C10 Flashcards
Purpose of research proposal
Typically when you come to write a research proposal you will have received a research brief; or even had a meeting with a client at which you clarified or discussed in further detail any issues identified when you read the brief. If you work in an academic setting you may be writing proposals in order to secure funding for your own research).
Purpose of proposal is to show the client the following:
That you understand problem and issues involved
Understand implications of the problem in research terms and in client’s wider business context
That you have the expertise to design, set up, manage and deliver good-quality research that will provide the evidence the client needs to make a decision or take up action
Research proposals vary in terms of lengths and complexity and degree of detail. It is good practice to prepare a proposal even if the brief is verbal. Having an agreed written document with what is set out to be done and why it is being done will avoid confusion and misunderstanding. Can further discuss research and act as a record for future consultation.
How should you be Questioning brief 2 stage
When research supplier receives brief they should spend time reading through; and assess whether:
Client is the sort you’d want to work with
If topic or issue is one you want to work on
Something you have experience of expertise in
What type of research you think will be necessary
Whether you can provide this type of research
What the time frame is, and whether the research can be completed within this time
What budget is, whether research needed is feasible within this budget
If you are interested in this project and equipped to deal with it in time available, it is likely to be worth exploring further by asking questions to unpack problem and clients information needs:
What is business problem
What is research problem
Why is research needed
Is it clear what the information needs are
Will research help in addressing the problem
What assumptions have been made in defining the problem
Is it clear how the client wants to use research findings within the organisation
Are ROs clear and una,biguous, and relevant to problems?
Is the research approach suggested feasible? Will it deliver what is needed?
Links between the brief and proposal
Quality of proposal, and so effectiveness / suitability of research proposed in it - relies heavily on research brief. Good-quality proposal must have a clear understanding of the client’s business problem and its wider context, type of information needed to address the problem and how this information will be used. Brief must provide this, or else must seek meeting with the client to discuss further.
Good quality, actionable research is typically the result of collaborative partnership between client and researcher. At this stage dialogue and collaboration should be established.
what might impact what you include inr esearch proposal / whether you provide one
Not all research proposals are fully detailed and fleshed out - if research being commissioned is similar to previous, a replication of previous study, or researcher / client have established relationship it may not be necessary. Time may be a factor, limiting what can be produced - about one to two weeks notice is needed to prepare a proposal.
Background to problem
Show the client that you understand the nature and setting of the problem. This can include some background research - do not jst reproduce information given in brief. This can add value to the proposal, showing the client that you are interested and willing to do that bit extra.
Research objectives
Should state what research will do and so should be relevant to research problems. It is crucial that understanding of these objectives and clients understanding are one and the same; should both agree that they will deliver the necessary information to address the research problem.
Approach to the research
Set out the research design and why this approach is the most suitable for collected evidence needed to address the research problem. Whatever is suggested should be justified with your reasoning and have its limitations set out.
Sampling
State clearly the target population for research. Note assumptions about the incidence of the target pop in the wider population and the basis of this assumption. Explain how you intend to draw a sample from this population. State intended sample size or number of discussions / interviews, and size of any sub-samples that are relevant to research objectives of statistical analysis. Explain reasons for these choices and the implications they will have. Point out any envisaged problems in either contacting or recruiting samples and explain how you propose to overcome these.
Method of data collection
Specify the way in which you plan to collect data. Mention The reason why you are recommending a particular method. Specify expected interview lengths, contents and its style - will not need a fully worked up discussion guide / qnn but may want to show clients you understand topics / question areas that need to be covered in order to address the research objectives. In a qual project you may want to specify whether you plan to use stimulus material or projective techniques. To provide an accurate costing you will need to use the information you have been given in brief to estimate qnn or interview length. You should make this and the assumptions on which it is based clear so that clients can see how you have reached cost. Set out implications of methods suggested, information about how fieldwork is to be organised / recruited.
