CHAPTER SEVEN

1 Writing
Research Proposal
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2 Research Proposal

 The research proposal is the detailed plan of study

 A formal document that sets out exactly what is intended to be achieved in the research and
how it is to be done
 The objective in writing a proposal is to describe what you will do, why it should be done,
how you will do it and what you expect will result
 The quality of the final research project/ thesis often depends on the quality of the research
proposal
 It serves as a basis for determining the feasibility of the project.

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3

 The research proposal should consist of three major chapters, including

1) Introduction ,
2) Literature review and
3) Methodology.
 In addition, to the three major chapters, the research proposal should also provide
 an abstract,
 reference or bibliography,
 implementation schedule and,
 implementation budget.
 The introduction and methodology sections are written in future tense in the
research proposal
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4 The Text/Body Part

 Chapter One: Introduction

 Chapter Two: Literature review
 Chapter Three: Methodology
 Study area
 Study design
 Study subjects
 Sample size and Sampling methods
 Data sources & method of collection/measurement
 Methods of data presentation, analysis and interpretation
 References

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5 Top cover

 Typed in all capital letters, should include:

Name of the institution, program and Department
Title of the Research/Thesis
Auther
Date and location

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6 Chapter One: Introduction

 The introduction section of the proposal should include

1.1 Background of the problem/study
 In this section, the researcher defines the background of the study by providing a brief discussion
of key theoretical approaches and findings reported in earlier related studies.
 Trends related to the problem, unresolved issues and social concerns are discussed.
 Authoritative sources or citations should be provided in the section.
 Should show understanding and origin of the problem
 Start with the global perspective followed by the local scenario.
 Should be approximately 5 pages (4-6 pages)

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7 1.2 Statement of the problem

 The problem statement describes the need for the research project in terms of the
knowledge gap to be filled.
 The researcher should present a clear and precise statement that indicates the gap that
previous research studies have not addressed.

 Authoritative sources or citations should be used to support the problem statement.

 Note; Length – maximum 3 pages

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8 1.3 Objectives of the study

1.3.1The study or general objective

 In this section the major research objective is addressed.
 The purpose statement should emphasize practical outcomes or products of the study.
 study should have one general objective which should be in line with the title. Examples,
Title:
1. The Impact of cash management on the performance of manufacturing companies in Ethiopia
2. The impact of promotional tools on sales volume of walia brewery
General objectives
3. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of cash management on the
performance of manufacturing companies in Ethiopia

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1.3.2 The Specific objectives

 Should be a breakdown of the general objective.
Example
 To determine the promotional tools walia brewery currently using
 To see the sales volume trend of walia brewery
 To examine the relationship between the 4 promotional tools and sales volume of the
company
 To investigate the influence of each promotional tools on sales volume of the company
 To identify the promotional tool which mostly affect the sales volume of the company

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10 1.4 Research Questions

 Should be in line with the specific objectives and equal in number.

 Should be stated in the form of questions and not statements.
 The research questions need to be broad enough to allow further breakdown into questionnaire or
interview guide items for the data collection.
 On the average 3-5 research questions are sufficient.
 What promotional tools walia brewery currently using
 What sales volume trend of walia brewery looks like
 Is there any relationship exist between the promotional tools and sales volume of the
company
 To what extent each promotional tools influence sales volume of the company
 Which promotional tool mostly affect the sales volume of the company

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11 1.5 . Develop a Hypothesis

 Once, you identify your research question, you need to translate your research
question into a testable hypothesis.
Example:

 The relationship between the 4 promotional tools and

sales volume of the company is positive

 promotional tools have an influence on sales volume of

the company
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12 1.5 Significance of the study

 Should illustrate why the researcher is conducting the research and whom it shall benefit.
 In this section the researcher describes the values or the benefits that will be gained from doing the
study.
 The significance of the study is concerned with the relevance of the problem both to the practice and
theory.
 The significance is for:

 The researcher
 The case study organization
 For policy maker
 Other researcher

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13 1.6 Scope of the study

 In this section, the researcher describes the focus or scope

of the study to enable an eager reader to make
generalization of the findings.
 It should cite the focus of
 Geographical Scope/Target Popn.
 Conceptual/Construct scope
 Methodological scope

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14 1.7 Limitation of the study

 This brings out the perceived factors which might affect the research in the course of the
study.
 It should also show the suggested methods which are supposed to deal with the problem.
 The limitations should not be stated in terms of time or financial resources constraints.
 Researchers are expected to plan and implement research projects within the available time
and financial resources.
 eg. Data limitation, Respondents nature, working environment, Literature scarcity

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15 1.8 Organization of the study

 It is always important to provide structure on the organization of the proposal section.

