Higher education
Common mistakes and problems in research proposal writing: an assessment of proposals for research grants submitted to Research on Poverty Alleviation REPOA (Tanzania)
How can research proposals be improved?
Authors:
I.S. Kikula; M.A.S. Qorro
Publisher:
Research on Poverty Alleviation, Tanzania, 2005
Research methodology courses run by most higher education institutions tend to focus on methodology only, leaving students ill-equipped to write funding proposals. This study describes common mistakes in proposal writing, based on the the findings of a study of a sample of proposals submitted to REPOA. These include:
- unsatisfactory sampling procedure
- stating of hypothesese that could not be tested
- using inappropriate methodology
- inadequate literature review
The authors suggest institutions of higher learning provide training to both undergraduates and post-graduates in proposal writing with a focus on the most problematic aspects of proposal writing. In addition, potential proposal writers would benefit from access to succesful proposals and guidelines in the form of a proposal writing manual.
