You have your research proposal worksheet. Now we will begin your research proposal, remember, we’ll build it all semester. I give you fairly specific guidelines here, I want you to get off to a good start.

This is a critical and useful assignment. You will be using this document ALL semester. It has two parts:

1) I want you to use the attached charts, which we have seen in class to set up your final research proposal. Save this document in a safe place!! As we go through the course, you will be ‘building’ your proposal pieces, step by step. So, take the outline provided in the charts, and create pages and headings for each topic on the outline.

The Research Proposal Outline.pptx

Now don’t over think this! I am simply asking you to take those items in bold, using page breaks as suggested, and ‘build’ a proposal. All headings and subheadings as instructed. We will be filling in the “guts” of the proposal, building block by building block, all semester until we have …a proposal! So you end up with a lot of blank space, but a lot of headings and subheadings, and page breaks – your paper is already about about 5-6 pages long.

2) Now in the introduction, please write 1-2 paragraphs discussing your key statements. The key statements should be written in this order and in the format required:

• Your purpose statement
• Name and define your variable(s)
• Your research question (this ends in a ?)
• Your hypothesis (It is hypothesized)

• Purpose statement: this statement combines the variables, identifies the type of research and the population involved. (The purpose of this (kind of research) is ….
• Variables: variables must be named and clearly defined. (Variable 1 is xx and is defined as…. Variable 2….)
• Research question: this is the question our research seeks to answer (The research question is….)
• Hypothesis: this is the researcher’s best guess how the research will turn out. (It is hypothesized…)

So, when I open up your document the first page I should see is a title page. Set up a place holder for the words, or enter a title for your proposal. Your research question makes a good title, stated as a statement.

The next page I should see would be a page labeled “Abstract” centered, at the top. You do not write the abstract, just the heading!

The next page I should see is a Table of Contents – with all the headings and sub-headings listed.

The next page would be Introduction, with the various paragraphs labeled: Introduction paragraph, discussion of the problem, appetizer of literature review. And, your key statements paragraph written.

And so on, all the way through to the Appendix.

Now, keep in mind these RULES about your proposal:

1. it must be a quantitative proposal

2. It must be related to public administration, government in general or an aspect of nonprofits. (Emergency Mgt., Urban Planning are all part of PA)

3. You will have to develop an original survey and propose to survey a group.

—————

If you haven’t settled on a topic, here are some thoughts to help.

To get a sense of the types of proposals students write, here are a few titles from previously completed student proposals:

• Public Perception of and Satisfaction with the Police in America

• Effects Of Education On Economic Levels

• Is the American Dream Still Alive?

• Housing Developers and Zoning: A study within the City of Orlando

• Early Learning Effects on College Graduation

• Donor Recognition and Donor Retention: Determining The Relationship

• Age and Its Effect on Emergency Preparedness

• Student Satisfaction on Inclusion within UCF Outdoor Adventure

• Partisanship and the Federal Minimum Wage: How Political Party Affiliation Effects Attitudes

• Racial Diversity and Inclusiveness in U.S. Private Sector Organizations

Now, those sound official don’t they! Don’t worry yours will too

Here are some examples of research questions:

1. Which kind of vehicle do students prefer: bicycles or scooters?

2. How do students feel about the downtown campus?

3. Do Orange county citizens feel their voting mechanisms are safe?

4. Is there a relationship between length of time in Florida and appreciation of Florida’s environment?

5. How do cities handle the homeless?

Where might you find ideas?

The PEW Research Center has all kinds of studies on policies and citizen’s ideas that might generate ideas: https://www.pewresearch.org (Links to an external site.)

Just straight away Google: “Five issues in (insert your subject area – emergency management)

If you like to use journals, search the Public Administration Review for all kinds of ideas

For nonprofits, this public policy cite contains a list of policy issues: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/public-policy-…

Professional organizations and Agencies in your subject matter identify issues (Google):

• International City/County Managers Association
• American Society of Public Administration
• National council of Nonprofits
• National Education Association
• Federal Emergency Management Agency

Newspapers:

• Orlando Sentinel
  • This is a great cite to find local central Florida issues: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/central-fl…
• New York Times
• Washington Post
• Wall Street Journal

DETAILED ASSIGNMENT

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