research proposal writing 2013

BYC.E. OCHONOGOR , PH.D; FCAI

[email protected] FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (ISTE)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA, PRETORIAMAY, 2013

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

WRITING: A GUIDE

Outline of the Presentation

Some reasons for doing researchWhat is a Proposal?What is a Research Proposal?Preparing to write a research proposalWriting the proposalContents of a research proposal:Ethical Considerations

Some of the reasons for doing research are as follows: To

Contribute to the body of knowledge;

Expand the body of scientific knowledge;

Learn to think critically (to question, analyze, identify, be logical, find solutions and seek justifications);

C.E. Ochonogor , Ph.D; FCAI

Reasons for doing research contd.

• Add value to benefit the society by proffering possible solutions to identified problems;

• Get fame, wealth and recognition; and

• Improve practice.



At the Masters Degree level, a student/candidate is expected to become a master of specific subject having built on the knowledge of others.

He/she is further expected to have incremental improvement in an area of knowledge, or the application of known techniques in a new area.



• At the doctoral level, the student is encouraged to create academic knowledge and learning which should be substantial and innovative.

• It involves contribution to knowledge which necessarily requires a more difficult problem to be solved in order to make more substantial contributions.


What is a Proposal?

• A proposal is generally a suggestion or plan made towards accomplishing a given task.

• It is expected that such a plan previews the nature of the task ahead and the step(s) and activities that lead to achieving the goals and objectives of the task.

• A proposal therefore, is a foundation or scaffold upon which a given product (body of knowledge, building, etc) can be successfully made.


What is a Proposal? Contd.

A proposal serves a framework and foundation on which a research work or study is to be built upon.

Therefore, a poor proposal is like a poor

framework or foundation and will give rise to a poor research at the end.


What is a Research Proposal?

• A research proposal is a carefully prepared plan or path-way that precedes any research study or work.

• It is a comprehensive plan by a researcher to carry out a chosen research study or activity.

• It shows the preliminary actions the researcher proposes to take or do based on a chosen and agreed title with the supervisor/promoter.


What is a Research Proposal? Contd.

Academic or scientific research carried out with a poor proposal is bound to experience any or all of the following problems:

Inability to locate any important knowledge gap;

Lack of appropriate research design;

Poor methodology and procedure


Poor and inappropriate research instrument(s);

Inappropriate ways of data collection;

Use of wrong method(s) of data analysis;


Wrong results and misleading interpretations and inferences; and

Eventual failure to solve any problem.


PREPARING TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A good research proposal is NOT just done in a rush.

This implies that a student-researcher preparing to produce a research proposal needs to take necessary steps such as:


PREPARING TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL Contd.

• Be ready to always submit his/her work in chapters to the supervisor/promoter for corrections and instructions.

• Ensure that the language used in the proposal is characterized by present continuous tenses. This is to explain what is to be done and not what has been done particularly in chapter 3. However, the activities and results of pilot studies are expectedly reported in past- tense since they connote what must have been done in the process of preparing the proposal.


WRITING THE PROPOSAL

A well written proposal is 50% completion of the main task.

A good student-research proposal must contain the first three chapters of a full research report, list of tables, references and appendices resulting from the proposal.


CONTENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL:

A layout of the content of a research proposal is as follows:

Title Page.................................................... I

List of Tables................................................ Ii

List of Figures……………………………... iii


Chapter One INTRODUCTION

Background to the StudyStatement of the ProblemPurpose of the StudySignificance of the StudyScope and Delimitation of the Study


Chapter One contd.

• Research Questions

• Research Hypotheses

• Operational Definition of Terms

• Structure of the Thesis/Dissertation


Chapter TwoREVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A good and plausible Theoretical Framework OrA well-directed Conceptual Framework


Developing the theoretical framework

Theories are constructed in order to explain, predict and master phenomena (e.g. relationships, events, or the behavior). In many instances we are constructing models of reality.

