Why Research?
The world full of problems!
Only two options
What does the community need from us???
So, what is research?
Systematic way of Solving problem
Engineer??
Problem Solver!
What is proposal
With the simplest Engineering language: Proposal is a
design/ master plan of a project!
Size, partitions, colors,….every materials to be used
(kind, amount) in the project and the way you use
them, the budget, time, number and types of resources
needed(human, material, time) should be predeter-
mined in the design document…. So does proposal in
the research world!
What to be included in RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A) Title page to include:
I. Title
Should be a reflection of the contents of the document
Fully explanatory when standing alone
Abbreviations should not appear in the title…ex. ERA
Scientific names should be in italics
Should contain 12 to 15 words
…title page
II. Author’s name and affiliation
Preferred order of names- start with 1st, middle fol-
lowed by last name.
Full names should be used
Affiliation should be well illustrated ; example:
A thesis Proposal submitted to the department of construction technology and man-
agement of Bule Hora University in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for the De-
gree of Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology and management
..title page
The month/year and place should follow at the bot-
tom, right edge of the caption
Note: -For proposals the cover page should include the
title, author and affiliation (all on one page) and cen-
tered
Example
What to be included…
B)Declaration: Should include both the candidate’s and the
supervisor’s declaration and duly signed
Note: Paginate using roman numbers starting with the declaration page
What to be included…
C) Abstract: ABC of the proposal!
This is a brief statement of the problem, objectives of the
study, target population, sampling technique and sample
size, instruments, data collection, data processing and
analysis, key expected outcomes
single spaced, italic, justify alignment, has key words
written alphabetically
Should not exceed 1000 words
What to be included…
D) Table of contents:
The rubric should be in title case and single spaced
The chapter titles should be in caps and bold
The subheadings should follow each chapter title and should
be in title case
Example:
What to be included…
E) List of Tables: must have name and page no
F) List of Figures: must have name and page no
G) Acronyms: separate by space(1.5-2.0inch)
H) Definition of terms: Define terms in the text that
are not common
What to be included…
CHAPTER -1
INTRODUCTION
Should include the following:
1.1 Background:
Should show the understanding and genesis of the prob-
lem
Talk about the global perspective followed by the local
scenario
Talk about the target group in the study
Should be approximately 5 pages (4-6 pages)
Describe in general the problem/issue that you seek to
research
Why is it an issue? How is the problem/issue being
developed in brief?
Maybe 2 to 3 pages, each page contains 2-3 para-
graphs Some pictures are allowed to be mentioned in
this section
Define any key terms, which may be useful for the
reader
What to be included…
1.2 Statement of the problem
Heart of the Research!!! No heart…no life!
Indicate why and how it is a problem
Must indicate exactly what the problem is and sup-
ported by relevant and updated
literature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This should be derived from background/from litera-
ture information to illustrate connectivity
Length- Maximum 1 page
What to be included…
1.3 Objectives
One general objective which should be in line with the
title
Specific objectives: steps/what you are going to do to
attain general objectives
have to be in line with the variables the candidates
hypothesize to influence the phenomenon being inves-
tigated
Should be related to the general objective
Should not be questions in the questionnaires
What to be included…
1.4 Research Questions /hypothesis
They should be in line with the specific objectives and
equal in number
Have to be numbered (1, 2, 3…..) and should be ques-
tions and not statements!
What to be included…
1.5 Justification/Rationale/motivation
Should illustrate why the researcher is conducting the
research and whom it shall benefit
Define the reasons behind the selection of this re-
search topic
What to be included…
1.6 Scope
coverage of the study
This is a kind of a disclaimer
Should cite the focus of the study either geographical
area or target group/ population
What to be included…
1.7 Limitation
Not a must for a proposal
Indicate the challenges encountered in the study
that may have limited the study
Has to be there in the final thesis/project report
Note: What to be included…
Paragraphing should be consistent. Either leave spa
ce
or indent between paragraphs
Spacing and indenting should not be used together
One sentence paragraphs are unacceptable.
