Pol Sci 324

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Political Data

Concept Paper Template

Due: FEBRUARY 13, 2024 (Tuesday)

Version: January 2024

 HOW TO USE THIS TEMPLATE

This document is pre-formatted to conform to the course requirement. The

Concept Paper Template (CPT) provides the framework for the structure and
content of the Thesis Proposal, which, in turn, provides the framework for the
Thesis Manuscript. Therefore, it is important for students’ Concept Papers to
strictly adhere to the templates in terms of content, organization, and format. In
addition, the template serves as a valuable guide to the logical flow of the
document, ensuring alignment among the problem, purpose, and methodological
design and analysis, allowing the reason for, and the nature of, the study to be
fully clarified. Adherence to this template in terms of content, organization, and
format will greatly facilitate the development of acceptable documents throughout
the thesis process.
Enter text directly into the template. Eliminate template instructions and
example text. Do not change the format, section headings, margins, page
numbering, or font. Use MLA 9th edition for citation format. This document must
be submitted to the course facilitator on or before the deadline. Documents that
are not formatted using the template will be returned.
 [Proposed Title of Research Interest]

Concept Paper

Juan A. Dela Cruz

Submitted to Marianne D. Ong, LPT

Faculty, AB Political Science

in Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Course

POL SCI 324

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Political Data

January 2024
 Table of Contents

Introduction 1
Background of the Study 1
Research Questions 3
Hypotheses 4
Definition of Key Terms 4

Brief Review of Literature 6

Research Method 8
Research Design 8
Locale 9
Respondents 10
Measurement 10

References 11

Appendices 12
 1

INTRODUCTION

[Introduce the thesis topic in one or more paragraphs (2 pages maximum).

The study topic should be briefly described to establish the main ideas and

context. Include recent, scholarly, peer-reviewed sources to support each

assertion. The Introduction should orient the reader to all of the concepts

presented in the sections that follow. Key words related to the research topic

should be defined clearly and precisely upon first use and used consistently

throughout the paper. This will help to establish and maintain the central focus of

the paper.]

Note: Do not describe the study purpose or method in the introduction as

these belong in later sections.

Background of the Study

(What have you read that has had an impact on your thinking about the topic? As

far as you are aware of, what is the gap of knowledge in your research interest based on

readings/existing literatures? Why does this research need to be conducted?)

Articulation of a concise problem statement is the key to a successful

proposal manuscript and typically requires many revisions before the proposal is

approved. The problem statement is a brief discussion of a problem or

observation succinctly identifying and documenting the need for and importance

of the study. Clearly describe and document the problem that prompted the

study. Include appropriate published or relevant primary sources to document the

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existence of a problem worthy of level undergraduate research. A lack of

research alone is not a compelling problem (many things are not studied but do

not necessarily warrant research).

The documented problem that is identified may be a practical problem or

issue in the profession or study context for which there is not already an

acceptable solution. In defining the problem, a clear discrepancy must be drawn

between that which exists currently and that which is desired. Although an

applied study design does not necessarily require generalizability beyond the

study site, worthy problems must be relevant and documented beyond any

particular study site. To identify and articulate a problem, consider the potential

negative consequences to the field or stakeholders if the proposed research is

never conducted.

[Present a general issue/observation that is grounded in the research

literature and leads to the need for the study (in most cases scholarly citations

within the last 10 years are required to document the general and specific

problem). Follow with a focused, documented problem that directly reflects and

leads to the need for a research response. This section must have approximately

250 to 300 words.]

Note: Ensure that the concepts presented in the problem statement lead

to and align directly with the Research Questions. Use of a “logic” map is highly

recommended in order to ensure direct alignment and avoid “surprises” among

the key elements: problem statement  research questions  proposed method

and design.
 3

Research Questions

(What does the study hope to achieve? Give at least three.)

Before listing the research questions, introductory information should be

presented in a discussion context. The research questions are to be distinct and

answerable, given the identified constructs/phenomenon and population.

