Research Methodology: BT-4107

Development of
Research Proposal
Chapter-8

Kamrul Sheikh
BTGE, IU
Define Research: The systematic study of material and resources in order to establish facts and reach new
conclusions. (Oxford English Dictionary, 2002)
A systematic process of collecting and analyzing information for some purpose. (McMillan and
Schumacher,1997).
Developing a Research Topic:
▪ The first step is deciding upon a topic.
▪ A clearly defined research topic is the first step in successful research because it highlights the problem.
▪ Before you can begin to research anything, you must clearly understand the question that you are
researching.
▪ One purpose is to convince your potential supervisor(s), advisory committee, school, etc. that your project
viable.
▪ How do you decide upon a research topic?
Sources of Selecting a Problem: Developing or analyzing policies
(Topic/Problem/Question)
It depends on:
▪ Your own observation It should be:
▪ Deduction from theory ▪ Of interest to you
▪ Your own practice ▪ Significant
▪ Theory testing ▪ Researchable (i.e. access to data, etc.)
▪ Related literature
▪ Feasible (financially and technically)
▪ Evaluation of existing programs
▪ Of practical value (applicable in practice)
▪ Developing or analyzing policies.
▪ Focused
▪ Clear
▪ Ethical
Choosing a Topic:
There are some important requirements in choosing a topic:
▪ You are interested in the topic.
▪ A faculty member is prepared to supervise you.
▪ You can obtain relevant data on the topic.
▪ You have relevant knowledge and skills on the subject.
Broad topic VS Narrow topic
1. Broad topic: Difficult to find relevant sources if topic is broad/ambiguous Example: Job security in
Bangladesh
2. Narrow topic: Provides precise information
Example: Job security in Bangladesh: A case study of Pharmaceutical industry
More specific example: Job security in Bangladesh: A case study of Pharmaceutical industry In Dhaka.
Even more specific example: Job security in Bangladesh: A case study of ACI pharma In Dhaka.

• Narrowing down the Topic

▪ By geographical distribution (Which city or town or village? Where? What area? Street? Exact
location?)
▪ By Sampling (total population, sampling characteristics, sample identification/ frame, size, and
selection procedure)

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 ▪ Rationale approach (deductive or inductive reasoning/logic) Deductive reasoning: An approach
from general to particular/specific solution. Inductive reasoning: An approach from particular/specific
to general solution.

• Format of a research Topic:

▪ The topic should address the research problem, thematic area, organization, or geographic area.
▪ It's better to start the topic with a noun, or present participle, or article such as: Identifying Factors
Affecting Consumer Behavior of Buying Luxurious Brands; Exploring New Trends in E-advertising in
Pakistan; An Analysis of Financial and Non-financial Performance of UBL from 2006-2010.
▪ Try to avoid topics that start with a question mark, such as: What is the impact of because it may be a
research question; or negative meaning words, such as: The Adverse Effect of Smoking because it may
show researcher bias.

• Theoretical Framework (in relation with research topic)

Four steps are very significant in most of the research projects:
1. Choose a topic (considering the problem).
2. Think of an aim of the study.
3. Choose some potential research questions or hypotheses.
4. Make or choose (from literature review) a theoretical framework to identify important variables to analyze
or work on.

• Steps in Choosing a Research Problem

Move on to next stage of research design
1. Read literature on your research topic, check results, and identify gaps
2. Generate list of interesting potential questions
3. Check literature. Have questions been answered already?
4. Test feasibility
5. Eliminate impractical questions
6. Does a suitable problem exist (Yes or No) .

