Step 7

LAUNCH THE DECISION CIRCUIT ACTIVITY

  • You may find yourself having to rally the Research Scholars to move on to the second major part of the Research Proposal – the Method Plan. After drafting the Literature Review, the Research Scholars may feel as if their work is done, which is obviously not the case.
  • The Decision Circuit activity is a handy way for propelling them through this part of the proposal process.
  • Carefully study the Decision Circuit as it will be used by the Research Scholars to design the Method Plan portion of the Research Proposal. It consists of three decision boards that are clustered around a series of Method Plan questions with choices offered under each question. A glossary of terms is provided.
  • The Research Scholars directly input their DC decisions into the Research Proposal Template, following the instructions in Step 7 of their Research Scholar Script Form. A written version of the Method Plan will be generated from this template material.
  • Consider particular ways that you may want the Decision Circuit activity used. You may decide to restrict the proposals to desk-type research designs or encourage designs that are typical to each discipline.

Suggestions

  • Since the Decision Circuit will be used by the Research Scholars, take time to navigate through this material with them, explaining the main touchpoints. Relate the DC materials to the course materials such as the textbook. Show them sample Method Statements from existing studies. This is also the time to explain specific ways to navigate the DC. If you want each discipline proposal to reflect the perspectives and methodologies unique to each discipline, provide support for this.
  • Play and discuss the audio recording on how to use the Decision Circuit, with special emphasis on the iterative decision-making process required for research planning.
  • Schedule some class or lab time for the discipline groups to meet and collaborate. Consider asking the Research Scholars to design two plans (Plan A and Plan B), from which a single plan will emerge.