WRITING THE
RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
{ Research process
Writing the proposal
Session1
Think of
a
problem
Conduct a
literature
review
Determine
methodological
orientation,
data collection
& data analysis
procedures
Write
Research
Proposal
Select a
topic
Research process
Topic should be:
 Appealing
 Interesting
 Manageable
 Beneficial
 BUT not controversial or theory-generating
PHRASING
IV and DV – Quantitative eg correlational studies
The effectiveness of motivation program on students’ CGPA
Phenomena observed – Qualitative eg case study
Arabic women and English language learning: A case study
ACTIVITY: Brainstorm
List ALL the topics that you can do.
Select a topic
Teaching English in South Korea: Studying, shaping, and representing my
expatriate experiences Theory and original fiction
Arabic women and English language learning: A case study
The Effect of an English Language Learner Program on Student
Achievement Outcomes in Language, Reading, and Math
Assessing the Impact of Computer Programming in Understanding Limits
and Derivatives in a Secondary Mathematics Classroom
Engineering & Applied Sciences (eg computer)
Integrated Thermal Design and Optimization Study for Active
Integrated Power Electronic Modules (IPEMs)
Applying convex optimization techniques to energy minimization
problems in computer vision
Domain adaptation of natural language processing systems
Let’s explore I-portal
for thesis titles
http://iportal.ump.edu.my
Present your working title.
Explain to the class why you have chosen
this title – rationale/ problem you
observed/ new invention/ necessity to
society, etc.
Give feedback to friends’ titles.
Use powerpoint for your presentation – 1
slide is ENOUGH.
Individual presentation
Statement of problem should be answering these questions:
what is the problem that you observe/encounter?
how does your work link to the work of others in the same or
related fields?
would your work support or contest the work of others?
what difference do you think your research will make/what
new insights may be found?
what research ‘gaps’ will you be filling by undertaking your
project?
how might your research ‘add value’ to the subject?
why is your research important?
Think of a problem
Read the Statement of problem provided. Identify:
 What is the importance of this study?
 What is the problem identified?
 What is the aim of the study?
Task
Background
(how does your work link
to the work of others in the
field - situating your study
in the field)
Problem observed/ faced
(clear articulation of
problem)
Purpose of study (identify
gap - The purpose/ aim of
this study is….an overview
of what you plan to do)
Research Objectives
&/ Questions
Problem
observed/faced
Situating your study how does your work link
to the work of others in the
same or related fields
Purpose of study
(identify gap - The
purpose/ aim of this
study is….an overview
of what you plan to do)
Research Objectives &/
Questions
Structure of SoP
Try and draft your problem statement for
tomorrow’s class.
Use the same powerpoint as continuation of
today’s presentation – 1 slide is enough.
Homework for tomorrow’s class
1. Read your problem statement to the
class by reading from your slide.
2. The class needs to identify:
What is the importance of this study?
 What is the problem identified?
 What is the aim of the study?

Review of homework task
Session2

Research aim or objective: the specific
accomplishments the researcher hopes to achieve by
conducting the study
• Research objective is stated in a To + infinitive
clause

Research question: statement of specific query the
researcher wants to answer to address the research
problem
• Research question is stated as a question
Research Objectives &/ Questions
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"I want to learn about
MUSIC."
“I want to study general
intellect and the ‘social
worker’ in the post modern,
globalised world
"I want to find out about teen
gangs."
I want to learn about teen
pregnancy.
"I want to find out about
immigrant criminality!”




