02 proposal report_preparation_2nd_sem

1

RESEARCH RESEARCH PROPOSAL and PROPOSAL and

REPORT REPORT PREPARATIONPREPARATIONLUISITO I. TABADA, Ph.D.LUISITO I. TABADA, Ph.D.

Associate Professor IVAssociate Professor IV

"thesis“ - from a Greek word meaning

"position"- refers to an intellectual proposition.

"Dissertation" - from Latin dissertātiō, meaning "discourse."

In some countries/universities, the word thesis is used as part of a Bachelors or Masters course, while dissertation is normally applied to a Doctorate.

DefinitionDefinition

Language UsedLanguage Used

Today mainstream international scientific journals are effectively only published in the English language.

This means that your manuscript must be written in CLEAR ENGLISH.

4

Research ProposalResearch Proposal

an organized written presentation of an organized written presentation of a proposed activity/ies aimed at a proposed activity/ies aimed at achieving a defined goal and achieving a defined goal and objectivesobjectives

Means by which research Means by which research proposals may be generatedproposals may be generated

● solicitation from funding solicitation from funding agenciesagencies management‘s initiativemanagement‘s initiative proponent’s initiativeproponent’s initiative

5

Types of Types of Research Proposals Research Proposals

ResearchResearch – an inquiry or investigation directed at – an inquiry or investigation directed at acquiring new or additional acquiring new or additional knowledge/information about a certain topic.knowledge/information about a certain topic.

Development a systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge

gained from research and/or practical experience directed towards producing

- new materials, product or device, - installing new processes, systems and services - improving substantially those already produced or

installed for the benefit & welfare of particular for the benefit & welfare of particular target beneficiaries. target beneficiaries.

• may include pilot-testing projects• innovative work that aims to confirm and

demonstrate the feasibility of using a technology, modality or approach, gauging end-user’s reaction to introduction of improved technologies and identifying potential problems related to wider dissemination

6

StudyStudy - - the basic unit in the investigation of a researchable problem with predetermined objectives, and conducted in a specific time frame.

Project - a group of interrelated research studies in the same field or discipline designed to meet certain established goals within a specific time frame. Two or more studies may make up a project.

ProgramProgram - - a group of interrelated research projects requiring an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach to meet established goals within a specific time frame.

Forms of R&D ProposalsForms of R&D Proposals

7

• To enable the proponent to thoroughly To enable the proponent to thoroughly analyze and understand the research analyze and understand the research problem and determine the feasibility of problem and determine the feasibility of the proposed activity.the proposed activity.

To guide the researchers during project To guide the researchers during project implementationimplementation

To win the appreciation & support of To win the appreciation & support of funding institutionsfunding institutions

Rationale in preparingRationale in preparinga research proposala research proposal

8

Need to establish two key questions:Need to establish two key questions:

What is the broad problem to be What is the broad problem to be investigated?investigated?

What are the specific initial activities to What are the specific initial activities to undertake and outcomes to pursue?undertake and outcomes to pursue?

Shaping a research proposalShaping a research proposal

Choosing a topic and advisorChoosing a topic and advisor

Students and advisors form close working Students and advisors form close working relationsrelations

Student is typically responsible for most of Student is typically responsible for most of the effort… but the intellectual input is the effort… but the intellectual input is sharedshared

9

Is the research at right kind of technical Is the research at right kind of technical level?level?

Make use of your strengthMake use of your strength

Shaping a research proposalShaping a research proposal

ScopeScope

Don’t be too ambitious – entering research Don’t be too ambitious – entering research with hope of achieving something dramatic with hope of achieving something dramatic significancesignificance

Identify easily achieved outcome… then Identify easily achieved outcome… then move on to more challenging goalsmove on to more challenging goals

10

Typical Parts of a Research Typical Parts of a Research ProposalProposal Program/Project TitleProgram/Project Title IntroductionIntroduction

Problem StatementProblem Statement ObjectivesObjectives Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study

Review of literatureReview of literature Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework

MethodologyMethodology Work ProgramWork Program Estimated budgetEstimated budget Literature citedLiterature cited Bio-data of the proponentsBio-data of the proponents

11

Research TitleResearch Title

Importance:Importance:

