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[Note. The Research Prospectus is a significant milestone in the journey toward your CTU dissertation research study. A Research Prospectus declared satisfactory in RSCH861 demonstrates your achievement of a viable research problem and alignment of the research method choice, problem, purpose, and research question. Your Research Prospectus will be declared satisfactory when your instructor has deemed all criteria on the Research Prospectus Evaluation Rubric as “Met.” This will enable you to pass the RSCH861 course. Note that the Research Prospectus document is regarded as a work in progress and some content may be subject to additional revisions as the proposal/dissertation process continues.]
Abstract
[Insert an abstract of no more than 150 words to summarize the study problem, purpose, variables or constructs, method choice rationale, and plans to conduct the review of the literature. Note: The title page and Abstract page have no page numbers. The Introduction begins as page 1. Be sure to remove all red template instructional content as you prepare your Research Prospectus draft.]
Introduction
[The Research Prospectus is double-spaced throughout with Level 1 headers for each required section. The Abstract, References, and any appendices headers (known as front and back matter in scholarly publishing) also use a Level 1 header. The Research Prospectus begins with an introduction to the study problem that includes enough background information and term definitions for the reader to understand the problem statement and all key terms used within the study problem. Remember the proposed study is first introduced in the study purpose below and not in the introduction as this is an introduction to the study problem. The introduction is no longer than 2 pages.]
[Start intro here…]
Study Problem
[This study problem section is one paragraph of text (not multiple paragraphs) of between 250-350 well-supported words to describe and elaborate upon the study problem that is your focus. The University requires dissertation problems to be both practice-based and scholarship-supported, so the description of the problem must include both practice considerations and the current research. A quality Research Prospectus presents a well-aligned Study Problem, Study Purpose, and Research Question, clearly articulated, and substantiated through citation of the appropriate theoretical, conceptual, and empirical peer-reviewed literature. This section begins with the sentence: The problem is…]
The problem is…
Study Purpose
[This section begins with one sentence to introduce the study: The purpose of the [method choice] [research approach/design] study is to…. Following this short statement of your study purpose, the Study Purpose section will introduce a brief rationale for the choice of study method followed by research site, target population, sampling method, proposed sample size, data collection method, data analysis method, and the analysis software to be used (if any). The Study Purpose section will close with a statement of the potential contributions of the study findings to professional practice and scholarship.]
The purpose of the …
Research Question
[One overarching research question will guide the study. An introduction to the question will be offered here and the question will be formatted as a Level 2 APA header as shown below. Clear alignment must be demonstrated between the problem, purpose, and research question.]
The study research question….
Q1
[Phrasing for the research question must align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice]?
Q1a
[Optional sub-research questions will be presented for quantitative or mixed methods studies with multiple hypotheses and formatted using Level 4 APA headers as shown]
Q1b
Hypothesis(es)
[Hypotheses are required for quantitative and mixed methods studies as well as for design science studies where quantitative testing is needed. If the study involves multiple hypotheses, sub-research questions are required above to align with each hypothesis. Variables introduced in the Study Purpose must be labeled verbatim to how they were introduced above to ensure alignment. Both a null followed by an alternate hypothesis are required and hypothesis headers are formatted as Level 2 APA headers. No introduction is required before the hypotheses.]
H10
[Phrasing for each null hypothesis must align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice].
H1A
[Phrasing for each alternate hypothesis must be the identical contrast to the null and align with the traditions and conventions of the study method choice].
Propositions
[Propositions are required only for design science studies. If the study involves multiple propositions, sub-research questions are required above to align with each proposition. Variables introduced in the Study Purpose must be labeled verbatim to how they were introduced above to ensure alignment. No introduction is required before the proposition(s). [NOTE: If you are not doing a design science study, delete this entire section.]
Research Method Rationale
[The Research Methods Rationale section will present a continuation of the brief method rationale from the Study Purpose section above to fully describe the research traditions and paradigmatic perspectives that justify the choice of the research method and design/approach as appropriate to address the study problem. In addition, provide a justification for how and why the method choice and research design/approach align with the degree program discipline and area of concentration as supported by the current scholarship of the respective discipline.]
