How to Write A Research Proposal

Associate.Prof
1 .Dr. Faisal
 Learning Objectives

1 To understand what is a research proposal

2 To understand the importance of

writing a research proposal
3
To identify and elaborates components
to be included in a research proposal
4
To be able to write a research proposal

2
 What is a research proposal

 An overall plan, scheme, and strategy

designed to get the answers to your
research questions or problems in
your research project.

 It should answer:
 What you are proposing to do..
 How you will conduct your research project
 Why its important…

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Components in Research Proposal

1 Title

2 Introduction

3 Objectives & Hypotheses

4 Conceptual Framework
Components in Research Proposal

5 Literature Review

6 Methodology

7 Statistical Tests / Data Analysis

8 Work Plan, Expected outcome,

Budget & References
 Title
 Must be reflective of the study
undertaken
 Simple and precise
 Should and shouldn't :
 Number of words (not more than 20 words – common
style)
 should not contain short forms eg HIV, DNA, PCR
 No colon (  or dash (-)
 Avoidthe title to begin with `The..’
 Eg ` The effects of….’ use `Effects of….’
 Eg` A study of..’ use `Studies on…..’
 Attractiveness and ovelty……
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 Title
 May include:
 Variables (components) studied in the
research [dependent and
independent variables]
 Population studied
 Place / venue of study
Example:
1. Poor Glycemic Control among Diabetic in
Hospital Serdang
2. Determinants of Poor Glycemic Control among
Diabetic in Hospital Serd ang
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 Components of the
Introduction

1. Background
What should I
write in the
4. Limitation
of Study Introduction?
2.Statement
of Problem
3. Significance
of Study
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 Component: Background
Components Description
Background Establish the context of your research
problem
Definition
Helps the reader to get a preliminary
Statistics –
understanding of your problem
incidence,
prevalence and
burden of the
disease
Example:
The World Health Organization estimated that about 40% of
Iron intake and iron the world’s population (more than 2 billion individuals)
deficiency anaemia suffers from anaemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency
among young women in (ID), which is usually detected by low serum ferritin
Kuala Lumpur (2010) concentrations, is estimated to be from 2.0 to 2.5 times the
prevalence of anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) occurs
when ID is sufficiently severe to diminish the production of
haemoglobin. 9
 Component: Statement of Problem
Components Description
Statement of After the reader gets an overall
Problem description of the situation, you may
further elaborate on the severity
Severity and consequences of the problem.
Consequences You may also describe what is
What is wrong? wrong?
What is not Why are the methods not working?
working?
Example: Health consequences of IDA have been
Iron intake and observed in infants and children, adolescents
iron deficiency and pregnant women. In the latter, IDA
anaemia among consequences include premature birth, low
young women birth weight and small for gestational age of
in Kuala the newborn.
Lumpur (2010) 10
 Component: Significance of study

Components Description

Significance of After reading this, the reader

study
Importance
Who benefits from
the research
findings and how ?
Contribution (s) :
impact of the study
on a research field
Example:
Passive Smoking Mothers And Fetal
Outcomes: An Experience In
Maternity Hospital Kuala Lumpur
(2006)
will partially get idea on why
is your research important
and what contributions can it
make.
Maternal exposure to smoking is an important
issue as high prevalence of smoking among
males who can be their spouses, household
members at home, colleagues at workplace
and ordinary person at public places.
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 Component: Limitation of Study
Components Description

Limitation of A research cannot be too broad. It is

Study not possible to include all aspects of a
problem. It would be impractical due
Can be in terms to limited resources such as time and
of study man power.
design, sample
size, sampling
method,
variables
measured, data
collection
techniques, up
to data analysis.
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 Study limitations
 Predictors of  include the restricted
Employment of sample; no women were
Men With included,
HIV/AIDS: A  the study was
Longitudinal conducted in a state
Study in New (New York)
York (2004)  did not study those HIV
patients who may never
have had employment.

