BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

CHAPTER THREE

Writing Research Proposals

Research proposal is written document that summarize the prior literature, identify the
research topic area and the research question to be answered, and specifies the procedures
will be followed in obtaining an answer to these research questions”. It is also a written plan
for the research project. It enables the researcher to design and organize his project. What is
a Research proposal?
A research proposal is a written document requesting both authorization and funds to
undertake a specific research project. It’s always includes a statement explaining the purpose
of the study or a definition of the problem. It systematically outlines the particular research
methodology and details the process that will be utilized at each stage of the research process.
In research proposal:
o What information will be required?
o What research procedures will be implemented?

Will be clearly specified so that others may understand their exact implications
Function of the research proposal
 Research proposal may function at least in three ways, namely, as a means of
communication, as a plan and as a contract
1. Proposal as a means of communication serves to communicate the investigator’s
research plan to those who give consultations and/or disburse fund. Proposal is the
primary source on which the graduate students’ thesis or dissertation committee must
base the function of:
 Review
 Consultation
 And more importantly, approval for implementation of the research project

In general, the quality of assistance and the probability of financial support will all depend
directly on the clarity and justification of the proposal.
2. Research proposal as plan, helps the researcher to organize his ideal in a systematic
manner and to look for strengths and flaws, a successful proposal sets out the plan in
step by step detail. That is, it provides and inventory of what must be done and which
materials have to be collected as a preliminary step.

1|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

Generally, the acceptability of results is judged exclusively in terms of the adequacy of

the methods employed in recording, analyzing and interpreting the data in the planned
study.
3. Proposal also functions as a contract. A Completed proposal approved for execution
and signed by all members of the sponsoring committee, constitute a bond of
agreement between the researcher and that committee

An approved grant proposal results in a contract between the investigator (and often the
university) and funding sources.
 Proposal for thesis and dissertation should be in final form prior to the collection
of data. Once document is approved in final form, neither the student nor the
sponsoring faculty members should be free to alter the fundamental terms of the
contract by unilateral decision.

The Purpose of Proposals

The general purpose for writing proposals includes:
1. To present the problem that will be researched and to show its importance
2. To discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on related problems
3. To identify the data that are necessary for solving the problem and how these data will be
gathered, treated, and interpreted.
Reasons Why Research Proposal Fail
The research Proposal may be failed by sponsoring institutions or advisor because of the
following:
1) Aim and objectives of the research proposal are unclear
2) There is a mismatch between the approach being adopted and the issues to be addressed
3) The overall plan is too ambitious and difficult to achieve in the time table
4) The researcher does not seem to have conducted enough in depth background research
5) Problem is of insufficient importance
6) Information about data collection is insufficiently detailed
7) Information about the data analysis method is insufficiently detailed
8) Time scale is inappropriate or unrealistic
9) Resources and budget have not been carefully thought out
10) If the topic selected has been done too many times before-indicates a lack in background
research

2|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

General format and Elements of proposal

There is no a hard and a fast format in scientific research proposal writing. It varies from
one organization to another and from one country to another. Some universities and funding
agencies make very specific demand for the format of proposals. Others provide general
guidelines for form and content. Though the format varies, the essence expressed in different
proposal remains the same.
The major components (Elements of proposal)
1. Cover Page
2. Title
3. Abstract (Optional)
4. Introduction
5. Statement of problems
6. Objective of the study
7. Literature review
8. Materials and methods (methodology)
9. Work plan (time budget)
10. Cost budget
11. References
12. Appendix
Each of them can have their own separate section in research proposal. Each main section
should begin on a new page. Some can be merged. Some on the other hand can be split into
separate sections or into further subsections.
A well thought out and well written proposal save time, helps to avoid mistakes and results in
a higher quality research study and successfully answers questions like:
- Why is the research worthwhile?
- What are the chances of success?
- How will the project be carried out?
- When will the project be carried out?
- Where will the data collection take place?
- Who will benefit?
Components of Research Proposals
The overall structure of research proposal is fairly structured. However, different groups (ex:
funding agency) may have a particular requirement, so it is essential that you read carefully
any specific instructions and elements provided by the target group for the proposal.
3|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

The typical elements/parts/ components of a research proposal include:

