學術英語寫作Unit7ResearchProposal課件

Unit7ResearchProposalWhatisaresearchproposal?Whentowritearesearchproposal?PurposeofaresearchproposalHowtopreparearesearchproposal?ElementsoftheresearchproposalHowtowritearesearchproposal?CommonmistakesinaproposalwritingFeasibilityAnalysis(discussedinanotherlecture)Budgetanalysis(discussedinanotherlecture)Summary

Unit7ResearchProposalWhati1WhatisaresearchproposalAresearchproposalisashortdocument(1to2pages)thatidentifiesandoutlinesthemaincomponentsofyourresearch.Theyare:1.Thepurposeofyourresearch2.Theintendedaudience3.Yourrole4.Anopeningstatementorhypothesis5.Briefdescriptionofintendedmethodology,data,materials6.Expectedoutcomes(ifany)WhatisaresearchproposalAr2Thepurposeoftheresearch(1)Therearemanyreasonsfordoingaresearch-basedprogram.Researchis,afterall,findingoutsomethingyoudon'tknow.Onecouldwriteathesistoreviewandexplaincollated（核對的）factualdata.Onecouldalsoconductanalyticalresearchtostudyaparticularsubjectindepth.Onecoulddiscuss,debateand/orargueacertaintopic,orcomeoutwithanewhypothesis/theory.Ontheotherhand,onecouldalsotrypersuadingotherstobelieveinwhats/heisproposing.Thepurposeoftheresearch(13Thepurposeoftheresearch(2)Youwilloftenfindconflictingideas,biases,andotherinfluenceswhilstconductingyourresearch.Youmayevendiscoverthingsinthecourseofyourresearchthatarecontradictorytoyourpersonalthoughts,ethicsandideals.Thesecouldhinderyourresearch,giverisetodoubts,orcausealackofinterestinthework.Qualityresearchdemandsobjectivity,cautioninassertion,solidbackingfromsources/experimentalresults,andclearrationalthinking.Youshouldbepreparedforcontingencies(偶然性),tochallengewidely-acceptednorms/rulesinyourquesttoseekfurtherknowledge.Thepurposeoftheresearch(24TheintendedaudienceYouwillneedtoidentifytheaudienceforyourwork.Obviously,ifyouaredoingascientifically-inclinedstudyintotheeffectsofNeonatomsunderintenseheat,say,yourtargetaudiencewillnotlikelybeShakespeareanthespians(演員).However,yourresearchmayalsotraverseseveralfields(eg.childpsychologyresearchmightbeofinterestnotjusttopsychologists,butalsototeachers,doctorsandparents).Yourtargetaudiencedetermineswhatstyleofwritingyoumayuse,and/orwhattheoriesandexperimentstoapply.Yourtargetaudienceshouldeasilyidentifywithwhatyouaretryingtodo(whethertheyagreewithitornot).Yourresearchshouldtryandpersuadeyourreaderstostandwithyouonyourfindings.Itshouldcontainadequateinformationwithoutbeingunnecessaryorboring.Thepurposeofresearchisnottorehash(翻新)informationthatiseasilyavailablebuttocomeupwithsomethingneworworthwhileforyouraudiencetothinkabout.TheintendedaudienceYouwill5YourRoleTheresearchis(hopefully)yourown.Youhavetodisplayyourknowledgeandpointsofviewtobetakenseriously.Firstandforemost,youmustbeextremelyfamiliarwithwhatyouaresettingouttodo(hencetheresearchproposal).Whenyouquotesourcesandreferences,usetheinformationtopropelyourpointsofviewratherthanthoseofthesources.YourRoleTheresearchis(hop6OpeningStatement,ArgumentorHypothesisThisisthe"BigBang"-theonethatbeginsitall.Similartodebates,youcanuseonesentence,statementorquestionasajump-offpointtoacompletebodyofresearch.Thisopener,though,shouldnotbetoobroad.Forexample,"DrinkingTooMuchCoffeeisBadForHealth"istoogeneralised.Whatiscoveredintheterm'health'?Whatisconsidered'bad'?Isthisfromasocial,psychologicalormedicalpointofview?Doesthisstatementapplytoalltypesofcoffee(includingdecaffeinatedcoffee)?OpeningStatement,Argumentor7Methodology,MaterialsandDataThissectionshouldoutlinehowyouplantogoaboutdoingyourresearch.Forexample,tofindouthowmanypeoplepreferjoggingtowalking,wouldyouaskpeopleonthestreetdirectly,handoutquestionnaires,appealforvolunteersovertheInternet,ormakeupyourownfigures?