Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation

Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia

Shah Alam

SRW600 / SRT603GUIDELINES OF DEVELOPING THE RESEARCH PROPOSALChapter One: Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Begins with a brief introduction

One or two paragraph (or more depending on the nature of the problem) to be investigated

Provides the underlying rationale and its importance

Link the problem to the body of information available in the field and establish the importance of carrying out the proposed research

How the researcher became interested in the problem is usually indicated

Some references of literature should be made in the introduction (not so extensive)

Literature cited coupled with researchers own thoughts

Prepare this section with care, caution and the aim of promoting the readers interest in the problem

One to two pages in length

1.2. Statement of the Problem

After the introductory comments, the problem statement should appear.

Declarative statement that indicated which question or issue will be addressed in the research project.

Problem should be stated clearly, concisely and definitively.

All the problem elements, including the variables to be studied, should be expressed in an orderly system of relationships.

The problem statement should imply a question about the relationship between specified variables.

This section should include a brief description of the background of the problem and the potential significance of the study.

The statement of the problem may begin with: E.g. A major purpose of understanding the motivation factors is highlighting the importance of physical exercise and to motivate the elderly to continue to exercise throughout their lifetime

1.3. Research Questions State in the form of questions what you seek to know in specific

Questions must be researchable

1.4. Research Objectives

State in the form of statement, refer to your research questions, it should be in line with what you seek to know and what you hope to achieve (objective) at the end of your study.

1.5. Hypothesis The reasons for stating a hypothesis before the data-gathering phase of a quantitative study are (1) a well-grounded hypothesis indicates that the researcher has sufficient knowledge in the area to undertake the investigation; (2) the hypothesis gives direction to the collection and interpretation of the data; it tells the researcher what procedure to follow and what type of data to gather and thus may prevent a great deal of wasted time and effort on the part of the researcher.

The hypothesis should state concisely the expected relationship between the variables of the study.

This section permits the researcher to predict the outcome of the study in advance and present tentative explanations for the solution of the problem

A statement of hypothesis will be declared for each research question posed; however some descriptive question may not warrant hypotheses.

Stating hypotheses helps make a researchers thought process about the research situation more concrete.

Hypotheses must be testable.

Types of hypothesis: Null hypothesis (H ) also known as hypothesis of NO DIFFERENCE or NO RELATIONSHIP

It is difficult to prove something to be TRUE but is much easier to prove something to be NOT TRUE.

(2) Research hypothesis. It states the relationship one expects to find as a result of the research. It may be a statement about the expected relationship or the expected difference between the variables in the study. It can be stated in a directional or nondirectional form.

1.6. Significance of the Study To elaborate why the study is needed

To establish the underlying rationale for the study and to justify its need

Explain why it is significant or to justify its content

Try to answer the following question: What difference will this study make to anyone?.

Contribution in terms of Implications and applications.

Implication to increase knowledge; to contribute to theory and knowledge; to what extent these results will be useful in solving problems and answering questions in the general field.

Application try to convince readers of the potential application of the findings to educational practice. Ask the following questions: Will the results of my study change anything in my field? Would my results help coaches, sports practitioners to improve their work?1.7. Delimitations

Characteristics specified by the researcher that define the scope of the research study, effectively fencing it in.

Refer to the scope of the study. Fences it. It spell out the population studied; and those things the research can control.

E.g. number and kinds of research participants

number and kinds of variables

tests, measures or instruments utilized in the study

special equipment

type of training program

the time and duration of the study

analytical procedures

1.8. Limitations

Refer to weaknesses to the study. All studies have them because compromises frequently have to be made in order to conform to the realities of a situation.

Limitations are those things the research could not control but may have an influence on the results of the study.

e.g.

the research approach, design, method and techniques

sampling problems

uncontrolled variables

faulty administration of tests or training program

generalizability of the data

representatives of the data

compromises to internal and external validity

reliability and validity of the research instruments

1.9. Definition of Terms

Necessity since many terms and concepts have multiple meanings.

The researcher should define terms as they will be interpreted and used throughout the study.

Always define operational and behavioural terms and concepts

Chapter Two: Literature Review

This section should be well-organized which consists of an insightful analysis and evaluation of each research source as it relates to the objectives of the current study

It helps to justify the study.

Only those studies that have a significant relationship to the current problem should be included.

The introduction to chapter two should always contain an opening paragraph that relates to the objectives of the study then to the problem being studied and explains how the chapter is organized.

Often the introductory paragraph will include a restatement of the problem that was presented in chapter one of the research proposal.

Summary is needed at the last section of the chapter and should be relatively brief. It should summarize the key findings, indicate what the literature has told us about the problem area. What is it that we know? Dont know? What gaps need to be filled?

The author concluded that more research must be done to investigate the factors that might influence the elderly to exercise.(e.g.)

Chapter Three: Methodology

3.1. Introduction

This chapter details how the study will be carried out so that the research question will be answered or the hypothesized relationships will be observed. This section should convince the reader that what you plan to do is the best procedure for investigating the question.

In the beginning of the paragraph, the research proposal will restates the research problem and foretells the organization of the chapter and then specific sections relation to the research participants, research design, instrumentation, procedures and data analysis.

3.2. Research design

e.g. This study will utilize a pretest-posttest control group, quasi-experimental design.

3.3. Sampling

Three hundred and ninety-six physical education teachers will be randomly sampled from the population of school physical education teachers currently employed..A stratified random sampling technique will be used to select 132 female and male teachers from each grade level

3.4. Instrumentation

Instruments/measures that were used to collect the data.

If the instrument is already established, the proposal should include its name and reported evidence of its reliability and validity for the intended purpose.

3.5. Data Collection Procedures

Care description of the procedures of a study is a basic requirement of a quantitative research proposal.

The author describes the way in which the study will be carried out.

Described all steps necessary to answer every question and test every hypothesis.

Including a brief summary of the procedures you will follow to protect the rights of the participants in your study.

3.6. Data analysis

Describes the methods of handling and presenting data and outlines the statistical procedures to be used.

References: Baumgartner, T. A. & Hensley, L. D. (2006). Conducting and Reading Research in Health and Human Performance. 4th Edition. New York: Mc Graw Hill.

Ary, D., Jacobs, L. C. and Sorensen, C (2010). Introduction to Research in Education. 8th Edition. USA:

Wadsworth20th August 2010 (SRW 600/SRT603)

Prepared by: Nadiah Diyana Tan Abdullah