THE PRELIMINARIES(in roman numbers)

Include:
I) The title page
II) The declaration page
III) Recommendation page
IV) Copy right – page
V) Acknowledgement page
VI) Dedication page
VII) The abstract
A.ABSTRACT
-Should be single spaced, one block paragraph and be contained on one page of about 300
words.
-Should consist of:
-Background to the problem
-statement of the problem
-Justification/ significance of the problem
-Objectives
-Methodology

B. TABLE OF CONTENTS
i) The rubric should be in title case and single spaced.
ii) The chapter titles should be in caps and bold.
iii) The table of contents should be organized to match the headings and subheadings and
page numbers up to maximum three (3) levels.
C LIST OF TABLES
i) A separate page should be devoted to the list of items giving the tables, the exact title and
the page numbers where it may be found in the body of the report.
ii) List of Tables should be separated from the Table of Contents and should follow
immediately after the Table of Contents.
iii) All entries must contain a corresponding page number with leader dots or dashes
connecting the entry to the page number.
D. LIST OF FIGURES
i) The figures may include graphs, photographic illustrations, maps and drawings. These
should be labeled as per serializations without including the Chapters in which they are found
e.g. the first figure in chapter one should be labeled as Figure 1 and if the next Figure is in
Chapter Three it should be labeled Figure 2 and so on)
E. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
The abbreviation and acronyms should be arranged alphabetically.
The abbreviations/acronyms should be Capitalized and separated from the text
i)
by 2 indentations of 5-point each.
ii)
The corresponding explanatory text should be in Title Case and aligned to the
left.
iii
)
F. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
i) Define terms in the text that are not common.
G. PRESENTATION OF CHAPTERS
Proposals should extend to Chapter Three while a project has Four chapter that include an
additional chapter
Chapter Four : System Design and Implementation. The following presents an outline of what
is contained in each Chapter.
Guidelines for preparing Research Proposal/Project/

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Introduction should highlight key contents of the chapter. Provide concise and
sequential details of specific content areas.
1.2 Background to the Study
i) It should show the understanding and genesis of the problem.
ii) Background should lay the broad foundation for the problem beginning from global
perspective narrowing down to regional context then to the country and actual location of the
study e.g. in a precise place in Kenya.
iii) Highlight the specific knowledge gaps that justify your study problem and which must
lead logically to the statement of the problem in an ensuing sub-section.
iv) Should be approximately three to four pages.
1. 2.1 Current system
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Must indicate exactly what the problem is.
Indicate why and how it is a problem. Give information to support this e.g. by
i)
use of statistics or evidence. This should be derived from background
ii)
information to illustrate connectivity.
The problem should answer the following questions
iii)
• What is the problem / issue?
• What is causing the problem?
• What is the magnitude of the problem?
• Who is the most affected by the issue raised?
• What could happen if the problem / issue is not addressed?
iv) Length- Maximum 1 page.
1.4 Purpose of the Study
i) The purpose statement should provide a specific and accurate synopsis of the
overall goal of the study as outlined in the title.
1.5 Objectives of the Study
The objectives have to be in line with the variables the candidates hypothesize to
influence the phenomenon being investigated.
Should be related to the general objective which is essentially the title.
i) They should be SMART- Specific/Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable,
Realistic, Time bound
Should be outcome based verbs such “Identify, define, relate, describe, review,
justify, examine, investigate.”
ii)
iii
)
iv)

Guidelines for preparing Research Proposal/Project/Thesis Page 14

1.6 Proposed System
i.
Highlights of the proposed system functionality and platform e.g web , android etc
ii.
iii.
1.6.1 System modules
This describe the several modules for the proposed sytem such as
Login module
Payment modules
Auction module etc
1.7 Justification for the Study/Significance of the Study
i) Should illustrate why the researcher is conducting the research proposal and whom it shall
benefit.
1.7.1 Feasibility Study -
1.8 Scope and limitation of the Study
i) This is a kind of a disclaimer. Should cite the focus of the study geographical area
or target group/ population/technology scope web based, android based, stand alone , distributed
etc

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
i) The introduction should provide structure of this chapter in line with objectives in
Chapter One.
2.2. General overview of Literature Related to the Main Concepts
2.3. Review literature based on Objective One
2.4. Review literature based on Objective Two
2.5. Review literature based on Objective Three
N/B. The literature review by objective should clearly highlight the knowledge you find
already existing in relation to the study problem. In addition it should bring out what is still
not known about this study problem, i.e. the knowledge gaps. Show clearly which gaps in
knowledge with regard to and not excluding methodology, theory, scope and how these link
to your proposed study.

