Graduate Research

Proposal and Report Writing

Things to be Considered
while Selecting a GRP
Topic
Acceptability

Universitys requirements
Interest
Your strengths and weaknesses
Feasibility
Financial and time resources available

Availability of literature
Access to data
Relevance
Avoidance of Duplication
Sample Topic: Hindi / Nepali Movie Film
Distribution in Nepal

What is Research
Proposal?
Research

proposal is the means

to achieve the agreement
between the person who
authorizes the study and the
researcher.
Proposal ensures that there are no
misunderstandings or frustrations
later for both parties.

Research Proposal_BST

What Contains Research

Proposal?
Proposal consists of:

The broad goals of the study.

The specific problem to be investigated.
Details of the procedures to be followed.
The research design offerings details on:
Sampling design
Data collection methods
Data analysis.

Time frame of the study, including

information on when the written report will
be handed over to the sponsors.
The budget, detailing the costs with
reference to specific items of expenditure.
Research Proposal_BST

Purpose of Research
Proposal

A means of communication from the

researcher to those who will assess,
approve and possibly fund the
project
A plan for action to describe the
scope, aim, step-by-step procedure
and expected outcome of the work
A signed contract that will form the
basis of agreement between parties
involved
Research Proposal_BST

Types of Research
Proposal
Internal proposal: If you write a proposal to someone within your
organization, it is an internal proposal.

How to understand and explain particular problem in the business

Problem solving orientation
External

proposal: It is written from one separate, independent

organization or individual/ consultant to another entity.
Solicited proposal: If a proposal is solicited, the recipient of the proposal in
some way requested the proposal.
Unsolicited proposals: They are those in which the recipient has not requested
proposals.
No need to compete.

Academic

Proposal prepared for an academic

degree.
Internal and external proposals have problem-solving
orientation.
Academic proposals focus on knowledge generation.
Research Proposal_BST

RESEARCH PROPOSAL MODULES

Proposals differ in their purpose and nature, however,

they tend to follow more or less a defined pattern.

Executive Summary
Background Information
Statement of the Problem
Literature Review
Objectives, Research Questions, Hypotheses
Importance, Significance or Need of the Study
Research Methods
Research Design
Population and Sampling
Data Analysis

Research Plan (House-keeping Arrangements)

Time-frame
Budget and Resources
Project Management
Equipment and Instruments

Qualification of the Researchers

References
Appendices
Research Proposal_BST

GRP Proposal

Background Information
Statement of the Problem
Literature Review and Theoretical
Framework
Objectives of the Study
Research Questions or Hypotheses
Research Methods

Research Design
Population and Sampling
Instrumentation
Data Collection Procedures
Data Analysis

References

GRP Writing
What is a GRP Report?

A GRP report is simply a

statement or description of
things that have already
occurred.
It is a concise, clear

communication of
the findings
of the research work.
In any game of communication,
the following actions and actors
are involved:

The GRP Report Process

There are five steps in the report process:
Information sources
(data, literature, observation)
Condensation
(data cards, editing, coding, master data
sheets)
Combination
(charts, tables, graphs, diagrams, pictures)
Assimilation
(analysis, interpretation, writing)
Finished product
(report)

Procedures
for
Analyze the task
Prepare an outline prior to starting
Writing

the write up
Plan your time
Arrange data
Start writing
Prepare the first draft
Put the draft aside for some time
Ask for the feedback
Review and rewrite

Style of Writing

Write clearly
Adhere to the study objectives
Be careful of terminologies,
grammar and spellings
Be selective
Be objective
Draw conclusions

Conventions of Academic
Writing

Make direct and positive sentences

Use of the first person
Use gender-neutral language
Avoid emotional language
Label opinions and observations
Non-English terms and expressions
English or American spellings
Abbreviations
Consistency

Tabular and Graphic

Presentation

Each table and figure should be

given a title.
Each table or figure should be
given a number like 4.1, 4.2.
Write the table number instead of
writing the following table or
the above table.
Source of data should be cited at
the bottom of the table.
If explanations need to be given,
use footnotes below the table.

General Questions that

arise in the Process of GRP
Report Writing

Can a researcher choose a topic by

himself?
How long should the GRP report be?
Should we begin writing from the first
chapter?
Should we wait until all work associated
with the research is completed before
beginning to write it up?
Which section of the report should we
write first?
What should be done to ensure the
quality of data?

