Research Proposal Guidelines PDF

Designing the research proposal Chapter 3 introduction research proposal: short interim report: more developed research proposal is presented for the following degree programs: - Masters, PhD Its role to ascertain the student’s understanding of research design assess whether t...

Designing the research proposal Chapter 3 introduction research proposal: short interim report: more developed research proposal is presented for the following degree programs: - Masters, PhD Its role to ascertain the student’s understanding of research design assess whether the research can be completed within the constraints - time - resources. Continue … The research proposal will be read by: - internal or external reader - or will be reviewed by a proposal panel (this in zu used) The reader(s) or panel will report on whether the research design needs minor or major changes. The research proposal typically serves as the basis for the initial three chapters of the study. Research Proposal for conducting Research research proposal is a document presenting: 1. very short introduction 2. the research problem statement and purpose statement 3. the research questions 4. a background discussion 5. literature review 6. methodological discussion Content of the Research Proposal Writing a Convincing Research Proposal typical word length would be: 4,000 words for a Masters by coursework research report, 6,000–8,000 words for a Masters by dissertation 10,000 words for a PhD proposal  Research proposal sections 1. Cover Pages The cover pages for the research proposal should include: title page plagiarism declaration list of abbreviations list of acronyms Glossary then the table of contents list of figures and list of tables list of annexures Formatting guidelines each institution will have its own guidelines The simplest approach is to follow the APA style paper format, available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format - Step-by-Step Guide for APA Style Student Papers https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/tutorials-webinars 2. Research Introduction The introduction should be no more than one or two paragraphs, stating: what the research field is, what the research topic is, and what the specific nature of the enquiry is. It should not explain this in detail that will come in the sections that follow. attributes of a good introduction Provides the cynosure (i.e. placing the research idea at the center of the reader’s attention). Provides a very brief but thought-provoking idea (hook) of why the research is interesting. States whether the research is quantitative or qualitative in nature. Being persuasive, as well as inspiring a supervisor, or an evaluator, to read the proposal, is the key to successful proposal submission. 3. Research Problem Statement Identify a Research Problem That Needs Attention supervisor or a reader is drawn once: - a specific need - or gap in knowledge is clearly identified. 4. research problem statement key elements clear problem description in relation to research topic context gap in knowledge briefly stating why the research is necessary The problem description should include the main problem and at least three elements for Master’s level but not more than five elements of the problem for PhD level Example of a research problem statement for software engineering research: Problem Statement: The increasing complexity and interconnectivity of modern software systems pose significant challenges for software maintenance and evolution. Software engineers often struggle to understand and navigate large codebases, leading to inefficiencies, increased maintenance costs, and higher risks of introducing defects during software updates. This research aims to investigate and develop innovative techniques and tools that enhance software comprehension and navigation, ultimately improving the efficiency and reliability of software maintenance and evolution. example of a research problem statement in computer science Problem Statement: Mobile devices are increasingly used for sensitive tasks like mobile banking, and securing user authentication is crucial. Current authentication methods, such as PINs and passwords, have vulnerabilities. This research aims to explore the feasibility and security of implementing biometric authentication (fingerprint recognition) on mobile devices to enhance security and user experience. 5. Research Purpose Statement The key components include: Clearly Stating the Purpose of the Study explaining the purpose or objectives of the study The main purpose is usually formatted as ‘The purpose of this research is to investigate …’. should be followed by clearly highlighted sub-objectives, mirroring the elements of the research problem. The elements of the research problem are expressed as sub-objectives in the purpose statement it is important that there is consistency between the elements of the research problem and the sub- objectives of the purpose statement. This gives the research design a solid foundation. 6. Research Questions and/or Hypotheses In research: you will present a main research question that frames the overarching research problem, as well as three (or more, but not more than five) research sub-questions that frame the elements of the research problem. If there are three elements of the research problem, there should be three research sub- questions. If there are five elements of the research problem, there should be five research sub-questions. 7. Brief Statement of Methodology This research design section can include a very short statement of methodology This brief methodology statement can simply state the methodological approach to be used, for example, qualitative analysis, software design and data modelling. - Data Collection, Tool, model, algorithms and techniques…. 8. Statement of Significance research proposal must offer clear justification for embarking on the research, by presenting valid reasons for tackling the problem. justification could include the following: - Providing a few statistical references from reputable sources that reflect the significance of the problem brief explanation of the consequences that would arise from allowing the problem to persist without addressing it Highlighting the innovation and expected benefits of the research outcome to potential beneficiaries and how it will impact their institutional and/or economic and/or societal future 9. Background to the Research Problem It is necessary to include an informative historical overview, technical references, relevant datasets and other supporting details that clearly highlight the background to the research problem statement. The supporting information can include Continue … diagrams, algorithms, reference to existing policy documents or law, or regulation, or digital transformation in a particular sector, or other relevant existing knowledge, all with proper in-text references. 10. Literature Review The literature review section should provide an overview of the relevant theoretical and practice-oriented knowledge pertinent to the nature of the research problem and its elements. We set out our understanding of existing knowledge in the literature review, in order to demonstrate - (a) that we are familiar with the current state of knowledge and - (b) that we are conscious of the gap in knowledge. In each new study that we conduct, we build on existing knowledge. Continue … In the research proposal, the literature review is relatively short, possibly 1,500–2,000 words at Master’s level and around 3,500 words at PhD level however, a full literature review chapter of around 6,000 words at Master’s level and around 8,000–10,000 words at PhD level is required. 