MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF LAW

Semester II

LAW2208: SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS

LECTURER’S NAME: DR. KENTARO GRACE M ARIHO

Weeks Four and Five: Structure of a proposal

The following topics are to offer knowledge and skills on how to write a research proposal
• Introduction
• Statement of the Problem
• Objectives
• Literature Review
• Methodology

Key Readings
• Sarantakos, Sotirios (2005) Social Research (4th Edition). New York: Palgrave Publishers
Ltd.
• Kumar, Ranjit (2011) Research Methodology: A Step by Step Guide for Beginners. 3rd Ed.
London: Sage Publication, can be accessed online for free
 WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND DISSERTATION
A research proposal is an overall plan, scheme, structure, and strategy designed to obtain
answers to the research questions or problems that constitute your research project. In simple
terms, a research problem looks at:
o What you propose to do (look at)
o Why do you propose to do what you intend
o How you plan to proceed;
The proposal is comprised of three sections/chapters while a dissertation has five
sections/chapters.

A. SECTIONS/CHAPTERS OF THE PROPOSAL

- The proposal should have a preamble then followed by the sections (Section One,
Section Two, Section Three)
- NB: When we are writing a proposal, we use sections while when we are writing a
dissertation, we use chapters

- Section one: This section includes the introduction, Background to the study, statement
of the problem, objectives, research questions/hypotheses, justification of the study,
significance of the study, scope of the study (Contextual, Geographical, and time
scope), conceptual framework, theoretical framework
- Section Two: This is comprised of the literature review
- Section Three: This is a section on methodology
- Reference page
- Annex/Appendices: This can include, the budget for field work, work plan, and data
collection tools

B. SECTIONS/CHAPTERS OF THE DISSERTATION

- The dissertation has five chapters, these include all the sections that were initially in
the proposal plus a section on results and discussion of findings and a section on
conclusion and recommendations
 STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. Title Page
Purpose: The title page provides essential details about the research proposal, including
the title that you want to investigate, the researcher, the institution, and the date.
Key Components of the title page
• Title of the Research:
o The title should be specific, clear, and concise.
o It should reflect the main research problem and key variables.
o Example: “Legal Challenges in Enforcing Environmental Laws in Uganda: A
Case Study of Industrial Pollution”
• Student’s details: Full name per university records and registration number/student
number.
• Institution & Department: (i.e. A research proposal submitted to the School of Law
in partial fulfillment of the degree of Law of Makerere University).
• Supervisor’s Name: Include the supervisor’s full name and designation if assigned.
• Date: Date of submission of the research proposal, I.e. February 2025
2. Introduction
The introduction often denoted as “Section One: Introduction” provides background
information, explains the research problem, and justifies the study’s significance. In other
words, an introduction gives an overview of the main areas under study.
The key components of the introduction
a) Background of the Study: This provides context for the research discusses key
developments, trends, and issues related to the topic, and highlights existing studies and legal
frameworks in the area of research. The background should be why the topic you are
investigating is important.
o Example I: If researching “Access to Justice for Marginalized Communities in
Uganda,” the background should discuss challenges faced by marginalized groups,
existing legal aid services, and gaps in legal support.
- The background on this should be supported by a historical perspective relevant to the
study and philosophical or ideological issues relating to the topic and the trends in terms
of prevalence both at international, regional, national, and at the area of study. It should
thoroughly focus on the main issues, problems, and advances in the subject area under
study
o Example II: suppose that you are conducting a study to investigate the impact of
immigration on the family. The preamble/introduction should include a brief
description of the following:
 ▪ The origins of migratory movements in the world
▪ General theories developed to explain migratory behavior
▪ The reasons for migration
▪ Current trends in migration (national)
▪ The impact of migration on family roles and relationships (e.g., on
husband and wife, on children and parents, on parental expectations of
children, etc)
▪ Occupational mobility
▪ Etc
o Example III: suppose that you plan to study the relationship between academic
achievement and social environment. The preamble or introduction would include the
following:
▪ The role of education in our society
▪ Major changes in the philosophy of education over time
▪ Factors affecting attitudes toward education
▪ The development of education in the country
▪ Trends in education participation rates in the country with particular
reference to the region in which the study is being carried out
▪ Changing educational values
▪ etc
b) Problem statement
After the background, one has to focus on the issues relating to its central themes,
identifying gaps in the existing body knowledge. Identify some of the unanswered
questions. Some of the main research questions that you would like to answer through your
study should also be raised, and a rationale for each should be provided. Knowledge gained
from other studies and the literature about the issues you are proposing to investigate should
be an integral part of this section. Specifically, this section should:
- identify the issues that the basis of your study
- identify the main gaps in the existing body of knowledge
- raise some of the main research questions that you want to answer through your study
- identify what knowledge is available concerning your questions, specifying the
differences of opinion in the literature regarding these questions if differences exist;
and
- develop a rationale for your study with particular reference to how your study will fill
the identified gaps
 Note
The problem statement should;
• Clearly defines the specific issue that the research will address.
• Explains what is missing in existing research, laws, or policies.
• Should be concise, specific, and researchable.

