NCAA Shamateurism: The story of how the NCAA has exploited its athletes

This assignment is a major project for the course. It is designed to give you experience in ope rationalizing a research plan from the stage of identifying a research question to providing a detailed plan for collecting and analyzing data. If you plan to conduct this research for your thesis or paper in lieu of thesis, you will have accomplished 80% of your task. Guidelines for the proposal are provided below.

ITEMS THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN PROPOSAL

1. TITLE PAGE

2. ABSTRACT OF PROPOSAL

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS

4. LIST OF TABLES (if appropriate)

5. LIST OF FIGURES (if appropriate)

The Body

Part One: INTRODUCTION – Limited to 8-10 double-spaced pages, including graphs and tables. In the narrative be sure to address:

1. Background
Introduce the reader to the general problem. Through persuasive methods, explain why you feel that this study is worth studying. Use information from your literature search to support your reasoning. Be sure to cite anything that is not your own words. Provide a smooth and logical flow for the reader to follow the specific problem you are interested in studying. Throughout your opening, think in terms of a funnel—Start very broad and gradually narrow the focus to the specific problem.

2. Theoretical Framework
A concise and precise section that addresses the exact problem your study focuses on. This section should flow naturally from the background section. This section will include a statement of the problem (subsection), a research question (subsection), and a purpose for the study (subsection) (including a research hypothesis or research objective).

3. The Significance section is where you sell the reader on the value of what you are proposing to do. WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO CONDUCT THIS STUDY—WHAT COULD SOMEONE DO WITH THE RESULTS—HOW COULD THE ANSWERS TO THIS STUDY MAKE THE WORLD ANY BETTER. This is a persuasive section as well. Give logically compelling and explicit reasons why the results of the study would be useful.

4. Limitations of the Study
Set the parameters for the study, as well as acknowledge that certain parameters for the study exist that may out be out of the researcher’s control.

5. Definitions of Terms

This section provides operational definitions for all components of the study that need to be defined clearly. The definitions must be in COMPLETE SENTENCES and must all have a source.

Part Two: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE—Review of work done by others in the area addressed by your proposed research. Follow appropriate, logical format, and cite all sources that are not your own.

Part Three: METHODOLOGY—A detailed section where you will address the following:

1. an Introductory section prior to the first section which includes: a statement identifying the research design you are using that addresses the problem at hand…in other words… “an experimental study will be conducted to determine whether a particular reading method has an effect on ACT scores.”

2. Design
The second section should define the design, its overall purpose, its strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to your study. Also identify any threats to validity and reliability that pertain to this type study and how you will attempt to eliminate those threats. This is not an identified section as those are below.

3. Setting and Participants
How many participants? How will they be selected? What permission do you need to obtain data from these participants? Append copies of permission letters you plan to use. Will you need approval from Human Subjects? Make sure you indicate what your target and accessible populations are. You will want to make sure that you indicate that IRB approval will be needed in order to complete the study.

4. Data Collection
Identify and describe the measures you plan to use for data collection. Specifically describe the instrument pertaining to the design, including any unusual situations, including obvious threats to validity/reliability. Discuss your procedures for data collection etc. For experimental and quasi-experimental studies, you will detail the experimental and control procedures. You will need to append experimental materials that you plan to use.

5. Treatment of the Data
Outline the statistical procedures you plan to use. Note that your data analysis procedures should be related to your research questions.

6. Implications for Future Research
Summarize the kind of treatment/outcomes expected depending upon outcome results. If you find out what you want, what/how will this finding affect future research? Could it impact future research?

Part Four: REFERENCES – Include only those references that have been cited in the narrative. Reference list should be in APA style. Use the current edition.

Part Five: APPENDIX(ES) – Include only if appropriate. Follow APA for formatting. Be sure these appendix items are cited within the document.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL DRAFTS

1. The draft submitted must be typewritten according to the guidelines presented in the APA Manual of Style (6th ED). Citations in the text, quotations, and titles of tables, figures and appendixes must conform to the format specified in APA. The reference list must also conform to the format specified in APA and there should be a match between citations in the text and the reference list. The 6th Edition is MUCH DIFFERENT than the 5th.

2. You are expected to know how to write proper English. I will not mark your errors in this regard. However, I will recommend you to avail of the services of the Writing Center if I think you need help. Incorrect English in the formal proposal will affect your grade.

3. Plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.
Proposal Formatting

The research project proposal will be approximately 25 double-spaced, left justified. (Courier may be an appropriate font for you to use) pages with appropriate margins (see APA), including title page and all appendices, using the form and style recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA) except where modifications have been made by the professor. Typically 20-25 references that have been published within the last five years will be a minimum expectation. No RUNNING HEADS are used in this proposal.

