This document provides an overview of key aspects of a research proposal, including definitions, objectives, types, elements, structure, advantages, limitations, evaluation criteria, and reasons for failure. It defines a research proposal as a document that describes the purpose and methodology of a proposed investigation. The document outlines the main sections of a proposal such as the introduction, literature review, methodology, budget, and references. It also notes that proposals can be internal or external/solicited and discusses how proposals help planning and funding approval while guiding the researcher.

1. Department Library and Information Science
RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
1

2. Table of Contents
 Introduction:
 Definition of Research:
 Definition of proposal:
 What is Research Proposal?
 Objective/Purpose of the research proposal:
 Types of research proposal:
 Elements of research proposal:
2

3. Cont…
 Modules of a Research Proposal:
 Advantages of research proposals:
 Limitations and Delimitations
 Evaluating the Research Proposal:
 Why proposals fail?
 Conclusion:
 References:
3

4. Introduction
 A document that is typically written by a
Researcher or scientist which describes the
ideas for an investigation on a certain topic.
 A research proposal is a document written by a
researcher that provides a detailed description
of the proposed program.
 The presentation of an idea that you wish to
pursue
4

5. Definition of Research
 According to Oxford Dictionary:
“The systematic investigation into and study of
materials and sources in order to establish
facts and reach new conclusions.”
 Burns(1997:2) defines:
“A systematic investigation to find answers to a
problem”
5

6. Definition of proposal:
 “the act of offering or suggesting something for
acceptance, adoption, or performance”
(dictionary.reference.com)
 “an act of putting forward or stating something
for consideration” (merriam-webster.com)
6

7. What is Research Proposal?
 According to Uma Sekaran:
“A document that sets out the purpose of the
study and the research design details of the
investigation to be carried out by the
researcher.” (Sekaran, 2006)
 According to William G Zikmund:
“A written statement of the research design that
includes a statement explaining the purpose of
a study and a detailed systematic outline of a
particular research methodology” (Zikmund,
2000)
7

8. Objective/Purpose of the research proposal:
 Objective is a way of detailing the purpose of a study.
 Objectives are set by the researcher to explain in detail what the
study is expected to achieve
 To present the research question to be researched and relate its
importance.
 To discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on
related research questions.
 To suggest the data necessary for solving the research question
and how the data will be gathered, treated and interpreted.
 To present the researcher's plan, services and credentials in the
best possible way to encourage the proposal's selection over
competitors.
 To help the researcher to define the contents and to plan and
execute his/her research project.
 To inform potential collaborators and supporters about the topic and
the expected quality of the research.
8

9. Types of research proposal:
There are two types of research proposal
 Internal Proposal
 External Proposal
 Solicited Proposal
 Unsolicited Proposal
9
(Cooper, 1995)

10. Elements of research
proposal:
 Title
 Abstract
 Problem Statement
 Research Question
 Hypothesis
 Literature Review
 Methodology and research methods
 Field work
 Duration
 Final Product
 Budget
 Appendices
10

11. Structure/ Modules of a Research
Proposal:
 Executive Summary
 Research Objectives
 Problem Statement
 Literature Review
 Importance of the Study
 Research Design
 Data Analysis
 Nature and Forms of results
11
(Cooper, 2006)

12. Cont…
 Qualifications of Researcher
 Budget
 Schedule
 Facilities and special Resources
 Project Management
 Bibliography
 Appendices
12

13. Advantages of research proposals:
 Advantages to researchers
 Planning and Review of steps
 Guideline of the Investigation
 A Review of Previous Plans
 Controlling Errors
 Estimation of Cost
 Estimation of Time
13

14. Advantages:
 Advantages to the Sponsor/Supervisor
 Selection of the researcher
 Checking the sincerity of the researcher
 Knowledge of the Researcher
 Display of Researcher's Discipline
 Comparison of Research Proposal with Project
14

15. Limitations and Delimitations
15
 Limitations
Limitations are the shortcomings, conditions or influences that cannot
be controlled by the researcher that place restrictions on your
methodology and conclusions. Any limitations that might influence
the results should be mentioned.
 Your analysis.
 The nature of self-reporting.
 The instruments you utilized.
 The sample.
 Time constraints.

16. 16
 Delimitations
Delimitations are choices made by the researcher which should be mentioned.
They describe the boundaries that you have set for the study. This is the
place to explain:
 The things that you are not doing (and why you have chosen not to do them).
 The literature you will not review (and why not).
 The population you are not studying (and why not).
 The methodological procedures you will not use (and why you will not use them).
Limitations and
Delimitations…Cont

17. Evaluating the Research Proposal:
 Proposal must be neatly written in appropriate writing style
 Major topics should be easily found and logically organized.
 Proposal must meet specific guidelines set by the sponsor.
 Technical writing style must be clearly understood and
explained.
 Justify the chosen research project.
 Describe the current state of knowledge on the research
topic, considering important relevant literature.
 Formulate the hypothesis or research questions.
 Define the research strategy and methodology to be used to
test the hypothesis.
 Discuss ethical considerations about the research
methodology.
 Serve as an important tool for monitoring the research.
17

18. Checklist Creteria for Approving
authorities
 1. Is the proposal problem solving?
 2. Is the problem important?
 3. Is this the appropriate foundation?
 4. Is the proposal innovative?
 5. Will the project become self-supporting?
 6. Can the proposing group do the work?
 7. Is the project demonstrative (i.e., can it be used as a
model)?
 8. How will the program be evaluated?
 9. Is the amount of money requested sufficient?
18

19. Why proposals fail?
Basically, there are three major reasons why
research proposals fail.
 Ethics clearance
 Failure to follow guidelines
 Reviewer concern
19

20. Why proposals fail?
There are also some Problems which cause the Failure of
Research Proposal
 Improper presentation of proposal
 Unorganized proposal
 Not clear written
 Language problem
 Background problem statement
 Not according with client's thinking
 Extraneous detail of literature review
 Not understandable
 Schedule and budget not mentioned
 Time frame not mentioned
20

21. Reference
Books;
 Cooper, Donald R., C. William Emory, (1995) Business Research Methods, 5th
ed. Mc-Graw Hill International Edition, , ch.4 & 18
 Sekaran, Uma. (2006) “Research Methods for business” 5th ed. John Willey,
New Delhi. Pp. 47-50
 Zikmund, William G. (2000) “Business research method” 6th ed. Dryden, New
York. Pp. 92
 Cooper, Donal R., Pamela S. Schindler, Business Research Methods, 9th ed.
Mc-Graw Hill International Edition, 2006, ch. 4& 21
Other Sources;
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/27892872/Research-Proposal
 www.nrf.ac.za/yenza/research/proposal.htm
 www.wikipedia.com
 http://www.webguru.neu.edu/undergraduate-research/research-funding/research-
proposals
 http://user.spring8.or.jp/?p=672&lang=en#ch01
 http://www.writeawriting.com/academic-writing/research-project-proposal/
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proposal
 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proposal
21