Writing a Research Proposal
Introduction
Writing a good proposal is an important part while conducting/doing research and it is a mandatory prerequisite for the Master’s students of economics who opt for Thesis Writing in their second year. The proposal is, in essence, is an intellectual scholastic (not legal) contract between student and a committee (Thesis or Research Committee) who decides approval for perusing thesis writing.
The proposal outlines about what a student/researcher will do, how s/he will do it along with analysis and interpretation of the results. Indeed, a research proposal is a document written by scientist that describes in details the program for a proposed scientific investigation. It is like an outline of the entire research process that gives a reader a summary of information discussed in project . The main purpose of a research proposal is to show that the problem researcher propose to investigate is significant enough to warrant the investigation, the method s/he plans to use is suitable and feasible, and the results are likely to prove fruitful and will make an original contribution. A research proposal is also intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work-plan to complete it. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the key elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to evaluate the proposed study. The purpose of the proposal is to help student to focus and define your research plans. These plans are not binding, in that they may well change substantially as you progress in the research. However, they are an indication to your faculty of your direction and discipline as a researcher.
The proposal is expected to :
• Show that you are engaging in genuine enquiry, finding out about something worthwhile in a particular context;
• Link your proposed work with the work of others, while proving you are acquainted with major schools of thought relevant to the topic;
• Establish a particular theoretical orientation;
• Establish your methodological approach, and
• Show you have thought about the ethical issues
As has been just noticed, the objective in writing a proposal is to describe what a student/researcher will do, why it should be done, how s/he will do it and what s/he expect will result. Therefore, it is important to understand that clarities about these issues and things right from the inception helps the researcher to complete the endeavor as planned. Analogously, a vague, weak or fuzzy proposal can lead to a long, painful, and often unsuccessful thesis writing exercise. A clean, well thought-out, proposal forms the backbone for the thesis itself.
The proposal itself indicates how a researcher has the clarity about the research problem or how the researcher has internalized and owned the research problem. A good research proposal therefore hinges on the familiarity with the topic/theme of the proposal. Writing good proposal, of course, requires a longer preparatory period of reading, observation, discussion, and incubation. It is necessary to read as more as one can do/find on the area of the interest. This helps on figuring out what are the important and missing parts about the understanding on theme/issues. It is equally important to consult with experts or others who are familiar or interested on the same topic/theme. This always brings clarity about the various steps of research right from building research questions to methodology.
Components of Research Proposal
The components, structure and other technical formatting issues (like font size, length or References styles) may vary across various departments, Universities and Institutions. However, one can fairly expect following general components of a research proposal (Table 1)
Table1: Components of a Research Proposal
It is again important to note that these components are common but are not mandatory in its existence or sequence. For example, asking the research questions or constructing hypothesis is not a mandatory requirement for the student submitting proposal to Central Department of Economics. The time line of activity or Budget is not readily applicable to the student writing proposal for the Thesis. By same token, one cannot claim that these components make a research proposal complete. There might be several components that may be needed to add (for example glossary on Annex/Appendix, Use of Human Resources etc) and this typical depends upon what type of proposal we are writing.
Components: Further Look (This follows from Frank Pajares, Emory University )
1. Background/ Introduction
The introduction is the part of the paper that provides readers with the background information for the research reported in the paper. Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers can understand how it is related to other research (Wilkinson 1991).
In an introduction, the writer should
1.create reader interest in the topic,
2.lay the broad foundation for the problem that leads to the study,
3.place the study within the larger context of the scholarly literature, and
4.reach out to a specific audience (Creswell: 1994).
2. Statement of the Problem
The problem statement of the research proposal indicates how a researcher has been able to understand the context and depth of the questions that one is trying to answer. Kumar (2005) observed that ‘any question that you want answered and any assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate can become a research problem or a research topic for your study. However, it is important to remember that not all questions can be transformed into research problems and may prove to be extremely difficult to study’
The problem statement describes the context for the study and it also identifies the general analysis approach (Wiersma 1995).
