STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

AND GUIDELINES FOR WRITING

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

SITI HAMIN STAPA
PPBL
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PART 1 INTRODUCTION (15 MARKS)
Background of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Objective of the Study
Research Questions
Significance of the Study
Limitations

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Background/introduction
Introduction, as a genre, has conventionally
been understood as a piece of discourse which
introduces other forms of lengthy discourse,
be it a research article, a project report, a
laboratory report or even a student essay.

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In writing introductions to dissertations,
Dudley-Evans (1989) discovered a six-move
structure:
Move 1: Introducing the field
Move 2: Introducing the general topic (within
the field)
Move 3: Introducing the particular topic
(within the general topic)

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Move 4: Defining the scope of the particular
topic by:
Introducing research parameters
Summarizing previous research
Move 5: Preparing for present research by:
Indicating a gap in previous research
Indicating a possible extension of previous
research

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Move 6: introducing present research by:
Stating the aim of the research or
Describing briefly the work carried out
Justifing the research

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Statement of the Problem

A problem statement is essentially a clear
description of an issue that faces a group or
individual.

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Set up a thesis statement. The thesis
statement, or opening statement, will identify
the problem, and is an important part of a
problem statement.

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Identify solutions. Another part of writing a
problem statement is to identify various
solutions that the writer can come up with.
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Apply the 5 W's. Within the problem
statement, it's good to keep the focus on
presenting as wide an array of facts as
possible. This includes the common meme of
the five W's, or in other words, who, what,
why, when and how. Addressing each of these
can make a problem statement more
informative and effective.

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Who - Who does the problem affect? Specific
groups, organizations, customers, etc.
What - What are the boundaries of the
problem, e.g. organizational, etc.
What - is the issue? - What is the impact of
the issue? - What impact is the issue causing?

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When - When does the issue occur? - When
does it need to be fixed?
Where - Where is the issue occurring? Only in
certain locations, etc.
Why - Why is it important that we fix the
problem.

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Each of the answers will help to zero in on the
specific issue(s) and frame the Issue
Statement.
Your problem statement should be solveable.

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PURPOSE VS OBJECTIVES
Purpose: more general
Objectives: more detailed, specific and firmly-stated.
Objectives are to explain the way in which research
questions are going to be answered. Objectives are
usually headed by infinitive verbs such as:
To identify
To establish
To describe

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To determine
To estimate
To develop
To compare
To analyse
To collect

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Fraenkel and Wallen (1993), 4 characteristics
of good RQs:
1. Feasible
2. Clear
3. Significant
4. Ethical
Wh questions - What, who, when, why, where,
how, to what extent

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PART 2 LITERATURE REVIEW (10 MARKS)
Theoretical Framework
Review of the related Literature
Past Studies

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PART 3 METHODOLOGY (10 MARKS)
Research Design
Research Sample/ Research site
Instrument/Research Tool
Data Collection Procedure
Data Analysis
RERERENCES (5 MARKS)

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DEADLINE: WEEK 15.
PRESENTATION: WEEK 14
FORMAT: 10-15 PAGES, TIMES NEW ROMAN 12,
1.5 SPACING.

*PRESENTATION (10 MARKS)
CONTENT (6 MARKS)
LANGUAGE (2 MARKS)
OVERALL EFFECTIVENSS (2 MARKS)

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