Writing A Good Doctorate

Research

A presentation by
Awanis Ku Ishak, PhD
School of Business Management
College of Business

What is a Doctorate Research

A solid & convincing framework of a Doctorate
Proposal?
thesis
Underline the originality of the research.
Contains sufficient key elements involved in
research project to enable readers to evaluate
its viability.
Intended to convince others - a valuable
research project & the researcher has the
competence and work-plan to complete it.
Addresses following issues:

What research the researcher wants to do?

Who has done similar research?

Why the researcher wants to do it ? and

How the researcher is going to do it?

Writing an effective research

proposal
Purpose:
Justify and plan a research project.
Show how the research project
contributes to existing research.
Demonstrate that the researcher
understand how to conduct
discipline-specific research in an
acceptable time-frame.
Audience:
Academic advisors, committee and
others

When should the research

proposal be written?

Preparation with the question of

Why?

Preferably within 1 year.

A substantial amount of work has

to be done before proposal can be
written.

Seek advice on draft proposal from

supervisors and peers.

Writing an effective research

proposaldefinitely NOT an
Easy Task!

Common problems and mistakes:

Unable to provide context to frame

RQs
Unable to delimit boundary of research
issue(s)
Unable to cite landmark studies
undertaken so far
Unable to present accurate theoretical
background of study
Unable to focus the RQs
Unable to develop coherent and
persuasive arguments
Too much detailed or too much short on
major issues
Too much rambling going all over

 Guidelines
Is
anon writing
intellectual
scholastic
an effective doctorate
research proposal

contract.
Objective is to describe what the
researcher will do, why it should be
done, how to do it & what result to
expect.
Being clear from the beginning will
ensure thesis completion in a
timely fashion.
Vague, weak or fuzzy proposal may
lead to long, painful & often
unsuccessful thesis writing.
Clean & well thought-out proposal
forms backbone of thesis.
A good thesis proposal hinges on a
good idea.
Once you have a good idea, you can

Mentally prepared during the

Generate problem
process:
statement, research
questions, research objectives.
Deeply involved with the proposal
development activities.
Read and read.
Take notes.
Spend hours and hours looking for
information.
Making mistakes and learnfast.
Write and rewrite many times.
Having your writing and ideas criticized.
Get confused, get afraid : Feeling confused
and hopeless most of the times.
Talk to supervisors, experts, fellows.
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS!

Tips for successful proposal

writing

Simplicity

No pretentious language,
unnecessary jargon, double
speak; cutting down
unnecessary word.
Read out loud (pronounce, say,
read) = understand.
Revise , revise, revise, revise,
revise
Confident of the work.be able
to defend proposal.

During an effective
proposal writing :

Establish a writing schedule.

Begin by free-writing.
Keep a small notebook with you
to write down relevant thoughts.
Say parts of your writing into a
recording device.
Compose different parts in
different computer files or on
different index cards.
Start with more clear cut
sections first.

During an effective
proposal writing

Understand that the proposal will be

negotiated--be prepared to revise!
Think of the proposal as an
introduction to your thesis or
dissertation.
Remember that your proposal is not
meant to limit ideas, but to help you
think practically.
Ask colleagues to form a writing
group.
Talk to your advisor or supervisor!

Important information for

writing
Always structure your work in advance.
Know that you want to say before
writing.
Every sentence must contain one idea
only.
Each sentence must follow logically
from the before: chain of ideas.
Write in a way that is easy to read.
Use simple language.
Check spelling and grammar.
Do not cut and paste from articles.

Avoid Plagiarism!

Plagiarism is presenting someone

elses ideas or words as though
they were your own.

Paying a detrimental consequences.

Integrity / Ethical and Moral Issues.

Before start writing..

Do I have the clear research

questions?

Have I read broadly and deeply in

that area?

Have I discusses the topic with

peers?

Have I enough time and fund to

start?

Do I feel support from my faculty,

family and friends?

