Evaluating Research Proposals for Sustainability and Circular Economy

Analyzing the Research Problem

Students will be take the sustainability and circular economy topic that they used for their literature review and taking a research question that emerged from that literature review, critically evaluate different elements of a research proposal designed to collect evidence that answers the research question. 

1.       Analyzing the Research Problem

In this section you describe your analysis of the business/research decision or problem (you may use a diagram to assist in this explanation) and identify the information that you would need to address it.   You should finish with a specific research objective/question.  At the same time, you should state the main variables that you would need to measure to answer this research question 

2.       The Overall Research Design

Pick one of the data collection techniques (a) (b) or (c) you have discussed in the previous sections, describe it briefly and explain why you think this is the best option.

(a)        Evaluating questionnaire based surveys

Discuss how you might be able to use a questionnaire based survey to address your research question/objective. In this discussion you should explain what type of delivery for the questionnaire you would use, identify the strengths and weaknesses of this approach and provides a set of questions that you would include to measure the key variables identified in first section. You should include the questions in a table

(b)       Evaluating qualitative data collection methods

Select one of the three qualitative data collection methods covered in class – archival analysis, observation or netnography. Discuss how you might be able to use your choice to address your research question/objective. You should briefly describe how you would apply the method (ie., if you choose observation describe what type of observation, if archival analysis describe what types of archives and the kind of coding you could use, if netnography what elements could you include).  Then you should identify the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen approach and include a brief discussion of how you would measure the key variables identified in the first section. You should include your measures in a table or figure 

(c)        Evaluating interviews

Select a type of interview– individual or groups, and level of structure. Discuss how you might be able to use your choice to address your research question/objective. In this discussion you should briefly describe how you would apply the method.  Then you should identify the strengths and weaknesses of this approach and include a list of the interview questions would use to measure the key variables identified in the first section. You should include the questions in a table

3.       Sample Requirements & Sampling Options

In this section you must describe the details of the sample that you require to answer the research question/objective using the technique that you have chosen and describe options for accessing this sample. Explain your decisions in detail.  Where appropriate, discuss what sample size might be needed and why – use of the appropriate formula must be explained and justified. 

4.       Ethical Issues

Here, identify and discuss the specific ethical issues associated with research design and sampling procedure you have chosen for your proposed research. You must also suggest options for dealing with these issues. You must explain your decisions in detail