Research Design, Methods and Rationale Assignment
Due November 9th
Please submit the assignment in hard copy, in class.
Description From Syllabus
Building on their literature review and research question, students will develop an appropriate research design for their proposed study. They will describe the methods they would use to collect data and explain why these methods are appropriate for answering their research question.
The assignment should demonstrate a clear relationship between the research question, research design, chosen methods, and the kinds of knowledge those methods can produce. Students should also consider the assumptions, limitations, and relationships involved in producing that knowledge. This work will become the methods section of the final research proposal.
Detailed Assignment Explanation
Grading Rubric
Resources
Assignment Requirements
Building on your literature review and research question from Assignment 1, develop a methods section that explains how you propose to conduct your research.
Your methods section should address the following components:
Research Design: Describe your overall research approach, setting, and scope. Explain how your design relates to your existing research question.
Participants or Sources: Identify whom or what you would study, your selection criteria, how participants or sources would be recruited or accessed, and the approximate scope of your study.
Materials: Identify the tools or instruments you would use to collect information, such as interview guides, questionnaires, maps, observation forms, or measurement equipment.
Procedures: Explain the steps you would follow to collect information. Where relevant, describe the location, frequency, duration, and conditions of data collection.
Ethical Considerations: Identify relevant ethical responsibilities, potential risks and benefits, consent and confidentiality considerations, and research relationships.
Methodological Rationale: Explain why your chosen methods are suitable for answering your research question. Draw on relevant research-methods readings to support your choices. Consider the kinds of knowledge your methods can produce, their assumptions, and their limitations.
Submission Requirements
Your methods section should be 500–1,000 words and written in the future tense.
Do not repeat your literature review or develop a new research question. This assignment builds on the research you have already proposed.
Include appropriate citations and references, your word count, and the course-required AI-use statement.
Attach a blank grading rubric to your assignment.