Writing a Research Proposal

Today

• Definition and purpose of the proposal

• Structure of a proposal

• The process of writing

The research proposal

Definition:

A document that presents a case for an idea and the action one proposes with respect to it

Krathwohl, D.R. (1988) (3rd ed.) How to prepare a research proposal. Guidelines for funding and dissertations in the social and behavioural sciences. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press.

The research proposal

Purpose:

• To justify what you plan to do, in order to gain approval for it

• To identify the tasks and the resources required

Structure of a research proposal

•Title •Introduction•The problem and its context•Literature review•Methodology•Data•Timetable and resources•References•Appendices

Introduction– Content and purpose of research– Justification or rationale for research (why

investigating the problem is important)– Current state of knowledge, and how the

research relates to prior work done , or adds new knowledge

• The problem and its context

•Problem definition•Hypothesis or questions•Delimitations•Definitions of terms•Assumptions•Significance

Significance

•To explain, describe, explore

To support a position

•Why is this worth doing

•What will it achieve

Literature review

• What is the state of the science on this problem?

• Are there gaps in the literature?• How will your study fill those

gaps?• Synthesize recent literature (within

the past 5 years)

Literature review

•Contributes to your overall justification of your research

•Must be more than a summary of what you read in the area

•Informs your reader where your work fits in with other’s work

Literature Review(Gathering information)

• Computers are one of the researcher’s most powerful tool.– Online library catalogues.– Working papers– Journals– Bibliographies– Database and research-related information.

• Record keeping of the information collected– Print outs– Reference cards– PDA/PC

Methodology

● The Method section is very important because it tells your reader how you plan to tackle your research problem. It will provide your work plan and describe the activities necessary for the completion of your project.

● The guiding principle for writing the Method section is that it should contain sufficient detail and information so that the reader can determine whether the methodology is sound.

Data

• Collection

• Analysis

Timetable and resources

• Plan your project as you would any other project

List of References

The process of writing

Important information for writing

• Structure your work in advance (know that you want to say before writing).

• Each sentence should contain one idea and follow logically from previous ideas: chain of ideas.

• Write in a way that is easy to read.• Use simple language.• Check spelling and grammar.• Do not cut and paste from articles.

NEATNESS

• Follow APA guidelines