Research Proposal, Research Plan, Research Design or Synopsis are same terms. But there is a small
difference between Research proposal and three others terms. Research proposal is usually written to
a govt. or non-govt. organization for research funding that include research budget. Rest three terms is
used for academic or personal research purpose.
Introduction of Research Proposal:
• RESEARCH PROPOSAL is very important step in the research process.
• It is like a blueprint of the building before the construction starts.
• It is very important for the researchers to write an effective research proposal, writing a good research
proposal is both science and art an effective research proposal is based on the scientific facts and on the
art of clear communication. A researcher should start writing the research proposal by the time one has
decided the topic for the study.
Define Research proposal:

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A research proposal is a document proposing a research project, generally in the sciences or academia, and
generally constitutes a request for sponsorship of that research. Proposals are evaluated on the cost and
potential impact of the proposed research, and on the soundness of the proposed plan for carrying it out.
([Link]/wiki/Research proposal).
It is a draft of the first chapter of the study. It is panning in advance about how to do a research and designing
its methodology. A proposal is like a lay out plan or design an architecture has made.
Goals:
The main purpose of research proposal is to ensure:
• Significance
• Feasibility
• Suitability of your research problem
Types of research proposals:
• Internal Proposal: Internal proposals are presented to the in-house management by the researcher,
which are short and snappy; a one to three-page memo from the researcher to management outlining the
problem statement, study objectives, research design, resources inclusive of budget, and schedule is
enough to start a study.
• External Proposal: External proposals are presented to the donor agencies, government, or any
outside organizations by the researcher, which are detailed and may comprise introduction, as well as
literature review, and research design sections.
• Solicited or Unsolicited Proposals: A proposal can be either solicited or unsolicited.
• A solicited proposal is developed in response to a request for proposals by government or a donor agency,
and is likely to compete against several others for the contract or grant.
• An unsolicited proposal represents a suggestion by a contract researcher for a research that might be
done. Such proposals do not compete against others.
• Sometimes a researcher receives grants or stipends on doing a particular research project. In that case, a
proposal must meet the specific guidelines set by the Sponsor.
• Budget
➢ Too high budget will be rejected
➢ Too low budget can be suspicious.
• Late proposal will not be reviewed.
Format of the research:
It varies from study to study:
• Research Proposal (RP) for a class project. • Technical Staff Required
• • or
RP for an independent study (IS) or research paper Facilities
article. Available
• RP for a thesis or dissertation • Work Plan
• Professional/Commercial RP • Project Management
• References or Bibliography
Modules in a Professional Research Proposal
• Appendices
• Executive Summary
• Problem Statement
• Importance of Study
• Research Design
• Delimitations
• Literature Review
• Methodology and Data Analysis
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 • Discussion of results/ Results and Findings
• Qualifications of Researcher
• Budget
• Schedule
RP Format for Academic Purpose:
• Title – Table of Contents – Abstract
• Introduction or Background of the Study/Problem
• Problem Statement – Study Objectives
• Research questions or Hypothesis
• Methodology – Scope of the Study
• Rationale/Benefit of Research – Limitations
• Literature Review
• Research Design (Population, Sample Selection, Size, and Sampling method)
• Data Analysis – Budget and Schedule
• Initial Conclusion (if any in special cases)
• References/Bibliography and Appendix if any
Research report Format:
Abstract
It describes:
• Research Problem
• Purpose/Objectives of the study
• Research design (data collection methods, sampling design and sp. size)
• Results
• Conclusion
• Originality of research and value
• Key words (for paper/article of journal; ex: Microfinance, Pakistan)
• Abstract is optional in a proposal, if given, it doesn’t discuss results and conclusion. Some abstracts
only discuss about the problem and the steps undertaken for its solution.
• Size: usually 1 page or 200-250 words.

Introduction: (chapter-1)
• Background (of the problem/study)
• Problem Statement
• Research Objectives
• Research Question/Hypotheses
• Methodology
• Scope of the Study
• Rationale/Benefit of the Study
• Limitations (Chapter/Section) Summary (optional)
• References (optional)

Literature review: (Chapter-2)

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• Definition of the technical term concerned with the topic (if any, suppose micro finance, if the topic of
study is on that).
• International Scenario
• Regional Scenario
• National Scenario
• Location of Study's Scenario
• Similar Studies (their methods and results)
• Theoretical/Conceptual Framework (Chapter/Section) Summary (optional)
• References (optional)

Methodology: (chapter-3)
• Research Design
• Data Collection Methods
• Sampling (target population, characteristics, sampling frame, sampling size, and procedure)
• Research Approach (suppose survey; questionnaire using structured and close-ended questions and 5-
point Likert scale for measurement; variables to be measured; reliability and validity of the instrument(s);
and info on specialized tools for observation, etc. (if any)
• Data Analysis (description of techniques)
• Justification of the Research Design
• (Chapter/Section) Summary (optional)
• References (optional