Note: Do not include specific interview or survey question/items here.

Quantitative: Research questions are included and the question list is

followed by corresponding list of proposed hypothesis(es). Ensure the research

questions and hypothesis(es) are aligned with the background of the study. The

research questions and hypotheses must be directly answerable, specific and

testable based on the data collected.

Qualitative: Proposed research questions that are related to the

phenomenon are stated. The proposed research questions must be aligned with

the background of the study. Qualitative research questions should be open-

ended and reflect the nature of the qualitative design (avoid yes/no and closed

ended questions).

Mixed Method: Includes all of the above. Separate and indicate the

qualitative and quantitative questions, followed by corresponding quantitative

hypotheses.

[Text…Brief introductory text. Note: Avoid redundant text.]

1.
 4

2.

3.

[Additional questions as needed.]

Hypotheses

(Quantitative/Mixed Studies only. Delete this section if the proposed study is

qualitative.)

Null hypotheses must be stated. Each must directly correspond with a

research question. Hypotheses must be stated in testable, potentially negatable,

form with each variable operationalized.

Note: Each hypothesis represents one distinct testable prediction. Upon

testing, each hypothesis must be entirely supported or entirely negated.

H10. [Null Hypothesis Text…]

H20. [Null Hypothesis Text…]

Definition of Key Terms

[Text (optional)… Definitions given represent key operational terms, words

or phrases used in a unique way or that are not commonly used or understood.

Definitions might include terms related to the study topic and context that are not

commonly known.]

Definitions should be supported with citations and/or noted as being those

of the researcher with corresponding rationale/support. Commonly known terms

should not be defined.

 5

Note: All definitions included in the list should be clear, concise, and

directly related to the proposed study. Definitions that represent general

concepts, constructs, theories, and main ideas related to the research topic

should be discussed in other sections of the paper.

It is not necessary or appropriate to define or describe introductory

research and statistical concepts such the differences between qualitative and

quantitative methods or correlation, t test, ANOVA, multiple regression and so

on.

[Variable/Construct operational definitions are to be located within the

Research Method section.]

Term 1. Definition (MLA citation).

Term 2. Definition (MLA citation).

Term 3. Definition (MLA citation).

 6

BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

(What literature do you intend to review and why? At least 10.)

Note: When the proposal is eventually developed, this section of the

Concept Paper should be incorporated into the Literature Review of Chapter 2 as

appropriate.

[Text… The discussion should have depth and present an integrated

critical analysis and synthesis of the scholarly, peer-reviewed literature that

provides a foundation and context for the study. The discussion should be

comprehensive, organized, and flow logically. The brief review of literature

should not be a list of one article summary after another or an annotated

bibliography. Use themes and/or subtopics as headings. Identify the themes or

sub-topics around which the literature review has been organized into a coherent

narrative discussion. In the review, at least 7 to 10 of the most important works

or studies that touch upon the topic or problem should be discussed. Be sure to

include works that provide alternate or opposing perspectives on the proposed

topic area to demonstrate unbiased research. Focus particularly on those works

that address main ideas in the field, describe areas of controversy, and indicate

areas of incomplete knowledge and relate them to the envisioned study problem,

purpose, and research questions. Include historical and germinal works as well

as current works (within the last 10 years). Continue to expand and update the

literature review until the final thesis is submitted.]

Note: Emphasize key findings and interpretations to build a coherent

narrative of the current state of the literature rather than focus on

 7

researchers/authors (other than seminal authors in the field) and specific study

designs (i.e., unless the author, specific design, analytics, sample size or

geographic location are directly relevant, it is usually not necessary to describe

them). Review the Background and Literature Review sections of published,

peer-reviewed journal articles for examples of academic writing.

Please note the literature review will contain several headings specific to

the topic. With the exception of key, seminal authors, the majority of references

should be scholarly, peer-reviewed and published within the last 10 years.

Theme/Sub-Topic 1 [Repeat, as needed…]

[Text…]

Theme/Sub-Topic 2 [Repeat, as needed…]

[Text…]
 8

RESEARCH METHOD

(How will you conduct the study?)

