ASSIGNMENT

WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND REPORT

Roll No: 5401, 5426

Submitted By: Sidra Afzal, Iqra Nisa
Submitted To: Mrs. Samina Bukhari
Date: 09-03-2019

Government Viqar-un-Nisa Post Graduate College for Women,

Rawalpindi.
What is Research Proposal?

“ A reasearch proposal is a detailed description of a research study designed to

investigate a given problem. It is also called research plan or synopsis.”

A research proposal may be relatively berief and informal or very lengthy and formal. It must be
completed before a study is begun. It makes to think through every aspect of the study. It facilitates
evaluation of the proposed study. It provides guide for conducting the srudy. A well developed
proposal saves time, reduces the probability of costly mistakes and generally results in higher
quality research.

 What is a Research Report?

“Research report is a research document that contains basic aspects of the
research project”.
In simple words, Research report is the systematic, articulate, and orderly presentation of research
work in a written form. It involves relevant information on the research work carried out. It may
be in form of hand-written, typed, or computerized.
Research report is a medium to communicate research work with relevant
people. It is also a good source of preservation of research work for the future reference. Many
times, research findings are not followed because of improper presentation. Preparation of research
report is not an easy task. It is an art. It requires a good deal of knowledge, imagination, experience,
and expertise. It also demands a considerable time.

General Guidlines/ Rules for Writing a Research Report:

 Write in Tense

A research report is written in the past tense.

 Objectivity

Probably the foremost rule of research report writing is that the writer must be as objective
as possible in reporting the study.
 Use impersonal nouns and passive voice:

Consistent with the goal of objective reporting, personal pronouns such as I and we should
be kept to be a minimum, instead personal pronoun and the passive voice should be used.

 Clear and concise

The research report should be written in a clear, simple, straightforward style; you do not
have to boring, just concise.

 Grammatically correct:

Correct spelling, grammatical construction, and punctuation are not too much to expect of
a scientific report.

 Least use of abbreviations:

Use of abbreviations and contractions is generally discouraged.

 Refer author by last name:

Authors of cited references are usually referred to by last name only in the body of the
report; first names, initials, and title are given . Tables, footnotes, and reference may
include abbreviations; footnotes and references usually give at least the author initials.

 Expression of number:

If the first word of a sentence is a number, of if the number is nine or less, numbers are
usually expressed as words. Otherwise, number are generally expressed as Arabic
numerals.

 Typing standards:

The same standards of scholarship should be applied to the typing of the report as the
writing of the repot.
 Present typist final manuscript:
Present the typist with a manuscript which is in final, correct form; the typist job is to type,
not to polish, your report.
Guide the typist:
If you have any special instructions, share them with them with the typist and be sure they
are understood.

Provide a copy of style to typist:

It is also a good idea to give your typist a copy of the style manual your are following to
insure that required guidelines (such as size of margins) are followed.
Proof read carefully:
The final typed report should be proof read carefully.
Use of computer software:
The process of preparing a research report has been greatly facilitated by the development
of word processing software for micro.
Use of software with special features:
While different programs have different capabilities, commonly available features include:
automatic page numbering and heading centering; the ability ti rearrange words, sentences,
and paragraphs; and spelling checkers.

Format and Style:

Format of the research Report

The research report, because of its relative brevity, differs somewhat from a thesis or
dissertation. The following outline presents the equence of topics covered in the typical research
report prepared according to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Publication
manual, 5th ed. (2002):

Title Page
Title
Author’s name and institutional affiliation
Running head

Abstract

Introduction (no heading)

Statement of the problem
Background/ review of literature.
 Purposes and rationale /hypothesis

Method
Subject
Apparatus or instrumentation (if necessary)
Procedure

Result
Tables and figures, as appropriate ( these follow the author note)
Statistical presentation

Discussion
Support or nonsupport of hypotheses
Practical presentation
Conclusion
References

Appendix (if appropriate)

Author Note
Identify each author’s departmental affiliation
Identify sources of financial support
Acknowledge contributions to the article
Give contact information for further information

Style of Writing:
- The APA style for typing a manuscript requires double spacing throughout the paper.
Additional spaces may set off certain elements such as the running head on the title page, but single
spacing should never be used. Leave margins of at least 1 inch at the top, bottom, right and left of
every page. Number all pages except the figures. The tittle page and the abstract are on separate
pages (pages 1 and 2 respectively). Begin a new page for the introduction, for the references, for
each table and figure, for each appendix, and the author note.

