Scholarly Paper Proposal:
The Scholarly Paper Proposal option is designed to address
how the researcher would plan a qualitative research methodology to investigate
a strategic communication management issue or study a communications problem.
The capacity to know how to identify, collect preliminary information on and
develop a research plan for a communications issue is important to
organizational success. After reviewing course materials, consider a
communication issue or problem that is of concern in your workplace or in an organization
of interest to you and create a qualitative research design to study the issue.
See Table 19.2 in Daymon and Holloway and follow this overall format:
1. Introduction –
Background – Briefly provide
some background information to the organization.
Significance of issue –
Describe the issue and why it is significant, especially as related to
strategic communication.
Purpose of the study – Identify a strategic
communications issue or opportunity where a qualitative research study could
assist decision making and issues management.
2. Literature review –
As part of
the preliminary information gathering process, conduct a literature review on
the issue.
In writing
your review, note that with a literature review the researcher critically
analyses what has been written and relates it to the specific problem he or she
is addressing.
Define the specific research question(s) for the
general problem.
3. Methodology –
Identify a qualitative
research method (in-depth interviews, focus groups, etc) that could be used to
address the identified problem. Justify with reasons, your choice of method.
Using the qualitative method discussed in the
previous task, develop a qualitative research plan detailing how you would
conduct the research that addresses the research question(s).
The research plan should address, at least, the
following:
What type of issues/questions should be
explored?
(If using focus group,
prepare the moderator’s guide; if using in-depth interviews, prepare the
interview guide; if an audit, provide the audit instrument. Include the
collection instrument in an appendix)
How many groups, interviews or case studies
would you recommend?
How will you select the sample of research
participants?
Location – i.e. where should the interviews
/groups be conducted?
How would you propose the data be analyzed?
Provide sufficient detail (See Daymon and Holloway Part IV) so that a peer or
colleague could execute the study
What are the ethical implications of your
research, and how will they be addressed?
Rationale
4. References in APA Style – Be sure all in-text references
are included in the reference section
5. Appendix –
Data
collection instrument
Additional
information as needed
What’s due:
A written report of 1500-2500 words (excluding title page and
references) is required for this assignment.
The report should be written in APA style and follow
the standard academic requirements including an appropriate list of cited
references. Review Purdue Owl and xxxx for appropriate format and style
guidelines.
The report must be submitted by the due date to be accepted.
Requirements for scholarly paper proposal:
In preparing the assignment the following
conditions must be followed:
1. No actual research involving the collection
of primary data from human participants should be performed, i.e., interviews,
observation, focus groups, surveys, ..etc.
2. Identities of the organization and its
employees should not be disclosed in the assignment. This means removing any
information in the assignment which could potentially identify the organization
and its employees.
3. The assignment should not contain any private
and/or commercial-in-confidence information which is not available publicly.