WRITING

RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
SANJAY CHANDWANI
M.A.(EDU), M.A. (ENGLISH), M.Phil (EDU),
B.Ed., DISM, PhD (Education Pursuing),

The woods are lovely, dark and

deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

MEANING OF RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
Aresearch proposalis a document written by
a

researcher

that

provides

detailed

description of the proposed program. It is like

an outline of the entireresearchprocess that
gives a reader a summary of the information
discussed in a project.

Research refers to a search for knowledge

Research means a scientific and systematic search for

information on a specific topic

In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions

through the application of scientific procedures

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Any research study should have a proper

proposal in written form before it is
actually carried out

It is like a blue print of a building plan

before the construction starts

Writing a research proposal is both

science and art

A good research proposal is based on

scientific facts and on the art of clear

communication

Writing a formal research proposal should

be started by the time one has decided on
the topic for the study

CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL

Introduction of the Problem

Significance of the problem
Statement of the Problem
Objectives of the study
Hypotheses
Delimitations of the study
Design of the study

Sampling Frame
Sample Size
Sample Area
Sampling Technique

References

Sampli
ng

Introduction of the Problem

It includes introduction of the variables along
with the conceptual framework which has
been taken up for the research problem. It
also

includes

reference

of

literature

to

mention the gaps in research pertaining to

the present problem and directs to extract
the significance of the problem.

Significance of the problem

HOW YOUR RESEARCH WILL

CONTRIBUTE IN THEORY AND
PRACTICE ?

HOW YOUR RESEARCH WILL

STAKEHOLDERS?

HOW IT CAN BE USEFULL FOR CHANGE ?

Statement of the Problem

The problem is to be stated in detail
giving the operational definitions of
the technical terms used in the study

Objectives of the study

This is a very important and pivotal

section and everything else in the study
is centered around it

Objectives of the study - are to be

clearly defined keeping in mind the
significance of the study and avoiding
duplicity and monotony (lack of variety
and interest; repetition) in them.

The objective stated should be specific,

achievable and measurable.
Too many objectives to be avoided.
Even just one clearly stated relevant
objective for a study would be good
enough.
If there is more than one objective the
objectives can be presented in
the
appropriate order of importance.

Hypotheses

Hypotheses are to be formulated on the

basis of objectives and review of
literature and present them along with
the justification or anticipated values of
each of them.

Delimitations of the study

- are to be mentioned.

DESIGN OF THE STUDY/METHOD

AND PROCEDURE /RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
In the procedure adopted for carrying out
the work i.e in research design, clearly
mention the method and criterion of
formation of different groups are to be
given. Procedure can be given in
descriptive
or
tabular
form.
The
sampling design should include the
following

Sampling Frame
Sample Size
Sample Area
Sampling Technique

Sampli
ng

Rather than giving separate information

under each sub-head, which makes it
overlapping, it is advisable to present the
whole information integrated in one or two
paragraph(s) under the broad heading
Sampling

HOW TO WRITE ABOUT

SAMPLING
FOR e.g.

HOW TO WRITE
REFERENCES /
BIBLOGRAPHY

Give

reference

of

each

and

every

author/institution which has been quoted

in any Chapter in the suggested pattern.

Maintain uniformity in the pattern in all

references.

Arrange references in alphabetical order

FORMAT OF REFERENCE
Book, one author
McKibben, B. (1992). The age of missing
information. New York: Random House.
Book, multiple authors
Larson, G. W., Ellis, D. C.,& Rivers, P. C.
(1984).
Essentials
of
chemical
dependency counseling. New York:
Columbia University Press.

Edited book (editor in place of author)

Inness, S. A. (Ed.). (1998). Delinquents and
debutantes: Twentieth-century American
girls cultures. New York: New York
University Press.
Edited book, multiple authors (editor
in place of authors)
Moriarty, L. J., & Carter, D. L. (Eds.). (1998).
Criminal justice technology in the 21st
century. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.

Article or chapter in an edited book

Hartley, J. T., Harker J. O.,& Walsh, D. A.

(1980). Contemporary issues and new
directions in adult development of
learning and memory. In L. W. Poon (Ed.),
Aging in the 1980s: Psychological issues
(pp.
239-252).
Washington,
DC:
American Psychological Association.

Article in a journal
Berkerian, D. A. (1993). The ADA and the
hiring
process
in
organizations.
Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice
and Research, 45(2), 10-36.
Citing articles in monthly periodicals
Chandler-Crisp, S. (1988, May) "Aerobic
writing": A writing practice model.
Writing Lab Newsletter, pp. 9-11.

Citing articles in weekly periodicals

Kauffmann, S. (1993, October 18). On films:
Class consciousness. The New Republic, p.30.
Article in a Popular Magazine
Caloyianis, N. (1998, September). Greenland
sharks. National Geographic, 194, 60-71.
Article in a Newspaper (Discontinuous
pages)
Von Drehle, D. (2000, January 15). Russians
unveil new security plan. The Washington
Post, pp. A1, A21.

Web sites/pages
Trapp, Y. U. (2005). Multiple intelligences:
The learning process in our students.
Retrieved July 1, 2006, from Yale
University, Yale-New Haven Teachers
Institute
Web
site:
http://
www.yale.edu/
ynhti/curriculum/
units/2001/6/01.06.10.x.html