Chapter 4:Research Proposal
Research Proposal: Chapter Objectives
Learning Outcomes
After studying this chapter, you should be able to
- Outline the components of a research proposal
- How to write research proposal for business research projects.
- Construct tables as part of a research proposal
Research Proposal: Chapter Overview
Chapter Vignette: Expert Metal Industries
Expert Metal Industries Limited (EMIL) wanted to identify the factors that affect the product and service; for example, buyer attitude, competitors behaviour, market need, promotional requirements, etc. Before going for actual research to find the answers of these questions, the company received a detailed research proposal or a blueprint from the research agency suggesting the outline of the objective and goals of the research, the research design to be followed. Such research proposal is vital for EMIL to know about the scope of work of the research agency and the research methodology to be followed by the research agency to address the business problems of EMIL. The research proposal contained several steps as follows:
First Step: This step provided the title of the research project. The research agency has identified the subject of the research to be carried out in this context and has mentioned in the research proposal. An abstract or executive summary was written in the first step which was of approximately 250 words. This abstract or executive summary provided an introduction to the situation, problem and need of addressing the issue of Expert Metal Industry.
Second Step: In this step, researcher wrote the management problems related to service or product. The researcher defined the purpose of the research in the step. For example, finding out the reason for losing the market share was on objective of the research. Similarly, factors influencing customer satisfaction of surgical instruments was another objective of the research.
Third Step: In this step, the researcher provided the specific research questions in the research proposal. Considering the above example, one of the research questions, may be, whether there is a decline in industry growth of surgical instrument. In case the revenue of expert metal industry is dropping, the researcher may need to analyze the need and preference of the buyers, and identify buyers’ attitude related to surgical goods.
Fourth Step: In this step, the researcher needs to provide the research method that will be used in the research and how the data will be collected from the sample respondent. In this part of the research proposal, the researcher indicated, for example, the data collection technique, that is whether a mail survey of personal survey will be used to collect survey data. The researcher also mentioned that what type of secondary data that you propose to collect and the source and reliability of such secondary data. The researcher also illustrated that the kinds of qualitative research technique to be used in the research. For example, if focus group interview to be conducted then the location of focus group interview, prospective respondents’ profile etc was informed in this step of research proposal.
Fifth Step: In this step the researcher would provide the cost of the research. Component wise cast to be mentioned to the management of expert metal industry. The cost of mailing and data collection also to be mentioned in this step.
Sixth Step: In this step, the researcher provided the time required to complete the project. The timeline of intermediate activities also was provided in this section. The major milestones was provided along with broad timeline. Time required to collect additional sample was also mentioned in the research proposal.
Seven Step: This section provided the list of documentation to be presented at the end of the research project. While the research report is the primary document, the researcher needs to provide a snapshot of the Annexures, attachments and tables to provide sufficient proof and validity of the report.
The Research Proposal
The research proposal is a written statement of the research design. It always includes a statement explaining the purpose of the study (in the form of research objectives or deliverables) and a definition of the problem, often in the form of a decision statement. A good proposal systematically outlines the particular research methodology and details procedures that will be used during each stage of the research process. Normally a schedule of costs and deadlines is included in the research proposal. The research proposal becomes the primary communication document between the researcher and the research user. Exhibit 4.1 illustrates an abbreviated proposal for a short research project conducted for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that explores public attitudes toward a variety of tax-related issues.
Literature Review
A literature review is a synopsis of several other research work done on related topic by many researchers. The review of literature describes, synthesizes, and summarizes research done and its findings on the selected area that you are going to study. A literature review in research proposal provides a theoretical understanding for the research going to be conducted in business. This helps the researcher to determine the area of research precisely. As a researcher, you should select a manageable number of research articles written on central theme of your research. Accumulating a large volume of previous research done may not help in the research proposal in hand as they are sourced from secondary sources and they may not be directly related to your actual research work. In the literature review, you are required to articulate what the previous researchers have said by going beyond your specific research topic. Literature review provides useful information with regard to the variables, hypothesis, propositions, and the justifications collected from different types of research studies. The primary advantages of literature review are as follows:
- Justifying of actual research topic by providing a context of previous research
- Identifying the gap that are not addressed by the previous researchers
- Understanding the justification of different theory tested by the previous research related to your area of research
- Finding the type of methodology that can be used to address the research question in hand
- Helping researchers to understand the previous theory and hypothesis
- Describing the process of research done previously
- Describing what you say and what is not
Necessity of Literature Review in Planning of Business Research
Business research proposal would contain a section of work done by previous researchers in the area related to primary research. The purpose of literature review section in business research provides the user with an overall understanding of the relevance of current research topic in the peripheral of related research topic. It develops an overall framework to guide the business research in hand. With the literature review in business research provides the big picture of the research topic. It builds a rational for the problem in hand and signifies the need of additional research to be done in the current context.
