PROPOSAL AND REPORT WRITING- The Infinity Mathematics

 

PROPOSAL AND REPORT WRITING

Research Proposal

ü  A research proposal is an overall plan, scheme, structure and strategy designed to obtain the answers to the research questions or problems that constitute the research project.

ü  It is a statement of intent or a plan of action. It helps to the researcher for engaging in genuine enquiry, finding out about something worthwhile in a particular context.

ü  What, how and why of the research?

 

Why Research Proposal

 

ü  Gives you an opportunity to think through your project carefully, and clarify and define what you want to research

ü  Provides you with an outline and to guide you through the research process

ü  Link your proposed work with the work of others,

ü  Communication between researcher and supervisor

ü  Document to apply for a budget

Component of Proposal

ü  Title

ü  Introduction

ü  Literature review

ü  Methodology

ü  References

Title of the Study

 

ü  Must give the reader a sense of what you are doing or examining

ü  Do not make it too general and too long

ü  Should be no more than 15 words

ü  Catchy and attention-grabby

Introduction

·         Background of the study

·         Problem of the statement

·         Objectives of the study

·         Research questions and hypothesis (if applicable)

·         Rationale or significance of study

·         Delimitation

·         Operational definition

Literature Review

Ø  Theoretical literature

Ø  Empirical literature

Ø  Theoretical framework

Ø  Conceptual framework

Methodology

 

Research Design

Ø  Population and sample

Ø  Instruments and validation

Ø  Data collection

Ø  Data analysis

Ø  Ethical issues

Ø  Timelines and budget (if required)

 

 

Research Report

 

v  A report is a statement of the results of an investigation or of any matter which definite information is required.

v  Final product of the research

v  A formal statement or document of a research process and its results

v  Means of communication between researcher and readers

v  Good report –accurate, clear, free of ambiguity, local and concise writing

Essential Qualities of a Research Report

v  Professionalism

v  In-depth knowledge of the subject

v  Concentration

v  Writing skills

Components of Research Report

v  Preliminary part

v  Main part

v  Reference part

Preliminary Part

v  Title page

v  Recommendation page(if applicable)

v  Approval lertter(if applicable)

v  Acknowledgement

v  Abstract

v  Table of contents

v  List of tables

v  List of figures(if applicable)

v Abbreviation

According to Education Dean of Tribhuvan University

 

v  Title page

v  Declaration

v  Recommendation *

v  Approval *

v  Abstract

v  Acknowledgments

v  Table of contents

v  List of tables

v  List of figures

v  Acronyms/ abbreviations

Main Part

v  Introduction

v  Review of literature

v  Methodology

v  Data analysis and interpretations

v  Summary, conclusion and implications

 

According to Education Dean of Tribhuvan University

 

Chapter I: Introduction

·         Background of the Study

·         Statement of the problem

·         Objectives of the Study

·         Research Question or Hypothesis (if necessary)

·         Significance of the Study

·         Delimitations of the Study

·         Operational definition of the key terms

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Conceptual Framework

·         Review of Theoretical Literature

·         Review of Empirical Literature/Previous Studies

·         Implications of the review for the Study

·         Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

 

Chapter III: Methods and Procedures of the Study

·         Design and method of the Study

·         Population, sample and sampling strategy

·         Study area/field

·         Data collection tools and techniques

·         Data Collection Procedures

·         Data Analysis and Interpretation Procedure

 

Chapter IV: Analysis and Interpretation of Results

·         •Analysis of Data and Interpretation of the results

·         •Summary/Discussion of Findings

 

Chapter V: Conclusions and Recommendation

ü  Conclusions

ü  Recommendation

 

-Policy related

-Practice related

-Further research related

Reference Sections

 

ü  References

ü  Appendix

ü  Index

ü  Maps and pictures

Citation and Referencing as per APA format (American Publication Manual of American Psychological Association, 6th Edition, 2010)

-Appendices

{Dean office}

 

Research Report

Φ   Title

Φ   Abstract

Φ   Introduction

Φ   Literature review

Φ   Methodology

Φ   Results and discussion

Φ   Summary, conclusion and implications

Φ   References

Φ   Appendices

 

APA Referencing

 

v  American psychological association 6thedition

v  In-text citation and end-text referencing

 

Language

 

ü  Language in an APA paper should be:

·         Clear: be specific in descriptions and explanations

·         Concise: condense information when you can

·         Plain: use simple, descriptive adjectives and minimize figurative language

 

 

APA Writing

 

ü  Your report should:

·         be typed,

·         double-spaced,

·         have 1” margins,1’’-left

·         use 10-12pt. Standard font (ex. Times New Roman), and

·         be printed on standard-sized paper (8.5”x 11”)

 

 

General APA Format

ü  Your report should include four major sections:

 

Title page

Abstract

Main Body

References

 

 

 

APA in-Text Citations

 

ü  The APA system of referencing uses in text references or citations to acknowledge someone else's words, thoughts or ideas that have been included in your work. Information required in the text of your assignment includes:

·         the author(s)'s surname(s)

·         the year of publication

·         The page number or paragraph number for non-paginated sources (direct quotes only).

 

 

 

Punctuation of Citations

Direct Quotes

 

ü  Direct quotes show where another person's original thoughts, words, ideas, images etc. have been useddirectlyin someone else's work.

ü  Follow these steps to use direct quotes in your assignments.

·      Copy theexactwords from the original source.

·      Usequotation marks " "at the beginning and end of the copied text.

·      Referencethe author, year and page number information.

 

 

Direct Quotes Short (Less than 40 Words)

 

Long Direct Quotes

 

ü  For citations of 40 words or more, block quotes should be used. A block quote is indented and written on a new line. Itdoes not have quotation marks around it.

Paraphrasing

 

v  Paraphrasing is when you use someone else's ideas and put them in your own words.

v  Even though you are not using the original author's exact words, you must still cite the source.

v  By presenting the information in your own words, you demonstrate your understanding of the material that you have read.

Citing of Paraphrase

 

Using Multiple Source

 

End-Text Referecing

 

ü  Books

·         Book author(s) or editor

·         Year of publication

·         Book title (in italics)

·         Publication information: place: publisher

Journal Article

 

v  Article author(s)

v  Date of publication

v  Article title

v  Journal title (in italics)

v  Volume number (in italics), (issue in brackets if required), page numbers

v  Digital object identifier (DOI): used for electronic publications. If no DIO is given for online journal articles, use the homepage URL of the journal.

Examples

 

          Websites

 

v  Author(s) / organization's name

v  Date last modified (if there is no date, n.d.can be used)

v  Title of page

v  Website URL

 

 

 

 

Plagiarism

 

ü  the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as if it were your own

ü  a form of cheating

ü  a serious offence with serious consequences.

ü  Examples of plagiarism:

·         copyingsentences or paragraphs word-for-word from a sourcewithout proper citation

·         puttingsomeone else's words, thoughts, ideas into your own words (paraphrasing) butfailing to cite your sourcewith a proper citation

·         piecing together textsfrom one or more sourceswithout appropriate citation

·         copyingor submitting whole parts of computer fileswithout acknowledging their sources

·         copyingor submitting the whole or a part of another student's work.

To avoid plagiarism you must cite the source.