Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GROUP MEMBERS:
1. KOMAL IBRAHIM
2. KIRAN SHEHZADI
3. SYEDA MAHEEN HASHMI
4. YUMNA ANJUM
5. ZAINAB AHMED HUSSAIN
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION:...........................................................................................................................3
APPROACHES OF RESEARCHES:.............................................................................................4
DEFINITION: ..................................................................................................................................6
PROPOSAL HEADINGS:...............................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................................................14
CITATIONS ................................................................................................................................................15
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RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION:
Research is defined as a careful consideration of study regarding a concern or a problem
using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie,
“Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed
phenomenon. Research involves inductive and deductive methods.”
Inductive research methods are used to analyze the observed phenomenon whereas, deductive
methods are used to verify the observed phenomenon. Inductive approaches are associated
with qualitative research and deductive methods are more commonly associated with
quantitative research.
DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH:
1. A broad definition of research is given by Martyn Shuttleworth –
“In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data,
information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.”
“Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our
understanding of a topic or issue”. It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to
answer the question, and present an answer to the question.”
” Research is a systematic, formal, rigorous and precise process employed to gain solutions
to problems or to discover and interpret new facts and relationships.”
“Research is the process of looking for a specific question in an organized, objective, reliable
way.”
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APPROACHES OF RESEARCHES:
It is perfectly possible to carry out a worthwhile investigation without having detailed
knowledge of the various approaches to or styles of research, but a study of different
approaches will give insight into different ways of planning an investigation, and,
incidentally will also enhance your understanding of the literature. One of the problems of
reading about research reports and reading research reports is the terminology.
Researchers use terms and occasionally jargon that may be incomprehensible to other people.
It is the same in any field, where a specialized language develops to ease communication
among professionals. So, before considering the various stages of planning and conducting
investigations, it may be helpful to consider the main features of certain well-established and
well-reported styles of research. Different styles, traditions or approaches use different
methods of collecting data, but no approach prescribes nor automatically rejects any method.
Quantitative researchers collect facts and study the relationship of one set of facts to another.
They use techniques that are likely to produce quantified and, if possible, generalizable
conclusions. Researchers adopting a qualitative perspective are more concerned to understand
individuals’ perceptions of the world. They seek insights rather than statistical perceptions of
the world. They doubt whether social ‘facts’ exist and question whether a ‘scientific’
approach can be used when dealing with human beings. Yet there are occasions when
qualitative researchers draw on quantitative techniques, and vice versa.
The approach adopted and the methods of data collection selected will depend on the nature
of the inquiry and the type of information required. It is impossible in the space of a few
pages to do justice to any of the well-established styles of research, but the following will at
least provide a basis for further reading and may give your ideas about approaches you may
wish to adopt in your own investigation.
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NEED / IMPORTANCE FOR RESEARCH:
The main importance is to produce knowledge that can be applied outside a research setting.
Research also forms the foundation of program development and policies everywhere around
the universe. It also solves existing problems of concern. Research is important because we
can learn more about things, people, and events. In doing research, we can make smart
decisions. he main purpose of research is to inform action, to prove a theory, and contribute
to developing knowledge in a field or study.
Marketing research is an important part of any business because it allows consumers and
producers to become more familiar with the products, goods, and services around them. It is
important to society because it allows us to discover more and more that might make our
lives easier, more comfortable and safer.
Research entails both reading and writing. These two literacy functions help enable
computation and comprehension. Without these skills, it is less likely for anyone to
appreciate and get involved in research. Reading opens the mind to a vast horizon of
knowledge, while writing helps a reader use her/his own perspective and transform this into a
more concrete idea that s/he understands. Apart from reading and writing, listening and
speaking are also integral in conducting research. Interviews, attending knowledge-
generating events, and casual talks with anyone certainly aid in formulating research topics.
They can also facilitate the critical thinking process. Listening to experts discuss the merits of
their studies helps the listener to analyze a certain issue and write about such analysis.
With the wide array of ideas available, scholars and non-scholars involved in research can
share information with a larger audience. Some view this process as ego-boosting, while
others see it to stimulate interest and encourage further studies about certain issues or
situations. As literacy is integral in improving a person's social and economic mobility and in
increasing awareness, research then hones necessary basic life skills and makes learning a
life-long endeavor. It presents more information for the investigation. This allows for
improvements based on greater information and study. It is very important. It encourages
interdisciplinary approaches to find a solution to problems and to make new discoveries. It is
a basic ingredient for development and therefore serves as a means for rapid economic
development.
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A research proposal is a relatively brief document that contains an outline plan for a research
project. It is produced at the beginning of the research process in advance of any data
collection. A well-constructed research proposal offers a blueprint for the research that shows
what the part looks like and how they will fit together. It describes what will be done,
explains how it will be done, and justifies why the research should be undertaken.
