Outline Research Proposal Marking Template

Outline Research Proposal Marking Template

Student Name:__________________________________
Student Number:___________________
Title of Project:________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Proposed Supervisor:_____________________________

Mark
PROPOSED TITLE (5%)
Less than 15 words? (2)
Coverage of required major areas of interest
(0) Vague and irrelevant detail
(1) Vague but mentions overall area
(2) Covers the major variable(s)
(3) Covers the major variables and worded well
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PURPOSE STATEMENT (20%)
Thoroughness/ completeness of background research (e.g. this section could be around 500 words
in length)
(0) Brief and irrelevant detail
(1) Brief but at least mentions the area of interest
(2) Quite detailed
(3) Detailed
(4) Very Detailed
(5) Extensive
Is there a logical flow to the statement – from a broad introduction to the area to the specific addition/ modifications proposed for current research
(0) Very jumbled with irrelevant or little detail
(1) OK
(2) Quite Good
(3) Good
(4) Very Good/ Excellent
Are relevant studies cited in the purpose statement?
(0) None
(1) Only one
(2) More than one
How many cited studies are recent (2000’s)?
(0) None
(1) One
(2) More than one
Is the case for the proposed research fully justified?
(0) No mention of what their research would add to the area
(1) Some critical evaluation of the area given
(2) Some critical evaluation of the area plus what their research will add
(3) Thorough critical evaluation of area plus what their research will add
Benefits of research to participants:
(0) No mention of them
(1) Benefit(s) mentioned but not convincing
(2) Benefit(s) mentioned and justified
Advance(s) in understanding through the research?
(0) No mention of them
(1) Advance(s) in understanding mentioned but not convincing
(2) Advance(s) in understanding mentioned and justified
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MAIN AIMS/ HYPOTHESES (15%)
All the variables mentioned in the purpose statement are included?
(0) No resemblance to variables mentioned in purpose statement
(1) Less important variable(s) mentioned only
(2) Less important variable(s) mentioned only and worded well
(3) The major variable is mentioned
(4) The major variable is mentioned and hypothesis worded well
(5) The major variable is mentioned and some of the others
(6) The major variable is mentioned and some others plus worded well
(7) All the variables are mentioned
(8) All the variables are mentioned and the hypothesis/ hypotheses worded well

Expected relationships are clearly indicated?
(0) Only touched on
(1) Quite clear
(2) Clear
(3) Very clear
All the variables in the purpose statement included in research questions?
(0) None
(1) Some variables
(2) Some variables plus worded well
(3) All the variables
(4) All the variables plus worded well
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TYPE OF DESIGN (25%)
Correctly identified:-
Quantitative or Qualitative, and explained/ justified (5)
Research Philosophy/ Philosophies, and explained/ justified (5)
Relevant research approach (Inductive, deductive etc) included and explained/ justified (5)
Time Horizon identified:-
Cross-sectional or Longitudinal and explained/ justified (5)
Data Collection Methods fully described and justified (5)
(e.g. Interview, focus group, questionnaire, experiment, secondary data analysis)

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SAMPLE (25%)
Proposed number of participants mentioned and justified? (5)
Who the participants will be is mentioned (inclusion/ exclusion criteria)? (5)
Sampling mentioned (e.g. Simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling convenience/ haphazard sampling, quota sampling or snowball sampling)? (5)
Justification for sampling method proposed detailed (5)
Ethical considerations are outlined (5)
(If secondary data is to be used then the dataset needs to be described (5), original methods for collecting the data need to be indicated (e.g. sampling?) outlined (5), justification for choice of the data (5), indications of how you will analyse the data differently from the original data collectors (5), and the ethics (e.g. permission to use the data etc) side needs to be outlined (5)).
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EQUIPMENT (5%)
The necessary equipment to meet the goals of the investigation are fully listed?
Some of the equipment (2)
Some of the equipment with purpose mentioned or questionnaire reference included (3)
All of the equipment (4)
All of the equipment with purpose mentioned and/ or questionnaire reference included (5)

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KEY REFERENCES (5%)
At least 3 relevant references? (3)
At least 1 recent (2000’s) reference? (1)
All the references mentioned in purpose statement and, if appropriate, the references for questionnaire(s) mentioned in method section listed? (1)
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COMMENTS:

Total % =