Research {Proposal for research and development

Research

1. WRITING A RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
Professor Divya Upadhyaya Joshi
Director UGC-HRDC
Kumaun University,Nainital,Uttarakhand-263001
Contact: [email protected]

2. Introduction
Imperative that faculty members in HEI /researchers be able to
formulate and write a research proposal(RP)

Submit the RP to a funding agency for financial support for their
research
Most funding agencies in India require the researcher to submit
a proposal in a prescribed format.
Major funding agencies include UGC,ICSSR,DST,ICHR,CSIR,etc

3. Elements of a proposal
A proposal generally has the following elements:
Project Title
Introduction
Statement of problem
Research Question
Origin of the research problem
 Inter - disciplinary relevance
Review of literature (Status of R & D )
International & National
Significance of study
Objectives of study
Methodology
Time Plan
Budget
References & Bibliography
*Could include Hypothesis

4. Preparing a Project Proposal
The sequence of the material in the project proposal
varies according to the different prescribed formats
of the funding agencies
Most agencies are asking for online submission
Prepare the proposal very carefully in a word
document and then start uploading online
Always check,revise and edit several times before
submitting
Be very careful about language and typos

5. Cover Page (For off-line
submissions & HRDC assignments)
The cover page should include :
Name of funding agency and category of
project
Title of proposed work
Name , designation and affiliation of
researcher
Address for correspondence/contact
including E-mail
Year of submission

6. Choosing a Topic
In choosing a topic, reflect on what really
interests you.
The contemporary relevance of the topic
chosen for research.
Before you finalize the topic, decide what is
practically possible in terms of the primary
and secondary data which would provide the
basis for the work.
Explore the topic or theme by a specific
review of literature. Read journals, books,
research papers and articles related to the
topic you have chosen.
Use focal group discussions or brainstorming
sessions

7. The Title
• Clear and designed to attract attention
•As short as possible
•A definite assertive statement rather than a question
•Specific, yet inclusive of scope/geographic location of
a project
•Should include key terms that readily identify the
scope and nature of the study
•Avoid using ambiguous or confusing words
•If necessary, break your title up into a title and subtitle
•Should not contain abbreviations or jargon

8. Introduction
Introduction
include a statement of the problem as an
expansion of the title with focus on a stated
goal.
pose the research question
Outline/define the basic concepts and theories
relating to the work
 Origin of the Problem: explain what the
genesis of the specific problem you propose to
study is
Where, when ,how the problem manifests
itself/is located

9. Interdisciplinery relevance
At two levels : what you have taken &
what you propose to give?
How anticipated results will contribute to
body of knowledge\research in other
disciplines
Any other linkages with other
disciplines-methods,models,theoretical
precepts that you may have taken.

10. Review of Relevant Literature
(Status of research )
Available in books, research journals, project reports,
dissertations, etc.
Getting acquainted with the current knowledge (at
national and international level) in the area of study
 Acquaints you with the research methodology,
methods, the tools and techniques which have proved
to be useful in similar research works
When writing review of each discussed work you state
briefly the major findings of the said work,and sum up
by very briefly by reviewing it

11. Significance of Study
Clarifies the research gap that exists in the
given area of study and how the proposed work
will fill it
Should show that you do understand what
work has been done in the area in the past,
and where your proposed research fits in with
this work
Explain clearly how existing findings relate to
the specific questions that you are asking
Applied relevance/perceived benefits

12. Objective(s)
State clearly and in specific terms what the
specific objective(s) of your research is
Assertive sentences , not questions
You can break the one major objective down
into a limited set of objectives for clarity
Avoid positing any grandiose/impractical
objectives in generalised terms
State only the objectives of your proposed
work

13. Suitability of methods
Be very clear and specific about the research
methods you plan to use. Study any methods you
propose to use thoroughly.
Your study may follow any one research design
/combination of more than one
design(exploratory/descriptive/experimental/
analytical, etc) depending on its suitability for your
work.
You can use qualitative/quantitative/mixed methods-
triangulation

14. Time Plan
This section should include a general
outline of the dates and time to be spent
on various aspects of the proposal. (Plan
of work)
Total time can be divided into phases,&
the plan presented in tabular or
graphical form
Avoid naming exact months /year unless
your work so requires

15. Example of Time Plan
S.
No.
Phase
(1 Phase=3 months)
Target to be
achieved
Additional
information
if any
1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Phase 4
Total Time 12 months

16. Financial Assistance required
Frame the budget according to your work plan under the
given heads, matching the methods already given by you
You should be clear about (& able to justify) why you need the
proposed amount under a given head
Do not ask for large amounts for books/journals/equipment in a
minor RP
In a major RP if asking for any big equipment/software, make
sure that equipment is already not available in your institution.
Collaborate where you can.
Buy relevant latest software for data analysis both quantitative
and qualitative. Will make your proposal very sound and
contemporary.

17. Referencing
Give citations/references throughout your
proposal
 Use any/required style of referencing/citation in
use in your discipline. For eg. in English
Literature follow the MLA style Guide
You have to include a Bibliography: List the
works relevant to the proposed research work
including all the literature you have already
surveyed for preparing the proposal
Difference between References and Bibliography
should be understood

18. Referencing/Citation
Citation systems
Broadly speaking, there are two citation
systems:
1.Note systems
Note systems involve the use of sequential
numbers in the text which refer to either
footnotes (notes at the end of the page) or
endnotes (a note on a separate page at the
end of the paper) which gives the source
detail.
In the humanities, many authors use
footnotes or endnotes to supply anecdotal
information. In this way, what looks like a
citation is actually supplementary material,
or suggestions for further reading.

19. Parenthetical Referencing
2.Parenthetical referencing is where full or
partial, in-text citations are enclosed
within parentheses and embedded in the
paragraph, as opposed to the footnote
style.
The list of the citations with complete
bibliographical references may be
included in an end section sorted
alphabetically by author's last name.
This end section may be known as:
References /Works cited

20. Draft, revise and edit
Written works require several revisions to
initial draft
The draft should be thoroughly checked for
consistency, errors, omissions and inclusivity
(e.g. figures, captions, references).
 Several revisions are usually necessary
before the draft can become the
proposal/report or manuscript.

21. Course Assignment:
Simple format for beginners
1.Title
2.Introduction(Statement of Problem, Origin of Research
Problem, Research Question)
3.Literature Review(Rudimentary) & Significance of Research
4.Objectives
5.Proposed Methods
6.Budget
7.Time Plan
8.References
9.Bibliography