Presentation on Writing a Research Proposal & Project Writing2.pdf

Mastering Research :
From Topic Selection to Proposal & Project Writing
Dr. Prakash Rajeshyam Konka
Associate Professor, Department of Geography
Coordinator, Research and Development Cell
Shri Bankatswami Mahavidyalaya, Beed

Outline of the Lecture
How to Choose a Research Topic
Basics of Literature Survey
Research Proposal Writing Tips
Writing a Major and Minor Research Project: essential stages
UGC Care Listed & Peer-reviewed Journals
(Original & Cloned Journals)
Research Proposals (UGC and ICSSR)
Dr. Prakash Rajeshyam Konka, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Shri Bankatswami College, Beed (MS) India

How to choose a research topic

How to choose a research topic
Methods to choose a research topic
Criteria's to choose a research topic

Interesting:
Select a topic that
genuinely excites you, as
passion for the subject
will motivate you to dive
deeper and remain
engaged throughout the
research process.

Novelty:
Focus on a new or
innovative angle in your
field of study. Choose a
topic that fills a research
gap, challenges current
understanding, or
introduces a fresh
perspective.

Manageable:
Ensure that the scope
of the topic is realistic
within the time and
resources available. It
should not be too
broad to overwhelm
you or too narrow to
limit your findings.

Approaching a professor
or guide:
Professors or guides have
many research groups and
topics, and they are aware
of research gaps for new
studies. They can help you
to choose a research topic.

Back-Tracking in research:
Reviewing existing studies
and identifying gaps or
unresolved issues. This
approach helps in
choosing a research topic
by tracing where previous
research left off and
exploring new directions.

Traditional Method:
It’s a time-consuming
method for choosing a
research topic, involving
selecting a broad topic,
reviewing existing literature
to identify knowledge gaps,
and consulting with experts
for guidance.

Basics of Literature Review
for Research Project

 Define the Scope: Establish clear boundaries for what literature will be
included based on relevance to your research topic.
 Search for Relevant Sources: Use academic databases, journals, and
books to find peer-reviewed and credible literature.
 Identify Key Themes: Categorize literature into major themes or areas
relevant to your research question.
 Evaluate the Quality: Critically assess the reliability, methodologies, and
contributions of each source.
Basics of Literature Review for Research Project

 Highlight Research Gaps: Identify gaps or unexplored areas in the existing
literature that your research can address.
 Synthesize Information: Combine findings from multiple sources to build a
cohesive understanding of the topic.
 Reference Properly: Use a consistent citation style (APA, MLA, etc.) to
credit all reviewed works.
 Connect to Your Research: Show how the reviewed literature leads to or
supports your proposed research.
Basics of Literature Review for Research Project

Definition: A research proposal is a formal document that outlines a
plan for investigating a specific research problem or question.
Purpose: It is used to justify the need for a study, explain the
methodology, and define the objectives and outcomes expected from
the research.
Components: Typically includes an introduction, literature review,
research objectives, methodology, timeline, and references.
Goal: The goal is to convince readers (such as academic committees or
funding bodies) that the proposed research is valuable and feasible.
What is a research proposal

Clear Research Problem/Question: The proposal should clearly define
the research problem or question to be addressed.
Literature Review: A brief overview of existing research related to the
topic, identifying gaps that the study aims to fill.
Research Objectives: Specific, measurable objectives that outline what
the research intends to achieve.
Research Methodology: A detailed description of the methods and
approaches to be used for data collection and analysis.
Pre-requisites of a Research Proposal:

1. Understand the Guidelines:
Thoroughly read and understand the submission guidelines, including
formatting, word limits, and required sections.
2. Clearly Define Your Research Problem:
Present a well-defined research question or problem that is specific,
significant, and relevant to the field.
3. State the Objectives:
Clearly outline the objectives or aims of your research. Make sure they
are achievable within the scope of the project.
Proposal Writing Tips:

4. Showcase Originality:
Highlight the novelty or uniqueness of your research. Demonstrate how
it fills a gap in existing knowledge.
5. Provide a Comprehensive Literature Review:
Show familiarity with the current state of research in your field, citing
relevant studies to support your proposed work.
6. Detail the Methodology:
Explain your research methods clearly, including data collection,
analysis techniques, and tools you’ll use. Justify why these methods
are suitable.

