Chapter 7

Research proposal
 Selecting a Research Topic
• A topic is the issue or problem that a researcher
wants to solve. Topic comes from problem.
• A good topic highlights the focus and methods of
study
• A topic shows the pathways of research.
• A topic depicts the main study variable and its
boundary.
• Most successful research topics are narrowly focused
and carefully defined but are important parts of a
broad-ranging complex problem.
• Research problem-
– Is the expense made on brand promotion of Ncell related
to the increase in number of subscriber of Ncell during
2011?
• Research topic-
– Effect of brand promotion on sales of Ncell during
2011.
 Sources of Research Topics
● Peer-reviewed journals in your field
● Personal experiences/ problem of your own
interest.
● Articles from news paper which raises some
issues like ethnicity, hydropower, etc
● Work setting experiences
● Existing literature( past work done by your
colleagues)
 “Recommendations for future research…”
 Consultation with research guide
 topic selection-suggested sources
•Issues in the principles of management and
administration
•Development of research instrument/ methods.
•Issues on marketing, finance, accounting
•While selecting topic you need to
•Brainstorm for ideas
•Read general background information
•Focus on manageable topic
•Be flexible
•Make a list of useful words
•Define your topic as a focused research question
 Suggestions for topic selection
• Begin immediately to think about your topic
• Consider the size of topic- not too broad and
too small.
• Choose a topic which is not too complex.
Investigate only two or three variables.
• Be sure availability of material and data
• Some topics are simply not researchable
Considerations in Selecting a Topic
– Personal interest / Passion
– Importance / Contribution to the field
– Newness / Relevance
– Related to literature
– Feasibility
• Tradeoff between rigor and practicality
• Time constraints
• Ethical constraints
• Manageable in size
• Economic factors
• Availability of Subjects
• Problem solvable
 Characteristics of good topic
1. Interesting – keeps the researcher interested in it throughout the
research process

2. Researchable – can be investigated through the collection and analysis

of data

3. Significant – contributes to the improvement and understanding of

educational theory and practice

4. Manageable – fits the level of researcher’s level of research skills,

needed resources, and time restrictions

5. Ethical – does not embarrass or harm participants

 Refining Your Topic

►Refinement needed for effective and

efficient research
● Narrow your topic
● Identify a theoretical framework
● Specifically and unambiguously define
terms
● State research questions and
hypotheses
 Refining Your Topic (cont’d)

►A literature review will help you

● See if your idea has been tried
● Include all relevant constructs
● Select instruments
● Anticipate common problems
 Research proposal

•Research proposal is a brief but comprehensive

proposition that describes the design, schedule and
budget as well as time frame of proposed research. It is
blue print of proposed research.

•A research proposal consist the introduction, objectives,

hypothesis, methods and limitations of research
 Purpose of the research proposal

• 1. To inform the reader of nature of your proposed

research.
– What is the problem?
– What is its extent?
• 2. To convince the reader, especially supervisors and
reviewers, of the value of your proposed research.
– Is this project worth the time and money?
– Will it make a difference to the organization, society?
 Purpose of the research proposal

• 3. To demonstrate your expertise and competency in

a particular area of study.
– Do you have the qualifications to conduct this research?
– Have you informed yourself of the existing theory and data
relevant to your topic?
– Do you have the necessary skills to conduct the research?
 Purpose of the research proposal
• 4. To plan the research project and provide a step-by-step
guide to the tasks necessary for its completion.

– What are the key stages of the work?

– What are the priorities?
– How do the various components fit together?

• 5. To request support from individuals and agencies who

provide supervision, oversight or funding for the research
project.

– What kinds of support does the project need?

– Are all participants properly protected?
 Purpose of the research proposal

• 6. To contract with the agencies and

individuals involved, including supervisors,
foundations and participants in the research
team.
– How will tasks be assigned and resources expended?
– What does each contribute to the collective endeavor?
Components /content of a research
proposal
– Title
– Introduction
– Nature of the Problem
– Background and Significance of the Problem
– Preliminary Literature Review
– Initial Research Question or Questions
Components of a proposal (cont’d)
– Brief Description of Methodology and Research
Design
– Anticipated Outcomes
– Timeline
– References
 Title
• Specific & Short
• This forms the first impression about your
research
– If vague – Reader will be suspicious
• A clear statement of relationship of study
variables
– Effect of dividend on share price behavior in Nepalese
commercial banks.
– Working capital management of Bottlers Nepal terai
limited.

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 Introduction
• Convince the reader that you have identified a research
problem, worthy of investigating.
• Start very general – Broad Topic
• Highlight
– the concept
– Practical significance
• Reduce it to a narrow topic by
– Raising questions, and
– Stating answers from literature for most.
• Establish Rationale:
– Research is necessary to questions for which there is no
answer yet.

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 Objectives
• Provide a clear statement of the overall
question- General objective
• Follow it with action oriented tasks - Specific
objectives.
• If more than one specific objective state them
sequentially

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 Methodology
• State it explicitly
• Enough detail for the reader to follow
• First give an overall summary of your study design and
methodological approach.
• Then provide the methodology for each specific objective.
• Describe
– the specific design (what will you do and how, number of
replicates, etc.),
– the materials and techniques that will be used, and
– the feasibility of these techniques.
– Use literature to support design, materials & techniques
– Need not repeat standard procedures – but give a
reference.
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 References
• List all references
• In alphabetical order

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 GANTT Chart (Time line)

Task Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter

1 2 3 4

Survey

Data
processing
Analyze data

Write Thesis

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