HOW TO WRITE

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Faculty of Chemical Engineering
How to Write Research Proposal 1
 What is a Research Proposal?
-The main purpose of a research
proposal is to show that the problem
you propose to investigate
- is significant enough to warrant the investigation
- the method you plan to use is suitable and
feasible
- the results are likely to prove fruitful and will
make an original contribution.
- In short, what you are answering is 'will
it work?'
How to Write Research Proposal 2
 Be prepared for
To make mistakes and to learn.
To write and rewrite many times.
To spend many hours looking for
information.
To have your writing criticized.
To feel confuse and hopeless some times.
 Before start writing ..
Do I have the clear research question?
Have I read broadly and deeply in that
area?
Have I discussed the topic with peers?
Have I enough time and fund to start?
Do I feel support from faculty and friends?
 What it should contain? It is based
on your clear research question.
What do you want to do?
Why do you want to do it?
Why is it important?
Who has done similar work?
How are you going to do it?
How long will it take?
 Big Picture
Your proposal describes your proposed
plan of work:
What you intend to study (scope and research
questions).
How you intend to study your topic
(methodology).
Why this topic needs to be studied (significance).
When you will complete this work (timeline).
(Occasionally) Where you will conduct this work -
optional

How to Write Research Proposal 6

 Elements in Research Proposal
In your proposal, you should describe:
Title
Introduction or Background
Problem Statement
Objective
Feasible to be achieved within the timeframe
Scope of works

How to Write Research Proposal 7

Elements in Research Proposal
Literature review
Methodology
appropriate procedures and materials/resources used in
the research project.
Expected Finding
Gantt Chart
Consisting of various stages and activities of research
work.
References

How to Write Research Proposal 8

 Introduction/Background
Why is your study important?
Describe the broad foundations of your study
provide sufficient background for readers
Describe the significance of the research question
or problem.
Details
Background or overview of topic
Potential significant
Problems or research gap
Methods, analysis and findings of previous research

How to Write Research Proposal 9

How to Write Research Proposal 10
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 Objectives
The purpose can be framed as a
research question or an aim
Examples:
What is the impact of meditative music on
agitation in hospitalized elders?
The purpose of this study is to show the impact of
meditative music on agitated elders.

How to Write Research Proposal 13

How to Write Research Proposal 14
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 Literature Review
What is the state of the science on this
problem?
Are there gaps in the literature?
How will your study fill those gaps?
Synthesize recent literature (within the past 5
years)
Detail
Background of topic
Problems
Methods
Analysis and findings of research
How to Write Research Proposal works. 16
 An Effective Literature Review
should
Flesh out the background of your
study.
Critically assess important research
trends or areas of interest.
Identify potential gaps in knowledge.
Establish a need for current and/or
future research projects

How to Write Research Proposal 17

 Methodology
Introduce the overall methodological
approach.
Indicate how the approach fits the overall
research design.
Describe the specific methods of data
collection.
Explain how you intend to analyze and
interpret your results.
(i.e. statistical analysis, theoretical framework).

How to Write Research Proposal 18

 Expected Findings
Based on expected results of the proposed
methodology.
Summarize the significant of expected result
which related to objective.
Draw the conclusion.

How to Write Research Proposal 19

 Timeline or Gant Chart
Describe how long it will take to do
your study
Provide timeline benchmarks
Example:
Weeks 4 5 Experiment
Weeks 3 4 Collect data
Weeks 2 3 Analyze data

How to Write Research Proposal 20

Example of Gantt Chart

How to Write Research Proposal 21

How to Write Research Proposal 22
How to Write Research Proposal 23
 First step: formulation of the
research question.
Subject?
Topic?
What I want to
observe?
How I will do this.?
Concise and
descriptive.?
Reflects the proposal
in one sentence.?
Second step: Gathering the information
(literature review and reading)
Computers are one of the researchers most
powerful tool.
Online library catalogues.
Working papers
Journals
Bibliographies
Database and research-related information.
Record keeping of the information collected
Print outs
Reference cards
PDA/PC
 Third step: Methodology
Sampling techniques
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Measurement instruments
Data collection procedures
Data analysis process
Do contact statistician.
What does the methodology section
do?

Shows the reader how it is being set for

looking answers to the research
question.
It should reflect the capability of
research worker to complete the
research work.
The proposed methods must be
appropriate to the type of research
work.
Fourth step: Time line
Important planning tool.
Helps to establish the competency
Be realistic: compare with the existing
workload; duties

Fifth step: Writing the Proposal

Collecting the bits and pieces
The references : use an acceptable
format
More Proposal Nuts and Bolts
Length
Varies by field; most are roughly 20 pages,
but they can be much longer.
Style Considerations
Tone
Coherence
Voice
Visual Aids
Style Considerations: Tone

When conveying your attitude in

your writing:
Try to strike a consistently confident
tone.
Avoid an apologetic or arrogant tone.
 Style Considerations: Coherence

Move from old information to new

information.
Put the most important information at the end of
the sentence (stress position).
Keep the subject and verb together.
Start sentences with short, easily understood
phrases.
Use stock transitional phrases.
Use pronouns and/or recycling.
 Coherence: Example
Example: When rocks erode, they break down into
sedimentsmaller pieces of rock and minerals. These
sediments may eventually travel in water to new sites such
as the sea or river beds. The water deposits the sediments in
layers that become buried and compacted. In time, the
sediment particles are cemented together to form new rocks,
known as sedimentary rocks. The layers of sediment in
these rocks are often visible without microscopes. (Lay et al.,
2000).
 More Nuts and Bolts: Voice and
Visual Aids
Voice
Active: I will conduct the bulk of the research during
the six-month fieldwork period.
Passive: The bulk of the research will be conducted
during fieldwork.

Reasons to use Passive Voice:

Your field may prefer its use, especially in describing
research design and experimental activities.
You need to preserve coherence from sentence to
sentence.
 Voice: Example (using passive
voice to create coherence)
Some astonishing questions about
the nature of the universe have
been raised by scientists studying
black holes in space. A Black Hole
is created by the collapse of a dead
star into a point perhaps no larger
than a marble. So much matter
compressed into so little volume
changes the fabric of space around
it in puzzling ways.
 Visual Aids

Incorporate charts, graphs,

diagrams, illustrations, etc.,
wherever possible,
permissible, or practical.
 Important information for writing

Always structure your work in advance.

Know that you want to say before
writing.
Every sentence must contain one idea
only.
Each sentence must follow logically
from the before: chain of ideas.
Write in a way that is easy to read.
Use simple language.
Check spelling and grammar.
 Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting someone elses
ideas or words as though they were your
own.
Loss of year
Loosing referee for future.
 Tips for successful proposal
writing
Make it simple
Avoid pretentious language, unnecessary jargon,
and double speak by cutting down every
unnecessary word.
Read your work loud
A sentence that is difficult to say will be difficult to
read.
Revise , revise, revise.
Put an end to it
The faster you finish the proposal and submit it the
less time you have wasted thinking about writing it.