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Chapter 3

A research proposal is a detailed plan outlining a research project, including its purpose, methodology, and required resources. It serves to convince others of the project's value, demonstrates the researcher's expertise, and acts as a planning tool. The proposal is organized into components such as the title, introduction, literature review, methods, and budget, each serving a specific function in the overall research process.

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6 views

Chapter 3

A research proposal is a detailed plan outlining a research project, including its purpose, methodology, and required resources. It serves to convince others of the project's value, demonstrates the researcher's expertise, and acts as a planning tool. The proposal is organized into components such as the title, introduction, literature review, methods, and budget, each serving a specific function in the overall research process.

Uploaded by

Tolera Tadesse
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adama Science and Technology University

Research Methods and Scientific


Writing (Chem3252)
Undergraduate Regular Program

Instructor:
Yilkal Dessie (PhD)
Department of Industrial Chemistry, College of Applied Natural Science

Chapter 3: Research proposal


WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?

What is a research proposal?


• A research proposal is a comprehensive plan for a research
project.
• It is a written description of a research plan that has to be
undertaken.
• It determines the specific areas of research, states the
purpose, scope, methodology, overall organization and
limitations of the study.
• It also estimates its requirements for equipment (if
necessary), finance and possible personnel.
Purposes of writing a research proposal

• To convince others that the proposed research is worth


undertaking.

• To enable the researcher to demonstrate his/her expertise


and competency in the particular area of study.

• To serve as a planning tool for the researcher.


Organization of a Proposal

• Most granting sponsors offer guidelines that indicate what


information they expect in your research proposal.

• Follow them exactly.

• The content of the research proposal to be discussed here is


organized into the following components.
Components of a Proposal

• I. The title of the proposal


• II. Abstract (Optional)
• III. Introduction
– Background and statement of the problem
– Need for the study/Justification
– Objectives of the study
– Hypothesis
• IV. Literature Review
• V. Materials and Methods/Procedures
• 1. Description of the study and target population
• 2. Research Design and Rationale
• 3. Data collection methods
• 4. Data analysis procedures
Outline of a Proposal

• VI. Logistics
• 1. Time Schedule/ Work plan /Phases
• 2. Personnel
• 3. Facilities
• - Equipment
• - Supplies
• 4. Travel
• - Transportation
• - Per Diem
• References/bibliography
• Miscellaneous/Appendices
Summery Components of Proposal
Title of the proposal

• The title identifies the proposed research project and must


concisely and clearly indicate the key variables in the study

• The length of the title matters a lot.

• Unnecessary words or waste words that say nothing, such as


"A Study of ...," “Observation of ....“Investigation on...”. etc.
should always be avoided

• It should tell what the proposal is about.


Abstract (Summary)

• It is a brief summary of the area of investigation and expected


outcome.

• It should reflect familiarity with current issues in the field and


raise research questions or hypotheses suggested by findings
in the current literature.

• In the abstract, the investigator should briefly describe


proposed methods and expected conclusions.

• It is optional.
1. INTRODUCTION

• The introduction encourages the reader that the topic is


important and that the objective of the research is justified

• should flow into the statement of problem so the two sections


together make a clear and unambiguous statement about the
significance of the research.

• Should describe the nature and purpose of the study,

• Present the research questions, and explain the significance of


and justification and hypothesis for conducting the study.
INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background Information

• This show the state of the art of a particular field of


endeavour.

• This helps to make clear what you wanted to do.

• This provides information or the reason to justify the study


INTRODUCTION

1.2. Research Problem (Statement of problem)

• The purpose is to further increase the understanding of the


significance of the proposed research

• This section is the most critical task in writing research


proposal (i.e., the central point in any research).

• Without a research problem, there is no real thinking, just


wandering, dreaming or associating.
INTRODUCTION

1.2. Statement of problem

• The following questions helps in clarifying research problems:

– Is the problem interesting?


