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Appendix B: Masters Research Project-Study Requirements

With input from and subject to approval by your course instructor or faculty advisor:

  1. Create a timeline for completing steps 2-10. This timeline should include when you will submit sections of your research report to your course instructor and advisor. All work must be completed no later than the last week of classes of the semester in which you intend to graduate.
  2. Review literature on a topic of interest related to your area of licensure (minimum of 20 resources). The majority of your literature must consist of scholarly and empirical sources (e.g., books, journal articles, and other publications of Specialized Professional Associations). Very limited use of websites is permitted. Use of websites must be approved by your course instructor and advisor.
  3. Use your findings from the literature to develop a research question that interests you and will support growth in your practice. The research question must be approved by your course instructor and advisor before proceeding to the next steps.
  4. Design a research plan to answer the question. Your plan describes your participants and how you will select them, the data and how you will collect it, and the plan for analyzing the data. The research plan must be approved by your course instructor and advisor before proceeding to the next steps.
  5. Seek and obtain OHIO Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before data collection if your research involves human subjects.
  6. Analyze and interpret the data using appropriate standards for maintaining validity, reliability, credibility, and trustworthiness.
  7. Consider how well your findings align with your understanding of the topic (based on your literature review), explain similarities and differences, and justify how your findings will inform your practice and future research
  8. Write a final paper to report your work. Use the most recent APA style guidelines to format the body and references of your paper. One possible model for the paper is provided in Outline and Elements below. You must adhere to the guidelines provided by your course instructor and academic advisor.
  9. Submit your paper for feedback from your course instructor and advisor. You may need to revise your paper or submit multiple drafts before receiving approval to proceed to the next step. Adhere to the timeline created in Step 1.
  10. Submit your final paper (Word document or PDF) to your course instructor or academic advisor who will use an approved OHIO plagiarism detection software to complete the required plagiarism review. Your course instructor and advisor may require changes to the document before approving your work for final submission.
  11. Your course instructor or academic advisor will share the Master’s Research Final Report with the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education for approval.

Outline and Elements

Title

Abstract

The abstract is typically 50 to 150 words long. It provides a brief summary of the study.

Introduction

The introduction includes a statement of the problem, background information providing a context for the research, and the purpose and rationale (including the research question or hypothesis).

Background

The background provides a comprehensive review of all relevant literature relating to your study. It synthesizes previous research on all aspects of the same problem.

Method

This section describes:

  1. The type of research you used (e.g. Action Research) and why it was appropriate for your project.
  2. Your participants (characteristics), how they were selected, and the context of the study.
  3. The type of data you collected including any tools that were used to collect the data. Describe any instruments that you use
  4. Any procedures you followed to obtain data.
  5. How you analyzed the data and what you did to ensure validity, reliability, credibility, and trustworthiness
  6. Limitations

Results

Present your findings with supporting evidence. The way you present your findings must be appropriate for the type of research study and data you collect.

Discussion and Recommendations

Explain and interpret your findings in relation to your original questions/hypotheses and the findings of others. Include implications and recommendations for further study.

Implications for Practice

Discuss the importance of the findings for your practice as well as that of educators and related professionals.

Conclusion

Using your findings, briefly describe the takeaway message from your study.

References

List the references that were cited in your paper using the most recent edition of APA style.

Appendix (optional)

Include any instruments, additional tables or figures, the IRB approval form, etc.