A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study (Creswell 199)
It is important in a proposal that the problem stand out—that the reader can easily recognize it. Sometimes, obscure and poorly formulated problems are masked in an extended discussion. In such cases, reviewers and/or committee members will have difficulty recognizing the problem.
A problem statement should be presented within a context, and that context should be provided and briefly explained, including a discussion of the conceptual or theoretical framework in which it is embedded. Clearly and succinctly identify and explain the problem within the framework of the theory or line of inquiry that undergirds the study. This is of major importance in nearly all proposals and requires careful attention. It is a key element that associations such as AERA and APA look for in proposals. It is essential in all quantitative research and much qualitative research. State the problem in terms intelligible to someone who is generally sophisticated but who is relatively uninformed in the area of your investigation.
Effective problem statements answer the question “Why does this research need to be conducted.” If a researcher is unable to answer this question clearly and succinctly, and without resorting to hyperspeaking (i.e., focusing on problems of macro or global proportions that certainly will not be informed or alleviated by the study), then the statement of the problem will come off as ambiguous and diffuse. For conference proposals, the statement of the problem is generally incorporated into the introduction; academic proposals for theses or dissertations should have this as a separate section.
Introduction
Writing a good proposal is an important part while conducting/doing research and it is a mandatory prerequisite for the Master’s students of economics who opt for Thesis Writing in their second year. The proposal is, in essence, is an intellectual scholastic (not legal) contract between student and a committee (Thesis or Research Committee) who decides approval for perusing thesis writing.
The proposal outlines about what a student/researcher will do, how s/he will do it along with analysis and interpretation of the results. Indeed, a research proposal is a document written by scientist that describes in details the program for a proposed scientific investigation. It is like an outline of the entire research process that gives a reader a summary of information discussed in project . The main purpose of a research proposal is to show that the problem researcher propose to investigate is significant enough to warrant the investigation, the method s/he plans to use is suitable and feasible, and the results are likely to prove fruitful and will make an original contribution. A research proposal is also intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work-plan to complete it. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the key elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to evaluate the proposed study. The purpose of the proposal is to help student to focus and define your research plans. These plans are not binding, in that they may well change substantially as you progress in the research. However, they are an indication to your faculty of your direction and discipline as a researcher.
The proposal is expected to :
• Show that you are engaging in genuine enquiry, finding out about something worthwhile in a particular context;
• Link your proposed work with the work of others, while proving you are acquainted with major schools of thought relevant to the topic;
• Establish a particular theoretical orientation;
• Establish your methodological approach, and
• Show you have thought about the ethical issues
As has been just noticed, the objective in writing a proposal is to describe what a student/researcher will do, why it should be done, how s/he will do it and what s/he expect will result. Therefore, it is important to understand that clarities about these issues and things right from the inception helps the researcher to complete the endeavor as planned. Analogously, a vague, weak or fuzzy proposal can lead to a long, painful, and often unsuccessful thesis writing exercise. A clean, well thought-out, proposal forms the backbone for the thesis itself.
The proposal itself indicates how a researcher has the clarity about the research problem or how the researcher has internalized and owned the research problem. A good research proposal therefore hinges on the familiarity with the topic/theme of the proposal. Writing good proposal, of course, requires a longer preparatory period of reading, observation, discussion, and incubation. It is necessary to read as more as one can do/find on the area of the interest. This helps on figuring out what are the important and missing parts about the understanding on theme/issues. It is equally important to consult with experts or others who are familiar or interested on the same topic/theme. This always brings clarity about the various steps of research right from building research questions to methodology.
