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chapter 7

rs3

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17 views

chapter 7

rs3

Uploaded by

getsmart2u
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 7

Research Proposal
What is a research proposal?
• A research proposal is your PLAN
– It describes in detail your study
– Decisions about your study are based on the quality of the proposal
• It is like a blue print of a building plan before the construction starts.
• Writing a research proposal is both science and art.
• A good research proposal is based on scientific facts and on the art of
clear communication
• Writing a formal research proposal should be started by the time one has
decided on the topic for the study
• Approvals to proceed by the Institutional Review Board
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Importance of a research proposal?

Contract between you and your committee

1. Serves to protect the student


» Demanding additional requirements

2. Protects the committee from the student


» From delivering a degree of poor quality

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What are the essential ingredients?

The Issue
What problem does
your research
address?

Research
Benefit
Design What will the
How will the research research contribute?
achieve its objective?

4
Research Proposals

Purpose:
– Justify and plan (or contract for) a research project.
– Show how your project contributes to existing research.
– Demonstrate that you understand how to conduct discipline-specific research
in an acceptable time-frame.
Audience:
– Your academic advisor and committee
Parts of a Proposal

• Title • Methodology
• Abstract • Significance/
• Introduction/Background Implications
• Problem Statement • Overview of
• Purpose/Aims/Rationale/Research Chapters
Questions • Plan of Work
• Review of Literature • Bibliography
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Title

• Orient your readers to your research topic.


• Indicate the type of study you will conduct.
• Project title should be descriptive of the main focus, but no longer than necessary
• NOT a detailed description – but still provide an accurate impression of the central
focus
eg. “An Economic Study of the Impacts of Lowering Import Tariffs on Textiles on
Consumers, Textile Manufacturers, and Fiber Producers in the U.S.”
BETTER:
“Lowering Import Tariffs on U.S. Textiles: Effects on Consumers and Industries”
Parts of a Proposal Cont..
Abstract

• Provide a brief (100-150 word) overview of the proposal


• Summarize important elements (Introduction, Statement of the Problem,
Background of the Study, Research Questions, and Methods and
Procedures).
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Introduction/Background
• Establish the general subject area .
• Describe the broad foundations of your study - provide
adequate background for readers.
• Indicate the general scope of your project.
• Provide an overview of the sections that will appear in
your proposal (optional).
• Engage the readers.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Statement of the Problem

• Description of the problem being addressed by the research and the


rationale for the proposed objectives
• Often, a two step procedure:
1. Develop a general perspective of the broad problem area
2. Focus on the part of the problem area to be studied, within resource
constraints of the project
• This is the reason (justification) for the research.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..
Purpose/Aims/Rationale/Research Questions
• Explain the goals and objectives of the study.
• Show the original contributions of your study (Optional).
• Provide a more detailed account of the points summarized in the introduction.
• Include a justification (rationale) for the study.
• Be clear about what your study will not address.
In addition, this section may:
• Describe the research questions of the study.
• Include a subsection defining important terms.
• State limitations of the research.
• Provide a justification for the particular subjects of the study.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..
Review of Literature
• This is NOT just a summary of literature
• Show how your Research:
– Literature SUPPORTS your hypothesis
– EXTENDS previous work
– AVOIDS previous mistakes
– IS UNIQUE to previously followed paths
• Writing the literature review allows you to understand:
– How other scholars have written about your topic.
– The range of theories used to analyze materials or data
– How other scholars connect their specific research topics to larger issues, questions, or practices within
the field.
– The best methodologies and research techniques for your particular topic.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..
Methodology

• Introduce the overall methodological approach.


• Indicate how the approach fits the overall research design.
• Describe the specific methods of data collection.
• Explain how you intend to analyze and interpret your results.
• If necessary, provide background and justification for unfamiliar
methodologies.
• Address possible limitations.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Significance/Implications

• Discuss the methodological, practical, and/or theoretical contribution.


• State the practical and/or theoretical importance of the problem and/or
objectives of your study.
• Explain the usefulness or benefits of the study to both the outside world and
the research community.
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Overview of Chapters

• Some proposals include a sentence length description of


each chapter (i.e. chapter two reviews relevant
literature; chapter three discusses the methodology).
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Timeline/Plan of Work
Some things to keep in mind:
• Consult your supervisor.
• Be aware of important dates for submitting.
• Do not be overly ambitious.
• Remember that your proposed timeline demonstrates your awareness of the
various elements of the study (approval, design, testing, and length of
experiments; purchase of necessary materials; drafting; redrafting).
Parts of a Proposal Cont..

Bibliography & Appendices

• Include a working bibliography of key texts that inform your study and
methodology.
• Your appendices may include Experiment Diagrams, table, computer program
etc.
• Both bibliographies and required appendices tend to be discipline specific:
know what the requirements are.
Evaluating Research Proposals

• Evaluation involves assessing the soundness and


merit of the research plan.
• The evaluators look for evidence of clarity and
quality of thought – which reflects on the likely
quality of the research to be conducted.
• Planning the research and writing the proposal is
often the most difficult part of the research process.

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Evaluating Research Proposals Cont..
Typical Criteria for Evaluation
A. Is the investigator interested in the problem?
B. Is there a genuine lack of knowledge related to the problem?
C. Is the research needed by other people?
D. Are the objectives:
1. appropriate to the problem?
2. Attainable/realistic?
3. Observable or measureable?
4. Sufficiently specific?
E. Does the investigator have sufficient resources?
F. Does the proposal recognize appropriate constraints?
G. Is the research likely to be productive?
H. Is the expected value of the research greater than its cost?
I. Are results likely to be widely applicable?
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Thanx

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