‫إعداد خطة البحث و كتابة الدراسات السابقة‬

Khaled Hussainey
Professor of Accounting & Financial Management
University of Portsmouth, UK
‫إعداد خطة البحث‬
‫مفهوم المقترح البحثي‬

‫عناصر خطة البحث الجيدة‬

‫كتابة خطة البحث‬

 ‫مفهوم المقترح البحثي‬
‫المقترح البحثي هو الخطة ال ُمقترحة للدراسة‬
• A research proposal is a concise and coherent plan of your
proposed research.
• It outlines the general area of study within which
your research falls, referring to the current state of
knowledge, research gaps and any recent debates on the
topic.
• It outlines the research problem, objectives and questions
that you intend to address.
• It outlines the methods you intend to use to achieve the
research objectives.
 ‫حجم مشروع البحث‬
• Research proposals may vary in length, so it is important
to check with the University to which you are applying to
check word limits and guidelines.

• For example, normally a proposal should be:

- between 1500 and 4000 words (Portsmouth University)
- between 1500 and 2000 words (Lancaster University)
- a proposal should be no more than 2,500 words, or 5
pages in length; 2-3 pages is normally sufficient (University
of Adelaide)
 ‫عناصر خطة البحث الجيدة‬
• Title
• General overview of the topic (background, research
problem, aim/objectives, importance, motivations,
contributions)
• Identification of the key literature/theories
• Identification of research gaps
• Key research questions/hypotheses
• Identification of research method
• Timescale/research plan
• References
 1. The title of the research proposal
• The title is very important as it is usually read first. 

• The title should capture the reader’s attention to the research

problem being investigated and the main ideas of your
proposal. So, once you complete writing your proposal, think
about the best title that fits well your contributions.

• A good research title should contain the fewest possible words

needed to adequately describe the scope and the
contributions of the study (e.g. 8-15 words).
 The title of the research proposal
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate
reader interest.
• Suggest a relationship between variables which supports the
major hypothesis.
• Does not include unnecessary words like “a study of," “an
analysis of“.
• Titles are usually in the form of a phrase, but can also be in the
form of a question.
• Use correct grammar and capitalization (i.e. the first letter of the
first word in the title should be capitalized).

* Source: http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=801403
 2. General overview of the topic
• What is the nature of the problem? (Research background)
• Why is it problematic? (Research problem)
• What is the research aim/objectives?
• What is its significance? (Research importance)
• To whom is it significant, and why? (Research relevance?
potential implications)
• Why is it appropriate to study this topic at this time? (Research
motivation)
• Why is it of interest to examine this issue in this specific context?
What is the uniqueness of your context? (Research motivation)
• What are your contributions?
 Research aim/objectives
• What are the general aim and specific objectives of the
intended research?

• An Aim is a goal that the project is trying to achieve. An

Objective is a practical step to achieve the project aim. The aim
is the 'what.......'. The objective is the 'how...‘

• Research objectives refer to the goals or steps that you will take

to achieve your aims.

• The aim of the research is …….. To achieve this aim, The

research has three objectives ….
 Research motivations
• Why it is interest to look at the relationship between
‘x’ and ‘y’?

• Why is it of interest look at this research topic ‘again’?

Does it potentially tell us something different from
what we learnt before?

• What are the uniqueness of your context?

 Potential contributions
• A thesis should provide at least one of the following incremental
contributions:

- To knowledge: This could be the first thesis to examine ……..

- To theory: The thesis introduces a new theory to the field or it
tests if ….. theory is applicable to …………context.
- To methodology: The thesis aims to introduce a new measure
for ….
• To Practice: The thesis aims to introduce a practical solution to
problem in practice.
3. Identification of the Relevant Literature and
the Research Gap(s)

Your proposal should demonstrate that you are aware

of existing debates and issues raised in relevant bodies
of literature. References to key articles and texts should
be made to show that you appreciate their relevance to
your research area.

A research gap is defined as a topic or area for which

missing or insufficient information limits the ability to
reach a conclusion for a question.
 Key Research Questions
Research hypotheses
• You need to show a clear link between the research questions
and/or the research hypotheses and the stated research
aim/objectives.

• Research questions should be shaped by the gaps identified in

extant literature.

• Research hypotheses should base on relevant theories

(sometimes base on relevant empirical results of previous
studies or rather reliable arguments).
 Research methodology
This is the most important section of a research proposal. It
provides evidence on your ability to achieve your research
aim/objectives. You need to discuss:

- Your method (e.g. qualitative or quantitative).

