WRITING A RESEARCH

PROPOSAL
''Classes in painting can
instruct an artist in
principles of shading,
contrast and perspective,
but it is the artists'
creativity with those that
is critical to success''
Proposal writing is part science and
part art
- Krathwohl(1977)
 Research Proposal

 A research proposal is a written document

specifying what the investigator proposes to
study and therefore is written before the
project has commenced
 PURPOSES
 Communicate the research problem, significance
 Planned procedure to solve the problem
 Guide the researcher with structure and content
 For grant of funds
 For Ethical clearance
 Research scholars – as a protocol
 CRITERIA FOR REVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL

 Reviewers
 Faculty
 Peer Reviewers
 Funding Sponsors
 They look for
 Clarity in
 Plan, Tasks, When and how they will be accomplished
 Researcher’s capabilities – Plan of action
 CRITERIA
 Importance / Significance
 Theoretical Relevance
 Adequacy of methods
 Availability of Personnel and Facilities
 Logic of Inquiry
 Reasonableness of the budget
 CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL
 Title

 Abstract

 Statement of the Problem

 Research questions

 Significance of the problem

 Background of the problem

 CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL
Contd…

 Aims and Objectives

 Plan of Investigation

 Work Plan / Time Table

 Resources
 CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL
Contd…

 Ethical Considerations

 Projected Outcome

 Dissemination of Results

 Curriculum vitae

 References
 METHOD OF SELECTION
 Research Design
 Study setting
 Data collection procedure
 Sampling plan
 Instrumentation
 Analytic strategies
 Potential methodological problems
 Intended strategies for such problems
 WORK PLAN
 Aim
 Clarifies the overall flow of activities
 Constitutes the evidence for the plan of
investigation
 Formats
 Table
 Graph
 Flow chart, Gantt chart
 PERT
 Activity list
 Critical Path Analysis
 SAMPLE SURVEY ANALYZED – PERT DIAGRAM

5 3 2 10 5
5 3 5 11 12 14
10 7
1 2 5
3 7 5
16
4 2 3 10
9 10
2 13 5 15
6 1
8

MARCH APRIL
JANUARY FEBRUARY
 CALENDER MONTH OF PROJECT

Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Develop, Pretest and

revise instruments
Prepare Interviewer,
Instruction field operation
materials
Hire and Train Interviewers
Collect data
Code and Prepare data for
Analysis
Analyze data
Prepare report and
Publications
Prepare data for archive
Project cost estimation

 I. DIRECT COST
 Personnel – Salaries
 Expenses towards Training
 Travel
 Goods (Supplies & Materials)
 Communications
 Stationary
 Statistical Services
 Report Production
 TIPS FOR WRITING THE PROPOSAL

 Start Early
 Develop support – collaboration
 Be specific
 Language
 Proof Read
 Listen to others, get feedback
 Consider your audience
 Organize the contents
 PITFALLS
 Failure
 Instructions
 Evaluation criteria
 Understanding the problem
 Specifics not highlighted
 Unprofessional
 Poorly communicated
 Unreasonable cost
 Evaluation of the Research Proposal

 Evaluation Checklist
 Problem
 Procedure
 Personnel and Facilities
 Economic Efficiency
 Protection of Human Subjects
 Overall Recommendations
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
 Introduction
 Backgroung,Statement of Problem
 Review of Literature
 Framework
 Methods and Procedures
Qualitative Research Proposal

 Introduction
 Phenomenon, purpose and type of qualitative
study
 Significance
 Research Paradigm
 Research Methods
 Findings