Steps of Proposal Writing

Every proposal accompanied with certain procedural steps for its fulfillment. Every essential step in proposal
writing demands fulfillment of some pertinent ingredients. Basic steps of proposal writing are almost same
for all research though area or topic of the research may differ. Such essential steps of research proposal are
described briefly as below:

1. Title: Title of the proposed study should be written in brief as far as possible but must be clear and specific.
The title is a vital component of every research proposal because it reflects the entire content of the subject.
The title should be precise, comprehensive and reflect the whole essence of the study. Every reader
can estimate the tentative result output from the research title. It gives clear picture regarding subject
matter of study, tentative population and sample, area of study, etc.

2. Introduction or Background of the Study: Introduction is very important, actually the most important
part of the proposal. Illustrate precisely background of the study especially with reference to
historical perspective and recent development in the field. An effective introduction discusses the
meaningfulness of the study with presentation of problem or issue. The rest of the proposal supports this
section. Key parts of the Introduction often become a part of a research abstract that may be used when
you present your completed investigation and conclusions to an audience.

3. Statement of the Problem: Identify and discuss major critical issues and problems, which require further
analysis and investigation in the field of study selected by the researcher. In this section, the researcher
provides the core issue of the research work, which gives the direction of the research process.

4. Objective of the Research: The objective should be closely related to the research study. The main
purpose of the research objective is to focus on research problem, avoid the collection of unnecessary
data and provide direction to research study. Research is related to the aspiration and objectives are related
to the battle-plan. Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART),
so that research problem could be explored effectively.

Objectives are structure using with actions words like;

ASSESS

DEVELOP

Provide
Examine
Discuss
Describe
Analyze
Elaborate
Evaluate
Revaluate
Construct
Elucidate
Interpret
Articulate
Others

List of objectives list of methods

To identify a problem how identify the problem

To assess its impact how assess its impact
To develop a solution how develop the solution
To design and implement the solution how design and implement the solution
Setting Objectives
This involves a number of queries, for example:
(a) How many objectives to be set?
(b) What kind of objectives to be set?
(c) What would be the nexus between the objectives?
(d) Whether objectives are attainable? And,
(e) Whether objectives are in conformity with the problems identified by the researcher?

5. Significance/Justification of the Study: This section highlights the importance of the study and justify
the study on the ground of its merit and productivity. The research topic will be justified as new idea
and new area after proved by the conclusion of the literature review. Thus, the literature review will prove
it that the study has not been done previously, which is a major part of the research. In addition, it has to
prove the rationality of the research from national level to international level’s plan, policies and programs
during the time of writing proposal. It develops according to problems identified and focused on the issue
at the area and time.

6. Hypothesis Formulation
A declarative or clear statement that shows the relationship between the variables under study is statement
of hypothesis. Generally, researcher uses either research question or statement of hypothesis while
conducting research. The use of research problem, or hypothesis depends on research objective, design
and nature of methodology and the audience of the research. A good hypothesis should:
1. State an expected relationship between two or more variables
2. Be based on either theory or evidence (and worthy of testing)
3. Be testable (measurable)
4. Be as brief as possible consistent with clarity
5. Be stated in declarative form
6. Be operational by eliminating ambiguity in the variables or proposed relationships

10. Limitations of the Study

Indicate what is not possible to include in the study, even if it is essential for the study, and list very few
limitations.
In this section, you should discuss the things that would affect the internal validity of the study, for instance
statement of what extent the location, type of samples selected, design issues could affect the study. Every
research has a boundary and there is nothing much that a researcher can do. In other words, limitation of a
study refers to the constraints or drawbacks, both theoretical and practical that the researcher has little or no
control over. Limitations are normally stated in the proposal and accounted for in the final research report.
Example
The following were the limitations of the study:
 The study limited itself to only one private school in kathmandu municipality. For more conclusive
results, more private schools in kathmandu municipality should have been studied. However, this was
not possible due to time and financial constraints.
 It was not possible to cover a larger number of parents because getting them required considerable
time, resources and other logistics.

A. Literature Review:

Literature review is a foundation to the study and it helps to gather information and develop new
knowledge, investigate idea and results. The significance of the researcher’s study will be strong,
supportive and justify by the literatures review. It helps to identify the related literatures, variables, and
relationship of the variables and develop a theoretical or conceptual framework. Therefore, the section is
significance to the research to make strong, supportive and justify.

B. Research Methodology:
 Identify types of research, define the terms and relationship of the variables and develop conceptual
framework; sources of data, procedure of data collection, limitation or assumption of the study, statistical
tools, test of hypothesis and data analysis. Thus, either qualitative or quantitative or both methods have to
mention in the proposal as necessary. Further, if the study is based on primary source, the proposal has to
show its population and sampling as well. The sampled procedure by types, area and sample size must be
mentioned. Also, the research proposal should have to mention about the field visit and observation,
focused group discussion, key information, in-depth analysis and other as required.

