Research Help

8/26/2017
Mugume Rodgers Bangi
The Research Process
How to prepare a good

research proposal and conduct
a successful research project
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Defining Research
• Research is an art of investigating of new and
innovative aspects of any branch of knowledge.
• It comprises of:
– defining and refining problems,
– formulating hypotheses,
– suggest solutions or solution approaches,
– collecting and analyzing data,
– deriving, experimenting, and
– eventually validating the hypothesis or deducing new

conclusions.
What’s Research?
• Research is also defined as search for knowledge
through objective and systematic methods of finding
solutions to a problem or developing foundation
theories.
 ”re” ... implies returns to study
 Systematic and organized ... the scientific method...
 Establishing facts ... Description
 Establishing relations ... explanations and correlations
 Establish principles and theories ... exploratory and
discovery
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Meaning of Research
• Research is:
– A process of enquiry and investigation
– Systematic and methodical, and
– Increases knowledge.
– Implies that researchers need to use appropriate
methods for collecting and analyzing research
data, and to apply them rigorously.
– The purpose of research is to investigate a
research question with a view to generating
knowledge.
Characteristics of Research
• Controlled – set up controls or qualify effects
• Rigorous – follow relevant procedure
• Systematic – follow logical sequences,

necessary and sufficient conditions
• Valid and verifiable – universally repeatable
• Empirical – conclusion based on sensory inputs
• Critical – all procedure can be questioned.
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The Importance of Research

• Direct impact of science and technology
in our lives.
• Its understanding is beneficial to our
welfare
– Enable us to differentiate between science
and pseudoscience
• Help us to develop reasoning skills.

• Allows us to challenge and find limitations
in research claims.
Objectives of research
• The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights into it - exploratory or formulative research
studies
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or group – descriptive studies
• To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else – diagnostic research studies.
• To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between
variables – hypothesis-testing research
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Motivation in research
• Intellectual satisfaction of doing something
innovative and creative.
• Meaningful and long-lasting contribution
towards the advancement of mankind and
society.
• Enjoy the challenges of solving unsolved
problems.
• Attaining high level of understanding of
fundamental concepts as well as practical
significancy.
• Degrees, financial benefits, and respect comes
along the way.
Points to note and remember…

• ”Research” cannot be taught or
improvised.
• It does not follow an "on-off" model
• Continuous nourishment is essential
• There is no ”one size fits all” model
• Research dictates its own pace and
directions – should not be imposed upon
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Types of Research
• Basic/Fundamental research (or Pure research)
– Conducted for the purpose of acquiring knowledge
– Seeking knowledge without thought of application,
e.g. Science.
• Applied research
– Intended to bring about some direct benefit to
humankind
– Seeking knowledge which can be applied to
achieve a certain goal, e.g. Technology
– Practical Research – seeking knowledge of dynamic
action in process of application, e.g. engineering
Descriptive Research
• Describe what is happening behaviorally.
• Researcher has no control over the variables;
• S/he can only report what has happened or what is

happening
E.g. Prevalence rate of waterborne diseases in an area.
• Necessary first step.

• Foundation for future inquiries.
• Does not explain how or why.
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Relational (Correlational) Research

• Measure and estimate relationship between two
or more variables
– Example: Relationship between rain and traffic jam in
Kampala
• Examines:
– If variables are significantly related
– Direction of relationship
– Strength of relationship
• Does not demonstrate causality!
Experimental Research
• Manipulate conditions responsible for

effect.
– Example: Impact of rain on travel patterns

in Kampala.
• Implies causation.
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Approaches to Conducting Research
• Qualitative
– Generates categorized information and/or
impressions or descriptions
• concern is with process, not merely outcomes
• less structured
• typically have small sample sizes
• provides extensive detail on attitudes and
behavior
• examples: case study, focus group, in-depth
interview, naturalistic observation.

