ALPHA UNIVESITY

Research Methodology

Step by step guideline designed to students

preparing their Research Proposal

By

Research Lecturer: Ahmed M. Elmi

(Atoshe) Institution: Alpha University
Date: January, 2022
 Phases of research
 Phase one: conceptual phase,
 Phase two: Design and planned phase,
 Phase three: Empirical phase,
 Phase four: Analytical phase,
 Phase five: Dissemination phase.

Conceptual phase
Conceptual phase is the first phase of research which is also called
thinking phase. It is where a researcher thinks about what he/she wants to
examine and investigate. It is where the researcher formulates the research
title under the following steps:-
1. Identify your area of interest means your area of specialization.
2. Identify a specific problem with respect of your specialization.
3. Identify some possible causes of the problem.
4. Select one or two cause(s) out of the problem.
5. Link the cause(s) to the problem.
 Cont…………

6. Remove the bias or negative word(s) in statement five.

7. Add your area of context (study) and unit of analysis.
8. Check that your title has four things:-
 Independent variable (Iv)
 Dependent variable (DV)
 Unit of analysis
 Context (area of study) and
9. Define your Independent variable (IV) and Dependent Variable (DV)
in both stander definition and operational definition.
 The design and planning
In this phase
phase, the researcher should prepare or write a research
proposal which refers to the written plan for the research study one
is planning to conduct.
It is written in future tense (e.g.) (THE STUDY WILL…).
If it’s well prepared, it take more than 65% of the whole research
report, so it should carefully be prepared and given enough time.
 CONTENTS OF
RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
A. Preliminary page (cover page) not
numbered.
 Declaration.
 Approval.
 Dedication
 Acknowledgment
 List of abbreviations (if any)
 List of tables (if any).
 List of figures (if any).
 Table of contents
 Abstract
 B.
I. Chapter one: CHAPTERS.
 Introduction
II. Chapter two.
 Literature review
III. Chapter three
 Methodology
II. Chapter four.
⚫ Data Presentation, Interpretation And Analysis Of
Findings
III. Chapter five
 Conclusion and Recommendation
 cont……...