7. Make a Realistic Timeline:
Provide a clear and realistic timeline, breaking down the project into
phases with estimated completion times for each stage.
8. Identify Resources and Budget (if applicable):
List the resources you will need and provide an estimated budget, if
required. Ensure your requests are reasonable and justified.
9. Highlight the Impact:
Describe the potential outcomes of your research and how it will
contribute to the field or solve a real-world problem.

10. Keep It Concise and Focused:
Avoid unnecessary overly complex language. Be clear & concise.
11. Proof read and Edit:
Ensure your proposal is free of grammatical errors and well-organized.
Consider having someone else review it for clarity.
12. Tailor the Proposal to the Audience:
Write with the audience in mind, whether it’s a funding body, academic
committee, or supervisor, aligning your proposal with their
expectations.

Writing a Major and Minor
Research Project:
Essential Stages

1. Understanding the Scope:
Major Research Project:
Scope: Broad, deep exploration of a topic, often requiring original research or comprehensive
review.
Timeframe: Typically more extended (2-5 Years longer).
Expected Output: In depth analysis, often leading to publishable results, possibly 100-200 + pages.
Key Resources: Access to primary data, advanced methodology, and literature from a wide range of
sources.
Minor Research Project:
Scope: Narrower focus, often emphasizing a specific aspect of a broader topic.
Timeframe: Shorter duration (1-2 Years).
Expected Output: Concise but comprehensive report, usually 50-100 pages.
Key Resources: Limited to secondary sources or small scale primary research.
Writing a Major and Minor Research Project: Essential Stages

2. Topic Selection:
Important: Choose a topic that allows room for significant exploration and contributes
meaningfully to the field.
Tips: Look for gaps in the current literature or under researched areas.
.
Importance: Choose a topic that’s more manageable but still relevant.
Tips: Select specific, well defined issues or problems that can be addressed within a
shorter time frame.

3. Literature Review:
Depth: Comprehensive review, covering multiple theories, methodologies, and previous
research.
Sources: Use both primary and secondary sources—journals, books, reports, etc.
Goal: Identify gaps in the research that your project will address.
Depth: A focused review on specific areas closely related to your topic.
Sources: Mostly secondary sources like review articles and books.
Goal: Situate your research within a smaller, well defined context.

4. Research Design and Methodology:
Design: May require mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative), complex
experiments, or extensive fieldwork.
Tools: Advanced data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, MATLAB) and methodologies (e.g.,
case studies, longitudinal studies).
Goal: To establish a rigorous, reproducible methodology.
Design: More straightforward design; often a single method
(e.g., surveys, interviews, or secondary data analysis).
Tools: Basic tools for analysis like Excel, basic statistical software.
Goal: To apply a proven method efficiently and derive meaningful insights.

5. Data Collection and Analysis:
Data Sources: Primary data through extensive surveys, experiments, or long term studies.
Analysis: Requires advanced statistical methods, often involving complex data sets or
multivariable models.
Tools: May involve coding, largescale statistical packages (e.g., R, Python).
Challenges: Time consuming, requires careful management of variables and sampling.
Data Sources: Limited to small scale surveys, case studies, or secondary data.
Analysis: Basic statistical analysis or thematic analysis for qualitative data.
Tools: Simple statistical tools (e.g., Excel, descriptive statistics).
Challenges: Ensure data is sufficient but manageable within the given timeframe.

7. Drafting the Project Report:
Structure:
1.Title Page & Abstract: Summary of research objectives, methods, and findings.
2.Introduction: Expanded background, objectives, and research question.
3.Literature Review: Indepth coverage of the theoretical framework.
4.Methodology: Detailed explanation of research design.
5.Data & Analysis: Comprehensive presentation and analysis of results.
6.Discussion & Conclusion: Interpretation of findings, implications, and future research
suggestions.
7.References & Appendices: Complete bibliography, additional data, and appendices.
Length: 100-200 + pages, often split into chapters.

