Module name: Research Project

Module code: CHM3810

COMPONENTS OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Research encompasses various components which need to be explained or described in a

research proposal. Before conducting/writing your research you need to set a plan on how to
conduct it and this preparatory step is called Proposal Writing. The proposal will help the
researcher in building a case for a new study and lay the ground for the research itself.
The term "research proposal" indicates that a specific course of action will be followed.

Please note that the total number of pages of the research proposal should not exceed six (6),
that is, you must have a total of six (6) pages counting the front page as page 1 and then counting
up to and including the Reference list. This means that the whole research proposal document
must consist of six (6) pages in total, not less neither more.

The following components can be regarded as steps in the writing of the research proposal. They
are important and should be followed for the actual composition of the proposal:

Title page of the research proposal

A research proposal should be submitted with a title page on which full particulars appear. Please
note that a template (Research Proposal Front Page Template.docx) has been uploaded on the
UNAM Portal in this regard. It is compulsory that you use the template that is provided as the
front page of your Research Proposal. You need to edit the template by inserting your specific
Research Project title, your name and surname, your student number, the month and year when
Research Proposal is submitted and the name(s) of your Supervisor and/or Co-Supervisor(s).

Please ensure that you delete all the underlined parts in the template, e.g. Title of Research
Project Topic (For example:).

The following layout is suggested for the writing of the Research Proposal. It is compulsory that
you include all the sections mentioned below in your Research Proposal.

1. Introduction
1.1 Orientation of the proposed study
In a general overview and using key literature pieces, you should state the research concerns,
disagreements, controversies, unanswered questions and gaps in knowledge that give rise to
research problems of your interest.

1.2 Statement of the problem

You should concisely formulate your research problem(s) by clearly indicating research issues
you would like to investigate in your Research Project, i.e. give a clear and concise description
of the research problem(s).

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1.3 Objective(s) of the study
Based on the statement of the problem, you should state the objective(s) of your Research
Project.
Write about the aims and goals of your research and what you will achieve generally and
specifically. In other words, also include the anticipated outcomes/results under this section.

1.4 Significance of the study

Present, as clearly as possible, the source of interest in the topic. Motivate why the topic justifies
the research. That is, you should state the importance of your research and you should also state
the anticipated contribution(s) of your research to knowledge and to socio-economic progress.
It should be stated whether a relationship exists between the proposed research and research
undertaken before. If no such research has been undertaken previously, this should be pointed
out.
You should denote exactly what you intend to do and what you want to achieve with the
research. For example, the topic was selected because of practical problems experienced in the
particular field, etc.

1.5 Limitation(s) of the study

You should indicate the scope, logistical and resource limitation(s) of your research. Mention
which chemicals and/or glassware/apparatus are unavailable or not enough for procedures that
you would like to carry out in your research but that you can’t do. Also mention certain
equipment/machines that you would like to use in your research but that are not available in the
department. When mentioning your limitation(s) also mention what you would be able to do in
your research if that was not a limitation. You may also want to mention whether research funds
are also a limitation to your Research Project and the impact that the availability of more or
sufficient research funds would have had on your Research Project.

2. Literature Review
This includes the background information about the topic/subject under study including the
published information or the previous similar work on the same topic/subject (local or
international).
Explain that relevant publications (books, legislation, documents, files, etc.) have been consulted
to determine whether the envisaged research is not a duplication of previous research.
The literature review should give evidence of gaps in already existing knowledge, theoretical and
methodological shortcomings, the need for further research, unanswered questions,
disagreements in literature and plausible ways in which the controversies may be resolved.
The literature review should clearly and concisely demonstrate what has been done in research
areas of interest and what remains to be done.

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3. Research Methodology
3.1 Research Instruments
You should clearly mention the research instruments and measures that would be used to collect
data under this section.

3.2 Procedure
You should mention the manner in which data will be collected here. Also specify how the
research instruments will be used to collect the data.
In this part of the proposal you should also briefly write about the samples that will be studied, if
any, and what data will be collected during your research.

3.3 Data Analysis

In this part of the proposal you should briefly write about the methods of analysis that will be
used and how the results will be analysed. In other words, you should provide the specific
strategies that you will employ to analyse your data. If applicable, also mention the specific
peaks that you anticipate to observe/obtain in the various spectra that would be obtained from the
various methods/instruments of analysis to be employed.

4. Research Ethics
You should provide information on how you will observe research ethics (such as plagiarism)
when conducting your research.
If you want more clarity on the research ethics that are applicable to your research or just
research ethics in general, please consult the internet and/or your Supervisor.

5. References
Here you should include a list of sources of information consulted, e.g. textbooks, journals,
internet, etc. Ensure that you use the referencing style mentioned below.

[You should use the Numbered or Vancouver system or format (See a separate pdf document
named ‘DCB Reference Style’ uploaded on the UNAM portal) when citing sources of
information in the text (in-text citation) such as in the Introduction, Literature Review and
Research Methodology; and when preparing the reference list at the end of your written research
proposal.]

Note:
 Please note that there are components that you will need to discuss with your supervisor,
for example the time table (Work Plan) for doing the research, anticipated outcomes, etc.
 Please include the time table (Work Plan) for doing the research immediately after the
Data Analysis section or immediately after the References at the end of your research
proposal (i.e. immediately after the Reference list).

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