Layout and Guidelines for Research Project Protocol

1) Below, you will find a brief explanation of each of the sections of the protocol. We
have included a reference list for further reading.
2) When writing it, follow the conventions established in the APA Manual 6th edition.
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE LA MATANZA
DEPARTAMENTO DE FORMACIÓN CONTINUA
LICENCIATURA EN LENGUA INGLESA
Cátedra: Trabajo Final
Código: 6800
XX Cohorte
Ciclo Académico 20XX
Protocolo Proyecto Final
Candidata/o
Domicilio y Teléfono

Eleva a consideración de la Cátedra de Trabajo Final el siguiente Proyecto:

TITLE:
The Title should indicate the topic and the scope of the study (i.e. neither overstating nor
understating its significance). It should be self-explanatory to readers in the chosen area.
(Revise the Lengua Inglesa III Study Guide for more information, page 26).

1. Key Words:
Include five words or phrases that are fundamental to your research problem. It would be
desirable to have designed your problem statement before selecting these keywords. Probably,
these words are the ones that you have entered in your digital search that have directed you to
the bibliography you have included in this document.

2. Problem and research questions (No more than 350 words):

2.1 Problem:
The problem does not have adequate solutions available.
-Ellis and Levy
Research problems are the backbones of studies. The question/s, relevance of the study and
objectives have an exact correspondence to the problem OR are derived from the problem.
They have two main sources: (a) the recent literature and (b) your observation from real life. In
the former, you should revise the literature (articles, dissertations, data bases) to find the gap. In
the latter, you should identify the research problem in your context: social, cultural, educational.
A research problem is considered appropriate when it is supported by the literature, which
validates that it is significant, timely, novel, specific, and researchable (Bryman: 2007) and in
Ellis and Levy’s words (2008) research-worthy problem.
This section provides a clear and concise description of the issues which should be addressed
and of the specific problem you will focus on in the research area you will address. When writing
your new problem (at the end of the section), consider the following criteria: (a) focus on only
one problem; (b) state it in one or two sentences; (c) don’t suggest a solution but a research
question (you may include one or two research questions). Your tentative answer to your
research question/s will be your hypothesi/es. However, it is not mandatory to include one in
qualitative research projects.
Criteria to pose the problem in quantitative studies (Hernandez Sampieri, 2014).
The problem should be related to two or more concepts.
• It should bear an empirical study.
Criteria to pose the problem in qualitative studies
 The problem is more open, but it should define the environment or context.
 The problem is expanded as the study progresses.

2.2. Research questions:

The research questions are meant to be answered to achieve the objectives once the study is
over. It goes without saying that the research questions should be congruent with the objectives.
The research questions are connected to the research design and method.
According to Hernández Sampieri (2014), the researcher should include questions which (a)
have not been answered yet (if they were known, there would be no point in carrying out the
research); (b) can be answered by using empirical evidence (observable and measurable data);
(c) are clear; (d) render knowledge that can be a contribution to a particular field of study and (e)
use ethical means.

2.3. Objectives of the Study:

Objectives provide a list of goals expected to be achieved through the research process. There
should be strict correspondence between the research question/s and the objectives of the
study.
Main objective(s):
Main objectives refer to long-term goals which are expected to be achieved at the end of the
research.
Secondary objectives:
Secondary objectives have to do with short-term goals necessary to reach in order to achieve
our main goal.

2.4. Relevance of the study:

This section essentially provides information on how the study will contribute to the area of
study it is related to. It must be specifically stated what the study will contribute and who will
benefit from it. It indicates how your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in
the area under investigation (Regonel, 2015). Those refinements, revisions, or extensions may
have substantive, theoretical, or methodological significance. In order to write the relevance (or
significance) of the study, think about the following ideas:
▪ What the results will mean to the theoretical framework that framed the study,
▪ What suggestions for subsequent research arise from the findings,
▪ If results influence programs, methods, and/or interventions,
▪ If results contribute to the solution of problems related to the area under
investigation,
▪ If results will influence educational (or other kinds of) policy decisions,
▪ What could be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research, and
▪ How results of the study are implemented, and what innovations will come
about. (Pajares, 2007)

3. Hypothesis (If necessary/ Optional)

A hypothesis is a tentative answer to your research question. There may be more than one.
Qualitative studies may not have any hypotheses.
There are many types of hypotheses, for a complete review see Hernandez Sampieri (2014)
chapter 6.

