Writing Research Proposal

Khalid Mahmood, PhDProfessor of Library & Information ScienceUniversity of the Punjab

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Research objectives Specify the outcome of your study, the

end product Keep your objectives

Specific: Indicate precisely what you intend to achieve through your project

Measurable: What you accept as proof of project success

Logical: How each objective contributes systematically to achieving your overall goal

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Research objectives – Examples from market research

Sample verbs Sample findingsIdentify Problems, opportunities, criteria

Define Concepts, requirements

Describe Processes, usage, environments

Explore Perceptions, reactions

Generate Ideas, hypotheses, alternatives, explanations

Evaluate Feasibility, attractiveness, support

Select Theme, service, product, concept, ad

Test Assumptions, preferences

Measure Size, growth, frequency

Prioritize Market segments, needs, opportunities

Monitor Trends, competition

Track Awareness, satisfaction 3

Research questions Premised on the problem statement

identified, list possible research questions that could be asked in order to achieve the research objectives of the study

Main question and sub-questions

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Hypotheses/Theses Hypotheses are research questions

that could be statistically tested

Research hypothesis Null hypothesis

Thesis statement

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Rationale and significance

Rationale Reasons or justification for conducting

the study

Significance Addition in existing knowledge Implications for policy and practice Likely benefits for society at large

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Research design

Approach

Quantitative (how much, how many)

Qualitative (nature, essence)

Mixed

Triangulation

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Research design…

Specific method Quantitative: Survey, Experiment, Quasi-

experiment, Bibliometrics Qualitative: Case study, Historical,

Ethnography, Phenomenology, Textual analysis, Grounded theory

Strengths and weaknesses of selected design

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Research design…

Participants Population

Sample Sampling method: Probability or non-

probability Sample size

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Research design…

Data collection instruments Variables: Dependent and independent Ready made or self developed

instruments Measurement scales Validity and reliability of instruments Pre-testing

Data collection procedure

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Research design…

Data analysis plan

Descriptive statistics

Inferential statistics for testing

hypotheses

Qualitative data analysis

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Research design…

Ethical considerations

Permission to use instruments

Avoiding plagiarism

Informed consent

Confidentiality and anonymity

Participants’ access to results

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Availability of resources Equipment Materials Literature Human resources Budget Additional resources needed and

methods to acquire

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Work schedule – Gantt chart

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Proposed contents

Outline of chapters1. Introduction2. Literature review3. Design of the study4. Data analysis and discussion5. Summary, conclusions and

recommendations

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Questions???

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