RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORMAT

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Appropriate Title (All Caps) ------------------------------------------------------------A Research Proposal Presented to the College of Nursing Western Mindanao State University ------------------------------------------------------------In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Nursing Research 1 ------------------------------------------------------------Research Writers or Authors (identify the leader) ------------------------------------------------------------March 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS Face Sheet Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Significance of the Study Scope and Delimitations CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE You RevLit here Conceptual Framework Theoretical Framework (if needed) Definition of Terms CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY Research Design Sampling Design Instrumentation (or Research Instrument) Reliability and Validity Plan for Data Gathering Plan for Data Analysis

Guide in making your research proposal (per section of the chapter) Chapter I. INTRODUCTION Background of the Study (1 to 1 page, double space) Gives a short context of the problem; you may cite a/n authoritative source/s Identifies the area in which the problem is to be found (Gap) Explains why you are doing the study

 Statement of the Problem This starts with a declarative statement that describes the main goal or objective of the study (this is the main statement of the problem); this should be followed by a set of questions (these are sub problems --- more specific questions about the variables and how these are hypothesized to be related

Significance of the Study This tells how the study is timely, relevant, useful to a certain population, fills a research gap, or contributes to testing or improving methodology or data gathering process (if applicable) This also tells how study generates hypotheses (especially those using exploratory research design) Should highlight the studys theoretical significance (i.e. to describe the studys contribution to existing theory or explanations about the problem statement) Should also cite the studys practical contributions (e.g. can the findings be used to solve some practical problems or issue?).

Scope and Delimitations This tells about the precise coverage of the study; specifies what the study will include (scope) and exclude (delimitations) In explaining the coverage, include the range of topics and types of population or sample to be studied)

Chapter II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Expands the context and background of the study Provides information that you can use to come up with your problem analysis diagram (PAD) or to devise your conceptual framework (both the schematic diagram and the narrative part or text) Describes what is already empirically known about the problem (i.e. studies already done in relation to your problem statement)

You have to use more local, recent and empirical literature (recent--- in the last 5 to 10 years); (empirical --- information from researches, not only from textbooks) This section ends with a synthesis (the synthesis should sum up the review & identify the research gaps that the study would want to address) You can categorize your RevLit based on the literature that you have (e.g. depression: types of depression, management of depression, health consequences /complications of depression, etc.)

Conceptual and/or Theoretical Framework This includes both a graphic (schematic diagram) and narrative (text) parts This explains the main dimensions or elements to be studied & how these are interrelated (hypothesized or assumed relationships among the variables could be based on an existing theory (theoretical framework); it could also be a logical relationship or one that makes common sense and based on the findings in the review of literature (conceptual framework) This is the skeletal frame of the study; by looking at the framework, the reader will know what the study is all about

Definition of Terms This section lists and defines the principal terms used in the study. Those to be defined are actually the variables in the study (get those terms from the Statement of the Program/Conceptual Framework, and not from your review of literature), but definitions should be taken from the Review of Literature. There should be both the conceptual and operational definition of terms (conceptual definitions should be from other studies, NOT form dictionaries; operational definitions should be in accordance with how the term is to be used, understood or measured in the study).

Chapter III. METHODOLOGY Research Design Research design is a logical model that guides the researcher/investigator in the various stages of the study.

You can use any type of data collection method and can use either quantitative or qualitative data. Identify your research design based on the type of data and the method of collection in this section. Elaborate as to why you chose this type of research design.

Sampling Design Included in this section is the population you want to draw your sample. This will also tell you how you are going to select/recruit your respondents/participants from your population. How many respondents/participants are you going to select/recruit? Provide your INCLUSION and EXCLUSION Criteria.

Instrumentation This is sometimes called Research Instrument/ Tool. In this section, you will include the tool in which you are going to use to gather your data among your respondents/participants. You may include a table of specifications (table which illustrate your specific questions based on your statement of the problem) and describe it.

Reliability and Validity You need to convince your reader that your methods and results are both reliable and valid. In order to do this, you should include in this section the actions you have taken to make your research instrument/tool both reliable and valid in gathering data. Reliability: Are your results consistent throughout the study? (e.g. Garnering the same results after conducting PRE-test and POST-test to a group) Validity: Are you really getting the right data using your instrument? (You are asking your respondents about smoking habits, and he answered how he started smoking. Your tool questions cannot generate a VALID answer)

Plan for Data Gathering The method for collecting data should be clearly stated in this section. This method is based on the type of data (qualitative or quantitative) you are going to gather.

This tells you what tasks to be carried out, who should perform them, and the duration of these tasks. There are three (3) main stages of data collection: (1) permission to proceed; (2) data collection; and (3) data handling. This is done in chronological order, as if the researcher is storytelling on the manner of gathering their data. Do not formulate them in a step-by-step format.

Plan for Data Analysis This section tells you the manner in which you are going to analyze your data. Analysis of collected data differs according to the type of data of your study. In Quantitative study, the data are MOSTLY in numerical form. A specified data analysis tool should be provided. IN Qualitative study, the data are MOSTLY in text form. They are processed through themes, coding system, etc. In formulating your plan for data analysis, you should be able to answer the following questions: What kinds of data analysis tools are identified for similar research investigations? What data analysis procedures should you use for your purpose?

Prepared by: Nur Eldeen M. Echeverria, RN NRes Instructor WMSU-College of Nursing Zamboanga City