Research Proposal writing

Geog 366

Lecture 3 J.A Yaro

Purpose of a research proposal

• A research proposal describes the design, schedule and budget for conducting a research project.

• It is like a blue print of a building plan before the construction starts

• The main purpose of a research proposal is to show that:– the problem you propose to investigate is significant enough to

warrant the investigation, – the method you plan to use is suitable and feasible, and – the results are likely to prove fruitful and will make an original

contribution.

• In short, what you are answering is 'will it work?

Elements of a research proposal

• A title • A short introduction• A problem statement/question • Objectives of Study/Specific research questions • Hypotheses statement • Definition of terminology • Indication of the importance/significance of the study • Review of related literature • A careful and detailed analysis of the proposed research

procedures • A reference lists• A time schedule• A Budget

The Title

• The title is usually only formulated after the research problem and sub-problems have been stated in a more or less final format

• So use a general topic initially• The research project title should demarcate:

– The WHO or/and WHAT is researched – The WHERE; the WHEN – The HOW

Introduction

• The introduction is an abridged or shortened version of a problem statement or a background– Provide a general statement about the issue at stake

– Include a geographical analysis of the problem showing the situation in the area, Ghana and rest of the world

– Demonstrate the major arguments/theories

– State the purpose of the study

– 1 page

Problem Statement

• The problem is the aspect the researcher worries about, thinks about, and wants to find a solution for. It explains in short the aim of the research

• A research problem is the demarcation of a knowledge area within a certain context involving the WHO or WHAT, the WHERE, the WHEN and the WHY of the situation.

• Are there questions about this problem to which answers have not been found up to the present?

• Search within your subject field for suitable problems

• What caused the need to do the research

• Are there questions about this problem to which answers have not been found up to the present?

• State in such a way that it would lead to analytical thinking with the aim of possibly concluding solutions to the stated problem.

• 2 pages

Your Problem should contain:

• Outline the general context of the problem area. • Highlight key theories, concepts and ideas current in this area. • What appear to be some of the underlying assumptions of this

area? • Why are these issues identified important? • What is known about this problem?• What do you think needs clarification or not yet know – called

the gaps in research about the problem issues that your study will cover.

• What needs to be solved?

The problem statement should answer the following questions:

What is the problem? Who has it? (Demographics, attributes, characteristics of the

population.) To what degree? Why? (This analysis provides the rationale for the methodologies you

will propose.) For how long? How did you come to know about the problem? (You can address this

through a personal experience, local trend data, or school experience.) What else has been tried? What happens if the problem is not resolved?

Three sources usually contribute to problem identification

• Own experience or the experience of others may be a source of problem supply.

• Scientific literature: Look for gaps in the literature

• Theories: Shortcomings in theories could be researched.

An example of topic and problem identification

STEPS EXAMPLESTRATEGIES/SOURCES

Select a broad area of interest–a research topic

Costs of education Personal interestProfessional significanceReadingsConversations with faculty and peers

To move from topic to a manageable research problem, ask questions about the topic such as "who / what / where / when/ why / how?"

What are the issues in the costs of higher education? What is Ghana doing to control the costs of higher education?What are the factors responsible for tuition increases?How effective are cost sharing programs in controlling costs of higher education?

Read abstracts of literature for overview

Select one narrowly defined problem

Ask relevant questions that will help answer the problem

•Are government subsidies effective for holding down the costs of university education? •Which regions offer scholarship/loan programs?•What are potential savings realized by participating in a program? •What are the risks to individuals? •What is the cost to government to support such programs?

Read several articles on the narrower

focus; note possible methodologies that might be used in your project

Write a problem statement consisting of several sentences

that briefly frame the issues to be investigated, indicate the significance of the question, and includes a declaration of what you will do

The costs of higher education are escalating X times faster than the rate of growth of the economy. Students are graduating with SSNIT debt far surpassing earlier generations. Various sectors have proposed plans to minimize university costs. Among the potential solutions are loan programs offered by individual regions. Yet questions exist regarding the stability of tuition savings programs. "In this project I will..." or "This study will..."

Incorporate readings-to-date to

Determine this working statement. Of course, as your work progresses, you may need to modify this problem statement.

CHECKLIST FOR TESTING THE FEASIBILITY OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Is the problem of current interest? Will the research results have social, educational or scientific value?

• Will it be possible to apply the results in practice?

• Will the research opt new problems and lead to further research?

• Is the research problem important? Will you be proud of the result?

• Is there enough scope left within the area of research (field of research)?

• Can you find an answer to the problem through research? Will you be able to handle the research problem?

• Will it be possible for another researcher to repeat the research?

• Do you have the necessary knowledge and skills to do the research? Are you qualified to undertake the research?

• Is the problem important to you and are you motivated to undertake the research?

• Is the research viable in your situation? Do you have enough time, money and energy to complete the project?

• Will you be able to complete the project within the time available?

Objectives of Study

– State the Main problem as the Aim of the research

– Then translate Sub-problems into measurable objectives of the study which are a Means to reach the set Aim/goal

• Translate the research problem or and sub-problems into step-like aims that enable you provide answers to the problems.

• Concretise your research problems by expressing them in clear objectives that the study systematically resolves.

