Lec# 7 How to present a

proposal for a research paper

Abdul Rahman
 CLASS & SUBJECT

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME

THIRD SEMESTER

TECHNICAL WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILSS

(ENGLISH III)
 Objectives
• After the successful completion ,the
students would know how to present a
proposal for a research paper
 Definition
• A research proposal is a document
proposing a research project, generally in
the sciences or academia, and generally
constitutes a request for sponsorship of
that research. Proposals are evaluated
on the cost and potential impact of the
proposed research, and on the
soundness of the proposed plan for
carrying it out.
 Examples
• Title of research:

• An investigation into the barriers to and priorities

for research development in health librarianship.

• Title of research:
• Young Children’s Drawing Behaviours:
Supporting Young Children Drawing
•
 Determining the Proposal Type
• Solicited proposals. Proposals submitted in
response to a specific call issued by a sponsor.

• Unsolicited proposals. An unsolicited proposal

(USP) is a proposal made by a private party to
undertake a public-private partnership (PPP)
project, submitted at the initiative of the private
firm, rather than in response to a request from
the government.
 Determining the Proposal Type
Preproposals. A pre-proposal (sometimes called a white
paper, letter proposal, letter of intent, preliminary proposal,
pre-application, or concept paper) is a short description of the
proposed project.

Continuation or non-competing proposals.

These confirm the original proposal and funding requirements
of a multi-year project which the sponsor has already
provided funding for an initial period (normally one year).
Continued support is usually dependent on satisfactory work
progress and the availability of funds.
 Determining the Proposal Type
• Renewal or competing proposals.

A competing renewal proposal (also called a

competing continuation) is a request for
continued funding of a project for which the
funding or project period is about to terminate.
Such proposals are similar to "new" proposals and
must be routed and approved in the same
manner.
 Aims of proposals
• It may sound strange, but few students fully get the
meaning and the significance of a research proposal.
Actually, if you have a good research proposal, it
means that you are going to carry out a good
research.
• The main purpose of a research proposal is to
convince the reader of the value of your project and
your competence. You will have to prove that you
have a plan for your work and that your project will
be successful.
 contents
• Component of research proposal
• 1-title
• 2-introduction
• 3-statement of the problem
• 4-review of related literature
• 5-Hypothesis
• 6-purpose /objective of study
• 7- work plane
• 8-Method,research design ,sample.
• 9-Refrences
• common error in research proposal
• Evaluation of research proposal
 Title
• Precise and accurate
• Unambiguous
• Avoid extremely long titles
 Introduction
• Orient the readers towards the topic.
• Explain the importance and relevance of the
topic
• Justifies the choice of the topic.
• Research question/hypothesis .
 Statement of the problem
• “The problem statement describes the context
for the study and it also identifies the general
analysis approach”(Wiersma, 1995, p.404)
• Should indicate why the researcher needs to
be done and what will be its relevance.
• Conveys information about a research
problem.
 Literature review
• It shares with the reader the results of other
studies that are closely related to the study
being reported(Fraenkel &Wallen, 1990)
• It prevents the duplication of work that has
been done before.
• Theoretical framework
• A summary.
 Hypotheses
• Build the case to support the hypothesis with
literature
• and data---no reinventing the wheel
• Seeing is believing: Use schematic figures or
diagrams
• to help reviewers understand your model and idea
• State your hypothesis clearly in the abstract and
• specific aims; alternative hypothesis in case
 Objective of study
• The general objective of a study states what
researcher expect to achieve by the study in
general terms.
• What to achieve.?
 Work Plan
• Include the major phases of the project:
• estimate when you will start each stage of the
work, and how long it will take.
• Sequencing, flow and timeline of the study.
 Methodology
Subjective
• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Discussions
• Surveys
Objective
• Experimental
• Use of measuring devices
• Use of recording devices.
• RESEARCH DESIGN
• Descriptive case study
• Mixed Method
• Quantitative Method Design
• Qualitative Method Design
 POPULATION AND SAMPLING
• Indicate your sampling techniques , e.g.:
• Quantitative
• Cluster Random Sampling
• Size of sample
• Population
• Experimental and control groups
• Prevention of bias, etc.
 References
• List all references cited in the proposal.
• Make sure these references are:–
• Up-to-date
• Relevant
• Original source
 The common error in proposal
writing
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough
• detail on major issues
• Too many citation lapses and incorrect references
• Sloppy writing
• Failure to state all of the basic assumptions that are
• relevant to the study.
• Concerns irrelevant assumptions.
• Selecting unsubstantiated assumptions which cannot
• be defended by any logic, empirical evidence
 Evaluation of research proposal
• Problem identification:
• Is the problem/line of enquiry clearly defined?
• Is the basic research problem well formulated,
or is it
• poorly and vaguely structured?
• Is it briefly and concisely stated?
 Evaluation of research proposal
Background to the research problem
• Has there been an adequate description of the
• background to the problem either under a separate
• heading or as part of the literature?
3.Literature review
• Is there clear evidence of a thorough review of the
• literature?
• Is there a theoretical engagement with the relevant
• literature?
• 4.Conceptual framework
• Has a suitable hypothesis (or hypotheses) been formulated,
• or has a suitable research question (or research questions)
• been stated?
• 5.Objectives
• Have the objectives been stated clearly?
• 6.Research design
• Is the project and research design well structured and
• outlined, or is it poorly articulated?
• Has the research methodology been articulated clearly
 Evaluation of research proposal
• 7.Significance
• Why is it important to undertake this research? Whom
• will it benefit or to whom will it be important?
• Has the expected outcome (or outcomes) of the research
• been clearly identified?
• 8.Feasibility
• Is the problem researchable and is it feasible? Do the
• preliminary data and available resources support its
• feasibility?
• Does the candidate’s academic profile or potential support
• his/her ability to accomplish the project?
 Evaluation of research proposal
• 9.Other general comments
• Is the proposal well structured or poorly
compiled? If the latter, what should be done
to make it a well-structured proposal?
• 10. Language
• Has the research proposal been proofread and
edited?