PART-1 GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING RESEARCH PROPOSAL IN SOCIAL WORK
Dissertation Title
The title of the project should clearly specify the type and nature of the project. It should be clear, brief
and specific. It is suggested that the topic should be related to social work.
The most important decision in any research is the choice of the topic. You would not only be engaged
and engrossed in studying the various aspects of that topic for a few years to come but perhaps for all
your professional life you will be working in that area and will be known to be an expert in it. Therefore,
before deciding on a topic think over it very carefully and then decide.
Before deciding on a research topic, it is advisable that you make a preliminary study of the amount of
research and publication done in this area. This will be of great help to you. You will be able to find out
what aspects of the topic have been studied and what remains to be further researched. You may
detect that the topic you intend to work on has already been researched by someone, somewhere. As
against this the other aspect is that the topic may not have attracted the attention of many. Therefore,
finding relevant material may be difficult.
Introduction
In the introduction, you may provide a description of the topic, broad area of the study; why the topic is
important and clarification of the important concepts.
Consultation with your Supervisor(Guide)
After choosing the topic of your interest, you should discuss it with your Supervisor. The supervisor
may further help you in understanding the positive and negative aspects pertaining to the investigation
concerning your topic. Perhaps he/she may ask you to broaden your area of study or to limit your study
to certain specific aspects. The discussion with your supervisor will also enable you to identify and
finalize the objectives of your study, facilitating you to develop certain hypotheses, choosing the
universe as well as sampling framework. This will also facilitate the preparation of tools for datacollection
and also their application in collecting the data. The supervisor will help you in clarifying all
your doubts. He/she will also guide you in the preparation of the research proposal. Once you prepare
the research proposal in consultation with your supervisor, it will be easier for you to get his/her prompt
approval for submitting to IGNOU for consideration. It is desirable that you yourself prepare a draft
research proposal before you go for seeking guidance. That will enable the supervisor to help you infinalizing the proposal. Keeping good academic rapport with the supervisor will facilitate you in carrying
out a good research work. This may eventually help you also for further studies in the same or related
areas. Therefore, the importance of the role that your supervisor may play in finalizing your research
proposal cannot possibly be over-emphasized.
Background and Rationale (1000-1500 words)
In this part of the proposal, an introduction to the research area along with relevant related literature be
given. A theoretical basis to the study be established; a brief review of related studies be undertaken;
and an explanation be given as to how this present study is a new study exploring new vistas or
extending the exploration of previous research findings. The implications of the study for theory, policy
and practice may be underlined. In scientific research, the rationale may underline a previous theorum
or formula or a tested hypothesis which needs further investigation.
Objectives
Every research either conducted for a degree or otherwise should start with a literature survey. The
literature should normally start with a survey of the journals in the area of your choice. This will give you
the status of research on your topic as well. You will find bibliography of sources referred to by the
authors. You can search for these and in turn search for more sources that interest you or are available
to you. After going through these sources you will be able to collect enough information to help you
decide on your research topic.
However, it is a good idea to start your survey by reading previous surveys on the area of your choice.
They will give you a comprehensive view of the topic/area. Quite often we photocopy documents and
plan to read them at a later date. The time to read them never arrives, because we are confident we
can read the document whenever we want. Do not postpone reading. Read the material that you get
and then make a copy of it.
Encyclopedia and abstracting journals in the discipline concerned will also give you detailed information
on the topic but they may not be up-to-date. For the latest information you should consult journals and
on-line information (on the internet).
The objectives of the proposed research work should state your intention for carrying out this
dissertation. Usually a topic contains three or four objectives. These objectives can be given in a serial
form, pinpointing your approach. For example, you plan to study the problem of social workers in NGO
sector. You may like to study the reasons for low salary, high turn out etc. Such objectives thus, will
spell out the scope of the study.
Hypotheses
Hypothesis is the probable answer to the problem you have undertaken, and the project tests the
hypothesis. But not all studies involve testing of hypothesis mostly experiment-based studies have
hypotheses). You can discuss with your supervisor regarding the type of study you want to undertake.
