HMPYC80
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
GUIDELINES
2022
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
Research proposal template
Past research proposal
Analysis of the structure with instructions and examples
under each heading
APA 7 referencing guide
Examples of appendixes
Important tutorial letter pages mentioned
Definitions, tips and more
[Type text]
,Table of Contents
What is a research proposal ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Finding and Refining Your RESEARCH PROBLEM ........................................................................................................ 2
Document Structure.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
*Based solely on RRI REVISED CRITERIA ....................................................................................................................... 3
*Based on RRI REVISED CRITERIA, tut 102 and tut 104 ................................................................................................ 3
1. What to include on your cover page..................................................................................................................... 4
2. General Format ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Main elements/structure of a research proposal: .......................................................................................................... 15
A. Title of the study ............................................................................................................................................. 15
B. Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................... 17
C. Introduction/contextualisation of the study/background of the research problem ...................................... 19
D. The Research Problem .................................................................................................................................... 24
E. Literature review ............................................................................................................................................. 28
F. Research methodology ................................................................................................................................... 31
1. Research design .............................................................................................................................................. 31
2. Sampling .......................................................................................................................................................... 37
3. Data collection ................................................................................................................................................ 41
4. Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 46
5. Reliability/Trustworthiness ............................................................................................................................. 52
G. Ethical Considerations..................................................................................................................................... 56
H. Expected Outcomes/Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 61
I. References ...................................................................................................................................................... 63
APA 7TH EDITION REFERENCING GUIDE................................................................................................................... 63
J. Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................... 71
HOW TO USE THE RESEARCH REVIEW INVENTORY (revised) ......................................................................................... 80
Checklists ........................................................................................................................................................................ 81
Past Research Proposal Example .................................................................................................................................... 84
1|Page
,What is a research proposal
A research proposal is a written document outlining a proposed research project.
The proposal explains:
WHAT the project is about, WHY the project is important and HOW the project would be conducted.
The aim of a research proposal is to allow for the project to be evaluated before the researcher embarks on
the study
Research projects have to be properly planned and evaluated before they are put into operation. That is
why we present a research proposal. The actual research, in the case of this module, is purely theoretical.
TAKE NOTE:
Please download tutorial letter 103 and follow the assignment 8 instructions.
Download links:
>>>HMPYC80_2022_TL_103_0_B.pdf
https://mymodules.dtls.unisa.ac.za/mod/folder/view.php?id=111464
Finding and Refining Your RESEARCH PROBLEM
Before we start with your set up and layout, you need to find a research topic that peaks your interest.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
What is a research problem?
A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge
that you will aim to address in your research. You might look for practical problems
aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problems aimed at expanding
knowledge.
Identifying your topic of interest and research problem, will help you refine your title and give fuller
direction to your proposal
2|Page
,NOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATED THE BASE OF YOUR TOPIC OF INTEREST, LET US BEGIN TO STRUCTURE
YOUR DOCUMENT. Open up a word document and begin with the basic structure.
Document Structure
You can decide which structure suits your needs best. It is logical to first complete the RRI Criteria
requirements when working through your proposal.
*Based solely on RRI REVISED CRITERIA
1. Cover page
2. Declaration of academic authenticity
3. Table of contents
4. Title, Abstract, Keywords
5. Introduction/contextualisation of the study
6. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM (could be combined in the introduction)
7. Literature review
8. Research methodology:
Research design
Sampling
Data Collection methods
Data Analysis
Validity and Reliability/trustworthiness
9. Ethical Considerations
10. References
11. Turnitin report as an appendix
*Based on RRI REVISED CRITERIA, tut 102 and tut 104
1. Cover page
2. Declaration of academic authenticity
3. Table of contents
4. Title, Abstract, Keywords
5. Introduction/contextualisation of the study
6. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM: Research questions (could be combined in the introduction)
7. Literature review
8. Research methodology:
Research design
Sampling
Data Collection methods
Data Analysis
Validity and Reliability/trustworthiness
9. Ethical Considerations
10. Expected Outcomes of the study/ Conclusion
11. References
12. Appendices
3|Page
, 1. What to include on your cover page
Title of the research proposal
Student number
Abstract
How to use this document:
1. Set up your document by following the template.
2. If you do not understand something in the template, scroll down further
into the guide to find the heading. It will be elaborated on further.
3. Ensure all sections meet the RRI marking criteria - LINK TO DOWNLOAD
ON PAGE 80
(By following this template combined with the RRI criteria, I got 95% for
assignment 6 draft of the research proposal).
