Preparing a Research Plan

1
Preparing a Research Plan
2
Purpose of plan

• Detailed description.
• Written plan helps illustrate aspects.
• Anticipate potential problems.

3
General considerations

• Ethics.
• Laws have been enacted.
• No harm done.
• Privacy issues.
• Deception of participants.
• Gaining entry to site.

4
Gaining entry

• Consult required procedures for school system.
  (Superintendent or school board)
• Researchers must be prepared to describe
• Nature of research
• Its major benefits
• Involvement of school personnel

5
Quantitative plan

• Introduction, method section, data analysis
  description, and a time schedule.
• Introduction topic, review of related
  literature, and a hypothesis statement with
  variables.
• Method Research approach is defined (i.e.
  Causal-comparative).

6
Method (continued)

• Research participants number, source,
  characteristics, and derived population.
• Instruments measures, instruments, and
  approaches to be used.
• Design strategies used (basic structure and
  goals of study).

7
Procedure

• Steps followed.
• Strategy in selecting sample procedure and
  timing of pretest described.
• Exactly what will occur in the study.
• Assumptions or limitations.
• Precise someone else could execute study.

8
Data analysis

• Techniques to analyze study data.
• A number of factors determine technique.
• How are groups formed?
• How many groups?
• How many variables studied?
• Particular data collected?

9
Time Schedule

• Major activities and expected completion dates.
• Allow for more time than expected.
• Budget needs must be specified (equipment,
  materials).

10
Qualitative plan

• Much less structured than quantitative.
• Research will be responsive to the context and
  setting.
• Some pre-proposal fieldwork to better understand
  setting (some disagree).

11
Qualitative plan

• Title section
• Provides a frame of reference for reflection.
• Introduction
• Study purpose.
• Illustrated within a larger problem or policy.
• Initial questions to be investigated.
• Related literature to describe problem.

12
Qualitative plan

• Purpose of Research section
• Brief easily retained by researcher and reader.
• Framing the study
• Relevancy of study to a frame of reference.
• How will study address current problem or reflect
  theory?

13
Qualitative plan

• Literature review
• Describe theories and assumptions relative to
  research.
• Suggest possible educational practices to address
  educational need.
• Research procedures
• Overall approach / why appropriate.
• Researchers role / fits in with participants.

14
Qualitative plan

• Data collection methods
• Examples are provided.
• Convince reader collection method is reputable.
• Data management
• Papers piled to the ceiling.
• What will become of field notes, videotapes,
  audio, etc.