Introduces the research to the readerIntroduces the research to the reader

Identifies the research componentsIdentifies the research components

Reflect the main purpose and gives the Reflect the main purpose and gives the reader the idea on what the researcher reader the idea on what the researcher proposes to doproposes to do

The goal in making the title is to describe the The goal in making the title is to describe the coverage of the research and delineates its coverage of the research and delineates its scopescope

12

Features of a good title:Features of a good title:

Concise and informative, have specific Concise and informative, have specific rather than general terms, and accurately rather than general terms, and accurately describe the contentdescribe the content

Short, easy to remember, and can easily Short, easy to remember, and can easily be indexed and retrievedbe indexed and retrieved

Has few words that adequately describes Has few words that adequately describes the contents of the paperthe contents of the paper

Clearly embody the focus of the proposal Clearly embody the focus of the proposal and is supported by the stated objectives and is supported by the stated objectives and expected outputsand expected outputs

Research Title Research Title (continued)(continued)

13

Tips on coming up with a good research Tips on coming up with a good research titletitle

• List the most important factors to be studied List the most important factors to be studied (e.g., performance, directed-acyclic graph, (e.g., performance, directed-acyclic graph, buffered switch, architecture), as well as buffered switch, architecture), as well as methodology/treatments to be usedmethodology/treatments to be used

Categorize the words that can be grouped Categorize the words that can be grouped (e.g. bipartite matching, traveling salesman, (e.g. bipartite matching, traveling salesman, quick sort and binary search can be grouped quick sort and binary search can be grouped as algorithms)as algorithms)

Compose the words to form a clear, eye-Compose the words to form a clear, eye-catching titlecatching title

Review for grammar and improve some of the Review for grammar and improve some of the words without changing its words without changing its meaning/messagemeaning/message


14

Guidelines in making the TitleGuidelines in making the Title

Do not include too much information in the Do not include too much information in the titletitle

Avoid using unnecessary words (effects, Avoid using unnecessary words (effects, evaluation, study, experiment, trials, evaluation, study, experiment, trials, observations, observations, results, test, factors, analysis, results, test, factors, analysis, etc.)etc.)

Title can be expressed in terms of scope of Title can be expressed in terms of scope of the the resultsresults


Titles should:Titles should: Titles should NOT:Titles should NOT:

•Describe contents Describe contents clearly and precisely, so clearly and precisely, so that readers can decide that readers can decide whether to read the whether to read the report report •Provide key words for Provide key words for indexing indexing

•Include wasted words Include wasted words such as "studies on," such as "studies on," "an investigation of" "an investigation of" •Use abbreviations and Use abbreviations and jargon jargon •Use "cute" language Use "cute" language

Good TitlesGood Titles Poor TitlesPoor Titles

• The Relationship of The Relationship of Luteinizing Hormone to Luteinizing Hormone to Obesity in the Zucker Obesity in the Zucker Rat Rat

• An Investigation of An Investigation of Hormone Secretion and Hormone Secretion and Weight in RatsWeight in Rats

•Fat Rats: Are Their Fat Rats: Are Their Hormones Different?Hormones Different?

16

Introduction

Use the first paragraphs to describe the context

The opening sentence should clearly indicate the topic

Parts of a Research ProposalParts of a Research Proposal

Example:

Underutilization of main memory impairs the performance of operating system

Operating systems are traditionally designed to use the least possible amount of main memory, but such design impairs their performance

17


Introduction (continuation)

Underutilization of main memory impairs the performance of operating sentence

Operating systems are traditionally designed to use the least possible amount of main memory, but such design impairs their performance

The second version is better for the ff reasons: Clear – states the context which can mean that

OS don’t use much memory positive

18

Introduction (continuation)

Take care to distinguish description of existing knowledge from the description of paper’s contribution


Example:

Many user interfaces are confusing and poorly arranged. Interfaces are superior if developed according to rigorous principle.

Many user interfaces are confusing and poorly arranged. We demonstrate that interfaces are superior if developed according to rigorous principles.