Because the research plan is in the concept paper stage, a highly detailed

research design is not expected. The concept paper, however, provides a

foundation for the next step in the thesis process, the development of the

proposal. A well-conceived, well written and well researched concept paper

serves as a foundation for the remainder of thesis work. Thesis research is an

iterative and often recursive process. Students should expect to revise numerous

times before each milestone document is finalized. Although not required at this

stage, students may find it useful to review the thesis proposal template to begin

to consider what will be required at the proposal stage, for example, design

details and ethical considerations.

Note: If students wish to provide additional subheadings to organize the

content of the discussion in this section, the thesis proposal template for Ch. 3

subheading wording/organization/format should be followed rather than

developing unique subheadings.

Research Design

[Text… Discuss the proposed research method (quantitative, qualitative,

or mixed). An Applied Research study must reflect an applied study goal and

demonstrate validity within the context of the chosen research design and overall

scientific rigor. Case studies, action research, and program development/

evaluation are appropriate.]

 9

A clear rationale behind the chosen questions for study, the particular data

gathering techniques and data analyses should be provided. Clear decision

paths are provided based on the associated research method/design. Given an

appropriate rationale for replication, replication studies in an original context are

permitted.

In this section, describe and substantiate the appropriateness of the

method and design to respond to the stated problem, purpose and research

questions. The discussion should not simply be a listing and description of

research designs; rather, elaboration demonstrates how the proposed method

and design accomplish the study goals, why the design is the optimum choice for

the proposed research, and how the method aligns with the purpose and

research questions. Provide appropriate foundational research method support

for the proposed study design; for example, refer to Moustakas and other

appropriate authors to describe a phenomenological design and Yin to describe

the appropriate application of a case study design.

Note: Do not provide detailed descriptions of particular methods or

designs that were not chosen.]

Locale of the Study

(Where will the study be conducted?)

Present the location of the study. Consider your research design, data

collection methods, and your financial capacity in the selection of the

geographical location of the study.

 10

Respondents/Participants
(Who will be the target respondents?)

Identify the target respondents (quantitative), key informants, and/or

participants (qualitative) of the proposed study. Sample size and method must be

appropriate and justified based on the nature of the study design. Quantitative

analyses must include justified sample size determination. Indicate the sampling

technique in the selection of the target respondents, KI, and/or participants.

Measurement

[Text…Provide a brief description of how study data will be collected,

measured and analyzed. Describe the proposed instrument. Please note that

survey self-development should be considered only after an exhaustive search

for an existing validated instrument. Also, survey self-development will require a

multi-step development and validation process, including pilot testing. Review the

scholarly literature for examples of how relevant concepts have been measured

in the past.

Although a highly detailed description is not required at the CP stage,

study variables must demonstrate appropriateness to the study purpose and

meet the assumptions of the proposed statistical tests. For qualitative studies,

describe the proposed instrument or collection (e.g., interviews, observations),

and how concepts will be coded and analyzed as appropriate to the proposed

design based on primary qualitative research methods and design authors.

Include appropriate support for the application of the proposed design. Consult

research design and analysis sources including those available in the Extension

Office for guidance.]

 11

REFERENCES

Reference 1

Reference 2

Reference n…

[Instructions: This section of the Concept Paper is a list of references cited in

text. All resources cited in the concept paper must be included in the list of
references.

List all references in MLA format. For each reference listed, there must be at
least one corresponding citation within the body of the text, and vice-versa.
References must be sorted in alpha surname/title order.]

Example (note single-space references, with double-spacing in-between):

BOOK

Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House. MacMurray, 1999.

WEBPAGE

Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian

Chili." eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html.*

PERIODICAL (journal, magazine, newspaper)

Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in

Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature, vol. 15,
no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50.
 12

APPENDICES

Annotated Bibliography

Reference 1

Annotation 1

Reference 2

Annotation 2

Reference n…

Annotation n…