parts of Research Proposal

1. Parts of Research
Proposal

2. INTRODUCTION
A proposal is the “road map” of the researcher. It
describes where the “journey,” begins, the destination to be
reached, and to get there. The proposal is the researchers
offer to undertake a study. The proposal must show that the
proponent is capable of undertaking the study being
proposed. Writing a research proposal requires a researcher
to plan and review the logical steps to be followed in
undertaking the research study. The researcher must present
in the best possible way.

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS
 Proposal – an act of putting forward or stating something for consideration
 Rationale – an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or
phenomena
 Hypotheses – a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its
logical consequences
 Variables – a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values
 Methodology – a particular procedure or sets of procedures
 Scope – range of operation
 Sampling – a small part selected as a sample for inspection or analysis

4. DISCUSSION
What a Research Proposal Is?
A research proposal is a plan of how a study will be undertaken. It describes
the steps that will be followed in the conduct of the study from problem
identification to data analysis. Like a map, it serves as a guide for the researcher in
the implementation of a study.
A proposal must be well-written and must be able to convince the person/s to
whom it is submitted for approval. It should show that the study is worth doing,
that is feasible, and that the proponent can competently undertake the proposed
study.

5. Characteristics of a Research Proposal
A well-written proposal must be persuasive, clear, complete, and flexible.
1. Persuasive. The proposal must show that the proposed study is relevant and
worth doing, that the proponent is knowledgeable about the problem, that the
problem has a logical basis and that the proponent has adequate background
knowledge about the problem.
2. Complete. The proposal must contain all the parts required by the institution to
which it will be submitted.
3. Clear. It must be written in clear and simple language. The methodology must
be clearly and adequately described.
4. Flexible. The proposal must be flexible. It should allow for possible changes or
modification during implementation, if needed.

6. Parts of a Research Proposal
The content of a proposal depends on what is required by the organization or
institution where the proposal will be submitted. For instance, for a research
proposal for a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, the requirements of a
particular institution is followed. For funded research, the funding institution
usually prescribes a proposal format which indicates the parts to be included. All
proposals, however, have basic parts which include:
 Title
 Introduction
 Statement of the problem/research objectives
 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

7. Parts of a Research Proposal
 Hypotheses
 Significance of the study
 Scope and Limitation
 Review of Related Literature (Presentation of the state of knowledge on the
problem)
 Methodology (Description of the design, sampling, data collection, data
processing and data analysis)
 References/Bibliography
 Schedule of Activities
 Budget (If required)
 Appendixes (Research Instruments, others)

8. TITLE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY
The title must be clear, simply worded, and must specify the
major variables of the study.

9. I. INTRODUCTION
The introduction provides a background and rationale
of the problem and gives the justification for conducting the
study. In this section the research problem is defined, the
research objectives are stated, the hypotheses are presented
and the theoretical and/or conceptual frame works are
presented and explained. This is also where the variables are
operationally defined, the significance of the study are stated,
and the scope and limitation of the proposed study are
presented.

10. I. INTRODUCTION
I. A. Background and Rationale of the Study
The background and rationale of the problem usually includes:
 A brief description of the problem situation (what is ) with supporting facts and
figures,
 Statement of the desired condition (what should be) and the discrepancy
between what is and what should be,
 Possible reasons for the discrepancy (if the study is explanatory or relational),
 What is already known about the problem (based on literature),
 Questions still unanswered or information gap/s.

11. I. INTRODUCTION
I. B. Objectives of the Study
The objectives states what the study aims to do and find out.
Stated in behavioural terms, the objectives specify the “what, why,
who, where, and when (optional)” of the study. The variables to be
studied are specified in measurable terms.

12. I. INTRODUCTION
I. C. Theoretical Framework and Conceptual
For relational studies, a theoretical framework may be presented to explain
the theoretical basis of the problem. A theory that explains the existence of the
problem and an elaboration on how the problem (dependent variable) may be
influenced by the independent variable/s are presented.
In place of a theory a researcher may use related studies that reveal
possible connection between the problem (dependent variable) and the
independent variables which are the “assumed” explanation of the problem
(independent variables).

13. I. INTRODUCTION
The conceptual framework explains in operational terms the
assumed relationship between/among the major variables of the
study. The dependent, independent, intervening and sometimes the
antecedent variables are identified and the possible link/s
between/among them is explained. The explanation is based on the
theoretical framework. A schematic diagram of the assumed flow of
relationship between/among variables is presented. Theoretical and
conceptual framework may be presented separately or together.

14. I. INTRODUCTION
I.D. Hypotheses of the Study
The hypotheses are statements of tentative answers to the research
objectives/questions. Although the hypotheses are often stated in the null form,
the alternative hypotheses or the research hypotheses are generally preferred.
The hypotheses of the study must be coherent with the research question/s or the
study objectives.
I. E. Operational Definition of Variables and Other Terms
The major variables of the study and other relevant terms should be
operationally defined according to how they are used in the study. The
operational definition must indicate how a variable is going to be measured.