The first page of the report is the title page and includes the title, author’s name, and
author’s affiliation near the top of the page, separated by double space. Toward the bottom of the
page are the running head and acknowledgements, separated by a double space.

The abstract on page 2 of the research report describes the study in 100 to 150 Words and includes
the problem under study, characteristics of the subjects, the Procedures used (e.g., data gathering
techniques, intervention procedures), the finding of the study, and the conclusions reached by the
researcher. A good abstract increases the readership of the article because many person read the
abstracts in a journal to decide which articles to read completely.

The research report should have a creative, clear and concise style. Objectivity is the primary goal,
not exhortation or persuasion. The research report should describe and explain, rather than
convince or move to action. In this respect the research report differ from an essay or feature
article.

Only last name of cited authorities are used. Titles such as professor, Dr., Mr., and Dean
are omitted. The past tense should be used in describing completed research procedures.
Abbreviations may be used only after their referent has been spelled out, with the abbreviation
following in brackets.

Types of Research Reports:

There are various types of research reports but the components of all research reports are similar.
Depending upon its form, the report may be divided into sections or chapters. The following are
different types of research reports.

 Thesis and dissertation

 Journal articles

 Papers presented at professional meetings

Thesis or Dissertstions:

Thesis or dissertstions follow the same outline as described for the research report.. Many
institutions have their own style manuals for these research papers. They may require or suggest a
certain order of topics, the designating of major ( and some minor) sections as a chapter,
bibliographies in place of reference sections.

Because a goal of the thesis or dissertation is to demonstrate the student's knowledge in

a particular feild, it is more appropriate to be complete and comprehensive rather than concise and
brief. Length is not an issue here as it is when submitting an article to ajournal.

Basic difference between A theses or Dissertation:

 The main difference between thesis and dissertstion is length and comprehensiveness.
Dissertation is lengthier, thus, takes more time to be completed while thesis is short;
therefore, it does not consume too much time to be completed.
  A thesis is basically the requirement for Master’s degree while dissertation is the basic
requirement to acquire the degree of doctorate

 The thesis is a project that marks the end of a master's and m.phil program, while the
dissertation occurs during P.H.D and doctoral study.

 You have to utilize already collected information in order to prepare a thesis whereas
dissertation is based on the research conducted all by yourself.

 The two are actually quite different in their purpose, as well. A thesis is a compilation of
research that proves you are knowledgeable about the information learn throughout your
graduate program. A dissertation is your opportunity during a doctorate program to
contribute new knowledge, theories or practices to your field.

Formmat of thesis:

The resesrch reports follow the same general format.

Format:

It includes three parts.

1. Preliminary pages

2. Main body

3. Reference section

Part-1: Preliminary Pages

i. The title page:

The title ppage includes:

a) The title of the report (at the top)

b) The author's name (in the middle)

c) The name of the institution ( at bottom)

d) The data pf presentation (below the name of institution)

 The title should be brief and clear (10-12 words).

ii. Inner Title Page

It should include the following:

a) Title of the report (at the top).

b) Author’s name(in the middle).
c) Supervisor’s name (in the middle).
d) The thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of M.ED to
Govt. Viqar Un Nisa P/G College for Women RWP. (Bottom)
iii. Acknowledgments:

In this page writer appreciates the person who have guided and assisted him in
conducting an completing the research.

iv. Declaration certificate:

It include a declarative statement as under.
Except where otherwise acknowledge in the text, this thesis represents the original
research of the author. This material contained here in has not been submitted within , in
whole or in past , for a degree at this or any other university.
v. Approval Sheet:

It includes approval of thesis by the component authortities. In it, statement is written

as under:
The thesis entitled,”………………………………..”
And submitted by …………………………………
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.ED is here by accepted.

vi. List of contends:

This page includes the serial number, contents and page number.It includes chapter’s
headings and sub headings and gives an birds eye view to the reader.
vii. List of Table:
It includes the serial number of the tables, the titles of the tables and page number.
viii. Lis of Figures:
It includes the setial number of the figures, title of the figures and page number.
ix. Abstract:
The abstract describes the study in 100 – 150words. It includes the following:

The problem, type of subjects, type of instrument, the design, the procedure, major
results, major conclusions
PART-II Main Body of the Report:

Chapter 1: Introduction
This section includes the background of the problem as well as justification for the
selection of the problem. The researcher justifies the selection of the problem by describing the
significance attached to the problem as how the problem may contribute to educational theory or
practice

 Statement of the problem:

The problem is stated after a brief description of background and justification for the
study. A well written statement also indicates the variables and the relationship
between variables.