1. Cover Page
Cover page contains introductory information for the proposal: the names of the proposed
project or title of the research, the author of the proposal or principal investigator and the
institution which funds the research, and date. Some funding agencies have standardized
cover page that may contain additional information.
2. Title
The title is one of the most important parts of a proposal. It will immediately attract or lose
the interest of any potential donor. The title should be:
 The title should be as explicit as possible and transparent
 It should be clear and short
 It should capture and reflect the content of the proposal. It should enable the
readers to understand the concepts of the study

The titles clearly identifying the study and contain a description of the study design and
objectives precisely. A good title is usually a compromise between conciseness and
explicitness. Although title should be comprehensive enough to indicate the nature of the
proposed study, they should also brief. One good way to cut the length of titles is to avoid
words that add nothing to a reader understands such as “Study on----”, “Investigations----”,
“A study of----” or “Research on some problems in----”. Further a title should include key
terms that readily identify the scope and nature of study. In short, a title should be descriptive
and concise and meaningful. It should provide first impression of the content and design of
the study.

3. Abstract (Optional in Proposal)

Is summary, which reflects the whole content of the proposal (most of the time less than 300
words).Abstract should be concise, informative and should provide brief information about
the whole problem to be investigated.
The abstract of a proposal should contain the following points
 Title or topic of the research
 Statement of the problem and objective
 Methodology of investigation
 Expected result (tentative only if a researcher starts with a formulated hypothesis)

4|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

4. Introduction /Background:

The introduction is the part of the proposal that provides readers with the background
information for the study. Thus the introduction should be comprehensible to an informed
layman. It should give enough background to enable him to a place your particular research
problem in a context of common knowledge and should show how its solution will advance
the field or be important for other work.
Its purpose is to establish a framework for the study, so readers can understand how it is
related to other research and to sell the idea, convince the readers that the study needs doing,
who it will impact, the possible benefits and that you are the one to do it.
Generally the introduction part of a research proposal presents the problem to be addressed
and background information from previous studies .It further contain/describes the nature and
purpose of the study, present the guiding research questions and explain the significance of
the study.

In an introduction, the writer should create readers interest in the topic; laid the broader
foundation for the problems that leads to the study; places the study within the large context
to the scholarly literatures; reach out the specific audience.
Background: Separate section for background may not be necessary if the proposal is
relatively simple and if the introduction can present the relevant background. If previous
/related works must be discussed in the some details, however, or if the literature of the
subject must be reviewed a background section is desirable. Sufficient details on background
of the study helps to make clear what the research problem is and exactly what has been
accomplished, to give evidence for your own competence in the field and to show why the
previous works needs to be continued.
5. Statement of the problem:
A problem might be defined as the issue that exist in the literature, theory or practices that
leads a need for the study. The purpose of any research study is to address’ a research
problem or question. This section should therefore include a concise statement about the
desired out comes that will be achieved in conducting the research and about the context for
the study and it also should identify the general analytical approach. A problem statement
should be presented within a context, and the context should be provided and briefly
explained, including a discussion of the conceptual or theoretical framework in which it is
embedded.

5|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

It is important in proposal that the problem stand out that the reader can easily recognize it.
This description will later serve as the point of departure for the wording of the title of the
research paper. Effective research problem answer the question “Why does this research need
to be conducted.” If the researcher is unable to answer this question clearly then the statement
of the problem will come off as ambiguous.
6. Purpose/ objective or the study:
The purpose statement should provide a specific and accurate synopsis of the overall purpose
of the study. If the purpose is not clear to the writer, it cannot be clear to the reader. Purpose
of the study helps to briefly define and delimit the specific area of the research, foreshadow
the hypotheses to be tested or the question to be raised and describe the rationale for the
study.
Key points to keep in mind when writing a purpose statement:
1. Try to incorporate a sentence that begins with “The purpose of the study is…”This
will clarify your own mind as to the purpose and it will inform the reader directly and
explicitly.
2. Clearly identified and define the central concepts/ ideas of the study
3. Clearly identify the methodological steps that will be used.
4. Identify the unit of analysis in the study.
Objectives: This section describes what the investigator hopes to accomplish with the
research. After reading this section, the reader should be clear about the questions to be
asked, the kind of answer expected and the nature of the information to be provided by the
proposed research. The objective of the study should be:
- Clear and specific, achievable and merit study
- Concise and precise described in one or two sentence presented in logical sequence or
chronologically (i.e., follow logically, from the rationale hypotheses for a quantitative
study and towards the hypotheses for qualitative study).
- Expressed as a small number
- We can have general and specific objectives in a research proposal.
7. Significance of the study:
Significance of the study indicates how the proposed research will refine, revise, or extend
existing knowledge in the area under investigation. Note that such refinements, revisions or
extensions may have substantive, theoretical or methodological, significance.
Most of the studies have two potential audiences; practitioners and professional peers.
Statements relating the research to both groups are in order. In this respect, this can be a
6|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

