RESEARCH PROPOSAL

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

The purposes of research proposal

The research proposal is your chance to explain the significance of your project to
organizations who might wish to fund or otherwise support it. Ideally, it will demonstrate
the quality and importance of your project as well as your ability to conduct the proposed
research. i.e. it helps in:
► Organizing your ideas = coherent statement of research intent.
► Convincing your audience.
► Contracting your client.

Note: The agreed format of research proposal will be shared.

Content of research proposal:

- Research Topic
- Background of the study
- Research objectives and questions
- Scope of the study
- Justification of the study
- Limitations of the study.
- Literature review
- Method – research design (a survey, interviews, examination of secondary data or combination of
methods) and data collection (primary, secondary, tertiary), research population, ethical guidelines
- Timescale
► Resources
► References
Definition of Research Topic

A research topic is a subject or issue that a researcher is interested in when conducting

research. A well-defined research topic is the starting point of every successful research
project. Choosing a topic is an ongoing process by which researchers explore, define, and
refine their ideas.
How do you describe a research topic?
► State your topic. It is often helpful to state your topic as a question.
► Identify your keywords (the main ideas of your topic).
► Think of different ways to describe your keywords.
Examples of Research Topic

► Our task is --Formulate a suitable topic that captures what you want to study from the
provided area—Transformation in the workplace.
► Impact of mining on social-economic lives of the local people in kenya (case of
Kakamega).
► Factors affecting the performance of workers in an organisation (Case of Carrefour
Kenya).
► Factors affecting growth and development of Hospitality Industry in Kenya(Case
Study of Tribe Hotel)
From our Area of Study

► The impact of the global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation.

► How the global pandemic has revolutionized organisations Workplace in Kenya?
(Case of Standard Chartered Bank).
► What is the impact of global pandemic on speeding up the process of workplace
transformation?
Checklist of attributes of a good research
topic

► Does the topic fit the specifications and meet the standards set by the
examining institution (HND Pearson)?
► Is the topic something with which you are really fascinated?
► Does your research topic contain issues that have clear link to theory?
► Do you have or can you develop within the project time frame, the
necessary research skills to undertake the topic?
► Is the research topic achievable within the available time?
► Is the research topic achievable within the financial resources that are
likely to be available
Checklist of attributes of a good research
topic

► Are you reasonably certain of being able to gain access to data you are likely to require for
this topic
► Are you able to state your research questions and objectives clearly
► Will your proposed research be able to provide fresh insights into the topic
► Does your research topic relate clearly to the idea you have been given (organization,
tutor)
► Are the findings for this research topic likely to be symmetrical (of similar value
whatever the outcome)
Business research topic Conclusion

► Something you are capable of undertaking

► Something that excites your imagination
► Something that you have a genuine interest in
► Something that develops research skills as part of undertaking your project
► Something in which you will not lose interest while developing the project
► Something you are capable to receive data for
Definition of Research Problem

► A problem: It Is the question or idea of interest to you or too many others that ought to be
answered through data collection e.g. performance in a subject, impact of a certain
strategy (oxford dictionary)
► A problem is a question of concern that can be answered through the collection of data
(Mugenda and Mugenda) 2003.
► The term problem is used to mean a situation where discrepancy exists between what
actually is or will be and what ought to be. A problem is therefore the difference between
two positions relatively viewed as right and wrong( business consultancy class notes by
Fred Mugambi)
Identifying the Research Problem

► Personal Experiences
These include some interesting or challenging situations in school, at home or work place.
► Deduction from theory
Deductive explanation arrives at specific conclusions based on generalizations.
► Literature review
By reading previous studies done by other researchers you may find them interesting to be replicated
but in different situations.
► Practical issues
Society is always faced with many burning issues ,which are not easily explainable e.g. cost sharing
universal and free education, gender equality etc.
Identifying the Research Problem

► Inductive reasoning
Conclusions that stems from general to specific. It points new relationships as one proceeds
from general to specific.
► Deductive reasoning
This is the conclusion that is made from particular to general e.g. creating a general rule by
seeing similarities among specific situations-syllogism.
► Sensory experiences
By seeing, touching, hearing, smelling and thinking over information from other people
around you who are not included in your sample.
Identifying the Research Problem

► Consultation: with experts in their disciplines e.g. a financial analyst would provide
important input on investments
► Replication: It involves carrying out a research that has already been done using the
same method including study design sampling instrument data collection procedures and
analysis. The objective is to validate or refute the findings of the previous study or to find
out whether the finding hold over time and across regions.
► The media: the print and electronic media are always reporting current issues that are of
interest to the researcher and professionals.
► Site visits: certain problems tend to occur in specific geographical regions, communities
or institutions .In such situations it’s always advisable to visit such areas, communities or
institutions to leran more about the problem.
Definition of Literature Review

► A literature review is a comprehensive

summary of previous research on a topic. The
literature review surveys scholarly articles,
books, and other sources relevant to a particular
area of research.
Literature Review: Purpose

Defining the research problem

Establish what other researchers have done within a broad field of interest e.g. The impact of digital transformation in
the telecommunication industry.
You get insights into their defined lines of inquiry and hence become more able define your problem.
Seeking new lines of inquiry
May discover research possibilities that have been overlooked.
Your unique experience and background may enable you to see a facet of the problem that others have not seen.
Avoiding fruitless approaches
Avoid lines of inquiry that has been proved fruitless.
Gaining methodologies insights
Avoid only focusing on results or findings-research methods employed and associated recommendations might be useful.
Purpose of LT

► Identifying recommendation for further research.

Consider carefully the issues and recommendations at the end-they represent insights gained after
considerable study of a problem.
► Seeking support for grounded theory.
Many studies focus on testing/using an existing theory.
► Summarizing “what is known”
A recap of important information.
► Synthesizing ideas
Reorganizing and interpreting the information thereby setting a background for your research
investigation.
Steps in LR

► STEP 1:IDENTIFY THE RELEVANT PUBLISHED

AND UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS AVAILABLE
ON THE TOPIC OF INTEREST AND GAIN
ACCESS TO THIS.
► STEP 2:GATHER RELEVANT INFORMATIONBY
GOING THROUGH THE MATERIALS.
► STEP 3:SYNTHERISE & WRITE UP THE LR
REPORT.
 STEP 1:IDENTIFY THE RELEVANT MATERIALS .

► Identify material.
► This has made easier by the use of technology(digital libraries.)
► Online databases (bibliography ,abstract, full text)
► Websites
► Primary sources.
► Primary sources are documents eg articles that were written by the individuals who actually
conducted the study ,formulated the theory etc.
► Need read original reports of studies that are most central to your problem –they have details and
original perspectives ,which may have been distorted in secondary sources.
Secondary sources

► A secondary source is a document written by someone who did not do the research,
develop the theories or express the opinions sythensized into a literature review.
► Secondary sources may have literature that may be relevant to your problem.
► Most secondary sources review many studies and may not be in details.
Step 2: Gather Relevant Information

► Review primary data sources that are moist critical to proposed study.
► Make a copy of the most relevant publications –need to refer when writing literature
review
► Read the most recent articles first –they are likely to be more valuable because they have
earlier research as foundation.
► Consider using a software tool for managing publications you need to refer to eg endnote.
Step 3: Synthesize & Write LR Report

► What is already known or not known about the problem.

► Clarify how proposed study relates to and builds upon the existing knowledge base.
► The LR report is organized around ideas and not sources.
► Read Exemplary work
► Note :steps not necessarily done in sequence.