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 PART 2

CHAPTER 5

Research Design and

Proposal Writing

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 LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

 Comprehend what a research design is
 Differentiate between the three different types of
research design
 Explain what cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
are
 Understand the unit of analysis in a research
 Know what a research proposal is
 Prepare a research proposal

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 5.1 The Research Design

 The plan of study followed to fulfil the research

objectives or test the hypotheses
 Its function is to ensure that evidence generated
from the data would be able to answer the research
question
 Primary data can be generated from 3 basic
research designs: exploratory, descriptive and
causal research

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 5.1.1 Exploratory Research

 Undertaken when a researcher intends to explore

something new or clarify ambiguous problems in a
particular situation
 Certain problem of interest exists and it has not
been clearly defined
 Useful in generating a more clearly defined (or
redefined) problem and suggesting a well-
supported hypothesis

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 5.1.2 Descriptive Research

 “Describes” something which could be a

phenomenon, a current situation or the
characteristic of a group of organisations, people,
etc.
 Answers the question of who, what, where, when
and how of a particular issue or situation

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 Cross-sectional or Longitudinal

Descriptive studies can be classified as either

cross-sectional or longitudinal.

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 Cross-Sectional Study

 The data is collected just once (at a particular time)

to enable the researcher to answer the research
questions
 Can be collected over a period of a few days,
weeks or months
 Most frequently used in exploratory and descriptive
research

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 Longitudinal Study

 A type of study in which the data is collected at two

or more points in time
 To investigate changes in people’s behaviour or the
effect of introducing some changes in an
organisation
 To measure the before and after effect (cause and
effect relationships) of certain phenomena
(resembles causal study)
 Needs longer time and more effort to complete,
hence could be more costly

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 5.1.3 Causal Research

 Research approach where the researcher

investigates the cause and effect relationship
(a.k.a. explanatory study)
 Can experiment on manipulating the hypothesised
independent variable on the dependent variable

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 5.2 Unit of Analysis

 Refers to the subject that is being studied in the

research
 May take the form of individuals, groups of people,
objects, certain department within an organisation
or the entire organisation itself as well as culture
and countries
 Most of the time, the unit of analysis is determined
by the research questions

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 5.3 Guidelines for Preparing
Research Proposal

 A short document written by a researcher to provide

an explanation of the proposed research study
 A research proposal as part of the application
process or as part of the requirement
 Requires it to be evaluated

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 5.3.1 Research Proposal
Outline
Components of a Research Proposal
 Title of the study  Research methodology
 Table of content  Contribution of research
 Abstract or executive  Time frame
summary  Budget
 Introduction  Conclusion
 Literature review  List of references
 Theoretical framework  A useful reminder
and hypotheses

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components

Title of the study

 It should be brief and concise and able to make
readers have a quick understanding of what the
study is all about
Table of content
 A nicely laid out table of content will really
complement the research proposal in which it will
make the document more useful and user friendly
to the reader

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)
Abstract or executive summary
 An important component of the research proposal
as it summarises the entire research proposal,
especially the most integral parts like the purpose
of the study, the research question, the rationale for
the study, the hypothesis and the research design.

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)
Introduction
 Introduces the reader to the proposed study
 It usually comprises the background of the study,
the problem statement, purpose of the
research/research objectives and research
questions, scope of the study and
justification/importance/benefit/ significance of the
study.

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)
Literature review
 This section should be called brief literature review
or preliminary literature review as it is a “work-in-
progress” and not a completed research report.
Theoretical framework and hypothesis
 Theoretical framework diagrammatically depicts the
relationship between all the variables that were
found to be integral to the study from an exhaustive
literature review.
 Aids in the formation of the research hypothesis

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)
Research methodology
 Plans in conducting the study

Significance of research
 How the study can contribute to research

Time frame
 The use of a Gantt chart or the likes in showing the
length of time required/expected to carry out the
research

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)
Budget
 Breakdown of the costs that are expected to be
incurred in conducting the research from the
beginning to the end.
Note: Not a necessary component in research (self-finance) for
academic qualification.

Conclusion
 End our research proposal with some final
conclusions of the topic under study.

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 5.3.2 Brief Explanation of Each
of the Components (cont.)

List of references
 A listing of all the citations that were used in the
preparation of the research proposal
 To comply with the in-house requirements/ rules as
to which referencing convention is used

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 5.4 Managerial Implications

Convince managers/clients/committees to
agree to the research plan proposed by the
researcher(s) for approval

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