Unit 4-The Research Proposal

UNIT-4
THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
COURSE TITLE:
BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS (MBA 541)
Ephrem Assefa (Ph.D)

School of Graduate Studies
St. Mary’s University
1
UNIT 4 THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Learning Objective
Content
4.1 Research proposal defined
4.2. Purpose of research proposal
4.3. Components of a research proposal
Business Research Methods

2
Learning Objective
4.1. Research Proposal Defined
 A Research proposal is a work plan, prospectus, outline,

statement of intent or draft plan.
 It tells us:
– What the researcher is going to do: Research question
– Why it should be done: Justification (Significance) and
presence of gap
– How it will be done: Research methodology and budget
– When and where it will be done: Time plan and location

3
Learning Objective
4.2. Purpose of research proposal
 To convince reviewers that the researcher is capable of

successfully conducting the proposed research project.
 It has three broad purposes:
1) To present the problem to be researched and its importance
• May be approved for implementation or fail according to
quality and prioritization of the study area based
significance.
2) To review the research efforts of others on related problems
3) To suggest the data necessary for the study and how it will be
collected, analyzed and interpreted
4
Learning Objective
… Purpose of research proposal
• For the researcher: a research proposal enables the researcher to

think critically about each stage of the research process.
• For the advisor/managers: helps to decide if the proper

information will be obtained and if the proposed research will be
accomplished in the most acceptable scientific way addressing
the desired goals.

5
Learning Objective
4.3. Components of a research proposal
Outline: 2. Literature review

1. Introduction 2.1 Theoretical literature
1.1 Background of the study 2.2 Empirical literature
1.2 Statement of the problem 3. Research Methodology
1.3 Research questions 3.1 Research approach and design
1.4 Research objective 3.2 Population, sample size and
1.4.1 General objective sampling procedure
1.4.2 Specific objectives 3.3 Data sources & data collection
1.5 Research hypothesis (if any) method
1.6 Significance of the study 3.4 Ethical considerations
1.7 Scope and limitation of the 3.5 Methods of data analyses
study References
1.8 Organization of the study Annexes/Appendices

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Learning Objective
… Components of a research proposal

1) Research Title
 Have some idea about What You Want To Research
 Formulating & clarifying the research topic is the starting point of your
research.
 Then after, you will be able to choose the most appropriate research
strategy, data collection and analysis techniques.
 Alice: ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to walk from here?’
 Cat: ‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to’, said the Cat.
 Alice: ‘I don’t much care where’, said Alice.
 Cat: ‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you walk’, said the Cat.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll, 1989)

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Learning Objective

… Research Title
 Generate research idea: use rational and creative thinking-

looking at past project titles, searching the literature, discussion,
brainstorming, note your ideas, etc
 Refine the idea into one that is feasible. Then, turn the idea into
research questions and objectives.

8
Learning Objective

Attributes of a good research topic
a) Capability: is it feasible?
 Is the topic something with which you are really fascinated?
 Do you have, or can you develop within the project time frame,
the necessary research skills to undertake the topic?
 Is the research topic achievable within the available time?
 Will the project still be current when you finish your project?
 Is the research topic achievable within the financial resources
that are likely to be available?
 Are you reasonably certain of being able to gain access to data
you are likely to require for this topic?

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Learning Objective

… Attributes of a good research topic
b) Appropriateness: is it worth while?
 Does the topic fit the specifications and meet the standards set by the
examining institution?
 Does your research topic contain issues that have a clear link to
theory?
 Are you able to state your research question(s) and objectives clearly?
 Will your proposed research be able to provide fresh insights into this
topic?
 Does your research topic relate clearly to the idea you have been given
(perhaps by an organisation)?
 Are the findings for this research topic likely to be symmetrical: that is,
of similar value whatever the outcome?
 Does the research topic match your career goals?
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Learning Objective

2) Background of the study
 It highlights the conceptual and empirical foundation of the
proposed study
 Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research so that

readers can understand how it is related to other research
(Wilkinson, 1991)

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Learning Objective

3) Statement of the problem
 A research problem refers to some difficulty which a researcher
experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation
and wants to obtain a solution for the same
 A problem indicates an interest in an issue where finding the right
answers might help to improve an existing situation.
 It is a clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question or issue that
is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution.
 A research problem or hypothesis dealt in case of descriptive or
hypothesis testing research studies. Exploratory or formulative research
studies do not start with a problem or hypothesis

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Learning Objective
… Statement of the problem
 It is good to define a problem as any situation where a gap exists

between the actual and the desired ideal states.
 A research problem is one which requires a researcher to find out the
best solution for the given problem
 Organizational problems such as: decline in productivity, losing market
share, low employee morale and motivation, etc
 The research problem should be researchable/ feasible
 It should clearly indicate the research gap- tell why the researcher is
doing his/her research, i.e., justification for doing the study

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Learning Objective
 In this section, state why the research is of interest and/or importance
Examples of problem statement:

1) To what extent do the structure of the organization and type of
information systems installed account for the variance in the perceived
effectiveness of managerial decision making?
2) What are the effects of downsizing on the long-range growth
patterns of companies?
3) To what extent has the new advertising campaign been successful in
creating the high-quality, customer-centered corporate image that it
was intended to produce?

