Components of a Research Proposal

Components of a Research Proposal

Introduction
Literature Review
Research Method

The Introduction

background /Motivation of the study

Brief literature review

Do not review single, isolated studies-introduce larger groups of

studies to present broader picture of the literature

Conveys information about a research PROBLEM

how the current research is related to other research

The authors announce a problem

The authors justify why it needs to be studied
Indicate why the problem is important by citing references that
justify the need to study the problem

Purpose statement
Research questions/hypothesis
the significance of the study

Literature Review

Theoretical framework
address the independent variable(s) proposed by the
study
address the dependent variable(s) proposed by the
study
address studies conducted on the independent
variable(s) and the dependent variable(s)
a summary that highlight the key research studies
relevant to the proposed study, their general findings
that relate to the proposed study and support for the
need of additional research on the proposed topic
Definition of terms-conceptual and operational
definitions

Method

Participants/setting/research context
Research design
Treatments- Independent variables
Instruments-Dependent variables
Research material
Research procedures
Threats to validity-internal validity and external
validity
Data analysis plan

Internal validity

Be cautious of factors affecting internal

validity

Subject variability
Size of subject population
Time allotted for data collection or the
experimental treatment
Diffusion effect
Instrument/task sensitivity

Data analysis plan

Tell the readers about the type of

statistical analysis that will be used

Report the descriptive statistics-mean,

standard deviations, and ranges
Indicate the inferential statistical tests
used to examine the hypotheses in the
study