Research Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Developing a
Research Proposal
1
Research Proposal
Is a written document of research plan meant to convince specific
readers
Is also known as a work plan, prospectus, outline, statement of
intent, or draft plan.
It tells us: -
 What will be done?
 Why it will be done?
 How it will be done?
 Where it will be done?
 To whom it will be done?
 What is the benefit of doing it? 2

Cont…
 It should address the following basic questions
i) What is the problem to be investigated?
ii) Why is it socially and scientifically important to
investigate this problem?
iii) What objectives will be achieved through the
research?
iv) How will the research process be carried out?
v) Who are the potential beneficiaries of the results?

3
Cont…
In general:
Research proposal is essentially a road
map, showing clearly the location from
which a journey begins, the destination to be
reached, and the method of getting there.
serves as a guide for the researcher
throughout the investigation. 4

The purpose of Proposal
 To present the problem to be researched and its
importance.
 To discuss the research efforts of others who
have worked on related problems.
 To suggest the data necessary for solving the
problem and how gathered and interpreted
 Proposals are also useful both for sponsors and
for researchers.
5
Types of a Research proposal
 Research proposals can be generally classified as
internal and external.
1. Internal proposals: are done for corporations by

staff specialist or by the research department of the
firm.
2. External proposals: are done by external parties such

as consultant organizations or individuals.
Can be either solicited or unsolicited.
Solicited: the proposal is competing

6
Functions of a research proposal
A research proposal serves as:
A. A means of communication: used to communicate

the researcher’s plan to those who give
consultations.
B. A plan: helps the researcher to organize his idea in

a systematic manner.
C. Contract: constitutes a bond of agreement

between the parties (Between a sponsor and a
researcher or a supervisor and a researcher).
7
Structure/Outline of a Research Proposal
There is no single way of writing research proposals.
The following proposal components are usually
important.
1. Cover page
2. Abstract
3. Background of the Study
4. Statement of the research problems
5. Research objectives
6. Significance of the study
7. Scope and Limitation of the study
8. Preliminary survey of literature
9. Research methods
10. Timetable/time schedule
11. Budget
12. Reference/ Bibliography 8
1. Cover page
The cover page contains:
 Title: tells what the research proposal is all about.
 It should be interesting, concise and descriptive.
 Capture and reflect the content of the proposal
 The name of the researcher /author of the proposal
 The name of the department/ institution
 Submission date
N.B. The title should use the fewest possible words that
adequately describe the content of the paper. 9

2. Abstract
Is a short summary of the research proposal.
Is a brief summary of approximately 250 words.
It allows a busy managers or sponsors to understand quickly the thrust
of the proposal
 It should include:
 A brief statement of the problem
 Research objectives/questions/ to be addressed and, scope of the
research
 Types and sources of data to be gathered for the research
 Research design/ procedure/ to be applied to gather data, tools to be
used to analyze the collected data, and the benefits of the approach.
10
3. Background of the study
Presents the background of what the researcher
wants to investigate
Say briefly why he/she thinks the works should
be done and relate it to what is already known
about the problem.
A description of the background of the study
topic.
provides some general theoretical basis or
justifications for conducting a research 11
4. Statement of the problem
 Reflects the problem area and gap
 Should provide clear description of the problem to
be investigated by the research
 Reflect the social, scientific and development
relevance of the problem
 A brief and preliminary overview of the literature
 The statement as to how the research project will
contribute to the solution of the problem identified

12
5. Research Objectives
Address the purpose of investigation
a. General objective: is the overall

objective of the research project
b. Specific objectives: are elements of the
general objectives which are directly
addressable by the methodology.
13
6. Research Hypothesis
 Is a tentative predictive statement that represents specific
proposed answer to the problem statement
 Research Hypothesis are important to determine:
 the nature of data needed
 the basis for selecting the samples
 the research procedures
 method of analysis
 to restrict the scope of the study
 to set a framework for reporting the conclusions.

