AAU DEPARTMENT OF PADM Research Methods for Public Administration

Chapter Three: Research Proposal

3.1. What is a Research Proposal?

After identifying and defining the problem as also accomplishing the relating task, a researcher must arrange
his ideas in order and write them in the form of an experimental plan or what can be described as ‘Research
Proposal or Research Plan’. This is essential especially for new researcher because of the following
functions:
a) It helps her/him to organize his/her ideas in a form whereby it will be possible for him to look for
defect and inadequacies, if any.
b) It provides an inventory of what must be done and which materials have to be collected as a
preliminary step so that the researcher could have clear picture on the research problem and its
methodology.
c) It is a document that can be given to others for comment.
d) It could also be used as binding document between the researcher and the business management or
advisor (for academic researches).

3.2. General Format of Research Proposal

Title

The title is the most widely read part of your proposal. The title will be read by many people who
may not necessarily read the proposal itself, or even the abstract. It should be reasonably long
enough to be explicit but not too long so that it is tedious – usually between 15 and 25 words. It
should contain the key words – the important words that indicate the subject.
Titles may sometimes be too short to be clear. For instance, the title ‘Credit and poverty’ may
suffice as a textbook title but it needs to be explicit and say more if it is to serve usefully as a
proposal title. On the other hand, titles may be too long to be readily and easily comprehensible.
Excessive length in titles is often attributable to ‘waste’ or ‘fat’ words such as ‘An investigation
on ...’ or ‘Studies to examine ...’ and the use of words that should appear in the main text.
There are three types of title: indicative, hanging and question title.
Indicative titles are by far the most common type: they state the subject of the proposal rather than
expected outcomes. An example is ‘The role of agricultural credit in alleviating poverty in a low-
potential area of Ethiopia’. If a title written in this form becomes too long, however, consider
rewriting it using the hanging format.
Hanging titles have two parts: a general first part followed by a more specific second part. This title
type may be useful in rewording an otherwise long, clumsy and complicated indicative title. An
example of a hinging title is ‘Alleviation of poverty in low-potential area of Ethiopia: the impact of
agricultural credit’.

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Question-type titles are used less commonly than indicative and hanging titles. However, they are
acceptable where it is possible to use few words – say less than 15. Example could be ‘Does
agricultural credit alleviates poverty in a low-potential area of Ethiopia?’

Table of Contents
Some sponsors require a table of contents that lists page numbers of all major sections of the
proposal. Agencies can be very specific about labeling, pagination, etc; Obviously, a Table of
Contents cannot be created until all elements of the proposal have been prepared in final form.

Abstracts

An abstract is a SUMMARY and overview of the entire proposal (it is not an introduction). A good
informative abstract starts by stating the problem to be solved through the work proposed,
specifying the significance of the problem at the national, regional or international level. It covers
the purpose, expected outputs, beneficiaries, expected impact of the work being proposed and the
methods to be used. A statement specifying the budget should also be given. Thus, the abstract
presents all parts of the proposal, each part condensed according to the significant information in it.
But, keep it brief; sponsors usually specify a length (typically from 100 to 500 words).
A good technique is to write a draft abstract before writing the main proposal. This gives you an
outline for your proposal of the key component and thus guides the writing of the complete
proposal. Rework the abstract after completing the full proposal. Edit your abstract for length,
adequacy, clarity and conciseness. But, some others also recommend writing the abstract last, and
reviewing it carefully to make sure it agrees with the final text.
Background of the Problem
It discusses on the context of the problem within which the gap exists. It should show the ecology of
the problem and organized in a way to state issues that lead to the statement of the problem.
Statement of the Problem
Statement of the problem constitutes the scientific justification for the study; i.e., the basis of the
need for research to generate further knowledge that will contribute to existing knowledge. The
statement must be written in a way that gives empirical references to describe the situation and also
clearly specifies the gaps in existing knowledge of the problem and/or the existing controversy and
the non-conclusive evidence. Moreover, there may be very conclusive evidence for knowledge
considered to be established, but the investigator questions the accumulated knowledge because of
certain events that he or she intends to subject to verification. It is at this point where the
investigator defines the object of study and conveys the questions or broader issues motivating the
research.
The problem statement should make a convincing argument that there is not sufficient knowledge
available to explain the problem and its possible alternative solutions, or it should make a
convincing argument for the need to test what is known and taken as fact, if it is called into question
by new findings or conditions.