• Quantitative
– quantify the problem by way of generating numerical
data or data that can be transformed into useable
statistics i.e. generates numerical data (numbers)
• Formal experiments, Standardized
instruments/scales (surveys/questionnaires)
• Typically have large sample sizes
• Often entails hypothesis testing and generalizability
e.g. How many people don’t have access to clean
and safe water in Karamoja?
How many people think non-motorized traffic can
be applied in Kampala city?
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• Mixed Methods (Multi-method)
– Combination of quantitative and qualitative.
• a specific method may be used to

strengthen another method.
• example: focus group used to support survey results.
For example, suppose you have to find the types of non-motorized traffic available in
the city and the extent of their popularity
o Types of non-motorized traffic is the qualitative aspect of the study as finding out
about them entails description of the users and their composition.
o The extent of their popularity is the quantitative aspect as it involves estimating the
number of people who make up non-motorized traffic and calculating the other
indicators that reflect the extent of popularity.
Research Methodology versus

Research Methods
• Research methods may be understood

as all those methods/techniques that
are used for conducting research.
• Research methods or techniques, thus,

refer to the methods the researchers
adopt to carry out their research.
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Research Methods
Research methods can be put into the following three
groups:
1. In the first group we include those methods which are
concerned with the collection/ acquisition of data;
these methods will be used where the data
already available are not sufficient to arrive at the
required solution;
2. The second group consists of those mathematical or
statistical techniques which are used for establishing
relationships between the data and the unknowns;
3. The third group consists of those methods which are
used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.

Research Methods
• Research methods falling in the above stated last two
groups are generally taken as the analytical tools of
research.
• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve
the research problem;
• It is a science of studying how research is done
scientifically.
• In it we formulate the various steps that are to be
adopted by a researcher in studying his research
problem along with the logic behind them.
• It is necessary for the researcher to know not only
the research methods/techniques but also the
methodology,
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Research Methods
• Researchers not only need to know how to develop
certain indices or tests, how to calculate the mean, the
mode, the median, or 'the standard deviation or chi-
square, 'how to apply particular research techniques,
• but they also need to know which of these research
methods or techniques, are relevant and which are not,
and what would they mean and indicate and why.
• Researchers also need to understand the assumptions
underlying various techniques.
• It is necessary for the researcher to design his
methodology for his problem as the same may differ
from problem to problem.

Research Methods
• Research methodology has many dimensions and
research methods do constitute a part of the research
methodology.
• The scope of research methodology is wider than that
of research methods.
• Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not
only talk of the research methods but also consider the
logic behind the methods we use in the context of our
research study and explain why we are using a
particular method or technique and why we are not
using others so that research results are capable of
being evaluated either by the researcher himself or by
others.
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Research Methods
Also understand……………….
• Why a research study has been undertaken,
• How-the research problem has been defined,
• In what way and why the hypothesis has been
formulated,
• what data have been collected and what particular
method has been adopted,
• why particular technique of analyzing data has been
used and
• a host of similar other questions are usually answered
when we talk of research methodology concerning a
research problem or study.
Empirical Reasoning and the Scientific

Method
• The “key” to empirical reasoning

– Careful logic
– Organized observation/measurement
– Replicable
– Open to scrutiny by others
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The Scientific Method

• Scientific method refers to a body of
techniques using tools such as observations,
experiments, and statistical analysis to
investigating phenomena, acquiring new
knowledge, or correcting and integrating
previous knowledge.
• To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry

must be based on gathering empirical and
measurable evidence subject to specific
principles of reasoning.
Steps in the Scientific Method

• A linearized, pragmatic scheme of the four points
above is sometimes offered as a guideline for
proceeding:
1. Define a question
2. Gather information and resources (observe)
3. Form an explanatory hypothesis (formulate questions)
4. Test the hypothesis by performing an experiment and
collecting data in a reproducible manner
(Method/Measurement)
5. Analyze the data (Result)
6. Interpret the data and draw conclusions that serve as a
starting point for new hypothesis (Conclusion)
– (Publish results)
– (Retest (frequently done by other scientists))
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Advantages of the Scientific Method
• Clarity and Precision

– avoids logic, casual observation, and
common sense.
• Intolerance of Error
– scientists are trained to be critical thinkers.
Elements of scientific method

• Four essential elements of a scientific
method
– Characterizations (observations, definitions,
and measurements of the subject of inquiry)
– Hypotheses (theoretical,
hypothetical/imaginary explanations of
observations and measurements of the
subject)
– Predictions (reasoning including logical
deduction from the hypothesis or theory)
– Experiments (tests of all of the above)
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• Question – You ask a

question about what
you observe.
• State the problem

or question
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• Observations – you
observe something in the
material world, using your
senses or machines which
are basically an extension
of those sentences
• Hypothesis – Predict what you

think the answer to your
question might be.
• Ex. "Raising the temperature of a

cup of water will increase the
amount of sugar that dissolves .”
• A useful hypothesis is a
testable statement which
may include a prediction.
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• Method/Measurement
– you figure out a way to
test whether the hypothesis
is correct
• The outcome must be

measurable or quantifiable
• Record and analyze

data
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Important aspect of the scientific

method
The deductive-inductive scientific

method
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method
The deductive-inductive iterative

approach to scientific knowledge
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Logical thinking
Levels of certainty
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Fact
Hypothesis
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Theory
Law
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Is a hypothesis necessary for science?
Modes of Knowing in Research