A research proposal is an important part of the research process because the success of any
project depends on forward planning and organization. A good proposal is based on careful
thoughts about the project will be conducted and involves the kind of advance planning that
is required if a project is to run smoothly. There is a useful analogy here with house building.
No one would seriously consider started working on a house without first having drawn up
plans for the building. Without such plans it would be virtually impossible to work out
exactly what materials will be required, when they are to be delivered, and hoe they will fit
together. The same applies with a research project. Before embarking on a research project,
the researcher needs to prepare the groundwork and give careful thought to the practical
issues involved at the implementation stage of the research.
DEFINITION:
The goal of a research proposal is to present and justify the need to study a research problem
and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The
design elements and procedures for conducting the research are governed by standards within
the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, so guidelines for research proposals
are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal.
Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive
evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a
proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with
requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes
and/or benefits derived from the study's completion.
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Proposals are informative and persuasive writing because they attempt to convince the reader
to do something. The goal of the student is not only to persuade the reader to do what is being
requested, but also to make the reader believe that the solution is practical and appropriate.
The proposal must assist with the identification of the following:
• 1. The student’s proposed area of research and the originality of that research
• 2. Adequate resources for the project (for example, library materials and research expertise)
Failure of the specific aims has a devastating and cascading effect on the review. After
struggling with it the reviewer goes to the background and significance section. The review
of the literature and discussion here may be pertinent but lost on a reviewer who does not
understand what the proposal is about. As reviewers at this point, we usually abandon any
attempts to follow a line of logic and turn to the experimental design and methods section to
see if we can at least figure out what will be done. The proposal with a poorly written specific
aims will surely not receive the priority score it might merit based on its science. The PHS
398 guideline say,” list the broad long-term objectives and what the specific research
proposal in this application is intended to accomplish e.g. to test a stated hypothesis create a
novel design, solve problems, or develop new technology. One page is recommended.”
In fact, the research proposal is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted;
it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. As such the
proposal includes an outline of what the researcher will do from writing the hypothesis and
its operational implications to the final analysis of data.
Title
Keywords
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Aims
Background
Literature review
Research questions
Methods
Ethnics
Outcomes
It can be used as the basis for writing a research proposal. They will be recognizable to
readers from a wide range of research backgrounds and they provide a sound, generic
framework for organizing all the relevant material. However, we need to be a little cautious
about treating them like a” one-size fits all” form that can be pulled off the shelf and used in
connection with any research proposal in any context. One reason for this is that the kind of
detail that is required in a proposal can vary according to the nature of the subject area of
research. It is easy to understand that proposals might look slightly different if they are
written to suit the nature of research in particular areas especially when those areas are as
diverse as business, engineering, medicine, sociology, education, history, languages and so
on.
Another reason is that various agencies and organization that receive research proposals often
produce bespoke forms with their own headings to suit their own purposes. They are at
liberty to do so and there is no single body with the authority to enforce the use of one single
model of a standard research proposal form. This means that when it comes to writing a
research proposal the first thing that a researcher must do is check whether his or her proposal
needs to be submitted using a particular form or needs to adhere to specific guidelines
provided by the body to which the proposal will be submitted. If so then there is no option
but to use the headings and sections as supplied
NEW PROPOSAL: A proposal submitted to a sponsor for the first time, or a proposal being
resubmitted after having been declined by a potential sponsor.
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REVISED PROPOSAL: This modifies a proposal that is pending or is otherwise unfunded,
but not official declined by the sponsor. If a proposal has been declined, a new proposal must
be prepared.
SOLICITED: Solicited proposals are those that are written and submitted in response to the
issuance of a ‘Request for Proposals’ (RFP), a document that identifies a specific research
problem of interest to the funding agency for which they are specifically seeking a solution.
Interested investigator then submits a ‘concept’ or ‘white paper’ briefly outlining their
proposed solution to the problem. If the funding agency or company is interested, they may
then request that the investigator submit a full proposal for consideration of funding.
PROPOSAL HEADINGS:
To make the proposal clear and easy for the reader to follow, it will need an organizing
framework or structure. This section gives a suggested set of headings for writing and
presenting the research proposal. As indicated there, a table of contents, following the title
page, is important in showing the structure, and in helping readers navigate the proposal.
1. Introduction
2. Background and significance
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3. Literature Review
4. Research design and Methodology
5. Preliminary suppositions and implications
6. Conclusions
7. Citations
1. INTRODUCTION
In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars
seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a
doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the
initial pitch of an idea or a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem.
After reading the introduction, your readers should not only understand 1what you want to
do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and be excited
about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract
[summary] before the introduction.
Think about your introduction as a narrative written in one to three paragraphs that succinctly
answers the following four questions:
To that end, while there are no hard and fast rules, you should attempt to address some or all
of the following key points:
State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of
the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the
problem is complex or multifaceted.