"I want to learn about what kind of
social phenomena influenced the music
of the ’50s“
My research question deals with the
transformation of non manual work
after the 70s fordist dismissal, inthe x-yz sectors. More in detail, I want to
analyse the changes in the Gallino
(19xx) dimensions of work quality…
"I want to study gang activity and to
discover if they can be understood as a
matter of marginality or of they can be
analysed as a real enterprise, acting and
re-acting according to a RAT paradigm,
according to main economic theory."
"I want to know : 1) about the social,
familial, educational, racial, economic
and cultural conditions affecting
teenage pregnancy and 2) whether and
how teenage pregnancy affects young
fathers and young mothers differently."
"I want to know whether young 15-35
male immigrants from w-x-y-z countries
have a higher propensity to criminal
behaviors than their native
counterparts”
Building up to your RO & RQ
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You need to be sharp.
You could try making two lists of questions: "factual" questions
and "substantive" questions.
The answers to factual questions: gives your readers the basic
background information they need to understand your topic.
Asking Factual questions: Assume your readers knows nothing
about your subject. Make a list of specific questions that ask :
Who? What? When? Where? ….
The answers to substantive questions show your creative thinking
(*) and can become the basis for your thesis statement.
Asking Substantive Questions: these kinds of questions are the
result of your own original thinking. … They can be based on the
preliminary research you have done on your chosen topic. They
should provide a (tentative) interpretation for the phenomenon
you want to study.
How to define a good research
question?

Hypothetical / counterfactual: (Weber) How would things be different today if
something in the past had been different? Example: What would have happened to
the entire western civilization, with its rationalisms, if Persians should have not been
defeated in the Salamina battleship? It would have been “strangled in its cradle” in
favour of the political despotism and the theological dogmatisms of the Persians…

Prediction: How will something look or be in the future, based on the way it is now?
Example: What will happen to Italian Population if Womens’ age at first child
continue to increase at the rate it increased in the last XXyears and the average
number of children per woman continue to decrease as it did in the last xx years?

Solution: What solutions can be offered to a problem that exists today? Example:
How could we increase female LM participation in Italy? What can be done to
decrease the age at which young people in Southern European countries leave
parental home?

Comparison or Analogy: Find the similarities and differences between your main
subject and a similar subject, or with another subject in the same time period or place.
Example: In what ways the Nordic system of Flexicurity deals with LM redundancies
of adult-aged male industrial workers and what are the differences with the way the
Italian WS managed such a situation?
Substantive Questions
To what extent are final projects/theses
written in English?
What is the estimate of the level of English of theses
written in English?
What are the current methods of language help
available/used?
What challenges are reported when it comes to the
current processes?
What improvements could be made either by joint efforts
or at the level of individual institutions?
The aim of this study is to fill this gap by analyzing the feedback
provided on students’ writing through their Wiki sites and
assessing its impact on ESL student’s engineering report writing
skills. The objective of the research is:

to investigate the impact of feedback given via Wiki on ESL
students’ report writing.
RQ1: How has the language used by ESL engineering
students in their reports improved after receiving feedback
via Wiki?
RQ2: How has the quality of ESL engineering students’
reports improved after receiving feedback via Wiki?
SCOPE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH
This study aims to:
1.4.1
To fabricate a
biosensor using graphene for
the detection of Hepatitis B
virus.
1.4.2
To optimize the
immobilization of Hepatitis B
surface antigen antibody
(HBsAg) onto the fabricated
biosensor.
1.4.3
To investigate the
structural characterization,
electrochemical properties and
biocompatibility property of
the fabricated biosensor.
Graphene, Hepatits B Virus and Hepatitis B
antibodies (anti-HBsAg) will be used in this
research. Graphene oxide (GO) will be
synthesized from natural graphite based on the
modified Hummer’s methods. This GO will
then be reduced to graphene. Raman
Spectroscopy (RS) will be used for the carbon
nanosheet samples identification. In this study,
functionalized carbon nanosheet must go
through the surface characterization procedure
using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Besides, the identification of the functional
groups of graphene samples will require the
usage of Infrared Spectroscopy (IS). Energy
Dispersive
X-ray
analysis
(EDX)
and
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) will
be used to gather graphene samples
compositional
and
plane
orientation
information. Immobilization of anti-HBsAg on
the fabricated biosensor is based on
carbodiimide-assisted amidation reaction. The
assay conditions on immobilization time of
anti-HBsAg on the carbon nanosheet, the pH of
HAc–NaAc buffer, temperature and incubation
time will be studied.
Engineering RO & Scope
Formulate your:
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Research objective/s
Research questions/ Scope of study
Present on powerpoint slide as such:
- Title
- Statement of Problem
- RO
- RQ
Task
In evaluating literature the following questions should be
asked
1. What type of research has been done in the area?
2. What research questions have been asked (what
theories have been posed)?
3. How have researchers gone about answering those
questions? That is how did they define variables? What
research methods did they use?
4. What suggestions do other researchers make for
further study?
5. What has not been investigated?
6. How can the proposedstudy add to further knowledge in the
area?
Conduct a literature review
Citation
Research
Objectives
&/
Questions
Methodology
Findings
Your
reflections
Literature review table
Conduct a literature review
 Go to the library/ iportal
 Browse for journals relevant to your study
 Use keyword search to find a minimum of five journal
articles relevant to your study
 Read the journals and complete the literature review
table as shown.
 Put the table on the powerpoint slide that you have
been using.
 In the next class, present to the class what you have
found.
Homework for tomorrow’s class

