RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A BRIEF GUIDELINE
Dr. Ida Rosnita Ismail
UKM-Graduate School of Business
 • Popular writing (e.g. article in magazine,
newspapers, social media, and book).

Research • Report (e.g. annual report, performance

report, and laboratory report)
Proposal ≠
• Academic essay (e.g. term paper, common
Fundamental research
essay, and narratives).
Applied research
Action research
• Complete research work (e.g. journal article,
complete dissertation or thesis, conference
paper, and research book).

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Writing a research proposal:
• is not about what you see but how you make others see what you see.
• does not emphasize on what has been done but what else can be done to
address a problem.
• is not about your experience, observation and belief but about the
accumulated knowledge regarding the problem that has been validated
and verified by a community of scholars within the field.
• is not about creating a novel knowledge but about extending the existing
body of knowledge.
• requires paradigm shift from practical mindset to theoretical mindset,
and bridge the two paradigms.
• is not about mere writing but about writing with critical thinking and
using scholarly language.
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 • Theoretical arguments
• Synthesis of past studies
• Articulation of ideas
Important
elements in writing • Own voice (i.e., so what?)
a research proposal • Relevance over interesting
• Empirical supports
• Justifications (i.e., why?)

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Elements in Research Proposal
INTRODUCTION
Highlighting the phenomenon
of interest (POI)
Creating urgency for
addressing the POI
Identifying research gaps in
the literature
Stating research questions and
research objectives
Explaining the contributions
of the study
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LITERATURE METHOD
REVIEW
Describing the selected Justifying the research design
underpinning theories Describing the population,
Synthesizing and articulating sample and unit of analysis
past literature Explaining the sampling
Developing hypotheses strategy and sample size
Proposing a research model Describing data collection
(or conceptual framework) strategy and measures
Specifying data analysis
strategy
5
 CHAPTER 1
How to write the introduction?

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Elements in Research Proposal
INTRODUCTION
Highlighting the phenomenon
of interest (POI)
Creating urgency for
addressing the POI
Identifying research gaps in
the literature
Stating research questions and
research objectives
Explaining the contributions
of the study
DR. IDA ROSNITA ISMAIL. 2021 COPYRIGHT RESERVED.
LITERATURE METHOD
REVIEW
Describing the selected Justifying the research design
underpinning theories Describing the population,
Synthesizing and articulating sample and unit of analysis
past literature Explaining the sampling
Developing hypotheses strategy and sample size
Proposing a research model Describing data collection
(or conceptual framework) strategy and measures
Specifying data analysis
strategy
7
Background of study
• Purpose: to introduce the problem and create a state of urgency in addressing the problem.

• What to include?
1. General introduction to the study problem – what it is?
2. Importance of the study problem – why it is important “now”?
3. Supporting facts, preferably some statistics published by authorities, about the study problem.
4. The “problem” about the study problem – creating the urgency with justifications (i.e., so what?).
5. An impactful conclusion – the “bam”!

• How to write?
• Use your creativity but it must follow the academic standard.
• Avoid starting with question, which is a popular writing approach.
• Length of the background is between 2 to 3 pages only.

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Note on Research Problem
• A research problem is different from a research gap.

• A research problem typically relates to the practical problem in actual setting.

• A research gap relates to the unfulfilled theoretical knowledge about the problem.

• A research problem answers the “so, what” question, whereas research gap answers the “what else”,
“why”, and “how” questions.

• A problem that is, has been, or can be solved using existing knowledge without having to undertake a
research effort does not qualify as a research problem.

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Problem Statement & Gaps
Paragraph 1 – contextualizing the study problem
1. State the general introduction or background to the problem within your context.
2. Describe why the problem has caused a stir to the relevant stakeholders.
3. Explain what actions have been taken to address the problem and why it does not work.
4. Connect to the ultimate outcome if such problem is not addressed – establishing phenomenon
of interest (i.e., POI).

Paragraph 2 – determining the theoretical gaps

1. Identify evidence from previous studies about how to address the POI.
2. Describe each option and its effects on the POI.
3. Choose an option and provide reason for its suitability.
4. State the purpose of the current study.

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Research Questions & Objectives
• Research questions follows the research gaps of the research problem.

• Quantitative research questions start with “Do”, “Does”, “Is”, and “Are”, whereas qualitative research
questions start with “What”, “Why”, and “How”.

• Qualitative studies rely heavily on research questions, but quantitative studies have a few research
questions – usually one grand research question incorporating all study variables’ relationships is
sufficient for a quantitative study.

• Research objectives must be measureable, and usually follows the SMART principle.

• The choice of word is important in research objectives because the words will determine the required
data analysis technique of the study.

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Contribution & Significance of Study
• Contribution of the study ≠ significance of the study.

• Contribution is about how will your research contribute or add to the existing body of knowledge for
both scholars and practitioners? Additional knowledge.

• Significance is about why should the stakeholders be bothered by your research, and what difference
will your study bring to the existing theory and practice? Importance of study.

• Both contribution and significance must be discussed in terms of theory and practice – known as
theoretical contribution/significance and practical contribution/significance.

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Scope of Study
• Scope of study refers to the extent of to which the research area will be explored, and it specifies the
parameter of the study.

• Delimitation of research is part of the scope of the study.

• Explanation of scope of study includes, but not limited to:

1. General purpose of the study.
2. The study population or sample.
3. The duration of study.
4. The topics and theories to be discussed.
5. The geographical location to be covered.
6. The choice of method.

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Key Definitions
• Key definitions relate to the variables of your study, not general terms.

