Research Problem Definition & Proposal Writing SA Prathapar

RESEARH PROBLEM DEFINITION
SA Prathapar
Research Methodology
Why define the Research Problem?
Defining your destination before

beginning a journey.
It determines,
what
you will do,

will it withstand scientific scrutiny,
how you will do it, and
what you may achieve!
02/20/15
Research Proposal Development
How is a research problem selected?
02/20/15
Researchers interest in a topic

National or agency priorities
Urgency of an issue
Availability of research funds
Availability of supervision
Steps in defining research problems

1.
2.
3.
4.
Identify a broad topic

Identify a narrow topic within the
broad topic
Raise questions
Formulate objectives
02/20/15
Use action-oriented words - To

demonstrate; To evaluate; To measure
Identifying Broad Topics
Think of the BIG PICTURE
What is the problem you are trying to solve?

Think of something you like to learn more
about
Consult text books, journal or your supervisor
Pick one based on:
Interest and relevance

Magnitude of work involved
Level of expertise
02/20/15
yours and your advisors

Examples of Broad Topics

Optimizing
productivity of land and

water resources
Ensuring Food Safety & Security
Sustaining Agricultural & Marine
Environments
02/20/15
From Broad Topic to Narrow Topic
Examples of a narrow topic:

Liver
disease in Goat
Greenhouse Agriculture
Milk Quality
Greywater reuse potential in Oman
02/20/15
When selecting a narrow topic think

how it can contribute towards
solving the BIG PROBLEM!
Problem Tree Keep asking Why?

Unskilled Labor
Inefficient Irrigation
Unsuitable Climate
Inefficient Water harvesting
Water Scarcity
Lack of crop varieties

adapted to climate
Unsuitable Crops
Farming Patterns do not

Return nutrients
Low Labor
Productivity
Food Insecurity
Low Land
Productivity
Farmers cant afford fertilizers
Poor Soil
02/20/15
Farmers unaware of
best practices
Proposal Writing
Sections
Title
Introduction
additional
Objectives
Materials & Methods
additional
02/20/15
sub sections if necessary
sub sections if necessary
A tentative time table

A budget .
10
Title
Specific & Short

This forms the first impression
about your research
If
02/20/15
vague Reader will be cynical
11
Introduction
Convince the reader that you have identified a

research problem, worthy of investigating.
Start very general Broad Topic
Highlight
Reduce it to a narrow topic by
Raising questions, and

Stating answers from literature for most.
Establish Rationale:
02/20/15
the concept
Practical significance
Research is necessary questions for which there is

no answer yet.
12
Objectives
02/20/15
Provide a clear statement of the

overall question- General objective
Follow it with action oriented tasks Specific objectives.
If more than one specific objective
state them sequentially
13
Methodology
State it explicitly
Enough detail for the reader to follow
First give an overall summary of your study design and
methodological approach.
Then provide the methodology for each specific
objective.
Describe
02/20/15
the specific design (what will you do and how, number of

replicates, etc.),
the materials and techniques that will be used, and
the feasibility of these techniques.
Use literature to support design, materials & techniques
Need not repeat standard procedures but give a
reference.
14
References
02/20/15
List all references

In alphabetical order
15
GANTT Chart (Time line)

Task
Quarter1 Quarter2 Quarter3 Quarter4
Survey
Test GWT
Analyze data
Write Thesis
02/20/15
16
Budget
SUMMARY OF FUNDS REQUESTED (RO)
Year 1
Capital Equipment
Year 2
Year 3
7500
TOTAL
7500
Recurrent Items
8000
6000
16000
30000
Use of University Facilities
1000
1000
1000
3000
Local Travel Costs
1000
1000
1000
3000
Publication Costs
500
500
2500
2600
2000
2000
2000
6000
12500
18000
22500
53000
Miscellaneous
TOTAL
02/20/15
17

Research Problem Definition & Proposal Writing SA Prathapar

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Research Problem Definition & Proposal Writing SA Prathapar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RESEARH PROBLEM DEFINITION

Why define the Research Problem?

Defining your destination before

you will do,

Research Proposal Development

How is a research problem selected?

Researchers interest in a topic

Research Proposal Development

Steps in defining research problems

Identify a broad topic

Use action-oriented words - To

Research Proposal Development

Identifying Broad Topics

Think of the BIG PICTURE

What is the problem you are trying to solve?

Pick one based on:

Interest and relevance

yours and your advisors

Examples of Broad Topics

productivity of land and

Research Proposal Development

From Broad Topic to Narrow Topic

Examples of a narrow topic:

When selecting a narrow topic think

Problem Tree Keep asking Why?

Inefficient Water harvesting

Lack of crop varieties

Farming Patterns do not

Farmers cant afford fertilizers

Research Proposal Development

sub sections if necessary

sub sections if necessary

A tentative time table

Specific & Short

vague Reader will be cynical

Research Proposal Development

Convince the reader that you have identified a

Reduce it to a narrow topic by

Raising questions, and

Research is necessary questions for which there is

Research Proposal Development

Provide a clear statement of the

Research Proposal Development

the specific design (what will you do and how, number of

Research Proposal Development

List all references

Research Proposal Development

GANTT Chart (Time line)

Quarter1 Quarter2 Quarter3 Quarter4

Research Proposal Development

Use of University Facilities

Local Travel Costs

Research Proposal Development

You might also like