AI in Assessment Example: Level 3

Research Proposal (Psychology)

At this “AI Collaboration” level of the five-level AI Assessment Scale (Perkins, et al., 2024) students can use Al to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback, and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the Al suggested outputs, demonstrating their own understanding.

Course: SOC 302 – Social Media and Society

Assignment Title: Research Proposal on Social Media’s Impact on Society

Due Date: [Insert Due Date]

Assignment Overview:
In this assignment, you will develop a research proposal exploring the impact of social media on society. AI tools are permitted to assist in refining your proposal, including enhancing clarity, coherence, and grammar. However, the research, ideas, and core content must be your original work. AI should be used collaboratively to improve the presentation and readability of your proposal, with all AI-generated changes critically evaluated and documented.

Objectives:

To create a well-researched and logically structured research proposal on the impact of social media on society.
To use AI tools to assist in improving the clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy of your writing.
To reflect on the collaborative role of AI in refining your proposal while maintaining the integrity of your original ideas.

Instructions:

Topic Selection and Preliminary Research:
- Choose a specific aspect of social media’s impact on society that interests you, such as its effects on mental health, political engagement, or community building.
- Conduct preliminary research to gather relevant studies, theories, and data related to your chosen topic. This research will form the foundation of your proposal.
- Develop a research question or hypothesis that your study will address, ensuring it is specific, researchable, and relevant to current discussions in the field.
Writing the Initial Draft:
- Write an initial draft of your research proposal, including key sections such as:
  - Introduction: Overview of the topic and its relevance, leading to your research question or hypothesis.
  - Literature Review: A summary of existing research on your topic, identifying gaps that your study will address.
  - Methodology: A detailed plan for how you will conduct your research, including data collection methods, analysis techniques, and potential challenges.
  - Expected Outcomes: Anticipated results of your study and their implications for understanding social media’s impact on society.
- Ensure that your draft is well-organized, logically structured, and focused on presenting a clear and compelling research proposal.
AI-Assisted Refinement:
- Use AI tools to review your draft, focusing on enhancing the clarity, coherence, and grammatical correctness of your writing. AI can assist in rephrasing sentences, improving transitions, and ensuring that your arguments are presented effectively.
- Critically evaluate the AI-generated suggestions, deciding whether to accept, modify, or reject them. Ensure that the final version maintains your original voice, ideas, and intent.
Submission of Drafts and Reflective Commentary:
- Submit both the original draft and the AI-assisted final version of your research proposal (8-10 pages, double-spaced). Clearly highlight or annotate sections where AI made significant contributions, explaining your rationale for accepting or rejecting these changes.
- Write a reflective commentary (2-3 pages) discussing how AI was used in the refinement process. Reflect on how AI-assisted editing improved your proposal, any challenges in maintaining your voice and intent, and the overall effectiveness of the collaboration.
Final Submission:
- Submit the final version of your research proposal, along with the original draft and reflective commentary. Ensure that your submission is well-organized, clearly written, and professionally presented.

Evaluation Criteria:

– Originality and Quality of Content (30%): Developing a well-researched, logically organized proposal that demonstrates a deep understanding of the topic.

– Critical Engagement with AI Tools (25%): Effectively using AI to enhance clarity and coherence while critically evaluating AI-generated suggestions.

– Clarity and Readability (20%): Presenting a clear, well-written, and polished proposal that effectively communicates your research plan.

– Reflective Commentary (15%): Providing a thoughtful reflection on AI’s role in the editing process and how it impacted your final submission.

– Documentation of Changes (10%): Clearly highlighting AI-driven edits and justifying your acceptance or modification of those changes.

Support and Resources:

– AI Tools and Software: Access to AI tools such as [specify tools, e.g., Grammarly, ChatGPT, Quillbot] will be provided through the university’s sociology department. Tutorials on using these tools for enhancing clarity and coherence will be available at the beginning of the assignment period.

– Workshops and Tutorials: Attend workshops focused on AI-assisted editing, covering techniques for improving argumentation, refining structure, and ensuring logical coherence.

– Office Hours: Schedule office hours with your instructor to discuss your research proposal, AI tool use, and strategies for critically evaluating AI-generated suggestions.

– Library Resources: The university library offers access to sociology journals, databases, and relevant literature on social media studies. Librarians can assist you in finding sources and navigating AI tools for proposal writing.

– Peer Collaboration: Participate in peer review sessions where you can present your AI-enhanced draft and receive feedback on how to further refine and improve your proposal.

Academic Integrity: All AI-assisted edits must be transparently documented, with a clear distinction between original and AI-modified content. Misuse of AI, such as generating new content or failing to critically engage with AI suggestions, will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

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