Chapter Two
RESEARCH PROCESS
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Review the Available
Literature
Publish Formulate a research
Findings problem/ Question
RESEARCH
Analyze and
PROCESS Select an Appropriate
Interpret Findings Research Design
Collect Relevant
Data
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MSc, a process of
• MSc, a process of
Identifying a research area of interest
Learning to carry out a research project
Identifying problems
Analyzing/ dissecting problems
Designing/developing solutions
Proving/Substantiating solution
Reporting
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Outcome of MSc program
• Understand the issues of concerns within the area of
specialization
• Know the leading researchers/research groups in the
area of study
• Know the relevant industries/companies
• Identify his/her research strength and weaknesses
(theoretical, experimental; materials, processes,
components/devices, system)
• Conduct research with minimal guidance
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Process in Research
Proposal Development
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LESSON 1. 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.
The intent of written proposal is to present a focused
and scholarly presentation of a research problem and
plan.
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.
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LESSON 1 – cont’d …
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
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• The most logical order of a research proposal is:
Title/research topic
Summary/Abstract
Introduction/background
Objectives
Literature review
Questions and/or Hypothesis
Materials, Methods and procedures
Work plan
Budget and funding
References
Appendices/Annexes
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LESSON 1 – cont’d …
• Identifying a research topic – the first step
• The criteria for selecting is:
Relevance/significance
Avoidance of duplication
Urgency of data needed
Feasibility of study
Applicability of results
Your Interest and knowledge to the area
Ethical acceptability
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Title – the fewest possible words that adequately
describe the contents of the study.
It is a label; not a sentence
It shouldn’t contain any abbreviations
The title page has no page number and is not
counted.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Summary/Abstract – a one page brief summary of the
thesis proposal.
It show that your work fits with the topic
It show what a contribution your work will make.
It should specify the research question and how it is
going to be answered.
Do not put any information not stated in the main text.
Never contain references, figures and tables.
It comes first but written last.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Introduction/Background – background information of the
research proposal.
It establishes a framework for the research show
what a contribution your work will make.
It should motivate the reader to reader the whole
paper
Should site the most recent and relevant works, and
should explain why work is required.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Statement of the problem – the issue that leads to a
need for the study.
It answer the question ‘Why does this research be
conducted?’
The foundation for everything to follow in the
proposal.
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Differences Among Topic, Problem, Purpose
and Questions
General Topic Distance Learning
Research Lack of students in distance
Problem classes
To study why students do not
Statement of attend distance education classes at
The problem a community college.
Does the use of web site technology
Research in the classroom deter students
Question/ from enrolling in a distance
Specific education class?
Hypothesis
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Objective/aim of the study – aim which the enquirer seeks to bring
about as a result of completing the research.
Objectives should be simple, specific, stated in advance,
stated using action verbs
Objectives can be classified into:
General objective – showing what exactly to be studied,
and states the desired outcomes from the study.
Specific objectives – shows in greater detail the specific
aims of the research project.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Literature review – a description of the literature very
relevant to your study.
Gives an overview of what has been said, who the key
authors in the area are, what are the prevailing
theories and hypothesis, etc.
Relevant materials could be from books, journal
articles, theses and dissertations, government reports,
etc.
• Be very careful to check your sources
when doing your literature review.
• Many trade magazines are not peer
reviewed.
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What is the Process of Conducting a
Literature Review?
• Identify key terms
• Locate literature
• Critically evaluate and select the literature
• Organize the literature
• Write a review
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Questions and/or Hypothesis – the speculative proposition of
the problem statement.
Hypothesis is a derivation of a particular assertion or
prediction. It is subject to test for confirmation or reject.
Question is an interrogative statement that can be
answered by data.
Does the use of web site technology in the classroom deter
Question
students from enrolling in a distance education class?
The use of web site technology in the classroom deter
Hypothesis
students from enrolling in a distance education class.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Materials and methods, and procedures – a detail
description of the activities and the methodological
steps you will take achieve your objectives.
• Depending upon the type of study, it includes:
Description of study area, study design and study
participants
Sampling technique and sample size used
Methods of data collection
Method (s) of data analysis, etc.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Study design:
Depending upon the type of study, it could be:
Observational studies – the researchers stand apart
from events taking place in the study
Experimental/intervention studies – the investigator
tests the effect of an intervention on the events
taking place in the study.
Target
Population
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Work plan – a schedule that summarizes the different
components of a research proposal and how they will be
implemented. Here,
Different phase/components of the study should be stated
Describe the activities in each phase.
Indicate time frame to accomplish the various aspects of the
study.
Could be presented in table, chart or graph.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Budget and funding – the cost of conducting research.
Budget items need to be explicitly stated with
justification
Costs are typically:
Direct costs – personnel, consumable supplies,
equipments, travel, publication, etc.
Indirect costs – overhead and administrative
costs.
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• References – citation of all the information that you obtain
the cost of conducting research.
The style of writing list of references various from one
discipline to another.
IEEE
APA
MLA
Harvard
Chicago
Note: take a specific referencing style and follow strictly
There are guideline for each referencing style
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LESSON 2 – Components of a Research proposal
• Appendices/annexes – additional information provided
for the reader. These include, for example,
Dummy tables
Biographical data
Questionnaire, forms, etc.
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Summary
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Before start writing ……..
• Do I have the clear research question?
• Have I read broadly and deeply in that area?
• Have I discussed the topic with peers?
• Have I enough time and fund to start?
• Do I feel support from faculty and friends?
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In proposal writing, be prepared for
• To make mistakes and to learn.
• To write and rewrite many times.
• To spend many hours looking for
information.
• To have your writing criticized.
• To feel confuse and hopeless some times.
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Tips for successful proposal writing
• Make it simple
– Avoid showy language, unnecessary jargon, and double speak by cutting
down every unnecessary word.
• Read your work loud
– A sentence that is difficult to say will be difficult to read.
– Each sentence must follow logically from the before: chain of ideas.
– Every sentence must contain one idea only.
• Revise , revise, revise.
– Check spelling and grammar.
– Each sentence must follow logically from the before: chain of ideas.
– Every sentence must contain one idea only.
• Put an end to it
– The faster you finish the proposal and submit it the less time you have
wasted thinking about writing it.
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THANK YOU
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