Unit IV The Research Proposal

References Torreta, N. K. The research proposal (Eng10 Module). University of the Philippines Los Banos, Los Banos, Laguna. Cervantes, E. P. Scientific Poster. University of the Philippines Los Banos, Los Banos, Laguna. Design of Scientific Poster. Retrieved on February 5, 2012 from http://writing.engr.psu.edu/posters.html McGranaghan, M. (n.d.) Guidelines on writing a research proposal. Retrieved on December 16, 2011 from http://www2.hawaii.edu

A proposal is a written offer to solve a technical problem in a particular way, under a specified plan of management, using a certain amount of money. It is a formal plan of solving a scientific problem. Parts of the Research Proposal TITLE Purpose: Gives a name to and identifies the research being proposed, reported, or written about in the manuscript The criteria questions many writers and editors use to evaluate the effectiveness of the title are: 1. Does the title accurately represent the subject? (Is it correct?) 2. Are the limits of coverage stated (or implied)? (Is it complete?) 3. Is the language of the title meaningful to the intended audience? (Is it COMPREHENSIBLE?) 4. Has the title been expressed as effectively as possible? (Is it concise?) Guidelines for effective research title: 1. Avoid deadwood in titles which may be meaningless and overworked phrases. Some of them are A Report of . . . , An Study of . . ., An Analysis of . . . , An Investigation of 2. Avoid vagueness in the title. 3. If you have a long, cumbersome title but you are sure that it is not crowded with meaningless deadwoods, try a two-part title. I. INTRODUCTION A. Significance of the Study This section presents an understandable view of the problem by presenting the background information about it and the rationale for conducting such an undertaking. Thus, this section presents the potential significance and corresponding benefits of the prospective results, the scope or extent of the study, the uniqueness of the study, and the overview of the problem in the context where it appears.

Expected Contents/Components of the Significance of the Study: General background information Definition Literature citation Presentation of the topic Pertinent literature Status of research in the problem area Scope Significance B. Review of Literature Review of Literature - a brief discussion of pertinent information, with emphasis on recent findings and knowledge, relevant to the research work being proposed. The ROL helps: to expand the introductory chapter of the proposal, to further define the research problem, to identify the theoretical and conceptual basis of research, to interpret data through refutation or confirmation , and to outline the implications of the study. to situate your research in the context of what is already known about a topic. How is a literature review different from an academic research paper? The main focus of an academic research paper is to develop a new argument The focus of a literature review, however, is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions. Documentation in the ROL may be through: In-text citation Footnote End note In-text citation styles 1. author and date in a parenthesis at the end of the sentence before the period 2. author cited in the text 3. author and date cited in the text

Some conventions of in-text citation: In citing a work by two authors using the first style (author and date in a parenthesis), cite both names and use an ampersand in between them. For example: (Broto & Dela Rosa, 2009). For a reference material that has more than two authors but fewer than six authors, you need to cite all names in the first reference, and cite only the first name appearing, subsequently, and use et al. However, use the first name appearing and et al. for a work with more than six authors. For several citations in succession, cite the materials in between semicolons (Broto & Dela Rosa, 2009; Magan, 2003; Simat, et al, 2007; The women, 2007). There are materials that have no authors, cite the significant first, first two, or first three words of the title and use the 1st style of in-text citation. For example: (The women, 2003) (Aristotles Poetics, 2007) In citing a previously cited text, cite the original author first then followed by as cited byauthor, year. For example, (Magan, 2003 as cited by Simat, 2007) Direct Quotation If the quotation is in one sentence only, it must run through the regular paragraph. If the quotation is composed of more than one sentence, it must be set off. II. METHODOLOGY/ MATERIALS AND METHODS How the research or study will be carried out is discussed in this section. This section may be presented in a numbered list form, paragraph form, or in a combined form and may include the ff.: Research Materials Description of the procedural steps Tasks to be undertaken Information to be gathered and their sources Research Design Sampling Method Research Instruments Measurements of Variables Statistical Tools Methods of Analysis and Interpretation Materials and Method Materials Experimental animals/plants/organisms with the quantity Chemicals/reagents with the quantity

Instruments/equipment/set-up beakers, test tubes, beam balance, etc.

Method Tests to be undertaken Steps to be done Different phases of the research Literature Cited/ References/ Bibliography This section presents a systematic acknowledgment of the references used in the research. It may be presented with the following headings: Literature Cited includes citations found solely in the Review of Literature Section References includes citations found in the entire proposal or report; includes those found in the Review of Literature Bibliography includes all materials used in the study, whether cited or not cited in the proposal or report Some conventions: Single-spaced With one space after each item In hanging indent Conforms with a particular citation style Materials listed alphabetically The American Psychological Association (APA) widely accepted in hard sciences social and applied sciences; also known as author-date format; requires parenthetical citations within the text rather than endnotes or footnotes; requires upper right hand corner pagination, double spacing, and 12-pt Times New Roman or 12-pt Courier New typeface; List of references is titled as References or References Cited Budgetary Requirements Purpose: presents comprehensive, clear, easily understood estimates of the costs involved for the research Treatment: may be presented in a itemized list, with columnar entries for subtotals and totals. Cost of each item should be clear at one glance Basic Contents: A. Personnel Requirements Salaries of full-time staff: research aides, assistants, technicians, clerks, etc. Honoraria, stipends, allowances of part-time staff: project leader, project coordinator, study leader, senior researcher, interviewers, etc.

B. Maintenance and Operating Expenses (MOE) Supplies and materials: costs, kind, quantity Equipment and instruments: costs, kind, quantity Travel expenses: mode, itinerary, purpose, approximate dates, estimates of cost and expenses C. Capital Outlay Expected huge expenditures for items which are more or less permanent: buildings, vehicles, information systems, etc. D. Contingency Unexpected expenses/miscellaneous Consequences of inflation rate, etc.

SCIENTIFIC POSTER A scientific poster is a document that combines text and visuals to present the results of a research (Cervantes, 2009). It is simply a journal paper pasted onto a board (Design, n.d.) Characteristics of a good scientific poster Scientifically accurate Eye-catching Tastefully laid out Short enough to be read in 10 minutes Prepared with target audience in mind Parts of a Scientific Poster Title Introduction Materials and Methods Results Conclusions Optional parts: References Acknowledgment Email address, website address, URL Some Tips Title should be readable 5 m away. Minimize your text to less than 10 sentences. Text should be readable from about 1 m away. Use color (but not too many), photographs (5x7 or larger and with black or gray border), pictures, diagrams, and tables. Photos, pictures, diagrams, and tables should have captions. Break text with bullets or numbers. Edit, spell check, and proofread before printing.

Prepared by: Prof. Ma. Sheila M. Simat