Abstract
This is a research proposal outline documenting the design for a study conducted to examine the top-ten online Universities. This proposal outline or design aims at providing a concise overview of the research, and the key elements as well as the considerations that would be considered in reaching the desired conclusions on the research hypothesis and questions. Some of the research areas that would be featured in this proposal would include the research topic, purpose statement, the applicable literature, hypothesis and research question, measurement and analysis approach, and the choice of report format that would be used for this study.
Research topic
- The Top-Ten on-line Universities.
Purpose statement
- To establish how Colorado Technical University faired in the top ten on-line institutions, among the several Universities and colleges that offer such programs.
The main aim of this research is to identify and pick the top ten on-line Universities with the aim of understanding where Colorado Technical University is ranked. It was observed that this would be an interesting topic since each one of the group members is undertaking on-line university studies. In this regard, this is a topic everyone in the group could identify with, in a perfect style.
Applicable literature
- This section identifies all the applicable literature that has been provided regarding the research hypothesis and questions. Here, previous research and study on the research topic or subject have been identified and analyzed appropriately, to bring out an outstanding connection with the research hypothesis and questions (Maxwell, 2005).
- Numerous literature has been observed in this case, and their wider contribution to the research topic has been observed and outlined in the study.
- Sentinel literature addressing the applied methodologies is essential in many qualitative studies (Malterud, 2001). This may also be observed in the context of this research, to offer a clear and concise understanding of the research methodologies, and why the chosen methodology would be the most appropriate way in undertaking this research.
Research questions and hypothesis
- What is the percentage of adults attending on-line university programs?
- Which are the top ten on-line Universities?
- Where does the Colorado Technical University (CTU) rank among the best on-line Universities and colleges?
- What is the cost of on-line programs?
- Why do people choose online University programs?
Measurement and Analysis Approach
Research methodology
- Qualitative research methodology or approach.
- Details of this research method in connection with the topic or subject.
Context of the research methodology
Among the various research methodologies, qualitative research was chosen as the most appropriate approach for this study. The reason why qualitative would be the most appropriate research approach for the project is that its design strategies paired well with our project that would have to deal with interns of insight into people’s attitudes, behaviors, value systems, concerns, motivations, aspirations, culture or lifestyles. According to Creswell (2009), the “qualitative approach validates the perfectness of the significant findings” and therefore, it has proved beyond all doubts being the most suited methodology for this project. In other terms, this methodology, which involves several formal procedures and strategies, appears to offer the best answers to the research hypothesis and questions.
Analysis approach
The main focus of this research system is to read and try to analyze empirical research and literature in connection with the featured research topic as well as the research hypothesis and questions (Creswell and Clark, 2007). This can be achieved through the procedures for the qualitative method, which can be carried out in the following phases.
- Identification of the main characteristics of the methodology.
- Selection of a qualitative strategy of inquiry that is suitable for this project.
- Identification of the researcher’s role.
- Description of the selection as well as the assignment process of the participants.
- Specification of data collection and recording methods.
- Identification of the steps that would be used to analyze the qualitative data.
- Application of coding ways to give theme description.
- Application of validation strategies in demonstrating the accuracy of the outcomes or conclusions.
- Putting down the narrative using qualitative conventions.
Summary and conclusions
- Major findings of the research relevant to the five research questions.
- Conclusions of the research based on the significant findings, and possible recommendations for further research on the topic.
Choice of research format
This research has been done in the APA research format style.
References
Creswell, J. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc.
Creswell, J. & Clark, V. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. New York: Wiley Online Library.
Malterud, K. (2001). Qualitative research: standards, challenges, and guidelines. The Lancet, 358(928), 483-488.
Maxwell, J. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. United Kingdom: Sage Publications, Inc.