MD.

SAI FUL ALAM

ASSI STANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTI NG & I NFO. SYS.
UNI VERSI TY OF DHAKA
How to Write a Research
Proposal
Preamble
No single format for research
proposal;
Varies due to different
disciplines, donor organizations
and academic institutions;
A standard format would be
worthy to discuss.

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What is a research proposal?
A research proposal aims to introduce your
reader or supervisor to the proposed
purpose and direction of a research project
you are planning with the purpose of
persuading them that the research will be
worthwhile.
The process is important as it can help you
determine your focus, clarify what is
involved in your project and plan its
development.
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Key Components
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Title
Research problem/Problem Statement
Objective(s)
Justification/Significance
Literature Review
Research Methodology
A description of how the research findings
will be used and/or disseminated.
Title/Topic
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Formulates a problem that is
worthy of research
The topic provides the pivot
or focus
It includes concepts with
their linkages

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The topic should be:
stated clearly in one or two
sentences
framed as a research question or
hypothesis
framed as a problem or question
in need of an answer

Steps to Choose a Topic
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Identify a problem
Read further on the problem
Clearly define the problem
Write out the problem statement
Outline your objectives
From here you can now decide on
the topic

For Example..
A Proposal
On
The Relationship Between
University Education and
Employee Productivity in the
Banking Industry
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Research Problem/ Problem Statement
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The formulation of a
problem might be more
difficult than its
solution.
Albert Einstein

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This is the origin of the research
This needs to be clearly defined
The structure involves two things
Preamble
Questions
You need to paint a picture
Then the questions will be natural
consequence

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The preamble provides grounds to raise
the questions
Example
Competition in banking industry
The role of employees in organisation
Concerns about employee productivity
Ways to increase productivity e.g.
education, training

Identify the issues that agitate your mind for
which you want to find solutions to
State the issue in question form
Major question
The main issue in question form
Specific questions
Other issues within the main issue that are
components of the main issue
State these in question form
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Example
Main/major question
What is the relationship between university
education and employee productivity in the
banking industry in Bangladesh?
Specific questions
What is the trend of productivity in the banking
industry
What is the trend of university graduates
employment in the banking industry

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A Quick Look!!
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Topic of interest
Literature review
Next logical question
Literature search
Research question
Objective(s)
This is what you have set to achieve
The problem well stated helps to
build your objectives
These should be positive statement
of the questions
Major objective
Specific objectives
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Justification/Rationale/Significance
Think about how your research:
may resolve theoretical questions in your
area
may develop better theoretical models in
your area
may influence public policy
may change the way people do their jobs in
a particular field, or may change the way
people live
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Literature Review
All research should be contextualized
in terms of relevant scholarly or
academic literature related to or
around the problem or topic
The literature may not refer to the
problem exactly but may explore
similar or related issues or other
research that sheds light on the
problem

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The purpose is to demonstrate that you
are familiar with other bodies of research
around your topic
Many researchers argue their perspectives
through the literature review
The best researchers attempt to make
their hypotheses evolve out of the
literature search


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Where to Search For Literature
Journal Articles
Books
Research Monographs
Websites
Newspapersand more

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How to Search For Literature
Use your topic as your search term
Formulate some more specific
search terms
Keep searching until youve found
some papers
2530 academic papers
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In Each Paper..
What specific question is being
asked?
How does it address the question?
How convincing are the results?
What aspects of the research
question remain unanswered?
What is the next logical question?

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Fictional example Literature Review
Smith and Brown (2001) reported SMS usage against telephone and face-to-
face communication and separated their data by gender preferences. In
contrast, Zhou et al (2003) showed that while many people readily accept
the use of SMS as a dating communication tool, many people of the 25-40
age group, and women in particular, oppose it. Harries (2002) suggested
that the opposition is related to the unromantic nature of SMS and Norris
(2002) showed a belief that SMS is considered insufficient for the business
of finding a mate for long term cohabitation and reproduction. Jones et al
(2003) also reported SMS dating across age groups. Cruikshank and
Johnson (2001) said that arranging dates by SMS was readily accepted by
83% of their female respondents and 87% of male respondents. Findings
were corroborated by Stuart (2004) and Nicholson (2005) but with less
detail. Henriks et al (2003) found that respondents in the 16-24 age group
and those over 40 readily accepted SMS as a dating tool, while respondents
in the 25-40 age group opposed it. Other studies (Findus et al (2003),
Horace and Fawn (2002) and Halley et al (2003)) corroborate their
findings, but few respondents made any mention of ending relationships by
SMS, leading to our research question:
Is it acceptable to end a relationship by SMS message?
The research will attempt to differentiate responses by gender and age.
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Research Methodology
A detailed description of the research methods you
intend to develop or employ and a justification of
why you have chosen them. You should describe
Methodological Paradigm Positive vs Interpretive
Hypotheses
Research Design
Sampling
Data Collection Procedures
Data Analysis Software Used or Not
Possible Ethical Issues and Way of Encountering them
Time Frame/Time Budget

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References/Bibliography
References Only the cited one;
Bibliography Whether cited or not;
Styles include
Harvard
(http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/fms/MRSite/psd/ls/general/H
arvard%20Referencing%20guide.pdf),
Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA)
(http://www.law.ox.ac.uk/publications/oscola.php),
Numeric (http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-
services/referencing/using-numeric.cfm )and
APA (American Psychological Association) see for
details http://www.apastyle.org.
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Appendix
Copy of Application Form for
Ethical Approval (if required);
Copy of Draft Survey or
Observation Schedule;
Questionnaire
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Now You Are Ready For Writing
Many people assume that any literate person can
write a research proposalINCORRECT
Some tips to help you in your writing
include:
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 text is a "chain of ideas".
While writing, keep your reader's needs in mind.
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DO:
Produce a professional looking proposal
Be interesting
Be informative
Write in a way that is easy to read
Include a contents page
Use clear headings and sub-headings
Be concise and precise
Use simple language wherever possible
Construct clear arguments
Check your spelling and grammar
Reference your work fully using an acceptable format
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DON'T:
Use words when you are not
absolutely certain of their meaning
Use difficult words to impress your
reader
Use overly simplistic language
Repeat yourself
Wander
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Submission
Before submitting, make sure you have
completed each of the following steps:
1. Proof-read your work carefully.
2. Ask a friend or relative to read your
proposal.
3. Ask an experienced researcher or your
supervisor to read your proposal.


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THANK
YOU ALL
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