The research method selected for this study is systematic literature review. The systematic literature review is the best method for my artificial intelligence research project because of the beneficial aspects it brings. Systematic literature review as a research method chooses and evaluates other academic research to answer the study questions. This review explains the kind of information being researched within specific timeframes. It is a transparent research method carried out over several databases and grey literature that allows other researchers to reproduce and replicate.
The systematic literature review consists of 7 significant principles;
Transparency
Integration
Focus
Equality
Accessibility
Clarity
Coverage
Researchers can conduct a systematic literature review in two categories: meta-analysis and meta-synthesis (Okoli, 2010). With meta-analysis, data from the same subject and different studies is well analyzed using standardized statistical methods, and conclusions are drawn from the patterns formed. On the other hand, meta-synthesis involves procedures that do not include statistical methods but rather explain the findings of various qualitative research studies.
The best systematic literature review should start with a protocol that states the research objectives, methods, and findings on the research topic. A PRISMA statement is important when writing the protocol as it gives the researcher a direction on what should be included. The protocol should consist of information that one is researching about, the time limits of the research, the screening process, the type of information to be collected, the keywords that will propel the study, and the summary of the findings.
A systematic literature review has a specific process of achieving the success of the research. the process consists of the following steps;
1. Framing the research question
In this step, precise research questions should be formed stating the terminology ‘artificial intelligence’ in my research. After formulating the question, one researches any existing reviews on the topic and identifies any gaps left.
2. Identification of research protocol
A research protocol plans how the researcher should research the stated topic. In this case, the research protocol will plan the criteria for analyzing artificial intelligence in workplaces. The protocol will outline the research objectives, the reliability of the research design, the method of data collection, and the type of analysis that the researcher will carry out after the research (Xiao & Watson, 2017). The protocol plan should be comprehensive enough, with various databases to collect all evidence sources, and by doing so, the researcher will collect all the appropriate information.
3. Conducting of the literature search
this stage requires identifying the various studies that align with the research topic. Also, one has to pick the relevant databases and the best ways of searching. At this stage, grey literature is essential because it provides more positive results. Grey literature encourages looking through various websites speaking to experts who are already in the field to help you come up with the best findings. As you collect this information, it is essential to note down the number of results collected, where you collected the data, the date it was published, and the type of strategies used.
4. Selection of studies per protocol
This stage requires an examination of the protocols, which two reviewers should carry out. Reviewers evaluate by considering titles and abstracts and another one through evaluating full-text articles. This stage is vital as it omits the unnecessary studies and maintains the ones that are helpful in the research.
5. Appraisal of studies per protocol
Also, in this stage, the reviewers have a role in executing and evaluating the full-text articles. One can consider questions such as
Did employers and employees participate in the artificial intelligence data collection?
What was the pattern of allocation?
Was the response biased?
6. Data extraction
Data extraction is carried out by reviewers who pick the critical information from the studies. Data extraction can be done through the systematic review software or the spreadsheet. Using the two methods makes it easier for one to decide if they should add or clarify the existing ones.
7. Results analysis
To analyze the results, one should create a table consisting of the findings during the research and a plot to show the strength of the effect. In this case, we will have a table consisting of the kind of artificial intelligence effect in jobs and workplaces and the power of the impact.
8. Results interpretation
A summary of the research is done stating the limitations of the project, problems encountered, and the strength of evidence. At this stage, the quality of evidence is analyzed, and if the study allows, meta-analysis can be carried out. Also, the researcher should provide recommendations if there is high-quality evidence.
Artificial intelligence can be a bit hard to research, but it can be easier with the systematic literature review methodology as it synthesizes the topic. A systematic literature review can help identify the gaps in the research topic and guide the decision-making process (Snyder, 2019). Artificial intelligence as a research topic may be comprehensive. Still, the researcher can easily integrate the systematic review to give a clear and comprehensive overview of the evidence to move from discovery to implementation.