PREFACE OF PROPOSAL

Title Page Follow approved format: page i—count, but number “hidden” (not shown) Use template given

Abstract 250-word maximum; page ii-number centered at bottom of page within bottom margin; Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA)

The parts:

Sentence 1: Purpose of study, including design (see first sentence of Methodology)
Sentence 2: Sampling method used, identifying accessible population as well
Sentence 3-6: Summarize your procedure into three or four sentences, only highlighting main points
Sentence 7: What statistical design will you use?

Table of Contents Follow approved format; Page iii—number centered at bottom page within bottom margin; if more than 1 page, page number of second page placed at bottom center of that page; Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA)

List of Tables Use only if tables appear in proposal other than appendix; page iv or appropriate number centered at bottom of page within bottom margin; if more than one page, page number of second page placed at bottom center of that page; Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA)

List of Figures Use only if figures appear in proposal; page v or appropriate number centered at bottom of page within bottom margin; if more than 1 page, page number of second page placed at bottom center of that page; Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA)

BODY OF PROPOSAL

Introduction Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA); section heading for introductory paragraphs not needed; page number 1 will be suppressed; number pages 2, 3, 4, etc. within the margin bottom center. Pagination is continuous.

Subheadings include subheadings; capitalize only first letters of words, left justify, and italicize Use Level 2 and Level 3 Headers (p. 62 APA)

Background
Theoretical Framework
Statement of the problem
Research question
Purpose for the study
Significance
Limitations of the Study

Definitions of Terms—use indented side head for each term within the
subsection Use Level 3 Headers (p. 62 APA)

Review of Related Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA); choice of headings within
Literature section dependent upon organization of section; use Level 2 and
3 headings.

Methodology Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA); section heading for introductory paragraphs not needed….

Subheadings Use Level 2 and Level 3 Headers (p. 62 APA)

Design
Setting and Participants
Data Collection
Treatment of the Data
Implications for Future Research

References Use Level 1 Header (p. 62 APA); continue pagination at top right; double space; flush left first line; all remaining are tabbed .5”; use APA reference list format for each entry

Appendix(es) Begin with Appendix A. and complete title centered as a Level 1 Header; place page number at bottom center; for example:

Appendix A (L1)

Subtitle of Appendix Used (L1)

***NOTE: If only one appendix item, it is not enumerated. It’s called Appendix.

USING WORD to create a Table of Contents with Leaders
A TEMPLATE for your ToC is in COURSE DOCUMENTS folder.

1. At the top of a new blank page in a new file, set for DOUBLE SPACING and WIDOW ORPHAN protection
a. Select HOME, then PARAGRAPH, then DOUBLE SPACING. Make sure your SPACING BEFORE and SPACING AFTER are both set for 0; then hit OK
2. To set for TOC positioning
a. Select HOME, then PARAGRAPH, then INDENTS, then TABS
b. Set TAB STOP at 6”. Make sure tabs are set for every .5”
c. Select for RIGHT ALIGNMENT and LEADER No. 2 (dots)
d. Select SET at bottom, then OK
3. Once that’s done, you can begin to type your lines. For each line, type the section, hit TAB, then put the page number. Hit the ENTER key to go to the next line.
4. Your Level 1 head should be on the left margin. Your LEVEL 2 heads should be indented ONE TIME (.05”) and your Level 3 heads should be indented TWO TIMES (1.0”). Use your RIGHT and LEFT INDENT icons at the top of the HOME PAGE
5. SAVE your document.

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USING WORD to set Pagination for Preface and Body sections

1. Merge your preface, body and appendix sections into one document. Save that document.
2. First, make sure that at the top of the first page of the document (TITLE) that you are set for DOUBLE SPACING and WIDOW ORPHAN protection
a. Select HOME, then PARAGRAPH, then DOUBLE SPACING. Make sure your SPACING BEFORE and SPACING AFTER are both set for 0; then hit OK
3. To set pagination for PREFACE
a. You want to make sure first that the font set for your page numbering is the same as your body text.
b. Select INSERT, then PAGE NUMBER, BOTTOM OF PAGE, CENTERED.
c. Select FORMAT PAGE NUMBERS, then select the ROMAN NUMERAL icon ( i, ii, iii), then select START AT…under the PAGE NUMBERING ICON. You will set the pagination to begin with i.
d. Select DIFFERENT FIRST PAGE in order to suppress that page number. When you scroll, you’ll see the pagination from that point on.
4. SAVE your document.
5. To set pagination for BODY
a. At bottom of last page of preface (usually Table of Contents), select PAGE LAYOUT, then BREAKS, then NEXT PAGE SECTION BREAK
b. Select INSERT, then PAGE NUMBER, BOTTOM OF PAGE, CENTERED.
c. Select FORMAT PAGE NUMBERS, then select the NUMBER icon (1, 2, 3….), then select START AT…under the PAGE NUMBERING ICON. You will set the pagination to begin with 1.
d. Select DIFFERENT FIRST PAGE in order to suppress that page number. When you scroll, you’ll see the pagination from that point on.
6. SAVE your document. Pagination should continue from that point through the rest of the paper.