Moi University Research Proposal Format

The Moi University Research Proposal Format. Details of Moi University Research Proposal Format

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Moi University Research Proposal Format

Introduction

Generally, the introduction of an academic research proposal/report is made up of the following sections;

Background to the Study
Statement of the Problem
Objectives of the study (General objective and Specic objective)
Formulating hypotheses
Signicance of the study/justication

Background to the Study

This is a brief introduction that presents background information about the problem area, in the form of a discussion. It sets the stage for a discussion of the specic problem. It also sets the stage for the entire study and puts your topic in perspective. The introduction often includes spectacular/salient and general statements about the need for the study. It uses dramatic illustrations or quotes to set the tone. In applied economics, one would expect to see the global, regional, national or possibly local perspective of the economic phenomenon of interest.

Statement of the Problem

This is a clear statement of the specic problem to be investigated. This should in a way indicate why the particular problem is of importance. It should outline the basic rationale on which the study derives. This section should be specic and backed by evidence (e.g. statistical facts and gures). The statement of the problem is the focal point of your research. It is just one sentence but with several paragraphs of elaboration. Here, you are looking for something wrong, something that needs close attention. Present information (data/statistics and opinions of other writers or professionals) to show how the problem is aecting business, social or political trends and why it is important enough to study. After writing this section, make sure you can easily identify the single sentence that is the problem statement. Clue: the problem statement is a statement about the “primary problem” that actually creates a “secondary” problem (e.g. impact of technology adoption on maize productivity). The research problem in this technology instance is the lack of insight in organizational behaviour as a result of rare research/literature on the subject, so the need for such a research. Clearly you should show existing contradicting situations/aspects of the economic phenomenon.

Objectives of the Study

The aims or objectives of the study is a paragraph or two that explains what the study intends to accomplish. This is a brief outline of what the researcher wants to nd out. It has the general and specic objectives of the study. The general objective is stated in a general statement giving the major purpose of the study. Specic objectives derive from the general, are more specic and numbered. They must be SMART.

SMART objectives are:

Specic { states exactly what you need to achieve
Measurable { includes a quality or quantity measure
Agreed { between you and your supervisor
Realistic { can be challenging but must be achievable
Time-bound { with a clear end date or time-scale.

Hypotheses Formulation

The use of hypotheses is a must in applied economics. Use of reach problems is however optional. It depends on the supervisor or the student, sometimes on the nature of the study. Hypotheses must derive from the problem statement or the objectives.

While the research question is broad and includes all the variables you want your study to consider, the hypothesis is a statement about specic relationship you expect to nd from examination of these variables. When formulating the hypothesis(es) for your study, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Good hypotheses meet the following criteria:

Identify the independent and dependent variables to be studied.
Specify the nature of the relationship that exists between these variables.
Simple (often referred to as parsimonious-using a minimal number of assumptions, steps, or conjectures-). It is better to be concise than to be long-winded. It is also better to have several simple hypotheses than one complicated hypothesis.
Does not include reference to specic measures.
Does not refer to specic statistical procedures that will be used in analysis.
Implies the population that you are going to study.
Is falsiable (testable).

As indicated above, it is better to have several simple hypotheses than one complex one. However, it is also a good idea to limit the number of hypotheses you use in a study to six or fewer. The nal criterion listed above warrants additional mention. A good hypothesis is not only testable, that is, something you can actually test for in your study, but it must also be falsiable.

You should always use ONLY null hypothesis in your study. Signicance of the Study

This section shows the contributions the study will make to the eld of study. This can be the- oretical or practical contributions. These can also be numbered. This section points out how your study relates to the larger issues and justies the reason for your study. It makes the purpose worth pursuing. The signicance of the study answers the questions why is your study important (i.e. to whom is it important, and what benet(s) will occur if your study is done)

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