Outline Of A Proposal And The Research Problem Flashcards
Identify the outline of the research proposal and final report
•List and describe the chapters and subsections of a research proposal and a research report and their proper order.
•Describe the characteristics of an appropriate proposal title.
What is the outline of a research proposal
What comprises of the chapters in a research proposal
What is seen at each step of the outline
Cover page
Table of contents
Contents
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Dedication
List of Tables
Lists of Figures
Appendices
Introduction
Method
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY (PLAN OF WORK)
•REFERENCES
•APPENDICES
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
•Introduction
–Background information, Need for the Study, Justification
•Problem Statement
•Objectives
–General
–Specific
•Research Questions/Hypothesis
•Justification/rationale for the research
•Definition of Terms
•Limitations of the Study
•Basic Assumptions
•Chapter summary
CHAPTER 2 - REVIEW OF LITERATURE
•Introduction
•May include conceptual framework and/or theoretical framework
•(Develop sections that you deemed necessary)
•Chapter summary
CHAPTER 3 – METHODOLOGY
•Introduction
•Type of Study
•Study Location/Area
•Variables
•Study Population
•Sampling
•Sample Size
•Sampling Method
•Data Collection Techniques/Methods & Tools
•Quality Control
•Data Processing and Analysis
•Statistical Methods
•Ethical Consideration/Issues
CHAPTER 4 – RESULTS & DISCUSSION
•Introduction
•Findings Relative to problem
•Summary of Data
•Tests of Significance
•Discussions relative to literature
•Chapter summary
CHAPTER 5 – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
•Introduction
•Summary
•Conclusion
•Recommendation
•Chapter summary
After chapter 5 it’s references
Cover page:
COVER PAGE
•TITLE
•PRESENTERS’ NAME
•DATE: MONTH AND YEAR ONLY
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
•LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES (IF ANY)
•LIST OF ACRONYMS
•DEFINITION OF TERMS (IF NEEDED)
•ABSTRACT (1 PAGE MAXIMUM)
Methods(you can use one of the two)
METHODS I
•Type of Study
•Study Location/Area
•Variables
•Study Population
•Sampling
•Sample Size
•Sampling Method
METHODS II
•Data Collection Techniques/Methods & Tools
•Quality Control
•Data Processing and Analysis
•Summary/Sample Tables Only
•Statistical Methods
•Ethical Consideration/Issues
•Pre-Test and Pilot Study
What are the characteristics of a research problem
Characteristics of a research Problem
•paramount to the success of your effort
•Must be stated precisely
•must address an important question
•must advance existing knowledge
•must be grounded in objective reality
•must hint at the possible solutions
Characteristics of Research Problems
•Research project not for self-enlightenment
•Simply comparing 2 data sets not sufficient
•Simply computing correlations between data sets not sufficient
•Need to ask why correlation exists
•Problems resulting in “yes” or “no” answers not good research problems
•Need to focus on the “what” and the “why
How do you formulate an important research problem
What are the possible avenues for research problems
How to formulate an important and useful research problem?
•You need to be knowledgeable about your topic of interest
•read the literature - most likely it will tell you what needs to be done especially workshop and conference papers in the area of research
•attend professional conferences
•seek the advice of experts
How do you state your research problem
What six things should your research have
Possible Avenues for Research Problems
•Address the suggestions for future research that other researchers have offered
•replicate a project in a different setting or with a different population
•apply an existing perspective to a new situation
•challenge other research findings
Research problem should…
•state the context/motivation for the problem
•state the research questions
•formulate hypothesis aimed at solving the problem
•delimit the research
•define the terms and concepts
•state the assumptions
What are hypotheses
How should your problem statement be formulated
Hypotheses
•Tentative propositions set forth to assist in guiding the investigation of the problem or to provide possible explanation for the observations made
How Your Problem statement should be formulated
• Guidelines:
•problem is stated in complete, grammatical sentences
•is clear how the area of study will be limited or focused
•is more than a simple exercise in gathering information, answering a yes/no question or making a simple comparison
•includes a discussion of methods and approaches to verify the hypotheses
What’s the purpose of a problem statement
Purpose of the Problem Statement
•Represents the reasons/motivation behind your proposal (based on the specific domain of study).
