WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Owoeye Olugbenga A

OUTLINES bull Introduction

bull Elements of Research Proposal

bull I Cover page

bull II Body of the proposal

bull Conclusion

Introduction

Proposal is an intellectual scholastic (not legal) contract between you and your college or funding agencies

It specifies what you will do how you will do it and how you will interpret the results

bull The same principles apply to dissertation proposals and to proposals to most funding agencies

bull It includes a model outline but colleges and funding agency expectations vary and your proposal will be a variation on this basic theme

Elements of Research Proposal

bull The objective in writing a proposal is to describe what you will do why it should be done how you will do it and what you expect will result

bull Being clear about these things from the beginning will help you complete your study in a timely fashion

Elements contdbull 1Introduction bull Topic area bull Research question bull Significance to knowledge

elements contd2 Literature review - Previous researchbull others amp yours bull Interlocking findings and Unanswered

questionsbull bull Your preliminary work on the topic bull Reprise of your research question(s) in

this context

contd3 Methodologybull Approach ndashstudy designbull Data needsbull Analytic techniquesbull Plan for interpreting results4Expected results5Budget6References

I Cover Pagebull 1 Title of the Research Project bull 2 Names Titles and Institutional Affiliations of

Research Team

bull 3 Project SummaryAbstract bull The abstract should be in specified nos of words bull Include a statement of the problem that the

proposed research will address the type(s) of methods used (quantitative qualitative mixed methods etc) the sample size where the study will be conducted analysis tools and amount requested

Table of Contents

bull lists sections of proposal and page references

bull use a hierarchy for titles and subtitles

II PROPOSAL BODY bull 1 Literature Review Relevant

Literature bull Demonstrate not only knowledge of

relevant strands of literature but also a critical assessment of them with up-to-date references

bull Use this section to show existing gaps or discrepancies in knowledge within the area of your research

contdIn some cases the proposal represents a completely new

direction or line of research while in others it is part of a continuing program in an area in

which the investigator has been engaged

If the proposed project is part of an ongoing program of research for which you have already done a full literature review summarize the literature in this section

bull this is not expected to be extensive for the proposal

bullyou should have done an initial survey of the main theorists and a library information search (CD ROMs etc) to establish your directions and formulate a tentative list of readings

bull you should demonstrate critical analysisyour review should be shaped by your argument and should seek to establish your theoretical and empirical orientation

Contd

2Research question and Significance

bull 1 Research Question and Significance

bull Clearly state the research question that the study will address

bull State how your research is innovative how your proposal looks at a topic from a fresh point of view or develops or improves project management tools processes technologies

bull Very briefly embed your research question in the context of the research area that led to the proposal

bull 1048707the ways in which the study may be

significant for the educational community may also be discussed

bull Demonstrate how the research will increase knowledge in the field

3 Specific aimsbull The specific aims are the objectives of

the research projectmdashwhat you intend to accomplish by the close of the project They are clear focused concise statements that elaborate on or ldquounpackrdquo the research question

bull The aims should flow directly from the research question and the methodology used in the study should relate directly to the aims The project should have no more than four specific aims

4 Methodology Research DesignGeneral

Methodological Approach

In this section provide an overview of the research design including a summary of the methods of procedures and a justification for the approach

includes description of and rationale (brief) for selection of participants methods of data collection and analysis and procedures you will use to ensure ethical practice

Procedurebull Methods of Procedure In this section be

specific about the procedures that will be used in the study

bull Sample Size and Description ndash If the project encompasses survey research include the type of sample target and expected number of survey respondents the source of respondents stratification variables etc If case studies are proposed provide number of cases interviews per case source of respondents number type and length of interviews within strata etc Describe significant sampling characteristics (eg job titlespositions) location types of industriesorganizations methods of access etc

Ethical Issues bull Is there any potential risk or harm to

participants or yourselfIf so what are the potential risks and what do you intend todo to reduce them

bull How will you obtain informed consentbull Where informed consent is unable to be

provided what will you do bull How will you deal with any sensitive or

criminal matters that may be raised in the course of your researchWhat follow-up support will be available to participants should they require it

Data Collection Methods

bull ndash detail precisely how the data will be collected If an existing questionnaire will be used describe its relevance to the proposed study how it has been used in the past and cite its source if a pilot questionnaire has been developed and used by the investigators in a preliminary study attach it as an appendix

Contdbull if an original questionnaire will be

developed provide an outline of the proposed data categories in which questions will be constructed For interviews provide a draft of the proposed interview schedule(s) including at minimum the list of topical data categories that will be addressed

5 Data Analysis Plan

bull Describe how both quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed For example how will field notes from interviews and the contents of documents be managed analyzed and interpreted

bull What types of statistical techniques will be applied to the data Justify the analysis plan that is selected

Expected Outcomes of the study

bull predicts the significance of the study and expected outcomes These may relate closely to aims

bull this is only a prediction and may be excluded if the rationale for the study has been well developed earlier in the proposal

6 Deliverables and Methods of Dissemination

In what form will your findings be presented - eg report presentation journal etc

bull How will you be disseminating your findingsbull To whom will you be disseminating your

findingsbull How will you ensure anonymity in any

publicationsbull To whom does the research belong and have

you thoughtbull about intellectual property rights

7 Timetablebull When will your research start and finishbull Are there particular stages to the research

- eg piloting then main researchIf so what are they

bull Is the timetable realisticbull Is it influenced by external constraints or

deadlinesbull How will you provide regular updates and

progress reports and to whom will you provide them

Contdbull depicts the tasks proposed and the

stagestimes for their completion

bull this may take the form of a chart timeline or flowchart (or any other)

8 Appendicesbull to display documents which are relevant

to main text but whose presence in the text would disturb rather than enhance the flow of the documents or writings

bull they includes documents pilot study material questions for interviews survey instruments explanatory statement to participants etc

9 Referencesbull list of works that have been

consulted thus far and appear to be useful

bull use referencing conventions recommended by your supervisor college or your funding agencies

Budgetbull Make your budget realistic bull Carefully think through exactly what you

will need from the funding agency to carry out the project and establish your budget around this amount (Do not forget funding agencies receive lots of requests for funding

bull Check with the agency to see if they have suggestedrequired budget categories that they want you to use

bull If the potential funding agency doesnt have any suggestedrequired budget categories organize your budget around a set of meaningful categories that work for the project you are proposing

bull Categories that you may want to consider for itemizing your budget arePersonnel (salary and benefits)Consultants (salary)InstructionEquipmentSupplies

bull Communication (telephonepostage) Materials preparationTravelRental of facilitiesEvaluationOther expenses

bull Indirect costs (costs that your organization requires that you include

Thank you