difficult section to write. It warrants thinking about the implications how results of the study
may affect scholarly research, theory, practices, interventions and policies. When thinking
about the significant of your proposed study, ask yourself the following questions:
- What will results mean to the theoretical framework that framed the study?
- What suggestion for subsequent research a rise from finding?
- Will results influence programs/methods/interventions/policies?
- What will be improved / changed as a result of the proposed research?
- How will the results of the study be will implemented?
- Who will be benefited?
8. Limitations and Delimitations of the study:
Limitation of the study: A limitation identifies potential weaknesses of the study. Think about
your analysis, the nature of self-report, your instruments and the sample (size/design) and
threats to internal validity that may have been impossible to avoid or minimize _ explain.
However, it is not recommended to start with limitations in recent research approaches.
Delimitation of the study: Delimitation addresses how a study will be narrowed in scope,
that is, how it is bound. This is the peace to explain the things that you are not doing and why
you have chosen not to do them; the Literature you will not review (and why not); the
population you are not studying (and why not); and the Methodological procedure you will
not use (and why you will not use them). Limit your delimitations to the things that a reader
might reasonably expect you to do but that you, for clearly explained reasons, have decided
not to do.
9. Review of the Literature: The review of literature provides the background and context for
the research problem to be investigated. It establishes the need for the research and indicates
that the writer is knowledgeable about the area. It helps also to relate the hypotheses,
definition and operationalization of terms/variables, methodology and data analysis that
follows. It summarizes the result of previous studies that have reported relationship among
the variables included in the proposed research. The literature review accomplishes several
important things:
 It shares with the reader the result of other studies that are closely related to the study
being reported.
 It relates a study to the larger, on going dialogue in the Literature about a topic, filling
in gap and extending prior studies.
 It provides a framework for establishing the importance of the study as well as of a
study with other findings.
7|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

 It “frames” the problem earlier identified.

 Demonstrate to the reader that you have comprehensive grasp of the field and are
aware of important recent substantive and methodological development.
 Show what is not in the Literature and how your study is going to fill this hole, and
how your work will add to the body of Literature.
Literature review means locating literature in a variety of sources reading it carefully and
thoroughly organizing it in to these along with the line of investigation.
Types of reviewed literature can be
 theoretical works
 methodological review
 original findings and reviews of them

The Literature review must addressed three areas:

Topic /problem area: This part of the literature review covers material directly related to the
problem being studied. There will usually be at least two substantive areas reviewed because
most research involves variables that have been studied in separate substantive areas.
I. Theory area: Investigators must identify the social science theory, which relates to
the problem area. The theory area provides the theoretical “Lens” through which the
writer chooses to view and understand the problem. It provides guidelines for
explaining the etiology of problems and the linking mechanisms that connect
variables.
II. Methodology area: Investigators must review the literature, which is appropriate to
various aspects of chosen method, including design, selection of subjects, and
methods of data collection. This section describes research methods and
measurement approaches used in previous investigation in the area. This content
should be considered in designing the proposed research and used to support the
choice of design and measurement techniques. Otherwise the investigator must
explain why he has chosen methods or approaches that have not been used
previously.
In a proposal, the literature review is generally brief and to the point, and the literature
selected should be pertinent and relevant .You should not state statements that imply that
little has been done in the area or that what has been done is to extensive to permit essay
summary. Statements of this sort are usually taken as indications that the writer is not really
familiar with the literature.