(Epistemology)
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Characteristics of Good Researchers
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Topic Selection
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Topic Selection
Define Your Research Topic
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The Four Steps
1. State Your Topic as a Question
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2. Identify the Main Concepts
Create a Concept Map
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4. Narrow or broaden topic
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1
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Defining Research

• It comprises of defining and refining problems,
formulating hypothese, suggest solutions or solution
approaches, collecting and analyzing data,
deriving, experimenting, and eventually validating
the hypothesis or deducing new conclusions.
theories.
What’s Research?
• A systematic and organized form of continuous

attention applied to a field of knowledge, undertaken
to establish facts, relationships, principles and theories.
discovery
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Meaning of Research
• Research is:
knowledge.
Meaning of Research
• Research refers to
– a systematic method consisting of articulating
the problem,
– formulating a hypothesis (research questions),
– collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts,
– and reaching conclusions either in form of
solutions towards the concerned problem or in
certain generalization for some theoretical
formulation.
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in our lives.
welfare
and pseudoscience

• Allows us to challenge and find
limitations in research claims.
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studies
society.
problems.
significancy.
along the way.
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improvised.
• It does not follow an ”on-off” model
Types of Research
e.g. Science.
humankind
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– Example:
• Students‟failure at undergraduate.
• Plevalency rate of HIV infection in the community


or more variables
– Example: Learning aids and student knowledge
• Examines:
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effect.
– Example: Presence of books on student

learning.
• Quantitative
– Generates numerical data (numbers)
• Formal experiments
• Standardized instruments/scales
(surveys/questionnaires)
• Often entails hypothesis testing
• Often entails generalizability
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• Qualitative
• less structured
behavior

– Combination of quantitative and
qualitative.
• example: focus group used to support
survey results.
• example: structured job satisfaction survey
developed by conducting one- on-one
interviews with employees.
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Method
• The “key” to empirical

reasoning
– Careful logic
– Organized
observation/measurement
– Replicable

previous knowledge.

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• It is a method of procedure that has
characterized natural science since the
17th century, consisting in
– systematic observation,
– measurement and experiment,
– and the formulation, testing,
– and modification of hypotheses.

proceeding:
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common sense.

method
subject)
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• Question – You
ask a question
about what
you observe.
• State the
problem or
question
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observe something in
the material world,
using your senses or
machines which are
basically an extension
of those sentences

question might be.
• Ex. "Raising the temperature of
a cup of water will increase the
amount of sugar that dissolves
.”
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– you figure out a way
to test whether the
hypothesis is correct
measurable or
quantifiable
data
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Reporting and Communication of

Research

method
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Types of sciences
Types of sciences
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Types of sciences
Science vs. engineering
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method

method
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Logical thinking
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Induction and deduction
Deduction
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Levels of certainty
Fact
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Hypothesis
Theory
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Law
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(Epistemology)
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Topic Selection
Topic Selection
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The Four Steps
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3. Brainstorm keywords
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1
8/26/2017
Defining Research
• It comprises of:
– defining and refining problems,
– formulating hypotheses,
– suggest solutions or solution approaches,
– collecting and analyzing data,
– deriving, experimenting, and
– eventually validating the hypothesis or deducing new

conclusions.
What’s Research?
theories.
discovery
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Meaning of Research
• Research is:
knowledge.

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in our lives.
welfare
and pseudoscience

• Allows us to challenge and find limitations
in research claims.
studies
4
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society.
problems.
significancy.
along the way.

improvised.
• It does not follow an "on-off" model
5
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Types of Research
e.g. Science.
humankind
• Researcher has no control over the variables;
• S/he can only report what has happened or what is

happening
E.g. Prevalence rate of waterborne diseases in an area.

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or more variables
– Example: Relationship between rain and traffic jam in
Kampala
• Examines:

effect.
– Example: Impact of rain on travel patterns

in Kampala.
7
8/26/2017
• Qualitative
• less structured
behavior

• Quantitative
– quantify the problem by way of generating numerical
data or data that can be transformed into useable
statistics i.e. generates numerical data (numbers)
• Formal experiments, Standardized
instruments/scales (surveys/questionnaires)
• Often entails hypothesis testing and generalizability
e.g. How many people don’t have access to clean
and safe water in Karamoja?
How many people think non-motorized traffic can
be applied in Kampala city?
8
8/26/2017

– Combination of quantitative and qualitative.

