The document provides guidance on writing a research proposal. It discusses the key components of a proposal, including the title, introduction, literature review, methodology, and references. It emphasizes that the proposal must clearly explain what the researcher plans to accomplish, why it is important, and how they will conduct the study. The document also offers examples of topics, objectives, hypotheses, research designs, and common mistakes to avoid in proposal writing. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive guide for developing a strong research proposal.

1. Writing Your Research Proposal
Dr. Vikramjit Singh
SXCE, PATNA

2. What is research proposal?
● A research proposal is the overall skeleton of what
you are intended to do in your study.
● According to Paul T. P. Wong - One's research is
only as good as one's proposal. A high quality
proposal, not only promises success for the project,
but also impresses the Thesis committee about your
potential as a researcher.

3. What is research proposal? (cont…)
● A research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a
worthwhile research project and that you have the competence
and the work- plan to complete it.
● Regardless of your research area and the methodology you
choose, all research proposals must address the following
question:
 what you plan to accomplished ?
 why you want to do it ? and
 how you are going to do it ?

4. How to write a research proposal?
● There is no single format for research proposal. This is
because every research project is different.
● Different disciplines, donor organisations and academic
institutions all have different formats and requirements.
● There are, however, several key components which must
be included in every research proposal. The specific
research problem will dictate what other sections are
required.

5. How to write a research proposal ? (cont…)
● According to APA (American Psychological
Association) standard the following are the
components of the research proposal -
- Title, Introduction, Literature Review,
Methods, References.

6. However we are using here the following subheads for the
proposal: Format of the Research Proposal (शोध प्रस्ताव प्रारूप)
1.1 INTRODUCTION- परिचय
1.2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE- संबंधधत साधित्य
का अध्ययन
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY- अध्ययन की सार्थकता
1.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM- समस्या कर्न
TITLE - शीर्थक
1.5 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS- संक्रियात्मक परिभार्ा

7. However we are using here the following subheads for the
proposal: Format of the Research Proposal (शोध प्रस्ताव प्रारूप)
1.6.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVES- सामान्य उद्देश्य
1.6.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES- धवधशष्ट उद्देश्य
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES- शोध परिकल्पना
1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - शोध प्रणाली
1.8.1 METHOD - धवधध
1.8.2 POPULATION - समधष्ट
1.8.3 SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHINIQUE - प्रधतदशथ एवं प्रधतचयन धवधध
1.8.4 TOOLS PROPOSED TO USE- प्रयुक्त उपकिण
1.9 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE PROPOSED TO USE- सांधययकीय प्रधवधध
1.10 DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY - अध्ययन की परिसीमा
In Qualitative or Mixed Methods
we may write only Research
Questions and avoid writing
Hypotheses sometimes we may
also write Objectives, Research
Questions and Hypotheses too.

8. CHAPTERISATION- अध्यायीकरण
Chapter I : Introduction and Conceptual Frame work- प्रस्तावना
एवं प्रारूप
Chapter II : Review of Related Literature -संबंधधत साधित्य का अध्ययन
Chapter III : Methodology-शोध प्रणाली
Chapter IV : Analysis of Data- प्रदत्त धवश्लेर्ण
Chapter V : Summary ,Findings, Conclusion and Suggestions -
सािांश, परिणाम, धनष्कर्थ एवं सुझाव
REFERENCE संदर्भ-ग्रन्थ सूची

9. TITLE / TOPIC/Problem/ Variables of Investigation
● Before your proposal can make sense to anybody, he/she must
understand clearly what the proposal research will be about. The title
should be concise and descriptive.
● Often titles are stated in terms of a functional relationship, because such
titles clearly indicate the independent and dependent variables and the
sample of study. However, if possible think of an informative but catchy
title which will also tell the type of research study.
● This stage is also called identifying the research problems. This
appropriate problem should be chosen be feasible, new, relevant and most
appropriately researchable.

10. Example-
“Effect of activity based learning on achievement in science
of class VI students of KVS schools”

11. Example-
पटना के माध्यधमक धवद्यालयों के छात्रों में कोधवड -19 मिामािी के दौिान कक्षा
X के क्रकये गए मूल्यांकन परिणामों का धवशलेर्णात्मक अध्ययन
प्रधतदशथ
अध्ययन चि Type - समन्वेशी
(exploratory) सवेक्षण

12. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
● The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary
background or context, for your research problem. How you have
come to identify the research problem is one of the aspects of
introductions. The research problem should be is the context a very
focused and current research area, so as to make it significance are of
study.
● The introduction typically begins with the general statement of then
problem area, and ending with the focus on a specific research
problem. (i.e., the problem chosen for the study).

13. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
● The purpose of the literature review is to describe past important
research and it relate it specifically to the research problem.
● It should be a synthesis of the previous literature and the new idea
being researched.
● The review should examine the major theories related to the topic to
date and their contributors.
● It should include all relevant findings from credible sources, such as
academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles.

14. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
● This is most important because it is one place in which the
researcher tries to convince her/his supervisor /external
examiner that the research is worth doing. The
significance/rationale or need of the study tries to answer the
question like:
 Why is your study important?
 To whom is it important?
 What benefits will occur if your study is done?

15. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM (SOP)
Here we try to write your study as an emerging
problem for investigation.
Ex- The researcher will try to investigate the
effectiveness of activity based learning towards
improving the achievement level in science of class
VI students of KVS schools.

