Research Design Proposal

Purpose of the Assignment

A strong research project is defined not by an interesting topic, but by a clear alignment between the research problem, research question, method, and evidence.

This proposal asks you to demonstrate that alignment and to justify your methodological choices using the principles outlined in The Craft of Research.

Proposal Requirements

• 57 pages (not including references)
• Double-spaced, 12-point font
• Chicago Manual of Style (author-date or notes-bibliography)
• Clear section headings
• Scholarly tone and graduate-level rigor

Required Sections

Theoretical Framework

1. Identify relevant theories or conceptual lenses drawn from course readings or related scholarship.

Methodological Design

1. Describe and justify your chosen method (e.g., rhetorical analysis, interviews, content analysis, archival research, survey, etc.).

Data & Evidence

1. Specify what kinds of data will be collected and what forms of evidence the method will produce.

Feasibility & Ethics

1. Address access, scope, timeline, and any ethical or IRB-related considerations.

Sources & Citation Expectations

• Minimum of 68 scholarly sources
• Peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books
• Course readings should be integrated where relevant
• All sources must be cited accurately in Chicago style

here is my research question and how far i got working on my research paper. my draft:

Research Problem & Question

While prior research has explored challenges faced by Black professionals in the workplace, mental health in high-pressure careers, financial stress in early careers, and entry-level career instability and workplace culture, these areas have largely been studied in isolation rather than as interconnected forces shaping professional well-being. As a result, we do not yet fully understand how these overlapping pressures operate simultaneously within specific industries. Research has not specifically examined how industry readiness expectations and early-career pressure in entertainment public relations combine with financial strain to affect the mental health of African American early-career publicists.

In particular, studies on public relations stress rarely focus on entertainment PR, a sector characterized by unstable income, long hours, celebrity-driven pressure, and image- and access-based workplace politics. These industry characteristics create a uniquely demanding environment in which professional survival often depends on social visibility, constant availability, and reputational management. Research on early-career stress also tends to overlook the expectation to be industry ready immediately, the prevalence of unpaid or underpaid assistant roles, and the financial burden of networking costs such as clothing, events, travel, and personal branding. These expectations can produce financial strain that stems not only from low wages, but also from the hidden costs of maintaining professional legitimacy and access.

Additionally, inquiries into workplace stress among Black professionals frequently center on corporate settings such as technology, academia, or healthcare, rather than creative industries like entertainment publicity. Consequently, we know relatively little about how racialized workplace dynamics unfold in image-driven fields where access, relationships, and perception are central to career mobility. No current research brings these factors together to examine how professional culture, economic pressure, and racialized workplace experiences intersect within entertainment public relations.

Addressing this gap can help explain how these intersecting forces shape mental health outcomes for African American early-career publicists, a group working behind the scenes in highly visible cultural spaces while often lacking financial security and institutional support. This study therefore asks: How do readiness expectations and early-career pressures in entertainment public relations affect financial stress and mental health among future or current African American publicists with limited professional experience?

Purpose & Rationale

This research matters to me because Ive felt firsthand that even after graduating from undergrad, I wasnt as prepared as others already in the field, and Ive seen how these readiness expectations create real pressures for early-career African American publicists. Personally, I want to understand how these pressures contribute to financial stress and affect mental health, since these challenges are so common but often overlooked. Academically, studying this topic lets me connect my experiences with research on career development and wellness. Professionally, the insights can help inform strategies to better support emerging publicists navigating the demands of the entertainment industry.

Intellectual importance (The Gap)

Public relations scholarship has traditionally emphasized campaign outcomes, messaging strategies, and organizational effectiveness. While this body of work provides insight into how communication functions at the institutional level, it often overlooks the lived experiences of the professionals responsible for executing these strategies. In particular, limited research examines the emotional labor, economic instability, and workplace pressures faced by entertainment publicists. By shifting attention from campaigns to practitioners, this study addresses an underexplored dimension of public relations research.

Social/Cultural importance (Why This Matter Beyond Academia)

Beyond its academic relevance, this topic carries important social and cultural implications. African American professionals in the entertainment industry often work within spaces where they are underrepresented and subject to heightened visibility and performance expectations. These dynamics can intensify emotional labor and workplace stress. At the same time, financial instability and inconsistent career pathways in entertainment public relations may further strain long-term well-being. Examining these intersecting pressures helps illuminate how race, labor, and mental health shape professional sustainability in high-profile industries.

Professional importance (Why the Industry Should Care)

Professionally, the study addresses the entertainment industrys normalization of hustle culture, where long hours, emotional availability, and constant responsiveness are often expected without corresponding structural support. By documenting how these norms affect practitioners particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds this research can inform more sustainable workplace practices. Insights from this study may support improved mentorship structures, mental health awareness, and organizational policies that promote career longevity rather than burnout.

Together, these intellectual, social, and professional considerations demonstrate the need for research that centers the lived experiences of entertainment publicists, positioning practitioner well-being as a critical but overlooked dimension of public relations scholarship.

A qualitative approach is appropriate for this study because it prioritizes the lived experiences of practitioners while also examining the cultural meanings that shape those experiences. In-depth interviews allow participants to describe emotional strain, financial uncertainty, and professional identity in their own words. In addition, a semiotic analysis of industry language, media portrayals, and professional norms helps reveal how ideas such as hustle, constant availability, and passion are normalized within entertainment public relations. Combining these methods makes it possible to understand not only what practitioners experience, but also how industry narratives and symbols contribute to those pressures.