Research Method (MSW)

January, 2011
Components of research proposal
Day five

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal

1. Title page
• It is a definite and concise indication of what is to
come.
• The title of your research proposal should state
your topic exactly in the smallest possible
number of words.
• Put your name, the name of your
department/faculty/college, the name of your
advisor(s) and date of delivery under the title.
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal

2. Abstract
• The abstract is a brief summary of the thesis
proposal.
• In most cases it isn’t more than 500 words.
• It needs to show how your work fits into what is
already known about the topic and what new
contribution your work will make.
• Though it appears at the front of the proposal, it
is written last.
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal
3. Introduction/Background
• The introduction should be focused on the research question.
• It provides background information for the research proposal.
• It is important to establish a framework for the research.
• It is also very important to motivate your reader to read the
rest of the proposal.
• You need to cite those who have done the most relevant work.
• All cited work should be directly relevant to the goals of the
research.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal

4. Statement of the problem

• The research problem has to be clearly
identified.
• You need to look for questions about your
problem to which answers have not been
found up to the present (gap in the literature).
• Why your research need to be conducted has
to be clearly spelled out to the readers.
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal
5. Literature review
• the researcher has to obtained sound knowledge with regard to
the research topic.
• It is a description of the literature relevant to a particular
research problem.
• It will narrow the scope of what you need to look out for when
you read.
• It will help you to synthesize results into a summary of what is
and is not known.
• It will also helps to identify areas of controversy in the literature.
• It is the pillar to formulate questions that need further research.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal
6. Hypotheses /Questions
• It can be inferred from the overall problem
formulation of the study.
• Questions are most often used in qualitative inquiry.
• Hypotheses are relevant to theoretical research and
are typically used only in quantitative inquiry.
• Questions or hypotheses could be used depends on
factors such as the purpose of the study, the nature
of the design and methodology of the research.
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal
7. Conceptual framework
• A conceptual framework is described as a set of broad ideas and
principles taken from relevant fields of enquiry and used to
structure a subsequent presentation.
• The framework is a research tool intended to assist a researcher to
develop awareness and understanding of the situation under
scrutiny and to communicate this.
• Selecting and specifying what we believe to be the most important
or relevant variables to measure.
• Stating the value categories or values that each variable can assume.
• Specifying as precisely as possible exactly what we will mean by
those variables.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal
8. Objective/Aim of the study
• Vague and overly broad objectives must be clarified or reduced in
scope so that they are amenable to measurement.
• The objectives of a research delineate the ends or aim which the
inquirer seeks to bring about as a result of completing the research
undertaken.
• The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be
achieved by the study.
• After the primary objective, secondary objectives may be mentioned.
• Properly formulated objectives will facilitate the development of your
research methodology and will help to orient the collection, analysis,
interpretation and utilization of data.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal
9. Ethical considerations
• The person researching the issue has to be described with his/her
role.
• The power relations between the researcher and the participants
need to be explained.
• If any children involved under the age of 18 years how they are
going to be treated?
• If there is any potential physical or psychological risk to the
participants it has to be clearly mentioned.
• How will confidentiality or anonymity be maintained?
• Provide the details of any monetary or other compensation that will
be offered to participants, if applicable.
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal
10. Research methods
– Study design
– Study subjects
– Eligibility Criteria (if any)
– Sample size
– Sampling methods
– Method of data collection
– Description of variables
– Data quality assurance
– Operational definitions
– Plan of data analysis
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU
 Components of a research proposal
11. Work plan
• Work plan is a schedule, chart or graph that summarizes
the different components of a research proposal and how
they will be implemented in a coherent way within a
specific time-span.
• Different components/phases/stages of the study should
be stated.
• Description of activities in each phase has to be explained.
• Time required to accomplish the various aspects of the
study should also be indicated.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal
12. Budget
• Cost for every budget item should be quantitatively shown.
• A proposal budget reflects direct and indirect costs :
– Personnel
– Consumable supplies
– Equipments
– Travel
– Communications
– Publication
– Overhead costs for institutions or associations
– General administrative cost
– Operational and maintenance
– Depreciation and use allowance

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal

13. References
• You must give references to all the information
that you obtain from books, papers in
journals, and other sources.
• The information you give in the reference list
must be enough for readers to find the books
and papers in a library or a database.

Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at

AAU
 Components of a research proposal

14. Appendices/Annexes
• Include in the appendices of your proposal any
additional information you think might be
helpful to a proposal reviewer. For example,
include:
– Questionnaire & other collection forms
– replica tables
– Biographical data on the principal investigator
– The consent form (if any)
Ashenafi Hagos School of Social Work at
AAU