15. I. INTRODUCTION
I. F. Significance/Importance of the Study
The proponent must explain the relevance and usefulness of the
study. Expected contributions of the study to specific groups or
individual users of the results of the study should be mentioned.
I. G. Scope and Limitation
The scope and limits of the study in terms of subject matter,
respondents/subjects, the variables to be considered, and the study
design are explained. The implications of these limitations to the
results, conclusions and to the use of the findings are explained.

16. II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The review of related literature may either be presented as an
independent section of the proposal and/or incorporated in the
presentation of the problem statement. Some background about the
problem may be included in this section if there are important aspects
about the problem which need to be explained.
References for this part may be taken from articles in scientific or
professional journals, abstracts, electronic libraries, on-line references
(internet), monographs, and other sources.
Related studies must be synthesized according to topics. Similar
findings as well as conflicting findings are summarized information gaps are
pointed out.

17. III. METHODOLOGY
This section of the proposal identifies and describes the research
design, the sampling technique, the instruments that will be used and
how they will be prepared, validated and administered, and the data
processing and analysis to be done.

18. III. METHODOLOGY
III. A. Research Design
The proposed study design is described (whether survey design,
experimental design, etc.). if the proposed design is experimental, the
treatment or intervention and how the experiment will be undertaken
are described.

19. III. METHODOLOGY
III. B. The Target Population and Sampling Procedures
The target population and the sampling technique that will be
used in the study are identified. The process of determining the
sample size and how the study sample will be drawn are described in
detail. For experimental studies, the process of how the subjects will
be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups is also
explained.

20. III. METHODOLOGY
III. C. Data Collection
The procedures for collection of data are described in this section.
Included are descriptions of:
 Data collection techniques that will be used,
 Instruments (questionnaires, devices, equipment, etc.) that will be
used and how they are going to be prepared, validated and tested
for reliability if necessary,

21. III. METHODOLOGY
 Pre-field preparations, including permits to be secured, courtesy,
informed, training, and reproduction of instrument,
 Fieldwork: Entry to community, establishing rapport, interviewing,
administration of questionnaire, observation, testing, editing, FGD,
etc.
 Quality control: field supervision, monitoring, field editing.
It is useful to prepare table of specifications of variables and
data to be collected. This can serve as basis for the preparation of the
research instruments.

22. III. METHODOLOGY
III. D. Data Processing and Data Analysis Plan
This section describes the procedures for processing the data,
what software will be used, if any, and what statistical tools will be
used in data analysis.

23. IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY OR REFERENCES
This section contains an alphabetical listing of references cited
and/or used in the study.

24. V. APPENDIXES
Materials and/or documents which will be used in the study, but
could not be presented in the body of the proposal are placed in the
appendix. Among these are:
 Research Instruments/Materials: (Questionnaire/Interview Schedule,
Interview Guide, FGD Guide, Observation Guide, Measurement Scales,
List of Materials
 Relevant Communications
 Dummy Tables for Analysis
 Schedule of Activities. The schedule of activities shows the activities that
will be undertaken, the time frame for each activity and the person/s in-
charge of activity.

25. V. APPENDIXES
Example of a Schedule of Activities
Activities Time Frame (In
days)
In Charge
Recruitment and training
Final Revision of Instruments
Courtesy Call and Securing of
permits and clearances
Fieldwork
Editing and Processing
Data Analysis
Report Writing
Revision and Finalization
Submission
15
5
5
30
15
15
20
5
3
Project Leader (PL)
PF & Associates
Team Leaders (TL), &
Interviewers
TL & Interviewers
Associate & TL
PL & Associate
PL & Associate
PL & Associate
PL

26. V. APPENDIXES
Budgetary Requirements. The budgetary requirements show the
estimated amount need to conduct the study. The budget takes into
consideration the budget items or sources of expenses, the duration
of the study and the number of people who will be involved.

27. Conclusion and Implication to Education
A good research proposal is the key to successful research. Any
research must begin with a clearly focused research proposal. A good
research proposal has become a necessity not only for ensuring a high
quality of research but also for the practical reason. A research
proposal must also be precise and convincing. The readers have to be
convinced that you have something there, and that you can do it. The
‘doability’ is the ultimate test.

28. Conclusion and Implication to Education
An effective proposal should be crisp and be composed of
segments that can be read independently of one another. It is not
unlikely that many of the readers especially if they sit on the
committees that evaluate research proposals for funding decisions will
read only specific segments of the proposal. Each segment must tell
its own story in a straightforward fashion. A research proposal must
tell the readers clearly, at least two things: what you want to do and
how you want to do it.