Experimental Research
Methods in Language
Learning
Chapter 16
Experimental Research Proposals
Leading Questions
• What is a research proposal?
• What do you think should be included in a
research proposal?
• Do you think it is important to develop a
research proposal prior to an experimental
study? Why or why not?
What is a Research Proposal?
• A research proposal is a carefully-crafted, written
document that describes what the proposed
research is trying to achieve, how it will go about
achieving the aim, what it will add to existing
knowledge, and why it will be worthwhile
conducting.
• According to Paltridge and Starfield (2007), a
good research proposal should be original,
significant to advance knowledge, feasible and
manageable by the researcher within a given
timeframe and resources, and of interest to
people in the field of research.
The Structure of a Research Proposal
The Structure of a Research Proposal
• Of course, components of a research
proposal can vary, depending on a specified
length or focused aspects to be addressed.
• The proposal committee usually makes a
decision on:
(a) a review of the relevant literature
(b) a proposed research methodology.
Title of a Proposed Study
• The title of your proposed study tells the reader about
the topic of your research.
• It should not be too long because it can confuse the
reader. Try to keep your title down to 15 words if you
could.
• It should contain what will be investigated and how it
will be investigated.
• The context of the proposed study may be indicated.
• Experimental study may have a title which includes
phrases such as ‘the effects of’, ‘the effectiveness of’,
and ‘the roles of’, and ‘the comparison of’.
Summary of the Proposed Study
• Give an overview of your proposal
• Present key research constructs, research
problem, the purpose of the study, research
method and the significance of the proposed
study.
• It is similar to an abstract of a research article,
but it does not have actual data analysis,
findings, and discussion.
Introduction
• Convince the reader to see the importance
of a proposed topic, and the problem being
chosen to investigate
• Start your introduction broadly enough to
cover the area of your research and narrow it
down to your research problem soon after
• State the research problem explicitly and
clearly
Research Problem
• A research problem can be about the lack of
understanding of the effects of the
independent variable on the dependent
variable of interest.
• A limited body of knowledge or conflicts in
previous research findings can be considered
a research problem.
Aim(s) of the Proposed Study
• Experimental researchers often use infinite
verbs such as:
• to investigate, examine, evaluate, and
compare to indicate the aim(s) of their study.
Definitions of Key Terms
• This section may or may not be required.
• Theoretical or specific terms are often
explained in the literature review.
• It prepares the reader for what they will read
in the literature.
• Present only important theoretical constructs
or methodological terms that will be used in
the proposal.
Review of the Relevant Literature
• A literature review has three main functions
(Wolery and Lane 2010).
1. It articulates what is known and not known
about your research topic.
2. It builds a foundation and rationale for your
proposed study.
3. It identifies successful designs, instruments or
measures, and data analysis methods used
by other previous researchers that can be
applied in future research.
Review of the Relevant Literature
• A review of the literature should provide some
connectedness between the theoretical
framework, previous relevant research, the
proposed research problem and aims, and
the proposed research methodology.
• See, for example, Creswell (2014), Johnson
and Christensen (2008), and Paltridge and
Starfields (2007).
Implications of the Literature on the
Proposed Study
• This section may be at the end of the review
of the literature.
• But it is clearer to present this on its own, so
your identification of the research gap or
problem can be seen more explicitly.
• Make sure to consider both theoretical
implications and methodological implications
if possible.
Research Questions or Hypotheses
• Research questions are used to help you focus on
your research problem and proposed aim.
• Experimental research questions should include
variables such as participants, key independent
variable(s), and dependent variable(s)
• For example: What are the effects of explicit
instruction on the acquisition of generic and nongeneric article usages in L2 English, as measured
by (a) tests of implicit knowledge, and (b) tests of
explicit knowledge? (Akakura 2012, p.16)
Proposed Research Methodology
• Research methodology refers to the
framework which your proposed study will be
based on (e.g. experimental research
framework, mixed methods design)
• Proposed research method is related to your
proposed research instruments, materials and
data collection procedures
Proposed research method
• Proposed Setting and Prospective Participants
• Experimental Conditions
• Research Instruments
• Data Collection Procedures
• Ethical Considerations
• Data Analysis
Significance of the Proposed Study
• It is concerned with how your proposed methodology
and method can successfully address your research
problems, answer your research questions, and shed
light on the topic being investigated.
• Theoretical significance (i.e., in what way your study
may advance the relevant theory or improve existing
knowledge)
• Methodological significance (i.e., in what way your
study may advance the research methodology in this
area of research)
• Pedagogical significance (i.e., in what way your study
may advance teaching practice).
Anticipated Limitations of the
Proposed Study
• Limitations are related to claims about the
research validity.
• Potential threats in your study that do not
allow you to draw firm conclusions
• Sometimes, authors include ‘delimitations’ in
this section. Delimitations are related to the
scope of the proposed study, so the study is
more feasible. But of course, when an
area/aspect is delimited, we will not gain a
more complete picture from our research,
thereby a limitation.
Proposed Timeline of Completion
• Steps required to complete your proposed
study and an estimate of the time that will be
needed to complete each step
• Assign a date of completion for each stage
Required Resources and Budget
• State what resources and budget are
required for your proposed study.
References
• References you have cited in your proposal
• Check if there is a requested reference style
and follow it strictly.
Appendices (if any)
• More or less optional.
• Any additional documents (e.g., proposed
research instruments, and treatment
procedures) can be included here.
Discussion
• What are research topics you would like to
investigate using an experimental research
designs?
• Paltridge and Starfield (2007) point out that a
good research proposal should be original,
significant to advance knowledge, feasible
and manageable by the researcher within a
given timeframe and resources, and of
interest to people in the field of research.
What are these characteristics?