Applied Research Project Research Proposal
The correlation between journalists and social media influencers in marketing products and events
1. Submitting a Completed Proposal:
- The Key State of Mind:
- I am as clear as I can be at this point about what it is I am doing.
- I am as clear as I can be at this point regarding the overall task, and the purpose of each part of my dissertation.
- I am as clear as I can be at this point about what I intend to achieve.
- I have as good an understanding as I can at this point as to how to go about pursuing my aim and objectives.
2. Initial Bibliography:
- Should indicate the beginnings of a familiarity with the topic.
- Should indicate the reading and research that you have done.
- Should indicate material discovered but not yet read.
- Should note material sought but not yet accessed.
- Should be appropriately and formally academically presented.
3. Word Count:
- 1,500‒2,000 words.
Research Proposal Template
[Keep all of the headings given and complete all the sections.
The bullet points are guidelines for what to do; they should be replaced with your own content.]
Name:
Degree:
The Research Question:
- Expressed concisely and precisely, the question which drives your dissertation.
Working Title of Dissertation:
- The proposed title should be formal and academic.
- It should clearly indicate the central question or idea of the research. (The title in research work such as this is clearly related to the research question and the research aim.)
- Refine the title early in the process and revisit it often.
- Once settled upon and agreed, the working title can be modified and refined up to the point of submission. Any changes must be agreed by the research supervisor.
- As appropriate, the title should ideally contain higher order verbs: for example, ‘A Comparative Analysis of …’, ‘An Exploration of …’.
- Break the title up into a title and subtitle if you have too many words.
Research Context/Background:
- Provide some brief background explanation of the idea, context and/or motivation for the dissertation.
- Explain how the dissertation fits into/sits in relation to existing scholarship in the area.
- Indicate what is new about the contribution of the dissertation.
Research Aim & Objectives:
- Clearly state the aim and objectives.
- The aim is the primary goal; it is what you wish to find out or achieve.
- The objectives are the intermediate steps/stages which enable the aim to be achieved.
Research Methodology & Method(s):
- Outline your overall analysis methodology.
- Indicate which data gathering and analysis methods you will employ.
- Explain why your methodology and methods are appropriate to your research and why others are not.
Ethical Considerations:
- Set out what you foresee as the ethical considerations arising in your research.
- For example:
- What are the ethical issues/values at stake in the various aspects?
- Is this research of a sensitive nature? If so, state why.
- Is there an overlap in the ethical concerns with legal obligations?
Research Scope & Limitations:
- Scope: State what can be realistically addressed or explored in this research? What is/are its focus(es)?
- Limitations: What possibilities are not being pursued in this work?
- Provide a rationale for your decisions on what is being included and excluded, addressed and unaddressed.
Initial Literature Commentary:
- Identify some important literature sources for your dissertation. Explain why they seem initially or potentially significant for the research. Highlight any limitations or difficulties which they may present.
Feasibility of the Study:
- Make the case for how the proposed study can be achieved, within the designated time period, in light of available resources and the content and scale of the primary research.
Initial Bibliography:
- Include a range and variety of source types, as appropriate.
- For referencing, use the Harvard referencing system.