The Research Proposal

Dr. Brian Graham

16th September 2022
South East Technological University
The Research Process
1. Identify the Research Problem

2. Write a Research Proposal

3. Conduct a Literature Review

4. Carry out Primary Research and analyse

5. Present findings in Dissertation

The Research Proposal
◼ Develop a deeper understanding of your topic
and associated issues/themes

◼ A plan for the Dissertation

◼ Convince your supervisor that you are prepared

to execute the Dissertation (successfully!)
The Research Proposal
◼ What is the proposed research about?

◼ What is it trying to find out or achieve?

◼ How it will go about doing that?

◼ What will we learn from it and why that is

worth learning?
The Research Proposal
◼ Typical structure includes:
 Introduction: background to research & problem
definition
 Aim, Objectives & Hypothesis: core principles that
are fundamental to the research
 Literature Review: understanding of theoretical
issues relating to your topic
 Methodology: detailed plan for execution of primary
research
 Conclusions: summary of proposal, reinforcing main
aspects of research
Development of Proposal
◼ Incremental approach
•Title, Author Information, Keywords
•Introduction, Aim, Objectives, Hypothesis
Draft Proposal •Literature Review & References
23rd October 2022
(25%)
◼ Feedback after Draft
Proposal & Poster

•Overview of Proposed Research ◼ A lot of reading &

•Presented in graphical form!
Poster •Must be self-explanatory writing!
28th October 2022
(25%)

◼ Line-up proof-reader(s)
•Improvements from Draft Proposal
•Addition of:
•Abstract & Keywords
◼ Involves critical
Final Proposal
11th December 2022
•Proposed Methodology analysis
•Conclusions
(50%)
Poster Presentation
◼ Each student is required to prepare a Poster outlining
the main issues pertaining to their proposed research

◼ It should include information relating to:

 Background & Context to the Research Topic/Area
 Identification of Research Problem(s)
 Relevant Issues from Theory/Literature
 Potential Methodological Approach to Primary Research

◼ Poster will be reviewed during class on October 28th

Poster Presentation
◼ The poster is a means of communicating
information about your Proposed Research.

◼ The poster should be:

 A1 in size (landscape)
 Be a clear presentation of the subject matter
 Contain diagrams, information etc. to present the
required subject matter
Poster Presentation

• Ensure poster is pleasing to the eye

• Use PowerPoint in the preparation of your poster for ease of use
• Compile a list of headings related to the work you are presenting
• Do not reproduce pages of text and ensure that key points are highlighted
• Posters should be self explanatory even in the absence of the author
• Use simple figures and schemes and add colour for emphasis
• Ensure that the text is easy to read from a distance of at least two metres
• The final layout should be easy to follow, use arrows to ensure that the
content flows or number each section
• Boxes can be effective to highlight diagrams etc.
Poster Presentation
◼ The Poster accounts for 25% of the module marks and
will be assessed on the following basis:
 Visual Impact of Poster (20 marks)
 Background & Research Problem (20 marks)
 Literature/Theoretical Framework (30 marks)
 Methodological Considerations (10 marks)
 Clear, Compelling & Self-Explanatory Information (20 marks)

◼ Submission details:
 Print copy pinned up in classroom on Friday 28th October
 Upload PDF of Poster via Moodle (Friday 28th October)
Draft Research Proposal
◼ To Include: Title, Author Information,
Keywords, Introduction, Aim, Objectives,
Hypothesis, Literature Review, References
 Worth 25%
 Due Sunday 23rd October 2022
 Approximately 6 pages
 In accordance with Proposal Template
 See Moodle for further details
Final Research Proposal
◼ Improvements from Draft Proposal:
 Title,Intro., Aim, Objectives & Hypothesis
 Literature Review & References

◼ Addition of:
 Abstract& Keywords
 Proposed Methodology
 Conclusions
Final Research Proposal

◼ Accounts for 50% of module mark

◼ Submission details
 Submit via Moodle (Turnitin link) by 5pm on Sunday
11th December 2022
Research Proposal:
Contents & Structure
Title
◼ Reflect the focal point of the research
 Identifyprecisely what is being studied
 Be clear and concise
 Be stripped of superfluous words and padding

◼ The Application of Knowledge

Management Practices in the Procurement
and Construction of Cleanrooms
Author Information

◼ Your name
◼ Affiliations
◼ Company details?
◼ Email address (footnote)
The Abstract
◼ Important part of both Proposal & Dissertation
◼ Summary not introduction
◼ Concisely written (250 – 300 words)
◼ Covers two key issues for a proposal
 What the study is about and aims to achieve
 How it intends to do that

◼ See ‘ARCOM Author Guide’ on Moodle

Introduction
◼ Area and topic
◼ Problem leading to the study
◼ Background and context
◼ Statement of purpose
◼ Overview of Proposal
Aim
◼ Statement of what research will attempt to do
◼ Strategic level i.e. mission statement
◼ Keep it short and simple!

◼ To improve the delivery of cleanrooms by Sisk’s

bio-pharmaceutical division by actively sharing
knowledge between projects.
Objectives
◼ Translate Aim into operational statements
 Review management contracting, cleanroom and
knowledge management (KM) literature
 Analyse lack of scope and design and importance of
early contractor involvement
 Identify recurring problems with cleanrooms
 Assess effectiveness of KM for sharing knowledge
between projects
 Make recommendations for implementation of KM to
improve the delivery of cleanrooms by Sisk’s pharma
division by actively sharing knowledge between
projects.
Hypothesis
◼ A tentative proposition which is subject
to verification through the research
 Be sharp and specific
 Be testable – support or reject it

◼ If Sisk wish to achieve a high level of

project performance in the procurement
and construction of clean rooms, then a
more structured, formal approach to
sharing knowledge between projects
should be adopted.
Literature Review
◼ Good quality, relevant, scholarly literature
◼ Coherent, logical structure
◼ Not a copy and paste exercise!
◼ Citation of references
◼ Spelling and grammar – get it proof-read!
Methodology
◼ How Primary Research should proceed:
 Dependent upon topic & purpose of study
 Qualitative or Quantitative
 Case studies, action research etc.
 Experiments, interviews, surveys etc.

◼ Justification of proposed approach

◼ How? Who? What? Where? How Many?
◼ Reference to c. 6-8 research texts/sources
Conclusions
◼ Most important part of Proposal?
 Demonstrate understanding of topic
 Clear articulation of what you intend to do
 Reinforce the importance of the research
 Clear plan to execute the research

◼ Relatively short and to the point!

 c. 0.75 page
References
◼ Harvard Referencing System
 Author, year, title, publication details…
◼ Full bibliographic details
 Journals, conferences, books, newspapers…
 Electronic resources e.g. websites

◼ Single list in alphabetical order

ARCOM Model
◼ Strict adherence to ARCOM format
 Font types and sizes
 Margins and line spacing
 Alignment and layout

◼ Use ARCOM template available on

Moodle
Refining your Topic
◼ Topic should be progressively refined as
research continues

Develop aim Refine literature

and objectives search

Refine ideas Review of

& relevant literature
narrow focus
Proposal Development
literature and consideration of issues
Narrowing of focus through review of

Overall Area of Interest

Identification of Topic
& Research Problem

Title
& Sub-Title

Proposal
Key Questions for Research Proposals

◼ What is the proposed research trying to

find out?

◼ How will the research do that?

◼ Why is the research worth doing?

Assessment

◼ 100% Continuous Assessment

 Draft Research Proposal (25%) – 23rd October 2022
 Poster Presentation (25%) – 28th October 2022
 Final Research Proposal (50%) – 11th December 2022