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 Objective
 Statements on the purpose of your study
 Closely related to the problem of statement
 Types:
 General
 Specific
 To determine / assess / compare
 Examples:
 To determine the effects of passive smoking on the fetal
outcome among women who delivered at the Maternity
Hospital.
 To assess the prevalence of iron deficiency, anaemia in
women aged 20-40 years in Sanaa, Yemen.
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 Research Hypotheses
 A hypothesis explains the predicted relationships between
the factors under study
 Null vs. Alternative Hypotheses
 Normally it is written as “Null hypothesis”
 Reverse of what the experimenter believes
 A descriptive/explorotary study need not have a hypothesis
 Example:
 There is no significant effects of passive smoking on the
fetal outcome among women who delivered at the
Maternity Hospital.
 There is no significant relationships between the
prevalence of iron deficiency and iron intake in women
aged 20-40 years.

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 Conceptual framework
 Organise and summarise the contents of the study
based on literature review
 Sections or subsections
 Make connections between ideas obtained from
various sources
 Shows relationship between the outcome, problem
and exposure, contributing factors
 Put everything that was found in the literature review,
but not necessary to study everything in the conceptual
framework
 Aims
 Analyse the problem under study
 Identify factors that can contribute to the problem
 Clarify relationship
 Conceptual framework
 Identify the main
subject/problem/outcome to be
studied
 Identify contributing factors, risk
factors, protective factors – directly
or indirectly
 Draw a diagram – boxes, bubble
charts
 Connecting the boxes, bubbles
Malnutrition
 Literature Review
 to identify the a problem, it is best to
firstly review available literature (body of
knowledge)
 on what has been done,
 how it was done,
 what results were generated,
 in order to identify the gaps that require
further research.

 By reading materials, it will give a better

picture of the extent of current research,
have a theoretical knowledge on the issue

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 Literature Review
Topic:
Tsui et al. (2008)
Smoking, pregnancy & Fetal Outcome Steyn et al. (2006)
Prenatal Smoking
The influence of
Exposure and
maternal cigarette
Neonatal DNA
smoking, and
Damage in Research C passive smoking on
Relation to Birth
Research D pregnancy
Outcomes
outcomes

Jaddoe et al. (2007) Hejar et al. (2006)

Active and passive

Research Passive smoking
maternal smoking A Mothers and fetal
during pregnancy and Research B Outcomes: An
the risks of low experience in
birthweight and Maternity Hospital
preterm birth in Kuala Lumpur
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 Literature Review
 Needs to be up to date~ 5-10years before
 What type of research has been done in this
area?
 What has been found in previous studies?
 What suggestions do other researchers make for
further study?
 What has not been investigated?
 What research methods used in previous study?
 Is the area being researched thoroughly
already?

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 Methodology
 Where is the research going to be
done?
 What is the research
procedures?
 How are you choosing the
samples?
 What is the sample size?
 What data is collected?
 What software, tests are you
using for analysis the data?

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 Methodology
 Study location
 Study design
 Sampling
 Sampling population
 Sampling frame – a list of….
 Selection criteria – inclusion and exclusion criteria
 Sampling unit
 Sampling method
 Sample size
 Instrument and data collection technique
 Instrument
 Validity and Reliability
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 Data Analysis

*P is significant <0.05
Data analysis
Software?

Descriptive Inferential

Describe the Statistical tests

total number / T-test
score; mean ANOVA
and standard Linear regression
deviation;
mode; median.

