HOW TO MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Title:
• Should reflect the paper’s content and focus accurately, clearly and completely (comprehensive, descriptive)
• Avoid phrases/words as:
“on the” “a study of”
“research on” “report on”
“investigation of” “use of”
“regarding”
• The best time to determine the title is after the research text has been written.
• Titles for research proposals, though, are required to give insight to readers as to what the proposal is all
about. However, the title of research proposals should not limit the extent of the study.
• The dependent and independent variable should be in the title.
• Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study.
• Use of Acronyms is allowed to catch the attention of the reader. An acronym is considered as one word. In
cases where grade level is placed, use Hindu Arabic Number (e.g. Grade 5)
• Use words that promote positive connotation (avoid the words “lack”)
• Use of words: Maximum of 15 words excluding the function words.
• Title format: ALL CAPITAL LETTER. Not bold, not underlined.

I. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

The nature, extent and salience of the identified problem or issue are comprehensively discussed.
Different aspects of the action research setting should be elaborated showing in depth and critical
analysis of the situation.

- The first paragraph should be the proponents idea. There should be no citations of literatures
and studies.
- The use of “inverted pyramid” model to introduce the context is one way to present the issue:
a. Present the situation in the international level (if there is/are)
b. Present the situation in the national level (if there is/are)
c. Present the situation in the regional level (if there is/are)
d. Present the situation in your division level (if there is/are)
e. Present the situation in your district level (if there is/are)
f. Present comprehensively the situation in your school or classroom
- The presentation of ideas/context should be direct, concise, and condense.
- It should capture the real situation in the classroom/school.
a. What are the underlying causes of the problem/s?
b. What are the consequences of the identified problem?
- The bases of the claim/problem/situation should be empirical or evidence-based.
a. The reflection part of the lesson plan/log.
b. Anecdotal records of students.
c. Guidance record.
d. Grading sheets.
e. Observation sheets for teachers.
f. Result of the NCBTS-TSNA.
g. Result of the IPCRF/OPCRF – RPMS.
h. NAT Results
i. NCAE Results.
j. LAPG Results.
k. Item analysis
l. Other assessment documents.
- Observations based on common knowledge can be used.
a. What interventions/actions are you going to implement?
b. Which variable will cause change? (Your intervention)
c. Which variable will be changed in response to the variable that is changed? (Desired
outcome)
 d. How do you plan to implement the proposed in ion/strategy/innovation? its consequences?
Be used in action planning?
e. If you will be able to attain your objective, what will b (How do you think the result of this
intervention could
f. Will my research contribute to the intermediate outcomes of the DepEd?
- The last paragraph/sentence should link the real situation and the proposed intervention or the
conceptual framework of the study (for applied research).

II. ACTION RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Identifies the problem/s which will be addressed by the research in terms of investigating or testing an
idea; trying out solutions to a problem; creating a new procedure or system; explaining a phenomenon;
or a combination of any of these. The research question(s) logically proceeds from the context of the
inquiry. It clearly relates to the identified problem or issue and conveys the desired change or
improvement.
- What relevant information/data do you need to find o the effectiveness of the proposed
intervention/strategy/innovation?
- What are the variables will be involved in your investigation?
- How will you know if the proposed intervention/in change or improvement? innovation/ strategy
conveys the desired outcome
Example:
1. What is the performance of the respondents before the implementation of Project LORD?
2. What is the performance of the respondents after the implementation of Project LORD?
3. Is there a significant difference between the performance of the respondents before and after
the implementation of Project LORD?

III. Proposed Intervention

The rationale, extent and limitation of the intervention, innovation or strategy are explained in
detail. Its plausibility as a way to address the problem or issue is given support.
- The title or name of the intervention should be mentioned.
- There should be a detailed discussion on WHAT, HOW, WHEN, WHERE, and WHO of the
intervention/action/solution.
- Discuss the plausibility/possibility of the intervention on “how” it can/it may address the
problem.
- If there are Related Literatures or related studies that would support the intervention, place it in
a brief paragraph.

IV. Research Methods

A. Participants and other Sources of Data/Information
Details are provided about the target participants (ex: number, characteristics, sampling procedure, if
any) and/or other sources of data and information. Clear rationale for their inclusion in the study is given.
- Who will be your target respondents/participants?
- How many respondents/participants do you plan to involve in your research?
- How will you get your participants to be involved in your investigation?
- Why do you want them to be involved in your research?
- What other sources of information do you need to get irrelevant data needed to answer your
research questions? proposed intervention/strategy/innovation?
- Do you need the Grades of students?
- Will you be needing their NAT/NCAE Scores?
B. Data Gathering Methods
The proposal explains why the selected gathering method(s) is suited to the nature and purpose of the
action research. The data gathering method(s) is aligned with the research questions(s). Research
instruments, if any, are appropriate for obtaining the desired kind of data/information.
- How do you describe your data collection method/s?
- What sort of data do you need to collect?
- How are you going to collect the data?
- Are you going to use questionnaire/s? if yes, did you adopt it or is it researcher made?
 - Material/s (e.g. questionnaires, pre and post-test, SIM and the likes) to be used should be
checked by immediate superior and/or supervisor expert on the area of research)
- How long will it take you to collect all data needed?
In this part, include also the ethical issues:
- To whom did you ask permission for the conduct of your research? How did you do it?
- Were the participants of your research informed that they are going to be part of a research? If
Yes, how did you inform them?
- If the respondents are children, the parents should also be informed that their children will be
part of your study.
- Did you use any literature? If yes, did you acknowledge them properly? How?
C. Data Analysis
- How are you going to analyze your gathered data?
- What appropriate statistical tool do you need to interpret the result of your data?
- The plan for data analysis should presented in a one-to-one correspondence with the research
questions.
V. Work plan
Contains the research strategies, programs, activities, tasks, resources, and timelines – when will the
project begin and how long will it take for it to be completed, include time estimates for each step in the
research process.