Business researchers use literature review to provide a justification of carrying out their own research study in current business context. As said earlier, literature review identifies the gap not addressed yet in business and thereby justifies the requirement of current research. The lack of consistency in previous research may generate need for the current business research. A business research done on reason for consumer dropouts in retail mall may suggest that the researchers were not distinguishing between premium segment and economy segment of consumers to find out who's loyalty shifted and who's not.
The researcher may identify the flaw in previous research in its research designed, the way qualitative research was conducted, validity of data collection instrument, representativeness of sample, data analysis and justification for interpretation. For example, research done on consumers switching behaviour in retail mall by some previous research may show that the data were collected from respondents some of whom probably rarely visit retail mall. This could be a drawback in the previous research and may have bias resulting faulty conclusion and interpretation.
The researcher may also document the current consumer psychology problem and propose to study the effect of salespeople's intervention in selecting right commodity in retail mall. The research will be conducted to find out innovative intervention practice by salespeople in consumer decision-making for impulse buying behaviour. As pointed out earlier a literature review can be used at the initial stage of the business research study to explain what is known about the topic in broader sense and to provide a rational for the current study. In addition to that literature review is useful in providing justification of sample size, utilizing the research instrument, identifying representativeness of sample, and providing the justification of data analysis for both qualitative and quantitative studies in business research. The researchers need to be critical on strengths and weaknesses of the prior research done on his area of research. The researchers need to identify what is missing from the earlier body of literature which would help the researcher to develop an appropriate research focus and method of investigation.
Background
The section of the research proposal would describe the background of the problem that has happened in the business for the specific organization for which the research needs to be done. The initial background information should be available from the company on which the researcher is doing the research. For example, different types of quality problem in automobile companies in India are quite common. However, such problem may be due to improper material supplied by the supplier of bought out items. In such case, borrowed detail of the suppliers is required to start the business research.
As soon as the general purpose of the research is determined, the next step for the researcher is to decide what specific information needs to be obtained from the company or other sources for his research. Many business researchers believe that this is one of the most important steps in the research process since this part gives an overall idea that what must be done in the entire research. In some operations, such problem may be identified relatively quickly. For example, the sales report in retail mall may show that there is an obvious problem of salespeople handling the customer.
When some idea about the research problem is identified, the researchers may spend considerable time deciding what will be the research question to address the management problem completely. The researchers may engage in several interviews with company personal and department heads to ensure that he/she understands the overall circumstances of the problem and the specific research questions need to be addressed in his research. As said before, it may not be always easy to identify what needs to be learned from the company. For example, saying a reduction in sales revenue is a seasonal problem and does not say much about the situation as the reduction in sales is only a symptom. The real problem for reduction in sales may lie somewhere else which the researchers need to find out. The problem often accentuate when the company personal are unable to explain the situation. This create further problem for the researcher as it becomes difficult for her to identify what to study, and more importantly, what question to ask and what variable to include.
Determining what is to be learned is also an important aspect in business research helping the researchers to identify the scope and demand of the study needs to be done. In fact, the scope of business research project is too large; it may be difficult for the researcher to go ahead with the research within implementable timeframe. Alternatively, knowing in advance what is needed may give the researcher the opportunity to break a larger project into smaller, more manageable parts.
The demands of the project refer to what users of the information (e.g., marketing manager, clients) seek from the research. Most demands revolve around issues related to acquiring information (e.g., want information that is useable); timing of the research (e.g., want information as quickly as possibly), limits on methods that can be used (e.g., may not allow certain questions be asked), and funding (e.g., limited research money). Again, knowing this in advance can help the researcher design the research plan.