- Sample selection criteria.
- The period of the analysis.
- The model (if any).
- Variables definitions and measurement
- Data collection.
- Source of data
 Timescale/
Research Planning
Year 1
Year 3
- Survey the literature (3 months) - Writing up the findings (4 months)
- Writing up literature review - Writing up the discussion chapter (4
chapter (3 months) months)
-Updating the literature (1 month)
- Writing a methodology chapter (3
months) -Updating the methodology (1 month)
-Linking all chapters (1 month)
- Pilot study (3 months) -Writing the interdiction and conclusion
(1 month)
Year 2 -Submission of the first draft
- Data collection (6 months)
- Data analysis (3 months)
- Data interpretation (3 months)
 References

• The references is put into alphabetical order according to the

surnames of the authors you are citing
• Cite articles published in top ranked journals.
• Be consistent in writing references:
Example:
• Ibrahim, A. and Hussainey, K. (2019). Developing the narrative
risk disclosure measurement. International Review of Financial
Analysis, 64: 126-144.
•  Cite only relevant articles
•  Verify articles are cited in your paper correctly
 ‫كتابة خطة البحث‬
‫األمور التى يجب اخذها فى الحسبان قبل كتابة الخطة البحثية‬
• Interest: you should choose a topic that interests and even possibly excites you. It
should also be of interest to your supervisor as well.

• The “newness” of the topic may hold you interest longer, however there is some value
in repeating previous research

• Avoidance of duplication: Has the topic been investigated before within the proposed
study area, or in another area with similar conditions?

• Relevance (importance): What is the importance of your research? Who cares about
your findings?

• Access & resources: Can you find enough information on it? (i.e. literature; IT;
software; skills; access to people who can answer your research questions
(questionnaires; interviews).
 ‫األمور التى يجب اخذها فى الحسبان قبل كتابة الخطة البحثية‬

‫معايير المشروع البحثى الجيد‬

1. Clearly state aim/term objectives AND expected impact.
2. Explicitly state research motivations
3. Explicitly state potential contributions.
4. Explicitly state hypotheses and/or research question(s).
These must flow logically from literature review and major
themes of the problem area.
5. Sound research method.
6. Clear writing.
 ‫د‬/‫ي‬/‫ج‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ى‬/‫ث‬/‫ح‬/‫ب‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ع‬/‫و‬/‫ر‬/‫ش‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ر‬/‫ي‬/‫ي‬/‫ا‬/‫ع‬/‫م‬
‫أسال نفسك‬
• Does the proposal address an important problem?
• Are the aims/objectives original and innovative?
• If the aims are achieved, how will knowledge be
advanced?
• Does the proposal aim to employ novel concepts or
new methods?
• Are the conceptual framework, design and methods
adequately developed? Are they well-integrated, and
appropriate to the aims of the proposal
 ‫د‬/‫ي‬/‫ج‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ى‬/‫ث‬/‫ح‬/‫ب‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ع‬/‫و‬/‫ر‬/‫ش‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ر‬/‫ي‬/‫ي‬/‫ا‬/‫ع‬/‫م‬
‫أسال نفسك‬
• Why this topic?
• Does this study address an important problem?
• Does your proposal flow logically from the literature review?
• How will each hypothesis be tested?
• How will each question be answered?
• Do you have access to data for testing the hypotheses – what is
the source of this data?
• Why did you choose those measures (variables)?
• Which method and why?
• What are the potential practical implications of the project?
 Where to find a new idea?
Read …. Read …. Read
1. Recent published research papers in top ranked journals
2. Review articles
3. Recent working papers (SSRN).
4. Recent top quality conference papers.
5. Special issues (Current and forthcoming)
6. Recent PhD theses

• Find out limitations and suggestions for future research.

• Write down your ideas.
• Check data availability and other requirements for the
analysis.
 ‫لماذا ترفض خطة البحث؟‬

- The contribution is not enough for the degree.

- Or the proposal is overly ambitious (research
objectives are not realistic).
- Lack of or weak impact (implications).
- Significance not obvious or weak.
- Method flawed
- Poor writing.
 ‫لماذا ترفض خطة البحث؟‬

• A replication study without a clear motivation and

contribution.
• There are not clear research questions, research
hypotheses or well defined aim/objectives.
• The research aims/objectives are not related to the
research questions/research hypotheses.
 ‫لماذا ترفض خطة البحث؟‬
The literature review can often suffer the following
problems so it is important to take these into
consideration when drafting it*:
- Lack of organisation and structure
- Lack of focus, unity and coherence
- Repetition of information
- Failure to cite influential (key) papers
- Failure to keep up with recent developments
- Failure to critically evaluate cited papers
- Citing irrelevant references
* Source: Lancaster University website.
 ‫لماذا ترفض خطة البحث؟‬

• The proposal is not relevant to the research

interest of the potential supervisors.

