I. What is a research proposal?
II. Organization of a research
III.
What is a Research Proposal?
„ A statement of intent
„ A good reason why research should
happen or take place
Written for thesis & dissertation
„
Thesis & Dissertation
„ Master’s thesis – answers a research
problem/question based on previous
literature
„ Honors dissertation – research project with
supervisor’s influence
„ PhD – significant original contribution
proposal
Writing a good research proposal
Thesis & Dissertation
„ A discourse, debate or discussion
„ Thesis – Master’s degree
„ Dissertation – Honors/Doctoral degree
„ Contains a question requiring an answer
Showcases your research skills:
„
¾ Mastery of field of specialization
¾ Capability to do independent scholarly work
¾ Ability to formulate conclusions Æ modifying
or adding to knowledge previously/already
known (Mauch & Birch, 1998)
Choosing your Topic & Supervisor
„ Choose a topic you are passionate about
¾ Research on something you find interesting
¾ It will be with you for a significant period
of time
„ Supervisor
¾ Select for expertise and ability to relate to
you
¾ See Postgraduate Guidebook –
student/supervisor relationship
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What are the Steps Involved?
Defining your Research Topic
1. Find your passion Find your passion and topic of interest
2. Define the scope „ What are you interested in?
3. Focus „ What question do you want to answer?
4. Research checklist „ Are you willing to study this for 1-10
5. Organizing years?
6. Response
7. Revision

Defining your Research Topic Narrowing your focus

Scope
„ Choose a general topic of interest to you
„ Narrow the topic to ENVIRONMENT
„ Read generally about the topic a particular aspect
POLLUTION
„ Note the problems with the research, ideas that take of that general
your interest, or related topics that interest you subject Ocean Pollution
„ Note down key-words or constructs related to the Oil Spills
general topic
„ Try to be more specific and narrow your focus Æ a „ Allows you to write Effects on Sea Life
particular issue, theme or problem: about it clearly and
This becomes the thesis question completely
„ Thesis question Æ generation of testable hypotheses
Æ prove your thesis

Narrowing your focus

Topic: ‘Pollution’ (What should you do?)
A. Ask questions:
GENERAL TOPIC
1) What do you know about Pollution?
2) What is interesting?
3) How many words do you have to write? SPECIFIC THESIS TOPIC – KNOWLEDGE ‘GAP’
4) What aspect/issue/focus of Pollution is
appropriate?
B. Decide on topic task: GENERATE HYPOTHESES
1) Do you want to explore, explain, discuss, etc.?
2) What is the focus of the issue you have
chosen?
3) How can you put it into words?

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Defining your Research Topic Defining your Research Topic
Research checklist
Focusing your research
„ Note down bibliographic details
„ Note down key-words and synonyms, all
related constructs, components, and issues „ Find the gap in research, such as:
¾ Sample size
„ Convert key words Æ mind map, hierarchical
list, or plan you can use to conduct your in- ¾ Methodology

depth literature search ¾ Theoretical bases

„ Move from journal identification Æ specific ¾ Statistical manipulation

articles (using a database) ¾ Cultural limitations

„ Ask how you can improve on the research

methodology

Example
Thesis Topic: “The Use of Adult Stem Cells for Autologous Transplants”
A. General Topic : Neural Stem Cells

Defining your Research Topic

B. Read about
– Nature
– Science
– Medical Journals
– Biology Journals
– Neuroscience Journals

Organizing the topic

– Legal Journal & Torts
– Philosophy Journals
C. Problems & Constructs

Use a whiteboard/large planning sheet

– Many types of stem cells – how to guide proliferation and development?
„ – In vitro/in vivo survival of stem cells
– Delineate the neurotrophic factors that influence cell growth

Start with the topic in general

– Scarcity of stem cell sources (foetal embryonic tissue)
„ – Survivability of implanted cells not conclusively proven (e.g. Parkinsonism)
– What factors contribute to cell survivability?

„ List all separate constructs of topics – Stem cells can be tumorogenic

– Ethics:
• Use of IVF foetal tissue
„ Arrange topics in order • Greater good (does end justify means?)
– Legal issues:
• Donor anonymity
„ What questions or issues are to be D.
• The legal rights of a foetus
The Knowledge Gap or Solution to the Problem

answered? A. Difficulties overcoming sourcing issues

B. Difficulties overcoming ethical and legal issues
C. Use of adult cells to develop stem cell lines looks promising
A. Solves source issues
B. May solve tissue rejection difficulties
C. Solves ethical and legal issues
(Fenton, 2002)

Critical evaluation Critically examining the literature

„ How did the researcher conceptualize the
„ Literature review Æ critical examination
problem?
of material read
„ What were the assumptions, limitations, and
„ ‘Critical thinking’ – acknowledging the
delimitations?
strengths and weaknesses of an idea
„ How is this research relevant to my study?
„ How constructs were measured?
„ How is it different to my study?
„ How can I improve or extend this research?
(Newman, Benz, Weis, & McNeil, 1997, p. 27)

