Writing a Research Proposal

Preliminary Guide Questions

1. What is the end goal of a research proposal?
2. What are the components and subcomponents of a research paper?
3. What to write in the research proposal?

The end goals of a Research Proposal

a. to present and justify a research idea you have.
b. To present the practical ways in which you think this research should be conducted.

*Preliminary Parts a research Proposal

Title Page
Table of Contents
*Main Parts
Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Statement of the Problem
Importance of the Study
Scope and Limitation
Definition of Terms
Chapter 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURES AND STUDIES

We could source out from primary sources and secondary sources and tertiary
sources
*Books
Foreign
Local
Published
Unpublished
*Peer Reviewed Journals articles
Foreign
Local
*Government Reports
*Websites materials from professional associations (use sparingly
and carefully)

Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY
Research methods
Research Design
Gathering Instrument
Validation of Instrument
Sampling Procedure
 Gathering Procedure
Data Analysis
Ethical Consideration
REFERENCES
APPENDIX (Copy of the research instrument)

Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
Lango (2019) describes the introduction as the “sitting room” of the research paper.
It discusses the main objective of the study and presents the gap to be addressed. It also
includes several studies and relevant researches conducted in the past as well as their empirical
or conclusive evidence.

The introduction should also stress an important document and verifiable need that will
strengthen the claim that the concept for the research work is indeed important.

Elements in Writing an Effective Introduction (all of these will substantiate your

INTRODUCTION)
 First element. Your introduction should consist of the general statement of the
problem or introduction of your topic.
 Second element. The creation of the context or background of the study.
 Third element. State your rationale (basis) and hypothesis
 Fourth element. Provide a research gap and explain why your research is
important.

Write your three-page introduction following the sequence of the elements below for its

effectiveness:

First element. Your introduction should consist of the general statement of the problem or

introduction of your topic with the following information :

In narrative form,

*discuss thoroughly the specific theme or issue anchored from your AREA, or what is

commonly said about your AREA.

 *Explicitly expound the SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS, mention here some actual evidence. In

other words, discuss the actual scenario of the prevailing situation about your title. (NOTE: we

could avoid sweeping statements only if evidences are clearly presented to support your claim.)

*in one paragraph, clearly explain your general goal why you’re undergoing this research

*in one or two paragraphs, it’s very necessary to include objectives in the introduction.

To do this, convert your SoPs using the INFINITIVE FORM. Then, one at a time, explain

your purpose why you intend to determine, analyze or evaluate both the descriptive and

hypothetical questions. Give supposed reasons (your personal perspective) to clarify and

strongly support your stand.

Second element. The creation of the context or background of the study.

In narrative form, provide evidence by reviewing at least three to five related literatures

to be included in the introduction to qualify whatever evidence presented (this is the only part

of the introduction where you can reference.) The reference can be presented in the following

sequence: International (general), National (specific), and local (more specific). These citations

will fully support your idea. Be sure to properly recognize your references by putting

superscripts and footnotes.

Third element. State your rationale and hypothesis

The basis for your discussion in the following paragraphs is your statement of the

problem for these are your actual claims which need supporting explanation why gather

relevant data and why analyze.

 In narrative form, explain your rationale on the locale’s status. This could be

referred to the “abrupt decline of result, poor implementation, or low performance

level, or alarming learners’ skills level, or related issues aligned to your title)

While hypothesis is referring to the factors attributed to the decrease, poor

implementation, or low performance level, or alarming learners’ skills level. In addition, give

readers just enough historical information to understand your topic. Provide current state of the

field under research. State the knowledge and problems to be addressed.

Fourth element. In narrative form, provide a research gap and explain why your

research is important.

A research gap statement usually consists of three parts: the background, the

gap, and the significance

*The background provides some context and background information on

your topic.

*The gap identifies what is missing or unclear in the literature you

reviewed, or you read, or you investigated.

*The importance which clearly expressed or stated supports your

intention or desire why undergo the study.

THE PURPOSE. State the purpose of your concept your research paper in one or two

sentences.

4. STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC TO YOUR READERS. Tell readers why they should care

about this topic.

5. STATE YOUR MAIN POINT. Offer a straightforward statement that summarizes your plan and

explain why your plan will succeed.