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 Ethics
 Ethical consideration – especially in
usage of human tissues, animals
 UPM Ethical Committee and Animal Care and
Use Committee
 UPM Ethical Committee
 Permission from the relevant bodies –
Ministry of Health -NMRR, Ministry of
Education
 Permission from parents for
children
<18 years
 Ensure confidentiality – no names,
cannot identify them
 Definition of terms

 Particularly in your study –

irrespective of accepted definitions or
meanings
 Physical activity
 Vigorous
 Moderate
 light
 Smoking
 Current smoker, past smoker
 Active smoker
 Passive smoker
 Expected outcome
 What you hope to achieve
 New knowledge in the field studied
 Add to the current existing knowledge
 Useful for the current health programs

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 Work Plan
 Gantt charts to show how do you plan
to carry out your work
 Normally includes the below
components:
 Proposal writing
 Literature Review
 Ethics approval from faculty / related
agencies
 Preparing study tools / instrument
 Data collection
 Data analysis
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 Example of a Work Plan
Jan Feb March Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
YEAR 2011
Ethics Approval X X X
Dep. Of Prison X X X X
Approval
Literature X X X X X X X X X X X X
Review
Develop FGD X X X
interview guide
Develop X X X X
Questionnaire
Focus Group X X
Discussion
Modify & Pilot X
Test
Questionnaire
BASELINE X X
Develop & X X X X X X X X X
Modify Module
INTERVENTION X X
Data Collection X* X*
1 EG 1 EG 2
& Data Entry CTRL 1 CTRL 2

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 Example of a Work Plan

Jan Feb March Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
YEAR 2012
Data X* X*
Collection EG 1 EG 2
2 & Data CTRL 1 CTRL 2
Entry
Data X* X*
Collection EG 1 EG 2
3 & Data CTRL 1 CTRL
Entry 2
Data analysis X X X X X X X
& Results

Writing Up: X X X X X
Discussion

Submission of X X
1st Draft
& Correction

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 References
 Remember to include References
 Around 50 references
 Plagiarism is a “serious crime” in
UPM – you should not reproduce any
academic work without quoting the
authors

 There are different styles of

writing references:
 APA style – American Psychological
Association
 Vancouver
 Harvard style
 Why Reference?
 To avoid plagiarism.
 To show you have read a piece of work
and understood it.
 To show courtesy to the original
author.
 To track your reading / note-taking.
 To back up an argument.

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 Common Sources To Reference
 You are more likely to refer to information
from:
 Books
 Contributions to books
 Corporate Bodies
 Journal articles
 Conference proceedings
 Electronic sources

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 Essential components of
referencing - general
Of printed and non-printed works, in this
order:
 Author
 Year of publication (or use copyright date, e.g.
c1985)
 Title (exact wording, italics(?), combine subtitles
with colon)
 Edition (mention any edition other than the first)
 Place of publication (use first one displayed)
 Publisher (briefest form)
 Numbering and/or pagination
 Series
 Essential components of
referencing general
Of electronic references:
 Author/Editor
 Title of web page (look on site’s home
page)
 Type of medium (online web site)
 Date on which it was updated
 Full URL (http://www . . .)
 Access date
 7. Lynch T. DSN trials and tribble-ations
review. Psi Phi: Bradley's Science Fiction
Club Web site. 1996. Available at:
http://www.bradley.edu/campusorg/psip
 Styles of referencing - APA
 Authors in alphabetical order
 Citation
 Reference citations in text are done
using parenthetical referencing.
 In all cases of citation, author name(s) are
always followed immediately by a year,
 Single author/ multiple authors
 Format should be Author's last name
followed directly by a comma, then the
year of publication

