Research proposal

Question

What is known ?
New knowledge (Thesis, pub, ...)

Formulate problem

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Results
Interpretation,
conclusion
Hypothesis
Materials and
Methods
Analyse, Results
Experiment/Collect data Project plan
 Research proposal
What is Research proposal ?
• A research proposal can be defined as a written document
requesting both authorization and funds to undertake a
specific research project.

• The main goal of a research proposal is to present the

author’s plan for the re search they intend to conduct.
Research proposal

Function of the research proposal

• Research proposal may function at least in three ways
As a means of communication,
As a plan and
As a contract
General Elements

Selecting a topic Working title Summary/Abstract Acknowledgement

Acronyms List of figures List of table Table of content

Background Problem Statement Research objectives Research questions

Methodology Literature Significance Scope

Time-scale Budget Bibliography Appendices/Annexes

 Selecting a topic
• The first step of the research process involves selecting a research topic and writing
your dissertation proposal.

• This means that you need to do a great deal of reading and clear thinking to identify
the problem and your area of interest.

• The choice of topic usually comes from your interest in and value of a particular
subject.

• This interest and value will eventually be developed into a series of questions which
you are keen to find answers to.
 Selecting a topic
There are a number of criteria that need to be considered when deciding on your
research topic.
1. A research topic should be realistic.
You need to identify a problem (supported by published materials), investigate the
causes and possible solution.
2. Your topic should be specific and narrow. Initial Idea
the first thing to do if we are to narrow and clarify a problem
question is to ‘unpack’ it. Most of the starting-points contain Narrowing through
many issues and suggest many different avenues of research. Thinking and reading

The questions we begin with are usually quite complex. They

Final focus of research
may sound simple, but they are probably far from it.
 Selecting a topic
3. Your topic should show individuality
• your personal contribution to the study.
• What is new about your investigation?
4. Accessibility of information.
Your topic should be in an area that you can have access to the necessary data for the
successful completion of the dissertation.
5. Personal ability.
The subject and extent of the research should be within your intellectual and physical
resource ability.
6. Personal interest.
You should be interested in the subject of research.
Abstract
• The abstract is a one page brief summary of the thesis proposal.

• It needs to show reasonably inform reader why a particular topic is

important to address and how you will do it.

• it needs to show how your work fits into what is already known about
the topic and what new contribution your work will make.

• Do not put information in the abstract that is not in the main text of
your research proposal. Do not put references, figures, or tables in the
abstract.
Introduction/background

• The introduction is the part of the proposal that provides readers with
the background information for the research proposal.
• Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers
can understand how it is related to other research.
• The introduction should cite those who had the idea or ideas first, and
should also cite those who have done the most recent and relevant
work. You should then go on to explain why more work is necessary.
(your work)
 Problem statement

• Research proposals may be considered as responses to a

problem.
• A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the
literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the
study.
• Effective problem statements answer the question “Why
does this research need to be conducted.”
 Objective

• An objective may be thought of as either a solution to a

problem or a step along the way toward achieving a solution
• The objectives of a research project summarise what is to be
achieved by the study.
• Objectives should be closely related to the statement of the
problem.
 Objective
• Objectives should be
 simple (not complex),
 specific (not vague),
 stated in advance (not after the research is done), and
 stated using “action verbs” that are specific enough to be measured.
• Commonly, research objectives are classified into
 General objectives and
 Specific objectives.
• The general and specific objectives are logically connected to each other and the
specific objectives are commonly considered as smaller portions of the general
objectives.
 Objective
General objective
• General statements specifying the general desired outcomes of the
proposed project
Specific objective

• summarizing the proposed activities and including description of the

outcomes and their assessment in measurable terms
• It identifies in greater detail the specific aims of the research project,
often breaking down what is to be accomplished into smaller logical
components
 Objective
Objectives of your study

• Must cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing
factors in a coherent way and in a logical sequence.
• Must be clearly phrased in operational terms, specifying exactly
what you are going to do, where, and for what purpose.
• Must be feasible and realistic considering local conditions
• Use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated
 Questions
• Research Questions refer to questions which a researcher would like answered
by undertaking the study (Mugenda 1999).
• The number of research questions should correspond with that of research
objectives
• Research questions don’t offer any speculative answers related to research
problem
• It is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” but rather requires synthesis
and analysis of ideas and sources prior to composition of an answer.
• Type of Research question
1. Qualitative Research question
2. Quantitative Research question
 Questions

1. Qualitative Research question

• Is a type of systematic inquiry that aim to gather non-statistical information
pertaining to the experiences, observations, and perceptions of the research subject
in line with the objectives of the investigation.
• Are more concerned with understanding an event or phenomenon.
2. Quantitative Research question
• Are question that are used to gather quantitative data from research subject.
• Are more specific and direct.
 Hypotheses
• Hypotheses is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited
evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

• The data from a research study should answer each research question; and they may
or may not support the hypothesis.

• The basis for a hypothesis maybe theory, practice, experience or some combination
of those

• Hypothesis maybe formulated during the very early stages of producing a proposal,
but, in many cases, it will be formulated only after preliminary investigation of
theory and literature.
 Hypotheses
• Hypothesis may be true or false

• Commonly, especially new, researchers believe they should prove or disprove a

hypothesis and so they set out to do so.

• The goal is to test the hypothesis as rigorously as possible

• In testing a hypothesis, a researcher should seek to provide evidence, through results

of the testing, to support or reject the hypothesis at an appropriate level of
confidence
 Hypotheses
• It is important that researchers do not feel forced to include a hypothesis in a
proposal
• Not all research projects require a hypothesis. It is appropriate to include a
hypothesis in research when it is based on theory and previous work a hypothesis
must comply with three primary requirements
• It must be testable– so that it may be supported or rejected from empirical evidence.
• It must be positive– testing the hypothesis concerns what is, not what ought to be
• It must be expressed in clear and simple language– so that it means the same and
clear to everyone
 Scope

• The Scope provides for the boundary or limits for the research in terms of content,
geographical area and time span of the research. ( the extent to which the research
area will be explored in the study.)
• The scope of the study always considered and agreed upon in the early stage of the
project, before data collection and/or experimental work has started.
• You need to clearly define what you intend to study as well as what you do not.
 Scope
Guidance for writing the scope of study
• Thematic : the purpose behind the study.
• Geographically: the researcher should state the geographical location.
• Time period: the researcher should mention or state categorically the time periods
the study will cover.

Sample phrases
 The coverage of this study …  The study does not cover the …
 The study consists of …  The researcher limit this research to …
 The study covers the …  This study is limited to …
 This study is focus on …
 Research Design
Guidance for writing the scope of study

• The following are critical elements when making design decisions:

 What type of data is required (required data)

 Where can the required data be found (source of data)
 What will be the sampling design
 What techniques of data collection will be used
 How will the data be analysed (method of data analysis)
Significance of the research
What is significance of the study?
• The significance of research is a written statement that explains why
research is needed.

• The importance or the need of the study.

• It describes the type of knowledge expected to be obtained and the intended

purpose of its application.

• It should indicate clearly how the results of the research could influence
theory or practice.
Significance of the research
How to write significance of the study
• Think about your problem statement
 Think about where the gap in knowledge are in your research field.
 What are the area that are poorly understood with little or no previously
published literature?
 What topics have others previously published on that still require
further work.
• Think about the significance of your study
 For the society
 For the government
 For the academician