THE STRUCTURE OF A QUALITATIVE PROPOSAL

(Modified from Punch 2003)

A. THE PROPOSED STUDY

(i). Title.

(ii). The research aim

What is the purpose of this study?
What is the problem that motivated this study?
What is the knowledge gap that the study intends to fill?
What is the justification of the study? What are the expected benefits from it?

(iii). The research context

What is the theoretical context for this study? What is the main framework?
Are there specific concepts that the study will use? If so, please define them.
What is the historical and current context of the study?
What is the methodological context? Are there previous works done in this
regard?

(iv).This study’s substantial and original contribution to knowledge

What is the theoretical justification of this study? What is the new knowledge
that it will produce?
What are the practical implications of the knowledge generated by this study?

B. THE RESEARCH PLAN

(i) The research questions

What is the central question for this study?
What are the other questions that will guide the study?

(ii) The research method

Research design
How can you summarise the chosen method?
What is the rationale for choosing this method among others?

The study population

What are the criteria that define the study population?
Which are the criteria for selecting the sample?

Data collection
Which data sources will you use?
How will you apply each of the techniques included within the
research method?
What is the rationale behind the proposed methodology?
What is the preliminary timeframe for collecting data?
Analysis of data
How can you summarise the process of data analysis?
Which will be the main steps that you will follow to analyse the
collected data?
EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT DOES NOT DUPLICATE WORK ALREADY
DONE

What sources of knowledge and information have you reviewed to

ensure that this work has not been done by others?

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
How will you ensure that the dignity and integrity of participants will
be respected during all the steps of the research?

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
How will you ensure that the activities carried out within the study will
not harm the environment?
How will you minimise the impact on pollution levels?
How will you treat the material used during the study at the
end of it?

References
Punch, K. F. (2003). Developing effective research proposals, London: SAGE.