Prospectus
Applied Research Project
Dr. Patricia M. Shields
The research prospectus (or proposal)
is a document that discusses the nature of your future project. The prospectus
has three parts:
I. Statement
of the Research Purpose or Question
This
statement should be very specific. The research purpose or question
should be supported in one to five paragraphs. Explain why the question is
important or why the problem is worth researching, i.e., a summary of the
importance or reason the research should be completed.
The
statement should be prefaced with introductory material that explains why and
how the research question/purpose has merit or is compelling. Directly or
indirectly there should be a connection to public administration.
Declaratory
sentence - specifying
the research purpose or purposes
EXAMPLES
of declarative sentences:
1.
The purpose of the paper is
to evaluate the effectiveness of a system of penalties and incentives that were
implemented by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to
achieve greater accountability in the provision of community based programs. Sam
Wilson
2.
The purpose of this study
is twofold. The first purpose is to
develop a practical ideal model for needs assessment in Continuing Education
based upon related literature. The second
purpose is to refine the practical ideal model by getting feedback on the
methodology from Continuing Education deans, directors and professionals
engaged in needs assessment. Kolette Palacios
3.
The purpose of this
research is (1) to describe the safety perceptions of Parole Division staff
since implementation of the firearms policy within the Division and (2) to
explore possible officer supervisory style changes since implementation of the
firearm s policy within the division. Carey Welebob
(McGrew)
4.
The purpose of this paper
is four fold. First, analysis of carcass disposal issues from recent natural
disasters (Hurricane Floyd 1999, Texas Flood1998) and disease related disasters
(Taiwan 1997, United Kingdom 2001) would be presented to highlight the problems
that developed from catastrophic animal losses. Direct observation of disaster
response efforts in the
Second, each of
the major carcass disposal techniques are examined, with their strengths and
weaknesses discussed. Third, four states currently proactive in emergency
planning will be evaluated, to analyze their current state and local
infrastructure in relation to animal carcass disposal plans and procedures from
environmental, animal health, contract services, and emergency management
agency perspectives. The states of
Finally,
an (ideal) integrated state agency level emergency management planning
mechanism intended to mitigate future animal carcass disposal issues during
disasters is presented. The plan is developed as a result of the lessons
learned from recent large scale disaster events, knowledge of existing animal
carcass disposal methods, and the results of structured interviews with
representatives from each of the states mentioned. The similarity of the
problems encountered is compelling evidence that changes need to be made in the
current emergency management approach to carcass disposal. The suggested
integration of state agency planning procedures, is the necessary first step
for states that wish to increase their readiness to handle catastrophic carcass
disposal events in the future
Dee Ellis (McGrew Winner)
5.
The purpose of this
research, therefore, is to explain how rural hospital closures in
6.
There are three purposes to
this study. First purpose is to assess the knowledge organization
characteristics of the Texas Public Utility Commission using the practical
ideal type characteristics developed from the literature. The second purpose is to explore the rewards,
compensation, and motivational system of the Texas Public Utility Commission.
The third purpose is to make recommendations for the improvement of Texas
Public Utility Commission as a knowledge management organization. Nicholas
Johnson
The
research question or problem can take the form of a question. (All
examples are from completed Texas State Applied Research Projects. Some of the
ARPs have received outside recognition.)
EXAMPLES
of questions
1.
What is the impact of the
Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation ís
Assertive Community Treatment Program on reducing state hospital use among
program participants with schizophrenia? (Honored by the Central Texas Chapter
of the American Society for Public Administration, 1999) Melody Kuhns.
2.
Why is there such disparity
in stolen vehicle recovery rates among
3.
What are the major factors
influencing the cost of the prescription services under the City of
4.
What impact have convention
centers had on mid-sized cities throughout the State of
II.
Conceptual Framework (1 to 3 pages) (excluding
the table)
The
conceptual framework section links the research question to the larger
literature and provides the theoretical structure for the entire paper. Please
re-read my article "Pragmatism as Philosophy of Science: A Tool for Public
Administration" before developing this section. It should help refresh
your memory about conceptual frameworks. It will also help you justify your
choice of framework(s).
In
this section you MUST include a table that summarizes the conceptual
framework and links it to the literature (or another relevant framework in PA).
The
table must be accompanied by a short narrative that explains and justifies the
components of the framework. This narrative should begin by connecting
the research question/purpose to the framework and the literature.
If the conceptual
framework consists of descriptive categories or a practical ideal type, there
should be a paragraph of justification of each category. The paragraph
should explain why the category was included in the framework and discuss the
elements within the category. This section should be carefully
referenced. There should be correspondence between the literature
referenced in the narrative and the table. If the framework is a
hypothesis, remember that the hypothesis is a statement of expectations.