(Thelastoptionisdefinitelynotrecommended!).IfyouaretryingtofindouthowfastbeansgerminateunderUVlight(ifatall),howwouldyougoaboutdoingit?Whataboutcontrolledexperiments/samples?Methodology,MaterialsandDat8ExpectedOutcomesSometimes,youropenermaybeanewhypothesisthatyouaretryingtoprove.Perhapsyoucouldbeworkingtowardsacertainexpectedoutcomethatyouintendtoprove.Ifyourresearchisofthisnature,youmightwishtoincludethisinyourproposal.ExpectedOutcomesSometimes,y9Whentowritearesearchproposal?Researchproposalsareused:

whenbeginningaresearchdegree,

whenapplyingforgrantsortenders,

andwhenotherpeopleareinvolvedinformulating,supervisingorconductingtheresearch.Oncedeveloped,theresearchproposalservesasaplanforconductingtheresearch.Whentowritearesearchpropo10PurposeofaresearchproposalResearchproposalsserveanumberofpurposes.Amongthem:Theyconvinceothersthatyourresearchisworthundertaking.Theyenableyoutodemonstrateexpertiseandcompetencyinyourparticularareaofstudy.Theymayserveasacontractbetweentheresearcherandhisfund-providers.Theyserveasaplanningtoolfortheresearcher.Purposeofaresearchproposal11Howtopreparearesearchproposal?Normallyaresearchproposalwillincludethefollowing:AworkingtitleofthetopicareaGeneraloverviewofareaIdentificationoftherelevantliteratureKeyresearchquestionsMethodologyTimescale/researchplanningBibliographyAvoidHowtopreparearesearchprop12AworkingtitleofthetopicareaThisshoulddomorethanconveythekeywordsassociatedwiththeproposedresearch.Aworkingtitleofthetopica13GeneraloverviewofareaThisshouldtaketheformofabriefabstractofthegeneralareaofstudyandidentifythediscipline(s)withinwhichitfalls.Youmightalsorefertothewayinwhichyourownbackgroundgivesyoucompetencesinyourchosenarea.GeneraloverviewofareaThiss14IdentificationoftherelevantliteratureInthissectionyoushoulddevelopyourproposaltodemonstratethatyouareawareofthedebatesandissuesraisedinrelevantbodiesofliterature.Referencestokeyarticlesandtextsshouldbemadetoshowthatyouappreciatetheirrelevancetoyourresearcharea.Aresearchpaperisanoriginalpieceofresearchandsoyoushoulddemonstratethatyourproposedareahasnotbeenstudiedbefore.Soyouneedtoidentifyyourniche(市場定位)whichwillleadontothethesispreparation.Identificationoftherelevant15KeyresearchquestionsSinceyouneedtodemonstratethatthetopiccanbecompletedwithinthenormaltimeperiodallowed,youneedtodemonstratethatitismanageable,andsofocusonkeyquestionswithinyournichearea.KeyresearchquestionsSinceyo16MethodologyYouneedtodemonstrateanawarenessofthemethodologicaltoolsavailabletoyouandshowsomeunderstandingofwhichwouldbesuitableforyourresearch.Itmaybethatqualitativemethods,includingtheanalysisofinterviews,isappropriate.Alternativelyyourapproachmayinvolveforecastingorstatistical,financialoreconometricmodelling.Inothercasesyoumaybecombiningmethodologies.Youneedtospecifytheapproachyoufeelwillbemostappropriate.MethodologyYouneedtodemonst17Timescale/researchplanningYouneedtodemonstrateanawarenessoftheneedforplanningandthetimescaleoftheresearch.Timescale/researchplanningYou18BibliographyYoushouldincludeashortlistofreferencestokeyarticlesandtextsincludedintheapplication.BibliographyYoushouldinclude19AvoidBroadtopicareaswhichwouldbeunmanageableasPGorPhDtopicsVaguedescriptionsofresearchareasSubjectareaswhereyourSchoolhasnoexpertiseAvoidBroadtopicareaswhichw20ElementsoftheresearchproposalTitle

Abstract

IntroductionLiteratureReviewMethodsResultsDiscussionElementsoftheresearchpropo21Title

Itshouldbeconciseanddescriptive.Forexample,thephrase,"Aninvestigationof..."couldbeomitted.Oftentitlesarestatedintermsofafunctionalrelationship,becausesuchtitlesclearlyindicatetheindependentanddependentvariables.However,ifpossible,thinkofaninformativebutcatchytitle.Aneffectivetitlenotonlypricksthereader'sinterest,butalsopredisposeshim/herfavourablytowardstheproposal.TitleItshouldbeconciseand22AbstractItisabriefsummaryofapproximately300words.Itshouldincludetheresearchquestion,therationale(基礎理論)forthestudy,thehypothesis(ifany),themethodandthemainfindings.Descriptionsofthemethodmayincludethedesign,procedures,thesampleandanyinstrumentsthatwillbeused.AbstractItisabriefsummary23IntroductionThemainpurposeoftheintroductionistoprovidethenecessarybackgroundorcontextforyourresearchproblem.Theintroductiontypicallybeginswithageneralstatementoftheproblemarea,withafocusonaspecificresearchproblem,tobefollowedbytherationalorjustificationfortheproposedstudy.Theintroductiongenerallycoversthefollowingelements:IntroductionThemainpurposeo24ElementsinanintroductionStatetheresearchproblem,whichisoftenreferredtoasthepurposeofthestudy.Providethecontextandsetthestageforyourresearchquestioninsuchawayastoshowitsnecessityandimportance.Presenttherationaleofyourproposedstudyandclearlyindicatewhyitisworthdoing.Brieflydescribethemajorissuesandsub-problemstobeaddressedbyyourresearch.Identifythekeyindependentanddependentvariablesofyourexperiment.Alternatively,specifythephenomenonyouwanttostudy.Stateyourhypothesisortheory,ifany.Forexploratoryorphenomenologicalresearch,youmaynothaveanyhypotheses.(Pleasedonotconfusethehypothesiswiththestatisticalnullhypothesis.)Setthedelimitationorboundariesofyourproposedresearchinordertoprovideaclearfocus.Providedefinitionsofkeyconcepts.(Thisisoptional.)ElementsinanintroductionSta25LiteratureReviewSometimestheliteraturereviewisincorporatedintotheintroductionsection.However,mostprofessorspreferaseparatesection,whichallowsamorethoroughreviewoftheliterature.Theliteraturereviewservesseveralimportantfunctions:LiteratureReviewSometimesth26FunctionsofliteraturereviewEnsuresthatyouarenot"reinventingthewheel".Givescreditstothosewhohavelaidthegroundworkforyourresearch.Demonstratesyourknowledgeoftheresearchproblem.Demonstratesyourunderstandingofthetheoreticalandresearchissuesrelatedtoyourresearchquestion.Showsyourabilitytocriticallyevaluaterelevantliteratureinformation.Indicatesyourabilitytointegrateandsynthesizetheexistingliterature.Providesnewtheoreticalinsightsordevelopsanewmodelastheconceptualframeworkforyourresearch.Convincesyourreaderthatyourproposedresearchwillmakeasignificantandsubstantialcontributiontotheliterature(i.e.,resolvinganimportanttheoreticalissueorfillingamajorgapintheliterature).Functionsofliteraturereview27problemswithliteraturereviewsMoststudents'literaturereviewssufferfromthefollowingproblems:LackingorganizationandstructureLackingfocus,unityandcoherenceBeingrepetitiveandverboseFailingtociteinfluentialpapersFailingtokeepupwithrecentdevelopmentsFailingtocriticallyevaluatecitedpapersCitingirrelevantortrivialreferencesDependingtoomuchonsecondarysourcesproblemswithliteraturerevie28OrganizationofliteraturereviewTherearedifferentwaystoorganizeyourliteraturereview.Makeuseofsubheadingstobringorderandcoherencetoyourreview.Forexample,havingestablishedtheimportanceofyourresearchareaanditscurrentstateofdevelopment,youmaydevoteseveralsubsectionsonrelatedissuesas:theoreticalmodels,measuringinstruments,cross-culturalandgenderdifferences,etc.Itisalsohelpfultokeepinmindthatyouaretellingastorytoanaudience.Trytotellitinastimulatingandengagingmanner.Donotborethem,becauseitmayleadtorejectionofyourworthyproposal.(Remember:Professorsandscientistsarehumanbeingstoo.)Organizationofliteraturerev29MethodTheMethodsectionisveryimportantbecauseittellsyourResearchCommitteehowyouplantotackleyourresearchproblem.Itwillprovideyourworkplananddescribetheactivitiesnecessaryforthecompletionofyourproject.TheguidingprincipleforwritingtheMethodsectionisthatitshouldcontainsufficientinformationforthereadertodeterminewhethermethodologyissound.Someevenarguethatagoodproposalshouldcontainsufficientdetailsforanotherqualifiedresearchertoimplementthestudy.MethodTheMethodsectionisv30QuantitativestudiesForquantitativestudies,themethodsectiontypicallyconsistsofthefollowingsections:Design-Isitaquestionnairestudyoralaboratoryexperiment?Whatkindofdesigndoyouchoose?Subjectsorparticipants-Whowilltakepartinyourstudy?Whatkindofsamplingproceduredoyouuse?Instruments-Whatkindofmeasuringinstrumentsorquestionnairesdoyouuse?Whydoyouchoosethem?Aretheyvalidandreliable?Procedure-Howdoyouplantocarryoutyourstudy?Whatactivitiesareinvolved?Howlongdoesittake?QuantitativestudiesForquanti31ResultsObviouslyyoudonothaveresultsattheproposalstage.However,youneedtohavesomeideaaboutwhatkindofdatayouwillbecollecting,andwhatstatisticalprocedureswillbeusedinordertoansweryourresearchquestionortestyouhypothesis.ResultsObviouslyyoudonoth32DiscussionItisimportanttoconvinceyourreaderofthepotentialimpactofyourproposedresearch.Youneedtocommunicateasenseofenthusiasmandconfidencewithoutexaggeratingthemeritsofyourproposal.Thatiswhyyoualsoneedtomentionthelimitationsandweaknessesoftheproposedresearch,whichmaybejustifiedbytimeandfinancialconstraintsaswellasbytheearlydevelopmentalstageofyourresearcharea.DiscussionItisimportantto33CommonMistakesinProposalWriting1.Failuretoprovidethepropercontexttoframetheresearchquestion.2.Failuretodelimittheboundaryconditionsforyourresearch.3.Failuretocitelandmarkstudies.4.Failuretoaccuratelypresentthetheoreticalandempiricalcontributionsbyotherresearchers.5.Failuretostayfocusedontheresearchquestion.6.Failuretodevelopacoherentandpersuasiveargumentfortheproposedresearch.CommonMistakesinProposalWr347.Toomuchdetailonminorissues,butnotenoughdetailonmajorissues.8.Toomuchrambling--going"alloverthemap"withoutaclearsenseofdirection.