19

Introduction: four-element organization

1. A general statement introducing the broad research area of the particular topic being investigated.

2. An explanation of the specific problem (difficulty, obstacle, challenge) to be solved.

3. A brief review of existing or standard solutions to this problem and their limitations.

4. An outline of the proposed new solution.


Questions to address (in Questions to address (in INTRO)INTRO)

How to address themHow to address them

What is the problem?What is the problem? DescribeDescribe the problem the problem investigated. investigated. • SummarizeSummarize relevant research relevant research to provide context, key terms, to provide context, key terms, and concepts so your reader can and concepts so your reader can understand the experiment. understand the experiment.

Why is it important?Why is it important? Review Review relevant research to relevant research to provide rationale. (What conflict provide rationale. (What conflict or unanswered question, or unanswered question, untested population, untried untested population, untried method in existing research method in existing research does your experiment address? does your experiment address? What findings of others are you What findings of others are you challenging or extending?)challenging or extending?)

What solution (or step What solution (or step toward a solution) do you toward a solution) do you propose?propose?

Briefly Briefly describedescribe your your experimentexperiment: : hypothesishypothesis(es), (es), research questionresearch question(s); general (s); general experimental experimental designdesign or or methodmethod; ; justification of methodjustification of method if if alternatives exist. alternatives exist.

21

Problem Statement

Definition:• A problem is a set of conditions needing

discussion, a solution, and information… (conventional sense)

• Implies the possibility of empirical investigation, that is, of data collection and analysis… (technical)

•IT IS NOT:• How to do something• A vague or too broad a proposition• A value question

But… by asking these types of questions a researchable problem may emerge


22

Problem Statement

Usual Format:• The purpose of this [type of study] study is to

understand [what] of [who or what] involving [what or who] from [when] to [purpose].

•Example


Problem Statement: Problem Statement: ExampleExample

the type & purpose the type & purpose of studyof study

who or whatwho or what limits of when (time limits of when (time

period)period) major constructs major constructs

(identified as (identified as observable observable variables)variables)

theoretical theoretical framework (this framework (this supports how the supports how the construct is defined construct is defined and defines the lens and defines the lens used to analyze & used to analyze & interpret the data) interpret the data)

A Problem Statement by Tiffanie Davis © 2000

The purpose of this project is to create four different WebQuests which employ constructive active learning pedagogy, teach higher order thinking skills, and that introduce feminist issues to 6th 8th grade art students. I will pilot the WebQuests over a period of 3 months and document student written responses, my observations of their process, and student WebQuest products in order to evaluate student learning and interest in the feminist technological art curriculum

24

Objectives

• state the specific purposes to address the problem areas of the project

• should be clear as to what the proposal intends to achieve

• must be attainable within the timeframe and resources required.

Formulating the Objectives

Statements of the goals of the studySet the limit by which the problem will be

studiedShould be attainable under reasonable

conditionsSimple, specific, narrow enough to permit

definite answers


25

SMART Guide

Research Objectives (continued)

SPECIFICMEASURABLE

ATTAINABLERELEVANT

TIMEBOUND


26

State what you expect to accomplish

The words survey, examine, quantify, and investigate tell what the researcher intends to do

The words evaluate, compare, characterize, determine, or recommend tell what the researcher will do with the data to come up with conclusions and recommendations

Have a general objective, if there are many studies all leading to a common goalObjectives like “To solve the social problems of the Philippines” or “To attain self sufficiency in rice” are too presumptuous and should be narrowed down to attainable objectives under reasonable conditions.

Research Objectives (continued)


REASONS FOR READING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

to understand the work that has been presented in the study.

to place it in context and possibly to build on its results by carrying out more research.

28

Review of Literature

An organized and synthesized presentation of previous works - answers the question “what has been done relative to the problem at hand?”

Shows the state of knowledge about a subject matter -indicates the finding on which the proposal is building on

Ensures that there will be no duplication of work, and all the researchable areas will be covered

Indicate related researches/activities which have been conducted for the last 5-10 years.


29

Review of Literature (continued)

The state of the art of current technology/information from which the project proposal will take off should likewise be discussed.

The results of the prior art search conducted during the capsule stage of the proposal should be included in this section (include any related technology which is protected by any of the intellectual property rights scheme e.g. patent, trademark, copyright, etc).

● Which Literature to Review?

