The Research Proposal

1
The Research Proposal
2
Purpose

• Guidelines for preparing and evaluating a
  research brief and proposal
• Understand the purpose of a research proposal in
  research process

3
Recall

• The preliminary discussions and agreements stage
  of the research process represent a negotiation
  of what the focus of research should be
• Following this stage, but prior to primary
  research the research supplier presents the
  client with a plan for executing research
• Client will either approve, modify, or reject the
  plan

4
Steps in the Process

• Researcher
• 5. Agency examines the brief
• 6. Information needs examined. Background
  research completed
• 7. Discussion with client problem, context,
  decision to be made, info needs
• 8. Research design prepared and costed
• 9. Proposal prepared and sent to client
• 12. Project start

• Client
• 1. Business problem identified
• 2. Problem defined and refined
• 3. Need for research identified. Information
  needs clarified
• 4. Brief prepared by the client and sent to
  researcher
• 10. Proposal reviewed suitability of approach
  experience timings cost
• 11. Project Start meeting

5
The Research Plan

• The research plan is formally known as a research
  proposal
• The research proposal presents a thorough
  explanation of the teams approach to research

6
Goals for the research proposal

• Must demonstrate a researchers understanding of
  the business concern and how research can address
  the problem
• Should also show that the researcher has the
  expertise to address the problem through quality
  research that will provide the information to
  address the problem

7
Contents of a research proposal

• Introduction and background to the problem
• Statements of the research objectives
• Approach to the research
• Deliverables, timetable and costs
• Relevant previous experience and project team CVs
• Terms and conditions of business

8
Evaluating a proposal

• Research proposals will be evaluated (by the
  client) to ensure that the research approach as
  explained will deliver the information required
• - based on the problem and the research
  objectives
• - based on the research design
• - based on timing and costs
• - based on experience of researchers