Preparing Research Proposal2

8/8/2019 Preparing Research Proposal2

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/preparing-research-proposal2 1/24

Preparing a ResearchPreparing a Research

ProposalProposal



Inform

Others(ResearchReport)

Interpret

Data

Analyse

Data

Collectionof

Data

Design

StudyPlan andstrategy

Choose

Topic

Theory

Cycle of Research



Some starting points for a goodSome starting points for a good

research proposalresearch proposal

Provides a realistic plan for investigation of

your research question

Provides justification of a methodologicalperspective,

& methods of investigation

Provides data which has the capacity to

answer your research question

Adequately considers relevant ethical issues



Method or Methodology?Method or Methodology?

Methods are the techniques/ proceduresMethods are the techniques/ procedures

used to collect and analyse dataused to collect and analyse data

Methodology refers to discussions of howMethodology refers to discussions of howresearch is done, or should be done, andresearch is done, or should be done, and

the critical analysis of methods of researchthe critical analysis of methods of research(Blaike, 2000:8)(Blaike, 2000:8)



Some questions you may beSome questions you may be

ponderingpondering What¶s my research question?What¶s my research question?

What theories, concepts, models inform my research?What theories, concepts, models inform my research?

What kind of data will I need to answer my question?What kind of data will I need to answer my question?

How will I collect this data?How will I collect this data? What ethical issues are relevant to my research?What ethical issues are relevant to my research?

What are the strengths and limitations of my research?What are the strengths and limitations of my research?

How much can I reasonably achieve in my research?How much can I reasonably achieve in my research?

How will my work be judged?How will my work be judged?



³a question well asked is a question³a question well asked is a questionhalf answered´: the way the questionhalf answered´: the way the question

(or hypothesis) is stated shows what(or hypothesis) is stated shows whatdata will be necessary to answer (or data will be necessary to answer (or

test) it, and probably suggests alsotest) it, and probably suggests alsohow and from where or from whom thehow and from where or from whom thedata will be obtaineddata will be obtained

Punch, K. (1998). Introduction to Social Research:Punch, K. (1998). Introduction to Social Research:Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage.Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage.



Types of research questionsTypes of research questions

These three types of questions usuallyThese three types of questions usually

form a sequence «form a sequence «

WhatWhat WhyWhy HowHow



Developing a research questionDeveloping a research question

Having come up with some prototypeHaving come up with some prototype

questions now refine.questions now refine.

Examine the scope of your question/sExamine the scope of your question/s Separate major and subsidiary questionsSeparate major and subsidiary questions

Is each question necessary?Is each question necessary?

Refine the wording of your question/sRefine the wording of your question/s



Refining your QuestionsRefining your QuestionsBeware of the tendency toward bigger and more questionsBeware of the tendency toward bigger and more questions



Consider carefully the verbs youConsider carefully the verbs you

use in your questionuse in your question Explore (initial description)Explore (initial description)

Describe (detailed account)Describe (detailed account)

Explain (establish the factors responsible)Explain (establish the factors responsible)

Understand (establish reasons)Understand (establish reasons) Predict (using an explanation to postulate futurePredict (using an explanation to postulate future

outcomes)outcomes)

Change (to actively intervene)Change (to actively intervene)

Evaluate (assess if desired outcomes areEvaluate (assess if desired outcomes areachieved)achieved)



After finalising the research After finalising the research

questionquestion -- two questions ...two questions ...

WHAT researchWHAT research

strategy will bestrategy will be

used?used?

WHERE will theWHERE will the

data come from?data come from?



InductionInduction

Form of reasoningForm of reasoning ± ± bottom upbottom up

Observations

Measures

Identifying

Patterns

Tentative

Hypothesis or

proposition

Theory



DeductionDeduction

Top down reasoningTop down reasoning

Theory

Hypothesis

To test

Observations to address

the hypothesisTest the hypothesis with specific data

Confirm/or disconfirm

the original hypothesis



Strategies for AnsweringStrategies for Answering

research questionsresearch questions A Research Design needs to answer A Research Design needs to answer

3 basic questions:3 basic questions:

WHAT will be studied?WHAT will be studied?

WHY will it be studied?WHY will it be studied?

HOW will it be studied?HOW will it be studied?



