GOA COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE (GCA)

GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

This is a very important phase because what you are developing here is the base for the entire
dissertation work to follow.

1. After careful thought about your own interests, choose two or three alternative problems you
would like to investigate. It would be a good idea to look through the dissertations done at
GCA in the past. You could also check out the dissertation work done in other Schools of
Architecture and also look at few a research journals to get an idea about current issues in
Architectural Research.

2. Discuss your ideas with faculty members (especially your proposed Guide or possible
alternatives for a Guide) to understand the feasibility of working on your interests in terms of:
a. Background and relevance;
b. Objectives;
c. Relevant Literature and existing state of research
d. Methodology and information systems, and,
e. Time frame.
While all this would be at a preliminary level, you must be serious about it, and you should
immediately start on it as you may have to read a few references before finalizing on any topic.

3. Prepare a preliminary proposal for each alternative or for the one you have finalized. (Refer
the format given at item 5.)

4. Discuss further with your proposed guide, as follows:-

a. Precise aim and objectives.
b. Existing state of research (literature available) on the chosen topic.
c. Data base available.
d. Methodology you will follow including analytical techniques.
e. Envisaged results/conclusions for solution of the problem.

5. Prepare a detailed research proposal as per format suggested below:

a. Working title of the study

b. Proposed guide

c. Introduction (What do you intend to do?)

i. Background of the research area
ii. Statement of research problem

d. Need / rationale for the study: critically evaluate the existing knowledge / research, and
identify the gaps that the research is intended to fill. Who are your likely clients, and
the significance / relevance of the study?

e. Hypothesis / central argument (from theory / literature)

f. Statement of aim and objective/s

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 g. Research questions

h. Relevant literature

i. Research Methodology (How are you going to do the work?)

i. Research Design: conceptual framework
ii. Data: specify the type, quality and availability of data to be used, relating them
to the objectives

iii. Method & mode of data collection

iv. For primary data, indicate the nature of sampling techniques, etc
v. Secondary data: accessibility of data and clearances from relevant authorities
if the data is classified
vi. Data Analysis Framework

S. Objective Type of Source of Method of

No. Information information collection
required
1 To study…………………….. …..

j. Scope and limitations

k. Timeframe (this should be aligned to the schedule / stages proposed by the

coordinator of the dissertation committee)

l. References: List key references here for your study. This list should include all
references mentioned in the sections on justification for research and existing
literature, but may also contain more topics related to the proposed research.

6. Information Recording and Reference

It is of great importance that for every publication read, one notes:
a. the title
b. the author
c. the publisher and the place of publication
d. the date of publication
e. the page number from which any important / useful piece of information
might be extracted

If one is referring to an internet website, one needs to save the web pages referred, and
also copy the exact webpage URL (Universal Resource Locater) relating to that webpage
and the date on which was accessed.

Reference style to be referred:

APA (American Psychological Association) Style Citations (refer Goa College of
Architecture, APA Style Citations Guide for quick reference).

Prepared by - Rohit Nadkarni

Dt - 11/09/2012

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