SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES

TEMPLATE FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE TEMPLATE

1. Important: Switch on the paragraph markers (formatting codes) by clicking the icon on
the Standard toolbar in MS Word. You can also show or hide the paragraph markers by
clicking Tools, Options on the top menu bar. The “Options” dialogue box will appear. Click on
the “View” tab. Under “Formatting marks”, tick (select) the “All” tick box.
2. Do not delete any of the section breaks that appear in this document. These breaks control
the page numbering. The page numbering will be messed up if you delete any of the section
breaks in the document.
3. Delete the text in blue and the warning messages in red once you have read the
instructions. The text in black should be retained and may be changed.
4. Remember to update the Table of Contents, List of Figures and List of Tables before you
print the final version of your assignment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This template is developed for use in the School of Health Care Sciences. It is adapted from the
template by T Kotze (Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Pretoria), by
evaluating existing guidelines (e.g. TNM 800) used in the Faculty of Health Sciences for suitability
and by considering existing assessment criteria used by the Research and Postgraduate
Committee of the School of Health Care Sciences. For specific research designs and
circumstances the structure / template may require further adjustment.
Committee members: M Aronstam, T Heyns, C Makanjee, Z White, F Wenhold (Chair) (2011)
Changes were made to the template developed for quantitative research proposals by the following
committee members: R Leech (Chair), M de Beer, C Maree, I Coetzee (2011)

Delete the block of blue text above and the page break below once you have read
the instructions.

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 Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Health Care Sciences
Department (insert name of department)

PROPOSED TITLE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Type the wording of the proposed title of your research project in capital letters in the place of the words
“PROPOSED TITLE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT” above.

Remember, good titles are

 concise and
 reflect exactly what the project is about.

The title should convince the critical, but emphatic reader (supervisor, reviewer, ethics committee member or
funder) that what follows is probably academically, scientifically, ethically and financially sound, acceptable and
feasible.

Research proposal for the degree (name of degree)

Student name: (full name & surname)

Student number: (if applicable)

Contact details:
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
Cell:
E-mail:

Supervisor: (Title, initials, surname)

Co-supervisor: (if applicable; Title, initials, surname)

Date:

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 EVALUATION INSTRUMENT FOR QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS
SCHOOL OF HEALTHCARE SCIENCES

Student:___________________________________________________________________________
This instrument must be used in conjunction with the templates developed for qualitative and quantitative
research proposals
The criteria do not reflect the chronological order as indicated in the templates
Criterion
As indicated in template Rubrics

Unsatisfactory

Accomplished
Unsatisfactory Missing/Unclear

Developing
Developing Conditionally satisfactory / Requires minimal changes
Accomplished Achieved level of competency

Abstract Comments/Suggestions

Title Comments/Suggestions

Comments/Suggestions
Introduction /
Background / Literature
review

Rationale Comments/Suggestions

Problem statement Comments/Suggestions

Assumptions and Comments/Suggestions

delineations/
delimitations

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Criterion
As indicated in template Rubrics

Unsatisfactory

Accomplished
Unsatisfactory Missing/Unclear

Developing
Developing Conditionally satisfactory / Requires minimal changes
Accomplished Achieved level of competency

Research question(s), Comments/Suggestions

aim and objectives, or
hypothesis

Significance / Comments/Suggestions
Importance,
Benefits

Concept clarification Comments/Suggestions

Research design Comments/Suggestions

Context / Setting Comments/Suggestions

Methodology

Population / Unit Comments/Suggestions

of analysis
Sampling

Data collection Comments/Suggestions

and instrument(s)

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Criterion
As indicated in template Rubrics

Unsatisfactory

Accomplished
Unsatisfactory Missing/Unclear

Developing
Developing Conditionally satisfactory / Requires minimal changes
Accomplished Achieved level of competency

Pilot study Comments/Suggestions

(Only for
quantitative
studies)

