PreparingResearchProposalsandReports.ppt

Preparing Research Proposals and Reports Chapter Twenty-Four Preparing Research Proposals and Reports Chapter Twenty-Four What is a Research Proposal? It is a written plan of a study. It spells out in detail what the researcher intends to do. It permits others to learn about the intended research and to offer suggestions for improving the study. It also helps the researcher clarify what needs to be done and to avoid unintentional problems. The Major Sections of a Research Proposal There are four topics addressed in this area: The purpose of the study The justification for the study The research question/hypothesis, including variables to be investigated The definition of terms Purpose of the Study The purpose states succinctly what the researcher proposes to investigate. This should be a concise statement, providing a framework to which details are added later. Clarification of the field of interest should be considered here. Justification of the Study The researcher must make clear why this particular study is important to investigate. He or she must present an argument for the study. A good justification should also include any specific implications that follow if relationships are identified. There could be an implication that current methods are not good enough, however, this should be made explicit. Research Question or Hypothesis The particular question to be investigated should be stated here. Favoring hypotheses will help clarify and become a strategy point. It should be clearly stated as concisely as possible. There should be any inference made if a hypothesis is well-stated. Definitions All key terms should be defined. The researcher’s task is to make the definitions as clear as possible. Sometimes, terms will have to be modified to fit the present study. While it is probably impossible to eliminate all ambiguity, the clearer the terms used, the fewer the difficulties that will be encountered with the study. Background and Review of Literature This may be