The following is an outline for the “deliverable” for this semester: a detailed research proposal, in academic format, for your scholarly Honors Thesis. Remember, this is a proposal – a “blueprint” for the research you will complete next semester, not just a literature review. In preparing this paper, you should be as precise and complete as possible, so that the proposal becomes your blueprint to complete the research in the spring term.
Remember to write in the third person format – no “I will / I believe /etc.” – refer to yourself as “the author” if necessary, or to your thesis as “this paper / this study / this research / etc.” Use A.P.A. style for citations for behavioral science studies and legal citation style for legal studies; write professionally – refer to publications by their authors’ last names, not by title. While there is no set page requirement, experience indicates that – in double-spaced format – the introduction usually takes at least one page, a thorough literature review at least eight pages, the description of proposed methodology at least one page, potential contributions about half a page, the costs / deadlines section about half a page, and the references at least a page. In the past, most students have found that they needed 18-30 pages to discuss their topic and research plans effectively.
General outline for the proposal:
I. Introduction (not necessarily in this order)
A. I importance ($ volume of business, % or markets, etc.) of the issue
B. Background and history of the issue
C. Objective of the research
II. Literature Review
A. What is known to date?
1. About the phenomenon under study
2. About methodologies of studying that phenomenon
(You may find it useful – not required – to draft a summary table; e.g.,
Issues x Papers)
B. What is not known that you intend to address?
C. Hypotheses, tied in to prior research that led you to adopt those hypotheses
III. Methodology (not necessarily in this order, but including these elements)
A. Data
1. What concepts? (what operational measures for those concepts?)
[For legal theses: what statutes or cases? What commentary?]
2. How will you obtain the data?
a. Primary research? What methods? Are you SURE it's feasible? Draft measurement instrument/questionnaire
b. Secondary research? What source(s)? Are you SURE you will have access to that source/those sources?
B. Sample (size, method of drawing the sample, justification if necessary)
IV. Data Analysis
A. What SPECIFICALLY do you plan to do with the data after you've collected it?
[For legal/policy theses: you may find it helpful to add an appendix that summarizes the pros and cons of your position]
B. "Dummy Tables" (optional) -- what will your results look like when you've obtained them?
V. Potential Contribution(s): What do you hope to be able to contribute?
A. To practitioners
B. To scholars
VI. Costs and time line – list any out-of-pocket expenses that will be incurred and deadlines for:
A. Institutional Review Board application (should be before Christmas or by EARLY January – refer to deadlines at www.fordham.edu/irb/ )
B. Beginning and completion of data collection
C. Data entry
D. Data analysis / statistical analysis
ALLOW YOURSELF TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR FINDINGS
E. First Draft to Advisor and Prof. Ramsey
F. Final Draft to Advisor, Prof. Ramsey, Dean Smith and Prof. Flicker (to me via e-mail)
VII. References
When properly written, the proposal will constitute a foundation for your final thesis. In an ideal situation all you will have to do is add your results and substitute conclusions (limitations, contributions) for “potential contribution” in order to complete the thesis paper.
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