Thesis Research Project Proposal Research Methodology & Scientific Writing Course Session 5
What is a thesis proposal? An academic document, in which the graduate student exposes his/her plans for the research project or thesis A contract between the student, the supervisor, and the other Committee member(s), stating that the student’s plans would normally lead, upon completion, to the approval of a thesis or research project (based on relevance, originality, feasibility) A plan that might be adjusted and modified throughout the process of the thesis completion
Who is responsible for the thesis or research project proposal? The thesis proposal is: conceived and written by the graduate student only oriented and corrected by the supervisor oriented and approved by the thesis committee further approved by the Department Head, and by the School of Graduate Studies
How to proceed? Identify your area of specialization and a research question (discuss with your advisor) Contact your potential supervisor (most suitable specialist in that area) Prepare a short preliminary draft of your thesis proposal under the guidance of your potential supervisor Identify other potential members of your thesis committee (based on the complementarity of their expertise and on their compatibility) Submit this short preliminary draft to the potential committee members, and set up a first meeting to form your committee. Then work on drafts of your proposal with the support of your committee members until they approve it.
What should it include? Methodology Expected results Timetable Preliminary Bibliography Appendices Ethical Review Protocol Front page Abstract Table of contents Introduction Research question(s) Rationale Literature review & Conceptual / Theoretical framework
Table of contents Abstract Introduction Research question Rationale Literature Review & Conceptual /Theoretical framework .... Methodology Expected results Timetable Bibliography Appendices Ethical Review Protocol
Introduction What is your research question? Why is it relevant and original? What contribution do you want to make to your field of inquiry? How do you intend to proceed? Give an overview of your thesis proposal
Literature Review & Conceptual / Theoretical Framework Establish links with your research questions Present and discuss existing knowledge (theories, concepts) Point to gaps Elaborate a conceptual framework Remember to provide a definition for any new concept you are introducing
Methodology Disciplinary orientation (links with your research question) Methods Overall research design Participants Procedures Data collection Instruments Data processing Data analysis
Proposal Penelitian DAFTAR ISI LEMBAR PENGESAHAN ABSTRAK ABSTRACT DAFTAR ISI DAFTAR GAMBAR DAFTAR TABEL DAFTAR SIMBOL BAB 1 PENDAHULUAN 1.1 Latar Belakang 1.2 Rumusan Masalah 1.3 Batasan Masalah 1.4 Tujuan 1.5 Manfaat BAB 2 TINJAUAN PUSTAKA 2.1 Hasil Penelitian Terdahulu 2.2 Dasar Teori BAB 3 METODOLOGI 3.1 Metode yang digunakan 3.2 Bahan dan peralatan yang digunakan 3.3 Urutan pelaksanaan penelitian DAFTAR PUSTAKA LAMPIRAN