•It specifies the conditions you want to change or the gaps in existing knowledge you intend to fill (this is the specification of the research problem).
•Should be supported by evidence.
•Specifies your hypothesis that suggests a solution to the problem.
•Shows your familiarity with prior research on the topic and why it needs to be extended.
•Even if the problem is obvious, your reviewers want to know how clearly you can state it.
State six key questions to answer in your problem statement
Tips for writing Problem Statements
•Do not paint the problem in general terms:
•“little is known about ..”
• “no research has dealt with ..”
•Usually arguing for something that is not makes for a weak statement
•Instead explain the consequences of the information void
Examples of
Problem Statements
refer to your manual for more examples ……
y Questions to Answer in Your Problem Statement
1.Demonstrate a precise understanding of and the motivation behind the problem you are attempting to solve?
2.Clearly convey the focus of your project early in the narrative?
3.Indicate the relationship of your project to a larger set of problems and justify why your particular focus has been chosen?
4.Demonstrate that your hypothesis is supported by evidence and observations
5.Demonstrate that your problem is feasible to solve and that your experimental design is appropriate for validating your hypothesis?
6.Make others want to read it further?
What are the elements of a research problem statement
Elements of a research problem statement
All should have the following elements in this order:
1.The general case / problem
2.What others have done
3.What’s missing / where is the gap
4.Our solution (or hypothesis, if it is a proposal) and why it fills the gap
5.Specific results (or research design, if it is a proposal)
How do you formulate objectives for your research problem
Formulate objectives
•Your objectives grow out of your research questions.
•The main difference between objectives and research questions is the way in which they are written.
•Research questions are obviously that—questions.
Formulate objectives
•Objectives transform these questions into behavioral aims by using action-oriented words such as ‘to find out’, ‘to determine’, ‘to ascertain’ and ‘to examine‘, ‘to measure’, ‘to explore’.
Some examples…
•To describe the types of incentives provides by five star hotels in Colombo to their employees.
•To find out the opinion of the employees about the medical facilities provided by five star hotels in Colombo.
•To ascertain the impact of training on employee retention.
•To compare the effectiveness of different loyalty programmes on repeat clientele.
•To ascertain if an increase in working hours will increase the incidence of drug abuse.
•To demonstrate that the provision of company accommodation to employees in hotels will reduce staff turnover.
Formulate objectives
Example:
1- To determine the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction
2- To find out the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction
3- To identify how word of mouth communication impact on customer satisfaction
How do you paraphrase research questions as research objectives
Paraphrasing research questions as research objectives
Research Question Research Objective
Why have organizations To identify organization’s
introduced early retirement ? objectives for introducing retirement schemes.
What are the consequences To describe the consequences of
of early retirement schemes ?
Early recruitment for employees.
To explore the effects of early retirement for the organization.
How do you assess your objectives
Double-check
•1 that you are really interested in the study
•2 that you agree with the objectives
•3 that you have adequate resources
•4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study
Assess your objectives
•Examine your objectives to ascertain the feasibility of achieving them in the light of the time, resources (financial and human) and technical expertise at your disposal.
How do you something something problem statement charley I’m tired
- Identify consumer behavior
Identify customer satisfaction
2.Dissect :
the profile of satisfied customers
Antecedents of customer satisfaction
The effect of customer satisfaction on consumer related outcomes
Measurement of customer satisfaction
3.Select Antecedent of customer satisfaction
4.Raise research questions
What is the effect of customer expectations on customer satisfaction
What is the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction
What is the effect of word of mouth communication on customer satisfaction
5.formulate objectives
To determine the effect of customer expectation on customer satisfaction
To find out the effect of service quality
on customer satisfaction
To identify how word word of mouth communication impacts on customer satisfaction
6.Make sure yo assess your objectives in light of :
The work involved
Time available to you
Financial resources available to you
Your technical expertise in that area
7.double check
Double-check
•1 that you are really interested in the study
•2 that you agree with the objectives
•3 that you have adequate resources
•4 that you have the technical expertise to undertake the study