 Objectives of the problem:

What so ever the researcher investigates are the objectives of the study. Few
and specified objectives add to the quality of research.

 Significance of study:

In this section importance of the research is described. It is stated that for whom and
how the research study is important. How does it contribute towards the educational
theory and practice. How is it important for students, teachers, institutions, teaching
process and society.

 Hypothesis:

It is a statement that is tested. It is tentative answer or intelligent guess derived from

previous research or theory and is subjected to the process of verification or
disconfirmation. Analysis of the data collected confirms or disconfirms the hypothesis.

 Limitations:

These are the conditions beyond the control of the researcher.

 Delimitations:

These are the boundaries of the research study established by the researcher to save
time, effort and money.

 Method:

This section briefly describes the population, sample and development, administration
and scoring of research instrument.
  Definitions of Terms Used:

Terms are defined so that these may not lead to misinterpretation. The terms like
achievement or intelligence need to be defined.

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

This section includes the research studies related to the problem. A summary of
previous researches provides evidence that the researcher is familiar with what is already
known and what is still unknown and untested. It avoids duplication and provides useful
hypothesis an suggestions for investigations

Chapter 3: Research Procedure

This part consist of the following

a. Population:

The description of population indicates its size and major characteristics like:

Age, Grade level , Ability level, Socio economic status

b. Sample
It describes the size of the sample and the sampling techniques by which sample is
selected.
c. Development of Research Instrument:
In this section, the researcher describes the development of research instrument.
The research instrument may be

Test, Interview, Observation, Questionnaire, Checklist etc.

d. Pilot Testing:
The researcher administers the instrument to know the deficiencies. In the light of
this, he improve the instrument and finalizes the draft of the instrument.
e. Administration of the Instrument:
The researcher describes the administration of the instrument to the sample
selected.
f. Scoring of the instrument:
In this section, the method of scoring are described.

Chapter 4: Analysis of Data

This is heart of research report and deals with the analysis and interpretation of
data. Analysis is concerned with the use of statistical method and interpretation deals with
explaining the value obtained as a result of using statistical method.

Chapter 5: Results and Discussion

 This chapter is the most widely read part of a research study. It recapitulates the
information presented in the previous chapter.

a. Summary:
Most readers scan the summary first to overview the study. If the study is pertinent to
their purposes, they examine the remaining chapters. The summary includes the following:
Brief restatement of the problem, Description of procedures used, Principle finding and
conclusion , Recommendation of further research
b. Finding and Conclusion:
This part of the research report contains the finding of the study, the conclusion the
investigator has arrived at and the generalization he has formulated. In stating conclusions,
the investigator must indicate what his contribution has been to feild of study.
c. Recommendation;
It is appropriate to indicate the side problems that have been uncovered and to suggest
areas for further investigation.
PART-III Reference Section:
This section includes bibliography, appendix and index.

i. Bibliography/Reference:
This section lists all the source. The source are written alphabetically by authors last
name that were directly used in written the report. Every source cited in the research report
must be included in the references and every entry listed in the references must appear in
the paper .If APA manual is folllowed, secondary sources are not include in the references.
ii. Appendix:
This section include information and data related to the study which either are not
important enough or are too lengthy. Appendix contain materials like tests, questionnaires,
lists and raw data.
iii. Index:
It enlists all the items of importance alphabetically and the page on which they found.
The last section of the research report deals with bibliography and reference. The important
point that must be considered while writing the reference are as under:
1) List all the source alphabetically by author’s last name.
2) Every source cited in the paper must be included in the references.
3) Every enter listed in the references must appear in the paper.
4) Primary source are preferd.
5) The publication manual of American Psychological Association (1983) has specific guide
lines for writing references.

Guidelines for writing References:

  Start with the author's last name and first initial. In APA style, the author's name is
inverted, meaning you list the last name first. Place a comma after the last name, then the
first initial. Separate the names of multiple authors with commas, using an ampersand (&)
before the last name.