Quantitative ResearchQuantitative Research Quantitative researchers attempt to be objective,Quantitative researchers attempt to be objective,

meaning that they wish to develop anmeaning that they wish to develop an

understanding of the world as it is µout there¶,understanding of the world as it is µout there¶,

independent of their personal biases, values andindependent of their personal biases, values and

idiosyncratic notions.idiosyncratic notions.

Quantitative research involves numbers.Quantitative research involves numbers.

Usually large volume of participants/ recordsUsually large volume of participants/ records

Eg. Survey Research, Analysis of existingEg. Survey Research, Analysis of existingquantitative data setsquantitative data sets

Strength: RepresentivityStrength: Representivity

Weakness: Depth of UnderstandingWeakness: Depth of Understanding



Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research

Qualitative researchers view themselves asQualitative researchers view themselves asprimary instrument for collecting data. They relyprimary instrument for collecting data. They relypartly or entirely on their feelings, impressions,partly or entirely on their feelings, impressions,

and judgments in collecting data.and judgments in collecting data. Qualitative research involves wordsQualitative research involves words

Usually smaller volume of participants/recordsUsually smaller volume of participants/records

Eg. Ethnographic research, life historyEg. Ethnographic research, life history

interviews, discourse analysisinterviews, discourse analysis Strength: Depth of understandingStrength: Depth of understanding

Limitation: RepresentivityLimitation: Representivity



Research ProposalResearch Proposal

TitleTitle

Introduction (inc. statement of research problem/ question/ aimsIntroduction (inc. statement of research problem/ question/ aimsobjectives)objectives)

Background/ Literature ReviewBackground/ Literature Review

Research DesignResearch Design

-- Method of data selectionMethod of data selection-- Instruments/ techniques to be usedInstruments/ techniques to be used

-- Methodological limitationsMethodological limitations

-- Methodological significance/ innovationMethodological significance/ innovation

-- Data analysis strategyData analysis strategy

-- Ethical issuesEthical issues-- TimelineTimeline

-- Resources requiredResources required

-- Expected outcomes of researchExpected outcomes of research



Plan your ProposalPlan your Proposal

Decide how long each section will beDecide how long each section will be

Some sections will be quite short (egSome sections will be quite short (eglimitations, timeline etc) while other limitations, timeline etc) while other sections (eg literature review will be quitesections (eg literature review will be quitelong).long).

The significance of sections will varyThe significance of sections will vary

according to your particular project. Youaccording to your particular project. Youmay even have some additional sectionsmay even have some additional sectionsthat are needed for your proposal.that are needed for your proposal.



Some tipsSome tips

Finalise your research question/ problemFinalise your research question/ problemstatement/ hypothesisstatement/ hypothesis

Make sure your proposal is logical.Make sure your proposal is logical.

Identify possible weaknesses in your researchIdentify possible weaknesses in your researchdesign, acknowledge them and explain why theydesign, acknowledge them and explain why theyare there.are there.

Critically review/ edit your own writing, seekCritically review/ edit your own writing, seek

others help with thisothers help with this Learn to read like a writer Learn to read like a writer ± ± examine structure,examine structure,

style, organisation etcstyle, organisation etc



Some more tipsSome more tips

Write with authority (ie back up your statements)Write with authority (ie back up your statements)

Write for clarity not µimpressiveness¶Write for clarity not µimpressiveness¶

Show that you are planning your researchShow that you are planning your research

carefully (think about pragmatic issuescarefully (think about pragmatic issues ± ± agencyagency

support/ ethics/ resources you may need/support/ ethics/ resources you may need/

potential hurdles).potential hurdles).

You are the expert on your topic. Help theYou are the expert on your topic. Help thereader to grasp your ideas.reader to grasp your ideas.

Edit for clarity (don¶t just proofread)Edit for clarity (don¶t just proofread)



Questions??Questions??



Interrelationship between conceptual terms

Ontology Epistemology Methodology Methods Sources

What¶s out

there to know?What and how can

we know about it?

How can we go about

acquiring that knowledge?

Which precise procedurescan we use to acquire it?

Which data

can we collect

Figure adapted from Hay, C. (2002)Political Analysis: A Critical Introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave. p. 64

Preparing Research Proposal2

Documents

Transcript of Preparing Research Proposal2