Example I:
Weak Statement: “There is a problem with environmental law enforcement.”
Strong Statement: “Despite the existence of the National Environment Act,
enforcement remains weak due to limited resources, corruption, and lack of public
awareness. This study will examine the factors affecting enforcement and propose
solutions.”

Example II: in the example I regarding immigration, the following will be some of the
indicators of the problem statement
- What settlement process does a family go through after immigration?
- What adjustments do immigrants have to make?
- What types of change can occur in family members’ attitudes? (theory of acculturation,
etc)
- What is the possible impact of settlement on family roles and relationship
- In terms of impact, what specific questions do you want to answer through your study?
What does the literature say about these questions? What are the different viewpoints
on these issues?
c) Objectives of the study
This section should include your overall and specific objectives. The main objective indicates
the central thrust of your study whereas the specific objectives identify the specific issues you
propose to examine. The objectives should be clearly stated and specific. Each specific
objective should consider only one issue. It is advisable to use terms such as ‘to determine’ to
find out’, to ascertain’ in formulating specific objectives

Example I: In our example, for instance, the main objective would read like:
- To ascertain the impact of immigration on the family
o Specific objectives would be:
▪ To determine the impact of immigration on husband/wife roles as
perceived by immigrants
▪ To find out the impact of immigration on marital relations
 ▪ To ascertain perceived changes in parental expectations of children’s
academic and professional achievements
▪ To determine the perceived change of attitude towards marriage in the
study population
Note
Objectives should;
• Clearly outline what the study aims to achieve.
• Should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
• The General Objective should clearly state the overall goal of the study.
• Specific Objectives should break down the general objective into smaller/themes, and
focused areas.
Example I:
• General Objective: To examine the effectiveness of Uganda’s child labor laws.
• Specific Objectives:
1. To assess the level of enforcement of child labor laws.
2. To identify the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies.
3. To propose legal and policy recommendations for strengthening enforcement.

d) Research questions/Hypothesis to be tested

When dealing with qualitative research you apply research questions while hypotheses are used
when carrying out quantitative studies.

Note: You are not allowed to use both the research questions and hypotheses. You either
choose to use research questions or hypotheses as explained above.

Research questions: These come from the study-specific research objectives

Research hypotheses: A hypothesis is a statement of your assumption about the prevalence

of a phenomenon or about a relationship between two variables that you plan to test within the
framework of the study. When formulating a hypothesis, you have to conclude it in the text of
the report. Hypotheses have a particular study of formation, which one has to be well
acquainted with. For instance, in our example I, you could formulate the hypotheses thus:
- H1: In most cases there be a change in husband/wife roles after immigration
- H2: In a majority of cases there will be a change in parents’ expectations of their
children.
- H3: In Uganda 1 in 4 or 25% of girls becomes pregnant before the age of 19 years
Types of hypes hypotheses
There are two ways of stating the hypotheses; these are
1. Null hypothesis - An assumption that something is not right until it is proven to be true
Examples of alternative hypotheses are stated as below;
H1: In most cases there no changes in husband/wife roles after immigration
H2: In most cases there will be no change in parents’ expectations of their children.
H3: In Uganda 1 in 4 or 25% of girls do not become pregnant before the age of 19 years

2. Alternative hypothesis - An assumption in a positive way

Examples of alternative hypotheses are stated as below;
H1: In most cases there be a change in husband/wife roles after immigration
H2: In a majority of cases there will be a change in parents’ expectations of their
children.
H3: In Uganda 1 in 4 or 25% of girls becomes pregnant before the age of 19 years

Always Recall this;

• Research Questions (for qualitative research): These are specific questions that the
study seeks to answer.
• Hypothesis (for quantitative research): A testable statement predicting the relationship
between variables.

Example I:
• Research Question: “What are the legal barriers to enforcing child labor laws in
Uganda?”
• Hypothesis: “There is a significant relationship between weak law enforcement and
increased child labor cases in Uganda.”

e) Justification/Significance of the Study

• This explains the importance of the study.
• Discuss how the study contributes to legal knowledge, policy development, and
practice.
• Identifies the beneficiaries (e.g., policymakers, legal practitioners, communities).
f) Scope of the Study
The scope of the study defines the boundaries of the research by specifying what will be
covered and what will not. It helps to focus the study and ensures feasibility within the available
time and resources.
The scope of the study is divided into;
 Geographical Scope:
o Defines the location where the study will be conducted.
o Example: "This study will be conducted in Kampala District, focusing on the
enforcement of environmental laws in industrial areas."
Content Scope:
o Defines the specific aspects or themes of the research topic that will be
addressed.
o Example: If researching "Access to Legal Aid for Marginalized Communities in
Uganda," the content scope may focus on:
▪ The legal framework governing legal aid.
▪ The role of legal aid service providers.
▪ The challenges faced in accessing legal aid.
Time Scope:
o Defines the period the research will cover (e.g., legal developments over a
specific timeframe).
o Example: "This study will examine court cases on bail application from 2010
to 2024."

g). Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework visually or descriptively explains the relationship between key
concepts in the study. It provides a roadmap for the research by showing how variables
interact. The conceptual framework has the following components;

Independent Variables: These are the factors that influence or affect the dependent variable.

