RESEARCH PROPOSAL

UNIT – 8
By
Lieutenant Colonel
Muhammad Afaq Durrez, TI(M)
PhD Scholar EPM, AIOU
Quote of the Day
What are We Learning Today

• Explain the steps of a research proposal

• Distinguish a good problem from a bad problem
• Write the statement of the problem for your research proposal
• Write the objectives of the research study
• Develop hypotheses for the research study
• Develop a good proposal for the research study
• Developing literature review
Introduction

• Research proposal is a document written by a researcher that

provides a detailed description of the proposed research
• It is like an outline of the entire research process that gives reader
a summary of the process being adopted
• It also gives assumptions on which the resolution of idea was based
upon by researcher
• Document depicts the basic understanding about the research and
problem solving
Importance of Research Proposal

• Helps examine what researcher intends to do

• It is an effective tool to discuss the conceived idea with the
supervisor
• It gives overview of what is to be done and with what method
• Allow researcher to transform mental picture in shape of a
document
• Developing novel ideas during the process of writing proposal
• It is also called as synopsis
The Researcher Passes through Following

• Introducing relevancy of a topic and preparing reader for problem

• Finding out problem and writing problem statement
• Referring to literature available
• Population and Sampling including framework
• Methodology and instruments
• Data collection process and actual data collection
• Answering the question and testing hypothesis
Format

• Title page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Statement of Problem
• Significance of Study
• Objectives
• Research questions /or hypotheses
• Delimitations
Format

• Literature review
• Theoretical background
• Previous researches (National / international)
• Methodology
• Research design
• Theoretical / conceptual framework
• Population
• Sample
• Research tools
• Pilot testing
Format

• Data collection
• Ethical considerations
• Data analysis
• Budget and timeline
• References
• Annexures / appendices
Title

• The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of your study

• A good title contains the fewest possible words that adequately
describe the contents and/or purpose of your research
• The title is without doubt the part of a research report that is
read the most, and it is usually read first
• It should be clear
• It should be according to your area of research
• It should be consisted on both depended and independent
variables (If any)
Introduction / Background

• Addressing What and Why?

• It is should be both brief and catchy
• What? Background
• In this section, you should give a more detailed overview of the
problem
• Why? Importance
• Trends
• Curiosity
Problem Statement / Significance

• Answer the question: “What is the gap that needs to be filled?”

and/or “What is the problem that needs to be solved?”
• State the problem clearly
• Limit the variables you address in stating your problem or question
• Consider framing the problem as a question / hypothesis
Significance
• “What is the problem that needs to be solved?”
• “What is the gap that needs to be filled?
Objectives

• Explain the goals and research objectives of the study

• Show the original contributions of your study
• Include a rationale for the study
• Be clear about what your study will not address
The stated objectives should be SMART
• Specific,
• Measurable,
• Assignable,
• Realistic and
• Time-related
Research Question / Hypothesis

• Research questions ask what relationships exist between the

different variables in the study.
• This can be as many as you want
• Both can be taken as well
Some other Terms

• Delimitation must be given keeping in view Cost, Time and Labour

• Operational definition can be given if required
• Review of literature must include papers, researches and anything
which can support your problem
Methodology

• Introduce the overall methodological approach

• Indicate how the approach fits the overall research design
• Describe the specific methods of data collection
• Explain how you intend to analyze and interpret your results (e.g.
statistical analysis)
• If necessary, provide background and rationale for unfamiliar
methodologies
• Any other point you intend to mention
Population

• This section should include an expanded discussion of the

Population First, discuss the population under consideration.

Heads of Primary Schools of Mianwali District Heads of Primary Schools of Attock District
S/No Total Population
Male Female Total Male Female Total
1. 454 626 1080 414 438 852 1932
DEO Primary Mianwali DEO Primary Attock
2. Male Female 2 Male Female 2 4
1 1 1 1

3. Security Equipment Contractor 3 Security Equipment Contractor 3 6

4 Costing Experts (Revenue / Accounts Personal) 2

Total Population 1944
Sample

• There are two strata’s, since the size of population is 1942, hence
as per pattern suggested by L.R Gay (2003) in his book Educational
Research (p.125), the sample size should be 321. It will be
Stratified Proportionate Sampling. The distribution of respondents
will be as under:-
Heads of Primary Schools of Mianwali
Heads of Primary Schools of Attock District
S/No District Total Population
Male Female Total Male Female Total
1. 72 100 172 66 70 136 308
DEO Primary Mianwali DEO Primary Attock
Fe
m
2. Male Female 2 Male 2 4
al
e
1 1 1 1
Security Equipment
3. 3 Security Equipment Contractor 3 6
Contractor
4 Costing Experts (Revenue / Accounts Personal) 2
Sample Size out of Target population 320
Instrumentation

• What all tools will be used for data collection

• Will those be adopted, adapted or prepared
• How validity and reliability will be ensured
• Which instrument will be used for which purpose
• Any other consideration in case some instrument fails
• What is changes are perceived (Minor / major)
Legal and Ethical Consideration

• The research problem under consideration is neither legally

unlawful nor ethically harm for anybody.
• Any other legal or ethical considerations will be tread and the
proposal will be modified as per the expected terms and
conditions by data agencies.
• Informed consent performa may be prepared and got that signed
from respondent
• Recording may not be done without permission
• Care may be taken for secret document under official secret act
Budget and Time Management

• The most critical thing will be the time management for each task
after the approval the time
• Consult your advisor for time line in view of time, cost and labour
• Be aware of important dates for submitting and defending certain
components of research
• Do not be overly ambitious and make a timeline with unforeseen
situations
• Keep a cushion with you for unforeseen
References / Annexures / Appendices

• References should be as per APA Manual 6/7

• Inline references if given will help you out in automatically
generating end references
• Annexures / appendices if any will be attached after references

NOTE
Research proposal format will be shared with any
one who is interested in reading
Thank You Very Much
Tutor and Resource Person

Lieutenant Colonel
Muhammad Afaq Durrez, TI(M)
PhD Scholar EPM, AIOU
afaqdurrez@hotmail.com
0333-5141866