sample has to be
used, relevant demographics (gender, ethnicity, occupation, IQ, etc.) of the
sample should be described. The legitimate population to which the results of
the study may be generalized should be indicated (see Fraenkel & Wallen
Chapter on Sampling for details).
(3) Procedure
Provide explanation of the procedure followed (the what, when, where, and
how of the study). For example, if you are proposing a pretest-posttest control
group design, explain the sequence of events during the study, the nature and
duration of the treatment, and any special procedures to be used. If your study
is a correlation or causal-comparative, explain the sequence, the nature of
events and/or steps in the process.
(4) Research Instruments and Data Collection
In describing your data-collection procedures, you should identify each
instrument being used (e.g., a test, a questionnaire, etc.), the variables it is
designed to measure, and if possible, the validity and reliability of the scores
that it yields. Whenever possible, exiting instruments should be used in a
study. In the event that appropriate ready-made instruments are not available,
the procedures followed in developing the instruments should be described
with attention to how validity and reliability will be enhanced. In this section,
explain how the protection of human subjects will be handled. (See FW
Chapter on Instrumentation for details).
(5) Internal Validity
Discuss possible threats to internal validity. The threats discussed in the
chapter on internal validity of Fraenkel & Wallen (2006) should be reviewed
to see if any might apply to the proposed study. Should any troublesome areas
be found, they should be mentioned and their likelihood discussed. Describe
what you would do to eliminate or minimize those possible threats.
(6) Data Analysis
Discuss how the data to be collected will be organized and analyzed by the
statistical techniques or other methods. Describe the statistical method(s) that
you will use to analyze the data. You may find useful information on
statistical analysis methods in chapter 10, 11, and 12 of Fraenkel & Wallen
(2008).
a. Experimental/quasi-experimental and causal-comparative research
normally examines differences between groups of subjects.
Commonly used appropriate statistical data analysis tools include:
 The t-test (to compare two sets of scores).
a. Use independent samples t-test if the two sets of scores are
not correlated. For example, the two sets of scores are
from two groups of subjects, and the subjects were not
matched in any way when assigned to the groups.
b. Use correlated t-test if the two sets of scores are correlated.
For example the two sets of scores are pre- and post-test of
the same group of subjects, or the two sets of scores are
from two groups of subjects, but the subjects were
matched on some variables (such as age, gender, IQ) when
assigned to groups.
 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (to compare three or more sets of
scores).
 Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) (to compare three or more
sets of scores while controlling for a certain variable that
represents the initial existing difference to ensure fair comparison.
For example, compare post-test scores controlling pre-test score
so that the posttest mean scores are adjusted to compensate for the
initial differences between the groups on the pretest.
 Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), appropriate when
the design includes two or more dependent variables. In other
words, use MANOVA when you compare three or more groups
on more than one variable in a multivariate sense.
 Chi Square, appropriate when both variables are categorical.
b. Correlation analysis examines the relationships between/among
variables and/or the predictive ability of one or more variables
obtained from ONE GROUP of subjects (note: other analysis usually
deals with two or more groups). Appropriate statistical procedures
include regression analysis (used for purposes of prediction) and
correlation analysis, such as the Pearson product-moment correlation
coefficient (used for purposes of determining relationships among
variables).
Results (Optional, for bonus points.)
Verbally present your data analysis results/findings. Provide tables, figures, and graphs if
applicable.
Conclusion and Discussion (Optional, for bonus points.)
(1) Brief summary of the research question being investigated, the research
procedures employed and the results obtained.
(2) Discuss the implications of the findings—their meaning and significance.
(3) Limitations of the study, such as unresolved problems and weaknesses, if any.
(4) Suggest for future research.
References
List references/(work cited) in APA style.
Appendix
Append any instruments you proposed to use in this study