Order Description
It is a research plan assignment not research paper.
THE BRIEF

Your task is to submit a 2000 word Research Plan consisting of:

– A research question
– An introduction
– A research aim
– Research objectives
– A literature review
– A method

This plan will include references to literature from the reading list and from relevant books and papers sourced independently, which will be used to support decisions you have made. There is recommended reading for each of the seminars in this unit, but as these books tend to cover general aspects of research approach, you will also need to consider more specialised writing in reference to your specific question. Consider what makes a strong, reliable source when you perform your own critical research – books, journal papers, governmental (& statistical) reports, etc. Not Wikipedia!

QUESTION
You will be assessed on your ability to formulate a sensible, logical and achievable question; consider the limitations and parameters of your research when formulating the question.

INTRODUCTION – 100-200 words (recommended)
Briefly introduce why you have chosen your question, and where the ‘gap’ in the literature is in your opinion. This often uses the same literature as in the literature review, so use this as a summary argument which will be developed further later in the plan.

RESEARCH AIM – as many words as needed
A broad statement of the intended outcome of the project.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES – typically 3 objectives, as many words as needed
Objectives are the steps that you need to take in order to answer your research question. You could view these as a concise list of tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the goals of the project. However, these should not be methodological (ie. to do a lit review, to collect data, and so on).

LITERATURE REVIEW – 500-700 words (recommended)
This should lay out the background to the study including citation of appropriate literature sources. It should place your own research in the context of previous research and explain how it will contribute to the body of knowledge in your chosen area.
RESEARCH METHOD – 800-1000 words (recommended)
This section should consist of a rationale for choice of research design and a description of the methodology employed including the numbers of participants employed /amount of content considered, and details of sampling strategy utilised. The method is a key element of the research process, it should be informed by relevant literature. The results and discussion which come about from the data collection (Assignment Two) will be wholly informed by the method you have chosen. If done correctly the results and discussion should happen naturally, and be easy to relate back to the relevant literature.
Other Information

You will be provided with information, guidance and suggestions throughout the practical workshops in this unit on how to approach each aspect of this research plan, so attendance at all seminars will assist you in creating this assignment. There will be tutorials provided in which we can discuss any aspect of the research plan, a time sheet will be made available for you closer to the time to book 10 minute slots.

This is an individual piece of work, so while you may use work that you began in the seminar workshops, the work submitted must be by you alone. Use Times New Roman, point 12.

The assignment will test the following ILOs:
• Understand the principles of research and critical thinking, including the process of formulating questions, constructing arguments, testing hypotheses and interpreting findings
• Critically assess the relevance, strengths and weaknesses of different methods in media, communication and marketing research
• Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative methods and their application to communication research

Assessment criteria:
1. Competence of writing and use of critical literature: Followed the brief using an academic writing style. Formulated sensible and achievable question, aims and objectives which considered, and referenced, recommendations from relevant literature. Used suitable secondary sources to place the research in a wider critical context (lit review) and to support research decisions (method).
2. Content: Supplied each aspect of the plan requested in the correct order. Created a coherent plan which will form a strong foundation for the second assignment.
3. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and referencing: Correct in all areas; Correct use of quotations, in-text citations and bibliography based on the most recent BU Harvard Referencing Guide.

Order Description
It is a research plan assignment not research paper.
THE BRIEF

Your task is to submit a 2000 word Research Plan consisting of:

– A research question
– An introduction
– A research aim
– Research objectives
– A literature review
– A method

This plan will include references to literature from the reading list and from relevant books and papers sourced independently, which will be used to support decisions you have made. There is recommended reading for each of the seminars in this unit, but as these books tend to cover general aspects of research approach, you will also need to consider more specialised writing in reference to your specific question. Consider what makes a strong, reliable source when you perform your own critical research – books, journal papers, governmental (& statistical) reports, etc. Not Wikipedia!

QUESTION
You will be assessed on your ability to formulate a sensible, logical and achievable question; consider the limitations and parameters of your research when formulating the question.

INTRODUCTION – 100-200 words (recommended)
Briefly introduce why you have chosen your question, and where the ‘gap’ in the literature is in your opinion. This often uses the same literature as in the literature review, so use this as a summary argument which will be developed further later in the plan.

RESEARCH AIM – as many words as needed
A broad statement of the intended outcome of the project.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES – typically 3 objectives, as many words as needed
Objectives are the steps that you need to take in order to answer your research question. You could view these as a concise list of tasks that need to be completed to accomplish the goals of the project. However, these should not be methodological (ie. to do a lit review, to collect data, and so on).

LITERATURE REVIEW – 500-700 words (recommended)
This should lay out the background to the study including citation of appropriate literature sources. It should place your own research in the context of previous research and explain how it will contribute to the body of knowledge in your chosen area.
RESEARCH METHOD – 800-1000 words (recommended)
This section should consist of a rationale for choice of research design and a description of the methodology employed including the numbers of participants employed /amount of content considered, and details of sampling strategy utilised. The method is a key element of the research process, it should be informed by relevant literature. The results and discussion which come about from the data collection (Assignment Two) will be wholly informed by the method you have chosen. If done correctly the results and discussion should happen naturally, and be easy to relate back to the relevant literature.
Other Information

You will be provided with information, guidance and suggestions throughout the practical workshops in this unit on how to approach each aspect of this research plan, so attendance at all seminars will assist you in creating this assignment. There will be tutorials provided in which we can discuss any aspect of the research plan, a time sheet will be made available for you closer to the time to book 10 minute slots.

This is an individual piece of work, so while you may use work that you began in the seminar workshops, the work submitted must be by you alone. Use Times New Roman, point 12.

The assignment will test the following ILOs:
• Understand the principles of research and critical thinking, including the process of formulating questions, constructing arguments, testing hypotheses and interpreting findings
• Critically assess the relevance, strengths and weaknesses of different methods in media, communication and marketing research
• Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative methods and their application to communication research

Assessment criteria:
1. Competence of writing and use of critical literature: Followed the brief using an academic writing style. Formulated sensible and achievable question, aims and objectives which considered, and referenced, recommendations from relevant literature. Used suitable secondary sources to place the research in a wider critical context (lit review) and to support research decisions (method).
2. Content: Supplied each aspect of the plan requested in the correct order. Created a coherent plan which will form a strong foundation for the second assignment.
3. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and referencing: Correct in all areas; Correct use of quotations, in-text citations and bibliography based on the most recent BU Harvard Referencing Guide.