Data Analysis, Findings and Results (chapter-4)

• Descriptive findings (in qualitative study) or Inferential findings (in quantitative study)
• Descriptive findings (textual or subjective or explanatory interpretation of the perceptions, attitudes, or
behaviors of the majority, minority, and various clusters, if any, among the sample group) and answering
the research questions.
• Findings/Discussion of Results (applying tests such as Correlation, Regression, etc. and their
interpretation) and testing the hypotheses.
• Comparing results with those of other studies
• Implementation of findings (through proposed actions, changes in standards, policies, programs, etc. and
if findings can not be applied instantly, then, describe reasons or areas for further study)
• (Chapter/Section) Summary (optional)
• References (optional)

Conclusion and recommendations: (Chapter- 5)

• Make sure to solve the research problem and accomplish its objective(s) through conclusion and
recommendations.
• (Chapter/Section) Summary (optional)
• References (optional)
• REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
• APPENDIX(ICES)/ANNEX(ES) /ADDENDUM(A) (It is not considered as the body of the study and
the study ends at conclusion and implications or recommendations section).

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Synopsis: It is a form of research proposal that comprises introduction, of various initial sections such as,
literature review, methodology, initial results (if any), and references, which will be subject to the approval of
the supervisor.
Problem Statement: It should be short and concise and comprise of one paragraph stating how the
situation turns as a problem or a potential opportunity, but it should not offer a solution.
Research Objective(s): They flow from problem statement, should be minimum and achievable, as 1-2
or 1-3, and can be stated in 1-2 lines.
Scope of the Study: It should maintain the thematic scope, geographic scope, and proposed actions for
implementations of the findings, such as the study will help in defining.
Rationale/Benefit of the Study: It should enumerate the significance and benefits of the study, such as,
it may help in improving quality, cutting cost, saving time, money, and effort, improved services, increased
safety, improved productivity, solving a complex issue, or tapping an opportunity.
Delimitations: They should state the constraints of time, financial and technical resources, limited
geographic scope and sample size, etc.
Literature Review
This section examines the recent (or historically significant) research studies, company data, or industry
reports that act as a basis for the proposed study.
If the problem has a historical background, begin with the earliest references.
Emphasize the important results and conclusions of other studies, the relevant data and trends from previous
research, and particular methods or design that could be duplicated or should be avoided. If your study deals
solely with secondary data, show the weaknesses or faults in the design, discuss the relevance of data, and the
bias or lack of bias in it.
Close the literature review section by summarizing the important aspects of the literature and interpreting
them in terms of your problem.
Appendices
Any information which is not that much important and not necessarily very directly linked to the text can be
given in appendices, like a questionnaire, tables, charts, formulas, important definition, etc.
If the material is "Interesting to know" rather than "essential to know", should be given in
appendix/ces/addendum.

Steps for writing research proposal:

While there are no hard and fast rules governing the structure of a proposal, a typical one would include the
following elements:
▪ The title
▪ The abstract
▪ Aims and objectives
▪ Background
▪ Methodology
▪ Schedule n timing
▪ Ethnic approval
▪ Resources
▪ Budget
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The title:
Naming your research is very important task as it will tell the reader about your research.
It is the title of your research that will help the reader in deciding whether he/she will read it or not.
Good title
A good title has the following qualities:
▪ Short
▪ Sharp
▪ Relevant
▪ Condenses the paper s contents in a few words
▪ Captures reader's attention
▪ Differentiate from other papers of the same area
Note: A good title for a research paper is typically around 10 to 12 words long. A lengthy title may seem
unfocused and take the readers' attention away from an important point.
APA and title page:
For your research proposal, your title page should include your paper's title, your name and your university's
name. Other information that may appear on the title page includes submission date, budget period, total funds
requested or advisor's name, depending on your proposal's audience. APA style recommends that your title is
no more than 12 words in length.
The abstract:
"An abstract is a concise summary of a larger project (a thesis, research report, performance, service project,
etc.) that concisely describes the content and scope of the project and identifies the project's objective, its
methodology and its findings, conclusions, or intended results."
The abstract is a 200-250 words summary of the proposed research, including the key points: what, why, how
and when.
Qualities of a good abstract:
Following are the qualities of a good abstract:
▪ Coherent
▪ Concise
▪ Readable
TYPES OF ABSTRACT:
1. Informative abstract/complete abstract (for sciences).
2. Descriptive abstract/limited abstract (for social sciences).
3. Structured abstract (for medical literature).
Note: It is recommended to write the abstract last, after the rest of the research proposal has been written and
thought out. If the abstract is written before the rest the research proposal, there are the chances of missing
many important points. So would be wise to wait and write the abstract last.
Aims and objectives:
This section answers the question why this research is being done. Outline the aims and objectives of the
research, and/or the research questions. Define any specialized terms you may use and indicate why the aims
and objectives are appropriate.