C. REFERENCE.
D. APPENDIX.
I. Introductory letter.
II. Consent format
III. Research instrument.
IV. Plan for data presentation (Data presentation
tables).
V. Budget.
VI. Time frame.
VII. Researcher’s curriculum vitae (CV).
 1. CHAPTER
1.0. Introduction ONE
This chapter may contain:-
1. Background of the study. (Background).
2. Problem statement.
3. Purpose of the study.
4. Objectives of the research (Objectives).
5. Research question (s).
6. Hypothesis test (Hypothesis).
7. Scope of the study.
8. Significance of the study.
1.1. Background.
1.1.1. Historical Background: Give a brief historical information of your IV
and DV (e.g.).Tell how things have been in the past about your IV and DV. For
instance, has the situation been good or poor? High or low? Etc. Do this by
getting some historical facts about your IV and DV in terms of level, extent,
degree, quality etc. for IV and DV. . Do it at a global, continental and national
(local) levels. (Situation analysis).
1.1.2. Theoretical Background: mention:-
A) What theory or which theory your study will be based on?
B) Who proposed it?
C) When was it proposed?
D) Where have you cited it?
E) What does it says?
F) How it relates to your topic
1.1.3. Conceptual Background: Define your IV and DV, give one standard definition
of your IV and DV from the text books. Go ahead and give the elements of IV and
DV (if any) (e. g.) show how your IV and DV is measured. Show the elements in
which your study is going to examine. (E. g.). DEFINE FORREING POLICY. Give
the elements of FOREIGN POLICY Like:-
G) Economic foreign policy.
H) Political foreign policy.
I) Diplomatic foreign policy.
1.1.4. Contextual Background: Give brief information on the current information
of your IV and DV in your own country (Study area), (e. g.) tell how is the situation
now?! This is by pointing out some current facts only from your country or Study
Area about your IV and DV, whether the situation is improved or has remained the
same – from newspapers, international or national reports, research reports, NGO
 1.2. Problem
1. statement
Mention the specific problem of your study.
2. Mention the indicators (signs) of the problem. Mention some current facts that
indicate or prove that the problem is there!
3. Mention the negative consequences of the problem (e. g.). Negative effects
of the problem.
4. Mention the possible causes of the problem.
5. Mention the cause which your study will examine and show why you want
to research on that cause out of the many causes.The reason you give is
called research gap.
⚫ E.g.
 No study has been conducted on that particular variable (cause) and how it
effects
the DV.This is called a content gap.
 No study has been done on that particular variable (cause) in your study
location. This is called contextual gap.
 No study has been done on that variable (cause) using the approach
(methodology)
in which your study is going to use.This is called methodological gap.
 No recent study has been done on that variable (cause). This is called temporal
 1.3. Purpose of the study.
This is the main reason why a research study is going to be conducted. There are
many
possible reasons why a study may be conducted. It can be:-
1. To establish a relationship between your IV and DV in your area of study.
2. To establish the extent of IV and DV.
3. To identify the strength and weaknesses in terms of IV and DV.
4. To identify an existing gaps on IV and DV.
5. To contribute a knowledge by closing the gap.
6. To validate the theory on which that study is based on in context of your study.
1.4. Objective of the study.
There are different approaches used to state objectives. E.g.
A. Variable measurement and relating each variable:-
i. To determine the level of IV.
ii. To determine the level of DV.
iii. To determine if there is a significant difference in the level of IV and DV
according to profile of respondents.
iv. To determine if there is a significant relationship between the level of IV and
 B. Variable relating only (Correlative objective)
1. Many (IVs) to one (DV) linking strategy: Here the IV is broken
down into many elements and the DV is kept as one.Then each element
linked
of IV isto the
DV. Example
Foreign International
policy
i. (IV) foreign policy ( IV1)
Political Recognition
ii. Economic foreign policy (IV2) (DV)
iii. Diplomatic foreign policy
(IV3)
iv. Military foreign policy (IV4)
v. One
2. Legal foreign
(IV) policy
to many (IV5)
(DV) linking strategy: Here the IV is kept as one
and DV is broken down into many elements, each element of DV is
linked to the IV.
 1.5. Research question.
In research question, each objective is stated as a question. E.g.
i. What is the level of IV?
ii. What is the level of DV?
iii. Is there a significant difference in the level of IV or DV according to the profile of
the
respondents?
iv. Is there a significant relationship between the level of IV and DV?
Hypothesis is a tentative answer to1.6. Hypothesis.
a research question (Educational guess). Not every
research question require a hypothesis. Hypothesis is stated for only those research
questions which will be either a significant difference or significant
relationship.There are two types of hypothesis:-
i. Null hypothesis
(H0) Alternative hypothesis
⚫ E.g.(HA)
ii.
 There is no significant difference in the level of IV and DV according the profile
of
respondents.
 There is no significant relationship between the level of IV and DV according
to the profile of respondents.
 1.7. Scope of the
study.
Scope of the study is divided into four.Which are:-
i. Geographical scope: In this paragraph, describe the area or
location of your study (i.e.) where will the study be conducted from?
Why you have selected that area?
ii. Theoretical scope: In here mention:-
1. What theory or which theory your study will be based on?
2. Who proposed it?
3. When was it proposed?
4. Where have you cited it?
5. What does it says?
6. How it relates to your topic
iii. Content scope: In this this paragraph state the elements of your IV and
DV which your study is going to examine. E.g.
iv. Time scope: In this paragraph, explain the time period the data will be
collected and will cover. But if you’re interested primary and current data,
this section may not be needed.
 1.8. Significance of the
study.the group(s) of people who will benefit
In this area, mention
from the findings of your study and show how they will
benefit.The possible groups to benefit may be:-
 The government officials
 Local government administrators
 Business or organizational managers.
 Policy makers and implementers.
 Donors, funders and investors.
 Researchers or academicians or students etc.
 2. CHAPTER
TWO. LITERATURRE REVIEW
2.0. Introduction
In this chapter shows:-
1. The conceptual review.
2. Theoretical review and
3. Empirical review.

1. Conceptual review.
In this section, discuss the definitions and meanings of your study variables
(IV
and DV) according to different authors.

