The research proposal in its final form is expected to contain all pertinent details

concerning the study, right from the initial stages to the stage of completion. It
should, therefore, aim to be what may be described as the complete plan of action.
To ensure a smooth course of development of the work it becomes necessary to
project oneself into various phases of its growth and be able to possibly locate and
take care of the constrains and other difficulties which may creep in the process of
study. The idea of having to put in all details, before one should whether the
proposal may be at all accepted, may not be that relishing. For that matter, a
proposal in a preliminary form may be submitted and may later on be developed
into its full form. Even in a preliminary form it is always advisable to put in
essential details just to eliminate the possibility of a gap in understanding which
otherwise keep on workable idea away from fruition.
Apart from the above stated factors, it is also desired that an objective basis should
be available for the evaluation of the research work. The Departmental Research
Committee has been entrusted with this job. Successful execution of a research
project gives certain benefits and credits to the researcher. It isimportant that the
researcher gets a fair evaluation on the basis of the workand receives the credit s/he
rightly deserves. To this end, it is essential thatthe proposal should contain a full
description of all the facets of the work. Here are the items that need to be essentially
included in the writing of aresearch proposal.

Format of Proposal

Two options are given below. Select whichever applicable to your proposal.
Option : I Quantitative Research

Declaration
Title of the Study: ……………………….

Chapter I
Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Statement of the problem
1.3. Objectives
1.4. Hypotheses (if any)
1.5. Justification/Rationale of the Study
1.6. Limitations of the Study
1.7. Operational definitions

Chapter II
Literature Review

Chapter III
Methodology
3.1. Research Design
3.2. Universe of the study
3.2. a. Description of the sample
3.2. b. Location of the study
3.3. Sample design (tabular form)
3.4 Sampling
3.5 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
3.4. Conceptual Framework
3.5. Data Collection Tools
3.6. Data Collection Techniques

Chapter IV: Analysis of the results

Chapter V. Discussion and conclusion

Duration of the study: Time frame

References

Option : II Qualitative Research

Declaration
Title of the Study: ……………………….

Chapter I
Introduction
1.8. Background
1.9. Statement of the problem
1.10. Objectives
1.11. Justification/Rationale of the Study
1.12. Limitations of the Study

Chapter II
Literature Review

Chapter III
Methodology
3.5. Research Design
3.6. Universe of the study
3.7. Theoretical Framework
3.8. Sampling
3.9. Inclusion and Exclusion criteria
3.10. Data Collection Tools
3.11. Data Collection Techniques
3.12. Techniques of Data Analysis

Chapter IV: Analysis of the results

Chapter V. Discussion and conclusion
4. Duration of the study: Time frame

5. References

Title of the Study

A brief but clearly stated title of the proposed study is intended. Thetitle should
appropriately reflect the nature and scope of the proposedstudy.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

The study problem should be identified by clearly stating its background, setting or
environment, and the need for the study. Then, its importance should be clarified with
reference to its practical application to policy decisions or to the illumination of concepts and
theories of development.

1.1 Background
After choosing a topic, it isneeded to locate introductory sources that mention about
circumstances and events surrounding or leading up to choose that particular topic.
Finding background information at the beginning of your research is especially important
if you are unfamiliar with the subject area or not sure from what angle to approach your
topic. Some of the information that a background search can provide includes:
 Include broad overview of the subject
 Define the topic; variables

1.2 Statement of the problem

A question well stated is a question half answered. The problem of the research question is,
therefore, an interrogative statement in terms of the relation that exists between a set of
variables. It should be stated clearly and unambiguously so as to permit empirical testing.
Above all the problem should not be stated too generally or too narrowly. Most important,
where the problem lies (the problem that guides the study) should be clearly stipulated in
terms of the background and development within the scope of the proposed question
(historical perspective is necessary).
 First select your research topic, which is the issue or subject area that you intend to
investigate.
 Describe the research problem based on your topic that you intend to research.
 A Research Problem is not the same as a daily life/social problem, i.e. it is
not a “problem” in the normal sense of the word; it is research jargon that
happens to be a bit confusing.
 Explain your reason or motive for the research.
 Explain what are the issues that are unanswered
 State clearly your research question.

