how to write a research proposal -...

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The research proposal must be of the following structure: Table of Contents, Abstract, Introduc- tion into the General Topic, Problem Statement, Hypothesis and Objectives of the Study, Litera- ture and Research Review, Research Method- ology, Data Collection, Analysis and Evaluation of Data, Expected Results and Output of the Study, Biblio-graphy, Appendix (Tables, Graphs, Questionnaires), Financial Budget and Timeta- ble. With the scholarship application the following issues will have to be covered respectively the following documents will have to be handed in: Research proposal, 2 Letters of recommenda- tion by researchers from applicants field, State- ment of the home university, Correspondence with Scientific Supervisor and formal agreement on supervision in Germany in detail (confirma- tion on the use of laboratory equipment, materi- als etc.), C.V. (focusing on educational and sci- entific background: Publications, Conferences, Teaching experiences etc.). www.ic.daad.de/accra How to write a research proposal Information Center Accra DAAD Information Center Accra 30, Kakramadu Road, East Cantonments Located at Goethe-Institut, next to NAFTI Tel. +233 302 760342 or +233 302 784865 [email protected] http://www.ic.daad.de/accra facebook.com/daad.ic.accra Office Hours Mon. 3.30pm – 6.30pm Fri. 2.30pm – 6.30pm Consultation at the German Embassy: Tue. 10.00 – 12noon Introductory Sessions on Study & Research in Germany: 1st Thursday of every month from 4pm – 6pm At the Goethe Institut. Participation in this session is mandatory prior to individual consultation. April 2011 Edition

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Page 1: How to write a research proposal - DAADic.daad.de/.../11_heike_leaflet_howtowriteresearchproposal_april.pdf · How to Write a Research Proposal The following recommendations do not

���� The research proposal must be of the following

structure: Table of Contents, Abstract, Introduc-

tion into the General Topic, Problem Statement,

Hypothesis and Objectives of the Study, Litera-

ture and Research Review, Research Method-

ology, Data Collection, Analysis and Evaluation

of Data, Expected Results and Output of the

Study, Biblio-graphy, Appendix (Tables, Graphs,

Questionnaires), Financial Budget and Timeta-

ble.

���� With the scholarship application the following

issues will have to be covered respectively the

following documents will have to be handed in:

Research proposal, 2 Letters of recommenda-

tion by researchers from applicants field, State-

ment of the home university, Correspondence

with Scientific Supervisor and formal agreement

on supervision in Germany in detail (confirma-

tion on the use of laboratory equipment, materi-

als etc.), C.V. (focusing on educational and sci-

entific background: Publications, Conferences,

Teaching experiences etc.).

www.ic.daad.de/accra

How to write a research proposal Information Center Accra

DAAD Information Center Accra

30, Kakramadu Road, East Cantonments

Located at Goethe-Institut, next to NAFTI

Tel. +233 302 760342 or +233 302 784865

[email protected]

http://www.ic.daad.de/accra

facebook.com/daad.ic.accra

Office Hours

Mon. 3.30pm – 6.30pm

Fri. 2.30pm – 6.30pm

Consultation at the German Embassy:

Tue. 10.00 – 12noon

Introductory Sessions on

Study & Research in Germany:

1st Thursday of every month from 4pm – 6pm

At the Goethe Institut.

Participation in this session is mandatory prior to

individual consultation.

April 2011 Edition

Page 2: How to write a research proposal - DAADic.daad.de/.../11_heike_leaflet_howtowriteresearchproposal_april.pdf · How to Write a Research Proposal The following recommendations do not

How to Write a Research Proposal

The following recommendations do not guarantee a

successful research application. They may, how-

ever, help the applicant prepare a carefully concep-

tualized and comprehensive proposal. The purpose

of the proposal is to ensure that the candidates have

done sufficient preliminary reading and research in

the area of their interest, that they have thought

about the issues involved and are able to provide

more than a broad description of the topic which

they are planning to investigate. They have to con-

vince members of the scientific community that they

have identified a scientific problem as well as that

they have the theory background and methodical

approach that will enable them to solve the problem

within a realistic time frame and at reasonable ex-

penses.

The research proposal should have between 10 and

30 pages. It should have a proper layout (typeface

and line spacing) as well as a table of contents and

page numbers.

���� On the title page, personal information has to

be stated like applicant’s name, academic title (if

applicable), current position at the university,

date of birth, nationality, work and private ad-

dress including telephone and e-mail address.

Then the title of the planned dissertation (or re-

search report) and a realistic time frame in

which the project should be completed should

follow. After this comes the name of supervi-

sor(s), the university department which will host

the researcher and, if applicable, information

about other academics with whom the re-

searcher plans to collaborate.

���� A short statement on the research topic that

has been identified, not more than one page,

should focus on the new, current and relevant

aspects of the topic. It is advisable to choose a

topic which can be researched through appropri-

ate and valid methods and for which research

material is available.

���� In the Literature Review a short and precise

overview about the current state of research that

is immediately connected with the research pro-

ject should be given. The most important contri-

butions of other scientists should also be stated.

The proposal should contain a clear and logical

discussion of the theoretical scope OR the

framework of ideas that will be used to back the

research. It needs to show that the applicant is

fully conversant with the ideas he is dealing with.

The research review must indicate an open prob-

lem which then will be the motive for the project

and state clearly how it will contribute to the ex-

isting research. The most important results of the

applicant’s work on the topic should be summa-

rized. Copies of the applicant’s publications that

might be seen in connection with his research

project might be attached.

���� A concise and clear outline of the academic

objectives that shall be achieved through the

project must be given. The proposal needs to

show why the intended research is important and

to justify the effort of doing the research. Such

justification may either be of an empirical nature

or of a theoretical nature.

���� The outline of the project is the central part of

the research proposal. It may well fill half of the

space of the proposal. It should give detailed in-

formation about the intended research proce-

dure during the given time, about the sources

and quality of evidence, the analytical technique

and the timetable for the project. Depending on

the topic, suitable research strategies should be

defined to ensure that enough and adequate

empirical data will be gathered for a successful

research project. The intended methods of data

gathering, the controls that will be introduced,

the statistical methods to be used and the type

of literature or documentary analysis will have to

be outlined. However, one should be ready to

revise the proposal according to new insights

and upcoming questions and keep on modifying

the working hypothesis.

���� Information about the estimated time table

should indicate the sequence of research

phases and the time that will probably be

needed for each phase ( if possible in tabular

form).

���� In the selective research bibliography those

academic works will be listed which have been

mentioned in the research outline as well as a

number of other important works to which the

applicant will refer during the research should

be listed.

���� Once the conceptual work on the proposal is

finished, a careful editing stage should follow