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 non-generic 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?