Research Proposal

Outline of Lecture
Preparing a Research Proposal
n  What is a proposal?
n  What is a research project?

Prof Dr Poh Bee Koon n  Researcher’s perspective

Nutritional Sciences Programme n  Student’s perspective
PPSJK, FSK

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Thesis Project - Process

Write a Present your
Find a TOPIC
PROPOSAL Proposal
Why is a proposal necessary
Get Ethical
for research?
Writing of LITERATURE
Chapter I - III approval
REVIEW n  To ensure the project is in line with your
speciality
Presentation of Data Collection n  To ensure your project supervisor has the
Writing of
Chapter IV - V
Results experience and expertise in this area of research
n  To avoid misunderstanding with supervisor on
VIVA
Data Analysis the emphasis of the study
Review & and
Interpretation
n  To be used as a guideline throughout the
Submit
(Soft cover) Re-edit and project
Submit
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Benefit of Proposal for the Benefits of the proposal to

Research Student the Supervisor
As a guide for the amount of data that
n 
n Provide an indicator of the
needs to be collected
n  To use as a schedule for the study academic maturity and
n  To give direction to the study readiness of the student
n  To use as a framework for thesis writing
n  To save time and $$$

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Research Proposal

Content of Proposal
Function of the Proposal
n  Title of Research
n  Introduction
n  As a statement of the project in writing
n  Research design / Methodology
n  As a form of request
n  Work schedule / Gannt Chart
n  As a tool for persuasion
n  References
n  As a pledge of commitment
n  As a plan

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Content of Proposal Title

n  Title of Research n  Short
n  Introduction n  Clear
n  Research design / Methodology n  Concise
n  Work schedule / Gannt Chart n  Capture the essence of your
n  References intended research study

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Introduction Introduction (Subsections)

n  Brief (3-5 pages) Subsections in Introduction
n  Direct n  Background (Literature review)
n  Informs the reader on the research that is going n  Statement of Problem / Rationale
to be carried out n  Justification / Rationale
n  States why the study is important n  Significance of study
n  Should be attractive so that readers will want to n  Conceptual framework
continue reading n  Objective (main & specific)
n  Create an appropriate setting for the following n  Hypothesis
parts

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Research Proposal

Literature review (Background) Rationale and

n  Provides
up-to-date knowledge on Statement of Problem
related area n  State the problem that you want to study
n  Theory n  State your research question and
n  Past studies hypothesis
n  Past surveys n  State the limitations of your study
n  When making references, start from n  Define important terms
the latest and go backwards n  Summarize the rationale/justification
NOTE: In the proposal, literature review is included
in Introduction section

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Conceptual framework
n  Theoretical framework
n  Potential to connect all aspects of
inquiry

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Research Proposal

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Objective of Study
n Whatis the aim of your
study ?
n Main objective (1 only)
n Specific objectives (3 – 5)

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Research Proposal

Methodology Methodology
n  Study design n  Specific procedures
n  Study population (incl. study site/location) n  Equipment & instrumentation
n  Sampling method n  Questionnaires (valid? Append sample)
n  Sampling frame n  Pilot study
n  Data analysis (statistics package and specific
n  Inclusion / Exclusion criteria
tests to be employed)
n  Sample size calculation n  Gannt chart
n  Data collection procedures (incl flow chart) n  Information sheet / Consent form

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Work Schedule (Gantt Chart) Content of Proposal

2013
n  Title of Research
Research M J J O S O N D J F M A M 3 - 5 pages
n  Introduction n 
Activities
n  Literature review
Proposal n  Research problem/question
n  Rationale/Justification of study
Ethics
n  Significance of study
Training n  Conceptual framework
n  Objective (main & specific)
Data
collection n  Research design / Methodology n  7 – 10 pages
Data analysis n  Work schedule / Gannt Chart
n  References n  20-30 refs
Thesis
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IMPORTANT !!!
n  A proposal is like you want to sell
something!
n  It must:
n  have the items
n  be useful
n  be attractive
n  be feasible

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