ABE 322

(UNDERGRADUATE THESIS 1- PROPOSAL/OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT)

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION

PRE-TEST:
Direction: Answer the question comprehensively and concisely.
1. Explain the steps of the research writing process.
2. Explain the basic guidelines in conducting research.

Learning Activities:
The learner shall be able to:
1. Discuss what is a research proposal.
2. Discuss the purpose of a research proposal
3. Outline the steps of the research writing process.
4. Discuss the basic guidelines in conducting research.

WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The goal of a research proposal is twofold: 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 research are governed
by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the
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.
What is your research proposal used for and why is it important?
1. It is used to establish whether there is expertise to support your proposed area of
research.
2. It forms part of the assessment of your application.
3. The research proposal you submit as part of your application is just the starting point, as
your ideas evolve your proposed research is likely to change.
How to Write a Research Proposal
A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important,
and how you will do the research. The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but
most proposals should contain at least these elements:
 Cover page
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Research design
 Reference list
Purpose of a research proposal
Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a
student, you might have to write a research proposal to get your thesis or dissertation plan
approved.
All research proposals are designed to persuade someone — such as a funding body,
educational institution, or supervisor — that your project is worthwhile.
Research proposal aims
1. Relevance. Convince the reader that your project is interesting, original
and important.
2. Context. Show that you are familiar with the field, you understand the
current state of research on the topic, and your ideas have a
strong academic basis.
3. Approach. Make a case for your methodology, showing that you have
 carefully thought about the data, tools and procedures you will
need to conduct the research.
4. Feasibility. Confirm that the project is possible within the practical
constraints of the programme, institution or funding.

How long is a research proposal?

The length of a research proposal varies dramatically. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis
proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations and research funding
are often very long and detailed.
Although you write it before you begin the research, the proposal’s structure usually
looks like a shorter version of a thesis or dissertation (but without the results and discussions
sections).
Types of research proposal
Research proposals may be solicited, meaning that they are submitted in response
to a request with specified requirements, such as a request for proposal, or they may be
unsolicited, meaning they are submitted without prior request. Other types of proposals
include "preproposals", where a letter of intent or brief abstract is submitted for review prior to
submission of a full proposal; continuation proposals, which re-iterate an original proposal and
its funding requirements in order to ensure continued funding; and renewal proposals, which
seek continued sponsorship of a project which would otherwise be terminated.
Academic research proposals are generally written as part of the initial requirements of writing
a thesis, research paper, or dissertation. They generally follow the same format as a research
paper, with an introduction, a literature review, a discussion of research methodology and
goals, and a conclusion. This basic structure may vary between projects and between fields,
each of which may have its own requirements.
Steps in Developing a Research Proposal
Writing a good research paper takes time, thought, and effort. Although this assignment
is challenging, it is manageable. Focusing on one step at a time will help you develop a
thoughtful, informative, well-supported research paper.
Steps:
1. Choose a topic.
When you choose a topic for a research paper, you are making a major commitment.
Your choice will help determine whether you enjoy the lengthy process of research and
writing—and whether your final paper fulfills the assignment requirements. If you choose
your topic hastily, you may later find it difficult to work with your topic. By taking your time
and choosing carefully, you can ensure that this assignment is not only challenging but also
rewarding.
Writers understand the importance of choosing a topic that fulfills the
assignment requirements and fits the assignment’s purpose and audience.
2. Develop research questions.
In forming a research question, you are setting a goal for your research. Your main
research question should be substantial enough to form the guiding principle of your paper
—but focused enough to guide your research. A strong research question requires you not
only to find information but also to put together different pieces of information, interpret
and analyze them, and figure out what you think. As you consider potential research
questions, ask yourself whether they would be too hard or too easy to answer.
A research question is the core of a research project, study, or review of the
literature. It centers the study, sets the methodology, and guides all stages of inquiry,
analysis, and reporting.
A research question starts with a research problem, an issue that you would like to
know more about or change.
Research problems can be:
 Areas of concern
 Conditions that need to be changed
  Difficulties that should be erased
 Questions that need to be answered
A research problem leads to a research question that:
 Is worth investigating
 Contributes knowledge & value to the field
 Improves educational practice
 Improves humanity
The key features of a good research question:
 The question is viable.
 The question has clarity.
 The question has gravitas.
 The question is moral.
3. Constructing a Working Thesis.
A working thesis concisely states a writer’s initial answer to the main research
question. It does not merely state a fact or present a subjective opinion. Instead, it expresses a
debatable idea or claim that you hope to prove through additional research. You’re working
thesis is called a working thesis for a reason—it is subject to change. As you learn more about
your topic, you may change your thinking in light of your research findings. Let your working
thesis serve as a guide to your research, but do not be afraid to modify it based on what you
learn.
4. Creating a research proposal.
A research proposal is a brief document—no more than one typed page—that
summarizes the preliminary work you have completed. Your purpose in writing it is to formalize
your plan for research and present it to your instructor for feedback. In your research proposal,
you will present your main research question, related sub questions, and working thesis. You
will also briefly discuss the value of researching this topic and indicate how you plan to gather
information.
Parts of a Research Proposal
A research proposal includes four sections, and they are as follows:
  Section One: Introduction
 Section Two: Review of the Literature
 Section Three: Research Methodology
 Section Four: References
General guidelines
Research is of great importance – to individuals, to society and to global development.
Research also exercises considerable power at all these levels. For both these reasons, it is
essential that research is undertaken in ways that are ethically sound.
General guidelines for research ethics cannot replace subject-specific guidelines, but
should serve as a gateway to the principles and concerns of research ethics, including for
institutions and individuals who are not researchers themselves.
Prepared by the Norwegian National Committees for Research Ethics, 2014.General
guidelines for research ethics cannot replace subject-specific guidelines, but should serve as a
gateway to the principles and concerns of research ethics, including for institutions and
individuals who are not themselves researchers.
Principles
 Respect. People who participate in research, as informants or otherwise, shall be
treated with respect.
 Good consequences. Researchers shall seek to ensure that their activities produce good
consequences and that any adverse consequences are within the limits of acceptability.
 Fairness. All research projects shall be designed and implemented fairly.
 Integrity. Researchers shall comply with recognized norms and to behave responsibly,
openly and honestly towards their colleagues and the public.