• example: focus group used to support survey results.
For example, suppose you have to find the types of non-motorized traffic available in
the city and the extent of their popularity
o Types of non-motorized traffic is the qualitative aspect of the study as finding out
about them entails description of the users and their composition.
o The extent of their popularity is the quantitative aspect as it involves estimating the
number of people who make up non-motorized traffic and calculating the other
indicators that reflect the extent of popularity.

Research Methods
• Research methods may be understood

as all those methods/techniques that
are used for conducting research.
• Research methods or techniques, thus,

refer to the methods the researchers
adopt to carry out their research.
9
8/26/2017

Research Methods
Research methods can be put into the following three
groups:
1. In the first group we include those methods which are
concerned with the collection/ acquisition of data;
these methods will be used where the data
already available are not sufficient to arrive at the
required solution;
2. The second group consists of those mathematical or
statistical techniques which are used for establishing
relationships between the data and the unknowns;
3. The third group consists of those methods which are
used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.

Research Methods
• Research methods falling in the above stated last two
groups are generally taken as the analytical tools of
research.
• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve
the research problem;
• It is a science of studying how research is done
scientifically.
• In it we formulate the various steps that are to be
adopted by a researcher in studying his research
problem along with the logic behind them.
• It is necessary for the researcher to know not only
the research methods/techniques but also the
methodology,
10
8/26/2017

Research Methods
• Researchers not only need to know how to develop
certain indices or tests, how to calculate the mean, the
mode, the median, or 'the standard deviation or chi-
square, 'how to apply particular research techniques,
• but they also need to know which of these research
methods or techniques, are relevant and which are not,
and what would they mean and indicate and why.
• Researchers also need to understand the assumptions
underlying various techniques.
• It is necessary for the researcher to design his
methodology for his problem as the same may differ
from problem to problem.

Research Methods
• Research methodology has many dimensions and
research methods do constitute a part of the research
methodology.
• The scope of research methodology is wider than that
of research methods.
• Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not
only talk of the research methods but also consider the
logic behind the methods we use in the context of our
research study and explain why we are using a
particular method or technique and why we are not
using others so that research results are capable of
being evaluated either by the researcher himself or by
others.
11
8/26/2017

Research Methods
Also understand……………….
• Why a research study has been undertaken,
• How-the research problem has been defined,
• In what way and why the hypothesis has been
formulated,
• what data have been collected and what particular
method has been adopted,
• why particular technique of analyzing data has been
used and
• a host of similar other questions are usually answered
when we talk of research methodology concerning a
research problem or study.

Method
• The “key” to empirical reasoning

– Careful logic
– Organized observation/measurement
– Replicable
12
8/26/2017

previous knowledge.


proceeding:
13
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common sense.

method
subject)
14
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• Question – You ask a

question about what
you observe.
• State the problem

or question
15
8/26/2017
observe something in the
material world, using your
senses or machines which
are basically an extension
of those sentences

question might be.
• Ex. "Raising the temperature of a

cup of water will increase the
amount of sugar that dissolves .”
16
8/26/2017
– you figure out a way to
test whether the hypothesis
is correct

measurable or quantifiable

data
17
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method

method
18
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method

19
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Logical thinking
Levels of certainty
20
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Fact
Hypothesis
21
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Theory
Law
22
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(Epistemology)
23
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24
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25
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Topic Selection
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Topic Selection
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The Four Steps
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9/16/2017

research proposal
Preamble
• Research for an MSc thesis is one trifling part of
the scientific enterprise undertaking.
• It must be grounded in the scientific method
and follow a sound research plan.
• In this lecture we’ll discuss the steps of the
research process, emphasizing how to prepare
a good research proposal.
• With suitable modifications, these steps can be
followed for writing more extensive proposals.
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What is a research proposal?
• A research proposal is a (your) plan

– It describes in detail your study
– Decisions about your study are based on
the quality of the proposal
• Research funding
• Approvals to proceed by the Research
and Higher Degrees Committee, etc.
What is a research proposal?

