Adama Science and Technology University
Research Methods and Scientific
Writing (Chem3252)
Undergraduate Regular Program
Instructor:
Yilkal Dessie (PhD)
Department of Industrial Chemistry, College of Applied Natural Science
Chapter 3: Research proposal
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?
What is a research proposal?
• A research proposal is a comprehensive plan for a research
project.
• It is a written description of a research plan that has to be
undertaken.
• It determines the specific areas of research, states the
purpose, scope, methodology, overall organization and
limitations of the study.
• It also estimates its requirements for equipment (if
necessary), finance and possible personnel.
Purposes of writing a research proposal
• To convince others that the proposed research is worth
undertaking.
• To enable the researcher to demonstrate his/her expertise
and competency in the particular area of study.
• To serve as a planning tool for the researcher.
Organization of a Proposal
• Most granting sponsors offer guidelines that indicate what
information they expect in your research proposal.
• Follow them exactly.
• The content of the research proposal to be discussed here is
organized into the following components.
Components of a Proposal
• I. The title of the proposal
• II. Abstract (Optional)
• III. Introduction
– Background and statement of the problem
– Need for the study/Justification
– Objectives of the study
– Hypothesis
• IV. Literature Review
• V. Materials and Methods/Procedures
• 1. Description of the study and target population
• 2. Research Design and Rationale
• 3. Data collection methods
• 4. Data analysis procedures
Outline of a Proposal
• VI. Logistics
• 1. Time Schedule/ Work plan /Phases
• 2. Personnel
• 3. Facilities
• - Equipment
• - Supplies
• 4. Travel
• - Transportation
• - Per Diem
• References/bibliography
• Miscellaneous/Appendices
Summery Components of Proposal
Title of the proposal
• The title identifies the proposed research project and must
concisely and clearly indicate the key variables in the study
• The length of the title matters a lot.
• Unnecessary words or waste words that say nothing, such as
"A Study of ...," “Observation of ....“Investigation on...”. etc.
should always be avoided
• It should tell what the proposal is about.
Abstract (Summary)
• It is a brief summary of the area of investigation and expected
outcome.
• It should reflect familiarity with current issues in the field and
raise research questions or hypotheses suggested by findings
in the current literature.
• In the abstract, the investigator should briefly describe
proposed methods and expected conclusions.
• It is optional.
1. INTRODUCTION
• The introduction encourages the reader that the topic is
important and that the objective of the research is justified
• should flow into the statement of problem so the two sections
together make a clear and unambiguous statement about the
significance of the research.
• Should describe the nature and purpose of the study,
• Present the research questions, and explain the significance of
and justification and hypothesis for conducting the study.
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background Information
• This show the state of the art of a particular field of
endeavour.
• This helps to make clear what you wanted to do.
• This provides information or the reason to justify the study
INTRODUCTION
1.2. Research Problem (Statement of problem)
• The purpose is to further increase the understanding of the
significance of the proposed research
• This section is the most critical task in writing research
proposal (i.e., the central point in any research).
• Without a research problem, there is no real thinking, just
wandering, dreaming or associating.
INTRODUCTION
1.2. Statement of problem
• The following questions helps in clarifying research problems:
– Is the problem interesting?
– Is the problem new?
– Will the study add to knowledge?
– Is the problem feasible?
– Has anyone else had a claim to it?
INTRODUCTION
1.3. Justification (Importance) of the study
• Describes the gaps the research is intended to fill
• addresses the likely contribution to knowledge that the
research will make and its place in current debate/ theory.
• Describe the value of specific applications of knowledge to be
gained and the potential importance of these applications
INTRODUCTION
1.4. Defining the Objectives of the Study
• The objectives should specify measurable outcomes (end
products) of the research project
• Objectives must be typically very brief (specific) and
achievable.
• The objectives must neatly fit into the statement of the
problem
• General objective provides a short statement of the scientific
goal being pursued by the research.
• The specific objectives are operational in nature.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.5. The Hypotheses
• It is a predictive statement of the relationship between two or
more variables
• It caries clear implications for testing the stated relationship
• The hypotheses statements contain two or more variables
that are measurable or potentially measurable
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
• A literature review is an account of what has been published
on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers.
Purpose:
• to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have
been established on a topic
• Provides the theoretical basis for the research question
• Helps the researcher in the interpretation the findings.
• Helps to further define the research problem
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Basic Guidelines
• The task of reviewing is the most difficult section for a
beginning researcher
• It is not necessary to review all the literature in the field
• What you need are materials that have direct relevance to the
study
• It is an extremely important part of a thesis.
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
• This section shows how the research objectives/ hypotheses
will be answered/tested
• Describes in detail the specific methods and the materials
needed
• It is not necessary to describe in detail a procedure already
published; just so cite the original reference
• Provide a clear and complete descriptions for all
experimental, analytical, and statistical procedures
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Description of the study area
• Describing the biophysical environment of the study area is
very important
• Suggestion for content include:
– Location and physiography
– Climate
– Geology and soils
– Population and production systems
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.2. Experimental /Research design
• It is the plan, structure and strategy of the investigation
• the plan is the overall scheme to be followed in conducting the
research
• the structure is the more specific outline of how the variables
are operationalized
• the strategy is a description of details such as methods to be
employed in collecting and analysing the data.
• Describe clearly and carefully your experimental subjects,
numbers, treatments, environmental conditions,
measurements, field layout and statistical models
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.3. Data Collection
• Describe exactly how you are going to collect your data
• Describe how you are going to proceed in using questions/
interview/ other methods
• Describe sampling techniques (random, systematic, stratified,
purposive, accidental, quota,..)
• List the specific materials that will be required such as:
– Laboratory facilities
– Field equipment
– Computer facilities
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.4. Data analysis
• Discuss how you will present and analyse your data
• There are two major types of data analysis:
• Quantitative Analysis: descriptive statistics and ANOVA
• Qualitative Analysis: Interpreting based on frequencies
4. WORKPLAN (TIMETABLE) AND BUDGET
• present timetable/work plan/schedule for each activity to be
implemented
• The budget section is a statement of proposed support and
expenditures
• A poorly presented budget probably reflects a poorly
developed proposal
• State also if there is special collaboration/ cooperation
5. BIBLIOGRAPHIY /REFERENCE
• list of materials that were cited or mentioned in the proposal
• Citing a source without having read the original can lead to
loss of credibility if the secondary source is in error
• Follow guidelines demanded by the particular journal,
proceeding, etc. They do have their own style
• General rule: Author (s). Year of Publication. Title of Work.
Publication source (journal, book, …).
5. BIBLIOGRAPHIY /REFERENCE
In-text references (citations)
• References in text are treated somewhat differently from
references in the complete list at the end of a paper.
• Use the author-date format to cite references in text.
– For example: as Smith (1990) points out,
– For two-author, spell out both authors on all occurrences.
– For multiple-author, use et al.
5. APPENDIX
• Things not included in the main body of the text will be list
after the reference
• It could be different formats, layout, pictures, questionnaires,
etc, ..
Summery of Process in Research Proposal Development