1. Quest for truth

Research activity is a quest for new knowledge, with critical and systematic
verification and peer review. Honesty, openness, systematisms and documentation are
fundamental preconditions for achieving this goal.
2. Academic freedom
Research institutions shall assist in ensuring the researchers’ freedom in their choice of
topic and methodology, implementation of research and publication of results. In
commissioned research, the commissioning agency has the right to define the topic, research
questions and scope of the research assignment in cooperation with the person or institution
undertaking the assignment. The commissioning agency should not seek to unduly influence
choice of methodology, implementation or publication.
3. Quality
Research should be of high academic quality. The researcher and institution are
required to possess the necessary competence, design relevant research questions, undertake
suitable choices of methodology and ensure sound and appropriate project implementation in
terms of data collection, data processing and safekeeping/storage of the material.
4. Voluntary informed consent
Consent is the main rule in research on individuals or on information and material that
can be linked to individuals. This consent should be informed, explicit, voluntary and
documentable. Consent presupposes the capacity to give such consent. To ensure real
voluntariness, vigilance must be exercised in cases where the participant is in a dependency
relationship to the researcher or in a situation of restricted freedom.
5. Confidentiality
As a general principle, those who are made the subjects of research are entitled to have
their personal information treated confidentially. The researcher must prevent any use and
communication of information that might inflict damage on individuals who are the subjects of
research. Irrespective of the duty of confidentiality, researchers have a legal obligation to avoid
punishable offences. The researcher must decide when and in what way the participant should
be informed about limitations of the duty of confidentiality.
6. Impartiality
Impartiality means avoidance of confusing roles and relationships in a way that may give
rise to reasonable doubt concerning conflicts of interest. Openness regarding relevant roles and
relationships that the researcher is involved in must be maintained in relation to colleagues,
research participants, sources of finance and other relevant parties.
7. Integrity
When you choose a topic for a research paper, you are making a major commitment.
Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism and similar serious violations of good academic practice are
incommensurate with such trustworthiness.
8. Good reference practice
Researchers must adhere to good reference practices, which fulfil requirements for
verifiability and form the basis for further research.
9. Collegiality
Researchers must show each other respect. They must agree on and comply with good
practices for data ownership and sharing, authorship, publication, peer review and cooperation
in general.
10. Institutional responsibility
The responsibility for ethical conduct rests not only with the individual researcher, but
also with the research institution. The institution is responsible for ensuring compliance with
good academic practice and for establishing mechanisms that can address cases of suspected
violations of ethical research norms.
11. Availability of results
As a main rule, research results should be made available. Openness regarding research
findings is essential for ensuring verifiability, for returning some benefit to the research
participants and society in general, and for ensuring a dialogue with the public. Such
communication is also a function of democracy.
12. Social responsibility
Researchers have an independent responsibility to ensure that their research will be of
benefit to research participants, relevant groups or society in general, and for preventing it
from causing harm. Research decisions must take into account any knowledge that the
development of a research area may entail ethically unacceptable consequences for individuals,
animals, society or the environment. It is absolutely essential that when participating in public
debate, the researcher clearly distinguishes between professional comments made in his or her
capacity as an expert on the one hand and statements of personal opinion on the other, and
refrains from abusing his or her authority.
13. Global responsibility
Research institutions and researchers have a responsibility to communicate relevant
knowledge to regions that are otherwise excluded for reasons of economic disadvantage.
Research should help counteract global injustice and preserve biological diversity.
14. Laws and regulations
In the field of research, there are national laws and regulations as well as applicable
international conventions and agreements, and researchers and research institutions must
abide by these.
Please carefully note the following issues:
The entire proposal should be no more than 40 pages excluding the title page and the
“References” section. Any page(s) over the 40th page will not be read.  All of the parts must be
typed, double-spaced, in a 12-point font, with 1-inch margins on all four sides of each page.

POST-TEST:
Answer the following items briefly and concisely:
1. What is your research proposal used for and why is it important?
2. How to write a research proposal and what are the elements that contain in this
proposal?
3. Discuss the types of a research proposal.
4. Discuss the steps in developing a research proposal.