example of methodology in research proposal

example of methodology in research proposal

Importance of Methodology in Research Proposal

1. Introduction

Approaching the end of the planning and preparation phase, with it brings the introduction of the research proposal. A research proposal is commonly regarded as a concise, coherent and structured document with a clear focus that identifies a problem for investigation and the plan of doing that research (Cresswell, 1994). Although the selection of the research topic is constituent to the identity and focal point of the research proposal, the title of the proposal should be more of a precise capsule of the planned research project. It should stand alone in representing an overview of the study. Methodology, in context of the research proposal, being described as a part of the proposal that consider the process of the research and the trade between a work planned and the work accomplished (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). The methodology empowers the researcher to convince others that his research is well founded i.e. the research is accomplished in the right way to a right end, giving valid results and the findings can be trusted.

2. Research Objectives

The research objectives in a research proposal set the stage for where the writer wants to go. The objectives should be clear, concise, and realistic. They should also be doable. It is really important that the objectives are not a series of what the research proposes to do but what the research will solve, confirm, verify, demonstrate, or achieve. Two helpful ways of getting the objectives down on paper in a manageable form are to break them down into the form of a stemming tree and to use the acronym SMART. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-limited. Using both the stemming tree and SMART will help to define the objectives in terms of what research will be done. The research proposal’s objectives should also suggest the method to be used. This is so the assessor can determine whether the proposed methods are appropriate. This is useful for the writer in ensuring that the objectives and methods are feasible within the time frame. If difficulty is found in describing the methods to accomplish the objectives, then it is likely that the method is not the most appropriate to carry out the research proposed.

3. Research Design and Methodology

Research methodology is a systematic way to solve a problem. It is a science of studying how research is done scientifically. Essentially, it is the procedure by which researchers go about their work of describing, explaining, and predicting phenomena. It is a science of studying how research is done scientifically. It is a systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of research. Steps to be taken in research are called its methods. Research methods comprise the tools, strategies, and materials utilized in an examination. These methods, whether scientific, economic, social, or behavioral, are always pursued in accordance with an underlying philosophical assumption. This assumption pertains to the subject’s form of knowledge and the process of attaining it. Philosophies of knowledge and of the method can be proven or disproven, which is known as valid or invalid. Knowledge is proved when a study has results and when the results are supported by evidence. Evidential support qualifies a result as true or probable. Attainment of knowledge is relative between a study and its data. There are multiple philosophies to attain knowledge, and not all are applicable to a particular study. Knowledge and method can be compared with a science and the methods of the study. Changing assumptions or tools can revolutionize an entire field. For example, a shift from the belief that the Earth was flat to round was propelled by a method of circumnavigation and a later philosophy of gravitational forces. These are similar to an assumption and a method. An assumption is a statement that is believed to be true, and an approach is a method or course of action to validate an assumption. Collection of information can be in various forms with different concepts and methods. Information today is typically gathered by one of three methods: the survey, the experiment, and the observational study. In a survey, one gathers concise information from a large sample of people using information forms. This is often used in sociological studies. Experimental data is collected by using tasks to manipulate subjects into providing certain responses. Finally, the observational study involves watching consumers to learn behavior and preferences. Each of these methods has its place in market research. Airline preference data might be acquired via a survey, changes in management policy may be tested on employees in a simulated work environment, and preferences may be studied by watching who takes what magazines from a selection.

4. Data Collection and Analysis

In quantitative and qualitative research, the way that the data is collected and analyzed is of great importance. Data can be collected through a variety of methods, however, it is essential to choose the correct method for the study that has been undertaken in order to come up with valid results. Generally, in quantitative research, data is collected in a structured form using research instruments. This can be done by various means such as questionnaires and telephone interviews. These questionnaires can either be self-administered, mailed questionnaires, group administered, or interviews. The latter uses the questionnaire as an interview schedule. Telephone interviews can be structured and produce a relatively high response rate, but they are very costly, whereas informal interviews can be conducted with people in an organization and are generally cheaper to conduct. Also, observations can be taken that are recorded in numerical form. This can be done by taking observations on variables that are already recorded or by conducting an experiment to gather data. These observations can take place in a field setting or a controlled environment. All of these methods should be well planned and well structured by using the correct sampling techniques and making sure that there is enough to represent the population concerned. This will lead to higher internal and external validity for the research. In contrast, in qualitative research, only a small sample of about 10-15 persons is taken, so it lacks the ability to make inferences to the wider population. It is, however, more focused on increasing the depth of understanding and seeking to explain phenomena, so this needn’t be an issue. Usually, qualitative research takes place in a natural setting and the data is in the form of words. This data can be collected using a number of different methods and can include interviews, observations, and focus groups. The data collection is more flexible than in quantitative research, and the above methods can be changed during the research process. This will help to ensure that the most informative data is collected.

5. Conclusion

Import of good method is the quality of the research proposal. It is very essential and its need cannot be negated. It would be right to say that the secret of improvement of a nation lies in good research. Much depends on the right choice of methodology. At present we have to admit that marketing research has not received the attention and acceptance it deserves because of a variety of inhibiting factors. However, our purpose in this article is to discuss its methodology in the context of a research proposal. While verbalistic discussion will enable the reader to have a feel of the subject, we shall attempt to illustrate in some detail which will make clear the implications of right decisions whilst a few hypothetical situations will clarify the results of wrong decisions. The success of a research project lies in the precisions with which and the extent to which the research objectives have been formulated. It will involve a prior understanding as to the nature of the problem in order to frame the right kinds of objectives. For instance, suppose a company is faced with some decline in its sales over the recent years. A too vague a statement of the problem such as “we had better find out what is wrong” would lead to unsystematic research and would not help in pinpointing the causes and finding solutions. A better statement would be to say “we should find out what people think of our product (naming it) as compared to rival products in terms of specific features and also their reasons for the recent purchase trends of those rival products.” This would lead to clear-cut objectives whose implications are obvious.