Research Proposal Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many topics should I choose for my research proposal?
- You should choose only one topic for the research proposal. Do I need to be strict about adhering to the research proposal topic?
- Yes, please stick to the research proposal topic that you have chosen. Marks will be deducted if you stray away from the original topic.
Do I actually need to conduct the research to write the assignment?
- No, you WILL NOT conduct the research. You are only designing a study. Do I need to develop my own scales and questionnaires for the research proposal?
- No, you do not need to develop your own scales and questionnaires. Please use the ones that researchers have used due to their standardisation, and high reliability and validity.[unique_solution]
How many references do I need for the assignment?
- You should aim for three references, other than the starting reference. How old should my references be?
- Please aim for newer references preferably after 2007. You could use older references if they are seminal, define concepts, and are important to your study.
What kind of articles should I use?
- ensure that your articles are scholarly, peer reviewed and quantitative (based on testable and statistically significant data)
- You should only use primary research. You will lose marks if you use meta-analysis, letters to the editor, reviews, opinion pieces, thesis, abstracts, case
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studies, animal research, qualitative studies and studies relying on third party sources
What is the word limit for assignment 1?
- The word limit is strictly 500 words. This includes everything except the Title Page, Article Titles in the body of text and the Reference section. In-text references will count toward the word limit.
Is there a 10% leeway for the word count?
- No, there is no You will be penalised 5% for going over the word limit. Will I be penalised for being under the word count?
- No, there is no penalty for being under the word count. However, by using lesser number of words, you may miss out on valuable information which may make your research proposal more effective.
Is the Reference List included in the 500 word count?
- No, the Reference List is not included in the 500 word count. Are in-text citations (if used) included in the word count?
- Yes, in-text citations if used, are included in the 500 word limit. I need a special consideration or extension for my assignment
- Please refer to pages 12 and 13 of the Psychology Undergraduate Student Guide for more information about this.
When will I get my assignment marks back?
- The turnaround time for returning marked assignments is 4 weeks. How will I know that my assignment has been marked?
- We will post an announcement on Moodle once all the marks are finalised. Do I need to attach a cover sheet to my assignment?