For example this thesis is structured as follows:
 Chapter one provides the research background, research objectives, significance of the
study, scope, and the limitations encountered in the course of the study
 Chapter two presents literature review on the determinant of………and a conceptual
framework
 Chapter three deals with the methodology employed in the study;
 Chapter four : Results and discussion- the study findings and their interpretation are
presented here.
 Chapter five has conclusions of the study, Recommendation and the policy implications.

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16 Chapter Two: Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

 Literature review is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to your project. However,
start this chapter with an overview of contents of the chapter. This should be very brief and precise.
2.2 Theoretical review
 This section should discuss current/relevant theory that supports the research problem been studied.
For example in marketing problem particularly consumer related, the underlying marketing theory
relevant to your project e.g. Consumer behaviour, brand research, customer satisfaction) should be
discussed.
2.3 Empirical Review
 This literature review section of the proposal should present a review of the literature related to the
problem and purpose.
 The literature review section should therefore be organized or categorized according to the research
questions or specific objectives in order to ensure relevance to the research problem.
 literature relevant to the problem being investigated showing clearly the linkage of literature review
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During literature review, it’s important to note the following points:

 You should evaluate what has already been done, show the relationships between different
works, and show how it relates to your project.
 Refer to work by recognized experts in your chosen area
 Consider and discuss work that supports and work that opposes your ideas
 Make reasoned judgments regarding the value of others’ work to your research
 Support your arguments with valid evidence in a logical manner
 Ensure the review is done chronologically
 Each key variable should be 2-3 pages long in proposal

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 The hypothesized variables should be subheadings of the literature review to form a framework that would
help in analysis.

 It is not supposed to be just a summary of other people's work but Critique of the existing literature relevant of
the study

 Review and critique any previous studies. For the review to be critical, you will need to develop critical
judgment.

 Indicate what has been done by other researchers including the methodologies used and identify the gaps.

 You should also observe the trend in research from studying recently published articles in the top journals.

 That way you will learn about the trend, i.e., what are the hot topics being studied these days.

 You should not spend your valuable time studying and writing on the “dead” topics.

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2.4 Summary of literature

 This sub-section is supposed to summarize the literature reviewed and bring out clearly the
research gaps identified, if possible in a table format
2.5 Conceptual framework
 The Conceptual framework should demonstrate an understanding of what variable
influences what. For example using the topic below

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 Topic: impact of working capital management on profitability.

 The variables could be : ROA to measure profitability(dependent variables), CTO
(creditors turnover ratio), DTO (debtors turnover ratio), ITO( inventory turnover ratio) and
CR (current ratio) as working capital management criteria.
Independent variables

Working capital Dependent variable

CTO
DTO Profitability
ITO ROA
CR

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21 Chapter Three: Methodology

The research methodology section of the proposal should provide explanation and description of the
methods and procedures to be used in conducting the study.
 Research methodology is an important chapter in research work. It is important to start this chapter
with an overview of contents of the chapter. This should be very brief and precise.
3.1 Description of research area
………………………..
3.2 Research design
 In this section, the researcher should identify, and provide justification for the specific research
design or strategy used in carrying out the study.
 Research designs include exploratory, descriptive, causal, or quasi experimental. The research design
should emphasize on defining the design, revealing its merits and providing justification for its
selection.

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22 3.3 Target Population

 The researcher should identify and describe the characteristics of the population involved
in the study.
 Population refers to the entire group of people, events, or things of interest that the
researcher wishes to investigate.
 Population forms a basis from which the sample or subjects for the study is drawn.
 Clearly identify the population and the target population and its size and characteristics.
 Justify the source of the target population.
 Where necessary provide the Sampling frame in the form of a table

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23 3.4 sample size and sampling techniques

 Determine the sample size

 Identify which sampling techniques will be used and why:

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24 3.5 Data Collection Instruments

 The researcher is supposed to discuss the type of data which will be collected.
 This should be followed by the instruments to be used to collect the data.
 In this section, the researcher should describe the major methods for collecting data from the subjects.
 The major methods for obtaining data in a study may include interviews, questionnaires and observation
techniques.
 The data collection instruments should be developed and organized on the basis of the research questions or
specific objectives to ensure relevance to the research problem.
 A description of the instruments should be given, whether they are researcher developed or standardized
instruments.
 A description of the nature of instrument items, validity and reliability, and administration procedures should
be provided.

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25 Description of Variables

 Independent Variable: variable which affect other variable

 Dependent Variable: The variable that is the effect or is the result or outcome of another
variable

 In statistical analysis a variable is identified by the symbol (X) for independent variable
and by the symbol (Y) for the dependent variable.

