Writing a Research Proposal

• The proposal is, in effect, an intellectual scholastic contract between you and your committee.

• A research proposal is the presentation of an idea that you wish to pursue

• It specifies what you will do, how you will do it, and how you will interpret the results.

• The objective in writing a proposal is to describe what you will do, why it should be done, how you will do it and what you expect will result.

• Being clear about these things from the beginning will help you complete your thesis in a timely fashion.

• A vague, weak or fuzzy proposal can lead to a long, painful, and often unsuccessful thesis writing exercise.

• A good thesis proposal hinges on a good idea. • Once you have a good idea, you can draft the proposal. • Getting a good idea hinges on familiarity with the topic. • This assumes a longer preparatory period of reading,

observation, discussion, and incubation• A good research proposal presumes that you have

already thought about your project and have devoted some time and effort in gathering information, reading, and then organizing your thoughts

• It is not a fixed blueprint• You need to convince members of your

committee that you– have identified a scientific problem – have a theoretical background and a

methodological approach to solve the problem – within a realistic time frame and at reasonable

expenses

Models for Proposals

• A Two/three Page (Preliminary Proposal) Model – proposal that you might use to interest faculty in

sitting on your committee.– a proposal of what you intend to work on

• Chapter 1 Introduction• Chapter 2 Literature review• Chapter 3 Methodology• Chapter 4 Results/Findings• Chapter 5 Discussion• Chapter 6 Summary of Research, Conclusion, and

Recommendations

The (Longer) Standard Model A complete version of a proposal once your initial proposal has been accepted by your committee (1-3)

Title

It should be concise and descriptive. For example, the phrase, "An investigation of . . ."

could be omitted. Often titles are stated in terms of a functional

relationship, because such titles clearly indicate the independent and dependent variables.

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Should be able to indicate:• Major variables being investigated

• THE NATURE OF RESEARCH• DESCRIPTIVE• SURVEY• EX POST FACTO• CORRELATIONAL• EXPERIMENTAL

• TARGET POPULATION

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• The relationship between entrepreneurial success and need of achievement, locus of control, social networking, and educational level of AIM entrepreneurs in Kelantan

NATURE OF RESEARCH

VARIABLES BEING INVESTIGATED

TARGET POPULATION

proposed thesis title (should be descriptive of focus, concise, eye-

catching and preferably use key words from the international information retrieval

systems)

But, before you decide on the title,

• Explore the possible area of research you may want to embark on. How?.......

• Think about the rationale for the chosen area• Think about the impact if it is not researched• Think if it is researchable

Your research proposal should:

• clearly define the topic you’re interested in and show you understand your research area

• show you have started to identify and develop an original and interesting research question

• • demonstrate you understand how to conduct research• look professional – it should be typed, in good language, well-

structured with suitable headings and clear and legible

• include a bibliography, listing the books, articles and websites you have referred to

Your proposal must meet the interest and expertise of the academics in your field (please note, sometimes we may not have academics whose interests and expertise match your interest)

• Get ideas from your potential mentor/supervisor and the areas of research in the faculty.

• Meet with the mentor/supervisor to discuss his/her previous work & research projects.

• Ask about time availability and collaborators.

• Review some background papers together.

Before you start…….

introduction

• Background: provides background information relating to the social/political/historical/ educational (etc) context of the study

• may include historical, cultural, political, social or organisational information about the context of the research

• may include a theoretical starting point• may include personal motivation• may include policy etc• Show citation and statistics

• Statements of problems• this may include reference to a 'gap' in the research

literature, to the need to apply certain ideas in a new context, or to the significance of your particular topic

• the ways in which the study may be significant for the educational community may also be discussed

• show citation and statistics

We want to be able to answer the “so what question”. Thus, the problem to be investigated must be meaningful. The problem must be clearly stated. You do not need to write pages…

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Experience

Talk with academic staffBe alert to possible problems from seminars and coursesObservation. Like you see of stress among school teachers. You may then formulate tentative explaination and test them empirically

Experiences

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Review Related Literature

• read critically- question concepts and statement in articles

• Questions methodologies• check if here is any evidence to substantiate

the position/claims• Read research, review of research, and use

computerized search

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Evaluating research problem

Adakah ia menyumbang kepada pengetahuan dalam bidang pendidikan (Significant)?

• Memperbanyakan lagi fakta bagi sesuatu isu? • Memperkukuhkan lagi dapatan yang telah lalu? • Mempekukuhkan lagi teori pendidikan ?

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• Menyelesaikan masalah ketidak selarasan hasil kajian lalu?

• Adakah ia menghasilkan pertalian baru antara satu pembolehubah dengan pembolehubah yang lain?

• Mesti boleh menjawab soalan , SO? • Tentukan kepentingan hasil kajian ini kepada

teorist dan pengamal pendidikan? • Jangan pilih masalah yang trivial yang tidak ada

kepentingan atau yang mana jawapan boleh diperolehi tanpa melalui kajian

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• Masalah tadi boleh menghasilkan masalah kajian baru yang menggalakkan kajian lanjutan.

– Kajian yang baik akan dapat menyelesaikan masalah yang ingin diselesaikan. Pada masa yang sama persoalan baru akan timbul dan memerlukan kajian lanjutan atau tambahan.

• Objectives of the study• General and specific

• Research questions• Hypotheses (directional or non-directional)

• Null hypotheses in the proposal

– Scope and significance of the study– Definition of terms– Theoretical framework of the study

• Introduction should enable readers to understand what you are attempting to research and why this is significant but without the wealth of detail contained in the main part of the proposal

• It is sales pitch

Writing a Research Proposal