1.3 Objectives
Within the felt needs of the study, the specific objectives for undertaking the project should
be spelled -out clearly. They should be identified in terms of the variables and parameters
under study precisely and be formulated in the manner of questions. Where general
objectives are felt desirable, specific sub-objectives must be framed within each general
objective in a logical sequence.
1. You may specify objectives as broad and specific ones.
2. Objectives statements should have an outcomes based verb at or near the
beginning Some good outcome based verbs are: identify, define, relate, describe,
review, justify, indicate, explain, compare, contrast, interpret, assess, evaluate.
3. Avoid verbs such as “understand”, “explore”, “investigate”, “examine” and
“discuss” as they are poor verbs that describe processes, not outcomes.

1.4 Hypotheses
A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of relations (based on the statement of the problem
and the objective of the study) between two or more variables in either negative or positive
terms. It should be neither too general nor too specific. However, it should specify how the
variables are related. The hypotheses thus could be formulated as null hypothesis, against
alternatives.

1.5 Rationale of the study

Explaining the purpose of a research study and providing a compelling rationale is an
important part of any coaching research project, enabling the work to be set in the context of
both existing evidence (and theory) and its practical applications. Mention how your research
would contribute in the basic field and applied field of the research.

1.5 Limitations of the Study

Clearly specify the limits and constraints prevailing within each method. In the study where
two or more methods are used an explanation as to which method is to be preferred should be
stated in terms of the assumptions and biases involved in each of the methods indicated.

1.6. Operational definition

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

One undertakes this in order to find out what works have already been done in the areas of
the research problem under study. It also helps minimize the risk of dead ends, choice of
rejected methods etc, promotes greater understanding of the problem under study, provides
comparative data to evaluate and interpret the significance of findings, and to enforce fruitful
sources of hypothesis. This section is vitally necessary. All references consulted must be
cited.

What needs to be included in a review of the literature?

• The key issues which underlie the research project
• The major findings on the research topic, by whom and when
• The main points of view and controversies that surround the issue being investigated
• A critical evaluation of these views, indicating strengths and weaknesses of previous studies on the
topic
• General conclusions about the state of the art at the time of writing, including what research still
needs to be done; that is, the gap that remains in the research that the study will aim to fill.

Steps and strategies for writing a literature review (Cone & Foster, 1993)
Steps Strategies
o Identify key authors and journals
o Use state of the articles
o Use computerised searches
1. Locate relevant literature
o Use Google Scholar
o Scan Tables of Contents from key journals
o Use reference lists from articles, books and chapters
o Read primary sources
o Identify themes in the literature
o Identify strengths and weaknesses of individual articles
2. Critically read the literature
o Identify strengths and weaknesses of the field as a whole
o Collect photocopies of articles
o Investigate expected length and format of the literature review
o Make a preliminary outline
3. Prepare to write
o Organise the literature you will cover
o Limit the scope of the review to the topic at hand
o Write the introduction
o Write subsections
o Use transition markers and metatext
4. Write the review
o Synthesise and critically evaluate the literature
o Be careful not to plagiarise
o Practice summarising and paraphrasing actives
5. Indicate the gap o Use the review to lead to your study and research question/s

Reading, summarizing and critiquing previous studies (Seliger& Shohamy,1989)

Summarizing a previous study
• What are the major research questions or hypotheses in the study?
• What were the main findings of the study?
• What is the relationship between this study and your own project?
• What other research studies were conducted in the same area?
• What is the relationship between these studies and your own project?
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

It should correspond to the order in which each of the objectives listed are to be attacked in
terms of essential hypothesis to be used: how and what data are to be generated and processed
from? What methods of analysis should be used? What assumptions are being put to effect of
the inquiry?

3.1 Research Design

A research design is a logical and systematic plan prepared for directing a research study. A
good research design should specify (a) the sources and types of information relevant for
research question, (b) methods to be adopted for gathering and analyzing data (c) the domain
of generalizability.

3.2 Universe of the study

It should mention about the distribution of the population, its size, the area the
prospective population is located.

