Lesson 4 Theme: Plan constructing. Writing for a scientific paper

Activity 3.COMPOSITIONAL OPTIONS

1. 
   THE STATEMENT OF INTENT
   

2. 
   THE LITERATURE REVIEW
   

3. 
   THE RESEARCH PLAN
   

First, let’s go back and look at some of the information about research and the research plan contained in other sections of the Guide.

From “Qualification Paper: Format”
Having completed your literature review, you then focus on your research plan. In this section of your paper, you explicitly state the goal and objectives of your study and the research questions you want to answer. You define your research plan by describing and explaining each of the steps that it involves and the procedures and research tools that you will employ. You explain why you have chosen these particular procedures and tools and what data you expect to collect. Your assumptions, predictions, and expectations regarding the data you will get are of great importance, as you will see when you read about the Results and Discussion section.
From “Questions about Research: Types of Research/Types of Variables”


Statistical studies can be conducted at any time, any number of times, at any interval.

They can focus on either individual or group behavior or phenomena. They are often cross- sectional—that is, they focus on a group of people which is representative of a larger population.A statistical study has five important characteristics. First, it is systematic. The study has a clear structure, and there are specific rules and procedures that must be followed. Second, it is logical. There are important reasons that the specific rules and procedures must be followed. Third, it is tangible. The research is based on data from the real world that is collected and manipulated. Fourth, it is replicable. The research plan is clear, systematic, and logical, and any researcher could achieve the same results by repeating the study. Fifth, it is reductive. The study takes a collection of facts and reduces it to something understandable.In statistical studies of language teaching and learning, five variables are generally used.

The dependent variable is the main variable, the central focus of the study, the variable which the other variables may affect. An independent variable is one which is manipulated in order to see what effect it has on the dependent variable. A moderator variable is a special independent variable which may influence the relationship between the dependent and independent variable. Control variables are those that need to be eliminated or controlled so that they do not influence the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. An intervening variable is a construct, a theoretical label that names the
relationship between the dependent and independent variable. From “Questions about Research: Critiquing a Statistical Study”
A well-written research plan contains two major sections: one, a statement of purpose; the other, an explanation of the method used.A well-written statement of purpose tells the reader precisely what the author’s purpose was in doing the study and precisely what research questions the author sought to answer and/or what hypotheses she wanted to test. After reading this statement, there should be no doubt whatsoever in the reader’s mind as to what was being tested or studied, A well-written research plan clearly defines the method used-- that is, it gives the readers detailed information about how the study was conducted. That information pertains to the following specific aspects of the study: 1) the subjects, 2) the materials, 3) the procedures, and 4) the analyses.
Each person who participates in a study is a subject, and in the method section of the research plan, the author should provide detailed information about the subjects. From this
information, it should be clear to the reader 1) who the subjects were, 2) how many of them there were, 3) when and where they were studied, and 4) what their significant characteristics were. These characteristics might include age, gender, educational level, native language, level of proficiency in a foreign language, nationality, and socioeconomic status. It is also extremely important for the author to explain how the subjects in the study were chosen. Were they specifically selected, randomly selected, or self-selected?
In the method section of the research plan, the author should give detailed information on the materials and equipment that were used in the study. The materials will include such items as teaching materials, questionnaires, tests, and rating scales. If these materials were developed by the author or would otherwise be unfamiliar to a reader, then the author should provide detailed information about them; this information might include, for example, the
range of possible scores and the scoring method, types of questions, and types of scales used. Samples of these materials should be included in the appendix. Information about the reliability or validity of tests or scales should be included in this section. Information about any equipment that was used in the study should also be given in this section.
The information the author provides regarding procedures is extremely important in terms of the study’s replicability. After reading this information, the reader should have a clear under- standing of how the study was conducted and be able to replicate it if she or he wished to. In this section, the author should explain exactly how the materials and equipment were used, exactly what the subjects were asked to do or what was done to them, and exactly
what the environmental conditions were when the study was being conducted. Anything that occurred during the study that might turn out to be an internal or external extraneous variable should be reported.
Analysis of the data generated in a study is a step-by-step process. The author should explain how the data were organized and what steps were taken in analyzing them.