• Two approaches: conceptual definition or operational definition.

• Why it matters? A variable can be defined in many ways; thus, you define the variable according to the
need of your study objective.

• Conceptual definition refers to how you define a variable based on its concept.
• Corporate reputation is a collection of individuals’ attitudes about a company based on
subjective, emotional, and cognitive mindsets (Schwaiger, 2004).

• Operational definition refers to how you measure the variable based on the conceptual definition.
• Corporate reputation is the extent to which a client thinks that an organization is competent in
delivering its services and like about the organization.

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 CHAPTER 2
How to write the literature review?

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Elements in Research Proposal
INTRODUCTION
Highlighting the phenomenon
of interest (POI)
Creating urgency for
addressing the POI
Identifying research gaps in
the literature
Stating research questions and
research objectives
Explaining the contributions
of the study
DR. IDA ROSNITA ISMAIL. 2021 COPYRIGHT RESERVED.
LITERATURE METHOD
REVIEW
Describing the selected Justifying the research design
underpinning theories Describing the population,
Synthesizing and articulating sample and unit of analysis
past literature Explaining the sampling
Developing hypotheses strategy and sample size
Proposing a research model Describing data collection
(or conceptual framework) strategy and measures
Specifying data analysis
strategy
16
Literature Review
• Must be recent – 5 years or less (e.g., 2017 – 2021) – exception: historical development of the POI.

• Avoid reporting, but focus on synthesizing – requires divergent search and convergent thinking.

• Once synthesized, include your own voice – “so, what?”

• Narratives are often placed in thematic style and logical sequence.

• Use simple English and appropriate tenses . Avoid combining too many ideas in a sentence. Avoid
using jargons, proverbs, idioms, metaphors, and simile. Avoid using too many conjunctions.
Signposting is welcome.

• Include relevant and interesting or relevant but not interesting support only. Avoid including not
relevant but interesting or not relevant and not interesting support.

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Underpinning Theories
• Distinguish between a general theory and an underpinning theory.

• General theory discusses the concept and may or may not discuss the relationship.

• Underpinning theory discusses the relationship between two variables – explain the arrow/relationship
in a conceptual framework.

• Underpinning theory can explain the whole model or a specific relationship – adopt or adapt.

• It is the basis of hypothesis development.

• The choice of underpinning theory depends on the research objective.

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Hypotheses Development
• Each hypothesis must be justified.

• No specific way, but the common and easy way is to follow these steps:
1. State the relationship and relate to the underpinning theory, or vice versa.
2. Explain how variable X relates to variable Y according to the underpinning theory.
3. Provide theoretical justifications – insert your own voice, logical arguments, and provide specific
example.
4. Support with empirical findings – results from previous studies that show there is a relationship
between variable X and variable Y, either direct evidence or indirect evidence.
5. Develop the hypothesis based on the justified arguments you have presented above,

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Conceptual Framework

X Y X M Y

X1
Z
X2 Y
X Y

X3

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Conceptual Framework

Z
Z
X1

X Y M1 Y1
X2

M2 Y2
X3
X M Y

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 CHAPTER 3
How to write the method?

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Elements in Research Proposal
INTRODUCTION
Highlighting the phenomenon
of interest (POI)
Creating urgency for
addressing the POI
Identifying research gaps in
the literature
Stating research questions and
research objectives
Explaining the contributions
of the study
DR. IDA ROSNITA ISMAIL. 2021 COPYRIGHT RESERVED.
LITERATURE METHOD
REVIEW
Describing the selected Justifying the research design
underpinning theories Describing the population,
Synthesizing and articulating sample and unit of analysis
past literature Explaining the sampling
Developing hypotheses strategy and sample size
Proposing a research model Describing data collection
(or conceptual framework) strategy and measures
Specifying data analysis
strategy
23
Research Design
• Research design must be in line with the research objective.

• Quantitative design, qualitative design, and mixed-method design.

• Common designs – survey, in-depth interview, experiential sampling, case study, grounded theory,
ethnography, and experiment.

• Mixed-method design is chosen based on specific reason – research question must indicate the need to
employ this design, which, in turn, is based on the research gaps.

• Time horizon – cross-sectional or longitudinal.

• Settings – contrived or non-contrived (natural setting).

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Population and Sample
• Population must relate to the research problem and gaps.

• Sample is drawn from the population – must be representative of the study population.

• Various sampling strategies – choose the most appropriate, not the most convenient.

• Expected sample size must be mentioned – various ways to calculate the size, but justifications must be
made based on the range established in previous studies.

• Unit of analysis – individual, dyad, group/team, organization.

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Data Collection
• Instruments selected must match with the research objectives.

• Common instruments: survey questionnaire, semi-structured in-depth interview, observation,

experimental manipulation, focus group, and Delphi technique.

• Survey questionnaire – highly recommended to adopt or adapt, but not self-developed, which requires
a researcher to establish reliability and validity.

• Run a pretest and a pilot test before collecting data for actual/full/complete study.

• Must describe how exactly data collection is to be carried out – including ethics approval if necessary.

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Data Analysis Strategy
• The choice made must relate to the research objectives.

• Three levels of analysis: descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory.

• Differentiate between data analysis technique and software/programs.

• Differentiate between preliminary analysis (note: the data cleaning stage) and main analysis.
1. Missing values – including incomplete data
2. Outliers
3. Data distribution
4. Linearity
5. Multicollinearity
6. Nonresponse bias
• Report both descriptive analyses (usually background of the respondents) and inferential analysis for
the main analysis.

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QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
Decision Tree

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 ALL
THE
BEST!
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