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Learning Objective

SELECTING THE PROBLEM

 A research problem or subject which is overdone should not be
normally chosen
 Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
 The research subject should be feasible so that the related research
material are within one’s reach.

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Learning Objective

DEFINING THE PROBLEM
 It must be defined unambiguously for that will help the researcher to

discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant ones.
 It involves the task of laying down boundaries within which a researcher
shall study the problem with a pre-determined objective in view.
 The criteria for the selection of the problem should be provided.
 The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must
be considered by the researcher in defining the problem.

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Learning Objective

… DEFINING THE PROBLEM
 Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in

the statement of the problem, should be clearly defined.
 Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research
problem should be clearly stated.
 The scope or the limits within which the problem is to be studied must
be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.

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Learning Objective

TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN DEFINING A PROBLEM
(i) State the problem in a general way (and then narrow it down or make it specific
and phrase the problem in operational terms)
(ii) Understanding the nature of the problem (its origin, nature and the env’t within
which it is studied)
(iii) Surveying the available literature (carefully review relevant theories, reports,
records & prior related studies so as to Show The Research Gap or to make sure
that the existing theories are applicable to the problem under study)
(iv) Developing the ideas through discussions (with colleagues or other people
working on similar problems)
(v) Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition (analytical or
operational terms)
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Learning Objective

4. Research questions
 A research question poses a relationship between two or more
variables but phrases the relationship as a question (Kerlinger,
1979; Krathwohl, 1988)
 Are most often used in qualitative inquiry, although their use in
quantitative inquiry is becoming more prominent.
 Are drawn from statement of the problem

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Learning Objective

5) Research objectives
 A research objective summarizes what is to be achieved by the study
 Research objectives emanate from the problem statement
 Clarity in objectives enhances clarity of hypothesis and research
questions, conceptual model and data collection
 The objectives define the limits of the research and describe the
expected outputs
 The objectives define the needed data & form the links the problem
statement with data collection procedure in the research design.
 Translate research objectives into research questions and/or research
hypotheses.
20
Learning Objective

… Research objectives
 It can be stated in general and specific terms:

 General objective: It states what a researcher expects to
achieve by the study in general terms
 Specific objective: breakdown the general objective into

smaller, logically connected parts. Specific objectives should be
systematically address the various aspects of the problem as
defined under “Statement of te problem”

21
Learning Objective
Research objectives should not:

 Be too vague, ambitious or broad in scope: though aims are more general
in nature than objectives it is the viability and feasibility of your study that
you have to demonstrate and aims often present an over-optimistic
picture of what the project can achieve
 Repeat each other in different terms
 Be a list of things related to your research topic
 Spend time discussing details of your job or research site i.e.: it is your
research study your supervisor/promoter is interested in and you should
keep this in mind at all times.
 Contradict methods, that is, they should not imply methodological goals
or standards of measurement, proof or generalizability of findings that the
methods cannot sustain
22
Learning Objective
Characteristics of a good research objective(s):

 Logical consequence of the background and problem statement and
specifies what is to be achieved by the study
 Are achievable with data to be collected from surveys, observations and
experiment
 Have active verbs such as: to determine, to describe, to verify, to measure,
to identify, to establish, to evaluate, to assess, etc --- objectivity
 Avoid use of vague and non-action verbs such as: to appreciate, to
understand, to study etc.
 Are not statement of the methods because the methods are developed to
meet the objectives, not the other way around.
 In a nutshell it should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic, and “time-bound”)

23
Learning Objective
… Research objectives and questions

24
Learning Objective

6) Research hypotheses (if any)
 The research questions or hypotheses follow logically from the research
problem and that you will be able to find out the answers.
 Omit a research question if you are less likely (difficult) to find an answer
for it.
 It is a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its
empirical consequences
 It is a tentative statement of the relationship between two or more
variables.
 It should be very specific and stated precisely: it is subject to test

25
Learning Objective

… Research hypotheses (if any)
 It indicates the type of data required and the methods of data analysis to
be used
 Thus, review similar studies in the area
 The formulation of the hypotheses in advance of the data- gathering
process is necessary for an unbiased investigation.

26
Learning Objective

The Role of Research Hypotheses
– Formulation of a research hypotheses is not arbitrary. Rather it is
based on theory or previous research findings
– It plays the role of guiding the direction of the study, hence
carefully designed
– If done well, it limits what shall be studied and what shall not be
– It identifies facts that are relevant from those which are not
– It suggests the appropriate research design to adopt

27
Learning Objective

… Research Hypotheses
– A poorly worded hypothesis can prevent:
a) the obtaining of enough pertinent data,
b) the drawing of conclusions and generalizations, and
c) the application of certain statistical measures in the analysis
of the result.