Purpose of Research
The purpose of research need to be clearly mentioned in the research proposal. It is an important aspect of business research that state why the research is being undertaken by the researcher. This section is to be clearly illustrated with an overall framework of the activities to be conducted and how the outcome is connected with main research problem. In this section researcher need to convince the company that how his research would serve as foundation of the business strategy to be undertaken by the company. Researchers need to mention that how the purpose of his research would satisfy some of the following points:
- Explanation: Explanation of a particular phenomenon possibly is the most relevant use of business research. Such research explains why a particular thing is correct for a given condition. In other words, this means identifying and explaining business problems in the organization. For example, the company may need to know why the consumers of a particular city is not buying the product when their demographic profile is similar to a city where the product is selling good.
- Prediction: Predictions help researchers to forecast what may happen in future and take a particular decision suitable for the company. In business research, prediction is often critical to revise or initiate proper business strategy. For example, forecasting the demand of a technology intensive product.
- Monitoring: Many decisions made by organizations need to be monitored constantly to ensure that the intermediate goals are being achieved as planned. For example, a sales manager may want to keep constant track on the performance of the sales force in meeting sales targets.
- Discovery: Many companies continuously strive to improve their business activities and the other efforts. The discovery is the exploratory research to know the unknowns. Such research may include the options of launching a technologically intensive product or a destructive innovative product. Discovery may also include a tactical decision options like how to increase the price, which consumer segment needs a promotion, which demographic is most price sensitive and which one is more quality sensitive. Such discovery driven research is primarily important to help the companies to know and understand something which is underlying and not feasible apparently.
- Hypothesis Testing: Hypothesis testing is used to infer for the population from the findings the researchers get from sample. Since the sample data are from limited number of participants, it is important for the researcher to infer for population to enable the companies to take decision. For example, the research may test the hypothesis that average consumption of a particular brand in market A is significantly higher than the average consumption in market B. While the researcher will take a reasonable size of sample, they need to conduct a hypothesis testing to infer about the population. The researcher may conduct a test that compared means of two population. Hypothesis testing is the heart of the scientific research which relies on statistical analysis of rejecting or not rejecting the statement in question.
Format of the Research Proposal
Exhibit 4.1 illustrates an abbreviated proposal for a short research project conducted for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that explores public attitudes toward a variety of tax-related issues.
Budget and Time Scheduling
It is important to provide research design and the amount of the aid needed to conduct the research in the research proposal. Having specified the cost and other related things, the budgeting and scheduling decision should be made by the researcher and provided in the research proposal. Budgeting is the expected amount that is eager to be spent for the research. It is important to provide the ballpark estimate of the resources required to complete the project. Such resources include financial resource, timely source, human resource, and any other type of resource required for the project. Scheduling is the amount of time required to complete the project. Specifying the time parameter is important as that will give the client a fair estimate that how much time would be required to complete the task. Managing of research project effectively is a primary criterion of any business research project. Hence, scheduling is a primary part of the research project. One of the most useful approaches used by business researchers is the critical path method (CPM). Critical path method is the management technique of dividing a research project into several components, preparing the sequence of these components and putting them in a
Exhibit 4.1: An Abbreviated Version of a Research Proposal for the IRS
Current Situation
Public perception of the IRS appears to be extremely negative. The IRS is the brunt of jokes, and the public avoids contact with any IRS entity. As a result, taxpayers are more inclined to cheat on their returns and many services provided by the IRS to assist taxpayers in preparing their tax returns and to help them understand ways they can avoid paying unnecessary taxes and penalties go unused. In addition, negative attitude lessens the Service's ability to effectively lobby for policy changes. The key decision faced by the IRS due to this situation can be stated as,
What steps could be taken to effectively improve consumer perceptions of the IRS and help design more user-friendly services?
