Module 3 MN7633 – Research Methods in the Study of Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management.

1. Module Leader: Nibedita Ray-Bennett (nsrb1@le.ac.uk). Please contact them direct for
academic advice. For administrative advice you should contact ulsb.study@le.ac.uk

Information for this module will be found on Blackboard under ‘Materials and Activities’.

Question:

You should write a research proposal of 4,000 words +/- 10% (excluding bibliography) that describes a
‘do-able’ research project of your interest.

This assignment is different from the first two assignments that you have written so far.

A research proposal is a piece of work that proposes and explains a research project that you can
realistically carry out. You should aim to inform your research questions underpinned by at least one of
the following theories that you have studied so far in the course:

1. Isomorphic learning (for instance, Brian Toft’s discourse)

2. Risk communication (see Alan Irwin’s ‘Citizen Science’)

3. Social learning (for instance, Brian Wynne’s discourse)

Please read your Module Document: Research Methods in Risk, Crisis and Disaster
Management carefully to learn about the methods that you can use to answer your research questions.

Please do not attempt to carry out a piece of empirical research and answer the research question at
this stage. If you wish, you can turn this research proposal into your MSc dissertation topic after the
successful completion of all the six assignments.

You should structure your research proposal under the following headings. Please do not change these
headings because your assessment criteria are based on these headings.

1. Introduction to Research Topic and Research Questions

You should aim to identify the broad area that your research will cover such as disaster risk reduction or
health and safety or organisational culture, and outline the main issues in the areas, both that research
has considered and that have been neglected. Aim to identify the specific research questions you seek
to answer within the context of your broad area. Try to review at least three key articles or
books/chapters on the topic to support your topic and questions.
2. Literature Review

Aim to identify at least 10 relevant articles or books to describe, explain and evaluate existing research,
including concepts, methods and results in your topic area. Aim to identify major debates, key concepts
and ‘gaps’ in the literature or problems, which will take you to the research question/s you will be
addressing.

3. Research Methodology

You should describe the methods you propose to use (e.g. documentary evidence, surveys, observation,
case study and interviews) and why you consider them to be most suitable for gathering the necessary
information to address your research questions. Who will you study and the sample? How are you going
to analyse the data? What are the ethical issues do you need to consider and how will you overcome
them?

Aim to read at least three or four books or articles on research methods.

4. Anticipated Problems

You should be able to anticipate problems in conducting your research and also be able to think of ways
of overcoming them (e.g. how to gain access to an appropriate sample). In other words, you must be
reflexive.

Please be sure your research proposal provides a very clear understanding of the resources that will be
required to conduct the research, if the research was to be undertaken. This is very important in
assessing the feasibility of your research design.

5. Implementation Plan

Aim to present a feasible timetable for undertaking your research project.

6. Bibliography

*Check the Mini Module to read a sample for this assignment.

*Use the Template developed by Dr Nibedita Ray-Bennett for this assignment.

These documents are available on your BlackBoard.