11. Research Methodology and Methods/Procedures research proposal will include an indication of: the broad methodology, whether it is a qualitative or constructivist methodology or it is a quantitative, survey-style methodology Continue … or a quantitative study with other controlled parameters. The research methodology section should include a clear description of: the steps for data collection, the steps for data analysis and an indication of research limitations or unavoidable constraints. In the research proposal, the methodology section is relatively short, possibly 1,500–2,000 words at Master’s level and around 3,500 words at PhD level. full methodology chapter of around 4,000 words at Master’s level and around 8,000 words at PhD level is required. 12. List of References and citation The References section must detail the sources of all materials used in the proposal either in: MLA (Modern Language Association of America) format, APA (American Psychological Association) format IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) or any other format recognized by the postgraduate board of the researcher’s institution. In addition, the entire proposal must cite all the references consulted in the text. Continue … for a Masters by coursework research proposal can be around 30 references, for a Masters by dissertation research proposal can be 50 or more references and for a PhD research proposal can be 80 or more references. Example 1 Problem Statement: Mobile devices are increasingly used for sensitive tasks like mobile banking, and securing user authentication is crucial. Current authentication methods, such as PINs and passwords, have vulnerabilities. This research aims to explore the feasibility and security of implementing biometric authentication (fingerprint recognition) on mobile devices to enhance security and user experience. Significance: Mobile security is of paramount importance as mobile devices are widely used for sensitive tasks. Biometric authentication could provide a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional methods. Research Objectives: Purpose of the Study 1. To assess the feasibility of implementing fingerprint recognition on mobile devices. 2. To evaluate the security of fingerprint-based mobile authentication. 3. To measure user satisfaction and acceptance of this authentication method. Scope and Constraints: This study will focus on Android-based mobile devices and use a specific fingerprint recognition algorithm. It will not address other biometric methods. Research Questions: 1. Can fingerprint recognition be effectively implemented on Android mobile devices? 2. How does fingerprint authentication compare to PIN/password methods in terms of security? 3. What is the user acceptance rate of fingerprint authentication on mobile devices? Example 2: Problem Statement: The increasing complexity and interconnectivity of modern software systems pose significant challenges for software maintenance and evolution. Software engineers often struggle to understand and navigate large codebases, leading to inefficiencies, increased maintenance costs, and higher risks of introducing defects during software updates. This research aims to investigate and develop innovative techniques and tools that enhance software comprehension and navigation, ultimately improving the efficiency and reliability of software maintenance and evolution. Significance: Software maintenance and evolution are ongoing and resource intensive activities in the software development lifecycle. Improving the understanding of software systems can lead to more effective maintenance, faster updates, and reduced error rates, benefiting software development teams and end-users. Research Objectives: 1. To analyze the current challenges and limitations in software comprehension and navigation, particularly in the context of large, complex codebases. 2. To develop novel techniques and tools for software visualization, code analysis, and navigation, with a focus on improving software engineer's ability to understand and work with code. 3. To evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the proposed techniques and tools through empirical studies, user feedback, and real-world case studies. 4. To provide recommendations and best practices for the integration of these tools and techniques into software development and maintenance workflows. Scope and Constraints: This research will primarily concentrate on improving software comprehension and navigation for large codebases and will not address other aspects of software development or quality assurance. The focus will be on developing tools and techniques that aid software engineers in understanding and maintaining existing software systems. Research Questions: 1. What are the primary challenges and obstacles faced by software engineers in comprehending and navigating large and complex software codebases? 2. How can software visualization, code analysis, and navigation techniques be innovatively designed and integrated to enhance software engineers' understanding of code? 3. What are the key criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and usability of these tools and techniques, and how do they impact software maintenance and evolution in practice? Originality in the Research Design Originality in the Masters and in the PhD refers to originality in the data, originality in the analysis, originality in the methodology and/or originality in the conclusions and theories generated in the research report, dissertation or thesis. original research requires an organic thought process, devoid of copied/plagiarized content. The challenge faced by all Masters by dissertation and PhD researchers is to entrench originality in their works. Continue … some recommended approaches for effective research design Research design approach 1: Observe and identify research problems, for instance, the inconsistencies or gaps in existing studies and analysis, for example, inconsistencies in the discussion of security vulnerabilities in web platforms. Research design approach 2: Another type of research problem arises where there is an apparent oversight or neglect of an important focus area in digital adoption, for example, applications of robots in human governance in your country or applications of artificial intelligence in logistics performance to enhance customer service. Continue … Research design approach 3: Yet another type of research problem arises where the researcher considers merging of subject domains in a unique interdisciplinary manner as has never previously been done, for example, the application of mechatronics in a disciplinary field with many boundaries. Research design approach 4: Alternatively, the research problem may relate to a comparative study within the same domain of knowledge, for example, comparing an indigenous design web services platform with an Amazon web services platform for intelligent computing. Research Proposal Presentation When the research proposal is ready, it must be reviewed by a proposal reader or a research proposal panel, who will all be experienced academics. The readers and the panels decide whether the student has prepared a suitable: research problem, literature review and research design. Proposal Timeframes In most cases, postgraduate students are required to give a presentation of their research proposals within the first year of their candidature. Masters students may be required to complete their review presentation within the first 6 months for full-time students Research Proposal Presentation and Feedback Slide presentations of 15–20 slides will usually be required. The presentation should include: The title page Short version of the research problem statement Research questions or hypotheses  Brief literature review of relevant concepts and theories used to generate the analytical framework Methodological design including data collection and data analysis instruments and methods, as well as expected contribution to knowledge