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 Research studies indicate that successful new product development has an influence on the
stock market price of a company.

 That is, the more successful the new product turns out to be, the higher will be the stock
market price of that firm.

 Therefore, the success of the new product is the independent variable, and stock market
price the dependent variable.

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27 Moderating Variables

 A moderating variable is one that has a strong contingent effect on the independent variable-dependent variable relationship.

 That is, the presence of a third variable (the moderating variable) modifies the original relationship between the independent and the dependent

variable.

 For example, a strong relationship has been observed between the quality of library facilities (X) and the performance of the students (Y).

 Although this relationship is supposed to be true generally, it is nevertheless contingent on the interest and inclination of the students.

 It means that only those students who have the interest and inclination to use the library will show improved performance in their studies.

 In this relationship interest and inclination is moderating variable i.e. which moderates the strength of the association between X and Y

variables.

 Example 2: the influence of income on investment ….(saving)

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28 Intervening Variables

 In a sense, the intervening variable acts as a dependent variable with respect to

independent variable and acts as an independent variable toward the dependent variable.
 A basic causal relationship requires only independent and dependent variable.
 A third type of variable, the intervening variable, appears in more complex causal
relationships.
 It comes between the independent and dependent variables and shows the link or
mechanism between them.
Example: the relationship between promotion and investment

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29 Extraneous Variables

 An almost infinite number of extraneous variables (EV) exist that might conceivably affect
a given relationship.
 Some can be treated as independent or moderating variables, but most must either be
assumed or excluded from the study.
 Such variables have to be identified by the researcher.
 In order to identify the true relationship between the independent and the dependent
variable, the effect of the extraneous variables may have to be controlled.
 This is necessary if we are conducting an experiment where the effect of the confounding
factors has to be controlled.
 Confounding factors is another name used for extraneous variables.

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30 Data collection procedure

 After development of the data collection instruments what next? This section describes
step by step which will be followed in data collection. It should discuses which method(s)
to be used to address Validity and reliability of the study instruments. Such methods
include pilot-testing, Cronbach alpha, test-retest method among others.
 Beside this the researcher should discuss the method of administering the data collection
instruments, justify the use of such method. Issues related to research permit, research
assistants should also be discussed.
 Finally the research should state the approximate time required to collect the data.

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31 3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation
 This should present detailed steps of how the quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed.

 For quantitative data it should included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to be used, also show which
of these will be used for which objective or hypothesis.

 Descriptive statistics include frequencies, measures of central tendencies (mean, medium or mode) and measures
of dispersion (standard deviation, range or variance).

 Inferential statistics involve measurement or relationships and differences between or among the variables.
Inferential statistics include correlation, regression and analysis of variance among others.

 The qualitative data analysis technique used should be content analysis.

 The researcher should include, the procedures used to examine the variables and steps taken to control for
extraneous influences that might threaten the findings of the study.

 Finally the section should explain how the results of data analysis will be presented and justify why use that
specific method of presentation

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32 The Nominal Level

 This involves the classification of observations into a set of categories that have no
direction to them
 Discrete/categorical variables (e.g. sex, religion) can be measured validly only at this level.
 It is the lowest level in Stevens’ typology and has the following characteristics
 Even when numeric values are attached to nominal categories, this is just a way of using
numbers as symbols for categorizations that can be easily read by the computer or easily
coded and analyzed manually

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33 The Ordinal Level

 This level of measurement involves classification of data into a set of categories that have direction
to them.
 Thus, the ordinal level is attained when categories are rank-ordered according to some criterion
 e.g. classification of social classes into upper, middle and lower classes or military and security
officers into senior, middle level of junior officers according to the criterion of status
 Each category used to measure the values of a variable has a unique place relative to other
categories. It is either less than or more than others
 However, it conveys no information as to the extent of difference between or among the categories.
 The most appropriate statistical measure of central tendency at this level is the mode.
 Appropriate statistical tools for testing relationships include Spearman Rank Order, Median test and
Mann-Whitney tests, among others.

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34 Interval Level

 Measurement at this level is the process of assigning real numbers to observations and its intervals are equal.
 Such measurement not only orders categories but also indicates distances between them.
 It has the property of defining the distances between categories in terms of fixed and equal units.
 For instance, a thermometer records temperature in degrees and a single degree implies the same amount of
heat.
 In other words, the difference between 40of and 44of is the same as that between 94of and 98of.
 This level: orders values, measures distances between values, does not, however, have an inherently
determined zero point and, therefore, allows only for the study of differences between values but not their
proportionate magnitudes.
 For instance, it would be incorrect to say that 80of is twice as much heat as 40of.