4. Synthetic Theoretical Background (State of the Art / Preliminary literary review can be
included – No more than 500 words):
Even though it is the 4th item in the research protocol, you started revising and reflecting on the
theory while identifying your research problem to check if it was a research-worthy problem. It is
impossible to write a research problem without having revised the literature.
Once the topic has been identified, a researcher attempts to collect as much information as s/he
can, i.e. s/he tries to describe the “state of the art”: what is or is not known, what is or is not
written, what is evident or not (Hernández Sampieri, 2014).
The theoretical framework is made up of the theory that is guiding your proposal.
“From the theory the researcher is able to inform the statement of the problem, the purpose of
the study, the questions and hypothesis, the choice of instruments and methodology of the
study” (Dallas Baptist University).
The preliminary literary review provides a summary of previous research studies related to the
research problem and their strengths and weaknesses. It can also provide a justification of your
research problem (A Sample Research Proposal with comments). It displays the background for
the research problem and illustrates to the reader that the researcher is knowledgeable about
the scope of the theory (Dallas Baptist University).

5. Method and Design:

Research approach: quantitative / qualitative / mixed
Research design: exploratory / descriptive / explanatory
Descriptive research: you ask the question “what’s going on”?
Explanatory research: you ask the question “why is it going on”?
We will focus on exploratory and/ or descriptive research. We carry out exploratory research
when we study a subject about which there are high levels of uncertainty, it has not been
explored and/ or it is not well understood. Descriptive research is more structured than
exploratory research; its main aim is to provide an accurate and valid representation of the
factors and variables that are relevant to the research question. Explanatory studies are
analytical and very structured in nature. Its main aim is to find causal links between the factors
and variables that pertain to the
research problem.
Research methods: methods of sampling, data collection and data analysis.

6. Methodology (Process, step by step):

The methodology is the steps that will be taken to derive reliable and valid answers to your
questions. It should give information about who, where, when and how the study will be
conducted. The research tools should also be included here. (Ellis and Levy, 2008).

7. Project Timeline:
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
-Confucius
A project timeline is a monthly schedule which outlines the necessary steps to complete the
study within the allocated time. It is necessary to check that your project can be carried out in a
realistic timeline.
When writing your project timeline, you should keep in mind that everything will probably take
longer than expected. So your timeline should give you some flexibility to stay on track so that
you do not feel guilty about being behind your schedule (Bui, 2009). A written time organizer
helps many people not to procrastinate.
8. Bibliography:
Include the sources that will help you answer your question/s and fulfill your objectives.
Requirements:
▪ At least ten sources related to your research topic.
▪ At least 3 different kinds of sources (books or journal articles; websites from reputable
organizations, published interviews with experts.)
▪ At least one source published within the last five years, none older than 10 years, unless they
are seminal works.
▪ There must be AT LEAST two different perspectives represented, that is, the sources can’t all
agree with each other on whatever is arguable in this topic.
▪ Use APA format.
▪ Annotate ONE of the sources (as described below).
Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography helps you or another researcher to assess sources and judge how
they will fit into a particular project. The annotation itself is usually a paragraph written for a
source to summarize and sometimes evaluate the source.
Director propuesto
(Acompañar CV)
Ciudad de................................... del mes de .............................. del
año.........................

Firma Aval del Director de Trabajo final:

Firma del Candidato a Licenciado:

References
Bryman, A. (2007). The Research Question in Social Research. What is its role? International
Journal of Social Research Methodology, 10 (1), 5- 20.
Bui, I. (2009). How to Write a Master’s Thesis. California: Sage Publications.
Dallas Baptist University. How to Write a Research Proposal: A Formal Template for Preparing
a Proposal for Research Methods. Dr. van Wyk, B. Research Design and Methods.
University of the Western Cape. Last retrieved: 8/21/2015 Available at
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:TA04w97NV9sJ:www.uwc.
ac.za/Students/Postgraduate/Documents/Research_and_Design_I.pdf+&cd=2&
hl=es&ct=clnk&gl=ar
Ellis, T & Levy, Y. (2008) Framework of Problem-Based Research: A Guide for Novice
 Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem. Informing Science:
the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, 11, 17-33.
Hernández Sampieri, R. (2014). Metodología de la Investigación. 5ta. Edición. México, Bogotá,
Buenos Aires: Mc Graw Hill Pajares, F. (2007). Elements of a proposal. Retrieved from
https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/proposal.html
Regoniel, P. (February 9, 2015). Two Tips on How to Write the Significance of the Study. In
Simply Educate Me. Retrieved from https://simplyeducate.me/2015/02/09/two- tips-on-
how-to-write-the-significance-of-the-study/
Vázquez-Sixto, F. (2009). Protocolo orientativo para la redacción de una propuesta o proyecto
de investigación. What is research design? The Context of Design. Last retrieved:
8/21/2015 Available at https://www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/methods/005847ch1.pdf