[Proposal Title Page]

Your contact details and project title

 [Abstract title page]

The text of the Abstract is double-spaced with no paragraph breaks or citations. Briefly

describe the overall research study problem you are addressing in the first couple of

sentences followed by the purpose of the study. Do include a general introduction of the

need for the study (identify the problem) in the first sentence, then move to a clear

statement of the research problem (your specific research problem, central research

question) being addressed. Identify the purpose and theoretical foundations of the study.

When applicable, summarise the key research question(s), and briefly describe the overall

research methodology, methods, and data analysis procedures.

Identify the conclusions that capture the heart of the research.

 Table of Contents

List of Tables......................................................................................................................iii
List of Figures.....................................................................................................................iv
Introduction to the Study...............................................................................................5
Background of the Study...............................................................................................5
Research Aim…………………………………………………………………6
Research Objectives ………………………………………………………….6
Research Question(s).....................................................................................................7
Literature Review…………………………………………………………9
Research Methodology…………………………………………13
Research Philosophy………………………………………..14
Research Approach…………………………………………14
Research Method…………………………………………...15
Sampling and Sampling Procedure………………………………15
Data Analysis Plan………………………………………………………16
Ethical Procedures………………………………………………………17
Anticipated Problems ……………………………………………………17
Implications..................................................................................................................18
Conclusions………………………………………………………………19
Study layout………………………………………………….20
Reference……………………………………………………………………23
Appendix A: Title of Appendix…………………………………………26

The above is a working table of contents.

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Note: Not all headings will be the same for every proposal

ii
 List of Tables

Table 1. A Sample Table Showing Correct Formatting................................................……

iii
 List of Figures

Figure 1. Figure caption goes here.....................................................................................xx

iv
Introduction to the Study

 Introducing the study

 Provide definitions of concepts
 Lightly introducing the core topic / discipline / research problem
 Outlining the contents of the proposal

Describe the topic of the study, why the study needs to be conducted (gap), and the

potential implications. This introduction section should be one page in length or less.

Notes: Some of the following sections contains a suggested page length; however, the length
of each section should be determined by sufficiency, completeness, and must not fully relied
on.

Background of the Study

Briefly, summarise the research literature that outlines the scope of the study topic and

indicates that this is a current problem. You can use this literature to trace the problem from its

initiation to its current state. Describe the gap in the literature that the study will address. End the

section on why the study is needed; this must go beyond just filling a gap in the literature.

Notes: This section should be one page in length or less.

You can offer a strong opening here with a powerful (cited) statement that will grab the reader’s

attention. Follow the opening statement with a staggering statistic that validates the existence of

the current problem (also cited). State the research problem. Frame the problem in a way that

builds upon or counters previous research findings focusing primarily on research conducted in

the last 5 years. Address a meaningful gap in the current research literature.

You may choose to include both the general problem statement (a broad concept of the

problem), and the specific problem statement (the fous of the study). Use key words such as “the

specific problem is …” and be sure to indicate a problem as a gap between the current state of a

situation and the desired state of a situation (current status of the topic in the literature). Your

sentence that directly states the research problem should be a variation of your central research

question to ensure alignment.

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Research Aim

Provide a concise statement that serves as the connection between the problem being

addressed and the focus of the study. A research aim expresses the intention or an aspiration of

the research study; it summarises in a single sentence what you hope to achieve at the end of

a research project. Your aim should be specific and phrased in such a way that it is possible to

identify when it has been achieved.

o Around 20-25 words maximum

Research Objective

In general, research objectives describe what we expect to achieve by the study. Research

objectives are usually expressed in lay terms and are directed as much to the client as to the

researcher.

Research objectives should be closely related to the statement of the problem and breaks

the research aim into parts. For example, if the aim of the study is to examine the low utilisation

of antenatal care services, the general objectives of the study could be to:

RO1. To identify the reasons for this low uptake, to find ways of improving it.

RO2. To investigate the benefits of antenatal care.

o 4-5 objectives
o No more than 5, not less than 3

Your objectives should be stated using action verbs that are specific enough to be measured,
for example: to compare, to calculate, to assess, to determine, to verify, to investigate, to
describe, to explain, etc.

Avoid the use of vague non-active verbs such as: to appreciate, to understand, to believe, to
study, etc., because it is difficult to evaluate whether they have been achieved.

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 Example: To address the research aim, four key research objectives were developed and are
outlined as follows:
RO1. To identify……….
RO2, To critically examine………….

Research Question(s)

Choosing a research question is an essential element of both quantitative and qualitative

research. Investigations will require data collection and analysis, and the methodology for this

will vary widely. Good research questions seek to improve knowledge on an important topic, and

are usually narrow and specific.

