Machine generated contents note: 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Research proposals - purpose and use of this book -- 1.2 Background to this book -- 1.2.1 Empirical research - data -- 1.2.2 Quantitative and qualitative data -- 1.2.3 Relaxing the quantitative-qualitative distinction -- 1.2.4 Social science and social science areas -- 1.2.5 Relationship of this book to Introduction to Social -- Research -- 1.3 A view of research -- 1.4 Outline of chapters -- 1.5 Review concepts -- Notes -- 2 The Proposal - Readers, Expectations and Functions -- 2.1 What is a research proposal? -- 2.2 Readers and expectations -- 2.3 Functions and purpose of the proposal -- 2.4 Pre-structured versus unfolding research -- 2.5 The research proposal as a plan -- 2.6 Research questions or research problems? -- 2.7 A simplified model of research -- 2.8 Review concepts and questions -- Notes -- 3 A General Framework for Developing Proposals -- 3.1 An overall framework -- 3.2 A hierarchy of concepts -- 3.3 Research areas and topics -- 3.4 General and specific research questions -- 3.5 Data collection questions -- 3.6 Research questions and data - the empirical criterion -- 3.7 Three tactical issues -- 3.7.1 The importance of the pre-empirical stage -- 3.7.2 Questions before methods -- 3.7.3 Do I need hypotheses in my proposal? -- 3.8 Review concepts and questions -- Notes -- 4 Some Issues -- 4.1 The perspective behind the research -- 4.2 The role of theory -- 4.2.1 Description versus explanation -- 4.2.2 Theory verification versus theory generation -- 4.3 Pre-structured versus unfolding -- 4.4 The relevant literature -- 4.5 Quantitative, qualitative or both? -- 4.6 Review concepts and questions -- Notes -- 5 Methods -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Quantitative data, qualitative data, or both? -- 5.3 Design -- 5.3.1 Strategy -- 5.3.2 Framework -- 5.3.3 Sample -- 5.3.4 Data collection (instruments, procedures, ethical issues) -- 5.3.5 Data analysis -- 5.4 The question of methodological expertise -- 5.5 Review concepts and questions -- Notes -- 6 Writing the Proposal -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Proposal headings -- 6.3 Qualitative proposals -- Notes -- 7 Tactics -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 General tactical issues -- 7.3 Departmental (or University) guidelines -- 7.4 Getting started -- 7.4.1 The 'two pager' -- 7.4.2 The ideas paper -- 7.4.3 Working deductively -- 7.5 The value of discussion -- 7.6 The value of writing it down -- 7.7 Three common dilemmas -- 7.7.1 Several topics at once -- 7.7.2 Getting to closure versus getting to closure -- too quickly -- 7.7.3 Focus on context, background and literature -- versusfocus on research questions -- 7.8 The importance of clarity -- 7.9 Examples of proposals -- Notes -- Appendix 1: Disentangling the terms 'perspective', 'strategy' -- and 'design' -- Appendix 2: Questions to guide proposal development -- References -- Index.