INSTRUCTIONS:
The final paper should be roughly 10 pages in length, double spaced, Times New Roman, blah blah blah. It can be longer if you need it to be, but I don’t want to read padding. If it’s much shorter you probably didn’t include everything.Here’s what it should look like:I. Introduction: Let me know what question your research is designed to answer and why it is important. Give me enough background in terms of context and literature that I know you know about your topic (a formal literature review is not required but given some sense that you’re familiar with the academic literature).2. Methods Proposal: This is the bulk of the assignment. Throughout, I want you to be thoughtful and precise. Cite methodological literature that we read for class (or that you found on your own). But also show that you’re anticipating the challenges using your smartness.Remember you are not expected to do the methods you propose for this class. You can propose something that costs money you don’t have with a timeline you can’t hit (but keep it reasonable).2.1 Epistemological Perspective: State precisely your epistemological stance. Are you operating from a western rationalist perspective? A feminist perspective? A Hawaiian perspective? A Christian theological perspective? A critical race theory perspective? A post-colonial perspective? A Marxist-Hegelian perspective?Note that any of these are valid choices but you need to show you know what you’re talking about (aka cite sources, explain what it means, and don’t be superficial). Note also that being a feminist, a leftist, an anti-racist, a Christian, Hawaiian, etc. does not necessarily mean your research will be from that perspective. Even though much as what we’ve read recently has defined itself in opposition to a western rationalist approach, that does not mean that a western rationalist approach is not valid (it is simply not everything). I personally work from a Western rationalist epistemology, as do most planners.2.2 Sampling: Remember that we defined sampling as “what is included vs. that which is left out.” It thus applies to all research methods. Talk about your approach to sampling. Who/what is included? How will you access those people? How will you incentivize them to participate (if you’re sampling people)? Convince me your choices are appropriate.What are the implications of this approach? What might you not see? What might you see too much of? To what will your research be generalizable? Is generalizability your goal?2.3 Data Collection Procedure: Talk about how you will collect your data. If you’re doing interviews, provide an interview guide. If you’re doing text analysis, provide a codebook. If you’re doing ethnography, describe your approach to writing fieldnotes. If you’re doing comparative case study research, describe how you will access data on your cases.Also talk about your approach. How will you conduct your interviews? How will you conduct your observations? And so forth.2.4 Analytic Approach: How will you analyze your data? Discuss the approach you will take. This will be more technical than anything you’d write in a publishable paper, but I want you to think through the process of analysis. Is there software you will use? If you’re using an inductive process, how will you implement it?2.5 Positionality Statement: State what your positionality is (your identity, background, etc.). Then state how that positionality will impact your research. How will it impact how your research subjects relate to you? What will it give you access to? What will it prevent you from accessing? How will it impact how you interpret the data you collect?Your positionality is dimensionally infinite. Think about which dimensions are relevant. You are not required to disclose portions of your positionality that you are not comfortable with me knowing.2.6 Ethics: Describe any ethical concerns related to your research (there will be some). Harm, disclosure, confidentiality, deception, coercion, etc. Will you share your findings with your subjects? How will you leave the field?3. Anticipated Challenges: What do you think are the biggest threats to the plan you have proposed? How will you adjust to adapt if these issues occur?