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Writing a Research Plan | |||||
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Briefly describe the context in which the research question arose.
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If your research is particularly related to your workplace - you need to briefly describe that. If it relates to a particular aspect of organisational policy or practice - then you will need to explain the situation as it is at present. If it arose as a result of a specific incident - then you might usefully describe that. If your research relates to a recent (Government) policy or initiative - then you need to briefly explain that. | |||||||
The "research question" - What it is you want to find out. Your starting hypothesis. (In other words; You may think that something is likely to be true - but you need to carry out some research to prove that it is.)
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Remember to be focused. If you are too vague in the way you define your research question then it is likely that your research will be unmanageable. A carefully thought-out question will have far more impact. | |||||||
Explain why you believe it is important to find out the answer to your question. Describe the possible benefits of your findings.
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Be realistic. It is unlikely that the research you are proposing will have earth-shattering results - but it may nevertheless alter policy or practice within the context of your organisation - and that can have important consequences for individuals. | |||||||
What research has been done already?
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After all, you do not want to be re-inventing the wheel - although you might want to confirm that someone else's research findings also pertain within a different context or with a slightly different target group. Be sure to state how your research planning is dependent on previous research. (This is more properly the purpose of a Literature Review - but you could summarise the findings here. ) | |||||||
What is your research methodology?
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In other words; what will you do? What data do you plan to collect? From where or from whom? How will you collect it? (Questionnaire; survey; focus group; interview; existing statistical data; etc.) At this stage you do not need to be too precise but you do need to have a "pretty good idea" of what is involved (target groups; sample size and composition; timescales; cost; etc.) You also need to consider what steps you will take to ensure validity of data, confidentiality and any ethical issues that may arise. | |||||||
How will you analyse the data you have collected?
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Obviously you do not know from the outset the data you will collect - but you do know what type of data it is and, if it is numerical (quantitative), how it can be manipulated and how results can be represented. | |||||||
How will you present your findings
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It is most likely that you will present your findings in the form of a written report but not necessarily (or exclusively) so. | |||||||
It may be appropriate to set out a timeline (or schedule) of your proposed research.
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This is particularly important if the research is to be phased (for example, to collect data over a period of time - or "before" and "after" a specific intervention. | |||||||
You may find the following website useful:
Guide to writing a research proposal (Bear in mind that this is aimed at Postgraduate students.)
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