Purpose of the Research
The general purpose of the study is to determine the taxpaying public's perceptions of the role of the IRS in administering the tax laws. In defining the limits of this study, the IRS identified the study areas to be addressed. A careful review of those areas led to the identification of the following specific research objectives:
- To identify the extent to which taxpayers cheat on their returns, their reasons for doing so, and approaches that can be taken to deter this kind of behavior
- To determine taxpayers' experience and level of satisfaction with various IRS services
- To determine what services taxpayers need
- To develop an accurate profile of taxpayers' behavior relative to the preparation of their income tax returns
- To assess taxpayers' knowledge and opinions about various tax laws and procedures
Research Design
The survey research method will be the basic research design. Each respondent will be interviewed in his or her home. The personal interviews are generally expected to last between 35 and 45 minutes, although the length will vary depending on the previous tax-related experiences of the respondent. For example, if a respondent has never been audited, questions on audit experience will not be addressed. Or, if a respondent has never contacted the IRS for assistance, certain questions concerning reactions to IRS services will be skipped.
Some sample questions that will be asked are
Did you or your spouse prepare your federal tax return for (year)?
□ Self
□ Spouse
□ Someone else
Did the federal income tax package you received in the mail contain all the forms necessary for you to fill out your return?
□ Yes
□ No
□ Didn't receive one in the mail
□ Don't know
If you were calling the IRS for assistance and no one was able to help you immediately, would you rather get a busy signal or be asked to wait on hold?
□ Busy signal
□ Wait on hold
□ Neither
□ Don't know
During the interview a self-administered questionnaire will be given to the taxpayer to ask certain sensitive questions, such as
Have you ever claimed a dependent on your tax return that you weren't really entitled to?
□ Yes
□ No
Sample Design
A survey of approximately 5,000 individuals located in 50 counties throughout the country will provide the database for this study. The sample will be selected on a probability basis from all households in the continental United States.
Eligible respondents will be adults over the age of 18. Within each household an effort will be made to interview the individual who is most familiar with completing the federal tax forms. When there is more than one taxpayer in the household, a random process will be used to select the taxpayer to be interviewed.
Data Gathering
The fieldworkers of a consulting organization will conduct the interviews.
Data Processing and Analysis
Standard editing and coding procedures will be utilized. Simple tabulation and cross-tabulations will be utilized to analyze the data.
Report Preparation
A written report will be prepared, and an oral presentation of the findings will be made by the research analyst at the convenience of the IRS.
Budget and Time Schedule
Any complete research proposal should include a schedule of how long it will take to conduct each stage of the research and a statement of itemized costs.
Based on A General Taxpayer Opinion Survey, Office of Planning and Research, Internal Revenue Service, March 1980.
particular network to furnish the time of completion of the project. Since critical part method involves dividing the business research project into several components, each components are then assigned the minimum and maximum time required to complete that specific activity. After that, these activities and the time required to complete these activities are provided in the diagram to form the network.
Another technique followed in scheduling is program evaluation and review technique (PERT). Program evaluation and review technique is a more sophisticated technique which accounts for the uncertainty in the project completion.
The researcher submits the proposal to management for acceptance, modification, or rejection. Research clients (management) evaluate the proposed study with particular emphasis on whether or not it will provide useful information, and whether it will do so within a reasonable resource budget. Initial proposals are almost always revised after the first review. The proposal helps managers decide if the proper information will be obtained and if the proposed research will accomplish what is desired. If the problem has not been adequately translated into a set of specific research objectives and a research design, the client's assessment of the proposal will help ensure that the researchers revise it to meet the client's information needs. An effective proposal communicates exactly what information will be obtained, where it will be obtained, and how it will be obtained. For this reason, it must be explicit about sample selection, measurement, fieldwork, and data analysis. For instance, most proposals involving descriptive research include a proposed questionnaire (or at least some sample questions).
Exhibit 4.2 presents an overview of some of the basic questions that managers and researchers typically must answer when planning a research design.
The Proposal as a Contract
When the research will be conducted by a consultant or an outside research supplier, the written proposal serves as that person's bid to offer a specific service. Typically, a client solicits several competitive proposals, and these written offers help management judge the relative quality of alternative research suppliers.
A wise researcher will not agree to do a research job for which no written proposal exists. The proposal also serves as a contract that describes the product the research user will buy. In fact, the proposal is in many ways the same as the final research report without the actual results. Misstatements and faulty communication may occur if the parties rely only on each individual's memory of what occurred at a planning meeting. The proposal creates a record, which greatly reduces conflicts that might arise after the research has been conducted. Both the researcher and the research client should sign the proposal indicating agreement on what will be done.
