This document provides guidance on developing a research proposal in technical writing, covering topic selection, research questions, proposal writing, and promoting proposals. Key points include the importance of relationship management in projects, stakeholder identification, and evaluation criteria for the proposal. It also discusses different research methods, ethical issues, and the necessity for a structured timeline in project execution.

1. Lecture 4
Research Proposal
(Technical Writing CS212)
Abdisalam Issa-Salwe
Taibah University
College of Computer Science & Engineering
Computer Science Department
1
Topic list
Choosing a project
Developing research questions
Writing the proposal
Promoting your proposal
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Research Design
2
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
1

2. Choosing a Project
Establish a good rationale for the project.
Make sure the key variables are in the
proposal.
Does the project answer the proposed
questions
Are the research objectives feasible?
Are the questions novel? Interesting?
Useful?
Is the scope of the study well focused?
Is it ethical to ask these research
questions?
3
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Writing the Proposal
Background
Objectives (research questions)
Research Plan (inclusion/exclusion)
Methodology
Scope of research
4
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
2

3. Project Background
Managing relationships for project success is
acknowledged as being as important as the ‘hard’ skills
of managing schedules and budgets
The Project Manager’s accountabilities include
relationship management (Stakeholder Management)
A project’s stakeholder set does not remain static
throughout the project and needs to be identified,
tracked and managed appropriately throughout the
project lifecycle
In large organisations today, many projects have team
members from many different organisations. Teams
consist of staff, contractors, and staff of other
organisations
5
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
The Problem
How can a project manager ensure all
stakeholders are identified and assessed for
importance to the project
How can the Project Manager fulfil
responsibilities in:
Inspired leadership
Relationship (stakeholder) management
Knowledge management
Human Resource management
6
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
3

4. Objectives
Main objective:
To identify ways to improve the building
and maintaining of sustainable project
relationships for project success.
Sub-objectives:
To determine the effectiveness of a
visualisation tool for stakeholder
management.
7
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Preliminary Questions
What is the specific question? Is the idea
novel?
Do your resources (i.e. facilities,
equipment personnel, patient population,
time, motivation) make this a realistic
project for your centre at this time?
Is the answer of sufficient importance?
Is the funding appropriate?
8
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
4

5. Initial Steps
Do a thorough literature search
Enlist support of Supervisor / Mentor and
Collaborators
Meet to devise a research protocol
When you approach prospective
collaborators remember that their
enthusiasm will be proportional to their
anticipated gain (mentorship, authorship,
equipment, resources)
9
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
The Mentor
Role Model
Support and Encouragement moral –
financial
resources
Your Mentor’s Rewards
Your successes
For any aspect of the proposal that you
can not accomplish by yourself you must
establish the fact that you have the
necessary collaborations to succeed
10
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
5

6. Collaborators
Role:
Share work
Provide essential
Knowledge
Skills
Resources
Collaborators’ Rewards
Funding or equipment
Co-authorship
You must convince the reviewers that
your research is important!
11
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Promoting your proposal
The Title: Make it specific and captivating
Hypothesis: Should be clearly stated in
one or two sentences. Do not make
reviewers look for it.
Objective:
Define one or two specific objectives
Do not try to answer too many questions
(most important problems are answered one
question at a time)
12
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
6

7. Proposal Evaluation Criteria
How well does the Title introduce the study?
This criterion is not formally rated, but it is
considered in the overall evaluation process.
How well does the Abstract describe the
research study?
Are the Research Questions adequately
defined?
Does the Rationale justify the purpose for the
study and/or place it within the context of current
theory and practice?
13
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Evaluation Criteria (cont…)
Is the Methodology clearly described and well
matched to the research questions?
Is the Analysis of Data adequately described, or
a plan of analysis is presented, if the study is in
progress.
Are the Findings clearly identified?
Are the Implications for future research,
classroom practices, or policy discussed?
The methodology used should be appropriate for
the research identified questions; inappropriate
methodology often results in the rejection of the
proposal.
14
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
7

8. Factors to Consider cont.
In the methodology section, carefully describe
the sample characteristics, the measures
employed in the study, and the relevant
procedures.
The proposal must make sense to the
reviewers.
If your research is “in progress” make sure
that you state this and provide a brief timeline
for completion.
15
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Background
Your opportunity to convince the reviewers that
you are up-to-date and conversant in your field
of enquiry
Concise, thorough, well referenced review
Preliminary data may strengthen your proposal
Should lead to the logical conclusion that your
proposed question needs to be answered
Preliminary data often allow you to take a little
idea and get funding to turn it into a big project
16
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
8

9. Research Methods
Deductive Approach
testing theory through observation and data
Exploratory Study
Purposive, self-selection sampling
Longitudinal
projects must be around 6 months in length
In-depth interviews at beginning and end with PM
Group interviews with key team members
Self-completion diaries
to track issues and changes in stakeholder
relationships with project
17
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Full References
Include full reference - Author, title, vol.,
pages, year
Chosen for their critical thinking ability
and will seldom accept a statement
contrary to their own perception without
determining your source of information
18
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
9

10. Research Design
Describe
Facilities and resources
Methodology
Data management
Statistical analysis
19
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods
Preference for statistical Preference for narrative
summary of results. summary of results.
Preference for breaking Preference for holistic
down of complex description of complex
phenomena into specific phenomena.
parts for analysis. Unwillingness to tamper
Willingness to manipulate with naturally occurring
aspects, situations, or phenomena.
conditions in studying
complex phenomena.
20
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
10

11. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods
Preferences for precise Preference for
hypotheses and hypotheses and
definitions stated at the definitions that emerge as
outset. study develops.
Data reduced to Data are typically
numerical scores. narrative descriptions.
Major focus on assessing Reliability of inferences is
and improving reliability often assumed to be
of scores obtained from adequate.
instruments. Validity is assessed
Assessment of validity through cross-checking
with reliance on statistical sources of information
indices. (triangulation).
21
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods (cont….)
Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods
Preference for random Preference for expert
techniques for obtaining informant (purposive)
meaningful samples. sample.
Preference for precise Preference for
narrative/literary
descriptions of procedures. descriptions of procedures.
Preference for design or Preference for logical
statistical control of analysis in controlling or
extraneous variables. accounting for extraneous
Preference for specific variables.
design control for Primary reliance on
procedural bias researcher to deal with
(procedural and procedural bias (yet,
integrity checks are still
measurement integrity critical).
checks).
22
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
11

12. Ethical issues
Privacy
Intellectual Property
Confidentiality
Reference - Author, title, vol., pages, year
Other issues
23
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
Research Method Timeframe example
Day 1
Research Project
Develop Research Proposal
and obtain approval
Develop and test questions
Develop and test tool
Obtain participants
Administer instrument(s)
Ongoing data collection and analysis
Final collection of data
Research Report
24
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
12

13. Reference
J. Fraenkel & N. Wallen (1996), How to design and
evaluate research in education (3rd Ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill, Inc., p. 442.
N. J. Salkind, Exploring Research, 1998, Pearson
Education, UK.
BPP, Information Systems, Study Text, Paper 2.1,
BPP Professional Education, United Kingdom
Mohammad Alsuraihi, Technical Writing, CS212
Course notes, Taibah University, Madinah, KSA
Abdisalam Issa-Salwe, Teaching Course Notes,
Taibah University, Madinah, KSA
25
College of Computer Science & Engineering, Taibah University
13