Experimental Research Proposal Objective: Synthesize the elements of the experimental method to create a research proposal designed to study human behavior Directions: Within your group, create a research proposal that incorporates the elements of a descriptive study and experiment. You can study any human behavior you want, since you won’t actually be conducting the research. Keep ethical standards in mind though! Your group research proposal includes… A description of the behavior: Brief overview of why this is an important behavior or aspect of human nature to study A question you are interested in answering about the behavior Results of the “descriptive study” – survey, naturalistic observation, or interview An explanation of the experiment: A hypothesis related to the research question you have written Operational definitions of the independent and dependent variables A brief explanation of how the experiment would be conducted A prediction of the results: A statement of the predicted results from the experiment An explanation of why these results are expected A visual presentation of the study: Title of the research proposal & question being studied Information related to the explanation of the study Image of the variables being studied Total Points: 25 points Examples of behaviors and related research questions… Social groups - What types of students use the various lunch and learn areas? Sleep patterns - Do students get more sleep during the week or on the weekend? Caffeine consumption - Who purchases coffee from the cafeteria? Use of free time – What do students use Lunch and Learn time for? Some things to consider for the “descriptive” part of the study…
Experimental Research Proposal Objective: Synthesize the elements of the experimental method to create a research proposal designed to study human behavior Directions: Within your group, create a research proposal that incorporates the elements of a descriptive study and experiment. You can study any human behavior you want, since you won’t actually be conducting the research. Keep ethical standards in mind though! Your group research proposal includes… A description of the behavior: Brief overview of why this is an important behavior or aspect of human nature to study A question you are interested in answering about the behavior Results of the “descriptive study” – survey, naturalistic observation, or interview An explanation of the experiment: A hypothesis related to the research question you have written Operational definitions of the independent and dependent variables A brief explanation of how the experiment would be conducted A prediction of the results: A statement of the predicted results from the experiment An explanation of why these results are expected A visual presentation of the study: Title of the research proposal & question being studied Information related to the explanation of the study Image of the variables being studied Total Points: 25 points Examples of behaviors and related research questions… Social groups - What types of students use the various lunch and learn areas? Sleep patterns - Do students get more sleep during the week or on the weekend? Caffeine consumption - Who purchases coffee from the cafeteria? Use of free time – What do students use Lunch and Learn time for? Some things to consider for the “descriptive” part of the study…