This document provides guidance on preparing a research proposal. It outlines key sections to include such as identifying the research purpose and questions, conducting a literature review, determining the research type and approach/design, developing a work plan, outlining research activities and outcomes, plans for dissemination, acknowledging limitations, and including references and appendices. The document stresses selecting focused research questions, understanding how the research fits with prior work, and developing a timeline and strategy to answer the questions and share the findings.

1. Preparing a
Research
Proposal
Prof. Mahendra Kumar Ghadoliya
ghadoliyaseconomics-mahendra.blogspot.in

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Research type
– Historical
– Descriptive
– Experimental

5. 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,…

6. 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?

7. 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

8. Outcomes
– Findings and conclusions
– Recommendations
– A Manual, Guidelines for---
– Policy directions
– Sequential findings (action research) for further work

9. 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

10. Limitations and Delimitations
– Handicaps:
– Funds, time, geographical terrain, institutional constraints,…
– Design:
– Experiment related, sample, expert support
– Execution:
– Slipe, accidents,…
– Delimitations: Limits of the exercise

11. 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

12. Appendices
– Any significant information/ detail that does not suit
the flow of presentation in the report:
– Questionnaire. Interview Schedule,…
– Timetable
– Budget
– Etc.

13. 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:

14. 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