The proposal then functions as a formal, written statement of agreement between marketing executives and researchers. As such, it protects the researcher from criticisms such as, “Shouldn't we have had a larger sample?” or “Why didn't you use a focus group approach?” As a record of the researcher's obligation, the proposal also provides a standard for determining whether the actual research was conducted as originally planned.
Suppose in our Deland Trucking case, following the research, David is unhappy with the nature of the results because they indicate that higher cents per mile do, in fact, impact driver loyalty. This is something that David may not wish to face. In his despair, he complains to James saying,
“What I really wanted was a recruitment expense study, yet you provide results indicating my wages are too low! Why should I pay you?”
James can refer back to the research proposal, which is signed by David. He can point right to the deliverables described above showing that David agreed to a study involving driver loyalty and the organizational characteristics that lead to loyalty. The proposal certainly protects the researcher in this case. In most cases like this, after the initial emotional reaction to unflattering results, the client comes around and realizes the report contents include information that will be helpful. Realize too that the proposal protects David in case James produced a study that addresses only research objectives not included in the proposal.
In basic research efforts, a formal proposal serves much the same purpose. Funded business research generally refers to basic research usually performed by academic researchers and supported by some public or private institution. Most commonly, researchers pursue federal government grants. A very detailed proposal is usually needed for federal grants, and the agreement for funding is predicated on the research actually delivering the results described in the proposal.
One important comment needs to be made about the nature of research proposals. Not all proposals follow the same format. A researcher can adapt his or her proposal to the target audience or situation.
| EXHIBIT 4.2: Basic Points Addressed by Research Proposals | |
| Decisions to Make | Basic Questions |
| Problem definition | What is the purpose of the study? How much is already known? Is additional background information necessary? What is to be measured? How? Can the data be made available? Should research be conducted? Can a hypothesis be formulated? |
| Selection of basic research design What types of questions need to be answered? | Are descriptive or causal findings required? What is the source of the data? Can objective answers be obtained by asking people? How quickly is the information needed? How should survey questions be worded? How should experimental manipulations be made? |
| Selection of sample | Who or what is the source of the data? Can the target population be identified? Is a sample necessary? How accurate must the sample be? Is a probability sample necessary? Is a national sample necessary? How large a sample is necessary? How will the sample be selected? |
| Data gathering | Who will gather the data? How long will data gathering take? How much supervision is needed? What procedures will data collectors need to follow? |
| Data analysis and evaluation | Will standardized editing and coding procedures be used? How will the data be categorized? Will computer or hand tabulation be used? What is the nature of the data? What questions need to be answered? How many variables are to be investigated simultaneously? What are the criteria for evaluation of performance? What statistical tools are appropriate? |
| Type of report | Who will read the report? Are managerial recommendations requested? How many presentations are required? What will be the format of the written report? |
| Overall evaluation | How much will the study cost? Is the time frame acceptable? Is outside help needed? Will this research design attain the stated research objectives? When should the research begin? |
An extremely brief proposal submitted by an organization's internal research department to its own executives bears little resemblance to a complex proposal submitted by a university professor to a federal government agency to research a basic consumer issue.
Anticipating Outcomes
As mentioned above, the proposal and the final research report will contain much of the same information. The proposal describes the data collection, measurement, data analysis, and so forth, in future tense. In the report, the actual results are presented. In this sense, the proposal anticipates the research outcome.
Experienced researchers know that research fails more often because the problem-definition process breaks down or because the research client never truly understood what a research project could or couldn't do. While it probably seems as though the proposal should make this clear, any shortcoming in the proposal can contribute to a communication failure. Thus, any tool that helps communication become as clear as can be is valued very highly.
Dummy Tables
One such tool that is perhaps the best way to let management know exactly what kind of results will be produced by research is the dummy table. Dummy tables are placed in research proposals and are exact representations of the actual tables that will show results in the final report with one exception: The results are hypothetical. They get the name because the researcher fills in, or “dummies up,” the tables with likely but fictitious data. Dummy tables include the tables that will present hypothesis test results. In this way, they are linked directly to research objectives.