Format of the GRP

Prefatory Materials
Report

Title page
Approval sheet
Acknowledgements
Executive summary
Table of contents
List of tables and figures

Body

of the Report

Introduction
Review of literature and theoretical framework
Research methodology
Results and discussion
Summary and conclusions
Supplementary

References
Appendixes

Materials

References

For a book
Harrison, A. (2006). Just-in-time manufacturing in
perspective. New York: Prentice Hall
Peppard, J., & Rawland, P. (2006). Business process reengineering. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.

For an edited book

Singh, R., & Manandhar, N. (Eds.). (2007). Human psychology
at work.
Kathmandu: Sastoma Kitab Publishers.

For a journal article

Joshi, P. (1998). Labour management: A cross-country
overview of South
Asian countries. The Nepalese
Management Review, 3(1), 1-14.

For a newspaper
The Rising Nepal. (1996, July 15). P.2

For an Internet site

Tribhuvan University (online) (cited 2008, January 7).
Available <http://www.edu.np

Examples of Citation
Direct Quotation
Block and Indented Quotation
The UNDP (2007) makes an assessment of the current status of technology
transfer in Nepal in the following words:
Foreign aid has played a major role in the source and value of technology
imports including those in the manufacturing sector. Much of the technology
transfer under the category has been the turnkey type. The percentage of
foreign technical personnel has assisted in acquiring operational competence.
However, it does not seem to have led to the development of indigenous
capabilities for technological innovation and upgradation (p. 44).
Within-sentence Quotation
According to UNDP (2007), Foreign aid has played a major role in the source
and value of technology imports in Nepal (p. 44).

Paraphrase and Summary

UNDP (2007) argued that the increasing use of foreign technical personnel
working in Nepal does not lead to the development of local capabilities for
technical innovation.

Generalization
There is wide agreement that the presence of foreign experts would ultimately
affect the capability-building of the local people. The increasing use of such
foreign experts in Nepal has increased the countrys dependence on them for
technological innovation and upgradation (Gurung, 1997; Tuladhar & Thapa,
2007; and Yadav, 2009).

CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING YOUR

DRAFT GRP REPORT

Does your title reflect accurately your

contents?
Is there a clear structure?
Does your introduction state clearly
the research issues, objectives,
theoretical framework, and research
questions?
Are your research methods clearly
explained?
Have you divided up your text
throughout with suitable headings?
Does each chapter have a preview and
a summary?

Checklist.

Have you checked all your references and

presented these in the required manner?
Is there any text material that should be
in the appendix?
Are you happy that your writing is clear,
simple and direct?
Have you eliminated all jargons?
Have you acknowledged all the works of
others?
Have you checked spelling and grammar?
Is your report in a format that will be
acceptable to the university?

Some Topics Recently Researched

in GRP

Organizational Facts For Employee Creativity at Works

Women Enterpreneurs In Beautyparlour Service In Kathmandu

Women Empowerment Through Micro-Credit Programme In Lalitpur VDC

HR Skill Gap In Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Nepal

Supply Change Mapping : A Case Study In Ilam Tea.

Green Purchase Intention of Nepalese Young Consumers

Consumer Complain Behavior : Astudy on Electronic Sectors

Shopping Mall Choice Behaviour of Nepalese Consumers

Conterfeit Products Awereness and Attitudate of Nepalese Consumers

Brand Equity of MBA Programs in Nepal

Individual Investors Behavior in Nepal Stock Exchange

Performance Apprisal: Measurement and Method BIAS as Perceived by Employees in Private

Sector Commerical Banks

Factor Affeting Quality Improvement in Carpet Industry In Nepal

Socialization and Learning Process In Nepalese Private Sector Commerical Banks

Market Efficency Anomalies In Nepalese Stock Markets

Financial Literacy For Informed Consumer : A Comparative Study of Specific Demographic

Groups In Nepal

Impact of Advertisement on Purchase Intention and Switching Behaviour of Cosmetic Product

Consumers

Effect of Packaging Elements OF Food Products On Sonsumers Pre purchase Decisions

Impact of Advertisement on Purchase Intention and Switching Behaviour of Cosmetic Product

Consumers

Effect of Packaging Elements OF Food Products On Sonsumers Pre purchase Decisions

Preparing for Presentation

and Defense