• The proposal is submitted to more than one

colleague at the same department.

• The candidate submitted more than one

proposal to a potential supervisor
 ‫لماذا ترفض خطة البحث؟‬

Plagiarism issues:
A large portion of the text is
plagiarized from …..
 ‫ة‬/‫ر‬/‫ي‬/‫خ‬/‫ أ‬/‫ة‬/‫ح‬/‫ي‬/‫ص‬/‫ن‬
• Potential supervisors receive many applications; so please make
your research proposal easy to read and understand.

• The aims, contributions and method should be clear throughout

the proposal.

• Convince potential supervisors to be your supporters 

• Get them on your side by citing their work (if relevant) and
show them a good publication plan.
‫كتابة الدراسات السابقة‬

‫مفهوم الدراسات السابقة‬

‫اهمية الدراسات السابقة‬
‫القراءة النقدية للدراسات السابقة‬
‫الكتابة النقدية للدراسات السابقة‬
 ‫مفهوم الدراسات السابقة‬
An academic literature review is defined as
 ”The selection of available documents (both published and unpublished) on
the topic, which contain information, ideas, data and evidence written from
a particular standpoint to fulfil certain aims or express certain views on the
nature of the topic and how it is to be investigated, and the effective
evaluation of these documents in relation to the research being proposed”
(Hart, 2001, p. 13).
 Hart, C. (2001). Doing a literature search. London: Sage.

• ‫يها الباحث؛ من أجل الحصول على‬/‫ التي يرجع إل‬- ‫ المنشورة و غير المنشورة‬- ‫السابقة‬ ‫األبحاث‬
‫ ثم تحليلها بالطرق العلمية‬،‫ ومن ثم القيام بدراستها بشكل جيد‬،‫المعلومات المتعلقة بهدف البحث‬
‫ وبعد ذلك تحديد مدى التشابه واالختالف فيما بينها وبين‬،‫والمنهجية المستخدمة في البحث العلمي‬
‫لمقدم‬/‫أهداف البحث العلمي ا‬
 ‫مفهوم الدراسات السابقة‬
‫الدراسات السابقة هي إحدى أهم مفردات البحث‬
‫الحالى تبرز الفجوات البحثية ‪ ..‬وعليه الجديد هذا البحث‬

‫• مفهوم الدراسات السابقة* ‪:‬‬

‫• ‪  ‬تشمل الدراسات السابقة كل الدراسات المتصلة بالموضوع ‪ ،‬مما تم نشرها بأي شكل من األشكال ‪،‬‬
‫بشرط أن تكون مساهمة ذات قيمة للبحث‪ .‬وقد يكون النشر بالطباعة أو بواسطة المحاضرات أو‬
‫األحاديث المذاعة صوتا فقط ‪ ،‬أو صوتا و صورتا ‪ ،‬أو تم تقديمها لمؤسسة علمية للحصول على‬
‫درجة علمية أو على مقابل مادي أو لمجرد الرغبة في المساهمة العلمية ‪.‬‬
‫•‬
‫وقد يقيد البعض هذه الدراسات باشتراط كونها أبحاثا علمية ‪ .‬فال يندرج فيها ما يعد كتبا دراسية‪.‬‬
‫ولكن هذا الشرط يصعب توفيره في بعض المجاالت ‪ .‬‬
‫*أساسيات البحث العلمي بين النظرية والتطبيق للدكتور حنان عيسى سلطان‪ ،‬و غانم سعيد شريف العبيدي‬
 ‫اهمية الدراسات السابقة‬
‫أهداف أساسية‬
‫‪.‬عمل دراسة نقدية لتحديد الفجوة أو الفجوات البحثية للموضوع ال ُمراد دراسته‬
‫توسيع مدارك الباحث حول المشكلة المستهدفة‪ ،‬وأبعادها‪ ،‬والمفاهيم المرتبطة بالموضوع‬
‫توسيع مدارك الباحث حول النظريات المخلتفة المرتبطة بالموضوع‬

