1. WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Dr. Ahmad Jusoh

2. On what criteria are research proposal judged?
The Format of a Research Proposal
On what criteria are research proposal judged?
Do you have a clear idea of what you plan to research? Does your proposal have focus?
Is it a topic worthy of academic study and significance?
Do you demonstrate an adequate understanding of the debates in the literature on this topic?
Is the project feasible? Do you have a realistic idea of how you are going to tackle the investigation?
Is it doable within the time constraints?
Does the bibliography and referencing conform to accepted conventions? Is it technically faultless?

3. The process of developing a research proposal
The Format of a Research Proposal
The process of developing a research proposal
Broad Theme
Particular Topic
Problem within the topic

4. The format of a research proposal: Chapter 1: Introduction
Research Background (introduction)
Research Problem and Research Questions
The engine of your thesis
How to identify Research Problem?
Literature Driven.
READ, READ, READ & NO SHORT-CUT
Demonstrate that you are familiar with the academic debates on the issues chosen.
It should focus on a gap in the debates /a puzzle / an ambiguity
You should be able to explain why it is a problem and why it is worthy of study.
If the answer to the question is already known, or one on which there is scholarly consensus, then the question is not worth pursuing.
Questions can start with “can?”, “should?”, “is?”, “how?”, “what?”, “why?” etc.

5. Chapter 1: Introduction
Research Objectives
Derived from research questions
Objective: Which is the problem your thesis hopes to address and aimed at an academic audience.
Your thesis must have an academic aim as its central aim.
Consider starting your objectives with words like “To…:
explore, investigate, analyze, determine, understand, compare, evaluate, assess.
Significant of the study
Academic/ theoretical i.e; To understand the phenomena
Strategic/practical i.e; To provide recommendation for policy makers.
Definitions of Terms

6. Chapter 2: Literature Review
A review of the relevant literature
The literature review is crucial to formulating the framework of the research.
Examine past and recent studies that act as a basis for proposed study.
Begin from comprehensive perspective moving to more specific studies (that relate to your problem).
Discuss the current status of your topic
Avoid the inessential literature.
Emphasize on the:
importance results, most recent findings and conclusion of other studies. Any contradict findings?
trend from previous research
In what context is most of the literature located
Methodology or design (that could be duplicated or should be avoided)

7. Chapter 2: Literature Review
Emphasize on the .. (conti.)
The interpretation of the key concepts
What theoretical model relates to your research topic?
Demonstrate that you have some sense of the debates in literature around the topic.
Must show relationship between literature & Problem Statement.
Discussion of the relationship between the important variables  provide basis for hypothesis development.
The literature review help you to formulate the framework of the research.

8. Chapter 3: Methodology
Describe “How you are going to do”-> Research design.
Unit of analysis (respondents): individual? Company? Provide justification!!
Purpose of study: Exploration? Description? Hypothesis testing?
Research Design:
Sampling Procedure…Justification!!!
Data Collection Method:
Quantitative? Survey / secondary data.. Justification!!!
Qualitative?? Structured or semi structured Interview?/ Participant Observation?.. Justification!!!
Reliability & validity of the instrument
Result of the pilot test
Data Analysis techniques: Parametric/non-parametric/qualitative? … Justification!!!

9. 4.0 Indicative Structure of a Thesis
Chapter %
of report
Introduction
Background &Purpose of the study.
Research Problem, Research Questions, Research Objectives
Significant of the study 10
2. Literature Review
Evaluation of the existing body of knowledge on the topic
Theoretical Framework (if applicable)
demonstrate an adequate understanding of the debates in the literature on the topic
Hypothesis formulation (if applicable) 30
3. Methodology
Research Design
Purpose of study (exploration/Description/Hypothesis Testing?), Sampling, Unit of measurement, Measurement, Data collection Method, Data Analysis Techniques
Justification for choice of methods 20
4. Finding/Result
Presentation & Discussion
5. Conclusion
Summary of what you found out in relation to each research question
Your contribution to knowledge
Limitation of your research & suggestion for future research
Implication of your research for practice or policy