2.6 Design Framework

A design framework is a simple visual structure that helps organize the information and ideas of a
problem so you can work on it more effectively
i) This is the researcher’s own perception of the problem and how variables operate
in influencing each other. The Design Framework unpacks the title and
graphically presents the components of the research as well the variables involved technically eg
databases, User interfaces, inter components communications etc
 The researcher is expected to provide a graphic presentation that is self
explanatory showing how various variables interact and the direction of the
outcomes from such interactions.
ii)
The researcher should offer a brief explanation of the Design framework for
clarification of the flow.

iii)
iv)
study.
Guidelines for preparing Research Proposal/Project/Thesis Page 16
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
i) Provide an outline of the contents of the chapter.
3.2 Research Design methods
i) Indicate type of Research Design a, justify the choice of type of research eg Waterfall
Design process design by citing authority.
ii) Link the design to the topic
3.3 Location of the Study
i) State the Location of the Study and actual sites where research will be conducted,
(ii) Justify the choice of that location
(iii) Discuss the characteristics unique to the site that are relevant to the study problem
3.4. Population of the Study
i) Describe the population from where your research sample will be selected (population could
be the number of computers,Technology, mobile devices etc). This should
include Target as well as Accessible Population.
(ii) Justify the choice of the target population and give figures where appropriate.
3.5 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size
3.5.1 Sampling Procedure
i) This section should indicate the manner in which the final sample size was arrived at
e.g. purposive, convenient, random etc.
3.5.2 Sample Size
i) Give the proportion of the sample in relation to the accessible population .e.g. how
many staff interviewed from each selected class; how many teachers (heads of
departments, class teachers etc.)
ii) The sample sizes should be presented in a table format where there is more than
on category of target population.
iii) Where a formula was used, indicate the source and the workout of the figures arrived
at in the sample size.
3.6 Data Collection Procedure.
i)
ii) Describe the entire process of conducting actual research.
Preliminary agreements with the respondents, when and how the instruments will
iii be delivered.
)
3.8 System analysis and design
3.8.1 Context diagram
3.8 .2 DFD diagram
3.8 .3 E-R diagram
3.8 .4 UML Diagrams (if any), class diagrams , Use case analysis etc.
3.8 .5 proposed System design { screen shots( if any)}
3.8.6 Proposed Testing techniques
3.8.7 Conclusion and Recommendation

3.9 REFERENCES

APPENDICES (I, II, III, IV )

END OF PROPOSAL

Chapter Four
4.0 System design and Implementation
This chapter describes the coding, testing and deployment of the project, this marks the
beginning of the SOLUTION domain
4.1 system description
4.1.2 Front end development(you can put some code extract )
4.1.3 User interface Design
4.1.4 Interface modules ( screenshot + explanation)
4.2 Back end development
4.2.1 Database Design models
4.2.2 Tables (if any) or data models CSV file Artff etc.
4.2.3 System testing
4.3 Conclusion and Future work

REFERENCES.
Use the latest APA (American Psychological Association) Format for the entire proposal,
especially the references in the text and the bibliography).
Andrew
Bob
Cain
.
.
.
.
.Y
.Z
APPENDICES
i) Number appendix using Roman numbers
ii) Appendix I- should be research instruments
Appendix II- Work plan
iii Appendix III- budget
) Appendix IV-maps and other graphics where applicable. Any other useful info
iv
) notes/documents e.g. copy of research permit/authorization if any
v)