W8B. Forming Research Groups for Research Proposals

Author

Georgy Gelvanovsky

Published

March 19, 2026

1. Summary

1.1 Module II: Research Proposals

The second module of the course shifts focus from the literature review (Module I) to the research proposal (Module II). While a literature review synthesizes existing research, a research proposal designs future research.

A research proposal is a formal document that describes a research project you intend to conduct. It makes a case that: 1. A specific problem exists and is worth investigating. 2. The proposed research will produce new knowledge that addresses that problem. 3. The researcher has a feasible plan to carry out the research.

Research proposals are written in teams of three people and must address an IT-related topic. This is distinct from the literature review, which was written in pairs and could address any topic.

1.2 Forming Research Groups

Research groups for Module II are formed deliberately, based on shared interest in a research topic. The process follows these steps:

  1. List your interests: Each student identifies three IT topics they find genuinely interesting and worth researching. Think broadly but specifically—not “AI” but “bias in facial recognition systems in law enforcement,” for example.
  2. Find compatible partners: Browse the interests listed by your classmates and identify two other students whose interests overlap meaningfully with yours.
  3. Form a group of three: Once a compatible group is identified, register the group by listing all three members together.
  4. Finalize the research topic area: Sit together as a group and agree on a specific, focused topic area that all members are committed to. The topic should be:
    • IT-related
    • Specific enough to be researched meaningfully within the constraints of a short proposal
    • Genuinely interesting to all group members (motivation matters over a long project)
1.3 Designing Your Research

Once the group is formed, the next step is to begin designing the research itself. This is a brainstorming and planning phase, not the final proposal. You are thinking through the fundamental questions that any research project must answer:

  • What is your research topic? (The field or problem you are investigating)
  • What is your research question or hypothesis? (What specifically will you try to discover, test, or demonstrate?)
  • What is the research gap? (Why does this question need to be answered? What is missing from the existing literature?)
  • What methods will you use? (How will you collect and analyze data? E.g., experiment, survey, system design and evaluation, corpus analysis, etc.)

These four dimensions—topic, RQ, gap, method—form the backbone of any research proposal. Thinking through them carefully at this early stage will make the actual writing process significantly easier.

1.4 Reading Log for Module II

Before writing the research proposal, each group must conduct a focused literature search on their chosen topic. This search is documented in a Reading Log, which is a structured record of the sources reviewed.

Requirements for the Module II Reading Log:

  • Minimum 15 sources: The reading log must cover at least 15 relevant academic sources.
  • Team effort: The reading log is submitted as a group assignment. All members contribute to finding and annotating sources.
  • Template: Use the Reading Log template provided on Moodle. Ensure each entry includes the citation, research question, methodology, key findings, and relevance to your project.

The Reading Log serves as your evidence base for the Literature Review section of the research proposal. It is also a TSA (Timely Submission Assignment)—it must be submitted by the stated deadline to qualify for grading.