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4-2McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,All Rights

Reserved.

Part OneINTRODUCTION TO

BUSINESS RESEARCH

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Chapter FourTHE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

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Purpose of the Research Proposal

• To present the question to be researched and its importance

• To discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on related questions

• To suggest the data necessary for solving the question

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The Research Sponsor

All research has a sponsor in one form or another:

• In a corporate setting, management sponsors research

• In an academic environment, the student is responsible to the class instructor

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What are the Benefits of the Proposal to a Researcher?

• Allows the researcher to plan and review the project’s steps

• Serves as a guide throughout the investigation

• Forces time and budget estimates

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Types of Research Proposals

• Internal

• External

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Proposal Complexity

3 levels of complexity:• The exploratory study is used for the

most simple proposals• The small-scale study is more complex

and common in business• The large-scale professional study is the

most complex, costing millions of dollars

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How to Structure the Research Proposal?

• Create proposal modules

• Put together various modules to tailor your proposal to the intended audience

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Modules in a Research Proposal

• Executive Summary

• Problem Statement

• Research Objectives

• Literature Review

• Importance of the Study

• Research Design

• Data Analysis

• Nature and Form of Results

• Qualifications of Researcher

• Budget• Schedule• Facilities and Special

Resources• Project Management• Bibliography• Appendices

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What to include in the Appendices?

• A glossary of concepts, constructs, and definitions

• Samples of the measurement instrument

• Other materials that reinforce the body of the proposal

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Evaluating the Research Proposal

• Proposal must be neatly written in appropriate writing style

• Major topics should be easily found and logically organized

• Proposal must meet specific guidelines set by the sponsor

• Technical writing style must be clearly understood and explained