Writing a Research Proposal
What is a Research Proposal?
A research proposal is a concise and coherent
summary of your proposed research. It sets
out the central issues or questions that you
intend to address
A research proposal describes what you will
investigate, why it's important, and how you
will do the research
The Traditional Structure of Proposal
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
- Research Question ( if any)
1.3 Objective of the study
1.3.1 General Objective
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
The Traditional Structure of Proposal
1.4 Research Hypothesis
1.5 Scope of the study
1.5. Significance of the study
1.6 Limitation of the study
1.7 Organization of the study
The Traditional Structure of Proposal
Chapter 2 Literature Review
Section 1 : Theoretical Framework
Section 2 : Empirical Findings
Chapter 3 Research Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population and sample Size
3.2. 1 Sample Size and Sampling
techniques
The Traditional Structure of Proposal
3.3 Method of Data Collection
3.4 Method of Data Analysis
3.5 Data Management
Cost Breakdown
Time Schedule
Reference
Appendix
Background of the study
Presents and analyses current observations,
experiences, views, opinions
Present the existence of the problem to
potential readers in such a way as to involve
them as stakeholders and capture and keep
their attention
The aim is to create the existence of the
problem to which you are trying to contribute
a solution in their minds
Background of the study
Try to make it their problem too, let them see
the problem with you, and to feel that the
solution to the problem is important to them
Get and present, if possible, data and figures
that highlight the existence of the problem.
Avoid theory or review of empirical literature
here but use current information and data
that highlight your problem, curiosity or
interest
Background of the study
Talks what is known about the topic
General Knowledge about the topic
Shows what you are talking or not talking
about
Shows why the paper is interesting
Provides justification ( data or observation,
evidence)
Statement of the Problem
Presents and analyses the problem to which
he/she is trying to contribute a solution
through his/her research
The heart of any research project is the
problem”
Present and analyse, with a high level of
clarity
Statement of the Problem
Relevant Questions
What exactly is the problem to which you are
trying to contribute a solution?
How and why is this a problem?
What are the current adverse consequences of
the problem?
What are the impacts of the problem?
What are likely to be the consequences of this
problem if a solution for it is not sort for now?
Purpose of the study
The intention which the study hopes to realize
at the end of the attempt to contribute a
solution to the problem at hand
What are the general goals/purposes or aims
of the study?
What are the emanating objectives that the
study hopes to achieve?
Statement of the Hypotheses
Hypotheses are derivable from theory and
they serve as means through which theories
are validated, revised or invalidated through
research
What are the scientific research speculations
through which you hope to find solutions to
your problems?
Statement of the Hypotheses
A speculation is a scientific hypothesis if and
only if it is testable
It must be amenable to being confirmed or
disconfirmed through the collection and
analysing of empirical data
Descriptive studies make do with research
questions only, but inferential studies might
involve both research questions and
hypotheses
Scope of The study
Scope includes geographical and conceptual
scope (often presented under definition of
terms)
State precisely what you did/ what you did
not do, or what you intend to do / what you
do not intend to do, or define the boundary
for your study with regard to the scope of the
study
Significance of the Study
Describe the possible implication of the
findings
What contributions do you think your study
intend to make to the advancement of
knowledge and/or to the solution of some
practical or theoretical problem(s)?
What are the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits
of the study?
Significance of the Study
How will the findings assist or be of benefit to
each stakeholder?
Formulate and present the anticipated
implications or possible applications of the
results of your study
Limitations
What limitations exist in your method, design
or approach, sampling restrictions,
uncontrollable variables
For example, the constraint in, or lack of
simple random sampling places limitation on
generalizability of the findings
Literature Review
The guiding questions to review prior studies are:
What did they do?
How did they do it?
What population, strategy, method, and measures
did they use?
What did they do wrong?
What did they find out?
What have they or others said about what they did
and what they found out?
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Literature Review
What are the inherent weaknesses/strengths of
the strategies, methods? measures?
How (if at all) did the researchers mitigate/
address the weaknesses? (Did they
acknowledge the weaknesses?).
Note: During a review, a researcher’s activities
are quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing and
evaluating
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Research Design
Clearly describe the design of the study and
defend your choice of type and design for your
study
Accepting research as a search for the truth,
how will you ensure that your findings reflect
the truth as much as possible?
Population of the Study
Describe your population explicitly in terms of
geographical limits, demographic and
sociological descriptors, time period covered,
etc
Describe the population so well that you leave
no doubt in the readers’ mind as to who is
qualified or not qualified to be members of
the population of the study (
Sample and Sampling Technique
Decide Sample Size using a sample formula
Do not just say “simple random sampling was
done.’ What exactly did you do? What are the
possible constraints that may be encountered
in an attempt to carry out a scientific
selection, and how did you overcome these?
Instrumentation
What instrument(s) are you going to use to
collect data for the study?
If the instrument to be used is constructed by
you, describe clearly, with accurate details
Describe the validation process, and indicate
and evaluate the results
Coherence of Ideas
Coherence in writing means that the ideas tie
together and logically flow from one sentence
to another and from one paragraph to
another
Use Hook and Eye exercises – Model -
Wilkinson (1991) – Read Creswell ( 2017)
Suggests that every sentence should be a
logical sequel to the one that preceded it
Coherence of Ideas
Flow of ideas from one sentence to another
sentence or from paragraph to another
paragraph
To make coherence among sentences and
paragraphs - the writer needs to add
transitional words, phrases, or sentences to
establish a clear connection
Since the key idea of one sentence should
connect to a key idea in the next sentence
Coherence of Ideas
If the sentences do not connect, then transition
words are missing that need to be inserted
Tips
Eliminate unnecessary words
Deleting the passive voice
Scaling down qualifiers
Eliminating overused phrases
Reducing excessive quotations, use of italics,
parenthetical comments
Coherence of Ideas
If the subject acts, the voice is active. If the subject is
acted on, the voice is passive
Where to use appropriate Tense
Past Tense
Literature Review and Result
Future Tense
In proposal writing, particularly in methodology
Present Tense
Introduction
Budget Plan – Example
No Description Quantity Unit Total cost (Birr)
cost
1 Stationery and Mobile Birr 10,000
2 Data collector and per diem 30 men x 40 days =1200 123 147,600
3 Transportation cost - 25,000
4 Researcher per diem 4 men x 70 days =280 171 47,880
5 Refreshment 15,000
6 Drive Allowance 4 men* 10 days=40 2000 15,000
Total - - Birr 260,480
Work Schedule – Example
No Activities Oct.- Feb.- May- Aug-Sept Oct –Dec.
Jan April July Year 2
Year 1
1 First progress report -----
2 Second progress report
3 Third progress report ____ _____
4 Editing and finalizing the ____
paper
5 Submission of the final ____
End
