Preparing a Research Proposal

Prof. Mahendra Kumar Ghadoliya

ghadoliyaseconomics-mahendra.blogspot.in

Research: Purpose and Question(s)

– Why this Research?

– Who owns it? For whom? Who funds it?

– Research Questions and their evaluation:

– From the owner, self and/ or colleagues

– Brainstorming, prioritizing (using scoring, ranking or voting techniques).

– Selecting one or more of them- it should be a guide, not too narrow, nor too broad.

– Practical constraints of time, resources, etc.

Literature Review

– Essential Part of every research exercise

– Not an extensive list of relevant references.

– Should reflect:

– Selective, purposeful and critical reading

– That you have a reasonable understanding of the area of your research

– Where your work fits in the area concerned

- Could be a chapter or inter spread within the body of text

Research type

– Historical

– Descriptive

– Experimental

Approach, Design, Tools

– Large scale survey, in-depth case study, experimentation, participatory and action research,…

– Surveys, Documentary analysis, Interviews, Focus group discussions experimental designs, mixed…

– Interview schedules, Questionnaires,…

Your work plan

– Are you in a team or a sole researcher- your role

– What is the locale of research and the time plan

– What/who are you researching- How many groups or individuals?

– How do you conduct it and with what tools?

– What kind of data to collect, how to analyse it?

– What constraints and biases do you see and their management?

– How do you present, disseminate or use your findings?

Research Activities

– Decisions regarding the type, approach and design

– Identification of the subject, sampling and grouping

– Preparation of research instruments, testing of the instruments

– Collection of Data, its organisation and analysis, reaching conclusions

– Preparation of the report and dissemination of outcomes

Outcomes

– Findings and conclusions

– Recommendations

– A Manual, Guidelines for---

– Policy directions

– Sequential findings (action research) for further work

Dissemination of Outcomes

– Preparation of Team mates, colleagues and/or stakeholders

– Research report, papers for sponsors and journals.

– Institutional, one’s own and/or other relevant websites

– Outcome specific strategies

Limitations and Delimitations

– Handicaps:

– Funds, time, geographical terrain, institutional constraints,…

– Design:

– Experiment related, sample, expert support

– Execution:

– Slipe, accidents,…

– Delimitations: Limits of the exercise

References– Format consistency:

– Consistency within the text

– Report-end details

– Computer Packages:

– Endnote for formatting

– Website References:

– Should be complete with dates and downloaded timings

– Should be reliable

Appendices

– Any significant information/ detail that does not suit the flow of presentation in the report:

– Questionnaire. Interview Schedule,…

– Timetable

– Budget

– Etc.

Timetable

– Exploratory Work:

– Identifying the purpose and the related Research Question and working out the rational for the exercise

– Literature Review:

– Consequent improvement in the research questions and the rationale

– Research activities:

– Preparation of report:

– Dissemination:

Customization

– Presentation:

– I /III person, consistent format for references.

– Donors’ Format:

– Goals, purpose, activities, outcomes, and costs; )measurable indicators, means of verification, assumption)

– Ethics:

– Subjects’ protection and other related issues