A. Introductory paragraph which sets the stage for the statement of the problem.

______3 pts

B. Statement of the Problem: Describe the purpose of your research (in essence, present the questions your research will answer or the hypothesis you will examine). Make sure to supply an introductory sentence or two before you start the statement of purpose. Clarity of statement is extremely important.

______ 5 pts

C. Justify this purpose. In other words, describe why the study is important and how it advances current knowledge.

_______ 5 pts

Make you provide literature which supports your contention that this research is important. Include information about industry and theory which suggests the importance of the research. While there is no set amount of justification for doing the study, I would hope you would include several paragraphs.

 

A. Present a critical synopsis of as many previous research articles on the topic as possible.

B. Point out how your research questions extend this previous research.

_______10 pts A and B can be addressed jointly. Here’s what I mean. The literature review is designed to provide extended knowledge and justification for doing your study. Justification is addressed in B. A addresses the extension of knowledge. You can easily supply synopses of previous research articles related to the topic, then justify why your study addresses some of the limitations of the current research.

Chapter 3 Methodology:

A. Explain the methodology for your research. Provide justification for using this methodology to answer your research questions.

You should do several things in your methodology.

Define the population.

_____ 2 pts

Define the sample. Demographic info about the sample can be addressed here or in the findings section of the paper, but not both.

_____ 4 pts

Define the sampling procedure.

_____2 pts

Justify the sampling procedure.

_____4 pts

Show how the methodology addresses each research questions and/or hypotheses in the study.

_____10 pts

B. Present the data analysis.

How is the analysis accomplished. How will the data be reported.

_____ 2 pts

C. Operational Definitions: Define unusual terms, if any.

________5 pts

Make sure you provide introductory paragraphs preceding these definitions. It may be that you reiterate your purpose of study or explain the need for operational definitions by associating the definitions with research questions or hypotheses.

D. Limitations

______2 pts ( If the limitations section addresses all the issues which caused problems with the methodology and suggestions on how things could have been done to avoid problems, points may be added to the methods section.

Chapter 4 Findings:

A. Present the results of the data analysis or the main philosophical arguments supporting your thesis.

______ 15 pts Make sure each research question and/or hypothesis is statistically addressed. (Make sure to include the research question or hypothesis in the paragraph that first addresses the questions)

Chapter 5 Conclusion:

A. Restate the premise of your study.

_______3 pts Here you are basically restating the purpose of your study and the methodology you used. This review might take 2 to 3 paragraphs

B. Discuss how your findings support/or refute your hypothesis or answer your research questions.

______ 10 pts Here you go back and discuss how your findings answer your research questions. You won’t use many numbers here; it will be a discussion.

C. Synthesize conclusions from the discussion in the body of your paper.