Choosing a Topic and the Research Proposal
Evans(Psychology)-3589-03.qxd
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CHOOSING A TOPIC AND THE
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Objectives
On reading this chapter you should:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
understand the importance of choosing a research topic that lends itself to a ’do-able’ project; be able to evaluate potential topics; be able to formulate a valid research question (and hypothesis); understand the importance of creativity, and its relationship to innovation in formulating your research question; understand the integral role played by the research question; understand the vital role of the research proposal; be aware of the common pitfalls to be avoided in writing a successful proposal; and be able to write a logical and persuasive research proposal.
Overview
Chapter 3 deals with the practical issues of choosing an appropriate topic for your research project, and with the all important task of developing a research proposal. Section 3.1 deals with the practicalities of evaluating topics from your potential list, in order to choose the most appropriate for your project. Section
3.2 focuses on how to formulate a good research question. The role of the research question and different types of questions are dealt with in Section 3.3.
Section 3.4 highlights the functional importance of the research proposal, which is often neglected by undergraduate students. The proposal acts as an exercise in thought, a reference point for supervision, and also as a motivational device.
Section 3.5 deconstructs the proposal into its major components in order to make the development of the proposal more manageable. Section 3.6 presents the issue of the writing style of the proposal. Section 3.7 looks at some common pitfalls in developing a good proposal, while section 3.8 provides a checklist for developing your research question and proposal.
Evans(Psychology)-3589-03.qxd
6/15/2007
6:23 PM
Page 22
YOUR PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT
3.1
6/15/2007
6:23 PM
Page 21
3
CHOOSING A TOPIC AND THE
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Objectives
On reading this chapter you should:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
understand the importance of choosing a research topic that lends itself to a ’do-able’ project; be able to evaluate potential topics; be able to formulate a valid research question (and hypothesis); understand the importance of creativity, and its relationship to innovation in formulating your research question; understand the integral role played by the research question; understand the vital role of the research proposal; be aware of the common pitfalls to be avoided in writing a successful proposal; and be able to write a logical and persuasive research proposal.
Overview
Chapter 3 deals with the practical issues of choosing an appropriate topic for your research project, and with the all important task of developing a research proposal. Section 3.1 deals with the practicalities of evaluating topics from your potential list, in order to choose the most appropriate for your project. Section
3.2 focuses on how to formulate a good research question. The role of the research question and different types of questions are dealt with in Section 3.3.
Section 3.4 highlights the functional importance of the research proposal, which is often neglected by undergraduate students. The proposal acts as an exercise in thought, a reference point for supervision, and also as a motivational device.
Section 3.5 deconstructs the proposal into its major components in order to make the development of the proposal more manageable. Section 3.6 presents the issue of the writing style of the proposal. Section 3.7 looks at some common pitfalls in developing a good proposal, while section 3.8 provides a checklist for developing your research question and proposal.
Evans(Psychology)-3589-03.qxd
6/15/2007
6:23 PM
Page 22
YOUR PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT
3.1