1. Independent variable (IV)

In this section, you describe the definition and meaning of your IV according
to different authors, also point out the indicators or elements of your IV
according to different sources (authors).Then discuss the definition of
each element according to different authors and if possible mention its
 2.1.2. Dependent variable (DV)
Repeat what you have done your IV for
DV.

2.2.Theoretica
l review.
This is an expansion of the theory mentioned in theoretical scope. So
mention and explain the following:-
I. What theory?
II. Who proposed it?
III. When was it proposed?
IV. Where have you cited it?
V. What does it say in detail?
VI. How it relates to your study?
VII. Indicate some researchers that use this theory and conclude their
finding
2.3. Empirical review
In this section, discuss the research findings of other researchers related to
 Cont…………

1. Empirical findings on Independent variable

(IV).

2. Empirical findings on dependent variable

(DV).

3. Relationship between the two (IV and DV).

 3. CHAPTER
METHODOLOGY THREE
3.0. Introduction
This chapter shows, the design, target population, sample size, sampling
strategies, research instruments, validity and reliability of instruments, data
collection procedures, data analysis, ethical considerations and limitation of
the study.

3.1. Design (Structure): The overall strategy that you choose to integrate the
different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring
you will effectively address the research problem; it constitutes the blueprint for
the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.
There
1. are many data structures
Descriptive that canDesign:
Research be usedisand include:-
used to describe characteristics of
a population or phenomenon being studied. It can be:
Survey: It involves big sample not less than 100
Comparative: It establish significant difference between or
among the IV and the DV
Co-relational: It establish significant relationship between
the level of IV and DV
 cont……...

2. Ex-post facto: It involves facts already exist in the field.

3. Cross-sectional: Respondents are examined once and data
are collected for a short period of time.
4. Longitudinal: Respondents are examined more than once
with different periods.
5. Case studies: One case out of many cases. E.g. (Select
one organization from out of many organizations)
 3.2. Target population
In this section mention:-
 Who are your respondents?
 Where are they found?
 How many are they (source)
 How are they categorized?

3.3. Sample size

In here mention,
 How many respondents will you select?
 How do you will select that number?

The Slovan’s formula or Magha or Krescies table is used to arrive at

the
minimum sample.The formula states as:-
 Cont…………

Where:-
 n = Sample size
 N = Population
 e2 = significance, which is equal to 0.05
3.4. Sampling strategies.
In here mention, how will you select your respondents? E.g. few from many.
There are many sampling techniques:-
A) Probability / Random / Unbiased Sampling Methods
A1. Simple random sampling: Simple random sampling each
respondent has an equal chance to be selected.The researcher conducts a
simple rotary. It should be possible to access respondents either in a group
or on a list. Explain how this simple random sampling will be used in your
study.
A2. Systematic random sampling: A researcher selects a
respondents every after an equal interval.This interval is called the
systematic random number and it is got by:-
⚫ 𝑁 𝑛 = 100 20= 5