For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J."

 Provide the year the paper was published. If the paper was published in an academic
journal, include the year in brackets after the authors' names. If the paper was unpublished,
use the year the paper was written.
For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012)."
 List the title of the research paper. Use sentence capitalization to write out the full title
of the research paper, capitalizing the first word and any proper names. If it has a subtitle,
place a colon and capitalize the first word of the subtitle.

For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012). Red no

Roses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer."

Journal Articles:
 An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper or magazine.
 A journal is a serious magazine or newspaper that is published regularly about a particular
subject:
 Journal articles are shorter than books and written about very specific topics.

 A journal is a collection of articles (like a magazine) that is published regularly

throughout the year. Journals present the most recent research. They may be published in
print or online formats, or both.

Preparation of research report for publication in a professional journal is an impotant task. Progress
in esucational research requires that researchers share their efforts so that others may profit from
and build upon them. It is definitely to the researcher's advantage, specially the new graduate, to
have a publication. Having a publication definitely gives an edge to a newly graduated individual.
It indicates that you conducted a worthwhile research and also had the ability to prepare, submit,
and publish a scholary report.

Selection and analysis of a Journal:

1.Think about why you want to publish your work?

You must have to think about why you want to publish your work at the beginning of your research,
when you question your hypothesis. You need to check then if the hypothesis and the experiment
design are publishable. Ask yourself:
  Have I done something new and interesting?
 Is there anything challenging in my work?
 Is my work related directly to a current hot topic?
 Have I provided solutions to some difficult problems?

If all answers are "yes," then you can start preparations for your manuscript.

2.Decide what type of the manuscript to write.

You have at least three options on the type of manuscript:

 Full articles, or original articles, This is the most common type of journal manuscript. It
may be called an Original Article,Research Article, or just Article, depending on the
journal. It includes full Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections.
 Rapid communications/short communications are usually published for the quick and
early communication of significant and original advances. They are much shorter than full
articles (usually strictly limited in size, depending on each journal).
 Review papers or perspectives Review Articles provide a comprehensive summary of
research on a certain topic. It summarize recent developments on a specific topic,
highlighting important points that have previously been reported and introduce no new
information. Normally they are submitted on invitation by the editor of the journal.

Whatever type of article you write, plan to submit only one manuscript, not a series of
manuscripts.

3. Choose the target journal.

A common question is how to select the right journal for your work. Do not gamble by scattering
your manuscript to many journals at the same time. Only submit once and wait for the response of
the editor and the reviewers.

The most common way of selecting the right journal is to look at the articles you have consulted
to prepare your manuscript. Probably most of them are concentrated in one or two journals. Read
very recent publications in each candidate journal (even in press), and find out the hot topics and
the types of articles accepted.

Preparation of the Manuscript:

1.Pay attention to journal requirements in the Guide for Authors.

After selecting the journal for submission, go to the web page and download the Guide for Authors,
print out it and read the guidelines again and again!
They generally include detailed editorial guidelines, submission procedures, fees for publishing
open access, and copyright and ethical guidelines. Following this guidline will save your time –
and the editor's time. You must know that all editors hate wasting time on poorly prepared
manuscripts. They may well think that the author shows no respect.

2. Pay attention to the structure of the paper.

More and more journals have new types of structure for their articles, so it is important to consult
the Guide for Authors. However, in general, most of them follow the same structure:

 A section that enables indexing and searching the topics. It consists of the Title, the Authors
(and affiliations), the Abstract and the Keywords.
 A section that includes the main text, which is usually divided into: Introduction, Methods,
Results, Discussion and Conclusions.
 A section that includes the Acknowledgements, References, and Supplementary Materials.

If your journal is not accepted:

If your manuscript is not accepted for publication, you will usually be given copies of the reviewers
comments or be informed in a summary statement as to the reasons for its rejection. Often you can
use, this input to revise your manuscript before submitting it to another journal.

Paper presented at professional meetings:

Conference papers can be an effective way to try out new ideas and introduce your work to
colleagues. Presenting at a conference is a great opportunity for gaining valuable feedback from a
community of scholars and for increasing your professional stature in your field. A conference
paper is often both a written document and an oral presentation. You may be asked to submit a
copy of your paper to a commentator before you present at the conference.

