Proposing Empirical Research: A Guide to the Fundamentals

• Provides step-by-step instructions for students who will be writing their first research proposal in the social and behavioral sciences. • Each major section is divided into short topics. For each topic, students complete an exercise that leads them toward the goal of preparing a proposal. • Numerous examples throughout the book make the recommendations for proposal writing come alive. • The model proposals at the end of the book illustrate proposal writing and provide material for classroom discussions. • Provides concrete guidance for students who will be writing proposals for both quantitative and qualitative research. • The structure of this book enables students to work independently with confidence while writing the first drafts of their proposals. • All steps in proposal writing are clearly described and illustrated. • Ideal for use in: · research methods classes where students write a proposal as a term project, · thesis/dissertation preparation classes, · senior research seminars where proposing and conducting research is a culminating undergraduate activity, and · any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor wants to incorporate a project that will engage students in critical thinking about the content area. • Written by our best-selling author, Mildred L. Patten. Your students will appreciate her clear and informative style.

Table of Contents:
Part A: Getting Started 1. What Is Empirical Research? 2. Identifying Broad Problem Areas 3. Evaluating Broad Problem Areas 4. Identifying and Combining Variables 5. Identifying Treatment Variables 6. Considering Demographic Variables 7. Writing Purposes and Hypotheses Part B: A Closer Look at Problem Selection 8. Finding Ideas in the Literature 9. Considering a Body of Literature 10. Considering Theories 11. Determining Feasibility Part C: Selecting a Research Approach 12. Qualitative Research 13. Survey Research 14. Correlational Research 15. Test Development Research 16. Experimental Research 17. Causal-Comparative Research 18. Program Evaluation Part D: Organizing and Evaluating Literature 19. Organizing Literature by Topic 20. Evaluating Research Literature 21. Considering the History of a Topic Part E: Writing the Introduction and Literature Review 22. A Separate Introduction 23. An Integrated Introduction and Literature Review 24. Writing the First Paragraph(s) 25. Using a Topic Outline 26. Being Selective and Critical Part F: Proposing a Sample 27. Sampling in Qualitative Research 28. Random Sampling 29. Other Methods of Sampling: I 30. Other Methods of Sampling: II 31. Sample Size Part G: Proposing Instrumentation 32. Qualitative Instrumentation 33. Proposing Published Instruments 34. Proposing New Instruments 35. Proposing to Measure Demographics 36. Ethical Issues in Measurement Part H: Proposing Procedures 37. Nonexperimental Procedures 38. Procedures in Experiments 39. Ethical Issues and Procedures Part I: Proposing Methods of Analysis 40. Qualitative Analysis 41. Analysis of Demographics 42. Relationships: Nominal 43. Relationships: Equal Interval 44. Group Differences Part J: Concluding Tasks 45. Writing a Discussion Section 46. Giving the Proposal a Title 47. Preparing an Abstract 48. Developing a Timeline 49. Preparing a Reference List Part K: Model Research Proposals for Discussion Model Proposal 1: A SurveyCollegiate Athletic Trainers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Athletes Model Proposal 2: A SurveyDo Psychologists Adhere to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Tobacco Cessation? A Survey of Practitioners Model Proposal 3: Test Development ResearchThe Americans With Disabilities Act Knowledge Survey Model Proposal 4: Single-Subject ResearchThe Effect of a Self-Monitored Relaxation Breathing Exercise on Male Adolescent Aggressive Behavior Model Proposal 5: Quasi-Experimental ResearchIntervening to Decrease Alcohol Abuse at University Parties: Differential Reinforcement of Intoxication Level Model Proposal 6: True ExperimentTraits and Behaviors Assigned to an Adolescent Wearing an Alcohol Promotional T-Shirt Model Proposal 7: Qualitative Research With Focus GroupsEffective Strategies for Esteem-Enhancement: What Do Young Adolescents Have to Say? Model Proposal 8: Qualitative Research With InterviewsFeeling the Beat: The Meaning of Rap Music for Ethnically Diverse Midwestern College Students: A Phenomenological Study Model Proposal 9: Combined Qualitative and Quantitative ResearchIntimate-Partner Abuse Perpetrated by Employees Table 1: Table of Recommended Sample Sizes Appendix A: Locating Literature Electronically Appendix B: Electronic Sources of Statistical Information