WRITING A RESEARCH

PROPOSAL

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS.)

PLANTATION TECHNOLOGY AND
MANAGEMENT

FACULTY OF PLANTATION AND AGROTECHNOLOGY

 What is Research Proposal?
WHAT you are going to research

WHY you are going to research this

particular area (problem statement)

Simply, your WHAT the research would aim to

achieve (objectives)
research
proposal should WHAT is the significance of researching
reflect: this area

HOW you are going to conduct

(methodology)

WHAT is the results of this research

(expected outcome)
Research Proposal Outline
CHAPTER
INTRODUCTION
1

CHAPTER LITERATURE
2 REVIEW

CHAPTER
METHODOLOGY
3

CHAPTER EXPECTED
4 OUTCOME
 CHAPTER 1: Introduction
 Elements in Introduction
• 1.1 Background of study
• 1.2 Problems statement
• 1.3 Objectives of study
• 1.4 Hypothesis testing (if any)
• 1.5 Research question (if any)
• 1.6 Justification of study
• 1.7 Scope of study
• 1.8 Limitations of study
 1.1 Background of study
So, the writer should

• Create reader interest in the

topic
• Lay the broad foundation
for the problems that leads
to the study
“The introduction is the part of the paper • Place the study within the
that provides readers with the
larger context of the
background information for the research
reported in the paper. Its purpose is to
literature and
establish a framework for the research,
• Reach out to a specific
so that readers can understand how it is audience.
related to other research” (Wilkinson,
1991)
 1.2 Problems statement

“A problem might • When you start a research, you have

be defined as the a question that you wish to seek
issue that exists in answer for.
the literature, • The question leads to a problem that
theory, or practice need to be solved by the research.
that leads to the • Begin the research with A
need for the DESCRIPTION OF THE
study” (Creswell, PROBLEM
1994)
 1.3 Objectives of study
The objectives of a research project e.g. the goal of this study is to…
summaries what is TO BE ACHIEVED by
the study.

…overcome the difficulty

Objectives should be closely related to the

statement of the problem.
…discover what

Its should be clearly stated and specific in

nature.
…understand the causes

…determine the effect

 1.4 Hypothesis testing (if any)

Clearly state the hypothesis or Too long of a hypothesis makes it

number of hypotheses that will be hard to understand the aim of the
addressed in the proposal. research. E.g.

H0 There is no relationship H1 There is a relationship

between… between….
 1.5 Research question (if any)

A research question
poses a relationship
between two or more
Is there any relationship
variables but phrases the Example
between…..?
relationship as a
question (Kerlinger,
1979; Krathwohl, 1988)
 1.6 Justification of study
Research justification states why the study is
necessary.

It’s possibly will answers the question:

• WHY is your study important?
• To WHOM is it important?
• WHAT benefit (s) will occur if your study is
done?
 1.7 Scope of study
• Where your research is conducted
What does your • When will you start your research
research cover; • How you gather/collect your data and

The parameters
in with the study • What will you measure in your research
will be operating study
in;
 1.8 Limitations of study
E.g. time duration,
weather, pest and
disease, etc..
Any limitations that
might influence the
results should be
Limitations are mentioned.
shortcomings,
conditions or
influences that
cannot be controlled
by the researcher.
 CHAPTER 2: Literature Review

“The review of the literature

provides the background
“It shares with the reader the
and context for the research
results of the other studies
problem. It should establish
that are closely related to the
the need for the research and
study being reported”
indicate that the writer is
(Frankel & Wallen, 1990)
knowledgeable about the
area” (Wiersma, 1995)
CHAPTER 2: Literature Review
CHAPTER 3: Methodology
If outside
Describe data that
you will use in the
organization
research, the involved,
methodology to be explain how
adopted and justify you are going
your choice of
methodology.
to get hold of
the data.
If existing
methodology
Indicate why is not to be
the used, explain
methodology why you need
is used. to use an
adapted
methodology.
 CHAPTER 3: Methodology

Elements in Chapter 3:

Discuss with
your supervisor
• Location of study
• Population and sample
• Materials
• Planting materials
• Others materials used in your study
• Methods
• Experimental design
• Population and sample
• Treatment
• Experimental layout
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Work schedule
 CHAPTER 4: Expected Outcomes
 This section should give a good indication of
what you expect to get out of the research.
 It should join the data analysis and possible
outcomes to the theory and questions that you
have raised (answers to your objectives).
 It will be a good place to summarize the
significance of the work.
 CITED REFERENCE
 APA style
• Arimoro, F.O., (2009). Impact of rubber effluent discharges on the water
quality and macroinvertebrate community assemblages in a forest
stream in the Niger Delta. Chemosphere, 77, 440-449.
• Banasiak, L.J., and Indraratna, B., (2012). Key strategies for managing
acid sulfate soil (ASS) problems on the southeastern coast of New
South Wales, Australia. Ground Engineering in a Changing World, 1-6.
THANK YOU