• Regardless of your research area and the methodology you
choose, all research proposals must address the following
questions:
– What you plan to accomplish,
– Why you want to do it,
– and how you are going to do it.
• The proposal should have sufficient information to convince your

readers that:
– you have an important research idea,
– that you have a good grasp of the relevant literature and the
major issues,
– and that your methodology is sound.
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The Research Proposal
• A research proposal is intended to convince

others that you have a worthwhile research
project and that you have the competence
and the work-plan to complete it.
• Generally, it should contain all the key

elements involved in the research process
and include sufficient information for the
readers to evaluate the proposed study.
Quality of your Research Proposal
• The quality of a proposal depends not only

on the quality of the proposed
project/topic, but also on the quality of
writing.
• A good research project may run the risk of
rejection simply because the proposal is
poorly written.
• Therefore, it pays if your writing is coherent,
clear and convincing.
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Summary of the Research Process

Research Problem Development
Research Design (Selection)
Sampling Design (Selection)
Measurement and Scaling
Questionnaire/Protocol
Development
Data Collection and Preparation
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Prepare and present thesis/report
Step 1:
Start with a broad notion of discipline and Positivists, post-positivists; Interpretive; transformative;
of the paradigm you see as suiting your Pragmatic
research
Step 2:
Topic; Problem
Determine the area of Research
E.g. Historical; Descriptive; Feminist; Developmental; Case
Step 3:
study; Field study; Correlational; Casual-Comparative;
Identify approach
Experimental; Quasi-experimental; Action.
Step 4:
Research Problem → Research question/issue
Conduct Literature Review
Step 5: Determine data types Quantitative or Qualitative or a Mixture
Step 6:
Surveys; Interviews; Document analysis; Test; Experiments;
Choose data collection
Focus groups; Interviews
instruments/methods
Step 7: Develop timeline → Determine who will collect the data →
Identify where, when and who data will Develop or identify data collection tool → Trialing data
come from collecting tool → Refine data collecting tool.
Type determined by type of research → Where the data is
Step 8:
coming from.
Obtain ethics and other related approvals
Step 9: Storage and management →Organizing and sorting →

Data Collection Coding and display
Step 10: Thematic analysis → Statistics (Data analysis may lead to
Analyze the data (findings) further data collection)
Step 11:
Return to literature prior to step 11.
Write up findings, discuss, conclusions
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Origin of research problem
• Actual problem faced
• Previous research
• Theses
Types of research projects

The term “research” is from the French recherché, “rare,
obscure” or “to find out”. This general term can be used
for:
1. Designed experiments, e.g. laboratory or field
research where the researcher imposes the
treatments in a (semi-) controlled situation;
2. Systematic observations, e.g. resource survey or
community meetings, where the researcher makes
measurements or observations according to a plan
but without complete control of the process;
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Types of research projects
3. Synthesis, where the researcher imposes a

new conceptual framework on previous data
and establishes that this is a better or more
unifying explanation;
4. System design, where the researcher designs

a system and shows that it is “better” in some
sense than previous designs; this includes
design of algorithms and methods.
Natural vs. social sciences

• Natural: The principal object of study is “nature”, i.e. physical
reality;
– there is a clear separation between observer and observed;
– argumentation is as logical and objective as possible;
• Social The principal object of study are humans and human

society;
– so we cannot impose treatments at will;
– we are studying ourselves, so it is very difficult to avoid

subjectivity;
– argumentation grades into humanities;
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Research Proposal Elements

• Title/Topic
• (Abstract)
• Background/Introduction
• Statement of the Problem/Research Problem
• (General) Objective/Aim/Purpose
• Specific Objectives
• Significance/Justification/Importance
• Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

• Scope
• Literature Review
• Hypothesis/Research Questions
• Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
• Methods/Methodology
– Research Design
– Data Collection, Location, Population, and
Sample/Sample Size
– Setting/Data Collection Instruments/Methods
– Analysis plan
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• Appendices
– Timeline/Activity Plan/Work plan
– Budget Estimates
– Instruments
– Any other useful information not fit to be in the main

text
Title/Topic
• It should be concise and descriptive.
• For example, the phrase,
– "An investigation of . . ." … “ A study of… “… could be
omitted.
• Often titles are stated in terms of a functional
relationship, because such titles clearly indicate the
independent and dependent variables.
• However, if possible, think of an informative but
catchy title.
• An effective title not only pricks the reader's interest,
but also predisposes him/her favorably towards the
proposal.
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Abstract
• It is a brief summary of approximately 300

words … to a page.
• It should include the research problem, the

rationale for the study, the hypothesis, the
methods … and the main findings.
• Descriptions of the method may include the