8|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

As specified in the areas that should be addressed by literature review, after reading the
literature review, the reader should understand the problem area you have selected and the
theoretical models, findings, methodologies, and measurement techniques that have been
used in previous, related research efforts. The literature review should lead up to specific
hypotheses, which are then listed at the end of the literature review.
10. Research Question and /or Hypotheses:
Research Question: Poses a relationship between two or more variables but phrase the
relationship as a question. Relevant to normative and/or census types or research (How many
of them are there? Is there a relationship between them?). Most often used in qualitative
enquiry.
Hypotheses: The practice of using hypotheses was derived from using the scientific method
in social science iniquity. They have philosophical advantage in statistical testing as a
researcher should be and tend to be constructive and cautious in their statement of
conclusion. Hypotheses present a declarative statement of the relationship between two or
more variables. Relevant to theoretical research and are typically used only in quantitative
enquiry. Hypotheses can be couched in four kinds of statements:
1) Literary null: a “No Difference” from in terms of theoretical constructs.
2) Operational null: a “No Difference” from in terms of the operation required to test the
hypotheses.
3) Literary Alternative: a form that states the hypotheses you will accept if the null
hypotheses rejected, stated in terms of theoretical constructs. This is usually what you
hope the result will show in other words.
4) Operational Alternative: Similar to the literary alternative except that the operations
are specified.
In general, the Null hypotheses are used if theory, Literature does not suggest hypothesized
relationship between variables under investigation; the ALTERNATIVE is generally reversed
for situations in which theory/ research suggests a relationship or directional interplay.
Note that deciding whether to use research questions or hypotheses depend on the factors
such as the purpose of the study, the nature of design and methodological approaches and the
audience of the research.
11. Methodology:
Research Methodology is away to systematically solve the research problem. It may be
understand as a science of studying how research is done scientifically. It has many elements;
research design, method, procedures and instruments do constitute a part of research
9|Page
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

methodology. The scope of research methodology is wider than that of research methods.
Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not only talk of the research methods but
also consider the logical behind the methods we use in the context of our study and explain
why we are using a particular method/ procedure/ techniques and why we are not using others
so that research results are capable of being evaluated either by the researcher himself or by
others.
Research Methods: may be understood as all those methods/ techniques that are used for
conduction of research (i.e. it refers to the methods that the researchers use in performing
research operation). Research methodology indicates the methodological steps you will take
to answer every question or to test every hypothesis illustrated in the questions and
hypotheses sections. This section is the heart of the research proposal and the methodological
elements should be described with as much detail as possible, and the continuity between
them should be apparent.
Methodological part of the research proposal usually consists sampling design, Methods of
data collection, Methods of data analysis; instruments will be used in conducting the research
and precise description of the study context/ area.
Methodological elements of the research proposal are briefly discussed hereunder.
a) Design: This section will describe the type of research design to be used will it be survey,
quasi- experimental or experimental design? Will it be cross sectional or longitudinal?
Will it be retrospective or prospective design? It also describes the sequence of events
that will occur in conducting the research.
b) Sampling (sample design/ subjects): subjects/samples can be individuals, families,
groups, organizations, states, or countries depend up on the unit of analysis. This section
describes how the samples in the study will be selected. For example: will volunteers be
solicited? Will every subject who volunteers are included? If not what criteria will be
used to choose those to be included? These sections describe how subjects will be chosen,
and provide a rational for the selection approach/ techniques taken.
The key reason for being concerned with sampling is that of validity (i.e. the extent to which
the interpretation of the result of the study follow from the study it self and the extent to
which result may be generalized to other situation with other people), and representative ness
(i.e. how representative is the sample of the survey population and the group from which the
sample is selected) and how representative is the survey population of the target population
(the larger group to which we wish to generalize).

