Research and Thesis writing2. Developing a research proposalIn the life of a research student there are several milestones such asdefending your research proposal, or submitting the thesis. This unit isconcerned with one of the earliest milestones in thesis writing:developing a research proposal. While not all research students arerequired to formally submit a research proposal and defend it before apanel, the suggestions made in this unit still have relevance forundergraduate Honours students, as well as Masters and doctoralstudents starting out on research.

Developing a topicThe task of establishing a suitable topic is often a significant hurdle.While supervisors in some departments may suggest topics, othersupervisors expect students to have quite a clear idea of the thesis topicbefore the preliminary supervision discussions take place.

For students who have had a break from university studies, establishinga broad topic area or even a potential topic is a process that should beginbefore you enroll. It involves reading in your area of research interest,thinking, discussing and, attending related seminars or conferences.These activities encourage contemplation, and can assist in fosteringideas. For students who know the general topic area they wish toresearch, reading widely in the area of interest will help to identifyresearch issues, or questions that need further investigation. The processof developing a topic is ultimately one of establishing a gap in currentresearch that a thesis could aim to address.

If you have made an appointment with an academic to discuss researchtopics, keep in mind that the discussion will be most fruitful if you areprepared. The academic will most likely ask you about your researchinterests, particular aspects of those research interests, your familiaritywith the literature, and so on. It may be helpful to give the academic anoutline of your research interests before your meeting. The academic isunlikely to give you a topic, but through discussion can help you to comeup with your own. Furthermore, discussions with the academic shouldassist you in refining an existing topic, or to establish a research space inthe current research in the field.

Once you are closer to establishing your topic, you need to address anumber of issues to make sure your intended topic is suitable. Thisprocess may lead you to further refine your topic, but hopefully notabandon it. It is important that early in your candidature the followingissues are addressed.

U n i v e r s i t y o f W o l l o n g o n g

1. Research modelsand methods

2. Developing aresearch proposal

3. Thesis Structureguidelines

1.

2.

3.

L e a r n i n g o b j e c t i v e s

This module will help you to:

• learn about various research models.

• prepare a research proposal.

• structure your thesis and its

chapters.

• write convincingly of your research

outcomes and implications

4. Thesis writingand persuasion

4.

3.2 Sample Introduction from Engineering, Biology & Education

3.1 Sample Abstract fromEngineering & Biology

3.6 Sample Conclusion fromEngineering & Education

3.3 Sample Methods section from Biology, Engineering & Education

3.4 Sample Results sectionfrom Biology & Education

3.5 Sample Discussion sectionfrom Biology

• supervision

The process of selecting a supervisor is a significant hurdle in itself. While somedepartments may allocate you a supervisor, it is very helpful if you have in mind theperson you think would be most suitable.

Departments are keen to attract research students, so it is worth your while to makeappointments, and speak to various people about supervision. Remember too whenlooking for a supervisor, to consider questions of availability, expertise, andpersonality.

• data

If your project involves collecting data from human participants, you must be sureat the outset that you will be able to establish your cohort and have theparticipation of enough subjects to carry out the study. Your supervisor will guideyou in preparing an application to the University’s Human Research EthicsCommittee. The Ethics Officer at the University’s Research Office can advise youwhen the Ethics Committee meets to discuss applications. This is generally on amonthly basis. Application forms are available at the Research Office or can bedownloaded from the University’s web site.

• level of interest and commitment

An important question is whether your topic can sustain your interest for a longperiod. For full-time doctoral students this means approximately three years. Yourshould find your topic challenging and exciting.

• budget

Budgetary considerations are important for students who generally have limitedaccess to funds. What equipment do you need for your study? Is it available in yourdepartment? What facilities are available for research students in your department(shared computers? a desk? access to a photocopier? limited access to interlibraryloans? etc. ). Will you need to travel to carry out field studies? These are some ofthe questions you should consider, and your supervisor may be able to offer adviceon additional funding sources.

At the University of Wollongong post graduate research students can apply to theOffice of Research for financial assistance to attend a national or internationalconference, at which the student is presenting a paper. Students are only entitled tothis assistance once in their candidature. Departments also receive funding for theirpost graduate research students. Some departments make these funds directlyavailable to the student. You should ask your department’s post graduate officer ifany financial assistance is available.

Finally, an important consideration in developing your topic is whether your chosentopic is a significant one. For PhD candidates, their research is required to make anoriginal contribution to their field of study. For this reason it is necessary toestablish a gap or space in the field of enquiry which your research will seek to fill.Another consideration for research students is will fellow researchers find thechosen topic interesting and relevant? While this is a difficult question to gauge fora beginning researcher, a well chosen topic can result in attracting the interest ofother researchers, or relevant parties — an outcome which will make yourcandidature as a research student more enjoyable and hopefully fruitful.