A theory makes generalizations about observations and consists of an interrelated, coherent set of ideas and models.

The theoretical framework is but a theory that serves as a basis for conducting research.


REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE CONTD.

The use of Theoretical Framework entails stating a matching theory, discussing the nature of the theory, justifying the relationship between the theory and the proposed study and finally, explaining its application in the study.


The Uses contd.

It helps the researcher see clearly the variables of the study;

It can provide him/her with a general framework for data analysis;

It is essential in preparing a research proposal using descriptive and experimental methods


How to produce a theoretical framework

Specify the theory used as basis for the study Mention the proponents of the theoryCite the main points emphasized in the theorySupport your exposition of the theory by ideas

from other experts;Illustrate your theoretical framework by

means of a diagram; and,Reiterate your theoretical proposition in the

study.



Conceptual Framework involves seeking conceptual meanings of terms and concepts surrounding the thrust of the study to be carried out. Such terms and concepts are discussed with citations of what others have done and said in such directions and must have analytical input from the student/present researcher.



A concept is an image or symbolic representation of an abstract idea. Chinn and Kramer (1999) define a concept as a “complex mental formulation of experience”.

While the theoretical framework is the theory on which the study is based, the conceptual framework is the operationalization of the theory.

It is the researcher’s own position on the problem and gives direction to the study.


How to produce a Conceptual framework

show the relationships of the different constructs that he wants to investigate.

cite your conceptual framework or paradigm;Identify your variables;Show the direction of the study.


Importance of Theoretical or Conceptual Framework

The use of either of the two frameworks is to have a broad based reference point to discover knowledge and information gaps that the present study would try to proffer solutions to.



• Other sections of the literature review preferably under some carefully selected sub-headings. Each sub-heading is expected to exhaustively discuss a given issue before jumping to another.

• The researcher is to ensure the use of recent citations covering empirical and non-empirical findings of other people with some level of critical analysis of the statements.



The last sub-heading of Chapter Two is the Summary/Appraisal of the review done pointing out the observed strengths, weaknesses and gaps within which the present work shall fit into when eventually carried out.


Chapter ThreeRESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND

PROCEDURE

Research Design

Population of the Study

Sample and Sampling Technique


Chapter Three contd.

Instrumentation:(i) Development of Instrument(ii) Validation of Instrument (Face, Content,

Predictive, Construct and other forms of validity depending on the nature of the instrument and of the study).

(iii) Reliability of the Instrument.


Chapter Three contd.

Administration of the Instrument or Method of Data Collection

Control of External Variables (if any)

Method of Data Analysis


Ethical Considerations

• Unisa basic requirement is that every research work to be conducted under the supervision of the University must have evidence of ethical clearance for Theses and Dissertations before proceeding with the study(ies).

• The clearance must be sort and obtained at the proposal stage while the student and the supervisor should sign the paragraph proforma before submission.


• Pilot Study (If necessary)

• Work Plan

• References

• Appendices


Types of Designs


Internal Validity is the approximate truth about inferences regarding cause-effect or causal relationships. Thus, internal validity is only relevant in studies that try to establish a causal relationship. It's not relevant in most observational or descriptive studies, for instance. But for studies that assess the effects of social programs or interventions, internal validity is perhaps the primary consideration.

Single Group Threats

Regression to the MeanA regression threat, also known as a "regression artifact" or "regression to the mean" is a statistical phenomenon that occurs whenever you have a nonrandom sample from a population and two measures that are imperfectly correlated.

The Formula for the Percent of Regression to the Mean

You can estimate exactly the percent of regression to the mean in any given situation. The formula is:

Prm = 100(1 - r)where:Prm = the percent of regression to the mean

r = the correlation between the two measuresConsider the following four cases:if r = 1, there is no (i.e., 0%) regression to the meanif r = .5, there is 50% regression to the meanif r = .2, there is 80% regression to the meanif r = 0, there is 100% regression to the mean

The End: Thank You.


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