STRATEGIES PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES TASK RECOURCES Timeline

Persons Materials Cost of
Involved Materials

Strategies
The strategy focuses on the general objective of the research. It should be stated using verb in future
tense (e.g. Identify predictors that influence the NAT performance…, Intensify computer hardware
servicing concept through Self-Paced Modular Instruction… etc.).
Programs
Program pertains to the topic or study at hand
Activities
- Activities are actions to be accomplished by the researcher in the conduct of the study. It should be
stated in future tense. (e.g. Preparation of the Research Proposal, Manuscript Writing,
Conduct/Implementation of the Research, Dissemination of the Results. )
- Task are more specific activities to be conducted.(e.g. Identify the low performing schools in the
district, Write the Manuscript, Submit the research proposal to the school head for his perusal. Etc..)
Resources
Resources pertains to the person/s involved, materials, and the financial amount to be used in each of
the task stated. Only the eligible expenses (refer to Cost Estimate) can be given an amount for the
resources.
Timeline
The timeline should jive with the Gantt chart as to the dissemination phase of the research. If possible,
the Timeline should be specific (e.g. January 15-17, 2018).
Example:
 VI. Cost Estimate
It includes detailed research cost, broken down per research task, activity and/or deliverable. It can be
further grouped by tranche for easier reference of the evaluation committee.
Only the following eligible activities and expenditures should be included:
- Supplies and materials (Consumables)
- Domestic Travel expenses
- Communication expenses
- Reproduction, printing, and binding costs
- Food and other incurred expenses during conduct of research (surveys, FGDs);
- Other expenses related to the conduct of research not listed in the non-eligible expenditures
- Expenses related to research dissemination
Specifically, the research fund will not be used for the following expenses:
- Equipment
- Software
- Salary, overtime pay or honorarium for resource persons, statisticians, and other service
providers
- Utilities
- Office rentals
- All overseas travel and all items not included in the approved research proposal

ACTIVITY ITEM QUANTITY UNIT UNIT COST TOTAL AMOUNT

DESCRIPTION/
PARTICULARS

VII. Action Plan for Dissemination

Contains the research strategies, programs, activities, tasks, resources, and timelines on the
dissemination phase of the research.
STRATEGIES PROGRAMS ACTIVITIES/TASK RECOURCES Timeline
Persons Materials Cost of
Involved Materials

VIII. References
For an entire book, use the following reference formats:
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Location: Publisher.
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxx
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication)). Title of work. doi (digital objectidentifier):xxxxx
Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year of Publication). Title of work. Location: Publisher.
For a chapter in a book or entry in a reference book, use the following formats:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (1995). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.),
Title of book (pp. xxx-xxx). Location: Publisher.
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (1993). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of
book (pp. xxx-xxx). Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxxx
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (1995). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.),
Title of book (pp. xxx-xxx). doi:xxxxxxx
Periodicals
Periodicals include items published on a regular basis such as journals, magazines, newspapers, and
newsletters.
General reference form:
 Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, xx, pp-pp.
doi:xx,xxxxxxxxxx
Journal Articles
Author, A.A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (2004). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume, page-
numbers.
Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses
For a doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis available from a database service, use the following reference
template:
Author, A. A. (2003). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis (Doctoral dissertation or master’s
thesis). Retrieved from Name of database. (Accession or Order No.)
For an unpublished dissertation or thesis, use the following template:
Author, A. A. (1978). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis (Unpublished doctoral
dissertation or master’s thesis). Name of Institution, Location.
Master’s thesis, from a commercial database
McNeil, D. S. (2006). Meaning through narrative: A personal narrative discussing growing up with an
alcoholic mother (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
database. (UMI No. 1434728)
Doctoral dissertation, from an institutional database
Adams, R. J. (1973). Building a foundation for evaluation of instruction in higher education and
continuing education (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/
Doctoral dissertation, from the web
Bruckman, A. (1997). MOOSE Crossing: Construction, community, and learning in a networked virtual
world for kids (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Retrieved from
http://wwwstatic.cc.gatech.edu/~asb/thesis/
Doctoral dissertation, abstracted in DAI
Appelbaum, L. G. (2005). Three studies of human information processing: Texture amplification,
motion representation, and figure-ground segregation. Dissertation Abstracts International:
Section B. Sciences and Engineering, 65(10), 5428.
Video
American Psychological Association (Producer). (2000). Responding therapeutically to patient
expressions of sexual attraction [DVD]. Available from http://www.apa.org/videos/
Music recording
lang, k. d. (2008). Shadow and the frame. On Watershed [CD]. New York, NY: Nonesuch Records.
Measurement instrument
Friedlander, M. L., Escudero, V., & Heatherington, L. (2002). E-SOFTA: System for observing family
therapy alliances [Software and training videos]. Unpublished instrument. Retrieved from
http://www.softa-soatif.com/

Appendices
- The Instrument to be used in the study should be included in the appendices.
- Sample Letter seeking for approval of the research to be conducted.