• Restate the main aim of the research and then break it down to sub-objectives which will form the activities in the research.

• Definition of the objectives is simply the operationalization of the answers

Example of objective formulation

• Topic: Mining concessions and socio-economic exclusion: a case study of Azumah Resources Limited in the Upper West Region

• Main objective: The study seeks to examine the effects of mining concessions on social exclusion and livelihoods of local people.

• Sub-objectives:– To assess the level of farmland shortages caused to different categories of

people by the concession.– To examine the processes that lead to losers and winners.– To describe the lives of the socially excluded and explain how their

livelihoods have been affected by the concession .

Example of objective formulation

• Topic: CHANGING FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN OSU, GREATER ACCRA REGION, GHANA

• Main objective: The main objective of this study is to assess the changing food consumption pattern in OSU, Greater Accra region-Ghana

• Sub-objectives:– To describe changes in food consumption patterns over the last two

decades. – To examine the perceived effects of the changing food consumption

patterns.– To examine the drivers in food industry that has led to the change in

food consumption.

Specific research questions

• Research questions translate the objectives into questions and should include what, where, how and why questions.

• These should not be mirror images of objectives

• Rather they should provide answers that lead to achievement of objectives

Theoretical and Conceptual frameworks

• This is the argumentation and demonstration that the "question" has a basis (grounds) for probable answer(s) and/or working hypotheses.

• The theoretical framework states the investigator's reasoning and arguments for the attempt to find the evidence that will offer an answer to the question

• Establishment of relationships between the independent variable and the response variables: What is known, and how has it been explained? Are the results conclusive? What are the bases of the question? 

• How are the possible answers to the question explained and defended? What are the assumptions? What are the relationships?

• Between 1 and 2 pages

• A diagram showing the linkages in explanation is good

Hypotheses

• What are the working hypotheses?

• Your hypothesis is an educated guess to your testable research question based on the research you have done so far

• Its often an “If … then … because…” statement– If the temperature of a gas is increased then, the volume will increase

– If the length of the pendulum increases, then the period of swing will increase

– If fees are increased then, student enrolment will decrease because parents incomes are inadequate and eroded by inflation.

– If students spend many hours in traffic then, their level of concentration in class diminishes

Definition of terminology

• Indicate how you interpreted and are going to use terminology/concepts

• This is very important, because some concepts/terms are often used in different meanings

• Identify key terms and concepts and provide the definitions and interpretations

• Half a page or between 3 and 6 key terms

Literature Survey

• Show that you have obtained sound knowledge with regard to the research topic

• Show what theoretical and empirical knowledge you possess about the prospective research

• The aim of a literature study is to:– Give all-round perspectives on the latest research findings regarding the topic

– Indicate the best method, scale of measurements and statistics that can be used

– Interpret the research findings in a better way; and

– Determine the relevancy of the prospective research

• 2 pages

Literature

• Selecting Sources√ Select literature that is relevant or closely related to the problem and purpose

√ Emphasize the primary sources√ Use secondary sources selectively√ Concentrate on scholarly research articles

• The literature should have an introduction, body and conclusion

• The introduction defines the framework of the review, the body that evaluates the literature and the conclusion summarizes the current state of knowledge on the problem

Research Procedures: Methods of Data Collection

• The methodology explains the procedures that will be used to achieve the objectives.

• Provide a detailed operational definition for the variables used, along with the type of variables and the ways to measure them. In addition, the methodology should consider the study design and the techniques and procedures used to achieve the proposed objectives.

• Research design

• Methods of data collection

• Data analysis

Budget and Time schedule

• Budget: present a detailed break down of all expenses

• Time schedule: Show the major activities and when they will be completed. Must be within the given time for project

Time schedule & Budget

Time schedule

• A tentative timetable for executing the research

project

• Systematic and realistic conceptualisation from

literature review to presenting report

Budget

• List items you would spend money on

• Expenditure on books, articles, travel,

accommodation or living, renting

instruments interpreters, printing, etc

References

• List all cited literature in the proposal in alphabetical order

• Check for Departmental recommended styles

• If you are using a computer reference manager then choose ‘author-date’ style

Justification/Importance/Significance of the Research

• Indicate and defend why it is necessary to undertake the research

• What is the geographical content of the research?

• How does it contribute to theory, empirical knowledge and policy

• Indicate the benefits that will result from the research and to whom it will be beneficial

• Maximum of half a page or less

Significance of research

• From the literature review, gap analysis can be conducted in order to see how the propose research would fill in the gap in the area of research.

• How does the proposed research relate to the existing knowledge in the area.

• Explicitly state the significance of your purpose or the rationale for your study. A significant research is one that:√ Develops knowledge of an existing practise√ Develops theory√ Expands the current knowledge or theory base√ Advances current research methodology√ Related to a current technological issue√ Exploratory research on an unexamined issue

• Make it simple– Avoid pretentious language, unnecessary jargon, and

double speak by cutting down every unnecessary word.

• Read your work loud– A sentence that is difficult to say will be difficult to read.

• Revise , revise, revise.• Put an end to it

– The faster you finish the proposal and submit it the less time you have wasted thinking about writing it.

Tips for successful proposal writing