design, procedures, the sample and any
instruments that will be (was) used.
Abstract
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Abstract
Author: Rachel Sangree
Title: Covered Wooden Bridges: An Experimental and Numerical
Investigation of System and Component Behavior
Covered wooden bridges and the principles of heavy timber
framing by which they were built represent both a significant
chapter in this country’s civil engineering heritage, and a
subclass of bridges that are in immediate need of repair and
rehabilitation. This study attempts to increase the information
available to engineers who perform design work on wooden
truss bridges by exploring their system and component
behaviors through experimental tests and numerical models.
Four bridges were considered as case studies: Morgan Bridge, a
queen post truss; Pine Grove Bridge, a Burr arch-truss; Taftsville
Bridge, a multiple king post truss with arch; and Contoocook
Bridge, a Town lattice truss.
The Introduction/background
• The background or introduction typically
– begins with a general statement of the problem area, with a
focus on a specific research problem or gap,
– to be followed by the rational or justification for the proposed
study.
• The background provides a context for the research,
demonstrates an understanding of what has been done
before, and shows how this work will make a contribution to
science.
– This section can be challenging to write concisely, since you'll
be effectively distilling many papers into several pages.
• Explain:
– What the research topic is?
– Why have you chosen it?
– Why is the topic important?
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Introduction/Problem
• The main purpose of the introduction is to provide
the necessary background or context for your
research problem.
• If the research problem is framed in the context of a

general, rambling literature review, then the
research question may appear trivial and
uninteresting.
• However, if the same question is placed in the

context of a very focused and current research
area, its significance will become evident.
Components of the introduction

• Identify the science problem, or knowledge gap,
not the science issue.
• This is the section where you'll explicitly state the

rationale and significance of your research.
– Provide the context and set the stage for your research
question in such a way as to show its necessity and
importance.
– Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly

indicate why it is worth doing.
– Briefly describe the major issues and sub-problems to be

addressed by your research.
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Stating the Problem

• Research in general is related to queries and
queries arise when we observe some anomaly or
inconsistency.
• Thus, defining a research problem or opportunity

correctly is a major milestone in any research.
• A problem well defined is half solved.
• Define a problem in a general circumstance is

not very hard as we keep on identifying right
problems.
Research Problem
• Also known as the problem statement
• Why is your study important?
• Describe the significance of the

research question.
• Answers the “so what?” question
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Research problem
• A general statement of why the research
should be done;
• Something that is not well-understood or

solved and can be addressed by
research;
• Not a social ‘problem’ (poverty,

environmental destruction, war,. . . ), but
social problems can motivate research
(relevance).
Research Problem
• Statement of the disparity between what is known
and what needs to be known.
• Research problem - why
• Start 1st addressing the problem.
• Anyone would see this problem the way you

present the facts
• Anyone would see the disparity of what we know
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Research problem
• The novelty of the research must be supported
by a literature review.
• If someone else has already solved the
problem, why re-do the work?
• The fundamental questions:
– Why should anyone care about the outcome of this
research?
– Who would use the results of this research? and for
what?
– Why should anyone sponsor this research?
Research problem Example
”Families describe controlling the trajectory of

their school-age children’s obesity as
complicated by school activities, lack of safe
neigborhood physical activity and busy home
lives. While national standards have been set for
physical activity, helping children be active at
home is a less researched and warrants
investigation”
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Research problem Example

Known
Disparity
Gaps
”Families describe controlling the trajectory of
their school-age children’s obesity as
complicated by school activities, lack of safe
neigborhood physical activity and busy home
lives. While national standards have been set for
physical activity, helping children be active at
home is a less researched and warrants
investigation”
Purpose of the Research

• Sometimes stated as the main/general objective
or aim.
• Indicates the goal of the study ... describes the
direction of inquiry...
• The purpose can be framed as a research
question and/or an aim
• Examples:
– What is the impact of meditative music on agitation in
hospitalized elders?
– The purpose of this study is to show the impact of
meditative music on agitated elders.
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Purpose of the Research
• Research purpose – what
• Start to define your personal goal of the

research related to the issue.
• Both statements (problem and purpose)

clarify and support each other.
Research Purpose Statement
• Declarative • Could
indicates/points to
• Objective
– Methods of the study
• Clear – Variables under study
• Concise – Specific population
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”The objective of this descriptive study was to

compare the frequency of bihourly turning in
critical ill tube-fed patients receiving
mechanical ventilation in whom pneumonia
did or did not develop after three
concecutive days of data collection study”
”The objective of this descriptive study was to

compare the frequency of bihourly turning in
critical ill tube-fed patients receiving
mechanical ventilation in whom pneumonia
did or did not develop after three
concecutive days of data collection study”
Methods of the study

