Option One

Present a formal research proposal for our university downward expansion project, consisting of a written report and a presentation.  Recall issues that we have attempted to address throughout the semester with regard to ensuring that we understand prospective student and parent needs and wants when our university downward expands.  Your proposed research must address the general positioning objectives regarding what the university should be promoting, to whom it should be promoting, and/or what sorts of programs and activities need to be in place when the new campus opens to its first freshman class.

Your research proposal must include two phases of research (no more, no less).  For example, you might propose the conduct of an exploratory focus group study followed by a closed-ended mail survey, you might propose a content analysis of open ended questions followed by a focus group study, you might propose an initial TDI followed by a larger IDI study, etc.  The series of two studies that you propose, however, must be supported as the most relevant way of meeting the assigned objective. 

As we noted in class, if your proposal is based in part on our discussions of a focus group study, the sampling plan should be adjusted to include at least 36 participants from the immediate vicinity and 12 from outlying areas (total of 48 with over-recruiting to 56).

Whatever pair of studies you propose, your proposal should make it clear to our client that these studies would be thorough in answering questions about positioning issues associated with promotion for downward expansion or implementation of downward expansion.  Your proposal should provide enough details that anyone who is unfamiliar with this project would be able to understand the problem and the proposed research methodology, analysis, deliverables, and costs. 

Since our audience has absolutely no incentive to steal a research proposal for the use of some third party, submit ALL proposed screeners, topic guides, survey forms, or other instruments that would be used in your study as appendices. 

Also submit your internal budget worksheet as an appendix with enough details that our client could understand it.  For your budget worksheet, use costs that we had assumed in association with using university facilities and resources; if you need a cost that we haven't discussed, then ask me to give you one.  A budget that is unrealistic, doesn't make sense, or doesn't match your price quote will have a heavy impact on your grade.  (An uncompetitively high price or a price that doesn't cover costs could get you fired from a real research firm -- or could get me fired from the university if I was made project director!).  Note that I do not need a Gantt table or chart; your proposed timeline should make sense by itself.

From past assignments, you are expected to now be familiar with how a research proposal for a practitioner project is formatted.  You will therefore not be provided with a template this time -- this project is designed in part to see if you can tie together insights, skills, and techniques that are needed to do real-world work.  Note that you will be quoting a single price that is inclusive of a two-study project -- university administrators (my bosses) would have to agree that it makes sense. 

Option Two

Instead of a research proposal, you may present the results of a two-part study that addresses our university downward expansion project, consisting of a written report and a presentation.  Your report would include two analyses (no more, no less) that have been conducted in association with past projects (demographic assessment, content analysis, usability study) in this class.  Your report must justify why these two studies are needed.  That is, they must be presented as one cohesive report of a two-part study. 

Whatever pair of studies you use, your report should make it clear to our client that these studies work together in answering questions about positioning issues associated with promotion for downward expansion or implementation of downward expansion.  Your report should provide enough details that anyone who is unfamiliar with this project would be able to understand the problem and the research methodology, analysis, and conclusions/recommendations. 

From past assignments, you are expected to now be familiar with how a research report for a practitioner project is formatted.  You will therefore not be provided with a template this time -- this project is designed in part to see if you can tie together insights, skills, and techniques that are needed to do real-world work.  Note that you will be making practical recommendations based on analysis; university administrators (my bosses) would have to agree that your method, analysis, and conclusions make sense. 

Team Submission

If you are in class when this project is discussed, you may work in a team of two if you want (or as an individual if you prefer).  If you were not in class, then (A) be on warning that this project is worth thirty percent of your final grade and I won't have any sympathy if you don't know what you are expected to do for our real-world client, and (B) you will not be allowed to work as part of a team.