The MEd and PhD proposal

1. Marc Schäfer Research Design Course 2016 The MEd and PhD proposal

2. What is a proposal and why is it required? • Provides a structured overview of your study • To articulate your problematisation process by providing : • An overview of literature and past/current research • How you have identified your ‘gap’ • A brief theoretical framing of the study • A rationale for the study • To provide the reader an opportunity to assess the coherence of: • Your argument and rationale • Your aims/objectives/questions with literature • The methodology chosen • Also to assess: • The scope of your study • If the methodology of your study IS DO-ABLE • The ethics of the study • Your academic writing proficiency at a masters/doctoral level

3. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal • SECTION 1 • Field of research • Provisional title • SECTION 2 • Context/background/theory • SECTION 3 • Research goals/questions • SECTION 4 • Methodology • Research design • Validity and Ethics • SECTION 5 • References

4. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 1 • Field of research A statement of the field/discipline in which the study is located Eg Language in mathematics education • Provisional title A working title, explaining/describing what the research aims to do (ideally not more than 15 words)

5. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 2 Context/background/theory This situates the research within the appropriate contextual landscape. (Global – national – provincial – local) Locates the research within the discourse - within context of past (recent) and current research and literature. Provides the theoretical framing – epistemological and ontological framing Articulates the conceptual focus Identifies the ‘gap’ - provides the rationale for the study Provides the significance of the study

6. The conceptual, theoretical and analytical framework Conceptual framework Concepts that are central to your project Theoretical framework The overarching theory that frames your project Socio-cultural theory Lave Wenger Beginner teachers, Identity, Teacher practice An ethnographic study of selected beginner mathematics teachers’ career development in the first two years of their employment: shaping of a professional identity. Analytical framework Your analytical framework/instrument. Your observable indicators/criteria Analysis of teacher practice Subjectifying and mathematizing Utterances Professional identity = ti+mi+pi+cpi

7. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 3 The research goals/objectives/questions Articulates the goal in the form of research question(s), focusing the study very specifically Mostly expressed as research questions

8. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 4 Research methodology/research design • Research orientation/paradigm • Interpretive, quantitative, qualitative • Methods • Ethnography, case study, experimental • Justify intended methods – why are they appropriate • Techniques/tools • Interviews, questionnaires, surveys, observations • Justify the intended tools – why are they appropriate • Sample/participants/research site(s) • Who and how selected

9. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 4 cont Research methodology/research design • Analysis • Brief description of how analysis will take place • Describe how the instruments will be used to analyse the data • Provide details of what kind of data you will be working with • Validity, reliability and ethics • Time line

10. The structure/content of a MEd/PhD proposal SECTION 5 References Usually the APA system Consistency Institutional policy

11. Some issues to consider when writing the proposal • Plagiarism • Maintain focus – always relate to the research goals/questions • Students tend to be over-ambitious • Quality rather than quantity • Sustain conceptual focus – watch out for red herrings • READ READREADREADREADREADREAD

12. How the proposal will be assessed Field and title Is the field clearly identified? Does the title accurately reflect the intended study? Context/concept/theory Is it appropriately contextualised/problematised? Are the main concepts deliberated and substantiated? Is it appropriately theorised? Is the theory discussed in relation to the study? Is the potential value/significance of the research articulated? Goal/questions Are they clear and explicit? Are they attainable?

13. How the proposal will be assessed Research design Is the orientation described and justified? Is the method clearly described? Are the data collection techniques described and justified? Are they appropriate to the nature of the study and the research questions? Are the site and sample described? Are the selection criteria discussed? Is there awareness of the kind of data that will be generated and analysed? Are validity issues addressed? Have ethical issues been addressed? Are potential limitations/shortcomings considered? References Do they reflect the current thinking in the discipline and in research? Are seminal texts referred to?

14. Activities • Activity 1 • Initial conceptual plan • Activity 2 • Advanced conceptual plan