37
 APA: Journal papers
• Author’s last name, then initials.
• Year of publication in parentheses.
• Title of article in lower case.
• Journal name in italics in title case.
• Volume of the journal in italics, with issue
number in parentheses and italics.
• Issue # may not be available. If not available,
leave it out.
• Page numbers of the article.
One author
Jacob, D. V. (2000). The cost of not doing homework.
Psychological Bulletin, 126(4), 900-929.
 APA - Two authors
Jacob, D. V., & Palmer, S. (2000). The cost of not doing
homework. Psychological Bulletin, 126(4), 900-
929.
• Author’s last name, then initials, “comma,”
ampersand (&) second author’s last name,
then initials.
• Year of publication in parentheses.
• Title of article in lower case.
• Journal name in italics in title case.
• Volume of the journal in italics, with issue
number in parentheses and italics.
• Issue # may not be available. If not available,
leave it out.
• Page numbers of the article.
 APA: 3-6 authors
Jacob, D. V., Mann, K. L., Cohen, J. A., & Palmer, S. (2000).
The cost of not doing homework. Psychological
Bulletin, 126(4), 900- 929.
• Author’s last name, then initials, “comma,” with last
author use ampersand (&) author’s last name,
then initials.
• Year of publication in parentheses.
• Title of article in lower case.
• Journal name in italics in title case.
• Volume of the journal in italics, with issue number in
parentheses and italics.
• Issue # may not be available. If not available, leave
it out.
• Page numbers of the article.
 APA: Referencing an entire book
Rousseau, D. M. (1995). Psychological contracts in
organizations: Understanding written and unwritten
agreements. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

• Book author(s) or editors; last name, initials

• More than one should be separated by commas, with
last preceded by an ampersand (&).
• Year of publication in parentheses.
• Title of book in italics and in lower case,
followed by edition, if available.
• e.g., Book (3rd Ed.)
• Location of publisher, colon (:), publisher
name (e.g., Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publication).
 Styles of referencing - APA

 Book by two authors Kurosawa, J., & Armistead, Q.

(1972). Hairball: An intensive peek behind the surface of an
enigma. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster University
Press.
 Chapter in an edited bookMcdonalds, A. (1993). Practical
methods for the apprehension and sustained containment
of supernatural entities. In G. L. Yeager (Ed.), Paranormal
and occult studies: Case studies in application (pp. 42–
64). London, England: OtherWorld Books.
 Dissertation (PhD or masters) Mcdonalds, A.
(1991). Practical dissertation title (Unpublished doctoral
dissertation). University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

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 Styles of referencing: Vancouver
 In the text Superscript (1,2,3,4.. ), as they
come
 In the reference page
 Journal
 Parisa Parsa, Mirnalini Kandiah, Nor Afiah Mohd
Zulkefli, Hejar Abdul Rahman. Knowledge and
behaviour regarding breast cancer screening
among female teachers in Selangor, Malaysia.
Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2008;
9:1-7
 Hejar AR, Nur Hazarina I, Lim WK. Leisure-Time
Physical Activities among Adult attendees at a
Primary Health care clinic of a rural community in
Selangor Malaysian Journal of Medicne and
Health Sciences 2007;3(2):29-36.
 Styles of referencing: Vancouver

 Book
 Leon Gordis. Epidemiology (2nd Edition).
Philidelphia: W.B. Saunders Company,
2000.
 Report
 World Health organization, International
Agency for Research on Cancer. World
Cancer Report, Lyon:IARC Press, 2003
 Styles of referencing: Vancouver

 Chapter in a book
 Zailina Hashim, Hejar Abdul Rahman,
Chong Fee Bee and Rosnan Hamzah
Environmental and occupational risk
factors on breast cancer. In. Zailina
Hashim et al (Ed) Breast cancer in
Malaysia: issues and educational
implication. Institute of Social Science
Studies, UPM Publications 2008.
 Format

 Depends on the guidelines

provided by the institution
 Consistent throughout
 Font: Arial or Times New Roman
 Size: 12
 Spacing: Single spacing
 Referencing styles

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Summary: Learning Objectives

1 To understand the basic concepts

in research

2 To understand the importance of

writing a research proposal

3 To identify and elaborates components

to be included in a research proposal

4 To be able to write a simple

research proposal

46
 Proposal presentation

 For 20 minutes presentation ( 10 minutes

presentation + 10 minutes Q&A )
 Graded - 60% of total marks
 Concurrent sessions

47
Research Proposal 5th June
2013
1 Title

2 Brief Introduction

3 Objectives & Hypotheses

4 Conceptual Framework
Components in Research Proposal

5 Methodology

6 Planned Data Analysis

7 Work Plan, Ghantt chart & References

8 Expected outcome
51