Proposing Empirical Research

A Guide to the Fundamentals (Second Edition)

Ø Provides step-by-step instructions for students who will be writing their first research proposal in the social and behavioral sciences.
Ø
Each major section is divided into short topics. For each topic, students complete an exercise that leads them toward the goal of preparing a proposal.
Ø Numerous examples throughout the book make the recommendations for proposal writing come alive.
Ø The sample research proposals at the end of the book illustrate proposal writing and provide material for classroom discussions. New to this edition: A proposal for qualitative research has been added. The other examples illustrate proposals for experiments and surveys.
Ø Provides concrete guidance for students who will be writing proposals for both quantitative and qualitative research. 
Ø The structure of this book enables students to work independently with confidence while writing the first drafts of their proposals.
Ø All steps in proposal writing are clearly described and illustrated.
Ø

Ideal for use in:

  • research methods classes where students write a proposal as a term project,
  • thesis/dissertation preparation classes,
  • senior research seminars where proposing and conducting research is a culminating undergraduate activity, and
  • any graduate-level seminar in which the instructor wants to incorporate a project that will engage students in critical thinking about the content area.

Ø Written by our best-selling author, Mildred L. Patten. Your students will appreciate her clear and informative style.
 

A sample of professors' reactions:

“This book is well organized. Excellent current examples are used. The sample research proposals are useful. This is an excellent book throughout.”
    — Lois Widvey, South Dakota State University

"This book is a favorite among my students who use it to write strong proposals. It is a very useful supplement for the research class and really helps students with its clear, step-by-step instructions."
    — Ruth C. White, San Francisco State University

"This book will be very helpful for students who have not written a research proposal. It has broken down the process into doable pieces and assists the student in critically considering/evaluating each aspect of the process."
    — Susan A. Cole, University of Illinois, Urbana

"Excellent text for a beginning research course-especially when used in conjunction with Mildred Patten's text Understanding Research Methods. Both texts deal with the essentials of conducting research and 'cut through' the confusing issues often presented in other texts."
    — Carl P. Bahneman, West Virginia University

"Excellent! Most thorough and understandable treatment of the topics I've ever seen. This is a terrific practical guide. I can't imagine teaching the senior honors thesis course
without it."
    — Eva Garroutte, Boston College
 

Students will write better research proposals with the new edition of this easy-to-follow book.

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