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Developing a Proposal

The document outlines the essential components and structure for developing a successful research proposal, emphasizing the importance of forethought, preparation, and compliance with sponsor requirements. It details major headings such as title, abstract, introduction, research problem, objectives, methods, and ethical considerations, providing guidance on how to effectively present each section. Additionally, it highlights the need for a clear research design, data collection techniques, and a comprehensive work plan to ensure the feasibility and relevance of the study.

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ssemwanga ronald
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2 views

Developing a Proposal

The document outlines the essential components and structure for developing a successful research proposal, emphasizing the importance of forethought, preparation, and compliance with sponsor requirements. It details major headings such as title, abstract, introduction, research problem, objectives, methods, and ethical considerations, providing guidance on how to effectively present each section. Additionally, it highlights the need for a clear research design, data collection techniques, and a comprehensive work plan to ensure the feasibility and relevance of the study.

Uploaded by

ssemwanga ronald
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Developing a Proposal

In order to have the best chance of success requires:


• Forethought
• Preparation Time
• Critical Evaluation
• Review and compliance with the sponsor's requirements

Major Headings in a Proposal


1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Question/hypothesis and aims/objectives
5. Methods
6. Data analysis
7. Resources
8. Ethical and legal considerations
9. Reporting and implementation
10. References and appendices

1. Title
Give a brief title for your proposed study here. For example: An investigation into the causes of
malnutrition among children.
2. Abstract
 Summary of the whole proposal
 Scientific abstract versus lay summary
 Lay statements: Use the langue of a 12 year old person reading the new vision

Scientific abstract:
Nano particles are small particles with one dimension less than 100 nm. These are used in more and
more modern applications and due to their small size but large surface area could have the potential
to be a hazard to human health and the lack of this knowledge has recently been highlighted by
several governmental agencies. Due to the small size of nano particles, many of these are airborne
and can thereby potentially be inhaled into the lower respiratory airways ....

Lay summary:
Nano particles are tiny particles and approximately 1,000 next to each other would be the same as
the width of a hair. These tiny nanoparticles are found in many modern products as pigments in
paint and cosmetics, anti-bacterial components in clothes and deodorants and in everyday traffic,
mainly in the exhaust from cars and lorries. Because of their tiny size these are often airborne and
able to reach into the deep areas of the airways ....

3. Introduction
• Literature review (selected)providing the background knowledge to understand the research
project
• Motivation for the study
• Problem and purpose

i.e Here, give a brief contextual background to your study. Set the stage for your study. Try to
capture your readers’ attention and focus on your study. Briefly tell us why this study should be
done. Use the proper referencing techniques! In the introduction, you should use evidence (facts,
figures, and works by other authors) to convince us that your chosen research topic is:
• Relevant
• Not already over-researched

1
• Feasible (in terms of scope, resources and a time frame)
• Ethically defensible.)
The introduction could be up to 1 page in length.

4. The research problem/problem of the study


(What is the problem arising from your background given above? The research problem is your
compass for the rest of the steps to follow. For example: The research problem is to investigate the
causes of malnutrition among children. This can be one or two paragraphs.
5. The purpose of the study
(Why is this study being undertaken? What is the possible contribution of this study -scientific,
policy, a program, practical contribution? Is this study feasible? You should be able to reach a
reasoned and defensible position - if not, start again! For example: The purpose of the study is to
understand the causes of malnutrition among children with the aim to develop suitable
recommendations. This can be one or two paragraphs.
6. The objectives of the study
(If your study is predominantly quantitative, you will suggest hypotheses here. For example: role
confusion leads to care-giver burnout. Unrealistic expectations lead to care-giver burnout, etc. If
your study is qualitative or more exploratory and descriptive, you will formulate broad objectives.
For example: I want to understand the subjective experience of burnout amongst care-givers.) List a
few objectives.

7. The research hypothesis/questions


• Can you formulate a hypothesis that defines: Exposure and outcome?
• Can you answer the hypothesis?
• Can exposure and outcome be measured?
• What is the target group and the comparison group?

Example
There is no difference in the risk of allergy from peanuts in men and women

8. Aims:
What are we going to investigate? The aim is to investigate the causes of malnutrition in
children.
9. Objectives:
How are we going to investigate it? These need to be
SMART I.e Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely

Examples:
Examples:
1. To determine the nutritional status of children five years of age in katanga using
anthropometry
2. To determine the dietary diversity of children below two years of age in Katanga using the
24-hour recall method

3.1 Research design


Indicate whether your study is descriptive, explanatory or experimental. Are you following a
qualitative, a quantitative or a mixed research design?. Is it an observational or experimental study?

3.2 Data sources


Are you going to use secondary data or you will collect primary data?

3.3 Data collection techniques

2
How you will collect your data. If secondary data describe how you will obtain access to the data-
sources and how you will extract the data. Describe if you will use a questionnaire, will it be
designed and tested. Describe the proposed context of data collection: Where? When? How?. There
must be a compelling reason for using a given technique – for example, focus group interviews are
not a time-saving device! Also, if you are researching rare events – for example school shootings or
men who return for HIV-testing more than twice a year – keep in mind that a general survey of
schools/men who present for VCT may not help you find these rare events!

Give us as much detail as possible here – for example I will administer a standard questionnaire to
the entire sample of caregivers for a month at their homes in Katanga. I will conduct personal
interviews with a sub-sample of caregivers, using a semi-formal interview schedule as attached in
appendix A. I will make appointments with these respondents and conduct the interviews in the
respective local languages at their homes. Interviews will be tape-recorded. Etc.

3.5 Study Population and sampling techniques


• Define population (sampling frame)
• Inclusion AND exclusion criteria (who is included and who is not)
• Define sampling strategy (units)
• How many subjects?
(This should fit with the aims and objectives of your study. If you wish to generalize your findings,
you must use a probability sampling technique. Probability samples [simple random, stratified,
cluster, etc.] require a sampling frame. If you are using this, describe your proposed sampling
method, sampling frame, planned and realized sample sizes.

If you have chosen a qualitative approach, make sure you understand the appropriate sampling
techniques in qualitative research [keep in mind that purposive sampling and snowball sampling are
the only sampling techniques permissible for this level of academic research]. If you are planning
secondary analysis of an existing data set, you will have to describe the sampling techniques
employed by the body that collected the data. Relate your sampling to what you wish to do – if, for
example you choose to compare subgroups within your sample [e.g. males and females] make sure
that your samples are drawn accordingly and that you will have enough cases to do the analysis you
wish to do.)

3.7 Data analysis and interpretation


Data needs to be summarised, described and analysed:
• Coding data, conducting data entry
• Analysing data (drawing graphs, charts, calculating means and standard deviations, statistical tests
etc.)
Here you will have to discuss your proposed method of data processing and, where appropriate, the
type of statistical methods to be used. Congruence between your research problem, research
objectives, chosen approach, data gathering technique and your analysis and interpretation
strategies are of the utmost importance. If your study is quantitative, you should consider how you
will capture your data and the statistical package you will use to analyze your data. If your study is
qualitative, you must consider how you will capture your data (for instance will you tape record your
interviews) and how you will transcribe and analyze it. )

3.8 Ethical considerations

(Here, consider things like consent from participants, approval by the respective institutional review
boards etc.

Logistics/budget
Can you do the research within the budget?

3
WORK PLAN
Describe time span for the study. What will you be doing and when?
-when will the project run? what are the activities at each time
•
LIST OF SOURCES/references

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