(Thebestproposalsmoveforwardwitheaseandgracelikeaseamlessriver.)9.Toomanycitationlapsesandincorrectreferences.10.Toolongortooshort.11.FailingtofollowtheAPA(AmericanPsychologicalAssociation)style.12.Sloppingwriting.7.Toomuchdetailonminoris35FeasibilityanalysisFeasibilityanalysis36BudgetanalysisBudgetanalysis37HowtowritearesearchproposalWhenyouarewritingaRP,keepinmindthatitwillenteracompetition,beingreadinlinewithquiteafewotherRPs.Youhavetocomeupwithadocumentthathasanimpactuponthereader:writeclearlyandwellstructuredsothatyourmessagegetsacrosseasily.Basically,yourRPhastoanswerthreebigquestions:whatresearchprojectwillyouundertake,whyisimportanttoknowthatthingandhowwillyouproceedtomakethatresearch.Howtowritearesearchpropos38Inordertodrawtheresearcher'sattentionuponyourpaper,writeanintroductionwithimpact,andthatleadstotheformulationofyourhypothesis.Theresearchhypothesishastobespecific,concise(onephrase)andtoleadtotheadvancementoftheknowledgeinthefieldinsomeway.Writingthehypothesisinaconcisemannerand,first,comingupwithagoodhypothesisisadifficultmission.Thisisactuallythecoreofyourapplication:you'regoingtoauniversitytodothisverypieceofresearch.Comparedtothis,therestoftheapplicationisbackgroundscenery.Takeyourtimetothinkofit.Whenyouhaveanidea,becarefulattheformulation.Awell-writtenhypothesisissomethingofanessay'sthesis:itprovidesastatementthatcanbetested(arguesaheadoneofthepossibleanswerstoaproblem),itisanidea,aconcept,andnotamerefact,andissummedupinonephrase.Insomecases,youwillhavenoideawhatthepossibleanswertoaproblemworthbeingresearchedis,butyouwillbeabletothinkofawaytosolvethatproblem,andfindouttheanswerinthemeantime.It'sokinthiscase,toformulatearesearchquestion,ratherthanahypothesis.Letthosecasesberare,inanyway.Inordertodrawtheresearche39Anotherpieceofadvicewhenwritingyourhypothesis,regardingthetrendyresearchfields:chancesaregreatthatthey'retrendybecausesomebodyhasalreadymadethatexcitingdiscovery,orwrotethatsplendidpaperthatawokeeverybody'sinterestinthefirstplace.Ifyou'reinoneofthesefields,trytogetafreshpointofviewuponthesubject;makenewconnections,don'tbe100%mainstream.Thiswillmaketheprojectevenmorestimulatingforthereader.Imaginethatyouarewritingaboutthetrendiestsubject,withabsolutelynochangeinthepointofview,andyouaregiventhechancetomaketheresearch.Trendscomeandgo,fast;whatarethechancesthat,infouryears'time,whenyourresearchisdoneandyouarereadytopublishyourresults,oneofthosewell-knownprofessorswhodisposeofhugeresearchgrantshasalreadysaidwhateveryouhadtosay?Anotherpieceofadvicewhenw40Afterstatingyourthesis,youshouldgiveashortaccountofyouranswerstothosethreequestionsmentionearlier.State,inafewphrases,whatwillbelearnedfromyourresearch,thatyourprojectwillmakeadifference,andwhyisthatimportanttobeknown.Youwillhavetoelaborateonbothoftheselaterinthepaper.Afterstatingyourthesis,you41Thenextstepinwritingyourproposalistoprovethatthatparticularpieceofresearchhasnotbeendoneyet.ThissectionisusuallycalledLiteratureReview.Insideit,youhavetoenumerateandcriticallyanalyzeanimpressivelistofboringbibliography.Theconclusionyoushould-objectively!