Final Year Project Proposal

FINAL YEAR PROJECT 2017

By

(Leader - Registration Number Your Name Here)

(Member 1 - Registration Number Your Name Here)
(Member 2 - Registration Number Your Name Here)
(Member 3 - Registration Number Your Name Here)

Department of Civil Engineering

ABASYN University, Islamabad, Pakistan

2017

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The objective of this document is to provide the brief guidelines for the BSc candidates of
ABASYN University, Islamabad Campus to write a good research proposal. This document
will show that
1) You have the competence and work plan to complete the research.
2) You have a research idea which will lead to the creation of new knowledge and
understanding.
3) It includes sufficient information for us to evaluate the proposed study
Structure of the Proposal
A research proposal submitted to Superior University for acceptance should be written in a
clear, concise, cohesive and meaningful way. The proposal should not exceed 2000 words
and should follow the following structure:
1. Working Title (Maximum 20 words)
2. Abstract (150 words Approx.)
3. Introduction (500 words Approx.)
4. Review of literature (1000 words Approx.)
5. Research Methodology (300 words Approx.)
6. Research Project Timeline
7. Conclusion (100 words Approx.)
8. References (APA 6th Manual)

Working Title
Working title is the foremost part of the research proposal. Therefore, it must be self-
explanatory that should give a clear idea to the reader that what you are going to undertake.
Specifically, the title should encapsulate the precise identification of the problem, main
variables or concepts, and target population. It should reflect the clarity, conciseness and
effective arrangement of words in the title. The title is designed to stimulate the readers
interest. A good title should attract and inform the readers and be accurate. It needs to stand
out in some way from the other thousands of titles that compete for the readers attention,
but it also needs to tell the reader what the paper is about.
Abstract

The abstract begins with the statement of the problem which is based on the critical analysis
of the literature. The abstract continues with the research questions and corresponding
hypotheses (if used). Measures operationalizing the variables are identified and the

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procedures are briefly described. It should be interesting enough to motivate a reader to read
the full proposal. An abstract maximum of 150 words should be given at the top of second
page. Further it is also important to mention key word at the end of abstract in a separate
head
Introduction/Background
The introduction of a proposal should begin with a capsule statement of what is being
proposed and then should proceed to introduce the subject to a stranger. It should give
enough background to enable an informed layman to place your particular research problem
in a context of common knowledge and should show how its solution will advance the field
or be important for some other work. The statement
Establish the field: assert briefly how significant, relevant, and important is your
chosen topic
Summarize your predecessors more general research
Focus in on your own research project. In this however move, indicate a gap
in knowledge to be filled the question to answer
Introduce your own research by stating the question you wish to answer, what
you hope to discover, what hypothesis you will test. Novel methods can earn a
brief mention, but rarely will an Introduction include any results.
Rationale (Significance) of the study
The significance section describes the importance of seeking a solution to the statement of
the problem identified previously. The statement of significance justifies the student and
faculty time and financial resources that need to be devoted to the research. You are required
to present your justification that how your research will add value to theory, policy and
practice.
Review of Literature
The purpose of the literature review is to situate your research in the context of what is
already known about a topic. It need not be exhaustive, it needs to show how your work will
benefit the whole. It should provide the theoretical basis for your work, show what has been
done in the area by others, and set the stage for your work.
In a literature review you should give the reader enough ties to the literature that they feel
confident that you have found, read, and assimilated the literature in the field. It should
probably move from the more general to the more focused studies, but need not be
exhaustive, only relevant.

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Research Methodology
This part of the research proposal should briefly communicate that how you will carry out
your research study. It should cover the following points:
Research Paradigm
Philosophical Assumptions
Research Approach
Induction/ Deduction
Research Method
Qualitative/ Quantitative
Research Design
Population
Sample Size
Sampling Technique
Data Collection Instrument
Data Collection Technique
Data Analysis
Ethical Consideration
Delimitations and Limitations of the study

References

List all the research studies you have cited in your proposal. The references should be given
in APA 6th manual style. Use of references in your study should be smart enough to convey
that you have read, understood and evaluated the work of previous researchers. You can add
the work of other that might be relevant to your topic but you have not actually cited in your
proposal for whatsoever reason can also be shown as bibliography.

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Outline of Final Year Project Proposal

1. Title Page
2. Main Body

Research Title: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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1. Introduction
a. Background of Research

b. Research Gap

c. Significance of Research

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 d. Research Questions

e. Definition of key constructs

2. Theoretical Framework
a. Base theories

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 b. Relationships of constructs

c. Development of Hypothesis or Research Questions

3. Methodology
a. Research Paradigm
i. Philosophical Assumptions

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b. Research Approach
i. Induction/Deduction

c. Research Method
i. Qualitative/ Quantitative/ Mixed

ii. Research Design (Population, Sample Size, Sampling Technique,

Data Collection Instrument, Data Collection Technique, Data

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 Analysis, Ethical Considerations, Delimitations and Limitations of
the study)

4. Research Project Timeline

5. Conclusion

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6. References

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