1. Research Proposal Preview Instructions
A problem: Identify and describe a problem that you see in the world of politics and/or government that you think political science could shed light on.
Why is this a problem?
2.A research question: When thinking about possible solutions to the above problem, what questions need to be answered? Make sure your question is framed in terms of a “cause” and “effect.”
Why is this an important question?
3.Summary of one academic research study: Identify and summarize a book, book chapter, or journal article that makes a significant contribution to answering your research question.
Make sure that you choose an academic study. Three ways to tell if an article or book is an “academic” study are:
It was published by a university press, such as Cambridge University Press or University of Chicago Press, or an academic press such as Sage or Pearson.
It was published in a peer-reviewed academic journal such as the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, or Political Science Quarterly.
It was not published by a think tank or advocacy group such as the Heritage Foundation, RAND Corporation, or the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
4. The summary should address the following:
What is the research question?
What is the author’s main argument?
What are the key findings?
What methods did the author use?