ECON7950 Research Methods in Economics

3,000-Word Research Proposal Guidelines and Presentation Template

Students are required to develop a research proposal worth 3,000 excluding tables, figures and references. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the course coordinator before embarking on the research proposal, and to choose use the "three ideas" assignment as an opportunity to brainstorm and get feedback early in the term. Relevant lectures (2, 5, 6 and 11) will comprehensively cover methods of writing an effective research proposal, and a successful research proposal will closely follow these principles.

The aim of the research proposal is to persuade readers that you have: a valuable research project; a good understanding of the relevant literature and the major issues; a sound methodology; and the skills and the work-plan to complete the proposed research project. A research proposal should include all the major elements entailed in the research process and contain adequate information for readers to assess the proposed study.

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
School of Economics

Research Methods in Economics

Research Proposal: Title in full

An ECON7950 Research Proposal submitted to the School of Economics, The University of Queensland, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of (Specify name of degree for which the research proposal is submitted, e.g. Master of Health Economics (Adv)).by

Your name in full with surname underlined + eight digit student number
submission date e.g., 16 November 2018

Marking distribution for research proposal

Criterion

Weight

Indicative length (words)

*Your word count e.g.,

Marks awarded

Presentation (proofreading, consistency of referencing style, line spacing, use of font type and size, page numbering, completion of checklist, abstract with keywords etc.)

10%

-

Introduction and background

15%

600

595

Literature review

25%

900

950

Aims, objectives and Research questions

20%

600

600

Methodology

20%

600

605

Significance

10%

300

305

Complete your work according to the following sequence

A 250-word Abstract (not included in the word count). Please put the abstract in italics to separate it from the main text. Abstract must have 3-4 key wrods.

1. Introduction and Background (Your word count in bracket here)
2. Literature review (Your word count in bracket here)
3. Research question and objectives (Your word count in bracket here)
4. Methodology (Your word count in bracket here)
5. Significance (Your word count in bracket here)
6. Resources (not included in word count)

References (not included in word count)

Timescale (not included in word count)

Appendices if any (not included in word count)

IMPORTANT

This checklist MUST completed and placed at the backof your submission

Task

Completed (ü)

Paragraphs under 250 words

Tables on single page

Consistent font size

Consistent font spacing

Consistent font usage (e.g., do not mix Aerial with Times New Roman)

Consistent spacing between paragraphs

Paragraphs logically flow together

Reference style is either APA or Harvard format only (not a mixture of the two)

Reference style consistency e.g., :

• Inconsistent usage of “The” in journal title. Avoid “The” from the journal title
• Inconsistent use of quotes in referencing
• Avoid use of DOI if you already have year, volume and page numbers in case of journal articles

• Inconsistent use of capital letters in titles and names e.g., author name (QUIGGIN) should actually be Quiggin.

Have you followed every part of the presentation template?

Do you realise that not following the presentation template will entail loss of marks?

Have you numbered your pages?