Data processing and analysis
Set out how data will be handled. For qual, this will include any recordings and whether they will be available to client, transcripts and whether they will be available.how analysis will be tackled, what specialist analysis software will be used. For quant research; you may want to provide details on data processing - extent and nature of editing process, verification process post-data entry, cleaning of dataset, procedure for coding responses in open-ended Qs. confirm analysis package used and in what format data will be made available e.g. crosstabs / hard copy / electronic. Give details of any weighting that might be applied to data. Set out analysis and how this addresses clients business problems.
Outputs
What outputs you will provide, format (report, presentation, dashboard), number of copies, dates on which they’ll be provided. Set out the cost of additional deliverables e.g. summary reports, so that clients can take account of cost implications if these are required.
Ethical issues
Identify ethical issues in relation to research you propose, and set out to the client how these issues will impact how research is conducted, presented and used. Must set out what steps you as researcher will take to address ethical issues, and clients own responsibilities. Many organisations, including universities and those funding research in the public or voluntary sector, require researchers to submit details of research plans to ethical approval committees; who scrutinise plans to ensure researchers have identified and are taking steps to address any ethical issues. May ask about sample composition and whether this includes people who may be vulnerable, how informed consent will be achieved, what realistic harm participants may be at risk of as a result of taking part in research.
MRS COC PROPOSAL WRITING
Research must conform to national / international legislation relevant to given project including DPA 98
Reasonable steps to avoid conflicts of interests with clients / employers and must make prior voluntary and full disclosure to all parties concerned of all matters that might give rise to such conflict
Must act honestly in dealings with Respondents, Clients (actual / potential), employers, employees, sub-contractors and the general public
Members must not make false claims about their skills / experience / those of their organisation
Members must take reasonable steps to ensure that others do not breach or case a breach of this code
Members must not act ina way which might bring discredit on profession, MRS or its members
Members must not disparage or unjustifiably criticise other members or non-member researchers
Must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that respondents are not harmed / adversely affected as result of participating in research project
Members must not knowingly take advantage, w/o permission, of unpublished work of another research which is their property - thus should not knowingly carry out of commission work based on proposals prepared by research practitioner in another organisation unless permission has been obtained
All written or oral assurances made by any member involved in commissioning or conducting projects must be factually correct and honoured by member
Members must take reasonable steps to design research that meets quality standards agreed with client
Must take reasonable steps to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of themselves and clients are governed by a written contract or internal commissioning contract
Must not disclose identity of clients or any confidential information about them without permission unless there is a legal obligation to do so
Timetable
Include draft timetable / work schedule; highlighting key dates, particularly those dependent on input from the client. This may be through providing a table showing dates associated with key tasks / milestones or a Gantt chart; which shows individual activities / tasks as bars with week numbers or days so that it is clear when different phases begin and end. In drawing up timetables think of practicalities - build in contingency time, if timetable is tight mention this to the client and explain why. Things that impact precise project times are:
Nature of research - qual / quant
Size, scope and complexity of project
Method of data collection / data capture e.g. online / F2F
Nature of population under study - easy of accessing population, incidence and length of recruitment
Length / number of interviews
Geographic scope of research
Time of year (impact of holidays)
Data processing and analysis needs
Reporting requirements
Time needed for interpretation, comparison with other data
Extent of liaison required with client during project
costs - quant qual / quant, international
Include details of cost of conducting research proposed and assumptions on which these costs are based. Detail of costs presented; which may vary by custom / practice of org or level requested by client and nature of project. A quant costing may be presented on task-by-task basis, or as client service cost plus a field and tab cost. Q qual costing might be presented in terms of cost per group / interviews or as one total cost, by recruitment costs, fieldwork costs (venue, refreshments, transports incentives), moderators fee and report writing fee. It should be made clear the length of time for which costs you quote are valid - as time between submitting a proposal and being commissioned to do work may be considerable (costs may rise). Also be clear about costs for which the client will be liable if they cancel, and whether costs quoted includes or excludes relevant sales tax.
Costing international projects may be more difficult due to fluctuating exchange rates. In costing international projects make it clear in which currency you are billing clients and if exchange rates apply, what range of fluctuations in rates will be acceptable before it is necessary to recalculate cost.