BELOW YOU WILL FIND A QUALITATIVE STUDY TEMPLATE WITH SENTENCE
PROMPTS TO HELP YOU START
4|Page
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
GUIDELINES
2022
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
Research proposal template
Past research proposal
Analysis of the structure with instructions and examples
under each heading
APA 7 referencing guide
Examples of appendixes
Important tutorial letter pages mentioned
Definitions, tips and more
[Type text]
,Table of Contents
What is a research proposal ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Finding and Refining Your RESEARCH PROBLEM ........................................................................................................ 2
Document Structure.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
*Based solely on RRI REVISED CRITERIA ....................................................................................................................... 3
*Based on RRI REVISED CRITERIA, tut 102 and tut 104 ................................................................................................ 3
1. What to include on your cover page..................................................................................................................... 4
2. General Format ................................................................................................................................................... 14
Main elements/structure of a research proposal: .......................................................................................................... 15
A. Title of the study ............................................................................................................................................. 15
B. Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................... 17
C. Introduction/contextualisation of the study/background of the research problem ...................................... 19
D. The Research Problem .................................................................................................................................... 24
E. Literature review ............................................................................................................................................. 28
F. Research methodology ................................................................................................................................... 31
1. Research design .............................................................................................................................................. 31
2. Sampling .......................................................................................................................................................... 37
3. Data collection ................................................................................................................................................ 41
4. Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 46
5. Reliability/Trustworthiness ............................................................................................................................. 52
G. Ethical Considerations..................................................................................................................................... 56
H. Expected Outcomes/Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 61
I. References ...................................................................................................................................................... 63
APA 7TH EDITION REFERENCING GUIDE................................................................................................................... 63
J. Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................... 71
HOW TO USE THE RESEARCH REVIEW INVENTORY (revised) ......................................................................................... 80
Checklists ........................................................................................................................................................................ 81
Past Research Proposal Example .................................................................................................................................... 84
1|Page
,What is a research proposal
A research proposal is a written document outlining a proposed research project.
The proposal explains:
WHAT the project is about, WHY the project is important and HOW the project would be conducted.
The aim of a research proposal is to allow for the project to be evaluated before the researcher embarks on
the study
Research projects have to be properly planned and evaluated before they are put into operation. That is
why we present a research proposal. The actual research, in the case of this module, is purely theoretical.
TAKE NOTE:
Please download tutorial letter 103 and follow the assignment 8 instructions.
Download links:
>>>HMPYC80_2022_TL_103_0_B.pdf
https://mymodules.dtls.unisa.ac.za/mod/folder/view.php?id=111464
Finding and Refining Your RESEARCH PROBLEM
Before we start with your set up and layout, you need to find a research topic that peaks your interest.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
What is a research problem?
A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge
that you will aim to address in your research. You might look for practical problems
aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problems aimed at expanding
knowledge.
Identifying your topic of interest and research problem, will help you refine your title and give fuller
direction to your proposal
2|Page
,NOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATED THE BASE OF YOUR TOPIC OF INTEREST, LET US BEGIN TO STRUCTURE
YOUR DOCUMENT. Open up a word document and begin with the basic structure.
Document Structure
You can decide which structure suits your needs best. It is logical to first complete the RRI Criteria
requirements when working through your proposal.
*Based solely on RRI REVISED CRITERIA
1. Cover page
2. Declaration of academic authenticity
3. Table of contents
4. Title, Abstract, Keywords
5. Introduction/contextualisation of the study
6. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM (could be combined in the introduction)
7. Literature review
8. Research methodology:
Research design
Sampling
Data Collection methods
Data Analysis
Validity and Reliability/trustworthiness
9. Ethical Considerations
10. References
11. Turnitin report as an appendix
*Based on RRI REVISED CRITERIA, tut 102 and tut 104
1. Cover page
2. Declaration of academic authenticity
3. Table of contents
4. Title, Abstract, Keywords
5. Introduction/contextualisation of the study
6. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM: Research questions (could be combined in the introduction)
7. Literature review
8. Research methodology:
Research design
Sampling
Data Collection methods
Data Analysis
Validity and Reliability/trustworthiness
9. Ethical Considerations
10. Expected Outcomes of the study/ Conclusion
11. References
12. Appendices
3|Page
, 1. What to include on your cover page
Title of the research proposal
Student number
Abstract
How to use this document:
1. Set up your document by following the template.
2. If you do not understand something in the template, scroll down further
into the guide to find the heading. It will be elaborated on further.
3. Ensure all sections meet the RRI marking criteria - LINK TO DOWNLOAD
ON PAGE 80
(By following this template combined with the RRI criteria, I got 95% for
assignment 6 draft of the research proposal).
BELOW YOU WILL FIND A QUALITATIVE STUDY TEMPLATE WITH SENTENCE
PROMPTS TO HELP YOU START
4|Page
