Essay About Research Topictopic And Proposal Writingwhat

Dissertation Guide for Bcom and McOm Marketing Students
Midlands State UniversityFaculty of CommerceDepartment of Marketing ManagementDissertation Guide for Bcom and Mcom Marketing studentsChoosing a Research TopicTopic must be of interest to the researcher, department, faculty, the university, the community, business, academics as well as being of interest to national aspirations. Research is undertaken from two perspectives (1) from the problem perspective (2) opportunity perspective. Students are therefore encouraged to identify problems or opportunities in the business environment to help you come up with a topic.Students are urged to do a lot of literature search before choosing the research topic.Students are encouraged to visit the university library and department library, so as to select topic from areas that are not over researched Do not choose a topic that is overtaken by events, for example one based on the financial crisis in Zimbabwe.Avoid topics that will generate a lot of politics from the organization or sector under study. The topic must not be against the values of the organization, in which case information will not be availed when you need it.Research topic chosen must be supported by adequate LITERATURE.Mcom students are encouraged to carry out research based on an industry or sector while Bcom students’ research should be based on an organization or company.NB,  Where there is no problem or opportunity there is no research and thorough literature search can help students in choosing a topic. Proposal WritingWhat is a proposal?It is a plan of action, a framework, a roadmap showing activities to be following in coming up  with a researchShows what and how you would research on, when different activities would be undertaken as well as the probable expenditure on each activity to be undertaken.Purpose of research proposal is to present and justify a research idea you have and to present the practical ways in which you think the research should be conducted.Research proposal must have impact upon the readerResearch proposal should be written in clear and plain grammar and should be well structured so that your message gets across easilyResearch  proposal should answer 3 questions (1) What research project will you undertake (2) Why is it important to study in the chosen area (3) How will you proceed to carry out the researchComponents of the proposalIntroductionBackground to the problem/studyStatement of the problemBroad AimSpecific ObjectivesResearch questions/HypothesesJustification/Significance of the studyDelimitationsAssumptionsLimitationsDefinitions of terms and AbbreviationsLiterature reviewResearch MethodologyData presentation and analysis toolsBudgetNB, proposal language is written or expressed in future since it is a plan often to be undertaken.DISSERTATION FORMATChapter 1:        General introduction IntroductionBackground to the problemStatement of the problemResearch objectivesResearch questions/hypothesesResearch justification/Significance of the studyAssumptionsDelimitationsLimitationsDefinition of terms and abbreviationsChapter summaryChapter 2:        Literature ReviewIntroduction2.1. Theoretical frameworkNB. Other subheadings will flow and be consistent with research objectives or questionsChapter summaryChapter 3:        Research MethodologyIntroduction3.1. Research Design