Essentiality of Research Proposal



I feel that there is an urgent need of a discussion on writing research proposal. This urgency is felt against the background of a friend who has mistaken it with the summary of research report. That friend believes that both, summary and proposal are  written briefly. So her question is, "Aren't they one and the same?".

She is planning to register herself with a university as a part-time research scholar. Sometimes, she herself can differentiate 'proposal' and 'summary' at a later point when her research progresses. Anyhow, we have to give her clear answer. 

Before we give clarity to her doubt, shall we see the real meaning of proposal for research.

Meaning of proposal

To propose means, to declare one's plan to do something, and proposal means, something that is declared as one's plan. We make proposal in various occasions. Shall we examine certain proposals that we make in life.

What are we doing in a marriage proposal? When there is a marriage proposal, the bride and bridegroom or their parents or relatives declare the interest. This proposal, in the due course ends in the wedding ceremony.

Suppose there is a news on the proposal of making a road through the forest. What do the readers understand? The readers understand that there is statement on plan of government to construct a road through the forest. So far there is no road there.

What is an engineer declaring through the sketch and estimate that he draws. It is also a proposal, in which she/he states firmly; what is to be constructed and how is to be constructed? In broader sense sketch and estimate together form the proposal.

In the above three examples, three features are evident;

a)  Proposal is prepared before the action begins.

b)  It is a declaration to oneself or someone on what is going to be done.  

c) According to the requirement, there are different methods to document the proposal. 

Forwarding the proposal along with the application for admission to a research programme is a regulation with almost all universities or research institutes. So that, from the researchers' side there must be genuine attempt to write the research proposal with appropriateness demanded by the university. 

Why research proposal?

Why there is need for submitting the research proposal? What are the reasons against which the universities and research institutes demand it? Than the requirement of the University for the Admission Procedure, it is the necessity of the researcher in the following ways;

a) The proposal is an evidence for conceptualisation of research

b) It is the declared plan on the research

c) The proposal shows the decisions on research methodology

d) The proposal shows check-points

e) It is a contract between the researcher and the guide/university

f)  The proposal is the tool for self-appraisal

g) The proposal reminds the researcher of her/his commitment towards research

Shall we see in-depth;

a) The proposal is an evidence for conceptualisation of research

A project or any scientific and systematic attempt begins with conceptualisation in the mind of the researcher. In this stage the researcher is accepting and idea or working out on a concept, which is the basic for planning. Though not visible overtly,   we can’t say that the researcher had not gone through the stage of conceptualisation, which is the seed of the research. It is there with every researcher. The proposal gives evidence of conceptualisation, especially in the beginning part of the proposal, where the researcher states, where, when and how she/he got the spark of the theme of research. The section that she/he deals the research questions in the proposal is another evidence for conceptualisation.

b) It is the declared plan on the research

This spark of the theme becomes as a fire, after which the researcher put it for detailed deliberations with the research guide or supervisor or with those who have interest in the topic and desire to help the researcher in the attempt of investigation. In this stage, the researcher plans the A to Z of the investigation. The researcher reaches answers to several questions like, what, why, how, when, where and by whom. The research proposal clearly states the objectives, hypotheses and methodology.  ‘If thoroughly planned, an action is half done’ the adage is right with research too. From that view point, we can say that a comprehensively stated proposal gives the evidence of the work that the researcher had done much before she/he approached the university or funding agency.

c) The proposal shows the decisions on research methodology

Whatever be, educational research, medical research or social research, the researcher is approaching it systematically and scientifically. Even then there will be occasions where the researcher may be at junctions, doubtful of going this way or that way. Her/his decisions on; where to go or not to go with regard to methodology, sample selection, construction of tools, data collection or analysis of data is valuable and important. As proposal is the declared plan, it shows the decisions required during the course of research. For example, the researcher plans to take a sample of 100 for an experimental research, considering the requirement for certain statistical operations of the data captured. But, later the researcher understands that there is the availability of a sample of 18 only. If she/he has any earlier decisions in this regard she/he can manipulate it on the background of that.  Otherwise the researcher may be wandering and wasting time and energy.

d) The proposal shows check-points

During a long journey a traveller has to pass through certain check-points. Each check- point gives a sort of comfort and confidence to the genuine traveller. When reaching every point for ticket examination, she/he gets confirmation about the distance travelled and the distance yet to be travelled. Similarly, if the researcher has a well worked-out proposal, it can be used as check-points during the journey of research. The research procedure listed out in the proposal gives details of the check-points. Think of an attempt for experimental research without a proposal, or with poorly stated proposal.

e) It is a contract between the researcher and the guide/university

A well thought-out research proposal is like a contract signed by two parties. The content of the proposal, in terms of objectives, selection of sample, design of the study are the clauses of the contract. The terms and conditions of the agreement are binding both the researcher and the guide/university. This detailing on what is to be done, and what is not to be done gives a compulsion to the researcher, and the guide, which is an encouragement for completion of research activity. The calendar of activities shown in a research proposal is exactly a contract about action and date on which an action is to be started and an ended. It is through research proposal, research becomes systematic and scientific.

f)  The proposal is the tool for self-appraisal

A researcher is not at all a student who is doing his Masters through attending face-to-face teaching in a classroom. The researcher, especially one who has registered as part-time researcher has lots of autonomy in the selection of methodology, process of research, data collection and analysis of data. As face-to-face interaction with the guide is limited or absent, research proposal compensates the gap, because, research proposal is a document prepared in consultation with the guide or experienced persons in the field.   In the circumstances, research proposal is otherwise, a tool for self-assessment of the progress of research.

g) The proposal reminds the researcher of her/his commitment towards research

Comprehensively prepared research proposal is a reminder to the researcher, to the guide and the university/ research institute. The research proposal reminds or alerts the researcher of what is the next task to be undertaken. So that, the researcher feels a sort of commitment to implement the process promptly, without lapse. In the absence of a comprehensively prepared research proposal the agility of the researcher need not be expected. Quick and nimble actions required at many points of research shall not happen in the absence of a proposal.

Where do we reach now?

From the foregoing discussion it is clear that a scrupulous research proposal is not at all a luxury, it is a necessity for the researcher or even to a small project doer. This is the reason for which the universities/research institutes demand research proposal. But, never can we say that research proposal is like a deed of landed property. Because a deed is static until the next sale of the property. Research proposal is like the sketch and estimate prepared by a civil engineer, which he brings to the work-site every time to compare with the real work implemented. She/he suggests minor or major changes regarding the structure, flooring or façade. But all changes are demanded on the basis of the sketch and estimate that had been prepared well in advance. Similarly, we have to say, research proposal is dynamic, it grows or develops with every action implemented meaningfully in due course. If not accommodating or accepting the genuine changes in further course of action, the research proposal becomes a lifeless document.

Now, shall we go back to the earlier question asked by a researcher; are research proposal and summary of research report one and the same? What do you readers feel? They are entirely different in content and objective. While research proposal states what the researcher has decided to do to complete her/his investigation, summary of research report declares what the researcher has done to get the result of the investigation. Summary may be written in a paragraph, a page, five pages or ten pages, according to the requirement and convenience of the publisher. Summary is the condensed form of all the chapters of the research report. It can done normally, only after completing the research process and only after completing the full fledged report. If this is the reality, how do research proposal and summary become one and the same?

So can I believe that I have indirectly answered the question? However, another discussion on how to write a research proposal and what are the components of research proposal seems necessary. I will be in a position to post that discussion next time.