Structure of Research Proposal (Incomplete Paper)
I. Abstract Page (200–220 words) & Introduction (around 3 double-spaced pages)
Purpose: To provide the reader with the necessary background on the topic researched in the paper.
Content: The introduction consists primarily of the following types of information, generally provided in this order:
1. Why do you undertake this study? What gap in the knowledge of the field are you trying to fill by undertaking this study? What problem are you trying to address? What contribution does this study make to the field?
2. The nature of the work performed: The variables that are investigated and the methods that are used.
3. The potential state of the problem at the end of the study: A brief statement of the major findings you expect to obtain, and implications of the study, for example, how the work contributes to “the big picture,” questions left unanswered, new questions that might have emerged.
II. Related Studies (Literature Review) (around 4 double-spaced pages) Purpose: To provide the reader with a scholarly review of the relevant literature. Content: What are the relevant studies associated with the current paper? It is essential that you
provide a scholarly review of the relevant literature with the appropriate references. The purpose of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the arguments, findings and ideas of others. For scholars, the depth and extensiveness of the literature review emphasizes the credibility of the writer in her/his field. Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is crucial to most research papers.
III. Research Questions and Hypotheses (around 1 double-spaced page)
State your specific research questions and hypotheses. These should logically flow from parts I-III.
IV. Theoretical Contribution (around 4 double-spaced pages)
1. What is the theoretical foundation of this study? Discuss the theory you are using for this paper and how it contributes to your work.
2. How does your study contribute to that theory?

V. Method (around 3 double-spaced pages)
Purpose: The method section serves two functions: (1) to enable readers to evaluate the work performed (e.g., are the authors going to use the most appropriate and accurate techniques for their work?), and (2) to permit readers to replicate the study if they desire to do so.
Content: All aspects of the methodology that you will use in this study must be described thoroughly enough so that scholars working in the field will be able to replicate the work. This includes both what will be used as well as what will be done. So, for example, you must include draft questionnaires (for surveys and experiments) or codebooks (for content analysis). If the method has already been published in the scientific literature (whether or not it was written by the same authors), readers should be referred to the original description for the details of the method. However, it is important to include enough information so that readers are able to evaluate the work being presented without having to refer to another paper.
VI. References (as many pages as they take) Purpose: To provide the full citations for the articles referenced in the text. Content: A complete reference list includes all of the authors’ names, the title of the article, the
journal name, the volume number, page numbers, the year of publication, etc.
Style: For this paper, you will use the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Book for citing references in the text and bibliography. This list must be limited to the references cited within the text and should be provided in alphabetical order.
VII. Appendices, Tables, and Figures (as many pages as they take)
Purpose: To report data that is too numerous or complicated to be described adequately in the text, and to reveal trends or patterns in the data.
Content: Coding books, data collection procedures, survey questions, tables, figures and graphs (bar, line, scatter), diagrams, and photographs.

. I will work with each of you on multiple (two) graded drafts. Notes 1. I am a media scholar. I use the APA Style Book. So, this is an APA paper. Please visit the APA Style Book before you start working on this paper. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is helpful too.
2. The total length of this paper should be 16-17 double-spaced pages, excluding title page, bibliography, and appendices
. 3. The paper should be typed on MS Word, and should be submitted online via Canvas to the instructor at the allocated due dates.
4. To check for plagiarism, I will use Turnitin.
5. I welcome any topic about media and/or audience, provided that it is not related to your home country.
6. This is a primary research. I welcome all theoretical foundations and all methodological approaches, whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed, but I DO NOT accept any form of
secondary analysis.
7. For audience research, consider public opinion surveys (quantitative) and/or interviewing (qualitative).
8. For media research, consider content analysis (quantitative) and/or textual analysis (qualitative).
9. For media and audience research, derive a suitable combination from 7 and 8 above.