Present you Literature Review table to the
class.
Review of homework task
Session3
The literature review:
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helps place the proposed study under the general body of
knowledge & saves duplication
helps anticipate possible causes, effects, and complex
processes of the problem under investigation
is NOT a summary of related works nor a mere listing of
previous research BUT a critical appreciation of relevant
literature conceptually integrated within the logic of the
proposed investigation
should show similarities & differences with other relevant
research
provides the theoretical foundations/ framework of the
study
can provide conceptual/operational definitions
Literature review in proposal
Go to:
http://uhe3142project-based-proposalwriting.wikispaces.com/Literature+Review
Identify:
- the structure of a good literature review
paragraph
- useful language expressions
- techniques of being critical
Theories underlying the study:

Title: The effect of online chat on students’ revision
process
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Theoretical foundation/framework: process writing,
computer-mediated communication, interaction

Group your literature review to areas/ issues/ theories in
your Theoretical foundation/framework
Theoretical foundation/
framework
1.5 WIKIS IN THE ESL WRITING CLASSROOM
The application of computer technology in ESL writing classroom is not something new and has been found to be
beneficial in developing students‟ writing skills (Cunningham , 2000; Goldberg, Russell and Cook, 2003) and
enhancing their writing process (Price, 1997; Lee, 2004; Ware, 2004). The tools used have evolved from the use of
software, word processor to synchronous or asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools.
Today, Web 2.0 applications like blog and wikis are seen as the “second generation Web which offer powerful
opportunities for online collaboration for both language professionals and learners” (Godwin-Jones, 2003: 12).
Wikis is an editable, web-based free authoring tool which allows users to create a fully editable website (Boulos,
et al., 2006). Visitors to the website can easily read, and edit or modify content, structure or design of the website
directly on the page, often without the need for registration (Augar, et al., 2004; Tonkin, 2005; Boulos, et al., 2006;
Wang & Turner, 2004; Charles & Ranmi, 2007).
Wikis can be easily used for writing instruction especially for process and collaborative writing activities (Chen
et al., 2005). The software makes the writing process visible, for example, the writer‟s edits can be viewed on the
screen. It provides a platform for instructors to monitor the students‟ writing development and give feedback
at any stage of their writing process (Carr, et al., 2007:280). In addition a group of students can work together on
a writing task, editing and building on one another‟s work or a student can work with the instructor one-on-one
receiving feedback and revising the written work without having to meet face-to-face. The tool also allows those
browsing the wikis site to take a dual role of reader and writer (LeLoup & Ponterio, 2006). Thus this tool can free
students and teachers from the rigid time-constraints of the classroom and facilitates meaningful creation of
knowledge online (Lamb, 2004). The facilities available on wikis make it a feasible tool for teaching writing. It
can be used to easily monitor students‟ writing progress. The students do not have to meet lecturers face-to-face.
Instead, wikis can be used to provide support and feedback to students‟ written work without the constraints of
time and place as compared to face-to-face consultations (Godwin-Jones, 2003).
Sample

