MSc Psychology Dissertation Proposal Template

Student Name: _______________________________

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Dissertation Advisor (and eCampus email): ________________________

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PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE:
______________________________________________________________

ETHICAL CHECKLIST COMPLETED? YES/NO (Delete as appropriate)

Degree Programme: _________________________________________


DATE: ______________

Dissertation Proposal Contents
MSc Psychology Programmes
In creating your proposal, use the guidelines in the materials section to help
you. Also, use the Dissertation Proposal Checklist located at the end of this
document to make sure that you have covered all areas. You will work on the
proposal in your Dissertation Module, but you will ultimately submit it to your
Dissertation Advisor (DA) for approval.
Title
This should include setting and sample and should reflect the research
question.
Introduction
This is only 1 paragraph in length. You need to establish a problem based in
psychology that is relevant to your specialization. Include any relevant
statistics, and define any specific terms that you use (spell out acronyms in
full the first time you use them.)
Literature Review
Find about 10 sources of information (references) connected to the work you
propose to do and analyse them as to how your work fills a gap or extends
them. Compare and contrast them with each other and with the approach you
plan to take for your study. Some (at least 5) must be academic publications,
preferably from refereed (peer reviewed) journals, that can be found in our
online library (as well as other libraries to which you might have access).
Citations from the main textbooks used for your modules are NOT sufficient
here. The literature review needs to be targeted at studies which focus on the
same topic as your own study. But if there is no study in your country on your
topic, you need to look at similar country studies and state what they have
found; you need to include studies using the methodology you propose, or
state there are none if that is the case. At the end of this section you must
state how your study will fill a gap in psychology-related knowledge. If this is a
quantitative study and you will be using a validated tool, describe the tool and
how it has been used previously.
Research Question
Word this as a question, and it must be consistent with the title. Use words
that reflect your methodology. For example, in qualitative you might use the
word, 'Explore'. Most studies will have one key research question.
Aim
This is the overall goal of your study and should start with 'The aim of the
study is to' and have 'in order to'(outcome) in it. The aim should be
related to the RQ and use the same wording.
Objectives
3 to 5 objectives are required. The first one should be on your literature review
and its focus, the last one on what you intend to do with the results; the ones
in the middle should follow the aim, be clear, and indicate what you want to
achieve through specific data collection method (e.g. by survey, by interviews
etc.)
Epistemological Approach
Both qualitative and quantitative methods need to have this included. You
need to state the approach, give a description of what the approach is and
why this is appropriate for your study, use a reference and also state briefly
what the disadvantage might be. The assumptions of the approach need to be
included.
Methods
There are numerous subsections within this area (see below), please make
sure you cover all of them.
Study Design
For qualitative, this is where you justify further why you have chosen particular
qualitative methods are being used. For quantitative, include the design (e.g.
cross-sectional) and use references to justify your choice.
Setting
This is the country and the places of data collection. You must justify why you
chose the setting.
Sampling approach/frame
You must describe the population from which you will be drawing your sample
and how you intend select your sample (use references.) Be specific. For
example, if you are using a random sample, indicate how you will determine
the pool from which to draw your specific respondents from, and then how you
will do this randomly.
Sample and inclusion/exclusion criteria
This is specifically who you want to select out of the population
(inclusion/exclusion criteria) and you need to be specific about how many
from each group and why you have determined the criteria you have. You are
cautioned that, if you want to use those under 18 years of age, extra time for
approvals may result (these studies, as those with any vulnerable population,
require full board approval).
For quantitative studies, you will need to show sample size calculations and
reference the method you have used. Check that the sample size calculation
is appropriate to the research question you are asking. You should include a
discussion of non response / missing data and increase in sample size due to
this.
For qualitative, please pick from the data collection methods below. You must
have a minimum of 8 hours interview time stated in your proposal. You will be
asked to go back into the field by your DA if you do not collect enough data.

In-depth interviews (at least 45 minutes): 12
Moderate interviews (30 minutes): 16
Short interviews (20 minutes): 24

Small focus groups (4-6 respondents; 90 minutes): 5
Large focus groups* (7-10 respondents: 120 minutes): 4

You may also use a combination of methods. For example: 10 moderate
interviews and 2 small focus groups. You will need to justify why this
combination is necessary.

* Not suggested as the only source of data unless you are very skilled with
focus groups.