7. Drafting the Project Report:
Structure:
1.Title Page & Abstract: Concise summary of research.
2.Introduction: Short overview of the topic and research questions.
3.Literature Review: Brief overview of the key literature.
4.Methodology: Clear and concise explanation of the methods used.
5.Data & Analysis: Simple presentation of findings.
6.Discussion & Conclusion: Short interpretation of results and future suggestions.
7.References: Short bibliography.
Length: 50-100 + pages, structured more concisely.

8. Editing and Proofreading:
Process: Multiple rounds of editing, often with feedback from advisors.
Focus: Ensure consistency, flow, and alignment with academic standards.
Tools: Grammar tools (e.g., Grammarly), reference management software (e.g.,
Zotero, EndNote).
Process: Fewer rounds of editing but ensure clarity and brevity.
Focus: Accuracy in data presentation, proper citations, and concise argumentation.

9. Final Presentation & Submission:
Presentation: Often includes an oral defense or presentation to a panel.
Submission: Finalized document, possibly alongside supplementary materials
(e.g., data, appendices).
Formatting: Follow strict academic formatting rules (e.g., APA, MLA).
Presentation: May not require formal defense, but a short presentation is often useful.
Submission: Final document, shorter appendices if needed.
Formatting: Adhere to basic guidelines, ensuring clarity and professionalism.

UGC-CARE
University Grants Commission
Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics

UGC-CARE Dashboard

UGC-CARE A Quality Mandate for Indian Academia
To match global standards of high quality research, in all academic disciplines under its purview, the
University Grants Commission (UGC) aspires to stimulate and empower the Indian academia through its
“Quality Mandate”. A public notice was issued by the UGC, on the 28th of November, 2018, to announce the
establishment of a dedicated Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) to carry out this
mandate.
Objectives of the UGC-CARE
 To promote quality research, academic integrity and publication ethics in Indian universities.
 To promote high quality publications in reputed journals that would help in achieving higher global ranks.
 To develop an approach and methodology for identification of good quality journals.
 To prevent publications in predatory/ dubious / sub-standard journals, which reflect adversely and tarnish
the image of Indian academia.
 To create and maintain a “UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals” (UGC-CARE List) for all
academic purposes.

What are Cloned Journals?: Unauthorized or fake versions of legitimate UGC-CARE
listed journals, often created to exploit researchers.
How to Identify:
Similar Name: The cloned journal often mimics the name of a genuine UGC-CARE
journal.
Different ISSN: Check for discrepancies in the ISSN (International Standard Serial
Number).
Low-quality Website: Poor website design, inconsistent details, and unverified claims.
Consequences: Publishing in cloned journals can damage academic reputation, waste
research efforts, and fail UGC requirements.
How to Avoid: Always verify journals directly from the official UGC-CARE list and cross-
check ISSNs.
Example: A cloned journal might have a similar title like "Journal of Advanced Research,"
but different ISSN and fake editorial board details.
UGC-CARE Cloned Journals

What is UGC-CARE?: A list of quality, peer-reviewed journals recognized by the
University Grants Commission (UGC) of India.
Purpose: Ensures academic credibility and helps researchers avoid publishing in
predatory journals.
Categories:
Group I: Journals found qualified after UGC-CARE protocols.
Group II: Journals indexed in globally recognized databases
(e.g., Scopus, Web of Science).
Why Important: Publications in UGC-CARE journals are required for academic
promotions and research grants in India.
Example: A researcher in India must publish in a UGC-CARE Group I or II journal to
meet UGC guidelines for PhD submissions.
UGC-CARE Cloned Journals

Academic Identity’s

Presentation on Writing a Research Proposal & Project Writing2.pdf

Presentation on Writing a Research Proposal & Project Writing2.pdf

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