The more I learn something through observations and experience, the more I know that I am still incompetent.

(Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel AERA, 2007)

Research Proposal Evaluation

By Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel (Associate Professor, Iqra University)

Faculty of Education & Learning Sciences

Section A: Major Considerations

This document has been created for the examiners and supervisors at Masters, M.Phi and Ph D level associated with the Social Sciences and Educational research studies. Each criterion has to be marked against the quality produced by the candidate in the relevant field. A rating of 5 means the quality is excellent and 1 means the quality is low. Individual differences and comments for improvement will prove to be helpful. A student must obtain 60% on the average to obtain satisfactory pass grade on the proposal. It is imperative that the proposal be prepared after the successful completion of the coursework in the relevant programme of studies. This exercise must be executed in the presence of competent authority prior to the tasks to be undertaken at extensive level as the entire exercise of designing research proposal involves thousands of human hours, technical resources, financial considerations and participations of concerned people. Candidates need to be well acquainted with the systems and procedures in preparing a research proposal at their respective levels. The forms and procedures for such research are well defined by the field of study, so guidelines for research proposals are generally more exacting than less formal project proposals. . Academic research at Masters, M.Phi and Ph D level require adequately sound proposals to support the endeavours by the investigators. M.Phi and Doctoral dissertations begin with research proposal; the proposal must be accepted by a panel of experts comprising experienced and skilled professors and Ph D scholars before the actual research can begin. In addition to providing rationale for the proposed research, the proposal must describe a detailed methodology for conducting the research--a methodology consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field. The major considerations below constitute the assessment procedures of the proposal. Remember, copying ideas from other resources leads to cancellation of the proposed plan of action. You must consult the supervisor when there is a problem pertaining to a specific part in the developing stage. Candidates are also advised to research on topics that are practically measurable and pertain to the relevant domains within the areas of interests. In quantitative studies, one uses theory deductively and places it toward the beginning of the plan for a study. The objective is to test or verify theory. One thus begins the study advancing a theory, collects data to test it, and reflects on whether the theory was confirmed or disconfirmed by the results in the study. The theory becomes a framework for the entire study, an organizing model for the research questions or hypotheses for the data collection procedure (Creswell, 1994, pp. 87-88).

IR Q
1

This document is sole property of Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel . Obtain prior permission to modify or change part or the entire contents.

The more I learn something through observations and experience, the more I know that I am still incompetent. (Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel AERA, 2007) Section B: Marking Key 5 = Excellent 4 = V. Good 3 = Good = 2 = Modifiable = 1 = Poor = 0 = Rejected
E 5 G 4 A 3 M 2 P 1 R 0 Score

Criterion to be Assessed No A Introduction (Part 1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Adequacy of the Title (is the title research-oriented?) Background of the Study (are there references to support it?) Clarity & Relevance of Problem Statement (is the problem clearly defined?) Problem Functionality/Applicability (is it researchable?) Research Variables (are the variables well defined and related?) Research Questions (are they related to research variables?) Purpose of the Study (is the research purpose related to research questions?) Justification of the Study (how will the study measure and evaluate the problem?) Scope of the Study (who will benefit directly/indirectly?) Delimitations of the Study (how will the study be restricted/limited?) Basic Assumptions in the Study (what are common assumptions before research?) Key Terms in the Study (what are the major terms in this research?)

B
13 14 15 C 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 D 28 E F G H

Review of Related Literature

Selection of Literature (where will the researcher select the literature from?) Relevance of Citation & References (how closely related are references and citations?) Variety of Literature Sources (is the study based on only one type of theory?)

Research Design
Methodology of the Study (what methodology will the study employ?) Target Population (who will the results be generalized upon?) Participants Characteristics/Sampling Techniques (what prior information is available?) (how will the researcher select the study samples?) List of Requirements (what materials/resources will the researcher require for research?) Instrument Developing/Constructing (how will the researcher develop the instrument?) (what format will the researcher use to develop this instrument?) Research Hypothesis (what are the hypotheses developed to test and what ensures them?) Pilot Study (when and how will the researcher conduct the pilot study?) Instrument Reliability Method (how will the reliability be ensured?) (what technique?) Instrument Validity (what are the content, criterion and construct validity of the instrument? Instrument Administering/Intervention (how will the instrument be administered?) Plan of Data Collection (what method will be used to collect data from the participants?) Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria (how will the responses included and included in results?)

Data Analysis and Presentation

Plan of Data Analysis and Testing Techniques (how will the data be analyzed?) Tools?

Proposed Budget Activity Chart Legal Considerations Ethical Considerations

This document is sole property of Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel . Obtain prior permission to modify or change part or the entire contents.