Components of
A Good Doctorate Research
Research Methods
Proposal
Title
Introduction
Background
Problem Statement
Research Questions
Research Objectives
Significance of the research
Scope of Research
Limitation of Study
Operational Definition of the
Terms Used
Review of Literature
Literature Review
Hypotheses development

Theoretical Framework
Research Hypotheses
Research Design
Population & Sample
Sampling Technique
Measurement /
Instruments
Data Collection Process
Reliability & Validity
Data Analysis
Findings
Descriptive Analysis
Demographic Profile
Variable Score
Inferential Analysis
Reference

Components of Research Proposal

Orient readers to aTitle

clear title
for research.
Be self-explanatory.
Be brief.
Language : simple &
unambiguous.
Be specific to a particular
domain.
Avoid bracket, arithmetic
figures, etc.
Key words to describe
proposal.

Components of Research Proposal

Introduction / Background of The
Research

Most difficult part

Opens
dialogue
between
researcher and reader.
Generally explain and indicate
general scope of research.
Necessary
background
for
research problem.
Brief but appropriate historical
backdrop.
Describe broad foundations of
research - sufficient background
for readers.
Engage readers.

Components of Research Proposal

Statement of the Problem

Specific condition that needs urgent

attention and possible solution.
Attempts to fill a gap in the existing
knowledge that requires serious attention
Preferably concise and clear cut problem
statement - short.
Must generate questions for research to
answer.
Writing problem statement should
consists of what, where, how, why, who,
when.
Cite scholarly references.

Statement of the Problem

Answer the question: What is the

gap that needs to be filled? and/or
What is the problem that needs to
be solved?
State the problem clearly early in a
paragraph.
Consider framing the problem as a
question.

Components of Research Proposal

Problem Statement = Research
Question = Research Objective
Problem Statement

Consider framing
the problem as a
question.

Then transform
the research
questions into
research
objectives.

Research Question
Brief, Relevant,
Focused, Arguable.
The spine of the
proposal.

Research Objectives
Concise, clear-cut, expressed in
simple language, precise, selfexplanatory
Distinctive, quantifiable ,
measurable
Two types of objectives :
general/broad/overall; specific

Components of Research Proposal

Rationale/ Justification/
Significance
of the Research

Addressing the national

context problem
Discuss theoretical,
methodological, and / or
practical contribution.
State the practical
and/or theoretical
importance of the
proposed research on
the phenomenon /
problem to the outside
world and / or the
knowledge.

Bridging the
knowledge gaps.
Explain the
usefulness or
benefits of the
study to both the
outside world and
the research
community.
Affected
stakeholders

Components of Research Proposal

Scope Of Research & Limitation of the
Research
Operational Definition of the Terms Used
Scope and limitations of the Research

Boundaries of the research

Aspects and issues addressed

Shortcomings of the research

resource and time constraints
Operational definitions of terms used

Clear-cut meaning of the terms

used.

Components of Research Proposal

Literature Review
LR serves several pertinent functions:

Ensures no "reinventing the wheel .

Recognition to previous researchers who laid the

groundwork.

Exhibit researchers knowledge of research problem.

Reveals researchers understanding of theoretical and

research issues related to research question

Shows researchers ability to critically evaluate

relevant literature information

Indicates researchers ability to integrate and

synthesize existing literature

Provides new theoretical insights or develops a new

model as the conceptual framework for
proposed
research

Convinces reader that the proposed research will

make a significant and substantial contribution to the
literature

Components of Research
Proposal
Literature Review

Writing the literature review allows

researcher to understand:
How other scholars have written
about the topic.
The range of theories used to
analyze materials or data
How other scholars connect their
specific research topics to larger
issues, questions, or practices
within the field.
The best methodologies and
research techniques for the
particular topic.

Components of Research
Proposal
Literature Review

Situates the current study

within a wider disciplinary
conversation.
Illustrates the uniqueness,
importance of and need for
your particular project.
Justifies methodological
choices.
Demonstrates familiarity with
the topic and appropriate
approaches to studying it.

