The research proposal that I looked at was under a completely different topic than the one I looking at for class.  This proposal titled “The Long Goodbye” discussed behavior displayed by patients who have dementia, Alzheimer’s and the services provided by caretakers. Even though it’s not related to my topic, the topic of an aging American population is interesting to me and it’s a relevant topic that needs to be discussed. I recently had cousin lose his father to dementia so reading this proposal I was able to understand a little bit as to what he and his family have gone through the last ten plus years and it really is terrible. This proposal is divided into five sections: Introduction, Objective, Method, Timeline, and Questions for Interview Subjects. All five of these have important information that clearly outlines the steps that will be taken to gather data for this research project.

This proposal is seven pages and the first two are the introduction. The introduction talks about aging US population and how it is only going to increase as time goes progresses and how “dementia illness are often the most feared and devastating disorders of later life” which can lead to problems for the care takers of these patients. While caretakers face many problems when helping a person with dementia, the most common and most prominent being physical aggressive behavior and verbal aggressive behaviors. The objective of this proposal is “to examine the occurrence of both physical and verbal acts of aggression towards care staff” and the settings of those who have dementia who need proper care. In the methods section, the author will identify aggressive patterns and how patients react to a caregiver by using “both direct observation and by caregiver/patient interviews” in at least three hospitals in the LA and Orange Counties. I also think they could also use an ethnography to witness first hand aggressive behavior displayed. However, it depends on how long the author will be at each hospital and he does not mention specifically how long he’ll be at each hospital. The timeline section is a very detailed layout of the author’s research and where he’ll be on what month and the deadlines he has set. Each month is very precise and detailed as to what will happen. The final sections are the questions in which the author will ask the people they are going to interact with during this research. This section is divided into three different sections: For Caregivers, Management, and Research Question for the author. They are all very detailed questions that ask for specific answers and quantitative data from hospital employees.

http://www.urop.uci.edu/SURP/sample_proposals/SURP%20Social%20Ecology%202.pdf

For this research proposal, the study specifically revolves around Ecuador, as the country and many others located in Latin America were subject to social spending cuts. To help improve these cuts, the country went through a total economic reform. Every sector made improvements after the reform except for the educational system. However, due to the failure to improve the educational system, Ecuador as a country lost their ability to expand  economic growth and lost the ability to compete with other people for skilled jobs. This proposal wants to find the detriments of economic performance in Ecuador, along with looking at the importance of education for economic development. Along with this, the researchers hypothesize that Ecuador would need both access and quality in education in order to improve social well being and economic growth.

Before talking about the data, the study talks about some possible issues that could occur. The first problem that could occur is that there is bias due to limited variables. For example, this study did not take parental influence as a factor for the results. The other problems that were mentioned were bias due to inconsistent measurements, a lack of specification of the dependent variable, and the sample selection that could be used did not include children who have never been to school or those who repeat a grade. These issues could have a significant impact on the results due to the fact that the entire country of Ecuador is not equally represented.

There are two different types of data methods that could be used for this study. The first type of collection is through two different surveys. One survey would look at the living standards of those that go to school. They would get the questions though data from the ministry of education. The other survey looks at performance on standardized tests and tries to find out about education production. In terms of the other data collection method, the study would look at statistics about the unemployment rate to look for labor productivity. All of these method would help the researchers see if their hypothesis would be right.

https://www.iss.nl/fileadmin/ASSETS/iss/Student_profiles/PhD/PhD_foto_s_pdf_s/Education_Policies_in_Ecuador.pdf

Forecasting Climate Change Impacts on Conifer Forests of the Intermountain West

This research proposal was developed by David R. Bowling, Greg Maurer, James R. Ehleringer, and Thomas H. Painter through the Departments of Biology and Geography at the University of Utah. The proposal is focused on forests in alpine areas and investigates these areas in regards to the impacts of climate change on the availability of water. Spring melt is the annual event under investigation because it is the timing by which stored water in the form of snowpack melts and is no longer available. The proposal attributes two factors that lead to a shorter snow covered season, both being intensified by climate change. The first is rising mean temperatures leading to an increase in the proportion of precipitation in the form of rain instead of snow. The other is an increase in dust deposition on snow. Dust deposition on snow decreases the albedo, lowering the reflectivity,  of the snow thus accelerating the melt of the snow. The research question presented by the proposal is  “How will climate change influence conifer forest distributions and carbon cycling in the Intermountain West?” The proposed three-year study combines observational and manipulative field experiments to determine the “functioning, distribution, and carbon stocks of conifer forests in the region.” [1] Three forests were selected at different elevations experiencing differing levels of precipitation and ranges of temperature. The observational experiment will be conducted by temporarily installing devices that measure weather, soil moisture and temperature, and tree sap flow. Other devices will be temporarily placed to gauge the degree of carbon cycling occurring in each area. The experimental manipulations will simulate the presence of dust deposition on the snow surface by using a leaf blower and material sourced southern Utah. Dust will be added to the surface of the snow on a weekly recurrence interval. This will simulate future dust deposition on snow and will be used to determine the timing of an early spring melt due to dust deposition.

