Designing a PhD Proposal in Qualitative Research

Introduction

This is always a difficult task and also a challenge to a research student (either Masters or PhD) to design his/her research proposal, but most students are required to write this. Even many taught course students should enrol in at least one research methodology course as a part of their degree programmes. However, preparing a proposal is an important skill to them. Many research institutions often submit proposal in order to obtain research funding. In qualitative research, there is no universally approved template to draw this proposal. This kind of research refers to the human perception, human behaviour, human cultures, social norms and values, which are more complex and unforeseen issues. These are also varied according to time, place and context. However, a research student faces enormous challenges to write this kind of research proposal. Even though there is a wide debate whether it is possible to bring all aspects into the planning process of research designing. In general, a research proposal is a formal written plan, which accumulates ideas about a proposed study. This written document necessitates an extensive review of the literature, describing and analyzing what already has been documented related to the research problem (Gay, 1996). It should provide an overview of the essential information which will guide the development of the study. In a research proposal, the review of the literature should demonstrate that the researcher is entirely cognizant of the current empirical and theoretical knowledge pertaining to the proposed problem (Onwuegbugie, 1997). However, this is important to have a sound knowledge to design such project. A well-written research proposal should be concise, clear, and complete (Cook & Campbell, 1979), with ideas being logically built upon each other in order to justify a study. As such, proposal writing is a technical skill that is learned and refined with experience. Unfortunately, research indicates that compulsory writing tends to increase composition anxiety (Powers, Cook, & Meyer, 1979) that might be experienced by some students while writing a research proposal in order to fulfil a course requirement.