Reference no: EM132381712 , Length: word count:2000

ACX703 Developing a Communication Research Project Assignment - Deakin University, Australia

Assessment Task - The Research Proposal and Project Plan

Learning Outcomes - At the completion of this assessment students will be able demonstrate their ability to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and application of the key concepts, processes and considerations, including social and ethical responsibilities, in research project design and practice.
• Identify and review the literature, conceptual frameworks and methods (including gaps and limitations) appropriate to the design and execution of a substantial research project, evaluation of outcomes, and theorising about the contribution of the proposed research to the chosen field of study.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to discern the specific needs of project stakeholders and professionally communicate research objectives, processes and findings to a diversity of specialist and non-specialist audiences and cultures.
• Articulate a coherent and feasible research project proposal and project plan.

The topic is fake brand representation.

Task Description - For this assessment task, you will need to use the template provided to complete a written research proposal and project plan designed to inform your delivery of the proposed research project. The broad purpose of the research proposal and project plan is to:

• Establish clearly the topic and nature of the proposed research project, the work you plan to undertake, and the rationale for this;
• Provide you and your potential supervisor(s) with direction and a focus for your extended literature review and subsequent data collection and analysis, including any ethics approvals required;
• Identify the milestone activities required to complete the proposed research project and map out a timeline for their intended delivery; and
• Assess the feasibility of the research project you are proposing and your ability to carry out and complete the proposed project.

The research proposal and project plan is the culmination of the project design and preparation work undertaken by students in ACX703, based on their independent research and reflection across the trimester, completion of the scaffolded learning activities, and the feedback received from supervisors and peers.

The research proposal and project plan should be fully referenced. Please note that a failure to complete this assessment task (and the development of a fully-formed research proposal and project plan) may result in a student not being approved to proceed into the research project units in the following trimester of study.

Structure of your research proposal and project plan -

In the Assessment Task folder on this Cloud site, you will find a proforma research proposal and project plan document. You must use this template document to build your research proposal and project plan for submission. You should download a copy of the document and save it locally to your own computer to complete. You will need to upload your completed version of the document to the Assignments folder on the Cloud site for submission and marking.

Correct use of the template provided forms part of the marking criteria for this assessment task.

Within the document, you will find the sections outlined below, which must all be completed to adequately satisfy the requirements of the assessment task. What follows is an explanation of the purpose of each section and the types of content that you will need to include. Please note that this advice is not prescriptive (i.e. you do not need to set out your project milestones and timelines exactly as per the examples provided - with the exception of the three formats prescribed). You should customise each section of writing according to what makes sense for your proposed research project, and write what you need to write to build an overall cohesive and persuasive research proposal and project plan that best demonstrates your research idea and your capacity to successfully deliver the proposed research project.

The same applies for the suggested word counts for each section - these are a guide only. You should write as much or as little in each section as you need to in order to best communicate your points of discussion. However, your research proposal and project plan as a whole should adhere to the 2,000 words allocated for the assignment (with 10% leeway above or below the word count).

The project milestones and timelines section is not counted within this word limit, given you will need to represent this information graphically. You will find that the bulk of your writing will come in the 'background and rationale', 'project design' and 'limitations and ethical considerations' sections of the document as this is where the detail of your proposed research project is required.

The specific sections in the research proposal and project plan template

Project Title -

Consider this a 'working title' since you will likely revise it once you move closer to submission of the actual research project. For now, the provisional title of your project should be clear, concise and unambiguous. It should indicate the specific content and context of the problem you wish to explore through the proposed research project. For example: "Rebuilding trust with customers - a social media communications strategy for XYZ community bank".

Abstract (300 words) -

This provides an overview or executive summary of the proposed research project in its entirety, including the purpose and aims or objectives of the research; rationale for its completion; the research deliverable or output you plan to produce; target audience/client; proposed theoretical framework and/or methodologies, etc. It is a snapshot of the proposed research project intended to provide a non-expert with a clear impression of what your research is about. The trick here is to briefly explain the what, who, why and how of your proposed research project in the word limit available (your abstract should not be much more than the 300 words indicated). It should not be too long or detailed. For example, the abstract should not include a comprehensive discussion of research methods or theories - this detail is best left to the 'Project Design' section of the proposal document. The abstract often takes several drafts to get right. Some students find it easier to complete the remainder of the research proposal first, and write the abstract last. You should approach it as works best for your style of writing and critical thinking.

Background and Rationale (800 words) -

This section provides contextual information to set the scene for your proposed research project. You will also discuss why this research is needed and the aims and objectives of your proposed research project. Remember that aims describe the purpose of the research project, not research outputs (e.g. branding strategy document, industry report, policy statement, etc). Try to ensure that your project aims and objectives are logical, achievable and realistic. This is your opportunity to establish in more detail the reasons or justification for the proposed research, including any identifiable gaps in the literature and potential application of research findings. The reading you have done for your research to date, and your previous literature review, should inform the content you include in this section. Provide a brief summary of existing literature. Point to essential theories, concepts and/or debates in the field, including seminal or landmark studies and authors. The rationale you provide for the proposed research project should attempt to persuade the reader that, not only does the topic, issue or problem at the heart of the research project merit attention, but that the nature of the problem has been correctly identified.

