Social Work, influence of gender-role ideology on intimacy and self-disclosure: does greater gender-role traditionalism lead to lower self-disclosure, and in turn, lower intimacy?

This is for a Sociology course at University of Texas.

The research question is up to us but should be something along the lines of social media and intimacy. I was thinking about researching the influence of gender-role ideology on intimacy and self-disclosure: does greater gender-role traditionalism lead to lower self-disclosure, and in turn, lower intimacy? Feel free to refine or change the topic–we can talk about it if you have a better idea.

Here’s the assignment info from the prof:

The final paper is actually a research proposal, as if students were applying to a foundation in search of research funding. In it, students will discuss the preliminary studies they conducted during the semester and plans to advance this line of inquiry in the future. The proposal should provide 1) a clear research question, 2) a justification of this question, 3) explanations of the data students collected, their analytic methods, and their preliminary findings, and 4) how their research could be extended with the help of additional funding (for instance, collecting more data; using a different method; replicating the study using new data; etc.). Successful assignments will draw on all the material covered in lecture, lab, and the readings. The paper should be 7 pages double-spaced (no more and no less).

Things that must be covered:
Present your analysis, and summarize your most important findings. Questions to answer include:
What is your sample like? How large is it? How diverse?
What are your main findings, and (how) are they surprising or unanticipated? What relationships have emerged, and did any expected relationships not emerge?
What is your model or argument? What are alternative explanations for what you see? How well do your findings support your argument, compared to competing arguments or alternative explanations?
Having collected your data and done your analyses, what would you do differently next time? What are the weaknesses in your data collection? Are there questions you would change? New ones you would include? Ones you would drop?
Your memo should include:
Tables and charts. You need to have at least one describing the demographics of your sample. In addition, you should have tables and charts with your findings.
A response rate if you can calculate it. If not, a completion rate – what proportion of people who started your survey finished it?

Interview Memo
Describe your analytic strategy, including coding schemes to bring order to the data, and summarize your central findings or emerging analysis. Questions to answer include:
What categories and concepts are emerging on outcomes (or dependent variables), and what is the variation? How do these categories differ from expectations? What comparisons are most illuminating?
What factors and processes (independent and intervening variables) appear important in explaining outcomes? What factors are not helpful (despite your expectations)?
What are your main findings, especially surprising or unanticipated ones? What are the theoretical implications of the findings? What is your argument, and how does it differ from or contribute to prevailing theories?
What would you do differently if you were to do another set of interviews – what questions would you change? Would you change the order? Having listened to the recording and read the transcripts is there anything you would change about your interviewing style?
In addition, submit your interview transcript and summary.