OUTLINE FOR WRITING ON RESEARCH

PROPOSAL (THESIS)
Dr Hanafi Mohd Tahir. Lect Note 1: Academic Writing

Research proposal is a written statement of the research design that

includes a statement explaining objectives of the study and a
detailed, systematic outline of a particular research methodology.
Organize research proposal according to the following outline
given:-

1. Title
A title on research proposal should give short phrase tells the audience what is
the study all about. It is a statement that frames an issues, argument or
problems of a topic.

2. Background of the study

A description and a short discussion of what are the topic area. Discussion of
why is the background studies are not sufficient. Explain and describe the
general area to be studied, the issue that are examining and why it is significant,
why the study area is important to specific area under study (e.g., art & design,
corporate identity, advertising, publication, production, etc.)

2.1 Issues
Describe the research problem as a specific issue, difficulty,
contradiction, or gap in knowledge that this research will aim to study.
Identify for practical problems that aimed as it would become a
contribution to change or theoretical problems that aimed for expanding
knowledges.

2.2 Problem Statement

Explain the research problem as a of concern or a gap in the existing
knowledge. It will makes research points to the need for further
investigation and understanding. A problem statement describe the
outlines that addressed by a study.
3. Research Objectives & Research Question
In general, research objectives describe on what the research study intent or expect
to achieve. Research objectives would be a guide of the activities on research.

These are an example of research objectives that followed by the research question:

Maria, J. D., & Maria, C, V. (2007). Research in Art and Design: a common ground between science and creative
practice. Conference: Emerging Trends in Design Research, International Association of Societies of
Design Research (IASDR 07).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261698095_Research_in_Art_and_Design_a_common_groun
d_between_science_and_creative_practice

Four main objectives were established with respective research questions:

Example Objective 1: Build a suitable frame of reference with an

interdisciplinary approach to highlight the relative character of colour and the
meanings that colour has in different areas ranging from physics, optics,
neurology, psychophysiological and cultural.
Research questions:
What meanings does colour have in the different fields of colour research and
the dimensions of colour meaning have been previously researched?

Example Objective 2: Determine whether a pattern of differentiation between

two ‘chromatic sets’ or colour ranges occurred in the different areas of colour
research.
Research question: Is there a significant differentiation in meaning between
the two-colour ranges?

Example Objective 3: Determine whether a differentiated pattern of response

would occur when these two chromatic sets were part of a painting and their
effect judged in a real environment.
Research question: Is there a significant differentiation in meaning between
the two-colour ranges? What effects do these two ‘chromatic sets’ have on the
perception of space when they are part of a painting and their effect judged in
a real environment?

Example Objective 4: As the paintings were installed in a concert hall, the

natural subjects of the study were the users of the building, either visitors or
members of the audience. However, research on environmental and
architecture meaning has acknowledged differences in reactions of architects
and non-architects while claiming those differences to be due to education and
experience.
Research question: Is there a differentiated pattern of response between the
Focus Group and the Users Group?
4. Research Question
Define how this research study will contribute to resolve the problem when it is
already have a clearly-defined problem. Write the research question referring
on what is the research objectives and aims to achieve.

5. Scope, limitation and delimitation of study

Scope, limitation and delimitations will define the topic and the boundaries of
the research problem that to be investigated. The scope should explain clearly
how in-depth your study is which it will also operate in relation to the population
and timeframe. Limitations are constraints the methodology or research
design and may involve some of organizations or people in the research.
Explain the cause of limited access. The delimitations are the factors and
variables that not to be included in the process of investigation. In other words,
it would be the boundaries for the researcher on study duration, size of
population, type of the participants and etc.

6. Significant of Study
Significance of the study is to make clear why this study was needed. Explain
the specific contribution of this research that would made for example further
academic knowledge in the field and etc.

7. Review of the Literature

Discuss several studies that already been done in this research area. Identify
and point out why those previous studies are insufficient. Identify what are the
results or any unresolved from the previous studies.

8. Methodology
A description of how this research would collect the data and data analysis.
Basically by QUALITATIVE or QUANTITATIVE becomes the basic research
methodology. Find out what is qualitative and quantitative method and which
one is suitable for this research. Explain why this method is the best for the
purposes on this research.

Participants and locations: Who and where would this research being test
and why?
Describe and explain why this research chosen the sample, who and where are
relevant to the design.

9. Study plan/Gantt Chart

Study plan or Gantt chart is important to help this research organize and
present the research plan clearly due to the schedule time. Explain a step-by-
step by using visual timelines to breakdown different phases and stages of this
research.
10. Conclusion
Discuss and explain in general how would this research would lead to a
significant improvement and how it benefit the field. Why should someone care
or would this research be interesting.

11. References
Include all references in APA style. This research proposal should have at least
6 references, and at least 3 of these should be journal articles.

Notes:

The suitable length of research proposal is different from one field to another.
Please refer to your supervisor.

https://ipsis.uitm.edu.my/index.php
https://ipsis.uitm.edu.my/index.php/student/guidelines-drp?start=1