-reachisthatyourideaofresearchhasnotbeenundertakenyet.Evenmore,youusethisopportunitytoprovesolidtheoreticalknowledgeinthefield,andbuildthetheoreticalbasesofyourproject.Onetip:don'treviewallthearticlesandbooksinthefieldsevenifyoumentiontheminthebibliographylist;payattentioninyouranalysistothoseyouwillbuildon.Anotherone:avoidjargonwhenwritingyourRP.Thechancesaregreatthattheperson(s)whowillreadyourandanother1000researchproposalsarenotspecialistsinthatveryfield-nicheyouareexamining.Ifyouareapplyingforagrantwithorfoundationorsomethingsimilar,itmighthappenthatthosereadingyourpaperarenotevenprofessors,butrecruiters,donors,etc.Andeveniftheyactuallyareprofessors,oneofthereasonsbusypeoplelikethemagreetoundertakeahuge,andsometimesvoluntary,work,isthedesiretomeetsomediversity,somechangefromtheirwork-somaybethey'llreadapplicationsforanotherspecialisation.Thecapacitytogetyourmessageacrossinclear,easy-to-graspconceptsandphrasesisoneofthewinningpapers'mostimportantadvantages.Thenextstepinwritingyour42SummaryofthelectureNameandaddressoftheresearcherandcooperatorsProjecttitleIntroduction(includingstatementofproblem,purposeofresearch,andsignificanceofresearch)Background(includingpriorandCurrentResearch,andLiteraturesurvey)Planofworkordescriptionofproposedresearch(includingmethodorapproach)QualificationsofresearchcooperatorsStartingDateandDurationCooperativesupportBudgetEndorsementSummaryofthelectureNameand43WritingAssignmentWritearesearchproposalinyourownresearchfield.Youshouldwriteinnomorethantwopages.WritingAssignmentWritearese44Unit7ResearchProposalWhatisaresearchproposal?Whentowritearesearchproposal?PurposeofaresearchproposalHowtopreparearesearchproposal?ElementsoftheresearchproposalHowtowritearesearchproposal?CommonmistakesinaproposalwritingFeasibilityAnalysis(discussedinanotherlecture)Budgetanalysis(discussedinanotherlecture)Summary

Unit7ResearchProposalWhati45WhatisaresearchproposalAresearchproposalisashortdocument(1to2pages)thatidentifiesandoutlinesthemaincomponentsofyourresearch.Theyare:1.Thepurposeofyourresearch2.Theintendedaudience3.Yourrole4.Anopeningstatementorhypothesis5.Briefdescriptionofintendedmethodology,data,materials6.Expectedoutcomes(ifany)WhatisaresearchproposalAr46Thepurposeoftheresearch(1)Therearemanyreasonsfordoingaresearch-basedprogram.Researchis,afterall,findingoutsomethingyoudon'tknow.Onecouldwriteathesistoreviewandexplaincollated（核對的）factualdata.Onecouldalsoconductanalyticalresearchtostudyaparticularsubjectindepth.Onecoulddiscuss,debateand/orargueacertaintopic,orcomeoutwithanewhypothesis/theory.Ontheotherhand,onecouldalsotrypersuadingotherstobelieveinwhats/heisproposing.Thepurposeoftheresearch(147Thepurposeoftheresearch(2)Youwilloftenfindconflictingideas,biases,andotherinfluenceswhilstconductingyourresearch.Youmayevendiscoverthingsinthecourseofyourresearchthatarecontradictorytoyourpersonalthoughts,ethicsandideals.Thesecouldhinderyourresearch,giverisetodoubts,orcausealackofinterestinthework.Qualityresearchdemandsobjectivity,cautioninassertion,solidbackingfromsources/experimentalresults,andclearrationalthinking.Youshouldbepreparedforcontingencies(偶然性),tochallengewidely-acceptednorms/rulesinyourquesttoseekfurtherknowledge.Thepurposeoftheresearch(248TheintendedaudienceYouwillneedtoidentifytheaudienceforyourwork.Obviously