How to Write a Research Proposal PDF

How to Write a Research Proposal, Research Project Reports, and Academic Research Getting started with writing Practical hints Create time for your writing Write when your mind is fresh Find a regular writing place Set goals and achieve them Use word processing Generate a plan for...

How to Write a Research Proposal, Research Project Reports, and Academic Research Getting started with writing Practical hints Create time for your writing Write when your mind is fresh Find a regular writing place Set goals and achieve them Use word processing Generate a plan for the report Finish each writing session on a high point Get friends to read and comment on your work  Structure of Research Proposal Research proposal should include: 1) Introduction 2) Problem statement 3) Research objectives 4) Research questions 5) Research hypothesis 6) Conceptual /Theoretical framework 7) Literature review 8) Research Design & Methods 9) Expected outcome/ Impact and significance 10) References 11) Timelines/ Milestone 12) Budget How to write a research proposal? INTRODUCTION: ✓Provide preliminary information about your research topic. ✓Provide context of your research. ✓Explain why your research topic is worth the time of your readers. ✓Why the study is needed. ✓Demonstrate the importance and relevance of your research. How to write a research proposal? INTRODUCTION: Some important questions to guide your introduction include: Who has an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, practitioners, policymakers, particular members of society)? How much is already known about the problem? What is missing from current knowledge? What new insights will your research contribute? Why is this research worth doing? How to write a research proposal? Problem Statement The research problem serves as the starting point for the research and is a unifying thread that runs throughout all the elements of the research endeavour (Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). Metaphors: A Problem Statement is like… ▪ The DNA of the research. ▪ A snapshot of the research. ▪ The foundation of the research. ▪ The heart of the research. ▪ A “taste” of the research. ▪ A blueprint for the study.  What is not a problem statement? 1) It is not a thesis statement (a statement indicating the writer’s main position or argument in an argumentative paper). 2) It is not the background of the study. 3) It is not the description of issues without identification of research gap(s): Intended but not explicit. What is a problem statement? A distinct “statement of the question or issue that is to be investigated” (Sekaran, 2003, p. 70). You need to clearly identify the problem or knowledge gap that your research is responding to. This section should: Answer the question: “What is the research gap(s) that needs to be filled?” and/or “What is the problem that needs to be solved?” What is a problem statement? Example Topic: Distance learning Research Problem: Lack of students in distance classes Research Objective: To study why students do not attend distance education classes at a community college Research Questions: Does the use of Web site technology in the classroom deter students from enrolling in a distance education class? General to Specific  (1) Manageable – fits the level of researcher’s level of research skills, needed resources, and time restrictions What to (2) Ethical – does not embarrass or harm participants. consider in (3) Researchable – can be investigated through the selecting a collection and analysis of data. research (4) Interesting – keeps the researcher interested in it problem? throughout the research process. (MERIT) Exam (5) Telling – contributes to the improvement and understanding of educational theory and practice.  How research problems differ for quantitative and qualitative research Use quantitative research if your research problem requires you to: ❑Measure variables ❑ Assess the impact of these variables on an outcome ❑ Test theories or broad explanations ❑Apply results to many people Use qualitative research if your research problem requires you to: ❑Learn about the views of the people you plan to study ❑Assess a process over time ❑Generate theories based on participant perspectives ❑Obtain detailed information about a few people or research sites  An Effective Problem Statement (EXAM) Describe the precise An effective problem Put the problem issue that the research statement is concise in context (what do we will address (what do and concrete. It should: already know?) we need to know?) Show the relevance of Set the objectives of the the problem (why do research (what will you we need to know it?) do to find out?) Research Questions A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to provide a response to. What makes a strong research question? Research questions should be: Vibrant Focused and Researchable Feasible and specific Appropriately complex and Debatable Relevant to a social or scholarly issue  Research Questions Six Important Steps to developing a research question: ❑ Step 1: Choose an interesting general topic. ❑Step 2: Do some preliminary research on your general topic? ❑Step 3: Consider your audience. ❑Step 4: Start asking questions. ❑Step 5: Evaluate your question. ✓ Is your research question clear? ✓ Is your research question focused? ✓ Is your research question complex? ❑Step 6: Begin your research. How to formulate a Research Question? For Example 1) Q1. What effect does social media have on people’s minds? 2) Q2. What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the attention span of under-16s? 3) Q3. Why is there a housing crisis in the Netherlands? 4) Q4. What impact have university internationalization policies had on the availability and affordability of housing in the Netherlands? Research Questions Types of research Formulation questions Descriptive research What are the characteristics of X? Comparative research What are the differences and similarities between X and Y? Correlational research What is the relationship between variable X and variable Y? Exploratory research What are the main factors in X? What is the role of Y in Z? Explanatory research Does X have an effect on Y? What is the impact of Y on Z? What are the causes of X? Evaluation research -What are the advantages and disadvantages of X? -How well does Y work? -How effective or desirable is Z? Action research How can X be achieved? -What are the most effective strategies to improve Y?  