A3. Stratified random sampling: The researcher divides the

respondents in groups called strata (Plural), stratum (Singular)
according to respondents of interest. After the dividing, the researcher
than selects respondents from each stratum using either simple
random sampling or systematic random sampling.
A4. Cluster random sampling: The researcher divides the
respondents into groups called clusters according to some
geographical factors of interest. The researcher selects a few clusters
from which to select respondents using simple random sampling or
systematic random sampling.The researcher also uses simple random
sampling or systematic random sampling to selects respondents from
each cluster.
B) Non-probability / Non-random / Biased
Sampling Methods
B1. Purposive sampling (Judgmental Sampling): In this
method, the researcher outlines an inclusion or exclusion
criterion to be used in selecting respondents.The inclusion or
exclusion criterion refer to a list of characteristics which
respondents should have in order to qualify to participate in the
study. E.g. respondents selected should be:-
 Male or female.
 Nationals (Citizens).
 Have an experience of at least one year.
 Professionals only etc.
After selected the respondents based on the inclusion criteria,
the researcher can go ahead to select respondents using
simple or systematic random sampling.
B2. Quota sampling: in this method, the researcher divides the study
population into groups based on factors of interest.The researcher
allocates a specific number (Quota) to be selected from each group.
(E.g.) if there are five dimensions in Hargeisa and the researcher wants
to select 380/5 = 76.This means that from each division 76
respondents will be selected.
7. Convenient sampling (Accidental Sampling): This is also called
accidental sampling.The researcher selects those respondents he/she
can access easily. It is used if random sampling cannot be used.
8. Snow ball sampling (Network Sampling): This is also called
network sampling.The researcher looks for one respondent and
interviews him/her, after which the researcher requests the first
respondent to take him/her to the next respondent he/she knows.The
second respondent also links to the researcher to the third and the third
to fourth etc. until the same is raised.
Snowball sampling is used when it is hard to get the respondents
 3.5. Research instrument
Mention the tool(s) you will use to collect the data from respondents and try
to explain each tool. There are many tools of data collection and are:-
1. Questionnaire:
2. Interview:
3. Observation:
4. Record sheet:
3.6.Validity and Reliability of the instrument
Under this section, tell us briefly how you will test for validity and reliability
of your instrument(s). E.g. what tool you will use and how will you use it
to test for validity and reliability.
3.6.1.Validity: validity refers to the relevance of the instrument used to
collect data to measure a given variable.To test the validity of an
instrument, the researcher use the content validity index (CVI). Here the
questionnaire is given to some experience rate or judge how relevance
each question is in measuring the variable the researcher wants to
measure. At the end, the researcher computes a content validity index
(CVI) using the following formula:-
𝐶𝑉𝐼= 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑑
𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
Divided by 𝑜𝑓
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
𝑛𝑢 𝑖𝑛 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑒
If the answer from CVI ≥ 0.7, the questionnaire is declared valid, if
CVI < 0.7, the questionnaire is invalid so it should be revised and
tested again

3.6.2. Reliability: reliability of the instrument refers to the extent to

which an instrument is consistent in measuring the variable the
researcher wants to measure. Consistency means that if the instrument
is used to two or more times on same variable, it should give almost
the same results. Reliability of the instrument can be tested using
Conon batch alpha, computed using SPSS. If the Conon batch is
greater than 0.7, the instrument is reliable but if the Conon batch alpha
is less than 0.7, the questionnaire is not reliable, and so it should be
revised and tested again.

3.7. Data collection procedure.

Here describe briefly the steps you will take in for collecting the data
from
the beginning up to the end.
 3.8. Data
analysis.
In here mention, the statistical tools you will use to analyse the
data and show how or what each tool will be used for. Mention
these tools according to the order of your objectives. E.g.
frequencies and percentage distributions will be used to analyse
data on profile of respondents. Means and standard deviations
will be used to determine the level of IV and DV.

Range= 𝐻−𝐿 =
The following mean range will be used:-
Somaliland has the right to be
4−1 =0.75 independent from Somalia as a
sovereign state
H 4 1. SD
2. D
Where, 3. A
H = Highest 4. SA

limit L = Lowest
Mean rage Response in respondents Interpretation

3.26 to 4.00 Strongly agree Very high

2.51 to 3.25 Agree High

1.76 to 2.50 Disagree Low

1.00 to 1.75 Strongly disagree Very low

 The student’s two independent variable sample T-test for a variable
and ANOVA will be used for significant differences in the level of IV
and DV according to profile characteristics of respondents.
 The Pearson’s’ linear correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis
will be used to test for significant relationship and difference between the
level of IV and DV.
3.9. Ethical consideration.
In here, tell us how you will maintain the research ethical standards. E.g.
 Each respondent will be given freedom to participate or not to participate
in the study. So no respondent will be forced to participate.
 Each respondent will sign a letter of informal consent informing him/her
the intension of the study.
 All respondents will be assured of confidence fairly. E.g. there answers
will not be known to the other people and this will be done through coding
of answer(s) and reported them in a generalized manner.
 The work of the other people recognized proper citation and referencing.
 Cont………………
3.10. Limitation of the study
Mention things which are likely to reference the validity or
applicability of your findings. E.g.
 Questionnaire retrieval,
 Instrument validity and reliability,
 Environmental bias,
 Other interfering variables etc.
Sample Size calculation for Unknown Population
it is used Cochran Formula

Where
n = Sample Size P+Q = 1
e = Margin of Error
p= Proportion of Success
q = Proportion of failure