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Preparing the research proposalSome faculties require students to submit a research proposal before they can begintheir research project. Expectations differ from department to department: somedepartments require only several pages, while others expect a more substantial pieceof work, which will later form the basis of your introductory chapter. Check withyour department or supervisor for any departmental guidelines for researchstudents.

The main components of a research proposal or project plan are as follows: a briefliterature review that highlights the gap in research that your research aims toaddress, the scope of your research, aims and objectives, proposed methodology,data analysis and implications of the research. Preparing a research proposal forcesyou to consider project design issues early on, and to think through potentialproblems. Presenting your research proposal to department or faculty members is avaluable opportunity for you to receive constructive feedback on your project fromexperienced researchers.

Structure of the research proposalDepending on the scope of your research proposal, not all of the following need beincluded in your proposal. It is also possible to combine some sections, or changethe order. The development of your research proposal will be in consultation withyour supervisor.

1. Title page: this should include the title of your project; your name and studentnumber; your department or faculty; the name of the degree sought; the namesof your supervisors, and the date of submission.

2. Abstract: this should include the problem under investigation; the researchmethodology and theoretical orientation; and the expected outcomes andimplications of the research.

3. Table of contents: the inclusion of a table of contents will depend on the scopeof your research proposal.

4. Introduction: depending on the scope of your proposal, the introduction willcontain a number of sub-sections.

• background to the study

• the significance of the study/ aims and significance of the study

• the statement of the problem

• research questions and hypotheses

• definitions

5. Literature review: the literature review provides the rationale for your researchtopic. It should give an overview of the current research on the topic area. Itshould identify a gap in the research. This is important because it shows whyyour topic is important. The literature review should also review relevantmethodologies, which show how your research is to be done.

6. Research design/ methodology: this section will include a number of sub-sections. It should describe the type of study you propose to do as well as howyou propose to do it. You need to describe your participants/subjects, yourdata collection procedure and method of data analysis, as well as thelimitations of your project.

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7. Proposed timeframe: provide a brief timeline for your project

8. Expected outcomes: what you hope to achieve

9. References: a full list of all references cited in your proposal. Check with yourfaculty for preferred referencing conventions.

Depending on your department or faculty you may also include a description of anypilot studies which have been undertaken. Some departments also prefer theresearch questions and hypothesis to follow the literature review. It may also beadvisable to include a section on your theoretical orientation. If your researchinvolves human participants you may need to include a section on ethicalconsiderations. These issues need to be clarified with your supervisor.

Sample short research proposalThe following mock research proposal has been annotated to highlight some of theelements that a research proposal needs to adequately give an overview of theproposed thesis topic. The requirements for research proposals will vary fordifferent disciplines, but the elements in this example are fairly generic.

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RESEARCH PROPOSALTlTLE: A case study of the political implications ofderegulation of Telecommunications in Australia;1987-1992.

LITERATURE REVIEW: The political implications ofderegulation in regard to telecommunicationspolicy formation has been reported on in a numberof other countries. In Britain, Jones and Brownford(1989) conducted a study into the process ofderegulation under the Thatcher Government. Thisstudy suggested that a lack of public participationheld a number of important consequences for thederegulation process. Briefly, these were thateffective and organised lobby groups were found toexert a degree of influence on the process, but wereunable to effect lasting changes in the ThatcherGovernment’s plans to deregulate thetelecommunications industry and that it was foundthat the political rhetoric of the key players had littleconsistency with the actual process of deregulation.

In Sweden, Percy (1990) offered a historical reviewof the telecommunications industry and comparedthis history with Britain’s. It was found that bothcountries had adopted the approach ofderegulating the industry based on economicrationalist ideology. This approach, in bothcountries, included a lack of public consultation.

Two case-studies of the deregulation of thetelecommunications industries in France andBelgium was the topic of an important paper byWooten, Trivett and Hampton (1993). By studyingthe correlation of political, economic and industrytheory models, they argued that industry modelsand pressure from the business communities had astrong impact on the outcomes of deregulation andthe public attitudes towards this process. The

The title identifies andintroduces the topic.

The literature review givesa overview of the currentresearch on the topic areaand provides the rationalefor the research question/topic. It should be briefand remain focussed onthe thesis topic.

Most of the studies citedin this literature reviewrelate to the aims andobjectives of the thesis.This is one way to keepthis type of literaturereview brief: maintain thefocus on the thesis topic.In the thesis itself, muchmore detail would beprovided.

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impact of deregulation on the structure and futureof the telecommunications industry was the subjectof a study by Merten and Skillen (1995) in NewZealand. This paper found that pressure from lobbygroups influenced the Government’s decisions onthe deregulation process. It was found that thesedecisions adversely affected the capacity of thetelecommunications industry to compete effectivelyon an international level. The deregulation processin New Zealand was also shown to have adverselyaffected the quality of services available to the localmarket.