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Aims vs Objectives
Aims are what you hope to achieve by the end of your dissertation. They should be clear and concise
statements, but expressed in general terms.
Objectives are how you intend to achieve those aims. They will include the specific means of answering the
research question that you have posed and details of the key issues involved.
How to develop objectives:
Use these S.M.A.R.T. guidelines to try and develop your objectives:
▪ Specific
▪ Measurable
▪ Achievable
▪ Realistic
▪ Time constrained
Background: There are two aspects to this æ one is how the project came about, and the other is itS
relationship to other research in the field.
1. Who is undertaking this research and for whom (where applicable)? Why choose this topic? Who is going
to gain from this research?
2. Write a brief history of the research question, indicating other work in the field and a summary of previous
conclusions. Include a brief literature review indicating where you gained your information and any
personal references such as discussions with people, conference papers, policy documents, memos, etc.
This section sets your proposal within the wider context.
Methodology:
The methodology generally refers to the theory to be used to justify the use of particular research method that
you are choosing to use."
The "Methodology" section is the most important section in the entire proposal, as it explains each step the
experimenter will take in order to conduct his or her research. This section discusses what measures the
researcher will take in order to test the study's hypothesis. In this section, it is vital to include the following
subheadings while expanding on them in as much detail as possible.
Schedule and timing:
Many projects fail because they could not be carried out within the set time limit. Hence, working out a time
schedule is essential. In most cases, you can use a table for the time schedule as in the example table (Table
1). Your table may contain more or fewer points. Plan backwards form the date your paper is due and allow
for enough time.
Activity Time period Date
1. Finding and reading previous 3 weeks From X until Y
material
2. Designing material 2 weeks From X until Y
3. Learning how to use method 1 week From X until Y
4. Designing questionnaire 2 weeks From X until Y
5. Finding participants 3 weeks From X until Y
Ethical approval:
Some institutions require that any research involving interaction with human participants get approval from
ethical advisory committees or boards. This ethical approval is sought to ensure that the researcher conducts
research in a manner that is respectful to the participants and other human beings that may be influenced by
the research process. It is important that you seek out what ethical approval is required within your area of
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research. You may need to seek approval from more than one advisory committee depending on the
institutional, financial and disciplinary context. Applications for ethical approval are obtained directly from
the ethical committees themselves.
Resources:
This section demonstrates to the reader that you are both suitable and capable of carrying out the proposed
research. You will need to discuss what resources you have at your disposal that makes it possible for you to
carry out this research. For example, physical resources (such as research instruments), personal resources
(such as knowledge of the discipline, area or community under study), as well as any other resources that you
have as a researcher (or research team) that will enable you to carry out the research from beginning through
to completion.
Budget:
Not all research proposal require a budget (such as thesis proposals for academic institutions), however if you
intend to apply for funding for research it is important that you are able to show how much money you require,
and justify the amount asked for. The way to justify the amount you are asking for is to provide a detailed
budget outlining what expenses you predict you will incur in conducting the research. Exactly where and how
money will be spent will differ from project to project, and the size of the budget should reflect the size of the
research project. Some of the main expenses that may be included in any budget could be researcher's time,
human resources (such as other research assistants, transcribers, advisory board members), technical
equipment (Dictaphones, transcribers, computer hardware and software etc), stationary, koha and others.

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