The proposal clearly discusses what is under investigation, the topic, the question being answered and has a detailed description of how data will be collected. A strength of the proposal was providing alternate sites for conducting the research that had similar attributes to the preferred sites. This enables flexibility for the research in the case a site becomes unavailable. Another strength was citing work done recently to the time of the proposal. This provides up to date information and data about the topic. One aspect of the proposal that could have been expanded upon was more explanation of the problem and why it is important to develop a greater understanding of the subject. The problem is the aspect which gives the proposal merit and thus should be elaborated.

The concepts discussed in this research pertain to my topic on avalanche risk in two ways. Primarily, both proposals are looking at attributing changes in observed patterns to climate change. Secondly, the presence and health of trees decrease the risk of avalanches because trees stabilize the snowpack, inhibiting slides. Declining health of alpine forests could be another trigger for why more fatalities from avalanches are occurring. This proposal also demonstrated how specific observational data can be created in the field by simulating an event, dust deposition in this case, and through the use of control sites conclusions can be made. This is imperative for my proposal because observing the impact of natural dust deposition on layers of snow that have been buried by new snow could be immensely difficult to get the timing right for observations. However, if dust is artificially introduced more variables can be controlled and more accurate results generated.

1. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5068763.pdf

In this proposal by Jeffrey Arnett from the University of Maryland College Park, Arnett walks through his proposal for a new theory for what he calls emerging adulthood. He argues that there is a period between adolescence and young adulthood called emerging adulthood which happens during the years of 18-25. He begins his proposal by laying out theoretical background and providing evidence for his theory by showing how this period of life is different demographically, subjectively, and in terms of identity. He also gives reason for why emerging adulthood is different from adolescence and young adulthood in light of different life aspects such as romantic relationships, work, and worldviews. At the end of his proposal he explains in what kind of conditions emerging adulthood is most likely to exist and why.

The direction he seemed to be going in terms of structure was meta-analysis. He uses surveys, previous theories, research, and reports and with them all in collection he was able to come to a more general conclusions especially about American society where emerging adulthood is very prevalent. The type of data that would be gathered for his research would fall more under reports of acts, behaviors, or events because although he is drawing his own conclusions he is building evidence through previously made reports and tracking the changes as time goes on and as society changes. With his use of reports of acts, behavior, or events he will no doubt be collecting this data through the use of public records. His method of analysis would be thematic analysis because he is looking for themes in the collected data to show social trends.

After reading this proposal I feel like I have a better understanding of what I will need to write a proposal of my own. I thought Arnett was extremely convincing his proposal was very organized and as he went on it was easy to remember by the end what was read at the beginning because he kept all of his information linked together without any annoying repetition of information.

http://jeffreyarnett.com/ARNETT_Emerging_Adulthood_theory.pdf

The research proposal I decided to look at as an example falls under my same research topic, yet is a drastically different research project/proposal. The research proposal I looked into on the topic of crime was titled, From Barrio Street Gangs to Transnational Criminal Organizations: A Qualitative Analysis of Eighteenth Street and Mara Salvatrucha. While it has to do with crime it focuses more specifically on gangs and details surrounding particular issues of a particular one. While it is laid out slightly differently than my own, both research proposals have all of the same information regarding the research project and how it will be carried out. The proposal I examined broke theirs down into eight different parts. These parts were: research topic, background, research objective, core research question, research methods and approach, personals motivation, and timeline. These eight parts encompass all the necessary information that should be presented in a proposal and was carefully thought out.

In the first section research topic the authors briefly explains the topic that they are looking into surrounding the gangs and why it is interesting and worth researching. In the background, the longest section, the author talks about what is already know about the topic they want to research. Research that has already been done and relevant information to know about the topic before engaging in research. This is the section in our proposal where we, “search the literature.” Following this the next section research objective does exactly what it says. It gives an overall objective that the research is trying to accomplish. I found this to be just a more general version of overview of that actual research question. The next section the core research question is where the author presents there specific research question. In this case, the author’s research question was, to identify the catalysts which have facilitated the global expansion of these two gangs, and what this expansion means to the gang itself. The author also went more in depth explaining the question after they presented it. In the research methods and approach section is where the author explains what type of data, and data gathering methods that will be used for the research project. In this case is was interviews and government hearings and reports. The personal motivation sections is just where the author of the proposal explains why this research projected was interesting to them and why they wanted to pursue it. The final section timeline is just that, a timeline of when different sections of the research process will be conducted. Overall the proposal presented all the necessary information well and in an organized way that was easy to follow which is the point and sign of a successful proposal.

http://www.urop.uci.edu/SURP/sample_proposals/SURP%20Social%20Sciences%206.pdf

Effect of Infant’s Perceived Gender on Adolescents’ Ratings of the Infant is a research proposal done by, Douglas Degelman, Veronika Dvorak, and Julie Ann Homutoff at Vanguard University of Southern California. This research proposal aims to explore stereotypical sex role appropriate traits. The researchers aim to explore that idea by having 36 junior high students (18 boys and 18 girls) view a photo of a 3-month-old infant. Then, the students will be told that the baby’s name is Larry, Laurie, or they will not be told the infants name. After viewing the photo and name or no name, the students are asked to rate the infant on a few bipolar adjective scales: firm/soft/big/little, strong/weak, hardy/delicate, well coordinated/awkward, and beautiful/plain. The researchers predict that both the name assigned to the infant and the students’ gender will affect the ratings. This study is important because stereotyped expectations may influence gender role socialization and the acquiring of sex-typed behavior. Another reason as to why this study is important is because preconceived gender-based expectations can cause the parent to elicit expected behavior from the infant and to reinforce the expected behavior when it occurs. Several studies have been done before to explain this type of behavior, however, this study also aims to see whether or not males and females have different preconceived notions on infants depending on if they are boys or girls. For instance, a man may see a picture of a female baby and choose that that baby is delicate and/or weak but if they were to see that same photo and are told that the baby is a male the man may then choose the adjectives hardy and/or strong, directly showing gender stereotypes that are ever prevalent. Overall, this study proposes the idea that adult responses coincide with culturally specified sex stereotypes related with the gender label assigned to an infant and independent of actual infant gender differences. Lastly, the type of data needed for this research proposal is shallow opinions and attitudes, the researchers plan on using surveys as their type of data collection method and once the results are in they plan to read their results by comparing each of the dependent variables with the independent variable, which would be a type of categorical data. I found this research proposal to be very thought-provoking and would make for very fascinating results, I would not change anything about it. I believe that my classmates would agree with that as well and would be interested in seeing the results.

Link to proposal: http://www.vanguard.edu/psychology/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/proposal.pdf

All three of the authors look into the role of the perceived gender of an infant and the gender of an adolescent on ratings of the infant.  To do so, thirty-six junior high students; eighteen boys and eighteen girls; will view a photo of a 3-month-old infant.  The students will receive a name for the infant or not.  The names that are received will either be Larry or Laurie.  The students will tan rate the infant on a scale of firm/soft, big/little, strong/weak, hardy/delicate, well coordinated/awkward, and beautiful/plain. The scale that will be used is 1-5.  For example, for big/little 1 would be big and little would be 5. The same scale was used for each pairing. It was predicted that both the name that was given to the infant and the students’ gender would affect the ratings.  The study was motivated by how sex-stereotyped perceptions of infants change during the time of adolescents.  Another prediction is that males and females will rate the infant differently regardless of the name given.  Lastly, it was predicted that the effect of the infants’ perceived gender depends on the adolescents’ gender.  If they find that the results are what they predicted than the generality of sex-stereotyped perceptions of infants will be extended to adolescents.  One limitation they find is the use of only one photograph of one infant of a specific age.  An interesting aspect of the study is that they expect to find girls to rate infants more beautiful than boys do.  I think that the study may find challenges in how the setting in the photo will affect the perceptions of the infant. 

Degelman , Douglas , Veronika Dvorak, and Julie Ann Homutoff. 2010. “Effect of Infant’s Perceived Gender on Adolescents’ Ratings of the Infant.” Vanguard University of Southern California. Accessed March 12, 2017. http:/www.vanguard.edu/psychology/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/proposal.pdf. 

Title: The Value of Comparisons in Street Gang Research

Author: Malcom W. Klein

Klein, Malcom W. 2005. “The Value of Comparisons in Street Gang Research.” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 21 (2): 135-152. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1043986204272911

This is a research proposal lays out the foundation for a research project that wants to compare studies in street gang research. Some of the studies the author lays out that he wants to compare are gang member’s vs non-gang youth, cross gang-comparisons, comparisons across locations, and historical comparisons.  The research question for this proposal I believe is “Is gang research more productive if it has comparisons to other research?”  The author believes that gang research is much more productive when you can compare different researches. The type of data that Malcom will be using Expert Knowledge, Hidden Social Patterns, Acts Behaviors and Events, and Demographic data. He will use all these types so of data because he is comparing different studies and those studies have different types of data. His colleagues wrote articles about gang members and non-gang youth, this would be considered expert knowledge. He used Demographic data to look comparisons across gang locations. Meaning that he looked at gangs from different locations like Los Angeles and Boston. The different data collection methods that he used is Ethnography, Public and Private records, and In-depth interviews. The author has already found these methods for his sources. He has This proposal is useful because it gives me an idea on how to do the proposal myself. The author of this proposal starts out with his research question and what he is going to try and accomplish. Then he lays out the five topics that he will discuss and underneath those topics he puts the resources that he will use to support his ideas. Once he does the actual research it will be easy for him to do because he has a path that he has planned.

PREDICTORS OF TERTIARY LEVEL PERFORMANCE IN NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUND STUDENTS

Candidate: Richard Hewison, Dr. Elaine Chapman (Principal Supervisor) Prof. Tom O’Donoghue (Co-Supervisor)

Chapman, E., & O’Donoghue, T. Predictors of TERTIARY LEVEL Performance IN Non-English Speaking Background Students.

This research proposal, presented by Richard Hewison of the University of Western Australia, proposes to identify factors that predict academic performance of Non-English Speaking Background (NELB) international students in Australian tertiary education. The grounds for the purpose of the study reside with the myriad universities, which receive important financial contributions from international students, thus they have an obligation to identify the sources of the problems faced by students and to provide those students with appropriate and effective academic support. The research question designed for this topic asks, “to what extent do formalized English language Proficiency (ELP) scores act as predictors of academic performance in students’ first year of study in an Australian education system?”

The type of data necessary to answer the correlational research question consisted of demographic data, specifically relating to personal university profile; previous education; study stream and course units; university offer status; age; nationality; gender; and English Language Proficiency scores. The proposal also inquired for data about personal and psychological traits, and deeply held opinions and attitudes regarding self-efficacy, anxiety, beliefs about knowledge and learning, and personal learning styles and strategies. The former type of data were gathered from private records, with the data collection site being an unnamed, private tertiary education college specializing in business, information and mass communications courses in Western Australia. After extracted and coding the data into Excel spreadsheet files, the data was imported to SPSS for analysis, and a canonical correlation analysis was performed on the data with both the ELP levels and the demographic variables (age, gender, level of education previously attempted) entered as predictors. The latter type of data previously mentioned were proposed to be collected by sending out four modified surveys, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FCLAS), Schommer scale, Approaches to Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) survey, and the Self-Efficacy Scale. A three-panel model path analysis and cluster analysis was the proposed method to analyze this data.

This research proposal includes all necessary aspects of a quality research proposal, as well as considering and potentially addressing all possible ethical issues. What impressed me the most was the extensive description of the potential limitations, the significance of the study, and he even including an estimated cost and timeline of the study, which is something I never would have thought to include.

In her research proposal “Social Support, Stress, and Adaptation in Immigrant Youth”, author Mary J. Levitt proposes a study to adress deficiencies in knowledge surrounding the adaptation of migrant students to the environment of US schools, particularly expressing concern in the lack of longitudinal data. To delve into the topic on the emotional, academic, and behavioral adaptation of immigrants, she proposes to endeavor to answer the research question: “Are higher levels of family stress and lower levels of social support associated with poor adjustment?”.  This question calls for a wide range of data. Levitt suggests she will collect demographic data, organizational data, and data from surveys and interviews, using data gathering methods ranging from in-depth interviews to the use of public and private records. To collect this data, Levitt explains she will take a random sample of 200 children, evenly divided between genders, from grades 3, 6, and 9. She will interview them at the beginning of the first year, at school in a private location, then make a follow up interview two years later. She will also collect academic performance indicators from school records, background information, and psychological and adaptation ratings from teachers. Following the three year period of collecting data, she proposes to use a multiple regression analysis to search for the answer to her research question.

I was impressed by the thurough nature of the proposal, especially as Levitt already had an idea of the size of the sample she would need, the duration of the study, and the specific evaluations she would ask the teachers to make, though I would be curious to see what, if any, changes she made when it came time to perform the actual study. I was also impressed with the extensive safeguards she specified in order to ensure that the confidentiality of participants would be maintained. The one concern which stood out to me, however, was Levitt’s proposal to give the students each an age- appropriate gift for participation. Though I am not an expert, I understand that researchers are not allowed to offer undue enticement to participants, and I cannot help but wonder if offering a gift for participation might fall within those parameters.

Mary J. Levitt, Florida International University