Research Methods

Chapter three:
Developing a Research Proposal

2017
Outline

-The Purpose of Proposal

-Structure/Outline of a research Proposal
The Purpose of Proposals
General:
To present the problem to be researched and its
importance.
To discuss the research efforts of others who have
worked on related problems.
To suggest the data necessary for solving the
problem and how the data will be gathered, treated,
and interpreted.
Proposal for sponsor Vs researcher???
For the sponsor:
it allows to assess the legitimacy of the purpose
the clarity of the design
the extent of the background material
fitness of the researcher to undertake the project
For the researcher:
Provides a tentative work plan (logical procedures)
serves as a guide for the researcher throughout the
investigation
Structure/Outline of a research Proposal
 usually depends upon the outline of the specific orgn the
proposal is submitted.
1.Cover page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction/ background info/Statement of the research
problems
4. Research objectives/hypothesis/justification/key concepts
5. Literature review
6. Research methods/ preliminary survey of literature
7. References
8. Timetable/time schedule or research plan; and
Budget
9. Appendix
1. Cover page includes,

 The title of the proposed project or research

 The name of the researcher /author of the proposal/
and the name of the supervisor
 The name of the department/ institution;
 Presentation date
 Date

Title…. Should be written in the fewest possible

terminologies.
…. Should be as self explanatory as possible … to attract
readers
Eg.
• Impact of resource-based conflict on the livelihood of
pastoral households: the case of ERER district in Somalia
regional state of Ethiopia.

•Factors affecting technology adoption in Ethiopia.

Evidence from four regions.
Some interesting titles in Economics literature

1.Why do firms exist? (undergraduate research title)

2. The New Institutional Economics:Taking Stock, Looking

Ahead (by a nobel prize winner)

3.Toward a Theory of Property Rights

4. Challenges Facing Agricultural Extension Agents: A Case

Study from South-western Ethiopia (by the former president of HU)
2. Abstract

-A short summary of the research proposal

- to provide busy readers a clue about the content of the
proposal
-It should be as informative as possible to enable readers to
know the most important points of the proposal without having
to read the whole document
Your abstract should include the ff points…
1.A brief statement of the problem
2.Objectives
3.Type and sources of data
4.Research design (data collection, analysis tools)
3. Introduction/background information/

-Why the research is important?

-What has been done so far?
-What is the theoretical background of the researcher?
 Statement of the problem
-Attract the attention of the reader by stating the problem and
its consequences
-How it is different from other related problems
- literature based arguments about the issue
-Each word of the statement must be expressive, sharp, and
crucial… avoid idioms and clichés
Statement of the problem should include:

The problem area and major research gaps in terms of policy and
development issues related to the research
The social, scientific and development relevance of the problem
to be investigated both institutionally, locally, regionally and/ or
nationally
A brief and preliminary overview of the literature and/or research
done in the field related to the problem, and
The statement as to how the research project will contribute to
the solution of the problem identified
4. Research Objectives

-Comes from the problem statement

-Shows the specific, concrete, and achievable goals

NB: Verify the consistency of the proposal by checking to see

that each objective is discussed in the research design, data
analysis, and result sections.

 can be ordered in sequence of their importance or specificity

Consists of…

A general objective
A specific objective
A research question
4.1 Research hypothesis

-Important to determine the nature of data needed.

- To limit the scope of the research and prevent it from being too
broad.
-To set a framework to report the results and conclusions.

4.2 significance of the study

-shows the explicit benefits and the beneficiaries of the

results of the research being conducted.
-the importance or contribution the study to certain bodies
-Few paragraphs (usually one)
4.3 Delimitations (Scope) of the study

-Indicates the scope (coverage) of the study in terms of

variables included and area covered

4.4 limitation of the study

-Constraints or difficulties you think that they have influence

on the results of your study
-This could be difficulties faced with respect to data
Availability, methodological limitations, lack of recent
literature in the area, sample selection, faulty measurements
Group leaders
Birhan Asfaw

Wondimagegn tilahun

Abduselam Abdella

Andargachew Wondimu

Dine Hailu

Bereket Samuel

Tekalign Tuluka
5. Literature review

-explains, interprets and discusses what has been researched

and documented.

-examines recent research studies, company data, or industry

reports

- start from a comprehensive perspective, moving to more

specific studies that are associated with your problem.