16. TITLE
As discussed in
Previous SLIDE

17. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
The terms in Your Topic as you conceptualised in
your study, has to be defined here. Its makes the
audience clear about the variables and settings of
the investigation. It also other researcher to
replicate the study.
Ex- Activity based learning (ABL) has to be
defined

18. GENERAL OBJECTIVES & SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES/
OBJECTIVES
● Objectives of the study are very important. It quite precisely says what your study
intends to accomplish. It briefly describes the major issues and sub problems to be
addressed by your research. The objectives should be clearly and precisely stated.
● EXAMPLE:
TO
… discover …
… understand the causes or effects of …
… investigate the interest of …
… study the relationship between …

19. EXAMPLE (contd...)
TO
… refine our current understanding of ..
… provide a new interpretation of …
… understand what makes__ successful or unsuccessful.
… study the impact of ..
… study the effectiveness of activity based learning on
achievement in science.
… सहगामी अधिगम का भूगोल के धिष्पधि पर प्रभाव की जाांच करिा |
… धवज्ञाि प्रधिया कौशल एवां धवज्ञाि में धिष्पधि में सांबांि का आकलि करिा |

20. HYPOTHESES/ RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 It is the presumption statement of a proposition of a proposition
or a reasonable guess, based upon the available evidences,
which the researcher seeks to prove through his/her study.
 Questions that the researcher designs which she/he intends to
answer by the study are usually called as research questions.

21. EXAMPLE:
● There will be no effect of activity based learning on achievement in
science of…. (sample)- Null Form - H0- Research Hypothesis form
● There will be/is significant difference between mean scores of achievement in
science between experimental group learning through ABL and the control
group.- HA – Alternative form- Statistical Hypothesis in declarative form
● The mean scores of achievement in science of experimental group will be
significantly higher than the control group. HA – Alternative form- Statistical
Hypothesis in directional form

22. EXAMPLE:
 Research Question can be stated as:
 What are the attitudes of … ?
 Is there a significant difference between … ?
 Is there a significant relationship between … ?
● पटना के धवद्यालयों में नामांकन की क्या धस्र्धत ि ?

23. METHODOLOGY
● The methodology section is very important because it tells your Research
Committee how you plan to tackle your research problem. It will provide
your work plan and describe the activities necessary for the completion of
your project.
● The method section typically consists of the following sections
 Design/Method, Population, sample of the study, tools to be used
and the brief procedure of data collection and interpretation.

24. EXAMPLE
For the above stated title-
● DESIGN/METHOD- Experimental (give specific type, design)
● POPULATION- class VI students of KVS
● SAMPLE- (class VI students of KVS with proper
specifications/number and proposed sampling technique)
● TOOLS- appropriate tools to be used- ABL lesson plan,
Achievement test
Brief Procedure of experimentation, data collection and its
interpretation technique should be explained

25. EXAMPLE- Experiemental Design
Random
Assignment of
Groups
Matching of
one to one
Subject
Pre-test Treatment Post-test
Experimental
Group
Intelligence
Test
Achievement
test in
Science
Learning
through ABL
Achievement
test in
Science
Control Group Intelligence
Test
Achievement
test in
Science
Learning
through
Conventional
Method
Achievement
test in
Science

26. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE PROPOSED TO USE
● Here we need to propose the statistical
method based on the nature of data
collected and the type of study , appropriate
descriptive statistics (Mean, Median,
Percentage) and the inferential statistics ( t-
test, F-test, etc. )

27. DELIMITATIONS
● There are the boundaries of your proposed research problem. It
may in terms of its scope of application, sample size or the
techniques of data collection etc.
Example:
● The study is confined to KVS schools only (sample delimitation).
● The study is confined to achievement in science only (scope of
application delimitation)

28. REFERENCES
● The overall plan should be ended with
the list of references in correct style.
● We follow (APA) style

29. TIME BUDGETING
TASK Time
Collection of Literature 01 months
Construction and validation of the tool 01 months
Collection of data 01 months
Data analysis 01 months
Chapter writing 01 months
Typing and binding 01 months
Editing and revising 01 months
Total time 07 months

30. Common mistakes in proposal writing
 Failure to provide the proper context to frame the research
question.
 Failure to delimit the boundary conditions for your research.
 Failure to cite landmark studies.
 Failure to accurately present the theoretical and empirical
contributions by others researchers.
 Failure to stay focused on the research question.

31. Common mistakes in proposal writing(cont…)
● Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed
research.
● Too much details on the minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.
● Too much rambling – going “going all over the map” without a clear sense of
direction. ( the best proposals move forward with ease and grace like a
seamless river.)
● Too many citation, …..and incorrect references.
● Too long or too short.
● Failing to follow the APA styles.

32. Hints for Writing a Good Research Proposal
● Always Structure Your Work in advance.
● Know what you want to say before trying to write it.
● Every sentence must contain one idea only.
● Each sentence must follow logically from the one before. A well written test is a “chain of
ideas”.
● While writing, keep your reader’s/expert’s needs in mind. This means providing a “verbal
map” of your document so that your reader/expert knows what to expect, and placing
“verbal signposts” in your test to explain what is coming next.

33. Hints for Writing a Good Research Proposal (cont…)
● Produce a professional looking proposal.
● Write in a way that ids easy to read.
● Be concise and precise.
● Use simple language wherever possible.
● Construct clear arguments.
● Check your spellings and grammar.
● Reference your work fully using an acceptable format.

34. Wait….Wait…..final Hints before Submission !!!
Before submitting, make sure you have completed each of the following steps:
● Proof-read your work carefully.
● Ask a friend or relative to read your proposal.
● Ask an experienced researcher or your supervisor to read your proposal and
edit it, if needed.
● Arrange the hard copy in bonded form, with a cover page stating your title,
your and your guide name, the purpose of submission, year of submission and
also name of the organization where you are pursuing your work.
● A sample cover page is as follows.

35. THANKS
singhvikramjit@hotmail.com
Mob- +91-9438574139