Business Research Chapter 3

1
Unit-3: The Research Proposal

The Research Proposal
2
What is research proposal?
➢ A written statement of the research design that

includes a statement explaining the purpose of
the study.
➢ Detailed outline of procedures associated with a

particular research methodology.
➢ It includes information on cost and deadlines.

Cont’d…
3
 The proposal must communicate exactly

what information, how and where it
will be obtained through the study.
Questionnaires and other supporting
documents should be attached for
reference.
Cont’d…
4
• A research proposal is intended to

convince others that you have a
worthwhile research project and that
you have the competence and the work-
plan to complete it.
The Structure of Business Research Proposal
5
 A specific structure of the business research

proposal depends on the institutional and
organizational requirements and may vary from
institutions to institutions.
 However, the variability does not usually affect

the basic structural model, which includes six
major components.
Cont’d…
6
➢ Title of the research

➢ Background to the study
➢ Statement of the problem
➢ Objectives of the study
➢ Hypothesis/research questions
➢ Significance of the study
Cont’d…
7
➢ Limitations of the study
➢ Scope of the study
➢ Literature review/Theoretical framework
➢ Methodology
➢ References
➢ A budget break down
➢ Plan of action or work plan

Lets see in detail…
8
• The Title: The title of the business research proposal

is informative and concise. It gives the readers
enough information to attract their attention and to
trigger their curiosity.
2. The background of study/Introduction
9
➢ A research proposal should provide relevant

background for the proposed study.
➢ Specifically, the proposal should precisely define

the problem at hand.
➢ This section should be used to put the work into

context, what has been done before, and how will
the proposed work adds to it.
Cont’d…
10
➢ The introduction situates the research subject

within a larger business context.
➢ The introduction section identifies the problem

that needs to be resolved as a result of the
research and outlines the proposed activities
and describes the expected outcomes.
3. Statement of the problem
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▪ A clear, concise statement of the problem to be solved

by the proposed research, usually in few sentences.
▪ The problem provides the context for the research

study and typically generates questions which the
research hopes to answer.
▪ The problem statement should “hook” the reader and

establish a persuasive context for what follows.
▪ The problem statement should close with question.

4. Objectives of the study
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 Statement(s) identifying the purpose of the

research.
 The objective(s) should be phrased in

positive terms (e.g., to develop, to determine,
to measure, rather than broad generalities,
such as, to investigate, to study)
5. Hypothesis
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➢ is proposed explanation on observable phenomenon. A hypothesis is a

logical supposition, a reasonable guess and educated conjecture.
➢ It provides a tentative explanation for a phenomenon under

investigation.
➢ A useful hypothesis is testable statement which may include a

prediction.
➢ States on expected relationships or difference between two variables.
➢ A good hypothesis is stated clearly and concisely, express the

relationship between two variables and defines those variables in
measurable form.
6. Significance of the study
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➢ There should be well justification for conducting and choosing

your topic and research problem in such a way that either there
has been no other research on the problem with the same
approach or that the proposed research project will extend,
modify or refine prior research.
➢ Thus the proposed research should be related to past research

accomplishments and how it builds upon rather than
duplicating any previous research.
7. Literature Review
15
➢ The review of related literature should provide an overview of the

topic and present references related to what is known about the topic.
➢ The literature sets a context for the topic and identifies prior research
that can support the significance of the study.
➢ The literature review also provides a basis of identifying hypothesis.
➢ Literature review provides justification for the future research as well

as for the effort that the writer has already contributed to studying the
subject area
Cont’d…
16
➢ The goal of the Literature review is to demonstrate
that the researcher has extensive knowledge of the
field and of the specific problem; and that s/he has
studied both the works of recognized authorities and
the new trends in the theory. Moreover, the writer
should be an experienced practician capable of
applying theory to real-life contexts.