Research Objectives Research objectives are the outcomes that you aim to achieve by conducting research. Writing your research objectives clearly helps to: ❑ Define the focus of your study ❑ Clearly identify variables to be measured ❑ Indicate the various steps to be involved ❑ Establish the limits of the study ❑ Avoid collection of any data that is not strictly necessary. Research Objectives Research Objectives Should be SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time constrained  Research Objectives Six important guidelines: 1) They should be presented briefly and concisely 2) They should be presented in logical sequence 3) They should be realistic (e.g., achieved within the expected timeframe, achieved within the available resources) 4) They should be phrased in operational terms (i.e., in a way that brings the organization closer to its business objectives) 5) They should use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated or measured (e.g., to assess, to determine, to compare, to verify, to calculate, to describe) 6) They should be static once the study work begins (i.e., objectives should not be moving targets)  Research Objectives Example of research objectives: EX 1: To describe what factors farmers take into account in making such decisions as whether to adopt a new technology or what crops to grow. EX2: To develop a budget for reducing pollution by a particular enterprise. EX3: To describe the habitat of the giant panda in China. The aim of this study is to determine… This project aims to explore… I aim to investigate… How to state hypothesis? What is hypothesis? A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. Two types of hypotheses—the null hypothesis and the research hypothesis— The Null Hypothesis A null hypothesis refers to no relationship between the variables In other words, null hypotheses are statements of equality The Research Hypothesis/ Alternate Hypothesis A statement of the relationship between two variables. In other words, research hypotheses are statements of inequality How to state hypothesis? The Non-Directional Research Hypothesis A non-directional research hypothesis reflects a difference between groups, but the direction of the difference is not specified. For example; “The average score of ninth graders is different from the average score of twelfth graders on the ABC memory test”. The Directional Research Hypothesis A directional research hypothesis reflects a difference between groups, and the direction of the difference is specified. For example; “The average score of twelfth graders is greater than the average score of ninth graders on the ABC memory test”. How to state hypothesis? Characteristics of a “good” hypothesis: 1. A good hypothesis is stated in declarative form, not as a question. 2. A good hypothesis posits an expected relationship between variables. 3. Hypotheses reflect the theory or literature upon which they are based. 4. A hypothesis should be brief and to the point 5. Good hypotheses are testable hypotheses. Theoretical Frameworks versus Conceptual Frameworks There are two kinds of frameworks used in academic research – theoretical frameworks and conceptual frameworks. Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework is developed based on an underpinning theory that can be applied to research and investigation. Theoretical framework is a theory in the form of a model/paradigm that serves as the basis for the study. It mentions the proponents of the study and their results. 28 Conceptual Frameworks ❖A framework is a model or schematic diagram. ❖A framework is a graphical representation of complex interrelated ideas. ❖In academic research and writing, the framework facilitates the researcher in capturing all aspects of interest in a single canvas. ❖A conceptual framework is constructed when the theoretical framework is already available. ❖A conceptual framework is a model that extracts variables from various other models or frameworks and puts them together in a clear and coherent structure. ❖A conceptual framework is the researcher’s own model illustrating variables that specify the problem and gives direction to the study. It may be an adaptation of a model in an early theory with modifications to suit the inquiry. Conceptual Research methodology Framework Education on Sustainable Groups: Development Male students Female students Peer & Teacher’s Motivation Knowledge about Sustainable Development Willingness to Students’ Behaviour to contribute to the the achievement of achievement of SDGs SDGs Attitudes towards Sustainable development Perception about Sustainable Development Theoretical Framework Conceptual Framework Literature review What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources that provides an overview of a particular topic. A couple of Reasons for reviewing the literature: To conduct a ‘preliminary’ search of existing material associated with research topic. The preliminary search that helps you to generate and refine your research ideas. It helps you to organise valuable ideas and findings. Because the significance of your research and the findings will undoubtedly be compared to other people's research and findings. Research Design & Methods Step 1: Explain your methodological approach Step 2: Describe your methods of data collection Step 3: Describe your methods of analysis Step 4: Evaluate and justify your methodological choices Expected outcome/ Impact / significance of the study In simple terms, the significance of the study is basically the importance of your research. The significance of a study must be stated in your research proposal. While stating the significance, you must highlight how your research will be beneficial to the development of science and the society in general. You can first outline the significance in a broader sense by stating how your research will contribute to the broader problem in your field and gradually narrow it down to demonstrate the specific group that will benefit from your research. Citation and References ❑ There are several different styles of referencing: ❑ MLA ❑ APA ❑ Chicago ❑ Harvard ❑ Vancouver ❑ Oxford Tutorial 1. Define methods and methodology. 2. Discuss types of research. 3. Discuss types of non-experimental research with suitable examples. 4. Why do we need to follow ethics in business research?