‫‪ ..‬أهداف آخرى‬
‫تجنب التكرار غير المقصود في تناول المشكلة قيد الدراسة‬
‫تحديد مشكلة البحث بوضوح ودقة‬
‫‪.‬التعرّ ف على ما قدمته الدراسات السابقة من مقترحات لمواجهة المشكلة ال ُمراد دراستها‬
‫تحديد منهج البحث المناسب و متغيرات البحث و طرق قياسها‬
‫تحديد البيانات الالزمة التمام لبحث‬
‫‪.‬ربط نتائج الدراسات السابقة بالنتائج التي توصل لها الباحث‬
 ‫اهمية الدراسات السابقة‬
‫‪ -1‬توفير الخلفية العلمية والمناخ المناسب والمصادر الالزمة إلجراء البحث الجديد ‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -2‬تكشف عن جذور المشكلة وتودي إلى فهم ما تم بخصوصها في الفترات السابقة‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -3‬تبرز الجوانب التي تم دراستها من قبل وهذا يؤدي إلى بحوث جديدة ‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -4‬توضع مناهج الباحثين السابقين في مجال البحث والدراسات ‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -5‬تكشف عن أي تداخالت بين البحوث وتوارد أفكار الباحثين ‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -6‬تساعد الباحث على إجراء مقارنات بين نتائجه ونتائج الدراسات السابقة ‪.‬‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ -7‬تساعد الباحث على التوصل إلى صياغة دقيقة ومحدودة ألهداف و طبيعة بحثه‬ ‫•‬

‫*‪ ‬البحث العلمي أسسه‪ ،‬مناهجه ‪ ،‬أساليبه ‪ ،‬إجرآته للركتور ربحي مصطفى ص ‪70:‬‬ ‫•‬
 ‫القراءة النقدية للدراسات السابقة‬
Good critical literature reviews tell a story and help to advance
our understanding of what has been done in the literature.

A critical review of a journal article evaluates the strengths and

weaknesses of an article's ideas and content.

It provides critical analysis and interpretation that allow readers

to assess the your contribution(s).

It is NOT to provide a summary of everything written on a

research topic.
 ‫القراءة النقدية للدراسات السابقة‬
• A research gap is defined as a topic or area for which missing or
insufficient information limits the ability to reach a conclusion for a
question.

• Types of Research Gaps*:

• Evidence Gap: if research findings contradict.

• Knowledge Gap: There are two settings where a knowledge gap

might occur.
- First, knowledge may not exist in the actual field to theories and
literature from related research domains.
- Second, it might be the case that results of a study differs from what
was expected.
* Miles, D. (2017), A Taxonomy of Research Gaps: Identifying and Defining the Seven Research Gaps
• Practical-Knowledge Gap: A practical–knowledge (action-
knowledge) conflict arises when the actual behaviour in practice is
different from the expected behaviour. In this case, research could
seek to determine the scope of the conflict and to uncover the
reasons for its existence.
• Methodological Gap: This gap addresses the conflicts with the
research methods in the prior studies and offers a new line of
research that is different from those research methods.
• Empirical Gap: It often addresses conflicts that no study to date
has directly attempted to evaluate a subject or topic from an
empirical approach.
• Theoretical Gap: Gaps in theory with the prior research or
theoretical conflict.
• Population Gap: This relates to the population that is not
adequately represented or under-researched in the evidence base
or prior research.
 ‫الخطوات اإلجرائية لجمع وتفريغ وعرض‬
‫الدراسات السابقة‬
‫أوال‪ :‬يقوم الباحث بجمع الدراسات السابقة التي يرى أنها مرتبطة بمشكلته البحثية‬

‫ثانيا‪ :‬يحدد من هذه الدراسات‪ ‬ما يرى أنها ذات عالقة مباشرة مع مشكلته‪ ،‬البحثية وتلك‬
‫‪.‬التي ليست لها عالقة مباشرة‪ .‬وهذا فهو متروك لتقدير الباحث‬

‫ثالثا‪ :‬يصمم الباحث جدوال تحتوي خاليا أعمدته على العناصر المتعلقة بمشكلته البحثية‪،‬‬
‫وتحتوي خاليا صفوفه على الدراسات السابقة‪ ،‬ثم يحدد ما كتبته هذه الدراسات عن‬
‫عناصر مشكلته البحثية‪ ،‬ثم يكتب في ورقة منفصلة ماذا كتبت هذه الدراسات جميعها في‬
‫هذا العنصر وغيره‬

‫*د‪ .‬أحمد إبراهيم خضر‬

 Disclosure
Reference Research Issue Sample Size Country Findings
Proxy

Lang and Determinants of 2,319 firm- Subjective USA Disclosure scores

Lundholm analyst ratings of years ratings based are higher for large
(1993) corporate on firms with a
disclosures. AIMR-FAF weaker relation
ratings between stock
returns and
earnings.

Welker Association 1,639 firm- Subjective USA Negative

(1995) between years ratings based association
corporate on between disclosure
disclosure AIMR-FAF scores and cost of
quality and the ratings debt.
cost of debt.