Variable under study
Specific population setting
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Unbiased vs Biased
• Use unbiased verbs
• Bias causes readers to question validity
• Examples
– The purpose of the study was to explore the

effects of bihourly turning ...
– The purpose of this study was to prove that

bihourly is effective on ventilation ...
Good Fit
• Purpose statement should fit the research
design
• For this quantitative, correlational design ...
– The purpose of the study was to determine the

direction and strength of the relationships between
depression and independence in clients at a rehab
center.
– The purpose of the study was to measure the effects

of depression on independence in clients at a
rehab center.
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Research objectives
• Also stated as specific objectives
• These are statements of what is expected as
the output of the research.
• Each of the objectives must be at least
partially met at the end of the project.
• There is usually a single general objective
which is not operational, which is then broken
down into a list of specific objectives which
can be addressed by operational research
methods.
Research objectives must be SMART
• Specific – Unambiguous (what will change?)

• Measurable – Quantifiable activity/results
• Achievable/Attainable - realistic
• Relevant – have an effect on overall goal or
strategy
• Time bound/Timely – tenable within the

timeframe
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Research questions
• These are the primary research questions or objectives
that you will be pursuing in your research.
• Specific hypotheses and alternative hypotheses should
also be stated in this section.
• Not all research has to be hypothesis-driven, and
sometimes it's more appropriate to only state your
research question, rather than fabricate weak
hypotheses.
• These specify what the research will actually address.
• Each research question must be answered by the
thesis, therefore it must be a specific question to which
an answer can be given.
• Questions follow objectives and may be simple re-
statements in operational form, i.e. where an
experiment or sample can answer it.
Research Questions
• Statement regarding the focus of the

study
• Research questions should be:
– Clear
– Succinct(concise)
– Feasible/pragmatic
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Questions are of two main types:

• Observational
– ‘What’ or ‘where’ questions;
• Analytical
– ‘Why’ questions.
• The research project typically has a set of
observational questions whose answers
help in turn answer a set of analytical
questions.
• Illustration example.
The Importance of
the Research Question
• It serves as the foundation of the entire
proposal or thesis
• If written properly, it highlights the:
– Scope of the study
– Variables
– Population of interest
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Example Research Questions

• Too general/vague: “How do people feel?”
• Too broad: “How do employees at ABC

Corporation feel about compensation, benefits,
and recognition programs based on their
experiences within the organization and how
does this influence their level of job satisfaction
in their work roles and commitment to the
company and, possibly, their productivity?”
• Clear and succinct: “What are the factors that

contribute to employee job satisfaction at ABC
Corporation?”
Hypotheses
• Hypothesis: “[An] idea or suggestion that is based on
known facts and is used as a basis for reasoning or
further investigation”
• In the context of research, these are the researcher’s

ideas on what the research will show, before it is carried
out. It is:
– An educated guess
– A tentative point of view
– A proposition not yet tested
– A preliminary explanation
– A preliminary Postulate
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Hypotheses
• They are statements that can be proved or dis-
proved by the research.
• They are based on previous work, usually

discovered in the literature review.
• They should match the research questions one-

to-one.
• Illustrative Example
Purpose of hypotheses
• Guides/gives direction to the study/investigation
• Defines Facts that are relevant and not relevant
• Suggests which form of research design is likely to be the most
appropriate
• Provides a framework for organizing the conclusions of the
findings
• Limits the research to specific area
• Offers explanations for the relationships between those
variables that can be empirically tested
• Furnishes proof that the researcher has sufficient background
knowledge to enable her/him to make suggestions in order to
extend existing knowledge
• Structures the next phase in the investigation and therefore
furnishes continuity to the examination of the problem
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Methodology/Methods
• A detailed plan for how you are going to accomplish
your objectives.
– Include in this section a site description, instrumentation
used, sampling plan, methods of analysis, models to be
used or modified, etc.
– Not all projects will have all of these elements, so include
just the ones that are applicable.
• The Method section is very important because it tells
how you plan to tackle your research problem.
• It provides a basis for the work plan and activities
necessary for the completion of the research work.
• The principle for writing the Method section is that it
should contain sufficient information for the reader to
determine whether methodology is sound.
Methods
• These are chosen in order to answer the

research questions.
• This is why specific questions are so

important.
• Some even argue that a good proposal

should contain sufficient details for another
qualified researcher to implement the study.
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Methods
• There is need for the researcher to demonstrate

knowledge of alternative methods and make
the case that the approach to be followed is
the most appropriate and most valid way to
address the research question.
• The research question may be best answered

by quantitative research or qualitative
research.
Typical sections of “methods”