,ifyouaredoingascientifically-inclinedstudyintotheeffectsofNeonatomsunderintenseheat,say,yourtargetaudiencewillnotlikelybeShakespeareanthespians(演員).However,yourresearchmayalsotraverseseveralfields(eg.childpsychologyresearchmightbeofinterestnotjusttopsychologists,butalsototeachers,doctorsandparents).Yourtargetaudiencedetermineswhatstyleofwritingyoumayuse,and/orwhattheoriesandexperimentstoapply.Yourtargetaudienceshouldeasilyidentifywithwhatyouaretryingtodo(whethertheyagreewithitornot).Yourresearchshouldtryandpersuadeyourreaderstostandwithyouonyourfindings.Itshouldcontainadequateinformationwithoutbeingunnecessaryorboring.Thepurposeofresearchisnottorehash(翻新)informationthatiseasilyavailablebuttocomeupwithsomethingneworworthwhileforyouraudiencetothinkabout.TheintendedaudienceYouwill49YourRoleTheresearchis(hopefully)yourown.Youhavetodisplayyourknowledgeandpointsofviewtobetakenseriously.Firstandforemost,youmustbeextremelyfamiliarwithwhatyouaresettingouttodo(hencetheresearchproposal).Whenyouquotesourcesandreferences,usetheinformationtopropelyourpointsofviewratherthanthoseofthesources.YourRoleTheresearchis(hop50OpeningStatement,ArgumentorHypothesisThisisthe"BigBang"-theonethatbeginsitall.Similartodebates,youcanuseonesentence,statementorquestionasajump-offpointtoacompletebodyofresearch.Thisopener,though,shouldnotbetoobroad.Forexample,"DrinkingTooMuchCoffeeisBadForHealth"istoogeneralised.Whatiscoveredintheterm'health'?Whatisconsidered'bad'?Isthisfromasocial,psychologicalormedicalpointofview?Doesthisstatementapplytoalltypesofcoffee(includingdecaffeinatedcoffee)?OpeningStatement,Argumentor51Methodology,MaterialsandDataThissectionshouldoutlinehowyouplantogoaboutdoingyourresearch.Forexample,tofindouthowmanypeoplepreferjoggingtowalking,wouldyouaskpeopleonthestreetdirectly,handoutquestionnaires,appealforvolunteersovertheInternet,ormakeupyourownfigures?(Thelastoptionisdefinitelynotrecommended!).IfyouaretryingtofindouthowfastbeansgerminateunderUVlight(ifatall),howwouldyougoaboutdoingit?Whataboutcontrolledexperiments/samples?Methodology,MaterialsandDat52ExpectedOutcomesSometimes,youropenermaybeanewhypothesisthatyouaretryingtoprove.Perhapsyoucouldbeworkingtowardsacertainexpectedoutcomethatyouintendtoprove.Ifyourresearchisofthisnature,youmightwishtoincludethisinyourproposal.ExpectedOutcomesSometimes,y53Whentowritearesearchproposal?Researchproposalsareused:

whenbeginningaresearchdegree,

whenapplyingforgrantsortenders,

andwhenotherpeopleareinvolvedinformulating,supervisingorconductingtheresearch.Oncedeveloped,theresearchproposalservesasaplanforconductingtheresearch.Whentowritearesearchpropo54PurposeofaresearchproposalResearchproposalsserveanumberofpurposes.Amongthem:Theyconvinceothersthatyourresearchisworthundertaking.Theyenableyoutodemonstrateexpertiseandcompetencyinyourparticularareaofstudy.Theymayserveasacontractbetweentheresearcherandhisfund-providers.Theyserveasaplanningtoolfortheresearcher.Purposeofaresearchproposal55Howtopreparearesearchproposal?Normallyaresearchproposalwillincludethefollowing:AworkingtitleofthetopicareaGeneraloverviewofareaIdentificationoftherelevantliteratureKeyresearchquestionsMethodologyTimescale/researchplanningBibliographyAvoidHowtopreparearese