Lang and The association 751 firms Subjective USA High disclosure
Lundholm between ratings based firms have a large
(1996) disclosure on analyst following,
quality and AIMR-FAF more accurate
analyst following ratings analyst earnings
and the forecasts, less
properties of dispersion between
analyst forecasts. analysts and less
volatility in
forecast revisions.

Schleicher Effect of the 18 firms Self- UK No association

(1996) quality of UK (200 firm- constructed between the quality
annual report years) index of corporate annual
disclosures on reports and share
share price price anticipation
anticipation of of earnings.
earnings.

Botosan Association 122 firms Self- USA Negative

(1997) between constructed association
disclosure index between disclosure
quality and the scores and cost of
cost of equity capital.
capital.

Bryan Information 250 firms Self- USA Forward-looking

(1997) content of the constructed disclosures about
MD&A. index operations in the
MD&A are
significantly
associated with
37
one-period ahead
change in earnings.

Francis et al. Effect of 200 firm- Self- USA Management

 ‫نصائح عند كتابة الدراسات السابقة‬
‫قدم الدراسات السابقة عن طريق‬
‫يجب عدم عرض ال‪/‬دراسات السابقة كاتبا بعد كاتب و إنما يجب تعريف أو شرح مشكلة البحث التي‬
‫‪ .‬تتناول‪/‬ها الورقة‬
‫شرح التعارض الرئيسي أو األتفاق في الدراسات السابقة‪ .‬ا‪/‬إلشارة إلى الفجوة (ات) البحثية في الدراسات‬
‫السابقة‪ ،‬وعرض كيف ستعالج بحثك بعض هذه الفجوات‬
‫وانطالقا من هذه النقطة يوضح الباحث كيف قادته الدراسات السابقة إلى النقطة التي سيبدأ منها دراسته‬
‫‪.‬المقترحة‪ ،‬وكيف تعتبر دراسته هذه امتدادا لنتائج الدراسات السابقة‬

‫استخدم ال‪/‬عناوين ا‪/‬لفرعية إذا قسمت الدراسات السابقة حسب القضية‪ ،‬أو موضوعيا‪ ،‬أو وفقا لمنظور‬
‫‪.‬جدلي‪ ،‬أو وفقا لفترة زمنية‬
 ‫الكتابة النقدية للدراسات السابقة‬
• A major criticism of Smith’s work is that ….
• One question that needs to be asked, however, is whether ….
• A serious weakness with this argument, however, is that ….
• One of the limitations with this explanation is that it does not explain why…
• One criticism of much of the literature on X is that ….
• The key problem with this explanation is that ….
• The existing accounts fail to resolve the contradiction between X and Y.
• However, there is an inconsistency with this argument.
• Smith’s argument relies too heavily on qualitative analysis of ….
• It seems that Jones’ understanding of the X framework is questionable.
• Smith’s interpretation overlooks much of the historical research ….
• X’s analysis does not take account of …. nor does he examine ….
 Academic Phrasebank
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some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing organised according to the main sections of a research
paper or dissertation (see the top menu ). Other phrases are listed under the more general communicative
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purposes, and these should be substituted when the phrases are used. The resource was designed primarily for
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of English. More about Academic Phrasebank.

• This site was created by John Morley.”

• http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
Saunders et al. (2012)
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Saunders et al. (2012)

 ،/‫م‬/‫ي‬/‫ك‬/‫ح‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫م‬/‫ي‬/‫ل‬/‫ع‬/‫ل‬/‫ ا‬/‫ت‬/‫ن‬/‫ أ‬/‫ك‬/‫ن‬/‫ إ‬/،/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫ت‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ع‬/‫ا‬/‫ م‬/‫ال‬/‫ إ‬/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫ ل‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ع‬/‫ ال‬/‫م‬/‫ه‬/‫ل‬/‫ل‬/‫ا‬
‫ا‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ع‬/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫د‬/‫ز‬/‫ و‬/،/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫ت‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ع‬/‫ا‬/‫م‬/‫ ب‬/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫ع‬/‫ف‬/‫ن‬/‫ا‬/‫ و‬/،/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫ع‬/‫ف‬/‫ن‬/‫ ي‬/‫ا‬/‫ م‬/‫ا‬/‫ن‬/‫م‬/‫ل‬/‫ ع‬/‫م‬/‫ه‬/‫ل‬/‫ل‬/‫ا‬

Khaled Hussainey
Professor of Accounting and Financial Management
Portsmouth Business School
Portsmouth University
Telephone: Mobile 07727190105 Office 02392844715
Email: khaled.hussainey@port.ac.uk