I. What is a research proposal?

II. Organization of a research

proposal
III. Writing a good research proposal
I. What is a research proposal?
II. Organization of a research
proposal
III. Writing a good research proposal
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

A discourse, debate or discussion

Thesis Master s degree
Dissertation Honors/Doctoral degree
Contains a question requiring an answer
Showcases your research skills:
Mastery of field of specialization

Capability to do independent scholarly work

Ability to formulate conclusions

modifying
or adding to knowledge previously/already
known
(Mauch & Birch, 1998)
Thesis & Dissertation Choosing your Topic & Supervisor
Choose a topic you are passionate about
Master s thesis answers a research
Research on something you find interesting
problem/question based on previous

It will be with you for a significant period

literature
of time

Honors dissertation research project with

Supervisor
supervisor s influence
Select for expertise and ability to relate to
PhD significant original contribution
you
See Postgraduate Guidebook
student/supervisor relationship
What are the Steps Involved?
1. Find your passion
2. Define the scope
3. Focus
4. Research checklist
5. Organizing
6. Response
7. Revision
Defining your Research Topic
Find your passion and topic of interest
..What are you interested in?
..What question do you want to answer?
..Are you willing to study this for 1-10
years?
What are the Steps Involved?
1. Find your passion
2. Define the scope
3. Focus
4. Research checklist
5. Organizing
6. Response
7. Revision
Defining your Research Topic
Find your passion and topic of interest
..What are you interested in?
..What question do you want to answer?
..Are you willing to study this for 1-10
years?
Defining your Research Topic
Scope
..Choose a general topic of interest to you
..Read generally about the topic
..Note the problems with the research, ideas that take
your interest, or related topics that interest you
..Note down key-words or constructs related to the
general topic
..Try to be more specific and narrow your focus ..a
particular issue, theme or problem:
This becomes the thesis question
..Thesis question ..generation of testable hypotheses
..prove your thesis
Narrowing your focus
..Narrow the topic to
a particular aspect
of that general
subject
..Allows you to write
about it clearly and
completely
ENVIRONMENTPOLLUTION
Ocean Pollution
Oil Spills
Effects on Sea Life
Narrowing your focus
Topic: Pollution (What should you do?)
A.
Ask questions:
1) What do you know about Pollution?
2) What is interesting?
3) How many words do you have to write?
4) What aspect/issue/focus of Pollution is
appropriate?
B.
Decide on topic task:
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?

GENERAL TOPIC
SPECIFIC THESIS TOPIC KNOWLEDGE GAP
GENERATE HYPOTHESES
Example
Thesis Topic: The Use of Adult Stem Cells for Autologous Transplants
A.
General Topic : Neural Stem Cells
B.
Read about
Nature
Defining your Research Topic

Science
Medical Journals
Biology Journals
Critical evaluation

Critically examining the literature

How did the researcher conceptualize the

Literature review
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)
Defining your Research Topic

Focusing your research

Note down key-words and synonyms, all

related constructs, components, and issues
Convert key words
mind map, hierarchical
list, or plan you can use to conduct your in-
depth literature search
Move from journal identification
specific
articles (using a database)
Defining your Research Topic

Research checklist

Note down bibliographic details

Find the gap in research, such as:
Sample size
Methodology
Theoretical bases
Statistical manipulation
Cultural limitations
Ask how you can improve on the research
methodology
Organizing the topic

Use a whiteboard/large planning sheet

Start with the topic in general
List all separate constructs of topics
Arrange topics in order
What questions or issues are to be
answered?
Neuroscience Journals
Legal Journal & Torts
Philosophy Journals
C.
Problems & Constructs
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
Scarcity of stem cell sources (foetal embryonic tissue)
Survivability of implanted cells not conclusively proven (e.g. Parkinsonism)
What factors contribute to cell survivability?
Stem cells can be tumorogenic
Ethics:
Use of IVF foetal tissue
Greater good (does end justify means?)
Legal issues:
Donor anonymity
The legal rights of a foetus
D.
The Knowledge Gap or Solution to the Problem
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)
Organizing Research Proposals
Basic Sections in a Research Proposal

Title of Study
Introduction
Significance of Research
Literature Review
Methodology
Research design

Data analysis

Expected results
Ethical statements
Timeframe/Plan & Budget
Primary references
Sections in a Research Proposal
Title of Study

Gives reader a sense of what you are

examining
Do not make it too general
Needs to encapsulate what you are doing
Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal
Introduction of main question & interest
in the study

Introduces the reader to the topic in

question
May begin with a brief historical overview
Shows why you are interested in the study
Significance of Research, Main aim, &
Hypotheses

Indicate contribution your study makes to

the field of knowledge + its wider
implications or uses
Your research s overall aim
Specific questions (hypotheses) that you
will address separately
Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal
Literature review

Identifies your study s contribution to the

field of knowledge
Discusses the relationship of your proposed
research to other local and international
researches in the field
Points out improvements in the field
Must be well structured
Literature review (cont d)

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)
Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Re
search Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal
Methodology & Research design

Discusses in detail how you will collect the data

and conduct the research
May include quantitative, qualitative, or action
research
Details whether interviews, surveys, content
analysis, case studies, stratified samples, or metaanalysis
were used
Provides estimates of reliability, validity, and the
norms of the instruments used
Data analysis

Discusses the methods used to prove your

hypotheses
Tip: deal with each hypothesis separately
and mention the analysis that will be
conducted
Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal
Expected results

You should have some idea of expected

outcomes based on the research
conducted in the past
You may use a pilot study or fragments of
other similar research to forecast outcomes
further focuses your research aims
Ethical statements

Discuss the ways in which your study will

protect confidentiality, anonymity, and the
physical and mental well-being of
participants
Other codes of conduct (e.g., relevant
governmental/other established codes)
also need to be mentioned
Sections in a Research Proposal Sections in a Research Proposal
Timeframe of study & budget

Provides timeline for the study

Lists the times and dates of each step of your
research process
Budget estimate of costs involved in your
study (need not be too detailed)
Primary references

Should highlight the appropriate texts

Your supervisor may also direct you toward
other essential texts
Never underestimate the value of a good
reference list
Writing the Research Proposal Writing the Research Proposal Writing the Research
Proposal Writing the Research Proposal
Well-structured
well written
Clear, concise, and to the point
Consider:
Paragraph organization

Follow T Topic sentence/controlling idea

E Explain, elaborate, or define
E Evidence, examples, or illustrations

Between 100-150 words

Avoid long paragraphs of 250+ words

One main idea = one paragraph

Sentences
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 the Research Proposal Writing Checklist
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)
Sentences

Have you conducted a grammar and spell

check?

Have you defined words correctly?

Is there one idea per sentence?

Have you avoided overly long sentences?

Have you read it out loud to pick up errors?

Have you written a complete sentence?

Writing Checklist
Paragraphs

Is there one main idea per paragraph?

Is your paragraph relevant to the topic?

Have you used topic sentences?

Have you avoided short or overly long

paragrahs?

Is there a progression of ideas from one

paragraph to another?

Have you linked paragraphs together?

Have you read it out loud to pick up errors?

Writing Checklist
Sections

Is there a logical progression of ideas?

Are sub-sections clearly labelled or sign-
posted?

Does it relate to an understanding of the

thesis topic?
Writing Checklist Finally, saving your work Writing Checklist Finally, saving you
r work
Style

Is correct referencing style used?

Is there appropriate use of evidence?

Have you avoided clichés?

Have you excluded emotive language?

Is it the appropriat tone and level?

Have you avoided slang or jargon?

Save frequently and print copies

Save multiple copies
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.