Example: In a study on "The Effect of Legal Awareness on Domestic Violence Reporting,"

the independent variable could be the “level of legal awareness”.
Dependent Variables: This is the outcome or effect that the research seeks to explain.
Example: In the above study, the dependent variable could be “reporting of domestic violence
cases”.
Intervening/Moderating Variables (if applicable):
o These are factors that influence the relationship between independent and
dependent variables.
Example: Cultural beliefs or economic dependence may influence whether increased legal
awareness leads to higher reporting of domestic violence cases.
2. Literature review
The next step is to conduct a literature review of the domain of interest. In the proposal, this
is often denoted as “Section Two: Literature review). The purpose of the literature review is
to provide an overview of existing research, identify gaps, and demonstrate knowledge of the
subject. The literature review should provide (1) a survey of the current state of knowledge in
the area of inquiry, (2) identify key authors, articles, theories, and findings in that area, and (3)
identify gaps in knowledge in that research area. The literature review is commonly done today
using computerized keyword searches in online databases. Keywords can be combined using
“and” and “or” operations to narrow down or expand the search results. Once a shortlist of
relevant articles is generated from the keyword search, the researcher must then manually
browse through each article, or at least its abstract section, to determine the suitability of that
article for a detailed review. Literature reviews should be reasonably complete, and not
restricted to a few journals, a few years, or a specific methodology. Reviewed articles may be
summarized in the form of tables, and can be further structured using organizing frameworks
such as a concept matrix. A well-conducted literature review should indicate whether the initial
research questions have already been addressed in the literature (which would obviate the need
to study them again), whether there are newer or more interesting research questions available,
and whether the original research questions should be modified or changed in light of findings
of the literature review. The review can also provide some intuitions or potential answers to
the questions of interest and/or help identify theories that have previously been used to address
similar questions.
A good literature review should have the following components;
• Review of Key Theories and Concepts;
o Discuss the relevant legal theories (e.g., natural law theory, legal positivism).
o Explain key legal and policy frameworks (e.g., constitutional provisions,
international treaties).
• Summary of Previous Studies;
o Review key academic articles, case law, reports, and legal texts related to the
topic.
o Compare and contrast different viewpoints.
• Identification of Gaps;
o Show what has not been adequately addressed in existing research.
o Justify why your study is needed.
Example:
If researching “The Right to Bail in Uganda,” the literature review should discuss relevant
Ugandan laws, key court cases, international perspectives, and studies on how bail affects
access to justice.

3. METHODOLOGY
This section which is often denoted as “Section Three: Methodology” explains how the
study will be conducted, including the research design, data collection methods, and analysis
techniques.
Note: Detailed notes on methodology will be provided in preparation for week six lectures,
however, the section has the following components;
▪ Introduction
▪ Research design
▪ Research approach
▪ Area of study
▪ Study population
▪ Sampling strategy
▪ Sample size
▪ Sampling procedures
▪ Data Collection Methods
▪ Data collection tools
▪ Data Analysis Methods
▪ Ethical Considerations
▪ Study limitations

4. REFERENCES
This section provides/lists all sources cited in the proposal.
Please ensure that there is consistency in referencing and follow the recommended citation
style (e.g., APA, Harvard, etc.).

5. APPENDICES/ANNEX
Under this section, you need to provide the following;
✓ Work Plan and Timeline: This provides a structured timeline for completing the
research. Key components: it breaks down tasks into phases (e.g., literature review, data
collection, analysis, report writing). It also specifies the duration for each phase (e.g.,
 Weeks 1–4 for data collection). The work plan can be presented in a table or Gantt
chart.
✓ Budget for your fieldwork
✓ Data collection tools

Assignment/Coursework: Social Research Methods II CourseWork

✓ For this course, each student is supposed to select a research topic from the field of
his/her choice and develop a proposal of not more than 10 pages including
(References), where the body of the proposal should be at least five pages.
✓ Plagiarism shall amount to zero marks
✓ This coursework is individual and it accounts for 30% of your final examination
✓ Please use Times New Romans, fond size 12, line spacing should be 1.5
✓ Handing in is 12th March 2025 by 5 pm.
✓ Scripts should be handed in physically in Room 1.11
✓ No one will be allowed to hand in beyond this time