Components of Research Proposal
The components, structure and other technical formatting issues (like font size, length or References styles) may vary across various departments, Universities and Institutions. However, one can fairly expect following general components of a research proposal (Table 1)
Table1: Components of a Research Proposal
Components | Functions |
Title Page | Title of the proposed research, Name of the institutions, Degree for which the research proposal is submitted, Full names of the Candidates, Date of Submission |
Background Information | provides background information relating to theme, context of the study: and may start with ay include historical, cultural, political, social or organizational information about the context of the research, may include a theoretical starting point, may include policy |
Statement of the Problem | The issue that exists in the literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study |
Research Questions (Good if you have but not mandatory) | Provides outline to key research questions such that he research question(s) (What, How, Why, or What if/ is, are/have) should be few, so that the focus is manageable |
Research Objectives | A clear and succinct statement about objective/aim/purpose of the study |
Hypothesis (will provide more clarity but not Mandatory) | An intellectual guess or hunch about the relationships between variables, or may be constructed while testing/verifying theories, and warrants for a quantitative analysis |
Review of Literature | to show your supervisor and department that you are aware of significant writers/researchers in the field, and to indicate which issues/topics you will focus on in your review (this may change later) and/ or to show that you can be judicious in your selection of issues to focus on and take an approach of critical inquiry |
Methodology | Describes Conceptual Framework, Research Design, Nature and Sources of Data, Sampling Strategy if Primary Data has to be collected, Method/Instruments of Data Collection and Most Importantly Method of Analysis |
Significance of Study | Importance or Rationale of Study indicating the research gap or value addition to existing body of Knowledge/ May be combined with expect policy outcome |
Reference/Bibliography | list of works that have been consulted/Cited thus far and appear to be useful |
Annexes: | |
Time Line (Not Mandatory) | Depicts the tasks proposed and the stages/times for their completion |
Budge (if Applicable) | |
It is again important to note that these components are common but are not mandatory in its existence or sequence. For example, asking the research questions or constructing hypothesis is not a mandatory requirement for the student submitting proposal to Central Department of Economics. The time line of activity or Budget is not readily applicable to the student writing proposal for the Thesis. By same token, one cannot claim that these components make a research proposal complete. There might be several components that may be needed to add (for example glossary on Annex/Appendix, Use of Human Resources etc) and this typical depends upon what type of proposal we are writing.
Components: Further Look (This follows from Frank Pajares, Emory University )
1. Background/ Introduction
The introduction is the part of the paper that provides readers with the background information for the research reported in the paper. Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers can understand how it is related to other research (Wilkinson 1991).
In an introduction, the writer should
1.create reader interest in the topic,
2.lay the broad foundation for the problem that leads to the study,
3.place the study within the larger context of the scholarly literature, and
4.reach out to a specific audience (Creswell: 1994).
2. Statement of the Problem
The problem statement of the research proposal indicates how a researcher has been able to understand the context and depth of the questions that one is trying to answer. Kumar (2005) observed that ‘any question that you want answered and any assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate can become a research problem or a research topic for your study. However, it is important to remember that not all questions can be transformed into research problems and may prove to be extremely difficult to study’
The problem statement describes the context for the study and it also identifies the general analysis approach (Wiersma 1995).
A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory, or practice that leads to a need for the study (Creswell 199)
It is important in a proposal that the problem stand out—that the reader can easily recognize it. Sometimes, obscure and poorly formulated problems are masked in an extended discussion. In such cases, reviewers and/or committee members will have difficulty recognizing the problem.
A problem statement should be presented within a context, and that context should be provided and briefly explained, including a discussion of the conceptual or theoretical framework in which it is embedded. Clearly and succinctly identify and explain the problem within the framework of the theory or line of inquiry that undergirds the study. This is of major importance in nearly all proposals and requires careful attention. It is a key element that associations such as AERA and APA look for in proposals. It is essential in all quantitative research and much qualitative research. State the problem in terms intelligible to someone who is generally sophisticated but who is relatively uninformed in the area of your investigation.
Effective problem statements answer the question “Why does this research need to be conducted.” If a researcher is unable to answer this question clearly and succinctly, and without resorting to hyperspeaking (i.e., focusing on problems of macro or global proportions that certainly will not be informed or alleviated by the study), then the statement of the problem will come off as ambiguous and diffuse. For conference proposals, the statement of the problem is generally incorporated into the introduction; academic proposals for theses or dissertations should have this as a separate section.