Research Idea Submission for a Research Proposal

The overall research proposal focuses on the following: This assignment requires students to collaboratively design and present a research proposal addressing a contemporary issue in public relations and communication. The purpose of the assignment is to develop students’ ability to formulate researchable problems, engage critically with academic literature, design appropriate research methodologies, and communicate research ideas clearly in both written and oral formats.

The assignment is structured in progressive stages, allowing for feedback and refinement throughout the semester.

Through this assignment, students will:

• Develop a researchable problem or question relevant to public relations
• Present research ideas in a clear and professional manner
• Situate their study within PR theories and key concepts
• Conduct a focused literature review
• Design an appropriate research methodology
• Collaborate effectively in a research team
• Demonstrate responsible and transparent use of Al tools in academic research

The first stage of the proposal is the one that I need you to work on which is the following:

Submit a concise, informed research idea proposal grounded in initial academic reading in public relations.

Before submission, students are expected to consult relevant scholarly sources (e.g., peer-reviewed articles or course readings), which must be cited and included in a reference list.

The proposal must include:

• Proposed research topic and context
• A clearly defined and researchable topic situated within a contemporary public relations context.
• Preliminary research problem or question
• A tentative research problem or question informed by initial engagement with PR literature.
• Rationale and relevance
• A brief explanation of why this topic was chosen, how it emerges from academic reading, and its relevance to public relations theory and/or practice.
• Preliminary references
• 3-5 academic sources that informed the research idea.

I will provide chapters from books that we are discussing that can help with the proposed research topic and context.