Introduction to

Research

Proposal

Writing

Brunei-U.S. English

Language Enrichment

Programme Unit 3&4

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Chris W. H. Woo. This presentation material is copyrighted and cannot be copied, sold, distributed, or in any way used without the sole permission of its author.

The

Components

of a

Successful

Research

Proposal

Content

1) Why is research fundamental to our profession?

1) Structure of a good research proposal

2) Research Proposals to Avoid

3) Course Structure

If we knew what it was we were doing, it

would not be called research, would it? Albert Einstein

Don’t think, look! Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical investigations

Is research important to you and your

profession?

1.

Why is

research

fundamental

to our

profession?

• Our duty to the country is to educate its population; our duty to the university is to raise its popularity and income; our duty to our students is to provide appropriate knowledge and wisdom; our duty to ourselves is the truth.

• A practitioner can only utilise the knowledge gleamed in research.

• A researcher shapes and designs new knowledge systems, makes existing knowledge and methodologies better, or analyses the faults of others to enable progress in the field.

• Researching will keep you updated to the latest discoveries and ideas; being a researcher will make you the discoverer.

2.

Structure of a

good research

proposal

• Title

• Abstract

• Introduction and Significance of Research

• Literature Review

• Theoretical Framework and/or Methodology

• Methodology: Research Design

• Ethics

• Timeline

• Budget

• References

Title

• Nothing irritates a reader more than an incorrect title or a misleading title.

• Titles are the FIRST thing a researcher looks for in any database after typing the keywords.

• Bad titles could possibly kill an article and never allow it to get published or cited.

Title Examples

• An investigation on the

qualitative differences

between receptive and

productive vocabulary

knowledge in Vietnamese

high schools.

• Learning Vocabulary in

Another Language: A

case study in Vietnam.

Abstract

• An abstract is the summary of the entire research.

• They are the first point of information.

• Abstracts are no more than one paragraph of 100-150 words.

• A poor abstract will detract the reader from reading further and a good abstract will entice the reader to engage with the proposal.

• An abstract should only be written at the LAST stage of the proposal.

Introduction

• Beside abstracts, introductions are the most crucial part of the proposal. Failure to write a good introduction is the failure of the entire research.

• Introductions explain research objectives and purposes. What is your argument?

• Why are YOU interested in the topic?

• Briefly explain what is the relevance of your proposal to previous literature in your area of research?

Introduction:

Significance of

Research

• The hardest part of the

proposal to answer.

• Why is your research

important to know?

• How does it contribute to

the subject area and

discipline in general?

Literature

Review

• Considered the most tedious and time consuming part of the proposal. But also the most informative.

• Literature review explains to the reader your understanding of the area of study.

• Literature review demonstrates your ability to read beyond the surface of a subject matter and show your analytical abilities.

• Literature review highlights issues that needs to be addressed in your paper.

Theoretical

Framework

and

Methodology

• This section is dependent on discipline and area of study.

• ELT Method: Direct Method; Aural-Lingual Method; Community Language learning.

• ELT Theory: Constructivist Learning; Student-centred learning.

• ESL Method: Discourse Analysis, Content Analysis, Direct Method.

• ESL Theory: Functional Approach, Communicative Approach, Ethnographic Approach.

• Methodology is similar but not the same as Theory.

• Theory (inductive) tends to be more general and philosophical in nature. Methodology (deductive) is specific and offers step-by-step ways to solve a problem or analyse a situation. They can conflate.

Theoretical

Framework

and

Methodology

• Choosing the right method and framework is crucial to the success of your research.

• If there are no methods that are viable, you may employ a theory to create an experimental methodology. That is, on its own, an entirely original research.

• This section of the proposal offers the most innovation, allowing for multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary ways to address an issue.

Theoretical

Framework

and

Methodology

• Choosing the right method and framework is crucial to the success of your research.

• If there are no methods that are viable, you may employ a theory to create an experimental methodology. That is, on its own, an entirely original research.

• This section of the proposal offers the most innovation, allowing for multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary ways to address an issue.

Methodology:

Research

Design

• Why have you chosen this method over others?

• A research design is the specifics of a methodology. You should discuss the following aspects:

a) Participants

b) Data Collection

c) Data Analysis and Discussion

d) Limitations

Ethics

• It is the nightmare of the sciences and also for social science researchers.