None of these issues have been investigated withinthe Australian context. The need for a compre-hensive investigation into the deregulation processand its possible outcomes becomes increasinglyimportant as the liberal Government moves towardsderegulation and the partial sale of Telstra. The aimsof this study are to provide a historical overview ofthe telecommunications industry in Australia, toanalyse the Government’s reasons for deregulatingthe industry and, in light of the above, providecomments on the future role of telecommunicationsin Australia.

SCOPE: The case study will primarily focus on theAustralian political arena and telecommunicationsindustry, however where relevant and necessary ananalysis of international events and circumstancespertaining to the Australian situation will be made.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: The project will aim to achievethe following objectives:

1. An investigation into the deregulation oftelecommunications in Australia from an historicalperspective. 2. An analysis of these findings with thebenefit of hindsight, observe the political nuancesunique to the case study, and accordingly interpretthe processes that led to and ultimately influencedthe Government’s actions during the 1987-1992period. A conclusion will also be provided on thebasis of this analysis as to the future role oftelecommunications in Australia 3. The preparationof a report outlining the findings in (1) and theconclusions reached in (2).

AREAS TO INVESTIGATE: An investigation conductedinto the following areas will made to fulfill theobjectives detailed above. 1. The policies andassumptions that led the Government towardsindustry deregulation. 2. The political rhetorictouted by key players during reform 3. The mainlobby groups that participated in the deregulationprocess and the premise from which these groupsexerted political pressure. Pressure is broadlyidentified as originating from the telecomm-unications industry, business community, and theinternational circuit. 4. The events that took place

These first two sentencesintroduce a gap inprevious research. This is important because itshows why your proposedresearch is worth doing.

This last sentenceintroduces the aims of thestudy. By introducing thisafter pointing out the gapin research, the writer isshowing how the thesiswill fill this gap inknowledge.

This introduces the scopeof study, identifying whatthe research will and willnot cover.

Clearly stated aims andobjectives should beprovided. If possible, theyshould be numbered.

Here the student haslisted the areas within the topic that will beinvestigated. These arethe issues and topics thestudent has identifies asnecessary to investigate in order to fulfill the aimsand objectives. Theycould become potentialchapter headings in thethesis.

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during 1987-1991 with political, economic, andindustry theory models. 5. The history oftelecommunications in Australia to draw referencefor support.

IMPLICATIONS: The immediate implications of thereform process are readily observable in thetelecommunications sector and concern thestructure of the industry. The present regulation andlegislation regarding the industry will affect thefuture direction of telecommunications in Australiaand also the ability with which Australiancommunications can compete overseas. Thedecisions made by the Government will directlyaffect industry policy.

PROJECT PLAN: The plan for this project is providedon the basis that it is a general guide to direction.Due to the nature of the research some informationmay be difficult to obtain on schedule andallowance for this needs to be made. This plan isalso subject to change on re-evaluation.

Stage 1:

Construct a history of the events that took placefrom 1987-1991, and obtain an understanding ofthe political and industry changes since thedestruction of the Post Master General’sDepartment. Conduct and complete reviews ofrelevant literature.

Stage 2:

Analyse and prepare the information gathered instage 1 for interpretation.

Stage 3:

Put forward an interpretation of the politics ofderegulation of telecommunications in Australia

Stage 4:

Prepare report for final submission.

METHODOLOGY: Relevant documents will beobtained from Government Departments such asthe Department of Transport and Communications(DOTAC), and the Department of IndustryTechnology and Commerce (DITAC). Parliamentarypapers and Acts will also be studied. Informationwill also be obtained from AUSTEL and theTelecommunications Industry Development Agency(TIDA). Further material will come from publicationsreleased by the key lobby groups. A review will alsobe made of events according to the reports in thepress and published media. Literature concerningthe explanation of political, economic and industryusing models and theories will be examined.

Note: Plan has been compiled subject to futurechange.

This section attempts toidentify the implicationsof carrying out theresearch. It answers thequestion of how theresearch findings mayimpact on the topic andthe field.

This section shows whatthe student is going to do and how the studentintends to approach thetopic. These stages couldbe mapped out on atimeline and provide amap of activities andresearch for the student.Note how the studentpoints out that this plancould change.

This section, althoughtitled Methodology, isreally a list of the sourcesthat will be used in theresearch.

The next units in this module on thesis writing focusses on the structure of a thesis,and includes annotated extracts from several disciplines.

ReferencesAnderson, J. & Poole, M. (1994). Thesis and Assignment Writing (2nd ed.) JohnWiley & Sons, Brisbane.

Graduate School of Education, University of Wollongong (1997). Notes for theGuidance of Research Students.

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