Guidelines on Writing a Research Proposal - Assignment Example

Writing a research paper is a lot like building a house. Starting with a solid foundation, you begin to build on it, adding parts to it piece-by-piece, layer-by-layer, floor-by-floor and once completed, it’ll be something of wonder and beauty. Knowing that one has a solid foundation, one would be assured that whatever is being created, formed, shall be able to stand the test of time as well as weather various elements that would test the creation. This is the importance of having a good research proposal to a research. The research proposal acts as the foundation to the paper. The research proposal delivers the basic information behind a research; reasons for the research, stating the problem at hand as well as how the researcher aims to address the said issue. And with it, the researcher thus proposes a hypothesis to said problem at hand. However, what makes a good research proposal? What makes it a sold foundation to be able to support the said research paper being able to become a strong and solid foundation for it? According to Stephen Wegren, a Political Science Professor at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in the United States: “A research proposal is the presentation of an idea that you wish to pursue. A good research proposal presumes that you have already thought about your project and have devoted some time and effort in gathering information, reading, and then organizing your thoughts. A research proposal is NOT a project to be thrown together in one night with ideas off the top of your head. Thus, one might say that the research proposal is a second step, following the selection of a broad topic.”1 The proposal being passed should have the very problem the researcher wants to tackle. As per Stephen Wegren, the key component to a good research proposal is the addition of a good research question, being the basis of the research in the first place. However, having a good research question doesn’t necessarily mean that one has an excellent research proposal. A research proposal is composed of various parts, all working towards the single goal of proving that the research at hand is worthy as well as documents and reports the various methods that the researcher shall utilize to be able to continue with the said research. The first part to the research proposal is the Statement of the Problem. The problem being tackled by the researcher must be a clear and concise statement, tied together with support questions, an explanation on why the study is needed, as well as how the research shall contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding the subject. Here, the researcher explains the topic at hand gives and a brief background on it and reports the problem being tackled. With this, the researcher helps the reader understand the importance behind the research. The second part to the research proposal is the Literature Review. In this section, the researcher offers his/her understanding on the various bodies of literature as well as how his study fits in that specific context. In this section, the researcher must be concise, as well as comprehensive. The researcher must state the various themes in the research as well as the various disagreements and arguments given the topic at hand. Once the Literature Review is done, the researcher then moves onto the next section, which is the Conceptual Framework. In this section, the researcher then offers his/her own perspective into the said research. The researcher explains the various theories; concepts and insights that would help guide him/her throughout the research. Once the perspective has been clearly defined, giving the reader a clear image on what the task is at hand, the researcher shall then move onto the next part, which is the Hypothesis or Research Questions. In this section, the researcher shall then offer a set of guide questions that would help him/her in the said research. Here, the researcher shall give a research hypothesis, with a concise description of the said topic and problem at hand. When the problem as well as hypothesis has been clearly defined, the researcher then delves onto the Methodology. In this section, the researcher describes the various steps and plans he/she plans on undertaking to be able to accomplish the said research as well as reasons behind choosing the said steps and actions. One question that the researcher must explain/answer in this section is why the said steps and actions are applicable to the said research as well as proof of the validity of the said steps and actions. The researcher must be able to show the reader that he/she does indeed know what she is doing. Once the researcher explains the various actions that he/she will be undertaking for the research, he/she then moves onto Expected Results. Given the hypothesis as well as the guide questions stated earlier, as well as the list of activities that he/she will undertake to be able to study the subject at hand, the researcher then explains what he/she expects to happen throughout the course of the research. What results does he/she believe will come out of the research. The seventh section to the research proposal is the Scope of Work. In this section, the researcher explains in detail what exactly has to be done. This includes sort of a schedule, a sequence of the various activities the researcher shall undertake to be able to do the research, as well as a list of deliverables throughout the course of the research. And of course, once all of this has been completed, the researcher then submits his/her bibliography; the initial list of sources as well as literature that he/she deems necessary throughout the research. The researcher’s bibliography should consist of credible sources, indicating a formal list of guiding literature to help him/her throughout the course of the research. Having a strict structure to the research proposal helps the researcher develop a strong research, however merely having these sections aren’t enough. Key watch-out-points to a research proposal is that the researcher must have one strict goal in mind. As stated earlier, a good research question. All of the parts of the research proposal must prove to the reader that the research question chosen by the researcher is a credible one. Providing all the necessary information regarding the subject at hand as well as concise and comprehensive background behind the topic being presented. All of which must be credible, proving to the said reader that the researcher as well as the research topic must be taken seriously. And one important fact that the researcher must never forget is that the research MUST be doable given the specific time allotted for the research as well as the literature available at hand. The researcher must be able to accomplish the research he/she has set out to do and not stop halfway due to the mere fact that “it’s impossible”. The researcher must have taken this into consideration prior to choosing the said topic. Much like the research paper, the research proposal also has parts, sections as well as various layers. And as with everything that has layers, parts and sections, one part must tie everything together. As stated in the introduction, the research paper uses the research proposal as the foundation for the study. Having a good research proposal ensures the researcher that the foundation of the study is strong and will withstand the test of time and the elements, much like a house, a building or anything constructed. However, the research paper isn’t the only one that needs a strong foundation; the research proposal as well. Though the research proposal is in itself a foundation, it needs a strong foundation as well; the one key point that ties everything together, the research topic/question. With a strong research topic/question, the researcher can build a strong and good research proposal. Being the basis of the research in the first place, the research topic/question must be a carefully chosen one. Though the researcher must be careful to not choose a topic that is incredibly difficult to prove/test given the time as well as resources at hand, he/she must also be careful that he/she does not choose a rather shallow and simple topic/question that lacks depth. Having a good research question is the key point to having a good research proposal. Each section of the research proposal aims to prove to the reader that the research topic/question chosen by the researcher is an important and credible one. Through stating the problem, discussing the literature at hand, discussing the framework that the researcher is working in, the various steps he/she will be doing to continue the research, et al. aims to help the researcher prove that his/her chosen topic is important. And the researcher shall only be able to do this if his/her chosen topic/question is of good quality. By having a shallow topic/question, the resulting research proposal, and eventually the research itself is mediocre. Bibliography 1. Wegren, S. (2002). Writing a Research Proposal. Internet. http://faculty.smu.edu/swegren/writing_a_research_proposal.htm. Accessed November 1, 2009. 2. Centenary. (2002). Elements of a Good Proposal. Internet. http://www.centenary.edu/research/proposal/elements. Accessed November 1, 2009. 3. McGranaghan, M. (2009). Guidelines on Writing a Research Proposal. Internet. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~matt/proposal.html. Accessed November 1, 2009. 4. Arts & Humanities Research Council. (2009). What Makes a Good Research Proposal. Internet. http://www.beyondtext.ac.uk/documents/goodproposalBT.pdf. Accessed November 1, 2009. 5. White, T. (2006). Principles of Good Research & Research Proposal Guide. Internet. http://www.richmond.gov.uk/research_proposal_guide.pdf. Accessed November 1, 2009 6. Sheffield Hallam University. (2002). What Makes a Good Research Proposal. Internet. http://www.shu.ac.uk/sbs/research/graduate/What%20makes%20a%20good%20proposal.pdf. Accessed November 1, 2009 Read More