Planning and writing your Research

Proposal:

Caroline Malthus
Te Puna Ako Learning Centre

Introducing you
Name
Programme
A question I
have about
research
proposals is

This session:
What does a research proposal
look like?
Why is it necessary?
How is a research proposal
usually evaluated?
How can we write key sections of
a proposal?

What is the purpose of a

proposal?
Let me do the
study?
Plan, then do
Provide a road
map
Opportunity for
advice
Check quality /
rigour / do-ability
Avoid costly
mistakes

Standard requirements:

Title
Outline
Literature Review
Methodology
Methods of data
collection and analysis
Ethical Issues
Timeline
Resources
Outcomes
Reference list

Title
Research question
Aim and objectives
Rationale and context
Methodology
Methods
Plan of work
Resources / Support
Outcomes
Reference list

Getting started:
Title
Clear
Concise
Understandable
Introduction / Project
outline:

What?
Why is this
research needed?

Background to the study / outline /

overview

What ?
Why ?
Who?
How ?
When?

Building on previous work or theory

Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this

research is to
Clarity
Useful and do-able
tasks
Scope and specificity
Sub-questions

Why do a number of
major IT projects fail
to produce the
outcomes expected?
What is the educational
achievement of
children of Korean
immigrants who came
to Auckland between
1990 and 2005?

Background to the field / Literature

review
Scene setting whats known about
the topic?
Generate interest
Show what has been done
Relevant theory and current issues
Descriptive and Critical

Identify gaps / justify your study

Dont assume your reader knows
your field

Methodology / Method
Methodology
Methods (appropriate to methodology)
Collection + analysis of data

Validity / Reliability
Rigour / Bias / Sampling
Reflexivity
ETHICS
Confidentiality / Anonymity / Fairness / Honesty
Storage of data

Practicalities
When / Time lines
Problems / issues
Resources
Costing
Materials

Outcomes / Outputs /
Significance
References
Writing up include
drafts and revisions

Planning your project:

Your role as the researcher?

Proposal reviewer role?

Exercise: What are

the criteria for
evaluating
research

Range of perspectives

Burden and Balance

Problems may not be where

you think they are

Look out for the unexpected:

positive and negative

 Listen to your
supervisors
Use support available
- Experts in the field
- Other researchers
- Ethics committees
- Learning centre
Accept that a variety of
feedback and rewrites
are part of the process

References:
Collis, J., & Hussey, R. (2003). Business research
(2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Dunbar, K. (2010). Research plan. Retrieved
from
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/research/resear
ch-students/kirsten-dunbar.aspx
Hart, C. (2005). Doing your masters
dissertation. London: Sage.
OLeary, Z. (2010). The essential guide to doing
your research project. London: Sage.
Phelps, R., Fisher, K., & Ellis, A. (2007).
Organizing and managing your research: A
practical guide for postgraduates. London:
Sage.

Kia kaha! all the best for a

successful project