Important points!!!
-Review of information .. NOT a comprehensive report
-stress the important results and conclusions of other studies.
-relevant data and trends from previous research
Cont…

-Discuss how the literature applies to the study you are

proposing.
- show the weaknesses and faults in the design, discussing how
you would avoid similar problems….. A good research will come
out
-Always refer to the original source!!!!!!!
-Citation
-Closing??? Summarize the important points that are related to
your case!!
Citation: indicating the source!!

When there is one author

(name, year)
eg. (Mesfin, 2007)

When there are two authors

(Name and name, year)
eg. (kebede and Mesfin, 2007)

When there are more than two authors

(name of first author et.al, year)
Eg. (Ahmed et.al, 2007)
Cont…
 when citation comes after an idea use brackets i.e
(name, year)
when using the author as a subject in your sentence
use Name (year)
Eg. According to Kebede (2007) ……..
 to refer to the same source consecutively … use ibid
instead of writing the name and year again.
But advisable to not use it often (always good to cite
other works than just the one over and over again)
Cont…
Use of quotations

 in case you have to use some ideas word by word use

quotation marks and cite the material with page numbers

Eg. “Evolved norms, however, are not always sufficient to privent

over exploitation. Participants or external authorities must
deliberately
devise (and then monitor and enforce) rules that limit who can use a
CPR, specify” (Ostrom, 1999 page 279) or (Ostrom 1999, 279)
 Examples: citation

…..Hence, efforts for soil conservation need to address the

underlying causes primarily, as focusing on the proximate causes
would mean addressing the symptoms of the problem rather than
the real causes (Gebremedhin, 2004).

According to Hurni (1988), both environmental and socio-political

factors have contributed to the poor performance of Ethiopian
agriculture.
6. Research Methodology

-details of the research design to be followed to achieve

each research objective.

-Should include…

-A description and explanation of variables

-A description of the subjects of the study (study

population, sample design, type of data etc)

-A description of the types and sources of data

(procedures used in collecting and analyzing data).
7. References/Bibliography

-list of books, journals, and other documents that we have used in

selecting the problem and which we may use while we conduct the

study but did not make citation (Bibliography)

-List of publications he/she actually read and cited in the text-

arranged in alphabetical order (Reference)

-Use the bibliographic format required by the sponsor
-Above all … be consistent!!
 References

Gebremedhin, B. (2004). Economic Incentives for Soil Conservation In

the East African Countries. ISCO-13th International Soil Conservation
Organization Conference- Brisbane.

Hurni, H. (1993). Land Degradation, Famine and Land Resource Scenarios in

Ethiopia. In: Pimentel, (Ed). World Soil Erosion and Conservation. Cambridge
University Press.

Hanemann, M. (1984). Welfare Evaluation in Contingent Valuation

Experiments with Discrete Responses’. American Journal of Agricultural
Economics, Vol. 66, Pp.332-41.
 8. Budget, logistics and work plan
-Budget breakdown has to be prepared for all activities and
it should include:

Type Examples
Personal Costs salary/per-diems
Support Services Data entry
Fieldwork costs Transport
Overheads photocopy/ printing
Books/journal costs Books and journals
Equipments Equipment to be bought
Other relevant costs

Researcher should know how much money is budgeted for

each task
Work plan (Time Schedule)

-a realistic time schedule.

-Assign time requirement for each phase of the research
work.
- the phases could include:
. Questioner preparation
. pre-testing
. field interviews
. Data editing and coding
. data analysis
. Report generation
9. Appendix

Includes..
- sample questioner
-CV of the researcher
-Any other relevant information
Extra Notes on Seminar writting
Contents
Abstract
List of abbreviations, if any
List of tables, if any
List of figures, if any
Introduction: importance of the paper, the gap,
goal of the paper, overview of the following contents.
 body of the paper: write literature review in this
section.
- Structure in different ways (add as many sub
sections as u want)
 Discussion of the Findings and Conclusions:
-Discusses the findings and their implications.
-Drive own conclusions
-Limitation and future research

References:
Conference paper
Smale, A. & Suutari, V. (2008). Knowledge transfers into Estonia and the
Czech Republic. Paper presented at the 34th EIBA (European International
Business Academy) Conference. Talinn, December 2008.

Book
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s Consequences, 2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Article
Ronen, S. & Shenkar, O. (1985). Clustering Countries on Attitudinal Dimensions:
A Review and Synthesis. In: Academy of Management Review, Vol. 10(3), pp.
435-454.

Internet

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What is Citation
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scientific writing