– Is the problem new?
– Will the study add to knowledge?
– Is the problem feasible?
– Has anyone else had a claim to it?
INTRODUCTION

1.3. Justification (Importance) of the study

• Describes the gaps the research is intended to fill

• addresses the likely contribution to knowledge that the


research will make and its place in current debate/ theory.

• Describe the value of specific applications of knowledge to be


gained and the potential importance of these applications
INTRODUCTION

1.4. Defining the Objectives of the Study

• The objectives should specify measurable outcomes (end


products) of the research project

• Objectives must be typically very brief (specific) and


achievable.

• The objectives must neatly fit into the statement of the


problem
• General objective provides a short statement of the scientific
goal being pursued by the research.
• The specific objectives are operational in nature.
1. INTRODUCTION

1.5. The Hypotheses

• It is a predictive statement of the relationship between two or


more variables

• It caries clear implications for testing the stated relationship

• The hypotheses statements contain two or more variables


that are measurable or potentially measurable
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• A literature review is an account of what has been published


on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers.

Purpose:
• to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have
been established on a topic

• Provides the theoretical basis for the research question

• Helps the researcher in the interpretation the findings.

• Helps to further define the research problem


2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Basic Guidelines

• The task of reviewing is the most difficult section for a


beginning researcher

• It is not necessary to review all the literature in the field

• What you need are materials that have direct relevance to the
study

• It is an extremely important part of a thesis.


3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

• This section shows how the research objectives/ hypotheses


will be answered/tested

• Describes in detail the specific methods and the materials


needed

• It is not necessary to describe in detail a procedure already


published; just so cite the original reference

• Provide a clear and complete descriptions for all


experimental, analytical, and statistical procedures
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Description of the study area

• Describing the biophysical environment of the study area is


very important

• Suggestion for content include:


– Location and physiography
– Climate
– Geology and soils
– Population and production systems
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.2. Experimental /Research design

• It is the plan, structure and strategy of the investigation


• the plan is the overall scheme to be followed in conducting the
research
• the structure is the more specific outline of how the variables
are operationalized
• the strategy is a description of details such as methods to be
employed in collecting and analysing the data.

• Describe clearly and carefully your experimental subjects,


numbers, treatments, environmental conditions,
measurements, field layout and statistical models
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.3. Data Collection

• Describe exactly how you are going to collect your data

• Describe how you are going to proceed in using questions/


interview/ other methods

• Describe sampling techniques (random, systematic, stratified,


purposive, accidental, quota,..)

• List the specific materials that will be required such as:


– Laboratory facilities
– Field equipment
– Computer facilities
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.4. Data analysis

• Discuss how you will present and analyse your data


• There are two major types of data analysis:

• Quantitative Analysis: descriptive statistics and ANOVA


• Qualitative Analysis: Interpreting based on frequencies
4. WORKPLAN (TIMETABLE) AND BUDGET

• present timetable/work plan/schedule for each activity to be


implemented

• The budget section is a statement of proposed support and


expenditures

• A poorly presented budget probably reflects a poorly


developed proposal

• State also if there is special collaboration/ cooperation


5. BIBLIOGRAPHIY /REFERENCE

• list of materials that were cited or mentioned in the proposal

• Citing a source without having read the original can lead to


loss of credibility if the secondary source is in error

• Follow guidelines demanded by the particular journal,


proceeding, etc. They do have their own style

• General rule: Author (s). Year of Publication. Title of Work.


Publication source (journal, book, …).
5. BIBLIOGRAPHIY /REFERENCE

In-text references (citations)

• References in text are treated somewhat differently from


references in the complete list at the end of a paper.

• Use the author-date format to cite references in text.


– For example: as Smith (1990) points out,
– For two-author, spell out both authors on all occurrences.
– For multiple-author, use et al.
5. APPENDIX

• Things not included in the main body of the text will be list
after the reference

• It could be different formats, layout, pictures, questionnaires,


etc, ..
Summery of Process in Research Proposal Development

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