Data analysis Comments/Suggestions

Rigour Comments/Suggestions

Ethical considerations Comments/Suggestions

Participant Information
Leaflet
Consent

Logistical planning Comments/Suggestions

Budget, timeframe,
dissemination

Referencing Comments/Suggestions

Language, style and Comments/Suggestions

technical care of the
document

Annexures Comments/Suggestions
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Final comments:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recommendation
Approved
Approved with minor changes
Re-submit

______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Name of reviewer Signature of reviewer

Date: _____________________________

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................2
2 RATIONALE........................................................................................................ 2
3 PROBLEM STATEMENT....................................................................................2
4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY..................................................2
5 RESEARCH QUESTION(S)................................................................................3
6 AIM AND OBJECTIVES......................................................................................3
7 CONCEPT CLARIFICATION...............................................................................4
8 PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS.....................................................................4
8.1 ONTOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS..................................................................4
8.2 EPISTEMOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS.........................................................4
8.3 METHODOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS..........................................................4
9 DELINEATION.....................................................................................................5
10 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN..................................................................5
10.1 TYPE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN...........................................5
10.2 METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................5
10.2.1 Context...................................................................................................5
10.2.2 Selection of participants / Unit of analysis..............................................5
10.2.3 Data collection/generation......................................................................6
10.2.4 Data organisation...................................................................................6
10.2.5 Data analysis..........................................................................................7
10.2.6 Data interpretation..................................................................................7
10.2.7 Trustworthiness......................................................................................7
11 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................7
12 TIME SCHEDULE............................................................................................... 7
13 BUDGET / RESOURCES....................................................................................7
14 DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS.........................................................................8
15 REFERENCES....................................................................................................8
16 aNNEXURES.......................................................................................................8

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Note: You will have to type in the starting page number of each annexure by hand in place
of the # sign.

To update the table of contents:

1. Highlight the body of the table of contents (exclude the heading and appendices).
2. Click right on your mouse.
3. Choose “Update field” from the pop-up menu.
4. The dialogue box shown to the right will
appear. Choose the applicable option. Use
“Update page numbers only” to update the
page numbers and “Update entire table” to
add new entries to the Table of Contents.
Click “OK”.

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 LIST OF FIGURES
(Place on a separate page after the Table of Contents)

Figure 1: DUMMY FIGURE CAPTION................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

The list of tables and figures should be placed on a separate page after the table of
contents. If the list of tables and the list of figures are short, they may be placed together
on one page. Delete the list of figures and/or list of tables if you have no figures and/or
tables in your document.

To update the list of figures / list of tables:

1. Highlight the body of the list (exclude the heading).
2. Click right on your mouse.
3. Choose “Update field” from the pop-up menu.
4. The dialogue box shown below will appear. Choose the applicable option. Use
“Update page numbers only” to update the page numbers and “Update entire table”
to add new entries to the table. Click “OK”.

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: DUMMY TABLE CAPTION..................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

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 LIST OF ANNEXURES

ANNEXURE A: Declaration regarding plagiarism ..................................................... #

ANNEXURE B: 1st draft of data collection instrument(-s)............................................ #
ANNEXURE C: Informed consent form....................................................................... #
ANNEXURE D: Letters of approval............................................................................. #

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / ACRONYMS

ABBREVIATIONS / ACRONYMS
Arrange these alphabetically
Check for consistent punctuation

Abbreviation /
Meaning
acronym

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ABSTRACT

An abstract is a summary of the research proposal. It contains a brief description of the following:

 Introduction (Why this research is necessary)

 Aims / objectives
 Research design
 Methods (How the research will be conducted)
 Significance of the study (What would be the impact of the research)
 Dissemination of results

(Approximately 1 page)

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1 INTRODUCTION
Give a brief introduction in order to orientate your reader to your research topic, in other
words you have to put your research focus in context (approximately 15 lines).

2 RATIONALE
The rationale should be clear on why it is necessary to do this research study. The
following statements should be included:

 The reasons why the researcher developed an interest in this research topic.
 The gaps which consist in the existing knowledge about this topic.
 Why the problem is important enough to be researched, i.e. the justification for
conducting this research.

