Descriptive research proposal
Introduction
In this part you need to write one-two paragraphs about your topic. Try to get the readers
attentions by provide an example that is related to your topic which the reader might find
interesting. At the end of this section you provide a general idea; one sentence, about what you
are trying to do in your research. Example, this study aims to further examine [your research
topic]
Background for the Study
In this section, you give a detailed literature review about the variables that you are going
to use in your study. What other researchers did in this field? What variables they covered? What
issues did they point out? What are some of the main issues that need solving or more research to
be done about them? Hint; your research might answer/address one of these issues!
Purpose of the Study
Give a detailed description about what YOUR study will do exactly. Notice that in the
introduction you gave a general idea about your study. Here you give more details about the
different variables that you are interested in studying. Example, the purpose of this study is to
investigate [independent variable] ‘impact/influence of’ OR “relationship with” [dependent
variable(s)]. Furthermore, this study will examine the Moderating/Mediating impact that
[variable] has on the relationship between [independent] and [dependent]
Research Question(s)
List the research question(s) that you are trying to answer, NOT THE QUESTIONS YOU
USED IN THE SUREVY. Example, will [independent] increase the [dependent]? Will
[Moderating/Mediating impact that variable] have any influence on the relationship? …etc.
Limitation
What are the things that are out of your control that might impact the: data you
collected, your sample, your study, or anything related to your research.
Delimitation
What are the things that are within your control that you will do which might impact
your data you collected, your sample, your study, or anything related to your research.
Nature and Significance of the Problem
This section must include one-two paragraphs on why your research is important OR
what is the added value of your research. In the literature/background section you read the
literature and you got to know important issues about your research area and some of the
problems or issues that need more investigation. In this section you refer to these issue and how
your research will address them, how your research will add more value to the body of literature
in this topic, or how your research will answer/address some of the questions that other
researchers asked. Example, if you are using a sample that has NEVER been studied; like the
graduate students at EIU, that will add value the body of knowledge, if you are using different
variables that no other researcher has used that will add value to the body of knowledge.
Definitions
How other authors/researchers define the variables that you are used in your research. If
you are developing or using your own definition, you would write something like: “This study
define [variable] as [whatever way you want to define that variable]”
Methodology
What methodology will you be using to do your research; one to two sentences.
Research Design/Theoretical Framework
If you are going to use Qualitative or Experimental give me the design; what is your plan
to study the sample, what are the specific things that you will do. Example, in qualitative, are
you going to go a live with your sample to collect information and data-ethnography, are you
going to use one entity to collect data from-case study. In experimental, how many groups are
you going to use and what design you are going to follow, if you are developing your own
design; describe it.
If you are doing Descriptive, you provide a
Assumption
You will never have 100% control over everything in your study so researchers provide a
list of things that they “assume” are true because if they are not then they cannot continue their
research. Example, you assume that the participants are being honest when they answer your
research question because if they are not your data is worthless, you assume that your sample is
representative of your population because if it is not then there is no point of doing your
research, you assume that you are using the right methodology to conduct your research, you
assume that you are using the right tools to collect and analyze the data, etc.
Subjects/Selection and Description of Participants
Describe and talk about the things that are specific to the sample which you are using in
your research; where are they from, how old are they, gender, background, education level, etc.
Data Collection
How are you going to collect data? Example, are you going to use an interview; is it
structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Observation; what is the behavior that you are going
to observe. Survey, how many question, what type of questions, etc. Give detailed description of
how you will collect the data
Data Analysis
How you analyzed the data, what methods you used, how did you use them, etc.
Timeline
How much did it take you to do the research, how much time did it take to do each part.
References
What are the references you used in your proposal.
ONLY LIST THE ONES YOU USED IN YOUR IN-TEXT CITATION.