• Ethics requires the researcher to validate that its research methodologies and practices are humane, moral and will not cause harm or damage to any human or animal.

• ESL and ELT researchers do not generally require the filling up of complicated Ethics forms.

Timeline

• Milestones only applicable to Honours, Masters and Doctoral Theses, publication of books and grant application.

• When doing a graduate theses, timelines keep you on track of what you need to do.

• Timelines are a great way to discipline yourself.

• Grant applications may be withdrawn from the candidate that cannot meet his/her established milestones.

Budgets

• Some research require budgets.

• Budgets for research do not need to be specific but general.

• Research for the approximate amount required for stationeries, technology and manpower should be made prior to writing the budget.

• Always budget in excess and with an allowance for being over the budget.

References

• While it may sound simple, MANY MANY researchers get their references incorrect and also confuse 3rd edition with 6th edition styles.

• Examiners and reviewers do not take kindly to incorrect references.

• Know your reference style, which is generally MLA or APA.

• If unsure, always refer to this website:

APA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

MLA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

3.

Research

Proposals to

AVOID

• Any research proposal must be a significant contribution to the field of knowledge.

• Avoid proposals that analyses a particular author or author’s work.

• Avoid proposals that are overtly complicated. A doctorate proposal is NOT an Honours thesis proposal.

• Avoid proposals that show a subtle advancement to the field of study.

• Avoid proposals that do not have any primary research unless your discipline is based on textual analysis – i.e. Cultural Studies.

3.

Research

Proposals to

AVOID

A SURE WAY to get your proposal rejected is to:

a) Have no original contribution to the field of knowledge.

b) Poor command of the English language.

c) Poor understanding of the field of research, i.e. insufficient reading and resources.

d) No argument or purpose to the research.

e) No methodology or theoretical framework.

4. Course

Structure

How we will approach the writing and

understanding of research proposals.

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 1: Introduction to Research Proposals

Seminar 1.0: The Components of a Successful Research Proposal

Activity: Defining the parameters of your research

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 2

Digital Humanities and Research Seminar 2.0: How to Research?

Activity: Sourcing of Research From Every Possible Way

DAY 2 Academic Exercise: Refer to worksheet

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 3: Original Research Review DAY 2 Academic Exercise.

Problem-based learning: Making Original Research

DAY 3 Academic Exercise: Complete the presentation.

Homework: Read Alice Oshima’s Writing Academic English, 4th Edition, Chapter 4.

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 4: Academic Writing

Seminar 4.0: Academic Writing

•Hypothesis, argument, rhetorics

•Paragraphing and justification

•Using quotations and margins

Activity: Short argument

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

Read the literatures related to your research field

and provide an annotated bibliography with a

minimum of 15 references. Each reference should

have a short explanation detailing why that paper is

important for your research.

EXAMPLE (MLA Style):

Davidson, Hilda Ellis. Roles of the Northern Goddess. London: Routledge, 1998.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles filled by the

numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in everyday life, including their roles

in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts like weaving, the household, and death. The

author discusses relevant archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and

previous research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs of

relevant artifacts.

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 5: Literature

Review Seminar 5.0: Literature Review

Guidelines

Activity: Review the literature in your

field of research.

Academic Exercise: Write a

literature review using at least 10

references.

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 6: Formally Writing the Research Proposal

Complete Universiti Brunei Darussalam GSRO Grant Proposal Template as a means to formalise your research proposal.

End of Day: Submission of Research Proposal

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 7: Critical Evaluation of a Research Proposal

Critical Editing of Research Proposal

Participants will be provided feedback on their proposals and they must complete the editing of their proposals by the end of the day.

4.

Course

Structure

DAY 8: Publication of Research (FULL DAY)

Seminar 8.0: Targeting your article

Activity (a): Find the most useful journal for your research.

Seminar 8.1: Oral Defence (3MT)

Activity (b): Defending your research in 3 minutes.

Seminar 8.2: How to review articles

Activity (c): Reviewing an article of choice.

Course

Objectives

1) Participants will know how a research proposal is written and understand the structure of a research proposal.

2) Participants will have the ability to conduct effective and widely sourced research.

3) Participants will be able to do write a rudimentary research proposal for future reference.

4) Participants will have the ability to write better academic English and learn to edit their proposals.