Reference no: EM132867322 , Length: word count:1300

Dissertation topic - Energy policies to employ renewable energy sources- A study of wind energy in the UK

Research Design and Methods

Introduction to the Assessment
Prepare a well-structured research proposal (1000 -1500 words) in preparation for your research project in your actual Dissertation/Major Project Module.

Assessment Description
As this assignment provides the theoretical and practical underpinning for your dissertation, the module provides the time and opportunity for you to explore different research approaches and methods, to critically evaluate different approaches and methods, and to make appropriate choices in preparation for your dissertation.

Proposal Tasks and Structure
• Title page - including working title of your research project, your SID number, the total word count, the wordcount excluding appendices, the wordcount excluding appendices and tables.
• Contents page.
• Rationale (approximately 450 words), comprising:
o Context and scene setting.
o The professional or practical setting for your research work which, for part-time students should focus upon on a workplace scenario or challenge.
o Possible theoretical basis of the topic (substantiated by key references verifying the problem), including the key
literature for your topic area
o Justification and case for the research project, explaining why it is needed and why it is an important investigation at this time (ensure that your work is not going to be 'out of date').
o Potential value, importance and impact of the research. Indicate any important beneficiaries, especially if your work is being conducted in a professional
setting.
• Research focus (approximately 100 words, this section is brief but very important), which - depending on the nature of your project -could be:
o One key question then a list of sub-questions to be answered OR
o Am Aim (singular - to explore, to determine, to examine... in order to...) and objectives to be achieved.(ideally five - to review, to identify, to sample, to rationalise to synthesise....) with key tasks listed under each objective
o Hypothetical propositions to explore. o Hypotheses to be tested (optional).
• Research design (approximately 650 words), comprising statements of:
o The theoretical basis of the research design, and your overall research philosophy (ontology) research
paradigm or strategy (epistemology). o Indications of your methodological approach (focussing upon quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods of design), and whether research is based on an inductive or deductive approach. o An outline of potential and preferred data collection and analysis methods to be used, including an indication of the type(s) of data to be collected (including key data sources or, if applicable, the population and sample selectin criteria of human participants), your analytical approach. and any key

Outline
• Use the experience and knowledge gained in the first assessment (methodological options) to develop a research proposal appropriate for your forthcoming MSc Major Project (dissertation).
• Your proposal will be a preliminary research design for your dissertation.
• Your proposal should not exceed 1500 words. A suggested, approximate allocation of words to each of the sections of the proposal is given below. These suggestions allow for some flexibility - you can adapt the word counts to your own needs.
Proposal Tasks and Structure
• Title page - including working title of your research project, your SID number, the total word count, the wordcount excluding appendices, the wordcount excluding appendices and tables.
• Contents page.
• Rationale (approximately 450 words), comprising:
o Context and scene setting.
o The professional or practical setting for your research work which, for part-time students should focus upon on a workplace scenario or challenge data collection and analysis methods to be used, including an indication of the type(s) of data to be collected (including key data sources or, if applicable, the population and sample selectin criteria of human participants), your analytical approach, and any key validity or reliability issues. Remember this module is about critical analysis not just descriptive statement! How will you JUSTIFY rather than simply describe your preferred approach? 0 A brief indication of the key tasks and the research might be scheduled within the resources and time available to you (this will be expanded in your work plan, see below).
• Ethical issues arising from your project (approximately 150 words), indicating the ethical risks and your proposed mitigation methods. These will be informed by and will enable you to complete your ARU Research Ethics Forms as School or Faculty Research Ethics Approval is mandatory for all ARU students.

This should include:
Specific ethical dilemmas relating to your research project e.g. power relationships with fellow employees/interviewees, the involvement of vulnerable participant
• Work plan and research timetable (approximately 150 words). This is an outline plan of what will be done in the Major Project Module, and may therefore be subject to change. At this stage, the detail will be speculative, but you should sketch:

A plan of action containing, processes, actions, and products, with timescales, milestones, and critical points, this can be done in the form of a Gantt chart, flow diagram, or any other suitable formalism (note that a chart or diagram is not included in the word count). o A brief explanation and justification of the major parts of the above chart or diagram..
o A strategy including editorial and data collection tools.and timetable for writing up your research .

• References (ten-to-fifteen specific references can be considered adequate, do not try to list the entire contents of our library!). These should conform to the following standard:
o Cited in text, at each appropriate point, using the Harvard citation system.
o List these references at the end of the text in alphabetical order, again using the Harvard system.