How to write a Research Proposal

DNBID - 2011

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How to write a Research Proposal

Why all this fuss about a detailed proposal for my study before I even begin?.

Things are going to change once I

get into the study!

That is true. Changes are

inevitable. But a little thought

now will save you a lot of grief later

on!

Research Proposal

1. Title page & table of contents 2. Introduction 3. Statement of the problem 4. Scope of the study 5. Objectives of the study 6. Hypothesis or research questions 7. Literature Review8. Procedure of the study 9. Limitation and delimitation of the study

10. Bibliography

Steps in Developing Research Proposal

Agenda of Presentation

IntroductionIntroduction

4. Research Questions or Hypothesis4. Research Questions or Hypothesis

2. Scope of the Study2. Scope of the Study

3. Objectives of the study3. Objectives of the study

5. Definitions5. Definitions

1. Problems to be investigated1. Problems to be investigated

A plan of action

• A prerequisite for Research investigation

What is a Proposal?

It communicates researcher’s intentions, makes clear the purpose of intended study, its justification & provides a step by step plan for conducting the study.

What is a Proposal?

A written Plan of a Study---The Research Proposal identifies

problems, states questions or hypotheses, identifies variables and define terms.

---The subjects to be included in the sample, the instrument to be used, the research design chosen, the procedures to be followed, how the data will be analyzed----all are spelled out in some detail.

What is a Proposal?

Introduction should provide the background of the research study.

Introduction may include a few subsections.

Introduction should be clear.

Introduction of the Research Proposal

Research proposal should include four basic components in its introduction.(A) Meaningful presentation of the study.(B) Background of the study.(C) Statement of the main issue of the study.(D) Importance of the study.

Introduction of the Research Proposal

The purpose states succinctly what the researcher proposes to investigate.

The purpose should be a concise statement, providing a framework to which details are added later.

Purpose of the Study

Justification for the StudyJustification for the Study

Key questions to ask yourself at This point:Have I identified the specific research

problem I wish to investigate?Have I indicated what I intend to do about

this problem?Have I put forth an argument as to why this

problem is worthy of investigation?Have I made my assumption explicit?

Problem to be Investigated

Statement of Statement of The problemThe problem

Significance Significance Of the studyOf the study

Research questions

or Hypothesis

Definition of Terms

Problem to be Investigated

“A problem might be defined as the issue

that exists in the literature, theory, or

practice that leads to a need for the study”

(Creswell, 1994, p. 50).

Effective problem statements answer the

question “Why does this research need to

be conducted.”

Statement of the Problem

Normally a research topic should satisfy the following criteria:

(i) state the key variables included in the study,

(ii) state relationship between variables, (iii) state population to which results would

be applicable, (iv) avoid redundant words, and (v) use only acceptable scientific terms.

Statement of the Problem

Scope of the Study

Significance of the study contains three paragraphs based on three questions:

Why the study is important?

How the study is important?

For whom the study is important?

Scope of the Study

Significance of the study contains three paragraphs based on three questions:

Why the study is important?

How the study is important?

For whom the study is important?

Objectives of the StudyObjectives should be clearly stated and

specific in nature.Each sub objective should delineate only

one issue.Action oriented words such as, “to

determine”, “to find out”, “to ascertain” in formulating sub objectives, which should be numerically stated.

Objectives should be attainable, measurable, achievable and testable.

Research Questions or Hypotheses

Questions are relevant to normative or census type of research.

Questions are most often used in qualitative inquiry.

Hypotheses are relevant to theoretical research and are typically used in quantitative inquiry.

All key terms should be defined.In a hypothesis testing study, these are

primarily the terms that describe the variables of the study.

The researcher’s task is to make his/her definitions as clear as possible.

Definitions

How To Design And Evaluate Research IN Education,2006,The McGraw Hill Companies. New York.

Research Methodology, Sage publicationsEducational Research, Allama Iqbal open

UniversityWWW.des.emory.ed/.mpf/proposal.html

References

Format of the Research ProposalTitle Introduction with its relevanceGist of review of the related literature along

with research gapsRationales of the study/justifications for

selection of the problemResearch questions, objectives, hypothesis(if

any)Limitations/scope of the studyDefinitions of keywords (only operational

definitions)

Format of the Research Proposal

Methodology (Action plan)o Research method with justificationso Populations along with its size (structure wise if

any)o Sample size, sample selection procedure,

sampling techniqueso Tools for data collection:

Selection of tool – details and justification Tool construction: Detail plan for its construction,

quality measures, finalization

o Mode of data collection and cross‐validation procedure

o Methods for data analysis

Format of the Research Proposal

Time‐Schedule

Budget

PubmedPubmedcentralBiomedcentralSCIRUSGoogle scholarMendeley

Important WisdomDon’t hesitate to discuss with your guide..

You are not obliging your guide by doing this research project…This is for your own welfare….

Guide won’t come to you..You have to approach your guide..

Read relevant literature everyday..make notes…

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