Shah Ehsan Habib, PHD (Unsw, Australia) : Professor Department of Sociology University of Dhaka E-Mail: Sehabib@Du - Ac.Bd

Shah Ehsan Habib, PhD (UNSW, Australia)
Professor
Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka
E-mail: sehabib@du.ac.bd
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• A research proposal is intended to convince

others that you have a worthwhile research
project and that you have the competence and
the work-plan to complete it.
• Generally, a research proposal should contain

all the key elements involved in the research
process and include sufficient information for the
readers to evaluate the proposed study.
Types of Research Proposals
• Internal
– Internal proposals are short and snappy; a
one to three-page memo from the researcher
to management outlining the problem
statement, study objectives, research design,
and schedule is enough to start an
exploratory study.
– In the small scale proposal, the literature
review is not stressed and can be stated
briefly in the research design.
Types of Research Proposals
• External
– An external proposal is either solicited or unsolicited.
– A solicited proposal is developed in response to a
request for proposals (RFP), and is likely to compete
against several others for the contract or grant.
– An unsolicited proposal represents a suggestion by a
contract researcher for a research that might be done.
Such proposals do not compete against others.
OUTLINE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL
Contd…
1. Title Page:
• Title of your planned dissertation or research report.

• Personal data (name, academic title, your position at your own university, your
contact information, institutional contact.
2. Abstract/summary statement of the research project:
• This one page summary focuses on the research topic.
3. Review of research literature
• A short and precise overview about the current state of research that is immediately
connected with your research project.
4. Objective of the research project
•
Give a concise and clear outline of the academic (possibly also non-academic, e.g.
social and political) objectives that you want to achieve through your project.
OUTLINE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL
5. Methods
• Describe the intended methods of data gathering, the controls you will introduce, the
statistical methods to be used, the type of literature or documentary analysis to be
followed, etc.
6. Timetable
• Develop a time table (if possible in table form), indicating the sequence of research
phases and the time that you will probably need for each phase.
• Take into account that at this stage, it can only be estimated, but make clear that you
have an idea about the time span that will be needed for each step.
7. Selective research bibliography
• List academic works mentioned in your research outline as well as other important
works to which you will refer during your research
8. Budget (for solicited proposals)
8. Attachments:
• List other documents attached to your proposal.

References, CV, etc.
METHODOLOGY
• Will you be doing this research on your own or with

others?
• Have you provided full details of anyone else you intend
to carry out this research with, including fieldworkers?
• Who are you targeting in this research?
• How many people or case studies do you intend to
interview through?
• Where will the research take place?
• Do you have an information sheet and a consent form for
participants?
• How do you intend your research to be supervised and
monitored and by whom?
Methodology
• What sort of data will you be collecting –
qualitative or quantitative, or a mixture of the
two?
• What is the main method you will use to carry
out the research - e.g. questionnaire, face-to-
face interviews, focus groups, document reviews
etc.?
• How will you select your sample?
• How will you recruit your sample?
• How will you collect your data?
• Will you be paying participants?
Research Design
• The design module describes what you are
going to do in technical terms.
• It provides information on your proposal design
for tasks such as sample selection and size,
data collection method, instrumentation,
procedures, and ethical requirements.
• It discusses the method you have rejected and
why your selected approach is superior.
STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH PLAN
Questions you must ask Steps you will take Important elements of each
step
What is the problem or what is to Statement of the problem Identify basic difficulty, area
be studied? of concern, felt need,
importance
What information is already Literature review Literature and other available
available? information
Why do we want to carry out the Formulation of objectives General and specific
research? objectives, Research questions
or hypotheses
How are we going to collect this Research methodology Variables
information? Type of study
Data collection technique
Sampling
Pre-test
How will the results be used? Plan for utilization and Ethical consideration
dissemination of results Seminar, dissemination etc.
Who will do what, and when? Work plan Manpower timetable

Administration, monitoring
and evaluation
What resources do we have? Resources required and budget Material support and
equipment
Money
Data Protection
• How will you ensure confidentiality and

anonymity of data?
• Will you be using recording or video
equipment?
• How will you analyse the data?
• How will the data be stored?
• For how long will the data be stored?
• Who will have ultimate ownership of the
data?
Ethical Issues
• Is there any potential risk or harm to participants or

yourself?
• If so, what are the potential risks and what do you intend
to do to reduce them?
• How will you obtain informed consent?
• How will participants be given the opportunity to
complain?
• Will you be insured against professional negligence
claims?
• How will you deal with complaints made against you by
participants?
• How will you deal with any sensitive or criminal matters
that may be raised in the course of your research?
Appendices/References/Terms
Glossary of lists specialised terms or this is placed in a position
terms words and their which is easy to locate (eg,
meanings (eg, from before or after the main text
another culture, parts)
acronyms, key concepts
in a relatively new field)
Appendices to display documents which includes documents, pilot study
are relevant to main text, material, questions for
but whose presence in interviews, survey
the text would disturb instruments, explanatory
rather than enhance the statement to
flow of the argument or participants,etc.
writing
References list of works that have been use referencing conventions
consulted thus far and recommended by your
appear to be useful supervisor
Budget
• The budget should be presented in the form the
sponsor requests.
• The budget statement in an internal research
proposal is based on employee and overhead
costs.
• The budget presented by an external research
organization is not just the wages or salaries of
its employees but the person/hour price that the
contracting firm charges.

Shah Ehsan Habib, PHD (Unsw, Australia) : Professor Department of Sociology University of Dhaka E-Mail: Sehabib@Du - Ac.Bd

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Shah Ehsan Habib, PhD (UNSW, Australia)

• A research proposal is intended to convince

• Generally, a research proposal should contain

• Title of your planned dissertation or research report.

2. Abstract/summary statement of the research project:

• This one page summary focuses on the research topic.

3. Review of research literature

4. Objective of the research project

• List other documents attached to your proposal.

• Will you be doing this research on your own or with

Who will do what, and when? Work plan Manpower timetable

• How will you ensure confidentiality and

• Is there any potential risk or harm to participants or

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