RESEARCH PROPOSAL GUIDELINE
Executive Master Program Semester 1st Semester Academic Year 2022
STEPS TOWARDS YOUR PROPOSAL: • Articles: You should read peer reviewed academic articles and answer the following questions for each
article.
o What is the author’s main purpose?
o What is the points s/he makes (related to your topic)?
o How the points are supported (what kind of evidence is used)?
o Whether the evidence seems strong and persuasive?
o The conclusions that are reached (related to your topic)
• Outline: You should use the notes on the articles and develop a detailed outline of all aspects of the final
research proposal.
• Rough Draft: Expand the outline by including details of what you intend to include in the final proposal.
Write your rough draft in the same manner you would in your final proposal. Remember your draft will help
you to figure out the quality of your proposal. Feel free to use a peer reviewer for feedback.
• Write your Final Proposal
o Title: You should include a relevant and interesting title to your research topic.
o Introduction: Write an introduction that engages the reader and includes important background
information.
o Literature Review: Use peer-reviewed academic articles to tie together the different ideas that shape
your research question
o Explanation of Research Questions: You should explain your primary research questions and any
other sub questions that may support answering the primary research question.
o Research Methodology: Identify which research method you will use and explain why you chose
that method (linking back to your research question and literature review)
o Bibliography: cite all sources in an appropriate style; APA style is preferred to be used.
King AbdulAziz University Faculty of Economics and Administration Human Resource Management Department NOTE: Plagiarism is a serious research offense that may lead to your disqualification. Do not copy other
people’s work and whenever you use someone else’s work, ensure that you acknowledge it through proper
citation and referencing. The commonest types of plagiarism may involve the following:
• Copying a paragraph word for word from a book, journal, webpage, lecture notes or other printed or electronic source without acknowledgement.
• Copy the work of another student (past or present). • Copying a paragraph, but making small changes, such as replacing a few verbs or adjectives
with words which mean the same thing.
• Cutting and pasting a paragraph by using a few sentences of the original but leaving one or two out, or by putting one or two sentences in a different order.
• Putting a paragraph together by cutting and pasting a few choice phrases from a number of different sources and adding in some words of your own.
King AbdulAziz University Faculty of Economics and Administration Human Resource Management Department
RESEARCH PROPOSAL GRADING RUBRIC
Element Excellent Very Good Adequate Needs improvement
Title
� Title is original and creative,
� Title is pertinent to the material.
� Title is original � Title is pertinent to
material.
� Title shows little originality
� Little creativity and/or does not pertain to topic.
� Title needs serious work as it has no relation to topic.
Introduction
� Well-developed introduction engages the reader and creates interest.
� Contains detailed background information.
� Introduction creates interest.
� Sufficient background information is provided.
� Introduction adequately explains the background, but may lack detail.
� Background details are a random collection of information, unclear, or not related to the topic.
Literature � At least 10 articles were selected and each specifically related to the research question
� The findings/results of the articles were thoughtfully and thoroughly contrasted and/or connected to each other
� The conclusion of the review summarized the knowledge found from this review and related the knowledge gain to the research question
� At least 7 articles were selected and each specifically related to the research question
� The findings/results of the articles were thoughtfully contrasted and/or connected to each other, but lacked details
� The conclusion of the review summarized the knowledge found from this review but did not relate the knowledge gain to the inquiry question
� At least 5 articles were selected and each specifically related to the research question
� The finding of articles were somewhat compared, contrasted and/or connected to each other but lacked clarity
� The conclusion of the review summarized the knowledge found from this review but lacked details
� At least 3 articles were selected and each specifically related to the research question
� The findings of articles were mentioned with little and or no comparison or connection to each other.
� The conclusion of the review did not summarize the knowledge found from this review.
Explanation of Research Question
� Research question is well developed with a scope appropriate to available resources and the terms of the assignment.
� Question is grounded in background information, but displays a high level of independent thought and inquiry.
� Research question is fairly focused, and is a good fit for available resources.
� Research question shows some understanding of issues and concepts related to the subject.
� Displays some aspects of original thought or investigation.
� Research question is related to the topic, but is too broad or too narrow. Topic cannot be realistically researched with available resources and/or time.
� Question may be basic enough to be easily answered with general background resources instead of requiring deeper investigation.
� Question is not related to the distributed topic. Student repeats distributed topic with no modification.
� Student chooses a report topic rather than a research question
King AbdulAziz University Faculty of Economics and Administration Human Resource Management Department
Research Methodology
� Chose an appropriate research methodology
� Clearly explained why she chose that method (linking it to her research question and literature review)
� Chose an appropriate research method
� Did not clearly explain why she chose it
� Chose an inappropriate research method
� Did not explain why she chose it
� Lacked mention of a research method
Bibliography
� All sources are correctly cited in APA style
� All sources are cited in APA style with minor errors
� Not all sources are cited in APA style
� Missing a list of references or did not attempt to use APA style
Followed submission guidelines
� Followed fully the assignment guidelines
� Mostly followed the assignment guidelines with minor errors
� Attempted to follow the assignment guidelines with major errors
� Did not follow the submission guidelines
Writing Mechanics
� Punctuation, spelling, capitalization are correct. No errors.
� Greatly benefited from editing of the rough draft to improve writing
� Punctuation, spelling, capitalization are generally correct, with few errors.
� Made some use of editing of rough draft
� A few errors in punctuation, spelling, capitalization.
� Little evidence of editing
� Distracting errors in punctuation, spelling, capitalization.
� No evidence of editing