Lect 3101 5

Research Proposal
Writing
• In proposal, an investigator writes about what
will take place; in the final research study, the
investigator writes about what has taken
place.
• The proposal stops with the methodology or

procedure.
Research Proposal Format
• The format for a quantitative proposal, most of
the plan is included in three major sections:
“introduction,” the Review of Literature,” and
“Methods.”
• In the format for a qualitative proposal, there is a
less standardized structure.
• Qualitative researchers support flexible and open
format so as to allow the study to emerge and to
be based on the view of participants.
Quantitative Proposal Format
• Title Page
• Table of content
• Abstract
1. Introduction
• Statement of the problem
• Purpose and Research Questions or
Hypotheses
• Theoretical Perspective
• Definition of Terms
• Delimitations and Limitations
2. Review of the Literature
3. Methods
• Study Design
• Procedures for sample selection,
• Instruments, Data collection and
• Data analysis
• Reliability, Validity
• Potential ethical issue
• Timeline/Plan of work & Budget
• Reference
• Appendices
Qualitative Proposal Format
• Title Page
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
1. Introduction
• Statement of the Problem
• The Purpose of the study
• Research Questions
• Delimitations and Limitations
2. Literature Review (Follow the directions that will
be provided in your institution)
3. Procedure
• Qualitative Methodology and Design
• Selection and description of the site and
participants
• Data collection strategies
• Data analysis strategies
• Preliminary findings
• Anticipated outcome of the study
• Tentative literature review and theory
• Timeline and Budget
• References
• Appendices
Title
• The title initially appears on the title page.

• It should be placed at the middle of the page
and centered.
• Below it should be the author’s name and the
university affiliation info, also centered.
• It should not be too cute or whimsical.
• NB: Follow the guidelines of your
institution.
Abstract
• An abstract is a brief summary (50 to 200

words) of the most important key features of the
study.
• An abstract is a concise summary of a
completed research proposal or research
project or paper
• DO NOT refer in the abstract to information that
is not in the document.
• It should state the main objective and rationale
of your project,
• It should outline the methods you used to
accomplish your objectives,
• It should list your project’s results or findings (or
projected or intended results or findings, if your
project is not yet complete),
• It should draw conclusions about the
implications of your project.
The Introduction
• An introduction orients the reader to the study.

• It should notify the reader with the basic
research problem.
• It offers sequential plan of presentation for the
study.
• The reader is, thus, informed about what
headings will be included and what each
identified section will address.
Literature Review
• The basic intention of a literature review is to

give a comprehensive review of previous works
on the general and specific topic considered in
the study at hand.
• It should include reference to classic works
related to your study and should include any
recent studies.
• Remember that not all sources of info can be
legitimately used in writing literature reviews.
Methodology
1. Introduce the overall methodological
approach for the problem or question. Is your
study qualitative or quantitative?
2. Are you going to take a special
approach/design, such as correlational
research, or use case studies?
3. Indicate how the design fits the overall
research approach. Your methods should
have a clear connection with your research
questions and/or hypotheses.
4. Indicate how you intend to select the
population sample and possibly the rationale for
that sample in relation to the data collection
methods e.g. interview, questionnaire and
observation.
5. Describe the specific methods of data
collection you are going to use e.g.
interviews, questionnaires, or observation.
6. Explain how you intend to analyze and
interpret your results.
a) Will you use statistical analysis like Special
Package for Social Sciences or you will use
Content Analysis?
b) Will you use specific theoretical
perspectives to help you analyze a text or
explain observed behaviors?
c) Data interpretation involves developing
ideas about the information found in the
various categories, patterns that are
emerging, and the meaning that seem to
be conveyed (Berg, 2007).(option)
Budget Schedule and Timeline
• You need to be able to demonstrate that your

research is possible within a given timeframe.
The institution for which you are writing a
proposal may have a set timeframe that you will
need to work within or you can set your own.
• Either way, it is important that you are able to
plot the intended progress of the project from
start to end.
• Exactly where and how money will be spent will
differ from project to project, and the size of the
budget should reflect the size of the research
project.
• Some of the main expenses that may be included
in any budget could be human resource,
technical equipment (computers), stationery, and
others.
References
• Follow APA guidelines regarding use of

references in text and in the reference list.
• In case your institution, committee or discipline
may require Chicago or MLA, just follow the
prescribed guidelines as directed.
• Only references cited in the text are included in
the references list.
Appendices
• The need for complete documentation generally
dictates the inclusion of appropriate appendixes
in proposals.
• The following are some of the appropriate
materials for an appendix section, which
appears at the end of the research proposal or
research report.
1. Original scales or questionnaires.
2. Interview protocols/procedures.
3. Sample of informed consent forms.
4. Cover letters sent to appropriate stakeholders.
5. Official letters of permission to conduct
research.
6. Verbatim (word for word) instructions to
participants. (option)
7. In the final report, any scanned document
exceeding one page as raw data from the field
may be treated under this section.
//

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Research Proposal

• The proposal stops with the methodology or

• The title initially appears on the title page.

• An abstract is a brief summary (50 to 200

• An introduction orients the reader to the study.

• The basic intention of a literature review is to

• You need to be able to demonstrate that your

• Follow APA guidelines regarding use of

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