3.3 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework

The conceptual/theoretical framework is a foundation for the parameters, or boundaries, of a
study. It’s a process of identifying a core set of connectors within a topic and showing how
they fit together or are related in some way to the subject. Once these themes are established,
researchers can seek answers to the topical questions they have developed on broad subjects.
With a framework, they can resist getting off track by digging into information that has
nothing to do with their topic. Often researchers are curious about broad subjects, but with a
theoretical framework they can stay tightly within the theme or topic.

A conceptual/theoretical framework is usually about a page long. They are concise and deal
only with the points the writer hopes are important enough to bring out in the paper.

Many researchers or writers will use diagrams to illustrate their frameworks. They will draw
them showing a circle in the center of the diagram, illustrating the main focus or idea, and
from there show "legs" or arrows pointing to or connecting what they hope to bring out in the
process of finding the answer to the study’s question. You could also do the same.

Example of conceptual framework (Pant, 2011)

Suppose you have selected ‘employee absenteeism’ as the dependent variable for your study. The
independent variables having effects on absenteeism could be age, gender, marital status, seniority
and place of residence of employees. You are using these five independent variables in an attempt to
explain the variance in employee absenteeism of an organization.

Example

The greater the age of employees, the higher is likely to be the rate of absenteeism among them. The
older people have greater chances of sickness than the younger ones. Female employees tend to have
higher rate of absenteeism due to their family preoccupations. Of the female employees too, married
ones demonstrate higher rate of absenteeism than unmarried males and females. Due to their home
ties and social links, the employees coming from rural areas may have higher absences as compared to
their urban counterparts. The senior employees, who usually have served the organization longer, are
generally more committed to the organization than their younger counterparts. This is not only
because seniority carries with it some status and prestige but also because as one moves up in the
organizational ladder, there are more job related responsibilities. This induces employees to remain
present in the organization. Hence, seniority of the employees would seem to have a negative
correlation with absenteeism.

Figure: Schematic diagram of the conceptual framework

Age

Gender

Marital status Employee Absenteeism

Seniority
Place of residence

3.4 Sampling
Mention should be made of the estimated total size of population in the study and the method
of sampling should be used in the proposal. It is necessary that an adequately reliable
sampling frame and the basic criteria of selecting them be adopted. The main thrust of the
study often centres around the nature of the questionnaire, selection of respondents as well as
the modalities of operation of the study.

3.5 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

3.5 Data Collection Tools

In the Data Collection subsection, you should describe the tools that will be for data
collection. If you intend to use questionnaires, give the name of the questionnaire, cite the
individual or individuals who created the tool and describe its subscales, include information
about the tool’s reliability and validity. You also need to mention the norms of the tool.

3.6 Data Collection Method

In this subsection, you describe each step in how the datawillbe collected. You should
mention about the procedure you intend to follow, ethical consideration, the precautions
that would be taken. You should summarize how participants would be divided into groups,
the instructions that will be given to the participants.

3.7 Techniques of Data Analysis

In this section you should mention the statistical procedures and tests are adopted to ensure
relevance of the conclusions of the proposed study. As such, the methods to be adopted
indicating the level of analysis, and testing need should be clearly indicated. If the research is
a qualitative one, mention about how you would analyse the qualitative data depending upon
your theoretical framework.
References and Annex
The list of the literature reviewed and the sources from which items are quoted should be
serially organized at the end of the proposal. All the data charts etc. that are being use for the
presentation of the proposal will have to be included systematically with due emphasis on
source citation.
Scheduling of Time
Different phases of the research project should be clearly stated in working weeks or months,
preferably in a diagrammatic presentation. Thus, it should be able to provide monitoring
authorities with close estimates of the entire project time.

It should mention the probable time schedule between inception and conclusion of the
project.
Other Information
Any other information which would help gaining realistic understanding of the proposal and
facilitating the actual conduct of the work may be included if it is so desired. The researcher
may also like to indicate the limitations of the proposed study and prospective approaches for
further extension of its scope.

Chapter Plan: (indicative)

Chapter Plan should indicate the total number of chapters and pages, individual chapter titles,
including sub heading and pages for each chapter.