You may even avoid hypotheses for your study after discussing with your supervisor.
Methods
The ‘methods’ section of the proposal should be divided into four sections, given as follows:
i) Research Methodology
In this sub-section, categorical statement be made and discussion be undertaken with regard to the
exact research method followed in the study. This may include historical, philosophical, case study,
descriptive, experimental (and the type of experimental method), or a mixed research methodology.
The rationale for selecting the research method be given. For scientific research, an explanation be
provided to the nature of experimental design used for the study.
ii) Universe of the Study
If the research involves field work, you should define the universe of the study. Universe is defined as
the entire area or population taken for the particular study. This will depend on the geographical limits
of the study and the unit of the study. For instance, if you are studying the profile of Schools of Social
Work in a state, then all the Schools of Social Work will comprise the universe of the study. You will
draw the sample from this universe.
iii) Sample
In this section, the population should be categorically defined (geographic, demographic, physical,
social and other aspects as appropriate), and the sampling method followed to select the sample be
noted. The nature of the proposed sample be stated; and the rationale for selecting the sample method
and the sampling (and its size) be underlined. It may also be noted in what way a group of sample or
even a single case is representative of the population species. If your research proposal is based on
field work you will have to choose a sample from the universe. A sample is representative of the whole
population. Sampling can be done in many ways such as random sampling, cluster sampling etc. To
know more about the different types of sampling, please refer to any standard book on statistics which
you might have consulted while preparing for Research Methods in Social Work.
iv) Tools and Techniques
In this section, the various tools and techniques to be adapted or to be developed for use in the study
be noted, in relation to the objectives of the study. Reliability and validity of the tools and techniques, as
appropriate, should be mentioned. Aspects to be included in the questionnaire/ interview
schedule/observation schedule/rating scale, etc. should be mentioned. For scientific research, one may
underline the process of experimentation and testing, and methods used to observe and/or measure
the corresponding changes in the treatment and the depending variables. Also, a brief description may
be given on a variety of instruments and objects to be used for conducting the research.
v) Procedure of Data Collection
This section should focus on the procedure/steps proposed to be followed for administration of tools
and techniques to collect data, and/or the process of conducting the experiment or case study.
PART-2 GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING RESEARCH PROPOSAL IN SOCIAL WORK
Data Analysis and Interpretation
The raw data has to be scrutinized and coded and then data analysis can be done, using statistical
methods. It is desirable that the techniques, which you intend to use are mentioned in the proposal.
The proposed methodology to be followed to tabulate/collate various data collected for the study should
be noted. Statistical and other qualitative techniques (if any) to be applied for data analysis should be
mentioned; and how will the analysis be interpreted in relation to the stipulated objectives and
hypotheses of the study and how conclusions be drawn should be noted. In case of experimentation,
the stages of the process, and quantitative and qualitative changes/effects and their process of analysis
and interpretation should be stipulated.
Tables
Tables will have relevant statistical calculations such as percentage, mean, median, standard deviation,
co-relation etc.
Tables will have proper numbers (i.e. Chapter I will have Table 1.1, Table 1.2 etc; Chapter 2 will have
Table 2.1, Table 2.2 etc.). Table number will be followed by Table title which should be as brief as
possible while conveying the matter contained in the table clearly. If a table is lifted from some other
sources, it should be indicated below the table. Table interpretation may be given in three paragraphs:
(i) an introduction to the parameter or topic, (ii) actual data interpretation, (iii) major findings or
indications.
Discussion of Results and Implications of the Study
In this section, it should be mentioned how the results obtained as above will be discussed; how and in
what respect implications for theory, policy and practice be drawn; in what way the results
support/contradict previous such findings, and what contribution it makes to scientific theories or
interpretations.
Chapterization
Chapter plan or chapterization will give a tentative plan for writing the report. This exercise will help you
in completing your dissertation smoothly and in a systematic way.
References
This section should note the references quoted in the proposal or those which have been consulted to
prepare the research proposal. Further, this section should show what referencing style has been
followed (and therefore will be followed) in the research proposal/report.
(Note:- This Artical is only for Master of Social Work college's students study purpose )