Write one section of your literature review
Homework: submitted at end of
week
Determine methodological
orientation, data collection &
data analysis procedures
Session4
Quantitative
Qualitative
is upon facts that are
the products of direct
or indirect
observations, upon
concepts, and their
indicators, hypothesis
testing based upon
sample survey, and
upon statistical
analysis of data.
Researchers are
concerned with
relationships among
variables and patterns
e.g cause - effect
examines social
phenomena in their
natural settings and
emphasises verbal
descriptions and
explanations of human
behaviour.
Researchers try to
understand behaviour
and institutions by
getting to know the
persons involved by
getting to know their
rituals, symbols,
beliefs and emotions.
Triangulation
Mixed method
mixing of
quantitative and
qualitative
methods
the use of diverse data, it involves
combining different methods and
theories, as well as perspectives of
different investigators
•data triangulation - the use of variety
of data sources and data sets in a
study. Data may be both qualitative
and quantitative, gathered by different
methods or by the same method from
different sources or at different times.
•investigator triangulation - the use of
several different researchers. Here the
importance of partnership and
teamwork is underlined as the way of
bringing in different perspectives.
•theory triangulation - the use of
different theoretical viewpoints for
determining competing hypotheses as
well as for interpreting the single set of
data.
•methodological triangulation - the use
of multiple methods to study a single
problem or phenomenon. It may also
include the use of the same method on
different occasions and situations.
Methodological orientation
Quantitative
Qualitative
Design:
Surveys, experimental designs,
natural scientific enquiry
Data collection instruments:
Questionnaire, pre-post test, lab
experiments
Design:
Case study, ethnography,
Data collection instruments::
participant observation,
interview, content analysis.
Data analysis procedures:
Data analysis procedures:
Statistical analysis e.g. ttest, ANOVA/MANOVA
Emerging trends/ patterns/
themes
Software: SPSS, Rasch
Software: NVIVO
Methodology
Divide this section into:
 Research design,
 Population/ Participants,
 Sample & sampling,
 Data collection instrument/s,
 Validity, reliability,
 Procedures for data collection.
for each of these you must provide:
 A clear and meaningful reason for choosing your methodology
such as from literature review.
 example
Data collection
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
This study adopted the case study approach as it aimed at looking at one particular phenomenon. McMillan (2004: 271)
provides a comprehensive definition of a case study research below:
A case study is an in-depth analysis of one or more events, settings, programs, social groups, communities,
individuals and other bounded systems.
The case study is an investigation of one entity, which is carefully defined and characterized by time and place. The single
entity could be a person, a school or even an event. Yin (2003: 13) further emphasizes that the case study method is an
empirical inquiry that can provide a holistic understanding of real-life events “especially when the boundaries between
phenomenon and context are not clearly evident”. What this highlights is that case study can facilitate meaningful enquiry
into everyday phenomena. The researcher believes that the context is as important as the phenomenon itself and seeks to
find out how each contributed to and influenced the other.
3.3.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICIPANTS
Seventeen undergraduate ESL engineering students from three intact classes enrolled in the Undergraduate Research Project
1 at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Faculty of Electrical Engineering were selected as participants for this study.
Non-random purposive sampling method was used to select the participants in order to elicit the data pertinent to this
study. Random sampling is the primary method used to ensure external validity but non-random sampling is preferred
when the nature of research or size of population under study is unsuitable for random sampling which requires a
relatively large population (Babbie, 2001). Three possible methods of non-random sampling are systematic, convenience and
purposive sampling (Mackey & Gass, 2005). Purposive sampling is commonly used when the researcher has selected the
participants based on his/her knowledge of the participants and their relevance to the purpose of the
study (Babbie, 2001). Purposive sampling is the main sampling strategy in qualitative research because it seeks rich and thick
description through in-depth study of particular subjects (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2006, Patton, 1990, Wiersma, 2000).
The participants were students who stayed on in the class for the ten-week period of the study and continually posted drafts
on their wikispaces. All of the participants were 21 year-old, fourth year students. They had completed their compulsory
eight credits of English and a total of 80 credits of the graduation requirements. These courses were the pre-requisite for URP
1.
Divide this section into:
 Describing the method/ procedure/ scheme you are going to
use to analyse each type of data collected
- You might have a coding system/ sheet to analyse
each data
 Rationale for choosing that particular method/ procedure/
scheme (literature review)
Data analysis procedures
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Title
Background of the study
Statement of the problem
RO – RQ
Methodology – data collection and data analysis
procedures
Expected outcome (engineering research)
Scope of study (engineering research)
Gantt chart - milestones
Write the research proposal
Questions????
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Thank you & Good luck