Research proposal writing

Research begins with a problem, and ends at finding a solution to that problem. This is
not an easy task. With a series of research works and evaluations (and reevaluations...
and probably more research work), you need to come up with enough proof that
your solution is right.

Contents of research proposal

1. Introduction

1.1. The problem and its setting

 background of the study

 statement of the problem

 research goals/objectives/strategies

 scope and limitations

 purpose/relevance/significance of the study

 1. Introduction

1.1. introduction/background

This is the part that is supposed to give the reader a clear idea of what your research
is all about.A proper introductions will give the reader a strong vision of the direction
Note:

 You should do this without using the word “I” and without presenting your
proposal justyet.

 It would include aspects such as technical problems;

absence/incompatibility of present site; need for proper planning; need for
recognition of potentials; etc.

 Make sure that you stick only to the relevant factors. try not to lose focus so
early

 State the reason/s why it is necessary to conduct the study which will lead to
 your solution. This is sometimes called the “rationale” (where you rationalize
what you are doing. why in the world must you do this!? will it make the
world a better place?)

 Does your problem have a historical background? Most problems do. If so,
Trace it. Then present it clearly and coherently. But be careful about delving
too much on the historical context.

1.2. Statement of the problem

This is composed of a general statement of a major problem and specific questions or
sub problems pertaining to your topic.

 If you have formulated them in the introduction, you only need to repeat
them in this section.

 You may be able to come up with different specific needs that may be
addressed by your research. The specific needs that you have identified are
supposed to make your project unique from other studies.
  Let your reader know this by stating your problem in a simple, clear and
direct manner.

1.3. Goal/objectives/strategies

A brief description of the outcome could also help so that a conceivable “image”
may be formed.

A. objectives

Objectives are more specific targets which eventually lead to the attainment of your
goal.

 Time-specific objectives, a chronological arrangement may be more

advisable.

 You must have a clear idea and make sure that your objectives are
consistent with the topics that you want to work on.

B. strategies

Strategies are simply particular actions you have to do to achieve each specific
objective.

 What do you need to know, study, research on, survey, observe, estimate or
program in order to create a body of knowledge that will lead to meet your
objectives.

 If you begin the goal and the first objective with “to + verb....”, use the
format until you ran out of objectives to state.

Strategies are a totally different thing. They are structured in the imperative form (the
better to scare you into doing them, perhaps?).

1.4. Scope and limitations

A. scope of the study

It is very important that you state in the clearest manner possible the coverage of your
study and project. Let’s say you will be covering a lot of investigation with respect to
the site.

 Identify what you need to know as required by your project.

  If you further conducting case studies:

o What will be your subjects?

o What will you are looking into?

o Will it be the locale, the users, the activities,

B. limitations of the study

So make this a statement of the constraints or limiting factors that might affect your
research, and therefore, the final output.

 Some examples would be budgetary limits (don’t we all have this?)

 unavailability or inaccessibility of data, and of course our favorite excuse:

 Time constraints however, these limitations are determined only to keep your
study at a realistic level and in no way should be used as an excuse for
personal shortcomings or blocks in the outcome of the project.
 1.5. Purpose/ relevance/ significance of the study

Who will benefit from your studies? How can this study be of any help in fostering a
better built environment? These are few of the questions you have to take into
consideration in writing the significance of your study.

 This may deal with the social, economic or cultural aspects of the project.

 You can even combine or address all of the aspects if you like.

 Always keep in mind that you are an architect or urban planner or urban
designer of both, not a psychologist, sociologist, physician nor a politician.
And so you must always direct your discussions on the architectural and
urbanism aspect of your work.
 2. Literature

2.1. Review of related literature and studies

When you have already established your scope, you probably would have also
known the coverage of your research. Hence, you are ready to define varied
literature related to your study. These are summarized versions of articles, researches,
write- ups and other research works which are somehow related to your topic(s).

 The key here is simple. The more you read the better! .And therefore the
easier for you to visualize and understand the needs of your work.

 This would also help you know where will you take-off. Having known what
were already written and published,

 you will then have the idea where would you start your study. Will it just be a
continuation of an existing project?

 Will you just be pushing a new theory related to those previously stated? Or is
it a totally new project with totally new concepts related to the existing
 ones? to help you further understand, here are some guidelines on citing
related literature.

o Materials must be as recent as possible.

o Materials must be as objective and as unbiased as possible.

o Materials may not be too few or too many.

