Hi, everyone!

I've been looking on here and on other sites to find answers to my questions, but not really seeing anything yet that answers my questions.

So here's my story. I found a PhD position last week and I need to have a proposal among other things to them by April 31st. I need to first have the proposal approved by my two intended supervisors before I send everything in the application packet. My field is Second Language Acquisition and Sociolinguistics.

This is my first time applying and I just want to make sure I do everything right since I am not sure what I should and shouldn't do. I'm sure there are differences between unis and etc. but I just want a general idea.

Here are my questions.

1. Does the proposal (for the application process) need to have a "findings" or a "discussion" session or can I do without? Since I just found out about this position, and I work full time (reading ALL the lit review articles in the evenings after work), I only have time this weekend and next weekend to get the proposal out and haven't done anything yet to get results. I can have my methodology ready but not my findings as I was hoping to do that part when I got the position.

2. How long should this [application] proposal be? I read 8-10 pages. That sounds too short to me. Is it?

3. Do I include references? I thought you were supposed to but I read that you shouldn't and that made me suspicious.

4. Under your name at the top by the title, what should I put for institution? My current institution or the one I'm applying for?

Thank you all for your time and please excuse my typos. I'm a bit tired from work and conserving my editing energy for the weekend when I start pumping this paper out.

Hi,

I will try to answer your questions:

1. You absolutely don't need a findings or discussion section. You need a literature review which demonstrates your knowledge of the topic, and shows that there is a gap in knowledge, or an area which needs more research or a problem that needs to be solved. Then you need to show how you will contribute to filling the gap or solving the problem by stating the aim of your study and how you will carry it out (methods). It's probably a good idea to include things like ethical considerations. A lot will probably change before you actually start collecting data so you just need to demonstrate your ability to design an interesting and feasible study.

2. I'm afraid I have no idea about the length - it's a long time since I wrote my proposal - but 8 - 10 pages sounds reasonable. Or master's students at my institution have to write around 3,500 words for their dissertation proposal so maybe it should be a bit more than that since it's for a PhD.

3. Yes, you need to include references.

4. I think you should put your current institution.

Hope that helps.

Thank you! That helps a lot!

The one question I have and I apologize for sounding silly asking it, but what exactly do you mean by "ethical considerations"? Can you give me an example? I think I have an idea but would like to make sure.

As for the lit review and methodology, I've been thinking non-stop about how I can convince them that my topic is vital, how it is different from other related research and which methods I will employ.

Again, thank you so much for your post! I feel so much better!

Take care and have a wonderful day!

Breanna

Hi Breanna,

If your research involves people then you need to say how you will ensure confidentiality (using pseudonyms, not including identifying details, storing data securely etc), how you protect them from harm (if your methods pose any risk to participants) and minimise any negative impacts on them. For example , in my ethics section I said it was possible that my interview questions might make participants anxious about things they hadn't even thought about before, and my informed consent form includes info about who participants can contact if they do want to discuss any issues arising from the interview. Also, informed consent - you will ensure they understand what the project is about, what their role is, and that they have the right to withdraw at any time without any negative consequences.

Thank you, again!

Actually, I ALWAYS make my participants anonymous and use labels like A1, B1 or even just change their name. I'm glad I know because I always just put the ethical information either with the participants section and/or in the procedure section.

Would the "ethical considerations" sections be a part of the methodology?

I have so many questions and I'm so worried about this. I really want to get into this program!

Take care!

Breanna