Accounting Research Proposal Assessment

Assignment 2: Research Proposal

 Word limit: 3,500 words, with a maximum length of 12 pages excluding the cover pages, references pages, table of contents

Font: Times new Roman 12 point, 1.5 spacing.

 The objective for this assignment is to fulfil the second stage of completing an accounting research proposal. As you have already completed the Literature Review, that would have assisted you in identifying research opportunities/gaps. In your research proposal you should look at a current relevant topic/unresolved issue in accounting research and practice, already identified through assignment 1,and develop a proposal for exploring and researching it.

MARKING CRITERIA

• Research objective, research problem, questions and the links to the literature (12%)
• Development of conceptual framework, including hypotheses or codes/themes (12%)
• Methodology: design, data collection and analysis (12%)
• Autonomy, accountability and practical deployment of discipline knowledge. (12%)
• Structure, language, referencing, conventions etc. (12%)

Step 1: Outline the structure of your research proposal.

Step 2: Start drafting the different sections, by building on the topic/issue/gap of your previous literature review:

• Clearly present the research objectives, research problem, questions and links to the literature and practice.
• Identify how the project can be practically deployed and transferred within the industry or the profession.
• Develop and design your conceptual framework, including hypotheses or codes/themes and related relationships.
• Present your research methodology: Design, data collection method and analysis.
• Identify the limitations of your proposed research.

Step 3: At least 10 references shall be included, out of which at least 3 references within the period 2017-2022 (This list can include articles referred in your previous literature review too). Use APA 7th Referencing styles

Step 4: Adhere to the following structure to complete your Research Proposal: 

How to do each step:

Cover Page: Identifies topic, investigator/s, institution and degree

Table of Contents: Lists sections of the proposal and page references.

Abstract: The abstract should be self-contained, concise, readable, and not more than 250 words. It should outline what you intend to do, why you believe it needs to be done and what the results will mean for theory and practice.

Introduction:

• The Background to the Study: This sub-section sets the scene for a naive reader who knows nothing about your research.
• The Significance of the Study and Motivation: This sub-section states the relevance and importance of the study. It should highlight implications to practice and academia. Further elaboration is needed if you have covered this already in the literature review.
• The Objectives/purpose of the Study: This sub-section states, what you expect to achieve by doing this research
• Research Problem (and Questions): A problem statement may be presented in broad terms and there could be number of unambiguous questions that the research is designed to answer as questions (do not provide questions if you plan to develop Hypotheses).

Literature Review: As this has been done already, no need to include it in the proposal. However, hypotheses/codes, research design and other related aspects should be justified using relevant literature in subsequent sections.

Conceptual framework: Presentation of the conceptual framework that identifies hypotheses (quantitative) or codes/themes (qualitative) indicating variables impacting the research problem/questions and their interrelationships. The theoretical framework is often summarised as a diagram/map, showing relationships between theories, concepts and variables of the study.

Methodology: This section describes your research approach and how you will collect data and analyse them to answer the research questions. It can be organised into the following sub-sections:

• Procedure: This sub-section describes, step by step, how you will collect the data.
• Sample and population of the study: the nature and size of the population and how you have selected your sample (if applicable, including sampling method).
• Data Analysis: This sub-section describes how you will use the data you collect. It is often useful to organise this according to the research questions, explaining how you will analyse the data to answer each question. It must be planned before any data is collected, otherwise, it may be impossible to analyse the data in such a way as to answer the questions.
• Ethics Declaration: refer to the sample declaration provided within the material of Module 3.

Transferability: Provides articulate and well-reasoned suggestions for future practical deployment and transferability within the industry or a professional setting.

Limitations: You are expected to be aware of any weaknesses in your research and show evidence of attempts to overcome them.

References: List all the cited sources using APA 7th.

Appendices & Annexures (optional): may include a timeline, draft data collection instruments (questionnaire/interview guide or data analysis template for archival data) and a draft budget.