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Research Proposal Writing

A. S. M. A. Haseeb Dept. of Mechanical Engineering University of Malaya Office: Room 13, Level 5, Engineering Tower Bldg. Tel: 7967 4492, E-mail: haseeb@um.edu.my

References:
Guideline to Writing Research Proposal for Higher Degree Programmes, IPS, UM http://www.tadafinallyfinished.com/thesis-proposal.html http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~martins/sen_res/how_to_thesis_proposal.html http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/thesis.html http://www.polisci.berkeley.edu/ugrad/Guidelines%20for%20writing%20a%20thesis%20proposal.doc

The main purposes of your proposal

Establish the relevance and value of the proposed research in the context of current academic thinking Show why the intended research is important and to justify the effort of doing the research

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IPS Format for Research Proposal Field of Research Topic of Research Proposal Background or a brief literature review on the research topic Objective of Study Explain the objective(s) that influence the research Methodology of study Explain the methods used in study such as library research, Iab work, field work, historical documentary, interview, survey, evaluation and analysis, etc. Work schedule Equipment required (where applicable) Please give details on the estimated costs (where applicable) Brief bibliography The research proposal should contain between 1,500 - 2,000 words or about four (4) pages

Most research proposals are between 4 and 15 pages, but some institutions or departments specify word limits. It is rarely possible to write a comprehensive proposal in fewer than 1500 words

So IPS format requires a very brief proposal

Routine Information

This can be a full cover page or a quarter page header - Name - Address, telephone and email details - Degree for which you are a candidate - Supervisor's and co-supervisor's names - Thesis proposal title - Date

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Literature Review - Place your proposed topic clearly in its relevant research context through a critical analysis of selected research reports - The main substance of the proposal - Precise overview of current state of research immediately connected to your project - Describe studies / theories that support and oppose your approach to the problem - Include alternative methodological approaches that have been used by others who studied your problem - Should demonstrate your awareness of significant similar or relevant research

Objectives

- A concise and clear outline of what you intend to find out in your project and what objectives you want to achieve - Research questions / hypothesis / research goal

Methodology - Very important part of research outline and should receive a lot of attention - Gives detailed information about how you intend to answer your research questions - Explains the methods used in study such as library research, laboratory work, field work, historical documentary, interview, survey, evaluation and analysis, etc.

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Work Schedule
- Give information about your estimated time table in table form Gantt Chart - Indicate the sequence of research phases and the time that you will probably need for each phase - At this stage time is only estimated make clear that you have an idea about the time span that will be needed for each step

Example of a Gantt Chart

Field of Research Topic of Research Proposal Background or a brief literature review on the research topic Objective of Study Explain the objective(s) that influence the research Methodology of study Explain the methods used in study such as library research, Iab work, field work, historical documentary, interview, survey, evaluation and analysis, etc. Work schedule Equipment required (where applicable) Please give details on the estimated costs (where applicable) Brief bibliography

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Brief Bibliography
- List those academic works which you have mentioned in your research outline - At least some of them should be recent publications, indicating that you are aware of the current discourse in your area of research - Style