Presenting at an academic conference is an important part of a researcher's life, and is an

opportunity that most young researchers look forward to. However, while it is no doubt an exciting
experience. It is natural for even senior and experienced researchers to feel a bit nervous while
addressing a large audience, but for young researchers who are presenting for the first time, the
whole process can be overwhelming.

The major focus of these meetings is typically to have members, share new knowledge and
research findings.

Research reports presented at meetings follows the same general format as all research reports and,
in fact, the paper you prepare for presentation may resemble a journal. It is not possible to read the
entire research report. So presenter have to prepare either an outline of what you want to say or a
swt of note cards.

Find out what is required

Find out what the conference organiser requires. Do they want a title, an abstract and title, or
abstract, title and full copy of the paper? Following the organiser’s instructions to the letter gives
you a better chance of 1getting your paper accepted!

 The key to an effective conference presentation lies in being well-prepared. Here are a
few tips that will make the process smoother for you:

1. Write your paper with the audience in mind: A conference paper should be different from a
journal article. Remember that your paper is meant to be heard, not read. Therefore, keep the
content simple and straightforward. Structure the paper well, with a clear introduction, body, and
conclusion. Use language that is simple and clear. Explain any technical terms that you have used
and provide a quick recap of the main points wherever needed.

2. Adhere to time limits: Generally, paper presentation sessions at conferences are 20-30 minutes
long, so prepare your material accordingly. Also, be prepared for any last-minute changes in
session timings. If you have been allotted 20 minutes, be ready with a short skeleton outline.
Conversely, keep some extra material handy because you may get 30 minutes instead of 20.

3. Rehearse in front of a friend: Reading in your mind will not help you keep time simply
because reading aloud in front of an audience takes longer. Rehearsing a few times in front of a
friend or in front of the mirror, so that you are familiar with the 1content, will boost your
confidence. Recording a video of your practice sessions is also a good idea as you can view them
later and understand where you need to improve.

4. Start confidently: How you begin your presentation matters a great deal. You will have to gain
the audience’s confidence and attention within the first 10-20 seconds of your session. Begin with
a quick introduction about yourself as this will help establish your credibility. Carefully select a
few highlights and be ready with a brief self-introduction.

5. Maintain eye contact with the audience: As you begin your presentation, smile. Be calm, and
breathe deep. This will help you relax and dissolve any awkwardness between you and the
audience. Be mindful of your posture: stand straight and hold your head up. This will help you
make eye contact with the audience and will also make your voice more audible. Talk clearly,
loudly, and energetically. Take advantage of pauses to look up at your audience, give your
audience time to react to what you say.
6. Use transitions: Remember to use transitions when moving from one idea to another:
transitions ensure a smooth flowing presentation. Some useful transitions are “furthermore,” “in
addition,” “consequently,” “meanwhile,” “finally,” etc. When using the same idea twice, you can
begin with “A similar idea is” or “Another example is,” etc. When giving a point-by-point
explanation, it is best to mention the total number of points at the outset; for example: “There are
reasons for this. The first reason is….; the second reason is; etc.” This approach will help readers
keep track of the points you are discussing. Additionally, sometimes a simple pause or a direct
statement such as “Let’s move to the next part of the presentation” or “To move on to another
idea” is also an effective way to introduce a new section, idea, or perspective.

7. Encourage questions and discussions: Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to one or
two question asked by audience, you can thank the person for raising it, saying that you have not
explored this angle, but will definitely think about it.

8. Ensure that the closing is natural: Ask if there are any questions, offer your contact
information, and tell the audience that you would be open to receiving questions from them over
email. If there are questions, answer them. If there aren’t any questions, just say thank your
audience for attending the session and walk off the stage. However, do not leave the room
immediately. People might come to you with questions that strike them after you have concluded
the presentation, or might want to talk to you one-on-one.

References:

 http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/marketing/research-report-introduction-definition-and-
report-format/48713

 http://dissertationguru.blogspot.com/2010/08/thesis-vs-dissertation-8-basic.html?m=1
 https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2017/05/09/how-write-effective-journal-article-
and-get-it-published-essay

 https://www.editage.com/insights/8-tips-for-presenting-a-paper-at-an-academic-
conference

 I. Pervaiz. Majeed book Depot. Qualify M.Ed.

 W. John & V. James (2006) Research in Education