14
7. Significance of the study
 Is the importance or contribution that the study will have for
different bodies (researcher, government, readers, future
researcher, society etc).
 States why the research has to be done.
8. Scope and Limitations of the study

 Scope: - refers to the coverage of the study in terms of area as
well as to the treatment of the variables.
 Limitation: - includes constraints or difficulties that will have
influence on the results of the study.
15
9. Preliminary literature Review
 Is to locate literatures from a variety of sources,
 Reading carefully and organizing it in to ideas.
 Examining recent or historically significant research results,

company data, or industry reports.
 Aims to review the critical points of current knowledge about
the research topic.
The major purpose and importance of literature review are:
 To identify the potential difficulty in the investigation
To avoid duplication (maintain originality)
 To improve the methodological and procedural matters
 To identify the gap in the specific study topic 16

10. Research Methodology
 Answers the “how” questions since it provides the work plan
 Describes the activities necessary for the completion of the project.
 Gives details of how the research activity is going to be carried out.
 This section has to include:
i. Research philosophies/design/approach
ii. Population
iii. Sample size and sampling techniques
iv. Data type and source and method of data collection
v. Data collection instrument and procedure
vi. Data analysis techniques and computer program to be used.
17
11. Time Schedule/ Work Plan
A research project has a beginning and an ending time.
Is a realistic time schedule for completing the study.
Dividing the study in to specific activities and assigning dates
/reasonable time for completing each activity.
12. Budget plan

 A plan for expending the resources required to carry out the
research in monetary terms such as personal costs, secretarial
services, fieldwork costs, overheads, Books/journal costs ,
equipments, etc.
13. Reference/ Bibliography

- Is a list of books, journals, and other documents that a researcher
has consulted and used while the study is conducted. 18
THE END
19

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Chapter 3

Is also known as a work plan, prospectus, outline, statement of

intent, or draft plan.

It tells us: -

 What will be done?

 Why it will be done?

 How it will be done?

 Where it will be done?

 To whom it will be done?

 What is the benefit of doing it? 2

 It should address the following basic questions

i) What is the problem to be investigated?

ii) Why is it socially and scientifically important to

investigate this problem?

iii) What objectives will be achieved through the

iv) How will the research process be carried out?

v) Who are the potential beneficiaries of the results?

Research proposal is essentially a road

map, showing clearly the location from

which a journey begins, the destination to be

reached, and the method of getting there.

serves as a guide for the researcher

throughout the investigation. 4

 To discuss the research efforts of others who

have worked on related problems.

 To suggest the data necessary for solving the

problem and how gathered and interpreted

 Proposals are also useful both for sponsors and

1. Internal proposals: are done for corporations by

2. External proposals: are done by external parties such

Can be either solicited or unsolicited.

Solicited: the proposal is competing

A. A means of communication: used to communicate

B. A plan: helps the researcher to organize his idea in

C. Contract: constitutes a bond of agreement

The cover page contains:

 Title: tells what the research proposal is all about.

 It should be interesting, concise and descriptive.

 Capture and reflect the content of the proposal

 The name of the researcher /author of the proposal

 The name of the department/ institution

adequately describe the content of the paper. 9

Is a brief summary of approximately 250 words.

It allows a busy managers or sponsors to understand quickly the thrust

 A brief statement of the problem

 Research objectives/questions/ to be addressed and, scope of the

 Types and sources of data to be gathered for the research

 Research design/ procedure/ to be applied to gather data, tools to be

 Should provide clear description of the problem to

be investigated by the research

 Reflect the social, scientific and development

relevance of the problem

 A brief and preliminary overview of the literature

 The statement as to how the research project will

contribute to the solution of the problem identified

Address the purpose of investigation

a. General objective: is the overall

 Is a tentative predictive statement that represents specific

proposed answer to the problem statement

 Research Hypothesis are important to determine: