The Research Proposal:

Notes
Research Methods
Political Science Department
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa
What is a Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a document that

presents a plan for a project to
reviewers for evaluation.

Its purpose is to convince reviewers that the

researcher is capable of successfully conducting
the proposed research project.
What is a Research Proposal?

A proposal describes the research problem

and its importance, and gives a detailed
account of the methods that will be used

The proposal is similar to a research report,

but is written before the research project begins
 Parts of a Research Proposal
• Title and Abstract
• Introduction/Background
• Statement of the Problem
• Research Objectives
• Significance of the study
• Review of the Literature
• Framework for study
• Variables & Hypotheses
• Methodology
– Design, Sampling, Data Collection, Processing, Analysis
• Timetable
• References
 Parts of a Research Proposal
• Title and Abstract (Bonus 5 points)
• Introduction/Background (10 pts.)
• Statement of the Problem (10 pts.)
• Research Objectives (10 pts.)
• Significance of the study (5 pts.)
• Review of the Literature (15 pts.)
• Framework (10 pts.)
• Variables and Hypotheses (15 pts.)
• Methodology (15 pts.)
– Design, Sample Selection, Data Collection, Analysis Plan
• Timetable (5 pts.)
• References (5 pts.) appendix
Parts of a Research Proposal

The proposal has most of the parts of a research

report, but lacks results, discussion of results,
and the conclusions sections.

No need then to analyze data in making

a research proposal. Just the plan of action
is needed.

--W. Lawrence Neuman, Basics of Social Research (2004)

 Title

Title page- Simple title is best

CORRELATES OF JOB SATISFACTION IN A SMALL FACTORY

SOCIAL DEPRIVATION AND RELIGIOSITY:

RESULTS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY

PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO: FACTORS RELATED TO NATIONAL IDENTITY

TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND SCHOOL PERFORAMNCE:

A TEST OF TWO HYPOTHESES

FACTORS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM: FINDINGS FROM

THE 2000 SWS NATIONAL SURVEY
 Final Touches
• Title page- Simple title is best
• Abstract--Brief summary of the paper, 6
sentences summarizing introduction, method,
results, and discussion
• References--Organization can avoid accusations
of plagiarism
• Review paper to ensure that it is in Chicago style
– Check against Box 14-1
– Compare to sample paper (Appendix D)
 Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary of the paper.

Consider four to five sentences summarizing

the introduction, objectives, and method
of the proposed study.
 Introduction
The introduction is the part of the paper that provides
readers with the background information for the
research reported in the paper. Its purpose is to
establish a framework for the research, so that
readers can understand how it is related to other
research" (Wilkinson, 1991, p. 96).

In an introduction, the writer should create reader interest

in the topic, lay the broad foundation for the problem that
leads to the study, place the study within the larger
context of the scholarly literature, and reach out to a specifi
audience. (Creswell, 1994, p. 42)
 Statement of the Problem
Broad statement indicating the goals of the
research project.

This section informs readers what aspect

of the general picture will be investigated.

The problem can be stated in the form of

Questions -- general and/or specific ones
 Research Objectives
A clear statement of the specific purposes of the
study, which identifies the key study variables and
their possible interrelationships as well as the
nature of the population of interest.

What exactly do you want to study?

Try to incorporate a sentence that begins with

"The purpose (or objective) of this study is ..."

This will clarify your own mind as to the

purpose and it will inform the reader directly
and explicitly.
 Research Objectives

Write a general objective and specific objectives

The general objective of this study is to identify selected

demographic factors related to religiosity using the
SWS 1998 National Survey on Religion.

The specific objectives are: to test the association between

three demographic factors --gender, family income,
and subjective social class– and self-rated religiosity of a
sample of adult Filipinos.
 Significance of the Study
A brief statement on the importance or
relevance of the proposed study

How will the study add to our general knowledge?

What importance will it be to research users?
How will it settle issues in the academic literature?

“Much of what we know about the link between social deprivation is from
Western studies and small-scale survey researches. This study seeks
To test propositions in a non-Western, specifically Philippine setting, and
Using national survey data. The findings can have implications for the
Church in determining groups that need to be attracted more to its fold.”
 Review of the Literature
The review of the literature provides the background and
context for the research problem. It should establish the
need for the research and indicate that the writer is
knowledgeable about the area
(Wiersma, 1995).

A critical summary of research on a topic of interest,

generally prepared to put a research problem in
context or to identify gaps and weaknesses in prior
studies so as to justify a new investigation.
 Review of the Literature
oAvoid statements that imply that little has been done
in the area or that what has been done is too
extensive to permit easy summary. Statements of this
sort are usually taken as indications that the writer is
not really familiar with the literature.

No limit to the number of references, but a minimum

should be about 10 studies.
 Framework of the Study
The framework provides a statement that connects
and makes sense of the study’s main concepts.

A conceptual framework states out the theory in abstract

terms, using conceptual definitions.

An analytical or operational framework applies the

theory in concrete terms, using the operationalized
definitions of the concepts.

Present a diagram relating the concepts and

describe it in text form
 Framework of the Study

Elite Politics +

Populism

Social +
Institutions
 Framework of the Study

+
Elite Politics
+
Local culture Populism

Social
Institutions
+
 Methods of the Study
o"The methods or procedures section is really the
heart of the research proposal. The activities
should be described with as much detail as
possible, and the continuity between them should
be apparent" (Wiersma, 1995, p. 409).

This section has several subsections:

Design
Sample selection
Data Collection
Instruments, Data gathering procedures
Data Analysis
Statistical Plan
 Methods of the Study
Design –The Overall Strategy of the Study

State the purpose of the research: exploratory,

descriptive, explanatory, or a combination of these.

State the design approach: ethnography, discourse

analysis, case study, etc.

State the unit of analysis. location, and for

secondary analyses, source of data.
 Methods of the Study
Sampling –The Manner of Selecting Respondents

Who will be studied? How will they be selected?

The key reason for being concerned with sampling is
that of validity- -the extent to which the interpretations
of the results of the study follow from the study itself
and the extent to which results may be generalized to
other situations with other people (Shavelson, 1988).
 Methods of the Study
Data Collection

▪Outline the general plan for collecting the data.

▪This may include survey administration procedures,
▪interview or observation procedures.

Describe your research instruments

–i.e. your interview schedule.
Append a copy of this schedule.
 Methods of the Study

Data Processing and Analysis

Describe your data processing plan,

including your coding manual.

Specify the procedures you will use, and label them

accurately.
 Timetable

Schedule your activities. Start from the time you spend

preparing the proposal and end you submit the report.

Work within a frame of 6-8 weeks.

 Sample Timetable
• Describe a schedule of Phases Activity Duratio
n
activities. Preparatory •Review of the literature 1 month
•Preparation of
instruments
•Pretesting of
• Use a chart, like this: instruments
Data •Sampling
Collection •Fimalize QRE
•Interviews
Data Etc.
Processing

Data Analysis

Report Writing

Total X mos.
 References

Present a bibliography.

Be sure to have important classic materials

and a host of current materials to make your
research appear up to date.

Follow standard bibliographic formats like

Chicago.
 Appendices

Questionnaire/Interview Schedule

Coding Manual

Dummy Tables

Other Materials