Please provide reasoning and references that justify the expectation.
FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS SECTION IS THE MOST COMMON REASON PROSPECTUS ARE
RETURNED FOR REVISION.
To
see examples of Conceptual Framework Tables use the link on the first page of
the 5397 web site.
III. Methodology (1 to 5
pages)
A.
Discuss the technique/method you intend to use to address the research
question or test the above hypotheses. Explain why it is the most
appropriate method to address the research question. Demonstrate that
the data collection instrument connects to the research purpose and conceptual
framework. Provide an operationalization
table that links the mode(s) of observation and expected evidence to the
conceptual framework. Explain the table in brief narrative.
Common
techniques or methods:
1.
Survey Research
2.
Content Analysis
3.
Structured Interviews
4.
Focus Groups
5.
Analysis of aggregated data
or existing statistics (e.g., aggregated crime statistics, tax revenue by
county)
6.
Document Analysis (e.g.,
review of agency minutes or newsletters etc.)
7.
Archival Record Analysis
(e.g., agency file data)
8.
Experimental or
quasi-experimental design
9.
Field research
(multi-method e.g., interviews, document analysis, direct observation)
B.
Provide an analytical discussion of the strengths and the weaknesses of
the method you have selected based on
your review of research methodology literature. Apply the discussion of the
strengths and weaknesses to your research question.
C.
Discuss specific methodological issues.
1. Sampling: When relevant,
discuss the population, sampling frame, sampling method (random, systematic,
stratified) and the expected size of the sample.
2.
Statistics: When relevant, discuss the statistics (statistical tests)
that will be used to address the research question. Explain and justify your
choice.
D.
Some issues are unique to a particular method:
For survey research,
include a preliminary copy of the instrument and a discussion of how you
plan to pretest the instrument.
For content Analysis, include a
copy of the coding scheme and discussion of the unit of analysis. What is the
nature of the document or social artifact that you will be studying. Remember
that this is the type of research that needs a full discussion of the sample.
For experimental/quasi-experimental
design, include a discussion of the control group/comparison group and a
description of the design e.g., Pre-test, posttest comparison group. Discuss
variable measurement. Identify independent and dependent variables and show how
you will measure them. This will be found in the table.
For Field Research discuss the
organization(s) you will be studying. Justify why this is an appropriate
organization(s) to analyze. Include a copy of the interview questionnaire
(probably open ended) that you intend to use. Discuss who you intend to
interview and the method you used to choose them. This discussion can be
approximate, for example what types of people do you intend to interview. See
document analysis below for discussion of how to discuss document analysis.
For Focus Groups, include a copy
of the questions or issues that will be the topic of the group discussion.
Describe the number of groups, their approximate size and the type of people
that will make up the group. Describe how you will collect the data (transcript
or tape etc.).
For Document Analysis, list the
documents that that will be used. Document analysis is usually a supplemental
method used in conjunction with field research/case study. Note that content
analysis and document analysis are very different.
For Analysis to Existing statistics
or aggregate data analysis, Discuss the data source you will use to address
the research question. Be as specific as possible. Discuss how variables will
be measured and if appropriate the independent and dependent variables.
IV.
Human Subjects Protection (1 to 10 paragraphs) (Applies only to research that involves
human subjects).
The prospectus should also include a statement of :
□ A
description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject.
□ A
description of any benefits to the subjects or to others that might reasonably
be expected.
□ A
disclosure of alternative procedures or courses of treatment (optional for
most) expected.
□ A
statement describing the extent to which confidentiality of records identifying
the subject will be maintained.
□ Identification
of whom to contact for further information about the research and about
subjects' rights, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury
(optional for most ARPs).
□ A
statement that participation is voluntary, that refusal to participate will
involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject otherwise entitled,
and that the subject may discontinue participation at any time.
Checklist for written prospectus
□
1. Page numbers
□
2. Internal references
□ 3. Bibliography
□ 4. Statement of research question/purpose
□ 5. Section that introduces the research
question/purpose
□ 6. Conceptual framework table
□ 7.
Conceptual framework narrative
□ 8.
Discussion connecting data collection instrument to research
purpose/question
□ 9. Discussion of technique or method
□
10. Operationalization table
□
11. Operationalization table narrative
□
12. Discussion of sample (if relevant)
□
13. Discussion of statistics (if revelant)
□14. Questionnaire (if relevant)
*
Note - Conceptual Framework table and operationalization
table should be in the body of the prospectus. DO NOT INCLUDE AS AN
APPENDIX.
**
#4 & 5 belong in the statement of Research Question or purpose.
#6 & 7 belong in the conceptual framework section.
#8 - 14 belong in the Methodology section.
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State
University System.