*Please note that a preliminary literature review should be included only if it

is relevant to the methodology of the study. The preliminary literature review
should have a direct link to and provide support for the focus of your study, stating
briefly what is currently known about the topic (applicable research / relevant
updated information). Include correctly formatted in-text references (citations) to
the sources used. It should make sense and have a logical sequence and flow
(logical train of thought).

3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
The problem statement should be formulated in such a way that it captures or describes
the essence or core of the research problem (what the problem is and why it is a
problem). You should be clear about the essence of your enquiry.

4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY

The importance or benefits of this study should explain what contribution it would make
to the existing body of knowledge about this topic.

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5 RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The primary question (main question) should be formulated in such a way that it is clear
to an outside reader. Appropriate secondary questions could also be formulated if there
is more than one question that should be answered.

6 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

Formulation of aim
 The aim of the study should be clearly stated. There should be a link between the aim
and the title of the research study.

Formulation of objectives
 State exactly what outcomes have to be achieved in order to achieve the objectives.

Note:
 Quality thoughts precede quality results
 Keep it short, but complete
 Avoid generalisation.

Research objectives / specific research questions should preferably be presented in a

bulleted list. Do the following to ensure that your bulleted points are properly formatted:

 Option 1: Type the points to be bulleted in separate lines one below the other. Select
the text that you have typed so that it is highlighted in black. Choose the
“List Bullet” option from the “Style” dropdown list on the Formatting toolbar to format
the text as a bulleted list. DO NOT use the “Bullets” ( ) icon on the Formatting
toolbar.

Click here to open the

“Style” dropdown list.

 Option 2: Copy and the paste the dummy bulleted points that appear below to the
required position and then change the text to the text you need.

Dummy bulleted points:

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 Bullet point 1

 Bullet point 2

 Bullet point 3

7 CONCEPT CLARIFICATION
Provide definitions for the most important key concepts used in your study. The key
concepts usually appear in the title of the study, but there might be additional concepts of
importance which should be clarified.

If you are quoting definitions directly from another source, then these quoted definitions
should be placed in quotation marks with an appropriate in-text reference. It should also be
clarified how the definition is applied in your study.

8 PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
The following philosophical assumptions should be described in your research proposal:

8.1 ONTOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

You should state in your ontological assumptions how a human being’s social reality
(social world) could be understood (nature of reality).

8.2 EPISTEMOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

You should state in your epistemological assumptions how knowledge about a human
being’s experience of his/her social reality (social world) could be viewed.

8.3 METHODOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

You should state in your methodological assumptions how you as researcher could go
about gaining knowledge about a human being’s experience of their social reality (social
world).

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9 DELINEATION
You should explicitly focus and clarify the scope of your study, while retaining the
significance thereof.

10 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

10.1 TYPE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN

Describe the type of your research design clearly and refer to reputable research
textbooks and / or articles. Include a description of how it will be applied in your study.

10.2 METHODOLOGY
Describe your methodological choices clearly and provide sound justification for your
choices where required. The more detailed your discussion, the easier it is for the reader
to determine exactly how you will conduct your research and why you have made the
methodological decisions described here. Typical sections included in this part of the
proposal are
 The selection of participants or unit of analysis and the sampling thereof (who / what,
how and why)
 Method(s) of data collection (how and why)
 Method(s) of data organisation (how and why)
 Data analysis strategy (how and why)
 Date interpretation (how and why)
If you have more than one objective, it is recommended to discuss the above separate for
each objective to prevent confusion.

10.2.1 Context
Clarify the setting or context of the study.

10.2.2 Selection of participants / Unit of analysis

10.2.2.1 Population / Unit of analysis
The population of the study can be described as the “population” or the “unit of
analysis”. If you plan to use people as the participants of the study, “population” is the

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correct term. If you plan to use records, books, literature, legislation and so on, “unit of
analysis” is the correct term.

When describing the target population of your study, you should preferably answer the
following questions as precisely as possible: Who? Located where? Doing what? When?
Consider the following example:

Who? Located where?

