Slide 1

Research Proposal

Research Proposal

Research Plan

Research Design

Synopsis

Planning in advance about doing research and its methodology. Research ProposalIt is a written statement specifying: - The problem to be studied - The plan of action/Method to solve it.

Designing a research Proposal is like an Architecture who designs the building.It is a Road map showing clearly:a. the location : the journey starts,b. the destination to be reached and c. the method/s of getting there, It is based mainly on three questions:

What?Why?

How?A good research design consist of the following main questions: [Wilkinson, 1990]

a. Why this study is being made?

b. What the study is about?

c. What are the types of data needed?

d. Where the data needed can be found?e. In what area the study will be carried?

f. What period of time the study will include?

g. How much material or how many cases (samples) will be needed?

h. Which sampling method will be adopted if any?

i. What tools/techniques for getting data will be adopted?

j. What type of research will it be?

k.How the data will be analyzed?

l. How best can these questions be addressed to achieve the desired results within minimum of time, expenditures and energy.

Why Research Proposal?1. It allows the researcher to plan and review the projects steps

2. It serves as a guide throughout the investigation

3. Forces time and budget estimates4. To get the Research grants/stipend

5. To organize your thoughts

6. A requirement of the degree

7. It forces the proposer to think through the research process prior to initiate the study.

8. Results are compared with the proposal

9. It describes the research of others who have worked previously.

10. It suggests the necessary data, its methods and analyses.

11. It enables the requester/sponsor to judge the value and quality of the research project before a stamp of approval is placed on it Types of Research ProposalTypes of Research Proposal Internal Solicited - Depart It is a response to RFP and competing others External un-Solicited - Govt - Donors

Important Stages of Research Design

Important Stages of Research Design

1. Formulation of Research Problem.2. Survey of the Literature [rely on accredited studies]3. Conceptual/ Theoretical Framework -Thorough Review of lit-Interaction of the subj experts

4. Formulation of Research Issues.

5. Raise series of questions to suits the research problem/issue. 6. Transformation of R.Q to spec: obj:

7. Transform of obj: into R. Hypothesis7. Scope [scope of study - Area - Period - Which cases to be included [which students: MBA?BBA? MBE E? MBA D etc All business schools? etc]. 8. Data Requirement and Data Source:Type of data and the sources.9. Analytical Framework - Analytical methods - Statistical techniques to use if any- Models in use if any. 10. Limitations of Study The time factor and some other restrictions coming up during the investigation may impose reasonable limitations.

11. Chapter Outline/Proposed Contents12. Good research can be bad poor reporting and poor presentations.

13. Report/IS/Thesis/Dissertation Design It varies, depends where is being submitted and What is its requirement?

Evaluation of the Research ProposalEvaluation of the Research Proposal It must be neatly presented . Although a proposal produced only on a word processor and bound with an expensive cover will not meet the requirement.

Unorganized proposal will not get proper attention.

Major topics should be easily found and logically organized [paging and sections].

Proposal must meet the specific guidelines set by the Sponsor.

Writing Style . Convincing Abstract . Clear R Question/Problem . Scholarly Background . Relevant Previous Research Work . Research Design . Appropriate Population and sample size . Adequate sample Size

Budget - Too high budget will be rejected - Too low budget can be suspicious Late proposal will not be reviewed Modules of the Research Proposal It varies from study to study:

RP for a class project

RP for a thesis

RP for a Dissertation

Professional/Commercial RP RP Format For Academic PurposeBack ground of the study/problem Problem Statement Study Objectives Literature Review Importance of Research Research Design - Population, Sample Size, Sampling method Data Analyses Schedule Bibliography and Appendix if anyAppendices Any information which is not that much important and not necessarily very directly linked to the text can be given in appendices.

If the material is interesting to know rather than essential to know, should be given in appendix/ces. RP Format Title page Table of Contents Background of the studyProblem Statement Research Objectives Hypothesis if any Research Design Population, Sample size, sampling methodScheduleBibliography Appendices if any.

Value and Cost of Research Cost Benefit AnalysesCost should not exceed the benefits.

Value/BenefitCostDecreased uncertainty Research ExpIncreased performance Delay in DecisionCorrect Decision Possible Erroneous research ResultsEvaluating the Research ProposalProposal must be neatly written in appropriate writing styleMajor topics should be easily found and logically organizedProposal must meet specific guidelines set by the sponsorTechnical writing style must be clearly understood and explained