Writing a research proposal

a well-written proposal

•Communicates a significant well-planned project•Demonstrates Qualifications of the researcher• Generates support for the project

A quality proposal involves

• Developing ideas logically

• Ideas must be built upon each other

• Guidelines should be followed explicitly

• Detailed enough to inform readers; and

• Concise enough to be interesting and easily reviewed

• Well typed on quality papers

Avoid negative feedback

Work on your proposal to avoid giving the opportunity to say

• Not an original idea• Rationale is weak• Writing is vague• Uncertain outcomes• Problem is not important• Proposal is unfocused• Project is too large

Title / Cover page

• The Title

• Should be clear

• Should paint a quick picture of key idea

• The words should reflect the focus of the proposal

• Important words come first

Title

• Use only a single sentence

• If it is too long; try to remove some words

• A last resort: use a 2-part title separated by a colon

• Title A: The systematic Development of a Local Initiative to Create a Learning Center for Community Education

• Title B: A Local Learning Center for Community Education

Introductionstatement of the problem

• Research topic and research problem

• Significance of the problem

• Rationale for investigating the problem

• Establish a framework

• Purpose

• Research questions / hypotheses

Identification of the problem

• Can be an issue in the literature or practice

• Present the problem within a context; that

• Shows that the research project will:• Extend the work previously conducted• Avoid the mistakes previously made; or • Be unique; different perspective/approach

Problem identificationguidelines

• Avoid jargons; abbreviations; colloquial expressions; redundant phrases

• That the reader can easily recognize it

• Answer the question “ why does this research need to be conducted

• Failure to answer this question will result in ambiguous; diffuse problem

Significance of the study

• How your research will refine, revise, extend existing knowledge; think pragmatically

• Think about implications; Ask yourself the following questions:• What will the results mean to practitioners / educators• Will the results influence programs, methods, interventions• What will be improved or changed • Will results influence policy decisions• How the results be implemented

Purpose

• Goals are statements of what you hope to accomplish; not measurable

• Objectives are operational; till specific things to accomplish; measurable

• Form the basis for the activities of your project

• Ensure a considerable overlap between the goals and objectives

• Foreshadow hypotheses to be tested; questions to be raised

Purpose guidelines

• Begin with “The purpose of this is

• Identify central concepts

• Identify the specific method of inquiry

• Identify unit of analysis

Research questions / Hypotheses

• Research question poses a relationship; • A hypothesis represents a declarative statement of the

relationship

• Hypotheses must be grounded in the theoretical framework

• Hypothesis can be written in 4 kinds of statements1. Literary null2. Operational null3. Literary alternative4. Operational alternative

Hypothesis

• Questions / hypotheses are testable propositions deduced from a theory

• Operational null is generally the preferred form of hypothesis-writing

• The null hypothesis is used if the literature does not suggest a hypothesized relationship

• Be prepared to interpret any possible outcomes• Make a clear distinction between independent and dependent

variables• Be consistent in your use of terms

Literature review

• Provides essential information that guide the study

• Includes relevant theoretical and empirical lit

• Defines study concepts; how they are inter-related

• Includes a summary of critique….empirical

• The recommendations from previous research

• Concludes with a summary; synthesis; gaps

Framework

• Provides the basis for generating and refining the research problem

• Links the research problem to relevant theoretical knowledge

• Is used to develop research questions hypotheses

Sources of anxiety in Hospitalized Patients with Myocardial Infarction

• Prevalence rate of MI• Survival rates; aggressive management improves survival• Survivors experience anxiety (statistics)• Effect of anxiety on patients health, healing, length of stay, nursing effort, costs• Framework to link anxiety to the sources; with research-based evidence

• Rationale and Significance: there is a need to identify sources of anxiety;• Identification of sources of anxiety assist nurses to develop interventions

• Purpose: to identify sources of anxiety

• Research question: what are the sources of anxiety

Methods Design

• Select the appropriate design to answer research questions / test hypotheses

• Describe strengths and weaknesses• There should be a link between the design and purpose • In the design section, indicate a)the independent and dependent variables; b)confounding variables you propose to control; c)how to control them; d)be aware of sources of error

Methods / population

• Study settings: • Name of the agency;• Structure of units where the study will be conducted; • The setting should generate adequate size.

• Ethical consideration; • Approval from a research & ethical committee• Permission from the agency authority• Rights of the subjects: potential benefits, potential risks;

anonymity; confidentiality• Informed consent

Methods Sample

• Exactly define the population; who will be included

• consider inclusion and exclusion criteria

• Sampling technique: consider representation; internal and external validity

• Sample size; sample size calculation

• Describe the sample

MethodsProcedure / Data collection

• Procedure is the heart of the research proposal• Activities should be written in much details• Highlight what is new, unique, or innovative • Outline general plan for collecting the data; interview,

observation, survey administration• Provide a time schedule you expect to follow • Outline the research protocol • Consider internal validity

Methods Procedure / Data collection

• For quazi-experimental and experimental studies describe1. How the research situation be structured2. Treatment to be implemented 3. How effect of treatment be measured4. Variables to be controlled5. Uncontrolled extraneous variables and their effect6. Methods of assigning subjects to groups7. Strength and weakness of the design 8. Who will administer the treatment9. Who will measure the outcomes10. How to prevent contamination

Instrumentation / measurement

• Provide brief description of the instrument• Describe the scoring system of the instrument• How to get the participants’ scores• Describe validity & reliability• Document previous studies that used the instrument• If there is an intent to develop instrument; describe the process• Include a copy of the instrument to be used• Permission to use instrument must be obtained• Ensure congruence between the instrument and conceptual

definition

Methods / statistical analysis

• Specify the procedures (statistical analysis) you will use to answer the research questions

• Different questions may require different statistical tests• Report both descriptive and inferential statistics • Indicate the analytic tool; SPSS, SAS• Provide rationale

Administrative issues

• Available resources• Contributors• Needed resources: personnel; equipment• Budget: be realistic