- Books and reviews but use them with caution - data may not be original

- Technical journal- Internet


30

Organizing the Review

• Make an outline of the topics to be presented• Classify the pertinent abstract of the reviewed literature

into topics; interrelate or group similar findings; • Compare or contrast findings where appropriate• Use the review of literature to clarify, augment, support

or contradict the idea• Present one idea per paragraph• Do not include a literature not relevant to the problem



31

Organizing the Review

- Provide smooth transitions by using such words as “on the other hand”, “nevertheless”, “in addition”, “in contrast”, etc.

- Avoid so many reviewed articles on the same subject

- Limit and avoid complementary papers by the same author

- Cite results but not tabulated data

- State research findings in your own words

- Citing word for word requires enclosing them in quotation marks

- Acknowledge sources of sentences or sections lifted from text or articles, and other vividly striking expressions



32

Methodology – this consist of the following:

Conceptual or Analytical Framework

Research design/Experimental layout

Sample size & sampling procedure/# of replications

List of data to be collected & method of collection

Methods of data analysis


33

Methodology

• The methodology should be geared towards providing answers to the research objectives

• The measurable outputs that the project will produce and their set of indicators and expected values should be included

• The methodology should also show the appropriate, sound treatments, experimental layout, and appropriate statistical analysis

• There should be a discussion on how the data required based on the set of indicators will be obtained, by whom, what sources, how frequent the data collection and how the collected data will be processed and reported.


34

Tips on developing a conceptual framework:

Generally used in social science R&D; equivalent to research design in the other sciences

Show how the problem is viewed and how the proposed interventions will lead to the solutions of the problem under study; guides the researcher on how to analyze the data and what methodology to use

The review of literature should guide the researcher in contextualizing the problem and identifying the variables to be looked into

● Usually contains variables and depicts their relationships

Illustrated using a diagram or a figure

Should always be accompanied by a textual explanation

MethodologyMethodology

35

Sampling procedure

Sampling is done in most researches for economy of time, money and effort

Sampling is a selection of a part of a population in such a way that the sample is representative of the population

Depending on the degree of homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population, the degree of accuracy required, and the objectives, the sample size is determined


36

Methods of data collection

What information will be collected?

How does the researcher propose to gather the data – from secondary or primary sources?

If data will come from primary sources, how will they be collected – through personal interviews or mailed questionnaires, laboratory or experimental observation or field survey?

Processing of the research proposal will be facilitated if a questionnaire is appended to it. Otherwise, a list of needed information has to be incorporated in the procedure.


37

Project Duration:

• Presenting the timetable of planned Presenting the timetable of planned activities (work plan) typically involves the activities (work plan) typically involves the use of a Gantt chart to illustrate activity use of a Gantt chart to illustrate activity duration.duration.

• Enumerate in chronological order the Enumerate in chronological order the activities to be undertaken. The activities activities to be undertaken. The activities should answer the expected outputs. The should answer the expected outputs. The expected outputs on the other hand expected outputs on the other hand should be anchored on the proposed should be anchored on the proposed objectives.objectives.


38

Estimated Budgetary Requirement

• The total financial requirement indicated must be reasonable and appropriate in relation to the objectives of the study

• It must be consistent with the work plan

• Counterparts funds should be indicated and line-item expenditures should be consistent with existing allowable rates


39

• The said counterpart fund maybe provided anytime during the duration of the proposed project so long as the accumulated allocation satisfies the percentage counterpart fund required

• Personal services - Honoraria of research leaders, salaries of full time researchers, research assistants, research aides and interviewers

• Maintenance and operating expenses - supplies and materials, travel expenses, attendance to meetings/ workshops, communications, contracted services, gasoline and oil, patenting, publication in a refereed journal and other expenses

Estimated Budgetary Requirement (continued)


40

Literature Cited - list alphabetically all materials used, quoted, rates, or referred to. Use standard system for citation.

Books

Author(s)/Editor(s)/Corporate Author(s). Year of Publication. Title of publication. Place of publication: Publisher, year. Pagination.

Hnannesy J and Patterson D. 1996. Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach. San Francisco, California: Morgan Kauffman Publishers, Inc., 1996. 521-522pp.

