Detailed description of assessment
What is required
1. Description of the research topic and its importance
2. Definitions of key terms
3. Review of the relevant literature, ideally as a theoretical framework. Issues/themes requiring further research clearly identified
4. Research question(s); and hypotheses (if it is a quantitative study)
5. Justification of research philosophy (epistemology) that is congruent with research questions
6. Research design: inductive or deductive; quantitative or qualitative. A approaches to sampling (random or non-random)
7. Approaches to data gathering: survey, case study, interviews, focus groups, etc.
8. Approaches to data analysis (for quantitative designs, which statistical tools; for qualitative which analysis methods, e.g., content analysis, thematic analysis)
9. Quality in data analysis: approaches to ensuring validity and reliability of findings
10. Work plan and timeline
11. List of references (not included in the word count)
12. Research instrument(s), such as questionnaires, interview schedules, ethics documents (as appendices, not included in the word count).
Criteria
– Focus: Does the Proposal set up a clear research question to address? Does the essay stay within and fulfil the topic parameters?
– Synthesis: Does the Proposal bring together the literature in a significant manner that addresses a research question?
– Soundness: Does the Proposal indicate a comprehensive understanding of the topic area and literature discussed?
– Clarity of structure: Is the Proposal well organised and logically constructed to achieve synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader?
– Mechanical Soundness: Is the Proposal clearly written, spell checked and grammatically sound and referenced appropriately?
Sample structure:
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The topic and its importance
1.2 Research question and expected findings
1.3 Aims and objectives
1.4 ‘Road map’ of paper
2.0 Literature review
2.1 Introduction (definitions, e.g.: talent management)
2.2 Talent and strategic human resource management
2.2.1 Attracting, developing, and retaining talent
2.2.2 Talent as a resource
2.3 The dark side of talent management
2.3.1 Foucauldian approaches: Talent, subjectivity, and discipline.
2.3.2 Marxian approaches: Talent and exploitation.
2.4 Conclusion (critical summary of how research question is addressed in the literature)
3.0 Methodology
3.1 Introduction (overview of methods employed)
3.2 Research philosophy (ontology and epistemology)
3.3 Research design (sampling, addressing validity and reliability)
3.4 Data collection (semi-structured interviews, topics covered in them, how documented)
3.5 Data analysis (coding of transcripts and comparison of cases)
3.6 Ethical considerations (informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality)
3.7 Limitations (e.g., generalizability of qualitative findings)
3.8 Conclusion (summary of what your methods are and why)
4.0 Findings and Analysis Presentation of findings (quantitative: SPSS tables; qualitative: summary tables). Analysis of results, comparing and contrasting results with literature models/themes. Validity and reliability of the findings. Weaknesses of the study.
5.0 Conclusion (reiterate topic, its importance, research question, data collection, and data analysis)
Reference list (not included in word count)
Appendices (not included in word count)
Appendix 1. Interview schedule
Appendix 2. Ethical waiver form and information on project supplied to interviewees
Appendix 3. Timeline of dates (access negotiation, data collection, analysis, writeup)
Appendix 4. Costs involved (travel, voice recorder, mailing, telephone call)
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