CHAPTER III

Research Proposal
• After the selection of a research problem and
setting proper direction for investigation, the
researcher should write out a proposal, synopsis,
or plan for research.
3.1. What is the Research proposal ?
• The research proposal is a systematic plan, which
brings to focus the preliminary planning that will be
needed to accomplish the purpose of the proposed
study. It is just like a blueprint, which the architect
prepares before the construction of building starts.
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3.2. The importance of research proposal:
• It serves as a basis for determining the
feasibility of the project.
• It provides a systematic plan of procedure for
the researcher to follow.
• It gives the research supervisor a basis for
guiding the researcher while conducting the
study.
• It reduces the probability of costly mistakes.

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3.3. Components of the Research Proposal
1. The Title
• Serves as the focusing lens of the research
project.
• The title should not be too lengthy or too
involved.
• The title should not be too brief or too short.
• The title should not be burdened by pompous
words and should not include terms of
unscientific; rhetorical, argumentative,
emotional, or biased nature.
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Components…
2. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
•Before a problem statement is stated, a brief background is
usually given.
•Depending on the topic and the writers style, this brief
background can take from five to ten pages.
The background gives the reader
i. The general definition of the topic/problem area
ii. Historical basis for the existence of the problem
iii. Efforts made towards addressing similar challenges
iv. How the efforts failed to be realized hence the need for
your study

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Background of the Study … cont’d
• This section should contain a rationale for
your research which answers the following
questions:
– Why are you undertaking the research project?
– Why is the research needed?
• This rationale should be placed within the
context of existing research or within your
own experience and/or observation.

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Statement of the Problem
• The researcher should justify why the study is being
conducted
• causes & problems initiated for the study
•the current impact & its future consequence of the
problem on the study area.
•The researcher needs to try to elaborate the
problem
•Develop objective/hypotheses/ key research
questions

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Significance of the Study
• the researcher should identify the
beneficiaries of the study,
• the importance and urgency of the
study.
• focus need to be given on the
study's advantage to professional
literature, working practices and
research policy and guide line
implications
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Definition of Terms or Concepts
• The technical terms or words and phrases
having special meanings need to be defined
operationally by the help of special
dictionaries.

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Delimitations of the Study

• Boundaries of the study should be made clear with

• The scope of the study by specifying the areas to

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Limitations of the study
• The possible sources of the limitations of the study
include:
• Practical weaknesses in the methodologies the
researcher adapted.
• Lack of access to the right data.
• Poor choice/development/ delivery of
instruments
• Sampling restriction
• Lack of up-to-date literature in the areas
• Usual time borne situation in the study site
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Organization of the study (Optional at Proposal
stage)

• The researcher has to organize systematically how the

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Review of Related Literature
• It is a process of documenting, tracking, reviewing
and organizing information, perspectives and
discourses of relevant and related sources through
• critical analysis and in-depth evaluation, and
• finally providing sound summary of a body of
knowledge to establish the status, scope, and
gaps of a Research Theme/s .
• It focuses on what has been done and what needs
to be done
• A brief resume of related studies found in journals,
magazines, abstracts and reports should be made.

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Theoretical Framework/Conceptual Framework
• A Framework is described as the abstract, logical structure
of meaning that guide the development of the study.
• All frameworks are based on the identification of key
concepts and the relationships among those concepts.
• Framework can be derived from related concepts
(conceptual) or existing theories (theoretical).
• Their overall purpose is to make research findings
meaningful and generalizable

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Research methodology
• Clearly indicate the methods and techniques of data
collection either within a quantitative or qualitative or
both.
• A research proposal should clearly indicate the
population from which the researcher will draw
his/her sample, and describe the procedure he/she
will use to select the sample.
• In this section, the researcher describes how to
organize, analyze, and interpret data.
• The details of the statistical techniques and the
rationales for using such techniques should be
described in the research proposal.
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Bibliography/Reference
• This is a section where a list of books, journals
and other documents is offered.
• The researcher should list all reference
materials that he has used in selecting the
problem and which he may use during the
conduct of study.

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Time Schedule
• The researcher should also prepare a realistic
time schedule for completing the study within
the time available.
• Dividing a study into phases and assigning
dates for the completion of each phase help
the researcher to use his time systematically.

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Budget Schedule
• The research proposals which are submitted
to governmental or non-governmental
organizations
• For financial assistance should also include a
budget schedule.
• This is a financial breakdown that helps to
estimate the cost of the study.

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Appendixes
Research instruments
• Questionnaire
• Interview guide
• Focus group discussion guide
• ETC

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