RESEARCH PROPOSAL
What is the research proposal?
What is a research proposal?
It is a detailed plan of your study.
It is a document which sets out your ideas in an easily accessible way.
A structured presentation of what you plan to do in research and how you
plan to do it.
The objective is to describe what you will do, why it should be done, how
you will do it, and what you expect will result.
Research Proposal: is what the researcher plans to do in the future. …
- lays out the problem for research,
- describes exactly how the research will be conducted, and
- outlines in precise detail the resources the researcher will use to achieve
the desired results
What is the research proposal?
• What a proposal should contain? It is based on your clear research
question
• What do you want to do? – research question
• Why do you want to do it? – Any information gap
• Why is it important? – any practical importance or knowledge
advancement
• Who has done similar work? - background
• How are you going to do it? -methodology
• How long will it take? – plan of work
Components of a Research proposal
Research proposals are a roadmap documents that describe the
intended research including:
Title/research topic
Summary/Abstract
Introduction/background
The Problem statement
Objective of the study
Scope of the study
Methodology of the study
Significance of the study
Time Schedule/ Work Plan
Budget Schedule
References
4
Cont.
• Title of the Research: After identifying a research problem a suitable
title of the research should be given.
– The research title should be specific, direct, concise, meaningful and
easily understandable;
- must accurately represent the objective and indicate the purpose of
the study.
• Summary/Abstract – a one page brief summary of the research
proposal.
- It should include the research question, the rationale for the study, the
hypothesis (if any), the method and the main findings.
- Descriptions of the method may include the design, procedures, the
sample and any instruments that will be
- Do not put any information not stated in the main text.
- Never contain references, figures and tables.
- It comes first but written last.
Cont.
• Introduction/Background – background information of the research
proposal.
- The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary
background or context for your research problem
- The introduction typically begins with a general statement of the
problem area, with a focus on a specific research problem, to be
followed by the rational or justification for the proposed study
- State the research problem, which is often referred to as the purpose of
the study
- Present the justification of your proposed study and clearly indicate why
it is worth doing
- Set the delimitation or boundaries of your proposed research in order to
provide a clear focus
Cont.
Statement of the problem – the issue that leads to a need for the study.
• It must be very clearly defined to explain the nature of the problem and
why it is significant.
- It answer the question ‘Why does this research be conducted?’
- The foundation for everything to follow in the proposal
- Indication of the unexplored character of the issue or knowledge gap
or research question
- Reasons for undertaking the study
• Formulation of Hypothesis: Hypothesis is an assumption regarding the
value or relationship of variables that needs to be tested.
Cont.
Objective of the study
• The objectives of a research summarize what is to be achieved by the study.
- These objectives closely related to the research problem.
• The general objective of a study states what researchers expect to achieve by the study
in general terms.
• It is possible (and advisable) to break down a general objective into smaller, logically
connected parts; called specific objectives
– Specific objectives should systematically address the various research questions.
– They should specify what you will do in your study, where and for what purpose.
– It is precise and supports only one interpretation.
– Should be clear, specific, achievable and measurable
– If there is more than one objective the objectives can be presented in the appropriate
order of importance 8
Cont.
Scope of the study
• Scope of the study states a general outline or coverage of the study. The
scope of research is the areas covered in the research.
– In this part, you will tell exactly what will be done & where the
information used in the study specifically came from.
• The scope identifies the boundaries of the study in term of subjects,
objectives, facilities, area, time frame, and the issues to which the research is
focused.
– Sample phrases that help express the scope of the study:
• The coverage of this study…… OR, The study covers the …
• The study consists of ……….... OR, This study focus on…
Delimitations of the study: describes the work that will not be undertaken
- Delimitation is used to make the study better & more feasible
• For example, the scope may be gathering information from children
between the ages of five years to 18 years.
• The delimitations of this study would include the decision not to gather
information from below five and above 18 years 9
Cont.
Significance of the study
• The significance of the study should discuss the importance of the proposed research
and its relevance.
– The investigator should explain why it is important for the study to be undertaken
and
– indicate the likelihood of its contribution to the advancement of knowledge.
– Practical application of the study output
• Without this justification, it will prove difficult to convince others that the problem in
question is worth study.
• The significance of the study answers:
– Why is your study important?
– To whom is it important?
– What benefits will occur if your study is done?
10
Cont.
Research Methodology
• Methodology is a science of studying how research is done scientifically
– A way to systematically solve the research problem by logically adopting
various steps
– a detail description of the activities and the methodological steps you will
take achieve your objectives.
• This section should aim at addressing four broad questions:
– Where we want to collect the data, how will we select our sample, and how
many subjects will be included in the study? (This refers to the coverage,
target population, sample design)
– What information do we need to collect to answer the research questions
implied in our research objectives? (This refers to the variables we are
interested in)
– What approach will we follow to collect this information? (This refers to
the research design we want to employ)
– What techniques and tools we will use to collect them. (This refers to the
data collection techniques and tools, such as questionnaire, observation
check-list) 11
Cont.
Time Schedule/ Work Plan: This section needs to include the time
needed to complete the study and breakup of the entire time period.
The tasks to be performed;
When and where the tasks will be performed;
- Including the beginning and end of each activity.
Who will perform the tasks and the time each person will spend
on them;
The plan specifies how each project activity is to be measured in
terms of completion, the time line for its completion
Cont.
Budget Schedule: Resources needed to conduct the research
– Materials, equipment, and supplies,
– Travel,
– Miscellaneous expenses...
• Money required for each activity
Some questions:
- Is the budget total within specified limits?
- Is the budget sufficiently detailed?
- Is each item in the budget adequately justified?
- Are some budget items excessive in relation to their justification?
- Is the equipment really necessary?
References: lists only the literature that you actually used or cited in your
proposal.
- The style of writing list of references various from one discipline to
another