A qualitative study seeks to learn why or how, so the writer's research must be directed at
determining the what, why and how of the research topic. Therefore, when crafting a research
question for a qualitative study, the writer will need to ask a why or how question about the topic.

A quantitative study seeks to learn where, or when, so the writer's research must be
directed at determining the where, or when of the research topic. Therefore, when crafting a
research question for a quantitative study, the writer will need to ask a where, or when question
about the topic. For example: Where should the company market its new product? Unlike a
qualitative study, a quantitative study is mathematical analysis of the research topic, so the
writer's research will consist of numbers and statistics.

Literature Review

Provide an exhaustive review of the current literature that includes the following
information:
 Identify and describe studies related to the study topic and chosen methodology
that are consistent with the scope of the study.
 Explore ways in which researchers in the discipline have approached the problem.
Outline the strengths and weakness inherent in each of their approaches.
 Justify, from the literature, the rationale for selection of your operational variables
as well as concepts where necessary.
 Review and synthesise studies (under each heading) related to the key concepts in
order to produce a description of what is known about the study topic, what is
controversial, and the remaining gaps in the literature to be studied.

Tips

 A section of clearly and academically written paragraphs, statements, paraphrased

discussion. Reduce your usage of direct quotations.
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  Expected here:
o Description of the general to focused aspects of your topic
o Compare and contrast of arguments
o Criticality and reasoning of key arguments and discussion points within
your chosen field
o All above must be cited to published, peer-reviewed work
 Articles
 Textbook publications
 Appropriate media, online sources
o Sections and sub-sections (thematic or otherwise) are expected within this
part of the proposal
o Discuss and source back to a similar process within your own researched
field/topic

Research Methodology

 Provide a couple of sentences introducing the contents of this section

Note: This should be a few lines

Research Philosophy

Concisely introduce the meaning of philosophy. State the types as appropriate. Identify
the philosophy that fits your study. Justify your rationale by explaining how the chosen
philosophy is consistent with your study.
 Introduce
 Identify
 Justify
 Reference

Note: Use same approach below

Research Approach
 Introduce: Deductive and Inductive
 Identify
 Justify
 Reference

You may choose to summarise of approaches

Deductive Inductive

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 Research Method
 Introduce
 Identify
 Justify
 Reference

Sampling and sampling procedures

 Introduce
 Identify
 Justify
 Reference

Data Collection

 Introduce
 Identify
 Justify
 Reference

Outline how data will be collected etc. Citing relevant articles and sources which encourages
this methodology. Reference to the appendix for relevant information is expected

Data Analysis Plan

Identify software used for analyses. Provide an explanation of data analysis procedures as

appropriate to the study.

 Briefly state your method of analysis and discuss here

 Here, you should state the analytical method for the study

Describe in detail the analysis plan including the elements below. All may not apply to

your work.

 Qualitative data analysis

 Or Statistical tests that was used to test the research question(s)/hypothesis (es)

 How results will be interpreted

Example: Thematic analysis phases

Phases Description details
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 1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Ethical Procedures

Explain how ethical procedures will be followed. Agreements to gain access to

participants or data.

Describe the treatment of human participants including the following:

 Ethical concerns related to recruitment materials and processes and how this is will be

addressed.

 Describe treatment of data (including archival data), including issues of:

 Whether data are anonymous or confidential and any concerns related to each.

 Protection for confidential data (data storage procedures, data dissemination, who

will have access to the data, and when the data will be destroyed.

Note: This section should be less than half page

Anticipated problems

Contributions or Implications

A short sentence or two introducing the contents of this section

The Significance of the study is described in terms of (a) advancing theory, (b) advances

in practice, and (c) filling a gap in the literature. This section, can be half a page or slightly more

or less.

Theory -How will this research impact/add value to related/relevant theory?

Practice- How will this research impact/add value to related/relevant practice?

Policy- How will this research impact/add value to related/relevant policy?

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Conclusions

Close with a strong “take away” message where you capture the key essence of the study

for your reader.

Structure and plan of the study

Summarize main points of the rest of the dissertation’s chapters.

Chapter two seeks to ……

Chapter three will examine…...

Chapter four is devoted to …….

chapter five advances the ……

Notes: This section should be around half page in length. This maybe supported with a

diagram for illustration purpose.

Expected schedule

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References

Alphabetical listing of all references, using the Harvard style and presentation

Appendix A: Title of Appendix

 Timeline

 In addition to displaying a research timeline, you should include

 An illustration of any literature review process

 Research questioning instruments

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