Assignment Master's Research Proposal (45%) Due dates First draft

							Assignment: Master’s Research Proposal (45%)

Due dates:       First draft                June 1 (20%)
                 Final version              June 29 (25%)

Purpose of the research proposal:

    •   to inform people (e.g. your committee, granting agencies, scholarship committees) what your
        research is about and why it is worth doing;
    •   to develop, and demonstrate that you have, the knowledge needed to create/evaluate the
        visualization;
    •   to provide a detailed map for yourself as you embark on the project;
    •   to develop and articulate the theoretical framework behind the design decisions you will make.
        (As designer Matt Cooke writes, “the truth is that, however informally, the majority of us follow a
        methodology when designing” (2006: 131).1

Elements of the research proposal:

        Title
        Abstract
        Introduction
        Literature review
        Methods
        (Anticipated results)
        Discussion: Significance of the project
        Reference list

We will discuss these elements in more detail, and look at examples, in the coming weeks. The final
proposal should be 8-12 pages long (2,000-3,000 words), at least four pages of which are devoted to the
literature review. Given the nature of our discipline, it is entirely appropriate to include images in your
proposal (not included in page count).

Evaluation

The first draft will be evaluated as a working document rather than a finished product. It does not need to
be complete or stylistically polished, but should reflect in-depth research into the relevant fields of study
and a serious attempt at a meaningful synthesis of that research.

The final copy of your research proposal will be evaluated on these criteria:

    •   clear focus
    •   logical organization
    •   completeness
    •   valid research design/methods/theoretical framework
    •   contribution to the literature
    •   concise, readable writing style
    •   mechanical accuracy (for example, proper documentation style)
    •   assimilation of constructive feedback


1Cooke, Matt. 2006. Design methodologies: Toward a systematic approach to design. In Design Studies: Theory and Research in
Graphic Design, ed. Audrey Bennet. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
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MSC2004H – Research Methods, Biomedical Communications, 2009
Handing in the proposal:

Please submit a print and a digital copy of both draft and final versions.
    • Print copy: Double-space it and submit it at the beginning of class on the due-date.
    • Digital copy: Submit it in Pages or MS Word; include your name in the filename (e.g.
        Wall_Proposal_1.doc); and put it in my dropbox on the server before 5 pm on the due-date.

Late submissions: In accordance with IMS guidelines, a late penalty of 10% per day will apply to all
assignments received after the due date.

Further notes:

Make sure that all parts of the proposal fit together; they should all flow out of the literature review and
be relevant to answering the research question.

Introduction
• focus on the visualization problem that your project will attempt to solve
• present biomedical/scientific content in the context of that visualization problem

Literature review:
• synthesize your reading of the key authoritative literature in all domains relevant to your project
• do not simply list and describe your resources, but organize them in a meaningful way
• you may break up your review with appropriate subheadings
• end your literature review with a clear statement of your research question and research objectives.
    These should follow logically from your description of your general research problem and review of
    the literature.
• the literature review should build an argument for the need for your visual project, but by talking
    about the work others have already done, not about the work you propose to do. The first mention of
    your own project should come at the end of the literature review, in your statement of objectives.

Methods:
• start with a brief description of what the final project will look like
• discuss, in chronological order, every step you will take to solve your visual problem, answer your
   research question, and fulfill your objectives
• describe what you will do at each step and then explain the rationale for your choices, citing the
   relevant literature.
• this is the place to describe your evaluation methodology, if you are evaluating.

Results:
• If you are conducting an evaluation, describe the findings you expect to obtain.

Discussion:
• State the expected answer to your research question and the significance of your project.
• State the expected value of your project to other medical illustrators. Keep this section brief (1 or 2
   paragraphs).

Works cited or consulted (Reference list):
• List all the literature cited in the proposal in alphabetical order, as well as sources you consulted for
   background or peripheral information. Use The Chicago Manual of Style documentation style.



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MSC2004H – Research Methods, Biomedical Communications, 2009