Indicative Content:
Working title
This should be a clear and concise representation of your topic – i.e. what it seeks to achieve overall and/or what you want to find out.
Background and rationale for the study
This section should highlight the importance of the topic based on your reading of the literature, and should include academic references. Emphasis should be placed on the gaps in knowledge you have identified and on how this study addresses those gaps. In completing this part you should express your research topic in the form of a problem which needs solving or a (series of) question(s) that need(s) answering.
Research aim, objectives and/or research questions
The background section should lead smoothly into clear statements of your objectives or research questions. These should make clear to the assessing tutor and your Dissertation supervisor precisely what your research seeks to achieve. Remember, your research objectives/questions should be achievable/answerable within the timeframe of the programme and within the available resources.
Introductory literature review
This introductory review will be the basis of the literature you will use for your Dissertation. In this section, you are expected to:
-Discuss the key academic ideas (theories) within the area of your research topic as well as review and evaluate relevant studies in your area; and
-Indicate how your research draws upon and utilises these ideas (theories) and research.
Your review and discussion should be supported throughout by appropriate academic references.
Chosen research approach
In this section, you are expected to:
-Identify and discuss which research philosophy (interpretivist or positivist) and which research approach (inductive or deductive) is going to underpin your research process.
This should include academic references and you are expected to show that you understand how these philosophies and approaches link to your chosen method and inform your study.
Methods including sample
In this section you are expected to:
-Identify and briefly introduce three data collection methods that could be used in your research;
-Discuss the strengths and limitations of these methods;
-Select a method (or, in exceptional cases, methods) and justify why you intend to adopt it (or them) in your study;
-Explain how you intend to obtain your data;
-Explain and justify your likely sample, including the size and sampling approach; and
-Discuss the ethical issues that may emerge from you chosen approach and sample.
Your review and discussion should be supported throughout by appropriate academic references.
Time scale and resources, possible constraints
In this section, you are expected to:
-Identify the key activities that you will need to undertake to complete your Dissertation;
-Clarify how long you think each of these activities is likely to take;
-Identify the likely dates associated with the completion of these activities;
-Discuss critically the resources (access, money etc.) needed to undertake the proposed research; and
-Acknowledge potential limitations of the study or constraints and, where possible, clarify how you will try to overcome them.
Additional information (not part of the page count)
-Your list of references, fully detailed and following University guidelines
-Any other appendices that are relevant to your proposal (if necessary)
Presenting coursework for assessment
The Dissertation Proposal should be 10 pages long
Assignments must be word-processed in 11 font Arial and 1.5 spaced
All pages must be numbered
Margins must be as follows: Top: 1 inch, Bottom: 1 inch (2.5 cm), Left: 1.25 inches, Right: 1.25 inches (3.2 cm)
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