An outline of the major components of the research proposal: Cover Page: Title (A case study of …….) Purpose why the research is conducted Name and Address of the investigator (Student researcher) Name and Address of the advisor Logo Month and Place where the proposal is written Acknowledgement Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures List of Acronyms Background of the study: General to specific or deductive order is recommended Statement of the problem: (Justification of the study) Research Objectives, Research Questions, and Research Hypothesis: 1.3.1 Research Objectives – Ends to be met in conducting the research This shows what the investigator will analyze and how; What comparisons to make and at what level General Objective: Often one statement directly related to the topic. Specific Objectives: Often 3-5; What the researcher want to achieve What to analyze and compare 1.3.2 Research Questions – Questions to be answered to meet the research objectives or produce implications of the hypothesis. 1.3.3 Research Hypothesis (Optional) – Tentative propositions to be tested in the research. 1.4 Research Methodology: 1.4.1 Data Type and Source (Decide one of them or both by giving justifications) Qualitative V/s Quantitative (Give reasons) Primary Sources (Decide on which method or methods to use by stating justifiable reasons) Questionnaires Interviews Observations Focus group discussions Secondary Sources (Decide on which method or methods to use by stating justifiable reasons) and exactly state the sources from which you will get the data. -Reports, manuals, internal publications, data base systems, Journals and Publications for assessing existing findings and internet. -Books for assessing theories and principles related to the topic etc. 1.4.2 Study design: Census V/s Survey (Decide which one to use and why?). Survey Design (Decide on the survey designs to be used by investigator clearly stating the reasons for your decision). Sample Size (Use the sample size determinations formula as a base and make adjustments with due regard to the target population and the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population characteristics). Sampling Design (Show how and why you are going to use the different techniques of probability and/or non-probability sampling techniques). 1.4.3 Data Collection: State the data collection tool or tools to be used with necessary justifications written in the proposal. Questionnaire design Questionnaire testing or pretesting if necessary

1. UNIT THREE
DEVELOPING THE
RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
1

2. 3.3 GENERAL FORMAT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
An outline of the major components of the research
proposal:
i) Cover Page:
 Title (A case study of …….)
 Purpose why the research is conducted
 Name and Address of the investigator (Student
researcher)
 Name and Address of the advisor
 Logo
 Month and Place where the proposal is written
 Acknowledgement
 Table of Contents
 List of Tables
 List of Figures
 List of Acronyms
2

3. 1. INTRODUCTION:
1.1 Background of the study: General to specific or
deductive order is recommended
 Definitions and concepts related to the topic
 Global issues and trends about the topic
 Situations in less developed countries or in a industry
 National level
 Regional level
 Organizational level (Supported by Review of Literature)
1.2 Statement of the problem: (Justification of the study)
 Facts that motivated the investigator to conduct the
research
 Exactly specifying and measuring the gap
 Hard facts or quantitative data about the topic for some
previous years and problems in the study organization.3

4. 1.3 Research Objectives, Research Questions, and
Research Hypothesis:
1.3.1 Research Objectives – Ends to be met in
conducting the research
This shows what the investigator will analyze and
how;
What comparisons to make and at what level
General Objective: Often one statement directly
related to the topic.
Specific Objectives: Often 3-5;
What the researcher want to achieve
What to analyze and compare 4

5. 1.3.2 Research Questions – Questions to be answered to
meet the research objectives or produce implications of
the hypothesis.
1.3.3 Research Hypothesis (Optional) – Tentative
propositions to be tested in the research.
1.4 Research Methodology:
1.4.1 Data Type and Source (Decide one of them or both by
giving justifications)
Qualitative V/s Quantitative (Give reasons)
Primary Sources (Decide on which method or methods
to use by stating justifiable reasons)
Questionnaires
Interviews
Observations
Focus group discussions
5

6. Secondary Sources (Decide on which method or
methods to use by stating justifiable reasons) and
exactly state the sources from which you will get the
data.
-Reports, manuals, internal publications, data base
systems, Journals and Publications for assessing
existing findings and internet.
-Books for assessing theories and principles related to
the topic etc.
1.4.2 Study design:
 Census V/s Survey (Decide which one to use and why?).
 Survey Design (Decide on the survey designs to be used
by investigator clearly stating the reasons for your
decision). 6

