HOW TO WRITE BASIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL?

BY: NELSON B. ABSIN, Ph. D.

Introduction and Rationale

The Introduction of a research starts with the background of the study. The first paragraph should be strong
enough to capture the interest of your readers and focused on the main perspective of the problem. The
researcher should make sure that the context is supported by authorities to establish the trustworthiness of the
study. This paragraph should persuade the readers that the study will help solve some educational problems/
and or discover new knowledge or prove existing theories. An example is given below:
Reading plays a very important role in our lives. It is so much a part of everyday living that one can hardly
imagine a life without it. In the age of the Internet and information technologies, reading retains its importance
as an essential skill for learners of any language (Alderson, 1984).
In the above example, the first paragraph starts with sentence that introduces the situation of the study which is
‘reading.’
The second and succeeding paragraphs should present the classroom situation. Classroom scenes, the
occurrence of the problem is established at a school level. This section must be written the way the classroom
situation is existed. To complete the background of the study, a local situationer must be thoroughly discussed.
This section must have adequate justification and strong enough to establish the worth of the study. The
Introduction must be concluded by highlighting the need to conduct the study citing in brief its significance.
An example is given below:
Teacher who has a direct contact with children in school plays a vital role in making a child to be quality
individual. He has to prepare the children to become good citizens, to become employees who could work hard
and would become active in nation building. He must possess strong drive of interest in his job, dedication and
commitment to service, firm strength of character; most of all, must raise the pupils’ comprehension of the
printed material to a higher level of understanding because not all information contained in books promote
pupil’s growth.
Teacher should teach the pupils how to be critical readers. The teacher, therefore, should guide the pupils in
their reading and motivate them to learn about life through printed words. Thus, the researcher motivated to
study the reading comprehension skills of grade III pupils.
Literature review
What is related literature? – A review of articles or books written by authorities giving their opinions,
experiences, theories or ideas of what is good or bad desirable or undesirable within the problem area.
When conducting research, a literature review is an essential part of the project because it covers all previous
research done on the topic and sets the platform on which the current research is based. No new research can
be taken seriously without first reviewing the previous research done on the topic.
Example. Reading is a complex, multi-faceted and purposeful activity. The needs of the times demand the
ability and expertise in reading. It is an essential life skill that should be developed in society’s richest
resources – the young boys and girls. A child needs to form the habit of reading or lose the chance at being a
regular reader. (Russell, 1981)
Edward (1992) supported this school of thought by stating that students in any discipline do a great amount of
intensive reading in order to arrive at profound and detailed understanding of their academic texts. Reading
proficiency produces positive academic results. As a learning process becomes highly participative and varied
reading materials are used to further enhance intellectual growth, reading proficiency becomes a key factor to
success.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This section ‘builds a fence’ around the research findings which could be the organization chosen, the
locations chosen and environmental factors that could not be controlled. An example is given below:
Example. This study will be conducted among the grade III pupils of Apos kahoy Elementary School Claveria
Misamis Oriental, Division of Misamis Oriental School Year 2017 – 2018. This mainly deals on the level of
reading comprehension skills among grade III pupils in Apos Kahoy and its implication to quality education.
Since this study will confine to Apos Kahoy Elementary School only, its result have a limited application.
Research Questions
As a matter of practiced, the question is written in interrogative form.( preferably question like what and how ).
Thus, the research questions are the bases of developing the methods of the study. The questions posed should
be answered clearly after the study has been conducted. An example is given below:
1. What is the result of the reading comprehension test among the select Grade III pupils?
2. What is the result of the interview on the difficulties encountered by the pupils along the area of reading
comprehension?
3. How are the respondents reading comprehension level compare according to their gender?
Methodology
a. Sampling
Basic research is reflective inquiry, the number of sample - respondents is 30 or less. If the population is more
than 30 and to get the sample size use simple random sampling , stratified or systematic. However, If the
number of population (total number of teachers or pupils) is less than 30 use purposive sample..
Example 1. The respondents will be chosen using simple random sampling specifically the fish bowl
technique. From the bowl containing the names of the students listed in small sheets of paper, the required
numbers of respondents to represent a particular section will be drawn. Whosoever will be picked became one
of the respondents. This will be done to complete the computed sample size of 30 pupils.
Example 2. The researcher used cluster random sampling in determining the respondents’ size of this study.
From the grade one population consisting of 9 sections, in every section the teacher in charge or the adviser
just select a pupils in their class by drawing lots as the number of pupils needed in the study. Each class has its
corresponding number of pupils to meet the computed sample size needed in the study. Table A indicates the
Grade One pupils who will be involved in this study. This will be done to complete the computed sample size
of 30 pupils.

Data collection
Example. Before the data will be gathered, a letter of request will be presented to the Schools Division
Superintendent asking permission to allow the researcher to conduct the study and administer research
questions to the respondents. Once permitted, time on task will be observed so that there would be minimal
interruption in their classes.
Ethical Issues
The research proposal will undergo an ethical review by the Research Committee of the division office.
Example. General information about the research, its objectives and significance will be explained to the
respondents. Only those who are willing to participate will be included in the study, with no undue force and
coercion. A written informed consent will be given which will be read and explained to the respondents prior
to the conduct of the study. The respondents can withdraw at any time during the study and the data collected
from them will not be included in the study with no penalty or loss of benefits.
Plan for Data Analysis
To aid in the analysis and interpretation of data, the following statistical measures will be used: frequency,
mean and percentage.
Timetable /Gant chart
Activity
Basic Research Proposal Person involved Week 1 Week 2 Week 3
I Introduction
II Literature review
III Research question
IV Scope and limitation
V Methodology
VI Timetable Gant chart
VII Dissemination Plan
VIII References

Plans for dissemination and advocacy

Example. This study is expected to help students identify their reading difficulties as well as their strengths and
weaknesses. This improves their study habits and good relations towards other. This study emphasizes to those
who are teaching reading will be encouraged to evaluate the teaching-learning condition in her class. The
information will influence on the reading development among the pupils and will help them on where
emphasis on teaching may be given.
References
APA Style uses brief citations within the text of a paper immediately after a quote, a reference to a source, or a
paraphrase. The brief citation gives the author, year, and page number of the source you are referring to in
parentheses, allowing readers to locate the full citation in your Reference list at the end of your paper.
Examples:
…..early onset results in a more persistent and severe course (Kessler, 2003, p. 69)
…..as has been shown (Joreskog & Sorbom, 2007,).
BOOK
Grenfell, W. T. (1919). A Labrador doctor: The autobiography of Wilfred Thomason Grenfell. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
ONLINE
Hurley, C. (2009, October 24). Suzuki encourages Newfoundlanders to join the world in demonstration on
climate change. The western star, p. 4. Retrieved from http://www.thewesternstar.com/
BY: NELSON B. ABSIN
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