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Learning Objective
 A hypothesis can be derived from a problem statement.
Example:
 Problem Statement: What is the causal relationship between
interest rate, cost of production, money supply and inflation?
Null Hypothsis (H0): An increase in cost of production is not

expected to induce cost-push inflation
Alternative Hypothesis (H1): An increase in cost of production is
expected to induce cost-push inflation

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Learning Objective
 Null Hypothsis (Ho): States the existenace of no relationships. It is

what the researcher proposes to reject based on theory/prior
research findings
 Alternative Hypothesis (H1): states that there is a causal

relationship between variables. It is what the researcher is trying to
show it is true or would like to accept

30
Learning Objective
7) Significance of the study

 Why is your study important?
 A brief description of how the research contributes to:
– Its contribution to academics (theory and new method)
– Policymaking
– Development practitioners in terms of solving practical societal
or institutional problem
 Explain how different stakehoders can benefit from research
findings

31
Learning Objective
8) Scope and limitations of the study
 The scope of the study: the research may be delimited (bounded)

to certain geographical, time and conceptual coverage,
methodological, level of analysis.
 Methodological limitations: the researcher should specify that the
results should be accepted on the condition of those limitations.
 To state the limitations of your study, try to refer back to your

analyses, data instruments, sample

32
Learning Objective

9) Preliminary literature review
 It is a directed search of published and unpublished works from secondary
sources of data including periodicals and books, that discusses theory and
presents empirical results that are relevant to the topic at hand.
 Review literature related to the problem
 Journals and conference proceedings
 Books
 Unpublished researches
 Doctoral dissertations, masters theses
 Newspapers
 Magazines
 Government publications
•
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Learning Objective

… Preliminary literature review
 The purpose of the literature review:
 To identify and highlight the important variables, and to document
the significant findings from earlier research that will serve as the
foundation on which the theoretical framework for the current
investigation can be built and the hypotheses developed.

34
Learning Objective

 It should present all the relevant information related to the issue
under investigation in a logical and coordinated manner
 All materials which are used in the study must be cited and duly
acknowledged (the name of author/s and year of the study): both in
the body and reference part
 Use a consistent/uniform citations, quotations and referencing style
(Use either APA or Harvard system)

35
Learning Objective

 A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how one theorizes

or makes logical sense of the relationships among the several factors
that have been identified as important to the problem.
 A theoretical framework is identifying the network of relationships
among the variables considered important to the study of any given
problem situation.
 The entire research rests on the basis of the theoretical framework.

36
Learning Objective
10) Organization of the study/thesis
 A tentative structure of the report.
 It includes the list of chapters which will be included in the report

of the thesis.

37
Learning Objective
11) Research methodology

 Research approach
a) Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Approach
b) Deductive and Inductive Approach
 Research design (a description of the approach to be used to
reach objectives)
a) Exploratory, Descriptive and Explanatory
b) Crossectional vs. longitudinal

38
Learning Objective

… Research methodology
 Target population
• The population of the study are the targets that the
researcher is interested, from which data will be collected.
 Sample size and sampling procedure
• Consider representativeness
• Probability vs. non probability Sampling Techniques
 Data sources and instruments
• Consider the reliability of source of data
• Data collection ( data that fits the purpose)
39
Learning Objective

… Research methodology
 Ethical considerations:
• Getting permission
• Informed consent
• Confidentiality
 Method of data analysis
• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques
• Nature of data vs. Data Analysis Techniques
• Indicate briefly any analytical tools you will use (E.g.,
SPSS, STATA, etc)

40
Learning Objective
Time schedule
 It indicates exactly what will be done, the sequence of the various
activities, and the products of deliverables that will be prepared.
 Specify the tasks, expected results and schedule

41
Learning Objective
End

42

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UNIT-4

THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Ephrem Assefa (Ph.D)

Business Research Methods

4.1. Research Proposal Defined

 A Research proposal is a work plan, prospectus, outline,

Business Research Methods

4.2. Purpose of research proposal

 To convince reviewers that the researcher is capable of

… Purpose of research proposal

• For the researcher: a research proposal enables the researcher to

• For the advisor/managers: helps to decide if the proper

Business Research Methods

4.3. Components of a research proposal

Outline: 2. Literature review

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

 Generate research idea: use rational and creative thinking-

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

… Components of a research proposal

 Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research so that

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

Business Research Methods

… Statement of the problem

 It is good to deﬁne a problem as any situation where a gap exists

Business Research Methods

… Statement of the problem

 In this section, state why the research is of interest and/or importance

Examples of problem statement:

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

SELECTING THE PROBLEM

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

 It must be defined unambiguously for that will help the researcher to

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

 Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

… Components of a research proposal

 Are drawn from statement of the problem

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

… Components of a research proposal

 It can be stated in general and specific terms:

 Specific objective: breakdown the general objective into

Business Research Methods

Research objectives should not:

Characteristics of a good research objective(s):

Business Research Methods

… Research objectives and questions

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal

Business Research Methods

… Components of a research proposal