All research endeavours, in both qualitative and quantitative research, in every academic and professional field are preceded by a research proposal. It informs your academic supervisor or potential research contract provider about your conceptualisation of the total research process that you propose to undertake so that they can examine its validity and appropriateness. In any academic field, your research proposal will go through a number of committees for approval. Unless it is approved by all of them, you will not be able to start your research. Hence, it is important for you to study closely what constitutes a research proposal.
You need to write a research proposal whether your research study is quantitative or qualitative, and in both cases you use a similar structure. The main difference is in the proposed procedures and methodologies for undertaking the research endeavour. When providing details for different parts of the research proposal, for quantitative studies you will detail quantitative methods, procedures and models, and for qualitative studies your proposed process will be based upon methods and procedures that form the qualitative research methodology. If you happen to use a mixed methods approach, you need to describe them as either qualitative or quantitative procedures under their respective headings.
A research proposal serves many functions. Specifically:
- It serves to remind you of what you are supposed to do at different steps of the research journey. It is the road map designed by you, and approved by your university, to guide you through your research journey.
- It is an overall plan designed to obtain answers to the research questions or problems that constitute your research project.
- It outlines the various tasks you plan to undertake to fulfil your research objectives, test hypotheses (if any) or obtain answers to your research questions.
- It should also state your reasons for undertaking the study.
- Broadly, a research proposal’s main function is to detail the operational plan for obtaining answers to your research questions. In doing so it ensures and reassure the reader of the validity of the methodology for obtaining answers to your research questions accurately and objectively.
- It serves as a document for scientific scrutiny for others to judge the appropriateness of what you are proposing and provide their seal of approval.
- It serves to convince your research supervisor or a reviewer that your proposed methodology is meritorious, valid, appropriate and workable in terms of obtaining answers to your research questions or objective
Table of content for my research proposal
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION
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1.1 INTRODUCTION
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1.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
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1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
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1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
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1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
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1.6 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
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1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
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1.8 LIMITATIONS
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CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW
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CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY
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3.1 INTRODUCTION
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3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
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3.3 POPULATION AND SAMPLING
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3.3.1 TARGET POPULATION
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3.3.2 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
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3.4 INSTRUMENT
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3.4.1 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT(S)
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3.4.2 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
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3.5 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES
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3.6 DATA ANALYSIS
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