Research Proposal
Each researcher has to write a research proposal before he undertakes any research work. For a new researcher it presents a great problem because he does not know the components of any research proposal. Even an experienced research worker is required to write a research proposal if he proposes to obtain financial assistance for a research project from any research organization. In our own country NCERT, UGC, AICTE, ICSSR etc. have developed their own research formats but a few basic components are common to all well-prepared research proposals.
Title of the Proposal
The first part of any research proposal is its title. If the title is not clearly
stated it will not help the researcher in his work. A good title should
clearly identify the research proposal and must clearly state about the
following:
(i) What variables are included in the research proposal?
(ii) What is the relationship between the different variables?
(iii) Which is the population to which the results may be generalized?
While independent and dependent variables are stated in the research
proposal title, which are of experimental nature, the variates and
criterion variables are written in non-experimental studies.
One example of each is given below;
Experimental Study:
“The Effect of Lecture Method and Text Book Method on the Academic
Achievement in Economics of Class IX Students”
Non-Experimental Study:
“The Relationship between Socio-Economic Status and Academic
Achievement in a Foreign Language of Class X Students”
In the experimental study the title of the research proposal is so
stated that it shows the effect of independent variable upon dependent
variable. This type of title indicates which variable will be manipulated
by the research and upon which variable its effect will be observed. In
non- experimental study, the title should indicate the relationship
between the variate and the criterion variable. In non –experimental
study the variables are not manipulated, only relationship between
variate and criterion variable is stated. In the above examples, “Lecture
method” and “Text Book Method” are independent variable and
academic achievement is dependent variable. In the second example
the ‘Socio-Economic Status’ is an example of criterion variable.
The boundaries should be identified for which the research
findings may be generalized. They are generally expressed in the terms
of ‘Target Population’.
In the above examples, students of class IX and students of class
X are target population in experimental and non-experimental
population respectively.
Another requirement for a good,, research title is that it should
not be too lengthy. Attempts should not be made to answer all
questions relating to variables and the population in a title. Fifteen to
twenty words are the maximum can be included in a research title.
Some good titles are given below;
1. “A Comparison Between Two Methods of Teaching AlgebraExpository and Discovery-in the Tenth Class in a Recognized
Secondary School”.
2. “The Effects of Grading on Achievement in Mathematics.”
3. “The Relationship between Spelling, Achievement and a
Personality Factor”.
4. “A Comparison of the Evaluation of Teacher Performance by
Principals and Teachers”.
5. “A Study of the Effect of Two Seating Arrangements in the in the
Foreign Language Achievement of Class VI.”
Research Problem
The second part of any research proposal is the research problem. It is
of special importance on account of its strategic location. The problem
should define and delimit the specific area of the proposed research. It
should begin with the general background of the problem and end with
a specific statement of the problem. The research problem should be so
structured that it should begin with a broad base of general problems
and explanations. It should be followed by a survey of related research
literature. It should end with the problem statement. The background of
the research should identify the variables of the research problem,
discuss the variables which are selected for the research study. Other
important variables which are not included in the research study should
also be briefly discussed. It should also be made clear that which criteria
were used for the selection of the variables. This part of the research
proposal should be written in simple language and should also be
précised.
The significance of the problem should also be written. It should
meet the following requirements;
(i) The research proposal is time bound document. Thrust areas of
research changes from time to time. Only such areas should be
selected which are of crucial importance these days.
(ii) The research proposal should be related with practical problems.
It should provide solution to any existing social / behavioral
/educational /institutional/library related problem etc.
(iii) The research problem should not have small target population,
because its result cannot be verified.
(iv) Target population of any research problem should be related to a
popular population.
If the research proposal is to be submitted for financial assistance it
should also be seen that what the areas of priority of the funding
agency are. Each agency grants financial assistance to those research
studies which it considers as central to its area of concern and others as
peripheral.
The statement of the problem is the last stone in the pyramid of
the research problem. It specifies the variate and criterion variables in
non-experimental studies and independent and dependent variables in
an experimental study, the type of relationship between variables and
target population.
Another criterion of a good problem statement is that it can be
measured. A research problem in which the relationship between
variables cannot be measured empirically cannot be categorized a
research problem.
The statement which seeks to answer the question of valuejudgment should not be included in research problem. Such questions
cannot be answered by a research study. They should be avoided in a
research proposal.
Statement of Hypothesis
The third part of a research proposal is statement of Hypotheses. It is
done more sophistically than the statement of problem. The research
hypothesis is presented in an affirmative form rather than in the
interrogative form. They state what is expected to occur if various
conditions are evoked or presumed. The researcher should review the
related literature thoroughly before formulating hypotheses.