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AAU DEPARTMENT OF PADM Research Methods for Public Administration

The significant content of the justification is that no work has been carried out to try to solve the
stated problem, or that little work has been carried out to try to solve the stated problem, or that
some work has been done but gaps still exit; hence the need to conduct the study. If as far as you
know, no work has been conducted in the area being proposed for study, then this part becomes a
simple, one- or two-sentence statement. However, attempts have usually been made to solve the
problem, or work on a related topic may have been conducted. In this case, the work being
proposed may be intended to fill gaps, use existing knowledge to provide solutions, or carry further
an effort that has already been started or is even advanced. This section will show that the work is
firmly premised in previous, relevant work. To do this, cite relevant references of work already
conducted.
This section should also provide a brief overview of the literature and research done in the field
related to the problem and of the gaps that the proposed research is intended to fill. Research
question should also be developed to simplify and clearly sharpen the focus of the research.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposition that is assumed, perhaps without belief, to draw out its logical
consequences and by this method to test that it is in accord with facts that are known or may be
determined. Hypotheses can be developed from a body of theory. You can also construct
hypotheses by logical deduction from theory. Theory is the most fertile seedbed for hypotheses. A
theory presents what is known. Logical deductions from this constitute the hypotheses that must be
true if the theory is true.
Methodology
This section, the “research methodology/design” of your project, constitutes the very core of your
proposal. It must meet three criteria:
1) it must derive logically from the statement of problem or need;
2) it must proceed smoothly from describing data and techniques to be used, to explaining how the
findings will be interpreted in terms of the stated goals, objectives, and outcomes; and
3) it must convince readers that the conclusions will be valid.

It is best to organize the methodology to explain how each specific objective will be achieved. The
proposal should provide enough detail to enable an independent scientific assessment of the
proposal. Assuming that the research questions and research hypothesis to be addressed have been
clearly identified, the purpose of the methodology section is to show how these questions will be
answered in the most rigorous way possible. The proposal needs to be clear about what activities
are envisaged in the pursuit of each objective, and this must be done before funding is approved.
Indeed, it is impossible to define the budgetary needs of the research project in the absence of a
solid methodology section.
The research proposal should indicate what approaches and methods will be used to collect primary
and secondary data and information. You need to provide details on available sources of secondary
data. The investigator should describe the quality of the secondary data.
The instruments to be used for the collection of primary data, such as questionnaires, interview
guide, etc. should be developed and attached as an annex to the proposal. Outline the procedures

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AAU DEPARTMENT OF PADM Research Methods for Public Administration

for the development, pre-testing, and administering of any research instruments. If survey work is
involved, give detailed information on the study area. If the research is related to human
populations, information on the study population should also be provided. Include a description of
the procedures for selecting the population sample and the sample size. It also detail discusses the
analysis design to be utilized in the research.
Significance of the Study
The significance of a research project is not the same as the purpose or goals (see above) of the
research. Statements of the significance and impact of the research project must be carefully crafted
and may be couched in several themes:
a) Advancing the state of knowledge in a particular field, enriching our cultural and aesthetic
heritage, or contributing to the public good.
b) Accomplishing the funding agency’s goals; refer again to the sponsor’s goals and mission.

Scope of the Study

The research proposal should also show the scope of the study in terms of:
c) Issues/variables limit to be addressed by the research
d) Time coverage of the study
e) Geographic coverage or research area (place) where the research is expected to be conducted.
Timetable and Budget
Indicate the time needed to carry out each phase of the research as well as its total duration.
Indicate possible constraints in adhering to the timetable. Estimate the total cost of the research.
Allow for inflation and indicate the level of inflation used in the estimate.
Citations and References
It is important that you correctly cite all consulted published and unpublished documents that you
refer to in the proposal. This allows the reader to know the sources of your information.
You may cite references by author (one or two authors) followed by year of publications. For more
than two authors write the first name listed, followed et al., and the year of publication. Cite several
authors by listing each reference separated by a semicolon.
Every reference you cite must appear in the list of references at the end of the proposal. Reference
should be written and organized in alphabetical order by the names of the authors and the year of
publication. Where no name of author is given, give the name of the sponsoring organizations as the
author.

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