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35 Ratio Level:

 In terms of precision, this is the highest level of measurement.

 It assigns real numbers to observations, has equal intervals of measurement, and has
absolute (true) zero point.
 Essentially, measurement at this level has all the properties of interval level measurement
outlined above plus the property that is zero point is inherently defined by the
measurement scheme.
 This property of a fixed and given zero point means that ratio comparisons can be made
along with distance comparisons
 For instance, when we note that a war injured person of 100,000 is twice as heavy as one
of 50,000

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36 Statistical Techniques to Compare Groups

One sample t- test is used when you have one group

Nominal data:- chi square of good fit
Ordinal data -Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test
 Two sample independent T-tests are used when you have only two groups (e.g.
males/females) -Mann-Whitney U Test(if dependent variable is not continuous
 Paired-samples or repeated measures techniques are used when you test the same points (e.g.
pre-intervention, post-intervention) or people on more than one occasion, or you have
matched pairs.-Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test
 Analysis of variance techniques are used when you have two or more groups or time points.
 One-way analysis of variance is used when you have only one independent variable

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 One-way ANOVA will tell you whether there are significant differences in the mean scores
on the dependent variable across the three groups. Post-hoc tests can then be used to find
out where these differences lie.
 Non-parametric alternative: Kruskal-Wallis

 Two-way analysis of variance is used when you have two independent variables(gender,
age group)- Friedman Test

 Multivariate analysis of variance is used when you have more than one dependent variable
(anxiety, depression).

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38 correlations

 Correlation analysis is used to describe the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables.
 There are a number of different statistics available
 From SPSS, depending on the level of measurement and the nature of your data.
 Pearson’s product-moment correlation(r) is used when you wish to describe the strength and direction of the
relationship between two variables (usually continuous). It can also be used when one of the variables is
dichotomous
 Spearman’s rho, which is a correlation coefficient suitable for ordinal or ranked data

 Partial correlation is used when you wish to explore the relationship between two variables while statistically
controlling for a third variable

 Chi-square-Tests for the strength of the association between two categorical variables

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39 REGRESSION ANALYSIS

 Simple regression allows prediction of a single dependent continues variable from single
independent variable

 Multiple regression allows prediction of a single dependent continuous variable from a

group of independent variables

 Logistic regression is used instead of multiple regression when your dependent variable is
categorical

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 Time series –Arch, Garch, Egrarch model of regression

 Panel data –linear/ multiple regression
 Cross sectional data= OLS(Ordinalry least square)
 If y is interval/ratio –normal regression
 If y is ordinal=ordinal regression
 If y is nominal= logistic regression

y = dependent variabl

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 REFERENCES / BIBLIOGRAPHY
41
 APA Reference style is common
 List Examples
1.Book with Single Author
Gore, A. (2006). An inconvenient truth: The planetary emergency of global warming and what we can do about it. Emmaus, PA: Rodale
In-text reference: (Gore, 2006)
2. Book with Two Authors:
Michaels, P. J., & Balling, R. C., Jr. (2000). The satanic gases: Clearing the air about global warming. Washington, DC: Cato Institute.
 In-text reference: (Michaels & Balling, 2000)
3. Book: 3-5 authors
Ranzijn, R., McConnochie, K., & Nolan, W. (2009). Psychology and  indigenous Australians: Foundations of cultural competence. 
  South Yarra, Vic: Palgrave MacMillan.
in-text citation
First citation: (Ranzijn, McConnochie, & Nolan, 2009),Subsequent citations:; Ranzijn et al., 1997)
. Book: 6-7 authors
Jones, E. E., Farina, A., Hastorf, A. H., Markus, H., Miller, D. T., & Scott, R. A. (1984). Social stigma: The psychology of marked relationships. New York: W.H. Freeman.
In-text :(Jones et al., 1984)
5. Journal Article
Miller-Rushing, A. J., Primack, R. B., Primack, D., & Mukunda, S. (2006). Photographs and herbarium specimens as tools to document phonological changes in response to global
warming. American Journal of Botany, 93, 1667-1674.
In-text reference: (Miller-Rushing, Primack, Primack, & Mukunda, 2006)
6. Web sources
Australian Psychological Society. (2008). Substance abuse:  Position statement. Retrieved from 
http://www.psychology.org.au/publication/statements/substane
In-text-(Australian Psychological Society, 2008)
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42 Group Assignment II
Proposal Writing (30%)
 Select either of one of the following thematic areas listed below for you group and develop research
proposal following all the components of the write up
1. Project integration management
2. Project scope management
3. Project time management
4. Project cost management
5. Project quality management
6. Project resource management
7. Project communications management
8. Project risk management
 

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