All the terms which are used in any hypothesis should be
carefully defined. The hypothesis should be unambiguous and testable.
Since the quantum of achievement is difficult to predict at the time of
statement of hypothesis, researchers prefer ‘null hypothesis’ which
assumes that only a chance difference is expected to occur between the
groups .A null hypothesis merely states that there is no relationship
between the variables. It is expressed in statistical terms; Xa-Xb=0.
Suppose a researcher observed that Mr.X appeared to have
better teacher-student relation that Mr.Y. It was observed that Mr.X
used to discuss personal problems of the students and find out their
solutions while Mr.Y used to have only formal relationship of classroom
teaching. The researcher formulated the following problem.
“What are the effects of discussion of personal problems of the
students on the teacher-student relationship”?
The problem statement could be written as substantive
hypothesis in the following words;
“The discussion of personal problems of the students will have
better teacher-student relationship than not having any such
discussion.”
This hypothesis can be written as null hypothesis in the
following form;
“Discussion of personal problems of the students by the
teachers with them and no discussion will have no differential effect
upon the teacher-student relationship.”
The following criteria should be used for the formulation of testable and
significant hypothesis;
(i) The hypothesis must be clearly stated in operational terms.
(ii) The hypothesis must be specific and testable.
(iii) Research problems should be selected which are directly related to
previous research or theoretical formulations.
Procedures
The fourth part of a research proposal is called procedures. It is also
called as ‘Methodology’ and ‘Method of Procedure.’
It comprises of the following;
(i) Target Population:
It is also called universe. The salient characteristics of the population
should be thoroughly described so that it should be definite that what is
the target population for which sample is to be drawn and to which the
results of the study could be generalized.
(ii) Sampling Plan:
The method of sampling should be specified in the research proposal. If
the sample is not thoroughly analyzed and precisely described, faulty
generalizations may be made. The sample should be made the true
representative of the population. The sampling plan should also be
described in the proposal. It should describe how the units in the target
population will be selected and used .A good sampling plan should meet
the following criteria;
a. Obtaining or constructing an accurate, current list of the target
population units.
b. Method of drawing the sample.
c. Number of subjects or population units to be selected.
(iii) Research Design:
The research design should indicate how the research setting will be
arranged in order to yield the desired data with the least possible
contamination/ error by intervening variables. There is no single design
that can be applied in all the cases. It depends upon individual
researcher to devise his design. The design should ensure the answer of
every hypothesis designed in the proposed research work.
A well prepared research design should contain the following
characteristics;
a) Specifications of its relationship to each research hypothesis.
b) Description of the methods of proposed control of confounding
variables and threats to validity.
c) Description of the design in statistical terms.
d) Identification of the types of interferences that may be made.
(iv) Stimulus Materials:
It should also be specified in the research proposal that what stimulus
materials will be used in the study. Kinds and ways of stimuli should be
described. Most commonly used stimuli are printed instructional
materials. Instructional materials should include the following elements;
a) Title
b) Author/Editor
c) Publisher
d) Year of publication
e) Intended population
f) Time required for administration
g) Cost of material
(v) Response Measures:
The researcher should specify clearly what raw data are required by the
research design and how they will be collected. Each instrument should
be described including the following items of information:
a) Title
b) Author/Editor
c) Publisher
d) Population
e) Forms
f) Test Objectives
g) Description of test ,items, scoring procedures
h) Traits represented in score
i) Predictive / Concurrent validity
j) Reliability data
k) Normative data
l) Internal consistency of tests
m) Time required for administration
n) Cost of material
o) Data of publication
(vi) Data Collection Methods:
The research proposal should identify the schedules and procedures to
be used for acquiring the data and recording it accurately. If they are
lengthy, they should be placed in an appendix and reference be given in
the body of the proposal.
(vii) Data Analysis:
The researcher should specify how the data will be ordered and reduced
to relate directly to the research problem. The statistical procedure to
be used in the analysis of data they should be described. It will be done
hypothesis wise or not, it should be indicated in the research proposal.
If a complex design or obscure statistical test is to be used, it should be
indicated in the proposal.
If the research proposal is to be submitted to a Funding agency,
the following information should also be provided in the research
proposal;
Logistics
It consists of the following;
(a) Time Schedule
(b) Personnel
(i) Facilities, equipment and supplies
(c) Travel expenses
(d) Publication costs and other direct costs
(e) Budget forms
The researcher should identify the funding agency such as; UGC, ICSSR,
NCERT, SCERT, Universities.
The researcher should also obtain the research format from the
funding agency and prepare research proposal on the guidelines
provided by the funding agency.