Columbia Commonwealth University/Malawi

Guidelines for Submitting a Research Proposal for the Masters

Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation
(Important: Before working on their formal proposal, students should first submit a topic and a
brief description (about one page in length) of what they plan to research on, the purpose of the
study and how they plan to collect data. Once the topic is approved, then they can go ahead and
write the Formal Proposal according to the following guidelines.
1 General Introduction to the topic, statement of the problem and significance of your study.
This section can be organized into:
a) Introduction (general introduction and background to the topic) 1 2 pages at the Proposal stage
b) Statement of the Problem and Significance of the Study. (about one page)
Doctoral Students should include a statement as to why the study will make some original
contribution to the field they are researching on.
2. Objectives of your Study - you can have general objectives and specific objectives or just have one
heading Objectives of the Study and list the purpose of your study. Three to four major ones will
be sufficient
2. Specific research questions or hypothesis for your study. (Consult research methods book on how to
formulate hypothesis if you are collecting data to test a hypothesis).
Two to four will be adequate. Remember you do not have to state hypothesis . In most cases research
questions will be OK specially for the MBA Research paper
3. Partial Literature Review : (2-3 pages)
Survey important literature related to the study . Focus on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks
on which your study is based and include historical as well as most current studies on the topic you
are researching. Include at least 20 reference citations (Ph.D) or at least 10 references (MBA) at this
proposal stage and you will expand it later.
4. Methodology (2 3 pages) This might change as your work progresses, but you need to write your
plans in general.
a. Describe your methodology (Please carefully review Research Methods Books on this topic.)
How will you be collecting data? (For example : use of questionnaires, collecting secondary data
by reviewing documents and looking into facts and figures in already prepared documents
such as governments statistics, or company documents, etc.)
b. Sampling Procedure (what is your sample population and what sampling techniques will you
use?
c. Questionnaire you will be using to collect primary data (you can also wait on this
4. Possible results, conclusions. (What do you expect from your research and how can the results be
used in solving practical problems surrounding the issues you have been examining?)
5. Bibliography or List of References (a partial list of bibliography from your brief literature review and
any additional source you plan to use for your references should be submitted.).
Write your references using standard format.

Use Times New Roman font size 12. Do not write in bold except headings. Line spacing should
be 1.5