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Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth
doing. Answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care].
Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. Be sure to
note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research
problem.
Explain how you plan to go about conducting your research. Clearly identify the key
sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the
topic.
Set the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where
appropriate, state not only what you will study, but what is excluded from the study.
If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts or terms.
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal
devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research
problem under investigation. The purpose here is to place your project within the larger
whole of what is currently being explored, while demonstrating to your readers that your
work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked,
what methods they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, where
stated, their recommendations. Do not be afraid to challenge the conclusions of prior
research. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to
adequately examine the issue that your study addresses
Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently
structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your study in relation
to that of other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual
categories" [themes] rather than systematically describing groups of materials one at a time.
Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the
pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of
discovery as you read more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual
categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of
the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the
conclusions or recommendations that are being made.
To help frame your proposal's literature review, here are the "five C’s" of writing a literature
review:
Cite, to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in
the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to
analyzing the research problem?
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Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and
controversies expressed in the literature: what are the major areas of disagreement,
controversy, or debate?
Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which
approaches, findings, methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and
why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g.,
asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your
own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has
been said in the literature?
Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your
review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used but
methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the
methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you
would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself
[i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places,
events, and/or periods of time].
When describing the methods, you will use, be sure to cover the following:
Specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the
results of these operations in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what
you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will
spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to
find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to
determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media
sites and election outcomes in Europe].
Keep in mind that a methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is an argument as to why
these tasks add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an
important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not
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demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure
you explain this.
Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your
research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method is perfect so
you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or
accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought
up by your reader.
Just because you don't have to conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you
can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications. The purpose of this
section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or
extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and
objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly
research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policymaking. Note that such discussions
may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new
understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance.
When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:
What might the results mean regarding the theoretical framework that underpins the
study?
What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of
the study?
What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace?
Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of
problems?
Will the results influence policy decisions?
In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
How will the results of the study be implemented, and what innovations will come
about?
6. CONCLUSION
The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief
summary of the entire study. This section should be only one or two paragraphs long,
emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is
unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.
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Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:
7. CITATIONS
As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used. In a standard
research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about
which one is preferred.
References -- lists only the literature that you actually used or cited in your proposal.
Bibliography -- lists everything you used or cited in your proposal, with additional
citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.
CONCLUSION
The research proposal is a summary of the plan you are contemplating for carrying out in the
form of a dissertation - by making you put it down into a standard format and requiring you
to discuss it with your supervisor, it is intended that this will –
Highlight the way in which each section interrelates with the others;
Assist you in defining the boundaries of your study and the concepts to be included.
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CITATIONS
1. Denscombe. M, (2012), Research Proposals: Practical Guide (Edition: Illustrated),
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=LjlFBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc_
r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
2. Kumar. R, (2014), Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners,
SAGE.
https://books.google.com.pk/books/about/Research_Methodology.html?id=a3PwLuko
FlMC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f
=false
3. Punch. F. K, (2016), Developing Effective Research Proposals, Edition 3rd, SAGE.
https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/developing-effective-research-proposals/book245416
4. Sajjad Kabir. S. M, (2016), Research Proposal, Edition 1st, Book Zone Publication.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325545912_RESEARCH_PROPOSAL
5. Bell. J, (2005), Doing your Research Project, Edition 4th, Open University Press.
http://elearning.ufl.udn.vn/home/esp/pluginfile.php/3274/mod_resource/content/1/Jud
ith%20Bell%20-%20Doing_Your_Research_Project.pdf
6. Wentz. A. E, (2013), How to Design, Write, and Present a Successful Dissertation
Proposal, SAGE Publications, Arizona State University, USA.
https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/how-to-design-write-and-present-a-successful-
dissertation-proposal/book239567
7. Ogden. E. T, (2002), Research Proposal: A Guide to Success, Edition 3rd, Academic
Press, California USA.
https://300writers.com/media/pdf-
files/THE%20FORMULATION%20OF%20A%20RESEARCH%20PROPOSAL%20
IS%20A%20PROCESS.pdf
8. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/researchproposal
Cited: September 29, 2019
9. http://www.scholarpol.com/research/ Cited: September 26, 2019
10. http://readingcraze.com/index.php/definitions-research-famous-writers/
11. http://learningtz.blogspot.com/2017/03/meaning-of-research-according-to.html
12. https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit01/infoage01_03.phtml Cited: September 26th
13. https://owlcation.com/academia/Why-Research-is-Important-Within-and-Beyond-the-
Academe September 29, 2019
14. https://kingessays.com/images/samples/research-proposal-outline.jpg
15. https://kingessays.com/images/samples/research-proposal-format.jpg
Cited: September 24-25, 2019
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