A. Literature for review is recommended.

1. Theoretical/conceptual framework: your project is a research-based. it means

that you are supposed to formulate ideas based on your gathered facts and
information to later on be applied to a specific project.

2. Methodology of research: in any research, it is not only important that you know
what to do but more essentially how you will do it. You can choose from a
number of methods used (descriptive, analytic or a combination), you have to
enumerate them and elaborate and explain as well why are you using them. if it
is an interview: with whom? Why? Etc. if it is a survey: what type of questions will
 you be asking? How were you able to establish them? And so on and so forth

3. Case studies: with case studies, you are analyzing existing related structures,
groups, localities and situations and you might be getting information that may
not be available in textbooks or previous studies. This is especially true for local
cases that may have some connection with your project. Focus, however, should
be on the variable that may be difficult to determine without actual
reconnaissance. Do not forget that you are the one who has the best
understanding of your project and what information you need from the case
studies.

3. SYNRESEARCH

This is the phase where you summarize all that has been done in the book. you may
have to go back to your objectives and see if you were able to meet them or
restructure your concepts so that your readers will have a clearer vision of what you
plan to do in your design
 3.1. Design philosophy

Philosophies are the bases of your ideas for the proposal, a guiding dictum which gels
your proposed work into one, single composition. There are two types of philosophy.
One, coming from a person, living or not, who may have studied the same topics
you’re dealing with and defined ideas appropriate for your study. thus, you have to
quote them and tell your readers so. And two, it may be your own notions for the
project. yes, you can be a philosopher, why not? And so, you are able to conceive
your own thoughts especially if you were the one who proposed the study.

3.2. Design goals and objectives

you are not going back to rewrite the objectives and goals you have written there,
though this may be your take-off point. You could base your design objectives from
the objectives of your research. But take note that these are design goals and
objectives – different from the goals and objectives of your study. The things you’ll
present here are the ones relative to your probable design. What do you wish to do
with your structures? How would you like the systems to go? What would you like to
achieve at the end of your translation. These do not only pertain to the possible
appearance of the structures but the overall objectives of the design as well. In other
words, these are more focused on the design aspects of your project.

3.3. Design concepts

Concepts are thoughts concerning the way several elements or characteristics can
be combined into a single thing. In architecture and urban design a concept also
identifies how various aspects of the requirements for a building can be brought
together in a specific thought that directly influences the design and its configuration.

Basically there are five (5) types of concepts in architecture. see if you can still
remember them:

1. Analogy(looking at otherthings):here you identify possible, literal relationships

between things. You tend to look for a desirable characteristic of an object and
make this as the model for yourproject.

2. Metaphors and simile:this type of concept also identifies relationships between

 things. However, the relationships are abstract rather than literal. You may have
to establish certain patterns of parallelrelationships.

3. Essences:the whole program that you have for your research, complicated as it
is, is explained in terms of terse, explicit statements. It has to connote insights,
meaning, and your personal accounts for the project. Most of the time, this
comes with a conceptual scenario- a short essay that tie together all the
important factors and ideas that influenced the design solution. it may also be
something which discovers the roots of the issues.

4. Programmatic:this is what you have been doing all the while in your lower design
subjects, where you write the problems, come up with the objectives, state your
philosophies and come up with a concept at the end. In that way you directly
respond to the stated requirements.

5. Ideals:here you look at the universality of the concept. You view the project as a
universal one – something which will be a universal solution for even a general
problemso, how well did you fare in remembering them? You don’t have to use
 all five at the same time. You just have to choose which of them fits yourresearch.

3.4. Design parameters

All you need to do now is check the existing standards applicable to your research for
translation. These will comprise your design parameters. You may also want to call
these as design considerations. And as the term conveys, you are to state the things
you would have to consider in doing your design. This applies both to the structures
and its immediate environment (both the micro and the macro). You may have to be
guided with legal documents and follow pertinent laws to do this. Building orientation,
circulation, security, accessibility, and economy may be the factors you would be
looking at here. But it would not just end in writing these headings. It would involve an
explanation along with a long list of the laws, rules and orders governing such
considerations. Yes, you’re right again! This part will be your design guidelines which
will tell your readers as well the restrictions for your project.

Having established the guidelines would only mean you’re ready to go to your
drawing board and translate this book into architectural plans.
 3.5. Design proposal

Stating your design proposal since this is the foundation of all that you will be
conceptualizing from here on, the design proposal should be discussed in the clearest
and most coherent manner possible. Avoid words that may be too technical or too
complex or too vague. With just one look at the proposal, the reader must have a
good idea of what to expect in the translation.