Grade 11 and 12 learners enrolled at public high schools in Tshwane

during the 2008 academic year.

Doing what?
When?

10.2.2.2 Sampling method

Describe clearly which sampling method will be used, what it means, how it will be used
and why it is chosen.

10.2.3 Data collection/generation

Describe data that will be collected (what), the method that will be used to collect the data
(how) and indicate why. If you plan to use an interview guide a first draft should be
included in Annexure B of your draft proposal. Also include a cross-reference to this
appendix in your discussion in this section of your proposal (e.g., A first draft of the
interview guide to be used in this study is included as Annexure B).

10.2.4 Data organisation

You should indicate how you plan to organise your raw data (interview transcriptions,
documents, ideas, unconnected information scribbled on cards, photos of artefacts etc.)

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10.2.5 Data analysis
Provide a brief description of the steps (main approaches, methods and / or techniques)
that you will use to analyse the data collected for your study. A person with limited
background knowledge on the specific data analysis approach, method or technique
should be able to understand your explanation.

10.2.6 Data interpretation

Analysed data should be linked up with existing theory to show how it confirm or refute
existing theory or it should bring new understanding to existing knowledge.

10.2.7 Trustworthiness
Describe the strategies you would include in your study to ensure trustworthiness.

11 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Include the informed consent form in Annexure C of your draft proposal. Also include a
cross-reference to this appendix in this section of your proposal (e.g., Annexure C contains
a first draft of the informed consent form that will be used in the proposed study).

Include the letters of approvals from applicable institutions in Annexure D of your draft
proposal. Also include a cross-reference to this appendix in this section of your proposal
(e.g., Annexure D contains approval letters from Steve Biko Academic Hospital).

Keep in mind that the format of the documents to obtain consent from the participants as
well as institutions should be based on the template(s) of the Ethics Committee of the
Faculty of Health Sciences (available on the web-site of the university).

12 TIME SCHEDULE
Include your predicted time schedule for your study.

13 BUDGET / RESOURCES
Include a broad outline of your budget, as well as by whom it will be funded.

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14 DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS
Describe how the results will be disseminated (e.g. dissertation, publications, conferences,
workshops, etc.).

15 REFERENCES
All the sources that you have used in in-text citations in this document should be
included in a list of references.

The list of references must comply with all the general and specific requirements for the
reference system used e.g. Vancouver system / Harvard.

Please double-check that all in-text references are included in the “List of References” at
the end.

Use Refworks for ease of referencing.

Other software packages, like Reference Manager, will also be helpful of the document and
vice versa.

16 ANNEXURES

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 ANNEXURE A
- Declaration regarding plagiarism

By typing in your name in place of a signature, you indicate your acceptance of this
declaration.
Do not delete the section break at the bottom of this page as it controls page numbering in
the document. The page numbering will be messed up if you delete this section break!

General comments: All annexures

 Always include clear cross-references in the body text of your proposal to

material contained in an annexure. Use the following cross-referencing
methods: “The original measurement scale is included in Annexure E (p. 28).”
or “The three main forms of Internet advertisements are banner
advertisements, interstitials and pop-up advertisements (see Annexure E (p.
28) for examples).”

 All the pages of an appendix must be numbered as is shown in this template .

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Insert plagiarism form here

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 ANNEXURE B
st
- 1 draft of data collection instrument(-s) -

General comments: All appendices

 Always include clear cross-references in the body text of your proposal to material
contained in an appendix. Use the following cross-referencing methods: “The original
measurement scale is included in Appendix E (p. 28).” or “The three main forms of
Internet advertisements are banner advertisements, interstitials and pop-up
advertisements (see Appendix E (p. 28) for examples).”
 All the pages of an appendix must be numbered as is shown in this template.

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Insert the first draft of your data collection instrument(-s) here. You should use single line
spacing in this appendix to save space.

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 ANNEXURE C
- Informed consent form -

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Insert the informed consent form(-s) that will be used in your study here. You should use
single line spacing in this appendix to save space.

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 ANNEXURE D
- Letters of approval -

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Insert letters of approval here.

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