Research Proposal Components

Research Proposal

• Research is an organized inquiry to find solutions to problems
• Research uses facts, figures and data to support findings
• Research is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to understand phenomena.
• It can be formal or informal.
• A research proposal is a statement of intent to convince a supervisor or committee that the project is valuable.

Components of a Research Proposal

• Introduction: Briefly describes the proposal's topic.
• Problem statement: Outlines the problem and need for research.
• Objectives: Explains the goals of the research project.
• Methodology: Outlines the procedures and methods for conducting the research.
• Resources: Identifies the needed time, money, and facilities.
• Schedule: Creates a plan for completing the project on time.
• Cost analysis: Explains how the benefits outweigh the costs
• Literature review: Summarizes previous research on the topic.
• Scope of study: Limits and boundaries of the project.
• Justification: Explains why the study is important.

Research Proposal IPO MRSC (Example)

• Includes components like introduction, problem statement, etc.
• The research proposal should convince the audience on the value of the research.

Report Writing

• A report is a more structured form of writing than an essay.
• Importance and the need of structured reports and proposals for quality outputs.
• Stages in report writing: Planning, Gathering data, Organizing data, Drafting, Checking and re-drafting
• Report should be accurate and free of plagiarism.
• Report writing structure (example): Title page, acknowledgements, content, abstract, background, problem statement, objectives, justification, scope, literature review, methodology, discussion and results, conclusion and recommendations, references.

Literature Review

• A literature review compiles, classifies, and evaluates previous research papers on a specific topic.
• Purpose of literature review: Identifying gaps in existing literature, establishing context, placing current study within the context of existing literature and highlighting new insights, etc.
• Stages of carrying out a literature review include planning, identifying keywords, selecting data sources, and creating a timeline.
• Searching stage (search engines, databases and use of keywords).
• Steps of generating a literature review report include selecting search engines and/or databases, formulating keywords, saving search results, review of material, and creation of relevant points
• A literature review report should have a structure, including title, abstract, keywords, introduction, sub-topics, conclusion, and references.

Types of Research (Example)

• Basic research (laboratory research, applied research, evaluative research, action research, social impact research)
• According to Purpose: Historical, descriptive, experimental, correlational, communications, phenomenological, exploratory, and experimental research.

Academic Sources and Plagiarism

• Proper use of sources and avoiding plagiarism.
• Using academic resources for validation and knowledge.
• Correct use of citations in reports/proposals.

Explore the essential elements of a research proposal, including the introduction, problem statement, objectives, and methodology. This quiz will guide you through the systematic process of crafting an effective research proposal, ensuring you understand both formal and informal research processes.