Components of Research Proposal

Literature Review
An Effective Literature Review
should

Flesh out the background of

your study.

Critically assess important

research trends or areas of
interest.

Identify potential gaps in

knowledge.

Establish a need for current

and/or future research
projects.

Components of Research Proposal

Research Framework and Research Hypotheses

Research Hypothesis

Proposition subject
to verification

May be null,
accepted, rejected

Guide/lead the
research

Research Framework

The theoretical
framework is the
viewpoint or angle from
which the researcher
approaches.

Graphic explanation of
the proposed research.

Usually is established
from certain
underpinning theory.

Components of Research
Proposal Research
Methodology

How researcher plans to tackle the research

problem. Describes work plan and activities
necessary for completion of research project.

It should contain sufficient information for

the reader to determine whether
methodology is sound

For quali - there are no well-established and

widely accepted ways in qualitative
analysis, your method section needs to be
more elaborate than what is required for
quantitative research

Data collection process in qualitative

research has a far greater impact on the

Components of Research Proposal

Research framework
Research Methodology

Research philosophy

Research design quantitative or

qualitative

Population and sampling

Sampling techniques

Instruments / measurements

Data collection
techniques &
procedures

Reliability / validity

Statistical tools/techniques to be
used

Data processing, analysis,

interpretation techniques
Data/information presentation
techniques
Do contact statistician

What does the methodology

section do?

Shows the reader how it is

being set for looking answers
to the research question.
It should reflect the
capability of research worker
to complete the research
work.
The proposed methods must
be appropriate to the type of
research work.

Components of Research
Proposal Research
Methodology
For quantitative studies, the method section
typically consists of the following sections:

Design -Is it a questionnaire study or a

laboratory experiment? What kind of
design do you choose?

Subjects or participants - Who will take

part in your study ? What kind of sampling
procedure do you use?

Instruments - What kind of measuring

instruments or questionnaires do you use?
Why do you choose them? Are they valid
and reliable?

Procedure - How do you plan to carry out

your study? What activities are involved?
How long does it take?

Tips on Drafting Methodology

Break down your methodology into subsections.

In the physical sciences, these sections may
include subjects, design, apparatus,
instrumentation, process, analysis, etc.
In the social sciences, these sections may
include selection of participants, interview
process, profiles, interpretive and analytic
framework, methods of qualitative analysis, etc.
In the humanities, these sections may include
scholarly research, archival research,
theoretical orientation, etc.
Remember that your methods section may also
require supporting literature.
Anticipate and pre-empt the audiences
methodological concerns.
Acknowledge major problems.
Justify your approach by showing how benefits
outweigh potential problems.

Components of Research Proposal

References / Bibliography

Related references of the research

Follow APA technicalities in writing

bibliography/references

To be presented in alphabetic order

To be presented in classified manner

viz., manuscripts, books, journals,
commission reports, newspapers,
etc.

Timeline/Plan of Work
Some things to keep in mind:

Consult your supervisor.

Be aware of important dates for

submitting and defending dissertations.

Do not be overly ambitious.

Remember that your proposed timeline

demonstrates your awareness of the
various elements of the study
(approval, travel; design, testing, and
length of experiments; negotiation of
entry into the study site; purchase of
necessary equipment; drafting;
redrafting).

Bibliography
The Learning Centre at the University of South Wales.
Thesis proposals.
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/thesis1.html.
Mauch, J.E. and Park, N. (2003). Guide to the successful
thesis and dissertation. Ch. 3 and 4.
University of California-Berkeley. Dissertation proposal
workshop.
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/DissPropWorkshop.
University of Queensland Learning Support Centre.
Well into it: End of first year.
http://www.sss.uq.edu.au/linkto/ phdwriting
/fr_phsta.html.
Qais Faryadi (2012). How to Write Your PhD Proposal: A
Step-By-Step Guide. American International Journal
of Contemporary Research, 2(4) 111.