Recruitment
This is required in all proposals except for those using secondary data. This is
where you describe in detail how and where you will recruit your sample
become very practical here. Reviewers are looking to make sure you have
thought through the process and know how and where and what you are
going to do. Describe where you will recruit from, who will help you, and what
resources you will use (e.g., flyers). Also state how participants will receive
information about the study (participant information sheet) and what happens
then if they want to take part.
Data collection methods
Describe and justify your methods (e.g. by in-depth interview, by survey etc.)
If you have different methods within either the quantitative or qualitative
approach you have decided on, you must justify each and identify with what
population. However, you must only use either quantitative or qualitative
approach.
Instrument
For quantitative, this needs to be a validated tool (unless the focus of your
research is actually developing an instrument such as a questionnaire); you
must provide evidence of validity. If you develop your own instrument, you
need to discuss how you will assess the various aspects of reliability and
validity.
For qualitative you should describe the main topic areas you will be
assessing.
Pilot-testing
Describe how this will be done and with how many people, or with how many
cases. For qualitative, two people is usually enough. For quantitative, the
number should be sufficient to determine that the new survey/or extraction
tool for secondary data, gets at what you want and works with the sample you
have chosen. For quantitative, you may indicate that this is how you will
determine a new sample size after determining missing data. For secondary
data describe the checks that you will make to ensure your data is sufficient
for purpose.
Data analysis
This should be a specific approach for qualitative (and reference it) and a
progression in analysis for quantitative, indicating and briefly justifying it (and
reference it). For qualitative, you should indicate which compare/contrast
aspects you will be reviewing. For example, if you have two samples (experts
and community members), will you be analysing this as one group or
comparing their responses across groups?
Ethics
This section should include what you foresee as the ethical issues needing to
be addressed in your ethics application (e.g. does the researchers normal
role in that setting create a perception of power for participants? Is written
consent required?) How you intend to deal with these issues?) If research
assistants are involved describe how you will ensure good ethics.
Confidentiality and anonymity should also be covered; both UoL and local
ethics need to be discussed. If it is a quantitative study using secondary data
that is not publically available how you will gain access should be described.
Research Outcomes
This should be the bigger picture. Where can your results be used and for
what purpose?
Costs
You must indicate all costs in numbers, even if small, and state who will pay
for this.
Timeline
Have this run as a sentence to save space, include only broad headings
(proposal approval, ethics approval, pilot-testing/literature review, data
collection, data analysis, draft dissertation, final submission.) Remember that
you need to submit your draft dissertation one month before final submission.
References
Editorial
Remember to use grammar, citation, and referencing consistent with
the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association throughout.
Use 12-point type size with font that is easy to read, such as Arial or
Times New Roman
Margins should be 1.00 inch margins all around.
All type should be left justified (e.g., do not use blocked text).
Timeline

You should produce a final proposal for approval by your DA by the 8
th
week
of the Dissertation Module. However, please aim for 7 weeks from your start
date (class date) at the latest, to ensure time for any necessary revisions and
final approval by the 8 week cut-off.

Refer to the MSc Psychology Personal Planner, as well as the MSc
Psychology Dissertation Guidelines, to assist you in planning your personal
timeline.
Dissertation Proposal Checklist


Title
Is the title reflective of the study?

(Words in full rather than using acronyms: HIA or PAR?)
Introduction and background
Does the introduction include a clear link to clinical research? The
case needs to be statedeven if it seems obviousclearly state what
it will be.
Is this section one paragraph long?
Does the introduction include sufficient data to support the significance
of the problem?
Is the intent of the research clear?
Does the background information provided support the development of
the Research Question (RQ)?
Literature Summary
Do the studies and citations justify the conclusions? Are there any
major gaps in the literature identified?
Does the summary identify any gaps in research? If yes, how will this
study add to the understanding of the question?
Research Question (RQ)
Is the RQ clearly stated & is actually a question (as opposed to a
statement)?
Are the research questions answerable?

still need to be linked so that they are not two separate studies.
Does the RQ accurately reflect the conclusions from /identify a gap in
the literature?
Aim(s) & objectives
Is the overall goal or aim(s) clearly articulated in a sentence? The
aim(s) should begin To..
Are the objectives clearly articulated, are they steps to achieving the
aim(s), i.e., setting out a road map to achieve the aim(s)?

Is the theoretical nature of your research methodology described?
Together with a brief description of the potential pitfalls of your
approach? For example:
Quantitative Positivist approachwhat this is likely to mean?
(i.e.,, likely to be other questions/other ways of approaching the
issue/ecological fallacy)
Qualitative Theoretical approaches that they are using and their
implications for the findingspositional (i.e.,, role of the researcher in
the research/recognizing that they may have made a difference to the
nature of the research collected)
Methods
Is there a summary and justification of the methods that will be used?
Has the student stated the study design that they are using?
Is the approach clearly either quantitative or qualitative (a mixture of
the two is not recommended for the Dissertation due to the complexity
of mixed methods studies)? Do the methods match with RQ?
the sample clearly defined? For qualitative: 812 interviews and/or 46
focus groups maximum. For quantitative studies the sample size
calculation and workings need to be included.
Is the data collection method(s) described, including pilot-testing?
(i.e.,, what the student is actually going to do)
Are the methods ethical? Does it conform to the expedited criteria set
out by UoL (i.e., avoids sensitive issues, invasive clinical interventions,
etc.)?
Is confidentiality and anonymity protected and is it described how?
Is the setting described?
Are ethical considerations addressed?
To work directly with children in the UK (interviews or focus groups),
the researcher will need criminal records bureau clearance (CRB
certificate).
Research Outcomes
Are the intended outcomes described?
Is it clear how the outcomes will contribute to society or to knowledge?
Is the so what clear? (i.e.,, how the findings can be used to influence
health)
Costs
Is there a total cost figures, as well as line-item costs?
Is there a statement acknowledging how additional costs will be paid?
Does the cost estimate appear too unrealistic?
Timetable
Is the timetable realistic? Is there enough time for each part of the
Dissertation to be realistically achieved? Is the student aiming to
complete the first full draft at least a month before it needs to be
handed in?
References
iation
style?