Faculty of Administrative Science

& Policy Studies

Universiti Teknologi MARA

Bachelor of Administrative Science

Title of Proposal
THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE JOB
STRESS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS AT THE MALAYSIAN
ELECTION COMMISSION

SANISAH BINTI MOHD ALI

2019741685

[type the month & year]

 Acknowledgement
[not more than a page]

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 2 / 15

 Declaration

I hereby declare that the work contained in this research proposal is my own
except those which have been duly identified and acknowledged. If I am later
found to have plagiarized or to have committed other forms of academic
dishonesty, action can be taken against me under the Academic Regulations of
UiTM’s.

Signed

------------------------------------------
Name:

Matric No.:

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 3 / 15

 Table of contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Introduction 2
1.2 Problem statement 3
1.3 Research objectives
1.4 Scope of the study
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Definition of terms/concepts

Chapter 2 : Literature Review & Conceptual Framework

2.1 Introduction
2.1.2
2.1.2
2.2
2.3 [ headings as needed to organize the review]
2.4 Conceptual framework
2.5 Hypothesis (If any)

Chapter 3 : Research Method

3.1 Research design

3.2 Unit of analysis
3.3 Sample size
3.4 Sampling technique
3.5 Measurement/Instrumentation
3.6 Data collection
3.7 Data analysis

References [following the prescribed format]

Appendix A [questionnaire, interview guide,
sampling frame etc)
Appendix B

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 4 / 15

 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

[Provide a general introduction to the topic. Imagine that you are talking to
someone who has little or no knowledge of the topic or issues that you are
proposing to study. It is important to lead the reader to the problem in logical
manner. Usually you should go from the general to the specific.].

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 5 / 15

1.2 Problem statement

[One page description of the problem that is the focus of this proposed study.
Provide data or support for the existence or seriousness of the problem]

Keep in mind the symptoms (what we can see, hear, feel, sense and smell) of
the problem and the problem itself. Develop evidence of the symptoms and state
the asserted cause/s that is the object of the study.

The central problem to be researched in the proposed study is the factors that
contribute to the job stress among civil servants at the Malaysian Election
Commission. As a basis for the study, the researcher identified the overall
problem to be twofold.

First, there is an issue concerning workload given to the civil servants in this
department becoming one of the factors contributed to the job stress. The
relevance of the workload may be subjective depending on the type of service
entrusted to the Malaysian Election Commission, but it should not be far from the
actual scope of work of civil servants in this department based on the position
held. The issue identified by the researcher was whether too much workload or
the irrelevancy of the workload be a factor of the job stress. The issue is whether
workload given is agreed upon by all civil servants in this department be one of
the factors contributing to job stress. The researcher for the present study will
reference Jaafar’s research to determine the relationship between workload and
stress (Syaiful Jaafar, 2020).

Last, there is an issue concerning the role of top management also affects work
pressure among staff at the Malaysian election commission. In the government
sector, top management plays the role of policy maker where those policies will
then be implemented by civil servants under their supervision. However, the
issue identified by the researcher is whether they are fully responsible in
managing the role of the department. The issue is whether role neglect by
superiors is also a factor in the work pressure of subordinates. Giving staff the
opportunity to share their feelings and stress may contribute to understanding the
root causes of problems and the best solutions.

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 6 / 15

1.3 Research Questions

[What about this problem that is puzzling? What would you like to seek address
or answers for? These questions should be important, serious, specific and with
implications for the theory and practice]. The answer to these questions will
provide solutions to the problem.

1.4 Research Objectives

[Statements that clearly show what the research will seek to achieve. These
statements must be start with an action verb – identify, determine, ascertain,
list,]. These objectives are related to the research questions posed earlier.

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 7 / 15

1.5 Scope of Study

[The study is limited to time, place, level etc. The design choices made for
reasons of time and resources also become limitations of the study]. Conceptual
framework will delimit the study by looking at some but not all aspects of the
problem/phenomenon. While delimitation may appear like scope, there is no
need to explain this here. Your conceptual framework will do that.

1.6 Significance of the proposed study

[How will this study help to solve problems or be useful? A good guide is to
categorise the significance section in terms of theory, practice, policy etc.]

1.7 Definition of terms, terminology and concepts

[Provide a dictionary type definition of the terms and concepts to enable readers
to follow the dissertation. Definition, unless is yours, must come with a reference.
Don’t rely on Wikipedia too much for this. Find more serious sources from your
literature]

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 8 / 15

 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW & CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Literature review

[Review of related and recent articles on the issues of interest. You should
organise the review of the studies according to the concepts/variables in the
conceptual framework. The studies reviewed should the basis for the definition
and also the relationship of the variables with others. The review can also
provide pointers on the new aspects that could be researched].

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 9 / 15

2.2 Conceptual Framework

Based on the review of literature and also observation and insight into the
problem you should develop a conceptual framework of the proposed study.
What are my IVs? What is my DV? Are there mediating or moderating variables?
What is the relationship between these variables? Are there hypotheses? Are
there directional or non-directional hypotheses? How are the variables related?
What is the evidence or basis of making these claims of relationship?

Remember models describe the relationship but theories explain the relationship.
What is overall theory can be used to justify the relationship? Input-output model,
Skinner’s Behavioral Theory, Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, Fishbein &
Azjen’s Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behavior Theory, Becker’s Human Capital
Theory, Lawler’s Expectancy Theory, Blau’s Social Exchange Theory,
Contingency Theory etc.

2.3 Summary

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 10 / 15

 CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHOD

3.1 Introduction

Provide a brief statement of what this chapter will do

3.2 Research design

Correlational, causal, cross-sectional, experimental, quasi-experimental,

longitudinal, factorial etc.

3.3 Unit/level of analysis

Who or what will be studied?

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 11 / 15

3.4 Sample size

How many respondents, case or units needed for the study? This number must
be determined on the basis of sampling error, statistical requirement, statistical
power etc.

3.5 Sampling technique

What is the sampling frame to be used? What sampling technique to be used

and why?

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 12 / 15

3.6 Measurement/Instrumentation

3.6.1 Variable A: what is the definition? What is the operational definition? Will
you use an existing measurement of the variable or develop a new one?
Will you adapt the existing measures? Are they several options? Why did
you choose this one? Do you have evidence of it reliability, validity,
suitability, appropriateness, simplicity, conceptual relevance etc.
3.6.2 Repeat for every variable in the conceptual framework.
3.6.3 Summarise the measurement issues in a tabular format [optional]

3.7 Data collection

Explain all the procedures to be followed in collecting the data. Don’t simplify it.
Add as much detail as you can. Include the process, time, people etc.

3.8 Data analysis

How will you analysis the data to draw conclusions?

3.8.1 Descriptive analysis

How will you profile or describe your the data? Frequency, counts, distributions,
means, standard deviations.

3.8.2 Testing of the hypotheses

What statistics will you use to test the relationships and test the hypotheses? Is
statistical tool adequate for the job?

3.8.3 Summarize these decisions in tabular format as illustrated below.

REFERENCES

[ Arranged in alphabetical order with a ½ inch handing indent]

Make sure all the references cited are listed here.

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 14 / 15

APPENDICES

Relevant and related materials (i.e. questionnaire)

Research Method & Data Analysis (ADS 511) – Research Proposal 15 / 15