The Research Prospectus

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The Research Prospectus

A prospectus is a first formal step in the writing of your research proposal.  It is designed to help you explain and justify your plan of research to an audience of non-experts.  You want the readers of your prospectus to understand what you plan to do and your rationale for doing it in a particular way.  In this sense, a prospectus may be seen as an argument for your study.  You need to explain the logic that underlies the study, both conceptually and methodologically, in a way that non-specialist can understand.  A prospectus for a research study typically consists of a 5 page or less statement consisting of:

1.     A brief explanation of the problem area (e.g. Special Education);
2.     A sufficient explication of prior studies to show clearly the relationship of the problem to be studied to an existing theoretical or descriptive framework;
3.     The descriptive or theoretical framework you are adopting for the study;
4.     The specific problem to be addressed (e.g., How do regular education teachers view SPED teachers in their classrooms).
5.     The design of the study (e.g., subjects, how will data be collected and analyzed, ethical considerations).
6.     The potential significance to both theory and practice of the expected results.

Note: Not adequate problems are:
            Vague questions (Is the conservative movement taking over the U.S.?)
            Value-laden question (Is the conservative movement moral?)
            How-to-question (How can we prevent the spread of conservatism?)

Questions that should be asked at this point include:

            Does the statement of the problem area imply the possibility of investigation?
Is the problem
            Posed within a conceptually rich framework?
            Significant and worthwhile pursuing at this time?
            Ethically acceptable?
Will it permit the collection of data which will yield an answer to the problem?
Is it appropriate for the prospective dissertation committee?
Does the research develop knowledge of an enduring practice?  Develop theory?
Expand knowledge or theory?  Provide an extensions of understandings?  Advance methodology?  Be related to a current social or political issue?  Evaluate a specific practice or policy at a given site?
Is research design reasonable and feasible?

Is the logic of the inquiry clear and explicit?

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