PREPARATION OF RESEARCH BLUE PRINT
INTRODUCTION
After identifying and defining the problem as also accomplishing the
relating task, the researcher must arrange his ideas in order and them in the
form of an experimental plan or what can be described as ‘Research Plan’. This is
essential specially for new researcher because of the following:
(a)
It
helps him to organize his ideas in a form in such a way that it will be
possible for him to look for inadequacies if any.
(b)
It
provides an inventory of what must be done and which
materials
have to be collected as a preliminary step.
(c)
It
is a document that can be given to others for comment.
(d)
This
serves as a basis for the determination of the feasibility of the project and
provides a systematic plan of procedure for the researcher to follow:
(e)
It
gives the research supervisor a basis for guiding the researcher in his pursuit
of study.
RESEARCH BLUE
PRINT OR PLAN
The preparation of a research
proposal or plan or blue print is an important step in the research process.
1.
Research
objective should be clearly stated in a line or two which tells exactly what it
is that the researcher expects do to.
2.
The
problem to be studied by researcher must be explicitly stated so that one may
know what information is to be obtained for slowing the problem.
3.
Each
major concept which researcher wants to measure should be defined in
operational terms.
4.
The
plan should contain the method to be used in solving the problem.
5.
The
plan must also state the details of the techniques to be adopted.
6.
A
clear mention of the population to be studied should be made.
7.
The
plan must also contain the methods to be used in processing the data.
8.
Results
of pilot test, if any should be reported. Time and cost budgets for the
research project should also be prepared
TYPES OF RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
Research proposal can be broadly classified in to three groups on the
basis of the type of research study to be undertaken and its purpose.
1.
The
most common proposal is of the type that is prepared by those who wish to
undertake research for their master’s doctoral degree in education.
2.
The
second type of research proposal is one that is submitted by a researcher to a
private or government agency for financial assistance.
3.
The
third category is the research proposal that is submitted by a university or a
college teacher to some research organisation such as university, the Indian
council of social services Research, the National Council of Educational
Research and training, the University Grants
commission or any other autonomous research organisation.
STAGES FOR OUTLINING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The following stages may be identified for outlining a
research proposal
1.
Stating
Problem
In terms of researcher’s interest,
society’s concern and academic contribution to the discipline.
2.
Specify
objectives of study
The specific objectives of the research may be pointed out,
limiting the goals in terms of time, money and resources available.
3.
Review
of literature or earlier studies.
All the available information on earlier studies and the
findings of various researches undertaken on different aspects of the problem
under study will familiarize the researcher with knowledge pertaining to the area of
study.
4.
Developing
conceptual scheme.
The researcher can provide the
conceptual scheme of his study by pointing out the relationship between the
selected variables.
5.
Training
hypotheses
With in the context of research proposal, hypotheses are
profounded in testable form. Their number may not be fixed but they have to be
closely related with the objectives of the project and have to be in a form so
that they may be subjected to be in a form so that they may be subjected to
empirical test.
6.
Determining
sample
The
population to be studied, the type of sample to be used, and the size of people
to be surveyed have to be provided in the study design.
7.
Determining
methodology.
The method to be employed for conducting the data is to be
specified. The statistical tests and the type of tabular presentation have also
be made explicit.
STEPS THAT ARE GENERALLY FOLLOWED IN
PREPARING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL.
The following are the eleven steps involved in it.
1.
Title
2.
Statement
of the problem
3.
Definitions,
assumptions, limitations or de limitations.
4.
Review
of related literature.
5.
Hypothesis
6.
Methods
7.
Significance
of the study.
8.
Time
schedule
9.
Expected
results.
10.
References
11.
Appendix
1. The Title
The title
of the research proposal should do no more than name the topic. It should be so
worded that it suggests the theme of the study. In selecting a title the
researcher should consider two things.
a)
The
title should not be burdened by difficult words and should not include terms of
unscientific, argumentative, emotional or biased
nature.
b)
The
title should not be too lengthy or too involved.
2.
Statement of the problem
This is often a declarative statement
but may be in
question form. This attempt to focus on a stated goal gives
direction to the research process. The major statements may be followed by
minor statements.
3.
Definitions, assumptions, limitations
& determinations.
It is important to define all unusual
terms that could be
misinterpreted. These definitions help to establish the frame
of reference with which the researcher approaches the problem. The variables to
be considered should be defined in operational terms.
Assumptions are statements of what the
researches believes to be facts but can not verify.
Limitations are those conditions beyond the control of the researcher
that may place restrictions on the conclusions of the study and their
application to other situations.
Delimitations are the boundaries of the study.
4.
Review
of related literature.
The research proposal should include
a more expensive
review of the relevant literature. An effective relevant
literature includes those studies which have been competently executed and
clearly reported and are closely related to the present problem.
This step ensures that the researcher
is familiar with what is already known and what is still unknown and to be
verified and tested.
It helps to eliminate the duplication
of what has already been done and provides the background for useful
suggestions for further investigations.
In searching related literature the
researcher should consider certain important elements.
1.
Reports
of studies of closely related problems that have been investigated.
2.
Design
of the study, including procedures employed and data gathering instruments
used.
3.
Populations
that were sampled and sampling methods employed.
4.
Variables
that were defined.
5.
Extraneous
variables that could have affected the findings.
6.
Faults
that could have been avoided.
7.
Recommendations
for further research.
5.
Hypothesis
The research proposal should include the major hypotheses to be tested.
Minor hypotheses should also be formulated. Since a research hypothesis is a
tentative answer to a question it is important that the hypothesis should be
formulated before data are gathered. A good hypothesis has several basic
characteristics
1.
It
should be reasonable.
2.
It
should be consistent with known facts or theories.
3.
It
should be stated in such a way that it can be tested
4.
It whould be
stated in the simplest possible terms.
6.
Methods
This part of the research proposal is
very important. It includes three subsections :
Subjects, procedures and data analysis.
a)
The
subject Subsection spells out the details
of the population from which subjects are to be selected.
b)
Procedure section outlines the research plan.
It describes in detail what will be done, how it will be done, what data will
be needed and what data gathering devices will be used.
c)
The
data analysis subsection outlines the
details of the method of analyzing data by different statistical techniques.
It should demonstrate to the reader exactly
what is planned. No details should be left open to question.
7.
Significance of the study
A
research
proposal should show the worth and urgency of the study. It should indicate
clearly how the results of the research can influece educational theory or practice.
8.
Time schedule
An effective research proposal must
have a clear time schedule in which the entire subject should be divided into
manageable parts and probable dates should be assigned for their completion.
This helps to minimise the tendency to delay the completion.
9.
Expected results.
A
good
research proposal should also indicate the possible or expected results as far
as possible. The expected results section should include a brief discussion of
the anticipated results of the research and should also highlight those that
are the most important for the research.
10.
References
The reference section should include
the names of the authors along with their details of the publication of their
research work.
11.
Appendix
A
research
proposal ends with an appendix. An appendix should include a test of all
materials that are to be used in the study. Among other things it may include a
copy of the test or scale used, list of stimulus materials and apparatuses, a
copy of instructions to be given to the subjects etc.
CONCLUSION
A good research must be carefully
planned and systematically carried out, procedures that are improvised from
step to step will not suffice. a worthwhile research project is likely to
result only from a well designed proposal. The research proposal always goes
through the developmental phases and therefore deficiencies if any may be
corrected by discussing the same with the experts. An acceptable research
proposal, therefore is usually the result of several modifications and as such
there should not be any haste on the part of a researcher in its preparation. So a good research proposer must keep
all these steps in view at the time of writing a research proposal.
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