Technical Journal:

Author(s). Year of Publication. Title of article. Name of Journal, Vol and Issue No. Pagination.

Tabada, LI and Tagle, PU. 2009. Reliability Analysis of Fault Tolerant Buffered Switch. Proceedings of International Conference on Computer Engineering and Applications. 319-325pp.


41

Internet

Author(s)/Editor(s)/Corporate Author(s). Year of Publication. Title of publication. Available at: <URL>. Access Date: <date>.

International Engineering Consortium. 2007. Internet Model for Control of Converged Networks. Available at: http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/emerg- multi/topic01.html. Access Date: March 7, 2008.


Formatting the manuscriptFormatting the manuscript

Depends on the college or Depends on the college or organization’s formattingorganization’s formatting

Can be automated using LateX Can be automated using LateX softwaresoftware open sourceopen source manual available at the CEIT office – for manual available at the CEIT office – for

reproductionreproduction

Writing the ManuscriptWriting the Manuscript TitleTitle AbstractAbstract IntroductionIntroduction

ContextContext Statement of the ProblemStatement of the Problem ObjectivesObjectives SignificanceSignificance Review of Related LiteratureReview of Related Literature

MethodologyMethodology Results and DiscussionsResults and Discussions ConclusionConclusion RecommendationsRecommendations Literature Cited/ ReferencesLiterature Cited/ References

AbstractAbstract

Find out maximum length (may vary from 50 to 300+ words).

Process: Extract key points from each section. Condense in successive revisions.

What to avoid: Do not include references to figures,

tables, or sources. Do not include information not in report.

Question to Question to address in address in ABSTRACTABSTRACT

How to address How to address it:it:

What is the report What is the report about, in about, in miniature and miniature and without specific without specific details?details?

•State main objectives. State main objectives. (What did you investigate? (What did you investigate? Why?) Why?) •Describe methods. Describe methods. (What (What did you do?) did you do?) •Summarize the most Summarize the most important results. important results. (What (What did you find out?) did you find out?) •State major conclusions State major conclusions and significance. and significance. (What (What do your results mean? So do your results mean? So what?) what?)

Writing the ManuscriptWriting the Manuscript IntroductionIntroduction

ContextContext Statement of the ProblemStatement of the Problem ObjectivesObjectives Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study Review of Related LiteratureReview of Related Literature

MethodologyMethodology

Basically, have the same contents as Proposal Writing:Except in Methodology…

Questions to address:Questions to address: How to address them:How to address them:

How did you study How did you study the problem?the problem?

Briefly Briefly explainexplain the general the general type of scientific procedure you type of scientific procedure you usedused

What did you use?What did you use?(May be subheaded as (May be subheaded as MaterialsMaterials))

DescribeDescribe what materials, what materials, subjects, and equipment subjects, and equipment (chemicals, experimental (chemicals, experimental animals, apparatus, etc.) you animals, apparatus, etc.) you used.used.(These may be subheaded (These may be subheaded Animals, Reagents, etc.)Animals, Reagents, etc.)

How did you proceed?How did you proceed?(May be subheaded as (May be subheaded as MethodsMethods or or ProceduresProcedures))

ExplainExplain the steps you took in the steps you took in your experiment.your experiment.(These may be subheaded by (These may be subheaded by experiment, types of assay, experiment, types of assay, etc.)etc.)

Additional Tips: Additional Tips: MethodologyMethodology

Provide enough detail for replication. For a journal article, include, for example, genus, species, strain of organisms; their source, living conditions, and care; and sources (manufacturer, location) of chemicals and apparatus.

Order procedures chronologically or by type of procedure (subheaded) and chronologically within type.

Additional Tips: Additional Tips: MethodologyMethodology

Use past tense to describe what you did.

Quantify when possible: concentrations, measurements, amounts (all metric); times (24-hour clock); temperatures (centigrade)

ResultsResults

Display of data with logical Display of data with logical development showing how your development showing how your findings satisfy your objectivesfindings satisfy your objectives

If possible, give illustrative examples If possible, give illustrative examples and compare those with known and compare those with known results in the literatureresults in the literature

Use tables and figures/ picturesUse tables and figures/ pictures

Question to Question to address in address in RESULTS:RESULTS:

How to address it::How to address it::

What did you What did you observe?observe?