Reference
Okoli, C. (2010, May). A guide to conducting a systematic literature review of information systems research. Electronic journal.
Snyder, H. (2019, November). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333-339.
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2017, August 28). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of planning education and research.
Review of the Literature Plan
[This section will begin with a brief introductory paragraph followed by a topical outline to present the primary areas of research as aligned with the study problem to be explored within the literature review. Be sure to consider the theoretical, conceptual, and seminal writings with an emphasis on empirical peer-reviewed literature as well as pertinent grey literature (e.g., government reports, white papers, conference proceedings, policy documents), as you categorically plan out the areas of the literature to be reviewed for the dissertation study. The topical outline will be formatted as Level 2 APA headers.]
The plan to conduct the review of literature will involve…
[Theme 1 Label]
[Theme 2 Label]
[Theme 3 Label]
References
[References will be formatted per APA 7th ed. guidelines, double-spaced, and left justified with hanging indent for second and subsequent lines of the source citation. Note that chapter 10 of APA 7th edition includes examples of how citations for many different types of publications must be formatted to be consistent with APA style.]
Author, A., & Author, B. (year). Article title. Journal title, V(I), ##-##. https://doi.org/###.###.xxx
Appendices
[Optional: When an appendix or appendices are to be included, format per APA 7th ed. guidelines]
Research Prospectus Evaluation Rubric
Section
Meets
(Instructor please check)
Does Not Meet
(Instructor please check)
Instructor Feedback
Front Matter
Title Page
☐
Title no more than 12 words
Title reflects method choice
Title aligned with Trio and discipline/ concentration
☐
Title no more than 12 words
Title reflects method choice
Title lacks alignment with Trio
Title page APA errors
Abstract
☐
Meets 150-word limit
Summary of all required components
☐
Exceeds 150 words
Missing summary for required components
Introduction
☐
No more than 2 pages
Key terms defined
Adequate introduction to the study problem
Adequate citations for scholarship support
☐
Exceeds 2 pages in length
Missing term definitions
Unclear introduction to the study problem
Inadequate citations for scholarship support
Trio
Problem Statement
☐
Meets length requirement (250-350 words)
Meets paragraph format
Adequate citations for scholarship support of the study problem
☐
Exceeds length requirement
Incomplete scholarship citations to justify problem
Problem lacks alignment with Purpose and RQ
Study Purpose
☐
Purpose well aligned with Problem and RQ
All required components introduced
Adequate statement of proposed contribution
☐
Purpose lacks alignment with Problem and RQ
Missing required components
Missing statement of proposed contribution
Research Question
☐
RQ aligned with Problem and Purpose
RQ phrasing aligned with traditions/ conventions of method choice
RQ phrasing aligned with conventions of the discipline/ concentration
☐
RQ lacks alignment with Problem and Purpose
RQ phrasing not aligned with traditions/conventions of method choice
RQ phrasing not aligned with conventions of the discipline/ concentration
Research Method Rationale
☐
Adequate description of research traditions
Adequate paradigmatic perspective
Adequate rationale for method fit
☐
Missing research traditions
Missing paradigmatic perspective
Inadequate rationale for method fit
Lacks alignment with discipline/concentration
Review of the Literature Plan
☐
Adequate description of literature review plan
Literature review themes align with study problem
Literature review themes align with discipline/concentration
☐
Incomplete description of literature review plan
Literature review themes lack alignment with study problem
Literature review themes lack alignment with discipline/concentration
Back Matter
References
☐
Double spaced with proper indent
Formatted per APA 7th ed. guidelines
☐
Spacing/indent errors
High error rate of APA 7th ed. guidelines
Appendices
(optional)
☐
Adequately formatted per APA 7th ed. guidelines
☐
Formatting errors per APA 7th ed. guidelines
[CTU Research Prospectus Template v4.0 June 2021]
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