C. Data Analysis:

In the process of proposal writing the data analysis is not possible by itself, however, it is possible to
include the dummy tables and charts whatever, it needs and possible, which helps to clear more in data
analysis in future research.

D. Expected output:

This is an expected outcome of the research, which will find in the process data analysis after interpretation
of data. This is the main part of the research proposal, which is entirely depends on the objectives of the
research. It also helps to develop conclusion. Thus, it provides a clear-cut vision of the research.

E. Time and Detailed Schedule:

Time scheduling is a time plan estimated for proposed study. It includes tentative time required for
initiation, approval, execution and completion of research. The proposal depends on the rules and
regulation or time limitation of the department/University/GOs/NGOs/INGOs/Others. If the research has
to complete within the time limitation, the proposal must include a time schedule from the beginning to
end within time-frame. While proposing time schedule for the study, it is suggested that rational and
practical flexible time plan is better than that of short and pressured deadline scheduling.
For example, Table 1 shows the distribution of programme of the research within time frame work.

Table 1: Distribution of Programme within Time-Frame,

Activities Months
Ja Fe Mar Apri Ma Jun Jul Aug Sept Oc
n b ch l y e y . . t.
1. Literature Review, Collaboration
with different organizations,
NGOs, INGOs in the related field.
2. Conduct a preliminary survey to
verify the questionnaire, Prepare
structured questionnaire and
Training for research assistant.
3. Data Collection Government
organizations, NGOs, INGOs of
the related institutes
4. Develop Tabulation for collected
information
5. Data analysis by using Computer
to prepare draft report
6. Completion and submission of
draft report to the MoHP
7. Incorporate suggestions of draft
report as per the suggestion of
MoHP, Final report submission to
 MoHP, Dissemination of the
Report.

1. Budget estimates: Financial resources is inevitable for the successful completion of every research.
Assurance of financial availability is prominent aspect of research proposal. Budget estimates includes
budget requirements or cost incurring to time, labor, administrative task, tools and techniques, logistic
requirement, etc.

F. Human Resource and Logistic Support within Financial Budget

The estimated budget for human resources and other requirements to conduct proposed proposal should be
mention as necessity. The estimated cost is subjected to negotiation between the Ministry and consulting
party. It includes the estimated cost of the project under various aspects such as salary, printing and stationary,
postage, travel expenses, computation, secretarial and typing, training, field work, pre-test and post test, report
writing, and others. For example, Table 2 presents the requirements of human resources and financial
resources.

Table 2: Requirements of Human Resources and Logistics and its distribution of financial requirement
in the research.

Items NRS.
A. Human Resources
1 Team Leader 5 months @NR 40,000/month 200,000.00
2 Research Officer 5 months @NRs.20,000/month 100,000.00
3 Research Assistant 1 person x 45 days@NRs.555/day 24,975.00
4. Tax at A @ 15 % 48,746.25
Sub-Total
373,721.25
B. Logistic
1 Stationary 15,000.00
2 Report Writing 30,000.00
15,000.00
3 Secretarial work 20,000.00
4 Data Management and Analysis 10,000.00
5 Transportation
10,000.00
6Miscellaneous 100,000.00
Sub-Total
Total Cost: A+B 473,721.25
C. Organizational Overhead 10% at Total Cost 23,686.06
Grand Total (A+B+C) 497,407.31
Note: Total cost of the assignment is Nepalese Rupees Four Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand and Four
Hundred and Seven and Thirty One Paisa.

2. Research report plan: Report is a professional deliberation of research work. Generally report is
produced after the completion of research but it is equally important to make general plan regarding when
and how to generate and publish the report at the stage of proposal writing.

G. Bibliography/Reference:
The bibliography covers a list of references, and additional materials (articles and books and others), that
are related with the research. In other words, the bibliography is an alphabetical listing of authors and the
titles of their work that are of relevance to the study.
 The reference means the list of references in alphabetical order of authors and the title of their material,
which has been used/cited in the text only. The references in the proposal denote the coverage of a list of
books, journals and others, which are used in the proposal writing. It will be the list of refers books, journal
and other in alphabetical order of authors and the title of their material, which has been used/cited in the
text only. For example, one reference article from journal is given in references as follows.

Shakya, Kushum (2003). Literature Review in Research. The Economic Journal in Nepal. Vol. 26.
No. 4 and Issues 104. Kathmandu: Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University. October-
December.

H. Appendix
An appendix covers all lists, figures, tables which are used in proposal and which is not important to show
in the text, for example, formula used, questionnaire, master table and other. For example, a sample cover
of research proposal, not necessarily to keep in the text, however, it has to be known the format of the
cover page of research proposal in this article, therefore, this section presents the sample of cover page of
research proposal in the appendix.

What is a good proposal anyway?

A good proposal should consist of the first three chapters of the dissertation. It has to cover three
chapters. It should begin with a statement of the problem/background information (typically Chapter
I of the dissertation), then move on to a review of the literature (Chapter 2), and conclude with a
defining of the research methodology (Chapter 3).

Of course, it should be written in a future tense since it is a proposal.