Table of contents should be followed by:
List of figures/ tables- Should be labeled as per
the chapters in which they are found e.g. the first
figure in chapter one should be labeled as Figure
1.1
Write name of the table on the top of the table/figure
on bottom
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
This should include:
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Theoretical review/Conceptual Framework
Review the empirical and theoretical literature relevant to
the problem being investigated
Indicate what has been done by other researchers including
the methodologies used and identify gaps
Conceptual framework should demonstrate an understand-
ing of what variable influences what
Cite 3-5 references per key section in the text
Use either APA or Harvard method of citation Consistency is
important in citation
Each key variable should be 2-3 pages long
2.3 Critique of the existing literature relevant to the study
2.4 Summary
2.5 Research gaps
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Should indicate:
3.1. Research design: Indicate type of research, justify the choice of type of
research by citing authority
3.2. Population; clearly identify the population and the target population
3.3. Sampling frame; Justify the choice
3.4. Sample and sampling technique- illustrate understanding of the tech-
nique
3.5. Instruments/tools
3.6. Data collection procedure/lab. Procedures/sampling and handling ur
sample
3.7. Pilot test (depends on the instrument being used)
3.8. Data Processing and analysis
Timeline
Describe in full every detail of the proposed methodology accord-
ing to the available time
This will inform the reader how you are going to manage your
activities against time
The timeline includes the proposal writing and thesis writing
items
S.No Activities Months
1 2 3 4 5
1 Review of Literature
2 Proposal Development
3 Defense +Approval
4 Data coll/lab. Analysis
5 Data Analysis
6 Draft Report
7 Final defense
8 Final Report + Dissemina-
tion
Budget
Outline what all the costs of the research will be
S.N Activities Descriptions Total Remark
o price
1 Perdium for re- 10Dx206B 2060
searcher
2 Perdium data coll. 2Px5Dx124B 1240
3 transport 1pX2tripx200Bx2times 800
4 Taxi 500
5 Stationary 1000 1000
6 Mobile card 3cx100 300
Total 5900
No payment for separate for bed &food(to be included under perdium)
No separate payment for contract vehicles
References
Your bibliography should identify an item (e.g. book, journal ar-
ticle, thesis,, or internet site) in sufficient detail so that others
may identify it and consult it
FOR A BOOK
The details required in order are:
1. name/s of author/s, editor/s, compiler/s or the institution
2. year of publication
3. title of publication and subtitle if any (all titles must be italicized)
4. series title and individual volume if any
5. edition, if other than first
6. publisher
7. place of publication
8. page number(s) if applicable
nt !
m fo
ifor
Un
In General,
Internet source: retrieved data must be written!
Appendix/Annexes
Any further information that you would like to attach to your main
proposal like tools(questionnaries), lab procedures,….
Writing style format
How do you prepare a bid???
Follow the format of the institution/organization! Annex-2 guideline for re-
search
www.ju.edu.et/sites/default/files/Guidelines%20and%20procedures%20for%20research.pdf
Title font size 14 point, and Times new roman type (bold)
Text font size 12 point, and Times new roman type
Use 1.5 line spacing between text(single &italic for abstract)
Write tables and figures like: Table (-) -----top , Figure (-) -----on bot-
tom
Write equation and symbols using Ms-Word/don’t copy paste!
Things you shouldn’t use
Using bold or italic style in the Direct copy from the other refer-
text. ences
Different font type Un necessary bulletins
Putting brackets without real I, we,….
need. using unreliable sources as refer-
Shading some of your text. ences (ex. Wikipedia)
Colour your text. Symbol(&), abbreviation(w/h)
Cut and paste things from other use margin: 1.5inL,1U,R,B
documents
if logo/picture/map, use correctly
Avoid
Broad topic areas which would be unmanageable as BSc topics
Vague descriptions of research areas
Subject areas where Bule Hora University, BHU has no expertise,
resources…out of thematic areas
Don’t Selects a problem that is too vast or too vague to investigate
meaningfully
plagiarism!
avoid editorial problems…give to ur colleagues for review
Use scientific/research terms
…cont’d
Example:
3.Aim of the research
3.1. General Aim
3.2. Specific Aim
Client
Don’t hesitate knocking the door of ur advisors… they may not re-
spond to u…but never give up
Incorporate the comments given by advisors and than show him again
Tense: future perfect(will be done, will be analyzed, collected, inter-
viewed)…if you write in past tense===copied from completed re-
search!
Time for experience sharing
Practical World
Pls Share ur Experience
