Writing Concept

Paper/Synopsis for a
Research Proposal

Laxmikant Paudel, PhD

Central Department of Public Administration
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur
Synopsis
• In order to clarify your thoughts about the purpose of your thesis
and how you plan to reach your research goals, you should prepare
a synopsis. A synopsis is a short, systematic outline of your
proposed thesis, made in preparation for your first meeting with
your supervisor. It serves to ensure that your supervisor gets a clear
picture of your proposed project and allows him or her to spot
whether there are gaps or things that you have not taken into
account.
• Your synopsis will work as a kind of protocol for the further steps
you need to take to ensure that your thesis reaches the required
academic level – and that you finish on time.
Cont
• A research concept paper is intended to convince others that you
have worthwhile plan and you have the competence and work-plan to
complete it.
• A research synopsis contains all the key elements involved in the
process and includes sufficient information for the readers to
evaluate the proposed study.
Key Elements Research Proposal
• Title
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Rationale
• Method
• Objectives
• Hypothesis
• Operational Definitions of variables
• Sample
• Instruments
• Procedure
• Statistical analysis (Expected)
• References
Title
• The title should give reader a concise indication of what the research
is about.
• E g. Conduct problems, social skills, and home chaos in school
children
• It is often best not to write the title until you have finished the rest of
the proposal.
Title
• The title is usually the first part of the proposal to be read and
therefore should convey maximum information in fewer words. (Not
more than 12-15 words).
• In other words, it should indicate the area of research, introduce the
research question.
Introduction
• The introduction typically begins with general statement of the problem
area, with a focus on the specific research problem, to be followed by the
rationale or justification for the proposed study.
The introduction generally covers the following elements.
• Provide the context and set the stage for your research question in such a
way as to show its necessity and importance.
• Briefly describe the major issues and sub- problems to be addressed by
your research.
• Identify the key variables of your research.
• At the end present rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate
why it is worth doing.
Introduction
• If the research problem is framed in the context of a general, rambling
literature review, then the research question may appear trivial and
uninteresting. However, if the same question is placed in the context
of a very focused and current research area, its significance will be
evident.
Rationale
Why Research Problem is important?
• To describe the aims of your study.
• To describe the significance of your study.
• Not to include aims which your study cannot provide results
• To find out broad long term goals of the proposed research
Rationale
• This section is crucial because it is one place in which the researcher
tries to convince her/his supervisors/ external examiner that the
research is worth doing. You can do this by describing how the results
may be used.
• Think about your research.
• May resolve theoretical questions in your area.
• May develop better theoretical models in your area.
• May influence public policy.
• May change the way people do their jobs in a particular field, or may
change the way people live.
Literature review
• The literature review provides a conceptual framework for the reader
so that the research question and methodology can be better
understood.
• It demonstrates the expert reader that the researcher is aware of the
breadth and diversity of literature that relates the research question.
• It is important that you are able to provide an integrated overview of
your field of study. This means that you demonstrate awareness of
the most important and relevant theories.
• Sometimes the literature review is incorporated into the introduction
section, which allows a more through review of literature.
 Literature Review
Functions of literature review
• Ensures that you are not reinventing the wheel
• Gives credits to those who have said groundwork for your research.
• Demonstrates your knowledge of the research problem.
• Demonstrates your understanding f the theoretical and research issues related to
your research question
• Shows your ability to critically evaluate the literature information
• Indicates your ability to integrate and synthesize the existing literature.
• Provide new theoretical insights or develops a new model as the conceptual
framework for your research.
• Convince your reader that your proposed research will make a significant and
substantial contribution to the literature (i.e resolving an important theoretical issues
or filling a major gap in the literature.
Problems in the literature review
Mostly student’ literature reviews suffer from the following problems
• Lacking organization and structure
• Lacking focus, unity and coherence.
• Being repetitive and wordy.
• Failing to cite influential papers.
• Failing to keep up with recent developments.
• Failing to critically evaluate cited papers.
• Citing irrelevant and trivial references.
• Depending too much on secondary sources.
Methods
The method section typically consists of the following sections.
• Objectives
• Hypothesis
• Operation definitions of variables
• Design e. g longitudinal, cross sectional, or successive independent
sample survey, or a laboratory experiment? What kind of design do
you want to choose?
Method
• Sample
• Who will take part in your study? What kind of sampling procedure
do you use? What is sample size?
• What kind of measuring instruments or questionnaires do you use?
Why do you choose them? Are they valid? And reliable? Do you have
author’s permission?
• Procedure- How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities
are involved? How long does it take?
Statistical Analysis
• Briefly describe the statistical analysis to be used
• A limited description is needed of the statistical techniques which
will be used
• The appropriate statistical techniques are usually clear from the study
design and the specification of the data to be collected
Important Considerations
Do
• Produce a sound proposal
• Be interesting and Be informative
• Write in a way that is easy to read
• Include a content page
• Use clear headings and subheadings
• Be concise and precise
• Use simple language wherever possible
• Construct clear arguments
• Reference your work fully using APA format
Don’t
• Use word when you are not absolutely certain of their meaning
• Use difficult words to impress your /reader
• Use overly simplistic language
In conclusion
• At the beginning of your thesis period, your synopsis will be limited in
scope and detail, but as you work your way deeper into your topic
and you get a clearer picture of your objectives, methods and
references, the more complete and detailed your synopsis will
become.
• A rule of thumb is that the length of your synopsis can vary from two
to five pages, but the precise length and exact requirements of your
synopsis can vary from institute to institute and from supervisor to
supervisor.