ENVS2004 Research Proposal Format 2019 PDF

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Formatting information for major assignment (ecological research proposal...

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ENVS2004 ECOLOGY FORMAT FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL The Research Proposal must include: 1. Title and Summary, 2. Background and Aims, 3. Research Plan, 4. Expected Results and Significance, and 5. References. Due date: 5 pm Friday 20 September 2019 (Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard) 1. Title and Summary: •

Provide a short descriptive title. Ensure that the title is precise, informative and use language which is understandable by non-specialists. Avoid abbreviations and formulae where possible. 20 word limit.

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Provide a summary understandable to non-specialists that outlines the aims of the research and the overall significance of the work. The summary should be presented in clear, plain English with a minimum of jargon or terminology unique to the area of study. 250 word limit.

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References should be avoided.

2. Background and Aims: •

Provide a brief background for your topic. Explain why the topic is important in the field of ecology.

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Write a literature review on the current understanding of your research topic (what is already known), based on peer-reviewed published literature. Identify the knowledge gap (what is unknown) and research needs in the field.

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Formulate your research question(s) and hypothesis(es) within the context of existing literature and the knowledge gaps identified in the literature review.

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Briefly describe your prediction if the hypothesis is supported (not rejected).

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Describe the aim(s) of the project.

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700 word limit.

3. Research Plan: •

Clearly describe an experiment or observational study for each of the listed aims. Very specific details (e.g., manufacturers of chemicals and analytical instruments) are not required.

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Describe the specific study system you will work in and how you will collect and analyse your experimental or observational data. Diagrams illustrating the experimental strategy or setup can be included.

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700 word limit (not including diagrams).

4. Expected Results and Significance: •

Use graph(s) or table(s) to present and explain the expected results (hypothetical data) if your hypothesis is supported.

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Describe how the anticipated outcomes will advance the knowledge base of the discipline with novel aims and concepts or the potential application of the project (if any).

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400 word limit (not including graphs/tables).

5. References: •

Provide a list of all references cited in the proposal. Follow the formatting used by “Ecology Letters”. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1461-0248/homepage/For Authors.html

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Usually less than 20 references should be used....