Ten to 15 % of your paper is introduction which usually includes:

1. general statement of the problem
2. Context or background
3. rationale or hypothesis
4. Significance of the study and research gap

5 Common Mistakes in Introduction Writing

1. Making the introduction too fluffy.
2. Being too lazy to proofread
3. Trying to copy academic language
4. not making an argument
5. Trying to claim too much

Chapter 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURES AND STUDIES

Literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research Topics. The review
should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify previous research
(Harvey A. Andrus Library, 2020)
Foreign
Local
Three major ways to organize your literature:
1. Chronological presentation
2. Methodological presentation
3. Thematic presentation

In research, frameworks play a very significant role in the success of a research study. The two types of
frameworks in research are:
1. Theoretical framework and 2. Conceptual Framework
The Theoretical Framework delimits the study’s scope by focusing on the identified variables
from a theory’s principles or constructs (University of Southern
California, 2020).

2. Conceptual Framework visually explains concepts or variables, the path of research that firmly
grounds theoretical constructs (Adom et al., 2018).

Once a study has theoretical anchorage, it improves the crafting of research objectives and
visualizes its Conceptual Framework (CohenMIller & Pate, 2019).
On Theoretical Framework
Initial Activity

Supposed you have a research title Evaluation on the Implementation of Solid Waste Management
Program: As Basis for Improvement Plan, the theories applicable to the problem/research title are the
Theory of Waste Management and the Theory of Environmental Management.

What is theory?
Theory is formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases to
challenge and extend existing knowledge, within the limits of critical bounding assumptions (UCMERCED
LIBRARY, 2020).
In short, a theory is a subjective claim. In a subject fact, it may be true to a specific phenomenon but not
true to all.

For example:
According to Darwin’s theory, giraffes that happened to have slightly longer necks and limbs
would have a better chance of securing food and thus be able to have more offspring – the “select” who
survive” (WGBH Education Foundation & Clear Blue-Sky Productions, 2001).

Why is Theoretical Framework important?

University of Southern California, 2020 website presents six important reasons of its inclusion in
a study:
1. It permits the reader to evaluate them critically;
2. It connects the researcher to existing knowledge;
3. Articulates the theoretical assumptions of a research study forces you to address questions of
why and how;
4. It permits you to move from simply describing a phenomenon observed to generalizing about
various aspects of that phenomenon;
5. It helps you to identify the limits to those generalizations, and
6. It specifies which key variables influence a phenomenon of interest.
4.
What are the five specific strategic steps to develop a theory based on the website of the (Sacred Heart
University Library, 2020).
1. Examine your thesis title.
Back to the title Solid Waste Management Program: As Basis for Improvement Plan, what are
you trying to solve

2. Brainstorming on what you consider to be the key variables on your research title.
Key variables usually referred to the topic or the topics. Thus, it’s about WASTE
MAMANGEMENT PROGRAM. For example, in the title is Solid Waste Management Program: As Basis
for Improvement Plan, has five key variables: Activities, policies, planning, information dissemination
and practices.

Another example: Family Structure and Parental Involvement vis-à-vis Science Performance of Junior
High School Students.
There are three variables here: family structure, parental involvement, and science performance.
Still go to Google scholar and simultaneously key each topic: “theory+family structure” ;
“theory+parental involvement” and “theory+science performance.
3. Examine your theory and list the constructs land specific variables.
For example: for the first study title, the theory anchored to Theory of waste Management of
(Pongcrasz et al. 2004). The principles of the theory are: This theory gave much weight on waste
management planning, in order to achieve a waste-free environment.

There must be five enclosing principles reflected:

1. aiding legislation to prescribe activity for or upon waste management (activities);
2. giving solidified foundations for waster with strong implementations of policies (policies);
3. providing guide to waste management actions(planning);
4. forecasting possible outcomes on the use of waste management (information dissemination), and
5. in-depth understanding of wastes and related concepts (practices).

These five principles are called the constructs of the theory. A construct are the observations
and experiences of the theory developer.
From a construct of the theory, a researcher can draw specific variables which are concepts that can
easily be quantified or described (qualify).

Thus, the variables dominantly considered in the study: Evaluation on the Implementation of
Solid Waste Management Program: As Basis for Improvement Plan, are: activities, policies, planning,
information
dissemination and practices.

The waste management theory with principles has similarities o the claim of the current study.
There is an interweaving connection between activities, policies, plans, information dissemination
system and practices on Waste Management. If these five significantly exist in the organization then
there will be an improved solid waste management program, this theory could be the basis for
comparison for the emergent theory of the theory.

Let’s figure out the connection between a theory and the research objectives and why Research
Objectives are needed in a research proposal or a Research Paper.
Research Objectives according to (Hughes, 2017) are set at the very start of a project to
guide the research.
Their main role is to ensure you gain insights that are relevant and useful. This
summarizes the main aim of the research - - what you want to find out.