• Research 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?
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Data Analysis
• Describe your analysis plan
– What statistical tests will you use?
– Make sure your statistics are appropriate

for your study design.
– What tools? SPSS, STATA, etc.
References
• Include every reference cited in the proposal.
• When doing your literature review, use all the

resources available to you.
• Avoid extensive use of gray literature, i.e.

conference proceedings, technical reports,
etc. that may have not been subject to
rigorous peer review.
• In many cases the authors will also have a

peer-reviewed manuscript with similar results!
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Timeline
• Provide a Gantt chart showing the time
intervals over which specific tasks will occur,
and when milestones will be reached.
• Estimate how long it will take to do your study
• Provide timeline benchmarks
• Example:
– Months 1 – 3 Prepare study tools
– Months 4-10 Collect data
– Months 11-12 Analyze data
Illustration, with a Gantt Chart
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Budget
Item description Qty Rate Amount
1. Stationery
• Rims of p/paper
• Pens…
2. Fieldwork travel, DSA
3. Fieldwork fuel
4. Fieldwork research assistance
5. Chemical and reagents
6. Purchase of samples…
7. Equipment,
• Laptop computer
• Signal analyzer
8. Report production
9. Equipment
10. Xvxxxxx…
Grand total
Results
• Obviously you do not have results at the

proposal stage.
• However, you need to have some idea about
what kind of data you will be collecting, and
what statistical procedures will be used in
order to answer your research question or test
you hypothesis.
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Discussion
• It is important to convince your reader of the
potential impact of your proposed research.
• You need to communicate a sense of
enthusiasm and confidence without
exaggerating the merits of your proposal.
• That is why you also need to mention:
– the limitations and weaknesses of the proposed
research, which may be justified by time and
financial constraints as well as by the early
developmental stage of your research area.
Common Mistakes in Proposal Writing

1. Failure to provide the proper context to frame the
research question/problem.
2. Failure to delimit the boundary conditions for your
research.
3. Failure to cite landmark studies.
4. Failure to accurately present the theoretical and
empirical contributions by other researchers.
5. Failure to stay focused on the research question.
6. Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive
argument for the proposed research.
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Common Mistakes in Proposal Writing

7. Too much detail on minor issues, but not
enough detail on major issues.
8. Too much rambling - going "all over the map"
without a clear sense of direction.
9. Too many citation lapses and incorrect
references.
10.Too long or too short.
11.Failing to follow the proper referencing style.
12.Sloppy writing.
30

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8/26/2017

Mugume Rodgers Bangi

The Research Process

How to prepare a good

– suggest solutions or solution approaches,

– collecting and analyzing data,

– deriving, experimenting, and

– eventually validating the hypothesis or deducing new

• Controlled – set up controls or qualify effects

• Rigorous – follow relevant procedure

• Systematic – follow logical sequences,

• Valid and verifiable – universally repeatable

• Empirical – conclusion based on sensory inputs

• Critical – all procedure can be questioned.

The Importance of Research

• Help us to develop reasoning skills.

Points to note and remember…

• S/he can only report what has happened or what is

E.g. Prevalence rate of waterborne diseases in an area.

• Necessary first step.

Relational (Correlational) Research

• Does not demonstrate causality!

• Manipulate conditions responsible for

– Example: Impact of rain on travel patterns

Approaches to Conducting Research

Approaches to Conducting Research

Approaches to Conducting Research

– Combination of quantitative and qualitative.

• a specific method may be used to

• example: focus group used to support survey results.

Research Methodology versus

• Research methods may be understood

• Research methods or techniques, thus,

Research Methodology versus

Research Methodology versus

Research Methodology versus

Research Methodology versus

Research Methodology versus

Empirical Reasoning and the Scientific

• The “key” to empirical reasoning

– Open to scrutiny by others

The Scientific Method

• To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry

Steps in the Scientific Method

Advantages of the Scientific Method

• Clarity and Precision

Elements of scientific method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

• Question – You ask a

• State the problem

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

• Hypothesis – Predict what you

• Ex. "Raising the temperature of a

The Scientific Method

• The outcome must be

• Record and analyze

The Scientific Method

Important aspect of the scientific

The deductive-inductive scientific

The deductive-inductive scientific

The deductive-inductive iterative

Is a hypothesis necessary for science?