For For eacheach experiment or experiment or procedure:procedure:Briefly describe Briefly describe experiment experiment without detail without detail of Methods section (a of Methods section (a sentence or two).sentence or two).Report main result(s)Report main result(s), , supported by selected data: supported by selected data:

Representative: Representative: most most common common Best Case: Best Case: best example best example of ideal or exception of ideal or exception

Results… Additional TipsResults… Additional Tips

Order multiple results logically: from most to least important from simple to complex; organ by organ; chemical class by

chemical class

Use past tense to describe what happened.

DiscussionDiscussion

AN INTRODUCTION is to place the reason for carrying out your study in context, so the DISCUSSION is to place your results in context.

DiscussionDiscussion the hardest section to write you discuss, you do not recapitulate

the Results the relationship among observed

facts show Don't over-generalize. Don't ignore deviations in your

data. Avoid speculation that cannot be

tested in the foreseeable future.

Discussion… Additional TipsDiscussion… Additional Tips Move from specific to general: your

finding(s) --> literature, theory, practice.

Don't ignore or bury the major issue. Did the study achieve the goal (resolve the problem, answer the question, support the hypothesis) presented in the Introduction?

Make explanations complete. Give evidence for each conclusion. Discuss possible reasons for

expected and unexpected findings.

Questions Questions to addressto address

How to address themHow to address them

What do your What do your observations observations mean?mean?

•Summarize Summarize the most important findings at the the most important findings at the beginning. beginning.

What What conclusions conclusions can you can you draw?draw?

ForFor each each major result:major result:•DescribeDescribe the patterns, principles, relationships the patterns, principles, relationships your results show. your results show. •ExplainExplain how your results relate to expectations how your results relate to expectations and to literature cited in your Introduction. Do they and to literature cited in your Introduction. Do they agree, contradict, or are they exceptions to the agree, contradict, or are they exceptions to the rule? rule? •ExplainExplain plausibly any agreements, contradictions, plausibly any agreements, contradictions, or exceptions. or exceptions. •DescribeDescribe what additional research might resolve what additional research might resolve contradictions or explain exceptions. contradictions or explain exceptions.

How do your How do your results fit results fit into a into a broader broader context?context?

•SuggestSuggest the theoretical implications of results. the theoretical implications of results. •SuggestSuggest practical applications of your results. practical applications of your results.•ExtendExtend your findings to other situations or other your findings to other situations or other species. species. •GiveGive the big picture: do your findings help us the big picture: do your findings help us understand a broader topic? understand a broader topic?

ConclusionConclusion

Draw together the topics discussedDraw together the topics discussed Should include concise statement of Should include concise statement of

the paper’s important results and an the paper’s important results and an explanation of their significanceexplanation of their significance

State any shortcomings in the State any shortcomings in the experiments, problems that the experiments, problems that the theory does not address, and so on…theory does not address, and so on…

ConclusionConclusion

Look beyond the current context to Look beyond the current context to other problems that were not other problems that were not addressed, to questions that were no addressed, to questions that were no answered, to variations that could be answered, to variations that could be exploredexplored

If you have no conclusion to draw, If you have no conclusion to draw, write “Summary”write “Summary”

Common ProblemsCommon Problems Too long – only about 2.5% of manuscriptToo long – only about 2.5% of manuscript Too much detail – emphasize on evaluation, Too much detail – emphasize on evaluation,

implication, etc.implication, etc. Failure to comment on larger, more significant Failure to comment on larger, more significant

issues – Introduction is deduction while issues – Introduction is deduction while conclusion is inductive (how the research conclusion is inductive (how the research affect the world)affect the world)

Failure to reveal the complexities of a conclusion or situation – negative aspects can be included

Lack of a concise summary of what was learned.

Failure to match the objectives of the research

REMEMBERREMEMBER Writing helps you to think and

to learn. Don’t misjudge your audience. They can tell you when you are bluffing and when you don’t believe what you are saying or doing.

Write clear and simple, science is not an entertainment.

02 proposal report_preparation_2nd_sem

Education

research problem

research components

good research title

research title importance

research proposal scope

ambitious entering research

good title

eyecatching title review