Writing A Research Proposal
Writing A Research Proposal
PROPOSAL
Introduction
Different institutions have different
guidelines concerning a structure of a
proposal
However, in each case, there are certain
essential elements that must be in each
proposal
A research proposal is a document which
gives an account of what will be investigated
and a detailed plan of action.
First step in developing a research project
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Importance of a proposal
Communicates the researcher's
research plan to the institution or
individuals who provide evaluative
feedback,
For permission to conduct research
To be registered for a higher degree or
award of research grants
Importance of a proposal
Represents an agreement between
the person who authorises the
study and the researcher to the
problem to be investigated
The methodology to be used,
The duration of the study and its
cost.
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Importance of a proposal
Helps the researcher to organise and
clarify his/her ideas
Provides a detailed plan of investigation
and it incorporates anticipations of
problems to be confronted and
contingent course of action.
A good proposal also leads to an easier
final report after the research has been
completed
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CHAPTER ONE-INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Background to the study
Statement of the problem
Purpose of the study
Objectives of the study
Research questions
Hypothesis ( if any)
Scope of the study
Justification of the study
Definition of terms and concepts
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Chapter three-methodology
Introduction
Research design
Population of study
Sample size and selection
Data collection methodology and instruments
Data analysis
Reliability and validity
NB
References
Appendices
Preliminaries
Title page
Research topic:
Criteria for selecting a research topic:
Relevance
Avoidance of duplication
Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
Political acceptability of study
Feasibility of study
Applicability of results
Ethical acceptability
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Introduction
This tells the reader how the chapter
is organized
It tells the reader what is to follow in
the rest of the chapter
It is an introduction of the
introduction
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Background cont.
Different perspectives can be used to build a
background to the study e.g.
Mugenda and Mugenda(1999) argue that the
background can be structured under:
Global perspective -how is your problem
area on a global scale?
Regional perspective- how is it
regionally speaking
National perspective-how is the
situation from a national point of view?
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Example
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Background cont.
Amin (2005) argues that the background to
the problem can be structured under four
perspectives namely:
Historical perspective- how has the
problem evolved historically speaking e g if
dealing with education, how was education
managed in the pre-colonial, colonial and
postcolonial periods?
Theoretical perspective- what theories are
driving your study i.e. what theories will
help you to describe, understand, explain
and predict your study?
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Background cont.
Conceptual perspective- what are
the key concepts of your study?. These
are the same as the key variables of
the study which must be reflected in
the title.
Contextual perspective- in which
context are you conducting your
study?. This should be the breeding
ground for the problem
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Background cont.
Other authors argue that if studying an organization
you can build a background by addressing the
following issues:
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Objectives:
Describe the specific task the researcher is
going to carry out in fulfilling the purpose
of the study.
The objectives must follow logically from the
purpose
To formulate the objectives of the study, the
variables have to be conceptualized
Determine the kind of questions to be asked
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Research Questions
The research questions should be
synchronized with the objectives of
the study
The research questions must be stated
in a manner that renders them to
attract the intended type of data
They should not be vague and must
be stated in a clear and concise terms
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HYPOTHSES
Is a proposition suggesting a relationship
between variables
A guess about the nature of the relationship
between two or more variables
A tentative explanation of the research
problem,
Possible outcome of the research
An educated guess about the outcome.
They must be consistent with common
sense or generally accepted truths
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Conceptual/theoretical framework
To conceptualise is to identify the
variable that when put together
explain the problem.
To put together means to show how
these variable relate to one another
and to the problems often represented
by dependent variable
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Chapter three-methodology
Introduction
Research design
Population of study
Sample size and selection
Data collection methods and instruments
Data analysis
Reliability and validity
NB
References
Appendices
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Introduction
Out lines the method(s) to be used in
carrying out the research:
Research design
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Methodology cont.
Sample size and selection
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Methodology cont.
Data analysis
Describe techniques intended to use
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Work plan
A matrix showing each activity, when
it will be carried out, who will carry it
out and expected outcome i.e.
A work schedule
Is a table that summarises the
tasks to be performed in a research
project,
the duration of each activity and
who is responsible for the different tasks
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A GANTT CHART
A planning tool that depicts
graphically the order in which various
tasks must be completed and the
duration of each activity i.e.
the tasks to be performed;
who is responsible for each task;
and
the time each task is expected to
take.
And when
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Budget
This is an estimation of the resources
that are required to carry out the
research, both financial and human
etc.
All aspects of the proposed research
which will cost money should be
estimated, budgeted for and justified.
Specify, for each activity in the work
plan, what resources are required.
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Budget cont.
Present a budget with an explanation
Some of the main areas to cover
include personnel, equipment and
supplies, transport and
communications
Include a 5% contingency fund if you
fear that you might have budgeted for
the activities rather conservatively
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Methodology cont.
References
Appendix