This document provides guidance on preparing a research proposal. It discusses the key elements that should be included in a proposal such as an introduction describing the background and problem statement, objectives, significance, limitations, literature review and methodology. The introduction to a proposal should interest the reader and lay the foundation for the research problem. A literature review demonstrates knowledge in the field and informs the researcher of previous related work. The methodology section describes how data will be collected and analyzed and why that specific approach is being used. Writing a clear, well-structured proposal is important for obtaining approval and support for a research project.

2. RESEARCH PROPOSAL PREPARATION
&
MOTIVATIVE EFFORTS
JUSTIN K GEORGE
AISSMS-15MCH003

3. WHAT IS A RESEARCH?
“RESEARCH IS AN HONEST, EXHAUSTIVE,
INTELLIGENT SEARCHING FOR FACTS AND THEIR
MEANINGS OR IMPLICATIONS WITH REFERENCE
TO A GIVEN PROBLEM.THE PRODUCT OR FINDINGS
OF A GIVEN PIECE OF RESEARCH SHOULD BE AN
AUTHENTIC, VERIFIABLE AND CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD STUDIED.”
- P.M COOK

4. MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
 Desire to get research degree
 Desire to face challenges in solving the unsolved
problems
 Desire to get intellectual joy doing some creative
work
 Desire to be of service to the society
 Desire to get responsibility

5. HOW TO SELECT A RESEARCH TOPIC?
Based on the SMART concept:
 S = Specific.
 M = Measurable.
 A = Achievable.
 R = Realistic.
 T = Time specific.

6. RESEARCH PLANNING
A research plan is the key to successful research.
The approach to the research needs to be carefully
constructed and designed.
“The heart of the research plan is the research
proposal”

7. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Various terminologies used to mean a research
proposal depending on why the research is carried
out?
Research outline
Synopsis of research
Plan of research
Research/project proposal
Thesis plan….etc

8. Research proposal deals with ideas of researcher about
what research he/she wants to do
what objectives and methodology he/she has set
how much time and resources are required to
complete it
how the research finding are to be reported
and so on.

9. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• Organising and developing your topic ideas
• Testing the scope of the research
• Identifying an appropriate supervisor
• Convincing other people of the merit of your idea
• Initiating the research process
• Obtaining support and early access rights
• Being a basis on which to develop your research

10. ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. Background of the study
2. Statement of the problem
3. Objectives of the study
4. Significance of the study
5. Limitation of the study
6. Definition of terms
7. Literature review
8. Methodology

11. 1. Background of the study
 Establish the area of research in which your work
belongs, and to provide a context for the research
problem.
 Provides information to the research topic.
 In an introduction, the writer should create:
i. reader interest in the topic,
ii. lay the broad foundation for the problem that leads
to the study.

12. 2. Statement of the problem
 When you start a research, you have a question that
you wish to seek answer for.
 The question leads to a problem that needs to be
solved by the research.
 Begin the research with A DESCRIPTION OF THE
PROBLEM or THESIS STATEMENT

13. 3. Objectives
state the specific purposes to address the problem
areas of the project
should be clear as to what the proposal intends to
achieve
must be attainable within the timeframe and resources
required.

14. 4. Significance of the study
 Why your research is important and what contributions
will it give to the field.
 State how your findings CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
and WHY IT IS IMPORTANT that the research be carried
out.

15. 5. Limitation of the study
 It is not possible to include all aspects of a particular
problem.
 STATE WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED!
 A too wide area of investigation is impractical and
will lead to problems.
 SPECIFY THE BOUNDARIES of your research

16. 6. Definition of terms
 Terms or concepts that you use should be defined and
explained unless they are familiar or obvious.
 Refer to authoritative sources for definitions.

17. 7. Literature review
 Shows that you are aware of the literature study that is
required in your research area.
 Your review a substantial amount of reading materials
before writing your proposal.
 Shows that you have the theoretical knowledge in
your chosen research area

18.  By reviewing related literature at this stage, it will
make you:
i. aware of other similar work which has been done.
ii. expose methodologies that have been adopted and
which you may use or adapt.
iii. provide sources of information that you do not
have yet.

19.  By reviewing related literature at this stage, it will
inform you:
iv. if a chosen area has already been researched
extensively.
v. approaches that you do not know of before

20. 8. Methodology
 Describe data that you will use in the research, the
methodology to be adopted and justify your choice of
methodology
 Inform readers
a. kinds of data going to be collected
b. research procedure (interviews? observations?
questionnaires?)

21.  If outside organizations involved, explain how you are
going to get hold of the data.
 Indicate why the methodology is used.
 If existing methodology is not to be used, explain why
you need to use an adapted methodology.

22. HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?
 Generally, a research proposal should contain all the
key elements involved in the research process and
include sufficient information for the readers to
evaluate the proposed study.

23.  Regardless of your research area and the methodology
you choose, all research proposals must address the
following questions:
What you plan to accomplish
why you want to do it and
how you are going to do it.

24. COMMON MISTAKES
 To provide context to frame research question(s)
 To delimit the boundary of research issue(s)
 To cite landmark studies undertaken so far
 To present accurate theoretical background of the study
 To focus the research questions(s)
 Too much detailed or too much short on major issues
 Incorrect citation/references

25. DOs AND DO NOTs
 DO
Produce/prepare a professional looking proposal
Make it interesting
Make it informative, meaningful
Write easy way to read
Present content in a page
Use clear headings/sub-headings
Check spelling, grammar
Present in accurate/acceptable format

26.  DO NOTs
 Use no word which you do not understand
 Use of difficult word unimpressive to the readers/supervisor/
authority.

27. CONCLUSION
 Planning the research and writing the proposal is often
the most difficult part of the research process.
 Evaluation involves assessing the soundness and merit
of the research plan.
 “The heart of the research plan is the research
proposal”