Research Planning

Sikka Gujjar
M.Phil (Botany)
Semester 2nd

What is Research planning?

Research planning is a schedule, chart or graph that

summarizes the different components of a research
project and how they will be implemented in a
coherent way within a specific time-span.

It may include
The tasks to be performed
When and where the tasks will be performed?
Who will perform the tasks and the time each
person will spend on them.

The research plan should be

written to address the following
questions:

What do you intend to do?

Why is the work important?
What has already been done?
How are you going to do the work?

Research Plan must contain the

following items
Research

objectives should be clearly stated in

a line or two.
The problem to be studied by researcher must
be explicitly stated- what information is to be
obtained.
Each major concept should be defined in
operational terms

 The

plan should contain the method to be used

in solving the problem.
State the details of the techniques to be
adopted.
State population, sample & sampling
State the methods to be used in processing the
data.
Results of pilot test if any should be reported.
Time & cost budgets should also be prepared.

Creating a research Plan

January
1st Week
Write research
proposal

January
2nd week
Literature
Review

January
3rd week
Complete
Literature
Review

January
4th week
Main data
collection

February
1st week
Analyze data

February
2nd week
Analyze data

February
3rd week
Begin first draft

February
4th week
Complete first
draft

March
3rd week
Second draft

March
4th week
Checking

March
March
1st week
2nd week
Discuss draft with Second draft
supervisor

Realistic planning
To improve the prospect of completing on time you
need to:
be realistic about when you can/will start;
devote time to planning and revising your plan;
try to work out if any of your research will take a set
amount of time to complete;
allocate appropriate time for any travelling you need
to do for your research;
include other things that you have to do between now
and then;

 have

clear and achievable objectives for each

week;
focus on one thing at a time;
leave time for editing and correcting;
reward yourself when you complete objectives
that you have timetabled;
and if you fall behind make sure you spend
time reworking your plan.

Points to remember
Your

research plan should also include information

about what equipment you will need to complete your
project,
any travel costs or other expenses that you are likely
to incur through the pursuit of your research.
You should also think about whether you are
dependent on any one else to complete your project,
think about what you are going to do if they are
unable to help you.

It is very important to be realistic about how long

each task is likely to take.
Some focused thought at the beginning, then at
the planning stage of each phase, could save hours
later on.
Write down the resources needed for each stage.
It could be time in the library; the resource of
your working hours; or the use of equipment or
room space that needs to be booked in advance.

 Once

you have created your plan it is a

good idea to show it to someone else.
Ideally you will be able to show it to a
member of academic staff or take it to
your Student Learning Centre, but talking
it over with a friend may also help you to
spot anything that you have forgotten or
anywhere that you have been unrealistic
in your planning.

Significance of research
planning

A tool for planning the details of the project

activities

A visual outline or illustration of the sequence

of project operations.

It can facilitate presentations and negotiations

concerning the project with government
authorities and other funding agencies.

management tool for the team leaders

and members of the research team showing
what tasks and activities are planned, their
timing and when various staff members will
be involved in various tasks.

tool for monitoring and evaluation when

the current status of the project is
compared to what had been foreseen in the
work plan.