Chapters

1. Introduction
2. Approaches
3. Research Process
4. Ethical Consideration
5. Review of Literature
6. Hypothesis and Estimation
7. Research instruments
8. Data Collection and Analysis
9. Statistics for Nurses
10. Reporting and Communicating
11. Writing Proposals
12. Research Terminology
13. References

WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS

• The writing of a research proposal is an important aspect of research process.
• A research proposal is a detailed plan of the research to be conducted.
• A written research proposal follows a general format of a journal article with the following nine general steps:
  1. Problem
  2. Definitions, assumptions, limitations or delimitations
  3. Review of related literature
  4. Hypothesis
  5. Methods
  6. Time schedule
  7. Expected results
  8. References
  9. Appendix

Qualities of a Good Research Proposal

• Provides a realistic plan for investigation of your research question
• Provides justification of a methodological perspective,  and methods of investigation
• Provides data which has the capacity to answer your research question
• Adequately considers relevant ethical issues

• Finalise your research question/ problem statement/ hypothesis
• Make sure your proposal is logical. 
• Identify possible weaknesses in your research design, acknowledge them and explain why they are there.
• Critically review/ edit your own writing, seek others help with this
• Learn to read like a writer – examine structure, style, organisation etc..
• Write with authority (ie back up your statements with refrences)
• Write for clarity not ‘impressiveness’
• Show that you are planning your research carefully (think about pragmatic issues – agency support/ ethics/ resources you may need/ potential hurdles).
• You are the expert on your topic.  Help the reader to grasp your ideas.
• Edit for clarity (don’t just proofread)

Example of Writing Proposal

• Guidelines for Research   Proposals  by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

References