Research Proposal Checklist

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor & Chair

of HRM HHDNP Opatha
 The Topic
• Is it short?
• Is it clear?
• Is it relevant to the field of HRM?
• Is it representing what is being proposed to
study?
• Is it not a sentence?
• Does it have a substantial body of literature
associated with it?
• Has it captured your interest seriously?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 Introduction
• Has it been given? Or an alternative such as
Problem Context or Background to the Study?
• Is it clearly stated?
• Are paragraphs consistent? Is there a flow
among the paragraphs?
• Is there a link between the introductory part
and the next part, i.e., Problem Statement?
• Does it have a sufficient number of
references?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 Problem Statement
• Has it been clearly given?
• Does it indicate/mention the gap between what
is existing and what should be?
• Is it loaded? Does it involve several research
questions if it is broken down?
• Is it consistent with the objectives of the study?
• Is it related to the background?
• Is it consistent with the title?
• Is there an intellectual puzzle to be investigated?
• Does it have several references to show the gap?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 Research Questions
• Have they been specifically given?
• Are they consistent with the problem
statement and the research objectives?
• Are they researchable when reality and time
given are considered?
• Are there several research questions? At least
two?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
 Objectives
• Have they been specifically stated?
• Are they achievable?
• Are they consistent with research
problem/research questions?
• Are they matched with the title?
• Are they chronologically OK?
• Are they adequate? Many or few?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
 Importance of the Study
• Has it been given?
• Has it been given clearly?
• Does it contribute to theoretical
understanding?
• Does it contribute empirically?
• Does it involve new tools for future studies?
• Does it propose new issues/questions for
future research?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 Literature Review
• Have the origins and definitions of the topic been
given clearly?
• Have the key theories, concepts and
ideas/aspects been given clearly?
• Is conceptualization of variables sufficient and
appropriate?
• Does it have a sufficient number of references?
• Are there classic references?
• Are there latest references?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
 Theoretical Framework
• Have the variables considered relevant to the
study been clearly identified and labeled in
the discussion?
• Do the discussions state how two or more
variables are related to each other?
• Is there a clear explanation of why the
researcher would expect these relationships
to exist?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
• Does it use previous research findings and/or
arguments of the noted authors? Logical
beliefs? Common theories?
• Is there a schematic diagram of the theoretical
framework given so as to visualize the
theoretical relationships?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
 Hypotheses (if any)
• Does it (each hypothesis) have a statement of an
expected relationship or the expected difference
between two or more variables in the study? Or effect
of one variable on another or several variables?
• Has it been stated lucidly and unambiguously in terms
of a declaratory sentence? No doubts about what you
are saying
• Is it testable?
• Is it simple and concise to the extent that is possible?
• Does it base on a good rationale/justification?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
 Methodology
• Has the purpose/nature of the study been clearly
identified and mentioned?
• Has the type of investigation been clearly
identified and mentioned?
• Has the setting been identified and clearly
mentioned?
• Has the study design been mentioned clearly?
Extent of researcher interference, time horizon,
unit of analysis?
• Are all these appropriate?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha
• Has the study sampling procedure been clearly
mentioned ? (population of the study covered,
sample, sampling frame, method of sampling,
etc.)
• If it is a case study, has it clearly been described?
Case profile
• Is the measurement clear, appropriate and
acceptable? Operationalization of variables and
instrumentation
• Is data collection clear, appropriate and
acceptable?
• Have methods of data analysis been given? Are
they appropriate?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 Limitations
• Have they been given?
• Are they clear?
• Are they acceptable?
• Do they not affect the quality of the study
significantly?
• Are there delimitations (inherent weaknesses
of the methods and tools used)? Are they
right?
Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP
Opatha
 References
• Have they been given?
• Are they relevant?
• Is there a gap between inside and the list?
• Are they sufficient?
• Are they up to date?
• Have they been given in an academically
acceptable way?

Litterarum Doctor, Senior Professor HHDNP

Opatha