10 | P a g e
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

c) Methods of data collection: This selection outlines the general plan and specific steps
intended to follow to carry out data collection. This may include survey administrative
procedure, interview or observation procedures, focus group etc. It also includes an
explicit statement covering the field controls to be employed. It is also important to
provide a general outline of the time schedule you expect to follow during the time of
data collection. In This section of the research proposal you should answer questions like:
- How are you going to collect the information you need?
- Where does this data come from?
- Will you use an existing data set, or collect your own (i.e.) types of data
needed secondary/ primary)? One should be specific and explain why
you are making this choice.
d) Methods of Analysis: This section explains how the data will be analyzed once they are
collected. Usually, more than one analysis is conducted. Each analysis that will be used to
meet each objective listed above should be described. The data analysis section of the
research proposal should:
- Specify the procedures you will use, and label them accurately. If coding
procedures are to be used, describe reasonable detail.
- Indicate briefly any analytic tools you will have available and expect to use.
- Provide a well though –out rationale for your decision to use the design, and
analysis you have selected.
- Should be linked to the hypotheses so that it is clear how each hypothesis will be
tested.
e) Instrumentation: This section outlines the instruments you propose to use (survey,
scales, interview protocols, observation guide). If instruments have previously been used,
identify previous studies and findings related to reliability and validity. If instruments
have not previously been used, outline procedures you will have follow to develop and
test their reliability and validity. In the late case, a pilot is nearly essential.
12. Budget: This section of a research proposal answer question like; what are the
associated with the study? Budget for research can include costs of salary for research
personnel and all expected expenses; supplies, travel, telephone cost, coping etc. It is
important to ensure in this section that the budget is sufficient to achieve the objective
of the study, is justifiable, and demonstrates accountability.

11 | P a g e
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

13. Time Table/ Work plan: This section describes the sequence of activities necessary
to conduct the research. It will include the time necessary to complete each activity. In
short it is all about “activity against time”.
14. Reference or Bibliography/ Literature cited)
All works cited in the proposal are listed either alphabetically or numerically at the end of the
document usually under the heading of “References or Bibliography”
Some conservative authors would like to make distinction between references and
bibliography as mentioned below:
 References: are lists of literature, which have been cited in the text of a document
 Bibliography: includes also items, which were not cited but are relevant to the
document.

There are several ways of making citation and recording references. The two main systems of
referring are:
A. Harvard system: this system uses author’s name, date and page reference. This
system is used mainly by Anthropology, Social science and in life science research.
Harvard system is recommended to be used in business research.
B. Vancouver system: uses in text number instead of an author, date and page reference.
It is used in the applied science such as chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Harvard system
 The reference list must include all published works referred to in the text.
 Each reference to a periodical publication must include in order, the name (s) of the
author(s) the year of publication, the full title of the article, the publication in which it
appears, and the volume and inclusive page number
 Reference to a book must give the author or authors’ name(s) , the year, the title the
edition, if other than the first; the publisher, the city of publication, and the number of
the volume (if two or more).

Example of some of the common types of literature citation (J. Hussey AND Hussey,
1997)
i. Citation
Citation under the Harvard system:
In an investigation conducted in large factories, Gibbs (1993) reported that absenteeism was
higher on the night shift than the day.

12 | P a g e
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

Citing more than one authors

A number of research studies have been conducted in to the effect of the recession on small
business (smith, 1984: Anderson, 1990; Jones, 1995)
ii. Referring or listing the cited works
A. Reference for books

Davidson, Alan B (1994), the pursuit of Business, London, Chapman and Halls
B. Reference for Journal article

Porter, Michael E. (1994), competitive advantage of nations, Harvard Business Review,

68(2), pp. 73 – 83
C. Other reference

It is possible to cite quote or paraphrase unpublished work if they are relevant to the study.
Unpublished works are:
 Personal communication with experts (professionals)
 Unpublished data collected by other researchers
 Unpublished research works
 Public speeches
 Conferences discussion and the like

The researcher should not put such an unpublished work in reference list unless it has been
fully approved and a date set for its publication.
Unpublished references are not usually found or catalogued in libraries. And such
unpublished reference should be placed in the body of the text, not in the reference list.
Use parenthesis to enclose the complete name of the author, the year (if available) and
appropriate title, location, or other information needed to establish the authenticity of the
reference or help the reader locate it.
Example
“…………………” (David Lee, Cornell University, 1995 personal Communication)
“ ………………” (Yilma Kebede, LAR, 1984 unpublished data)
It is also possible to use numbered footnote and will be referred to by using the number as a
superscript at the proper position.

15. Appendix (Annex)

13 | P a g e
 BUSINES RESEARCH METHOD CH-3 2018/19

It is not mandatory to have this section. If the researcher thinks that having this section will
increase the quality of the research proposal he/she is free to do so.
Information types provided in this section are those additional details, which are difficult to
accommodate within the standard headings
Stuffs to be included in appendix:
 Detail Questionnaires and interview schedules
 Detailed experimental design (in experimental research)
 Detailed statistical procedures
 Samples of research materials (chemical and some biological materials)
 Survey and other geographic maps

14 | P a g e