Writing Research Proposals

Niaz Ahmed Khan

Ph.D. (Wales), Post Doc. (Oxford)

Professor and former Chairman, Department of Development

Studies, University of Dhaka;
Former Country Representative-Bangladesh, International Union for
Conservation of Nature; and
Former Senior Programme Coordinator-CHT, UNDP-Bangladesh

What is
Research
Design?

Research design is essentially the structure of

research -- it is the "glue" that holds all of
various elements in a research project
together.
Research proposal is a written statement that
states the scope, objectives and methods to be
followed for a proposed research project.
This is also known as Research Protocol

Research Design narrates :

a. the statement of problems/ issues/ themes
you are addressing
b. the fundamental research questions to be
pursued
c. the plan of what data to gather, from
whom, how and when to collect the data,
and how to analyze the data obtained

Ethical concerns of research

Purpose of the research should be ethically
correct and must protect / ensure rights /
welfare / dignity of people / citizens (country
specific or global)
Assurance of the protection of identity of the
informants (if asked for)
Maintaining the originality of the data/
information
Adequate referencing
Zero tolerance to Plagiarism
3

Identifying and Deciding on a Topic

Three simple steps Identify a broad theme
Focus on a particular topic
Focus on a Problem / issue or debate within the topic
Broad theme:
Forestry

Focus on

Particular topic:
Current state and
challenges of
Homestead Forestry
development
Focus on a particular issue:
HF operations (with a focus on
floristic composition, socioeconomy, indigenous knowledge
and practices, policy
implications) in the study area4

Example 2:

Broad theme:
Governance

Focus on

Particular topic:
Educational Governance
(emphasis on Accountability,
transparency and
participation)

Quality of education ( impact

of Accountability, transparency
and participation on quality of
education )
5

1. Identification of a problem/ issue

Typical
format of
a research
design/
proposal

a. Statement of the problem/ issue

b. Illustration of the problem/issue
c. Significance of the problem/ issue
( Social, political, economic)

2. Review of literature
What others have already done..
What are the limitations of those
studies?
Carving out the scope for your
study

3. Analytical /Theoretical framework

Outline
of
the
proposed
theoretical/conceptual framework to
be used.

4. Methodology
Typical
format of
a research
design/
proposal

What research methods to be followed

and why?
a. What methods and tools of data
collection being contemplated
(including any sampling and its
design)?
b. What kind/ type of information needs to
be gathered?
c. Possible sources of data
d. (Any possible) Statistical Design
What statistical tool is going to
be used?
What level of statistical significance be
desired?

Research
Design 5. Analysis Plan ( Data Editing and
Processing techniques to be used)

6. Tentative Chapter Outline

Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 Statement of the Problem
1.2 Review of literature
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Hypothesis (if any)
1.5 Scope and Objectives
1.6 Limitations of the study

Chapter 2. Theoretical/ Analytical framework

Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6 (empirical analyses, observations,
conclusions, recommendations .)

7.Time Frame and Resourcing Plan

8. Initial Reference and Bibliography
(including any annexure)
(acknowledgement: some of the contents are drawn from a
lecture by Professor Salahuddin Aminuzzaman of the University
of Dhaka; his contributions are gratefully acknowledged)