Project Design (500 words) -

The research hypothesis, questions or problem you are seeking to address through the proposed research should be clearly outlined in this section, along with the proposed methods for doing so. Tell your reader how you plan to conduct your data collection and analysis, and why this is the preferred approach to achieve the stated aims and objectives of your research project. The methodology is tightly related to the research hypothesis, questions or problem you have identified. What kinds of data sources will you access? How will you collect and manage these materials? Which theoretical and methodological frameworks and techniques will you use to interpret and analyse these data? (Make sure, in preparing your research proposal, you critically reflect on whether these research methods make sense in the context of the scholarly or professional research you are proposing. For example, are you trying to use more scholarly methods of analysis when you should be thinking about the applied research methods used by industry practitioners? The decisions you make and elaborate on within the proposal document should appear logical and appropriate to your reader. The same holds true for the research deliverable you propose to deliver, which should also be discussed in this section). As this is one of the sections that will receive the most attention in evaluating the feasibility of your proposed research project, it is the element of your proposal document that requires some of the greatest attention to detail and accuracy. Be explicit in detailing your proposed research methods. If you are planning to analyse a selection of social media texts, provide the specific timeline the sample will relate to, how you will collect and record the data, and the data analysis procedures and techniques you plan to use. One of the most important things to keep in mind about the project design component of your research proposal is that it should not simply consist of a list of tasks that will be undertaken. Above all, it needs to establish that these tasks constitute the most effective way of exploring the research problem. Please note that if you are proposing to complete an Academic Research Project (subject to Course Director approval) you should also nominate within this section three potential supervisors for your research from the academic staff within the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin, and preferably from the Communication group. This is not required for the majority of students, who will otherwise be undertaking a Professional Research Project (the default pathway through the professional capstone program in the Master of Communication - i.e. Option A).

Limitations and Ethical Considerations (200 words) -

Once you have detailed the design of your research project, you should address any limitations that are evident in your preferred approach and methods of analysis. Remember, no research is perfect and it is important that researchers themselves identify and are honest about the weaknesses and limitations of their own research. The implications of these weaknesses or limitations on the research results should be acknowledged. The proposal should also seek to demonstrate how the research project will abide by ethical principles and should identify any ethical considerations you are already aware of as the researcher, which will need to be factored into the completion of the proposed research project. Revisit the Topic 5 study guide on this Cloud site for further guidance, if needed.

Expected Outcomes or Impact of the Proposed Research Project (200 words) -

This is where you should elaborate on the significance or value of the proposed research. Why is the topic significant to you? Why should others be interested in it? You might find it helpful to think about what led you to undertake research in this area. You might also consider how scholars in the field discuss its importance. In what ways is your understanding of its significance similar or different? What application do you envisage your research findings having (for your client, an industry sector, disciplinary field, or future professional practice)? How will your research deliverable contribute to new knowledge and/or potentially solve a problem?

Project Milestones and Timelines -

This is a timetable for completing the research, indicating the tasks to be undertaken and their dates for completion. Many students often underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete tasks, so bear this in mind when devising your work schedule and try to be as realistic as possible, taking into consideration the commitments you will need to balance against completion of the research project, such as part-time employment, assignments for other units, internships, etc. The project timeline demonstrates to the reader that your proposed research can be completed within the timeframe available (normally a trimester for full-time Academic Research Project students and a nine-week period for full-time Professional Research Project students). It should consist of a series of milestone actions that you will need to meet in order to complete all aspects of the proposed project. These tasks and their timeframes must be represented in a table format or as a Gantt chart or as a vertical timeline with text boxes (choose one - see examples below). The timeline is not a static component of your research proposal; you will need to review and update it regularly as you progress through the stages of research project delivery.

Assessment Task Requirements -

For this assessment task, students will need to use the template provided on the unit's Cloud site to complete a written research proposal and project plan designed to inform their delivery of the project in the following trimester of study. The purpose of the research proposal and project plan is to:

• Establish clearly the topic and nature of the proposed research project, the work you plan to undertake, and the rationale for this;
• Provide you and your potential supervisor(s) with direction and a focus for your extended literature review and subsequent data collection, including any ethics approvals required;
• Identify the milestone activities required to complete the proposed research project and map out a timeline for their intended delivery; and
• Assess the feasibility of the research project you are proposing and your ability to carry out and complete the proposed project.

The research proposal and project plan is the culmination of the project design and preparation work undertaken by students in ACX703, based on their independent research and reflection across the trimester, completion of the scaffolded learning activities and the feedback received from supervisors and peers. The document produced should be fully referenced. Further advice for completing this assessment task will be provided across the trimester.

Word length: 2,000 words.

Attachment:- Communication Research Project Assignment Files.rar