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 Organizing Research Proposals
Basic Sections in a Research Proposal
Š Title of Study
Š Introduction
Š Significance of Research
Š Literature Review
Š Methodology
Š Research design
Š Data analysis
Š Expected results
Š Ethical statements
Š Timeframe/Plan & Budget
Š Primary references
Sections in a Research Proposal
Introduction of main question & interest
in the study
Š Introduces the reader to the topic in
question
Š May begin with a brief historical overview
Š Shows why you are interested in the study
Sections in a Research Proposal
Literature review
Š Identifies your study’s contribution to the
field of knowledge
Š Discusses the relationship of your proposed
research to other local and international
researches in the field
Š Points out improvements in the field
Š Must be well structured
Sections in a Research Proposal
Title of Study
Š Gives reader a sense of what you are
examining
Š Do not make it too general
Š Needs to encapsulate what you are doing
Sections in a Research Proposal
Significance of Research, Main aim, &
Hypotheses
Š Indicate contribution your study makes to
the field of knowledge + its wider
implications or uses
Š Your research’s overall aim
Š Specific questions (hypotheses) that you
will address separately
Sections in a Research Proposal
Literature review (cont’d)
Š Serves 4 main functions:
1. Focuses on what has been done before; is
designed to highlight how your study will fill the
current knowledge ‘gap’
2. Outlines the instruments you will use and why
3. Points out why it is necessary to conduct your
research
4. Sets the boundaries for your study
(delimitations)
(Mauch & Birch, 1998; Newman et al., 1997)
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 Sections in a Research Proposal
Methodology & Research design
Discusses in detail how you will collect the data
Š
and conduct the research
Š May include quantitative, qualitative, or action
research
Š Details whether interviews, surveys, content
analysis, case studies, stratified samples, or meta-
analysis were used
Š Provides estimates of reliability, validity, and the
norms of the instruments used
Sections in a Research Proposal
Expected results
Š You should have some idea of expected
outcomes based on the research
conducted in the past
Š You may use a pilot study or fragments of
other similar research to forecast outcomes
Æ further focuses your research aims
Sections in a Research Proposal
Timeframe of study & budget
Š Provides timeline for the study
¾ Lists the times and dates of each step of your
research process
Š Budget estimate of costs involved in your
study (need not be too detailed)
Sections in a Research Proposal
Data analysis
Discusses the methods used to prove your
Š
hypotheses
Š Tip: deal with each hypothesis separately
and mention the analysis that will be
conducted
Sections in a Research Proposal
Ethical statements
Š Discuss the ways in which your study will
protect confidentiality, anonymity, and the
physical and mental well-being of
participants
Š Other codes of conduct (e.g., relevant
governmental/other established codes)
also need to be mentioned
Sections in a Research Proposal
Primary references
Š Should highlight the appropriate texts
Š Your supervisor may also direct you toward
other essential texts
Š Never underestimate the value of a good
reference list
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 Writing the Research Proposal
„ Well-structured Æ well written
„ Clear, concise, and to the point
„ Consider:
¾ Paragraph organization
9 Follow T – Topic sentence/controlling idea
E – Explain, elaborate, or define
E – Evidence, examples, or illustrations
9 Between 100-150 words
9 Avoid long paragraphs of 250+ words
9 One main idea = one paragraph
Writing the Research Proposal
How about this?
Research proposals are expressions of intent that
the research should take place. They are not only
structured, with aout ten sub-elements, they are
convincing and concise. They should not obscure
ideas with excessive words and verbosity.
(Fenton, 2002)
Writing Checklist
Paragraphs
¾ Is there one main idea per paragraph?
¾ Is your paragraph relevant to the topic?
¾ Have you used topic sentences?
¾ Have you avoided short or overly long
paragrahs?
¾ Is there a progression of ideas from one
paragraph to another?
¾ Have you linked paragraphs together?
¾ Have you read it out loud to pick up errors?
Writing the Research Proposal
¾ Sentences
9 One idea = one sentence
Example:
Research proposals, which are expressions of intent that the
research should indeed take place, are not only structured,
with about ten elements contained therein, they are
convincing as well as concise, rather than obscuring ideas
amongst a plethora of excessive words and verbosity.
Did you have difficulty understanding the sentence above?
(Fenton, 2002)
Writing Checklist
Sentences
¾ Have you conducted a grammar and spell
check?
¾ Have you defined words correctly?
¾ Is there one idea per sentence?
¾ Have you avoided overly long sentences?
¾ Have you read it out loud to pick up errors?
¾ Have you written a complete sentence?
Writing Checklist
Sections
¾ Is there a logical progression of ideas?
¾ Are sub-sections clearly labelled or sign-
posted?
¾ Does it relate to an understanding of the
thesis topic?
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 Writing Checklist Finally, saving your work…

Style
¾ Is correct referencing style used? „ Save frequently and print copies
¾ Is there appropriate use of evidence?
„ Save multiple copies
¾ Have you avoided clichés?
¾ Have you excluded emotive language?
¾ Is it the appropriat tone and level?
¾ Have you avoided slang or jargon?

References

Fenton, P. (Ed.). (2002). Writing research proposals: For masters and doctoral
studnets. (Available from the Student Learning Centre, Massey University,
Auckland campus)
Mauch, J.E., & Birch, J.W. (1998). Guide to the successful thesis and
dissertation: A handbook for student and faculty (4th ed.). New York: Marcel
Dekker.
Newman, I., Benz, C.R., Weis, D., McNeil, K. (1997). Theses and dissertations:
A guide to writing in the social and physical sciences. Maryland, MA:
University Press of America.