According to (Van De Water, 2020), six important guidelines that should be observed when
developing research objectives, are as follows:
1. Write them briefly and concisely;
2. Present them in logical manner;
3. Make it realistic (meaning they can be achieved within the expected timeframe and with
available resources).
4. Present using operational terms or common terms
(use simple English);
5. Use action verbs that are specific enough to be
evaluated or measured (ex. Assess, determine,
compare, verify, calculate, describe, and etcetera),
and
 6. Directional (static once the study works
begin).

First sample of Weak and Stronger Objectives based on the article of (Van De Water, 2020):
Weak Objective: Collect ratings of the organization on a variety of factors.
Why It’s Weak? it lacks the specifics required to bring the organization closer to its goal – to
what end will the rating be used.

Stronger Objective:
To assess perception of the organization, determine similarities, differences among
segments of individuals, pinpoint those most likely to consider giving for increasing the level of
giving to the organization within the service region.

Second Sample of Weak and Stronger Objectives

Weak: Ask people why they current support or choose not to support the organization.
Why It’s Weak: Objective worded in this manner is not specific enough to be evaluated. By
including detail in your objective, you are better positioned to get the intelligence required.

Stronger Objective:
To measure the factors that may have spurred donors to give to the organization may inspire
non-donors to give, have contributed to lapsed donors ceasing to give and have presented donors from
giving.

Third sample of Weak and Stronger Objective:

Weak. Discover all the media and information sources used by members of the community at
various parts of the day, in order to create a highly effective marketing plan targeting people on the right
medium at the right time.
Why It’s Weak: This objective has all the components of a strong research objective, except that
it is not being completely realistic within the scope of this research
project.
Stronger Objective:
To understand the communication channels used by the community members; to learn about
the organizations within the community, and what information sources are most influential when
deciding which non-profit organization to support.

Where to anchor Research Objectives?

According to (CohenMiller and Pate, 2019), once the study has theoretical anchorage, it
improves the crafting of research objectives and visualizes its Conceptual Framework.
The first step is to go back to your research title, let’s still use our previous example on the study,
Evaluation on the Implementation of Solid Waste Management
Program: As Basis for Improvement Plan.

How to Write Specific Objective?

It should exactly describe what to do in each phase of the study – the how, the where, the when
and for what purpose.
Examples of Specific Objectives:
This study is opting to find answers to the following questions:
 1. To identify the solid waste management activities of Mallig Plains, Colleges, Inc;
2. Evaluate the implementation of Solid Waste Management Program: A Basis for Improvement Plan
at Mallig Plains College, Inc., Casili, Mallig Isabela as to the following important components:
a. policies
b. planning
c. information dissemination, and
d. practices

Objectives for Quantitative Research Method

Most objectives under Quantitative Research Method may follow either, correlational or
relationship between and among variables, or intention to compare two groups, or result after a
treatment.
Specific Objective
3. Correlate Solid Waste Management activities and the implementation of the said program as to:
a. policies;
b. planning;
c. information dissemination, and
d. practices.

Conceptual Framework

Conceptual Framework is anchored with the research components, like: Theoretical Framework,
and b. Research objectives

What is a Conceptual Framework?

A Conceptual Framework according to (Bueno, 2016), presents the understanding of the
researcher(s) on the concepts based upon the previous readings and experiences relative to the field to
focus of investigation.
It elaborates the research problem in relation to identified objectives of the study.

What to Consider in formulating the Conceptual Framework?

1. use the specific variables from your theoretical framework.
2. Fill out the Paradigm of the Study
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
3. Pick out the key phrase from your SoP in filling out the INPUT BOX.
4. Formulate items in the PROCESS box based on variables in the input box preceding verbs with
“ing,” like determining, and/or analyzing, and/or assessing.
5. The OUTPUT BOX contains the assumed result based on the processed variables.
6. Meanwhile, the variables shall be corelated as shown by the arrow to attain the ultimate goal of
the study which is the basis of the improvement plan on the evaluated program.
7. The completion of the paradigm meticulously following the steps above, provides or draws the
schema or framework of the study.

NOTE: The unlined sample text or narrative below should appear after having been completed
the Theoretical and Conceptual Framework following the steps, however make the necessary
changes to align the information based on your own problem or title.
 The conceptual framework, Figure 1, shows the research process of the study under
investigation. The Input box shows the theoretical anchorage of the study in which the constructs are
used as variables. The study focused on Solid Waste Management Program will identify the waste
management activities than evaluate the level of implementation as to policies, planning, information
dissemination, and practices as respectively presented in the left box of the paradigm.