Cont’d…
17
➢ Literature review has to prove that there is a gap in either
theory or business practice; the proposed research will
eliminate this gap.
➢ Sometimes the literature review is incorporated into the
introduction section. However, most of the time a separate
section is preferred, which allows a more thorough review of the
literature.
8. Research Methods
18
➢ The methods section is an outline of all the

activities that the researcher is planning to
perform in the pursuit of his/her research
goals.
➢ The methods section includes a descriptions of
the research participants, measuring
instruments, procedures and data analysis.
Cont’d…
19
• The key to a successful research is to identify appropriate

data collection techniques, to gather relevant and usable
data.
• The focus of this section is on the details: the timeframe for

each activity, the list of participants, the scripts for the
interviews, the materials, and so on.
• The more detailed is the description of the methods of the

data collection and analysis the more thoughtful the
research sounds to the reader
Cont’d…
20
The method section typically consists of the following sections:
➢ Design -Is it a questionnaire study or a laboratory experiment? What kinds

of design do you choose?
➢ Subjects or participants - Who will take part in your study? What kind
of sampling procedure do you use?
➢ Instruments - What kind of measuring instruments or questionnaires do

you use? Why do you choose them? Are they valid and reliable?
➢ Procedure - How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities are
involved? How long does it take?
Cont’d…
21
9. References
10. Research Period or Work Plan: Provide

detail work plan mentioning the activities and
time schedule.
11. Budget
Common Mistakes in Proposal Writing
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• Failure to provide the proper context to frame the

research question.
• Failure to delimit the boundary conditions for your
research.
• Failure to accurately present the theoretical and empirical
contributions.
• Failure to stay focused on the research question.
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument.
Cont’d…
23
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough

detail on major issues.
• Too many citation lapses and incorrect references.
• Too long or too short.
• Failing to follow the appropriate referencing style

(APA or Harvard style)
24
Thank you

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1

Unit-3: The Research Proposal

What is research proposal?

➢ A written statement of the research design that

➢ Detailed outline of procedures associated with a

➢ It includes information on cost and deadlines.

 The proposal must communicate exactly

• A research proposal is intended to

 A specific structure of the business research

 However, the variability does not usually affect

➢ Title of the research

➢ Limitations of the study

➢ Scope of the study

➢ Literature review/Theoretical framework

➢ A budget break down

➢ Plan of action or work plan

• The Title: The title of the business research proposal

➢ A research proposal should provide relevant

➢ Specifically, the proposal should precisely define

➢ This section should be used to put the work into

➢ The introduction situates the research subject

➢ The introduction section identifies the problem

▪ A clear, concise statement of the problem to be solved

▪ The problem provides the context for the research

▪ The problem statement should “hook” the reader and

▪ The problem statement should close with question.

 Statement(s) identifying the purpose of the

 The objective(s) should be phrased in

➢ is proposed explanation on observable phenomenon. A hypothesis is a

➢ It provides a tentative explanation for a phenomenon under

➢ A useful hypothesis is testable statement which may include a

➢ States on expected relationships or difference between two variables.

➢ A good hypothesis is stated clearly and concisely, express the

➢ There should be well justification for conducting and choosing

➢ Thus the proposed research should be related to past research

➢ The review of related literature should provide an overview of the

➢ The literature review also provides a basis of identifying hypothesis.

➢ Literature review provides justification for the future research as well

➢ The goal of the Literature review is to demonstrate

that the researcher has extensive knowledge of the

field and of the specific problem; and that s/he has

studied both the works of recognized authorities and

the new trends in the theory. Moreover, the writer

should be an experienced practician capable of

applying theory to real-life contexts.

➢ Literature review has to prove that there is a gap in either

theory or business practice; the proposed research will

eliminate this gap.

➢ Sometimes the literature review is incorporated into the

introduction section. However, most of the time a separate

section is preferred, which allows a more thorough review of the

➢ The methods section is an outline of all the

• The key to a successful research is to identify appropriate

• The focus of this section is on the details: the timeframe for

• The more detailed is the description of the methods of the

The method section typically consists of the following sections:

➢ Design -Is it a questionnaire study or a laboratory experiment? What kinds

➢ Instruments - What kind of measuring instruments or questionnaires do

10. Research Period or Work Plan: Provide