7.  Sample Size (Use the sample size determinations
formula as a base and make adjustments with due
regard to the target population and the homogeneity or
heterogeneity of the population characteristics).
 Sampling Design (Show how and why you are going to
use the different techniques of probability and/or non-
probability sampling techniques).
1.4.3 Data Collection:
 State the data collection tool or tools to be used with
necessary justifications written in the proposal.
 Questionnaire design
 Questionnaire testing or pretesting if necessary
7

8.  Data collection procedures (show in detail)
How the questionnaire will be administered?
Who will be involved?
How many people will be involved?
When will data be collected?
Where will data be collected?
How data collection will be administered?
How other methods will be applied in combination
(Triangulation)
 Focus group discussions
 Interviews
 Observation
8

9. 1.4.4 Data Processing and Analysis:
• Manual V/s Mechanical
• Editing: Field V/s In-House Editing (Include reasons)
• Recording / Data entry / or Keyboarding
• Methods of Analysis
o Qualitative V/s Quantitative
o Descriptive (tools to be used)
o Explanatory
o Statistical tools to be used for the analysis.
1.5 Scope of the study:
 Scope provides the boundary or framework
 Conceptual scope of the study
 Geographical scope of the study.
9

10. 1.6 Limitations of the study:
Limitation is the implication or effect of the
scope. A Limitation identifies potential
weaknesses of the study. Think about your
analysis, the nature of self-report, your
instruments, the sample, etc. Think about threats
to internal validity that may have been impossible
to avoid or minimize-explain.
 A Delimitation addresses how a study will be
narrowed in scope, that is, how it is bounded.
This is the place to explain the things that you are
not doing and why you have chosen not to do
them-the literature you will not review (and why
not), the population you are not studying (and
why not).
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11. 1.7 Significance of the study: Benefits of the study (Who
may use findings?)
 User organizations
 Other researchers
 The society or the community
1.8 Chapterization:
 Organization of the chapters to be written. Such as,
• Chapter One : Introduction
• Chapter Two: Review of Literature
• Chapter Three : Research Methodology
• Chapter Four : Analysis and Interpretation
• Chapter Five: Conclusions and Recommendations
11

12. 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE:
2.1 Concepts and definitions of terminologies directly
related to the topic:
2.1.1 Define and delimit the dependent variable
2.1.2 Define and delimit the independent variable(s)
2.2 Trace on how the independent variable(s) affect the
dependent variable.
 Remember that you are supposed to write only the
relevant literature and write it in a deductive order
(General to Specific). Moreover, you need to put in mind
the following important points in writing your review of
related literature.
 Adequacy- Sufficient to address the statement of the
problem and the specific objectives in detail.
12

13.  Logical flow and organization of the contents
 Variety of issues and ideas gathered from many authors with
adequate citations (APA Style).
3. TIME SCHEDULE AND BUDGET FRAME:
3.1 Time Schedule:
Try to put reasonable and realistic time on the basis of
 The scope of the study
 The research objectives to be achieved
 The methods and techniques to be used
Table 3.1: Time Schedule
Description of Activity Duration Final Date Remark
13

14. 3.2 Budget Frame
• Realistic and detailed to reflect the activity schedule and
convincing for the reader or possibly the finance; reflect
real budget.
Table 3.2: Budget Frame
Description of
Activity
Unit Unit Price Computations Total Cost Remark
14
4. Bibliography
I strongly recommend following the American
Psychological Association(APA) style.

15. Annexure / Appendix :
Questionnaires or Tables
• We can conclude that, all reviewers will have their
own set of criteria by which they will judge the
proposals that come before them. Unfortunately,
there is no easily applied formula that can be applied
to all research proposals that can guarantee success.
However, the more consideration that you have been
able to give to the research you plan to carry out,
reflecting on the outline elements that have been
covered in this chapter, the more likely it is that you
will have produced a proposal that stands up to keen
scrutiny.
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