A research analyst can present dummy tables to the decision maker and ask, “Given findings like these, will you be able to make a decision?” If the decision maker says yes, the proposal may be accepted. However, if the decision maker cannot see how results like those in the dummy tables will help make the needed decision(s), it may be back to the drawing board. In other words, the client and researcher need to rethink what research results are necessary to solve the problem. Sometimes, examining the dummy tables may reveal that a key variable is missing or that some dependent variable is really not relevant. In other words, the problem is clarified by deciding on action standards or performance criteria and recognizing the types of research findings necessary to make specific decisions.
Example Dummy Table
Exhibit 4.3 shows a dummy table taken from the research proposal for David Deland's trucking company. From it, David can see that it shows what things most determine driver loyalty. If the results turn out as shown in the dummy table, it would suggest that David needs to perhaps increase his compensation or reduce the number of long-haul routes that his drivers must conduct.
| EXHIBIT 4.3: A Dummy Table for David Deland Regression Table: Results Showing Which Variables Determine Driver Loyalty | ||
| Regression Table: Results Showing Which Variables Determine Driver Loyalty | ||
| Standardized Regression Coefficient | Rank (Importance) | |
| * p-value < .01 | ||
| ** p-value < .05 | ||
| Increase cents/mile | .50** | 1 |
| Number of long-haul routes (per month) | −.45** | 2 |
| Days off (per month) | .30** | 3 |
| Vehicle quality | .25* | 4 |
| Benefits provided | .15 | 5 |
EXHIBIT 4.3: A Dummy Table for David Deland Regression Table: Results Showing Which Variables Determine Driver Loyalty View PDF
While some tables may require some additional explanation from the researcher, every effort should be made to allow tables to stand alone and be interpreted by someone who is not an experienced researcher. In other words, the user should be able to understand the results and surmise implications that the results imply. When the final report is compiled, these tables will be included with the dummy results replaced with the actual research results.
Research Proposal: Multiple Choice Questions
1. Tables placed in research proposals that are exact representations of the actual tables that will show results in the final report with the exception that the results are hypothetical are called
a. Frequency tables
b. Dummy tables
c. Prototype tables
d. Spreadsheet tables
2. Which of the following types of research refers to basic research usually performed by academic researchers and supported by some public or private institution?
a. Funded social research
b. Basic research
c. Funded business research
d. Basic business research
3. Which of the following most correctly states how a research proposal acts as a contract?
a. It can be used by the researcher as a bid to offer a specific service
b. It can be used by the research to state the minimum offerings by the researcher
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. Neither (a) nor (b)
4. Which of the following methods is usually used by researchers while scheduling a project?
a. Time series
b. Flow charts with timelines
c. Strict deadlines
d. Critical path method
5. Which of the following is among the points that the purpose of research usually satisfies?
a. Prediction
b. Discovery
c. Hypothesis testing
d. All of the above
6. Why is the background of the problem required in the research proposal?
a. To understand the history of the problem
b. To better gauge the background of the problem that has happened in the business for the particular organization
c. To understand the history of the organization
d. None of the above
7. Which of the following sections in the research proposal provides the user with an overall understanding of the relevance of current research topic in the peripheral of related research topics?
a. Background to the problem
b. Secondary data
c. Literature review
d. Data analysis
8. Which of the following is not a part of the research proposal?
a. Research objectives
b. Research methodology
c. Time schedule
d. Respondents’ data
9. Which of the following is not an advantage of jotting down the literature review?
a. Identify which dummy table suits the particular business problem best
b. Identifying the gap that has not been addressed by the previous researchers
c. Finding the methodology that best suits this particular business problem
d. Helping researchers to understand the previous theory and hypothesis
10. Which of the following would be a question addressed while planning the data gathering of a research proposal?
a. How do I make do with minimum data gathering?
b. What procedures will data collectors need to follow?
c. Will this much data suffice?
d. Will the data gathering be relevant?
Research Proposal: Reviewcard
| Learning Objectives | Key Concepts |
| Outline the components of a research proposal | The research proposal is a written statement of the research design. Its various components are statement explaining the purpose of the study and definition of the problem, literature review, research methodology, data gathering, data analysis and evaluation, and budget and time scheduling |
| How to write research proposal for business research projects | Business research projects are usually written by including the current situation, purpose of the research, research design, data gathering, data processing and analysis, report preparation, and budget and time scheduling. |
| Construct tables as part of a research proposal | While writing a research proposal, the researcher anticipates the research outcome. In order to do this, the researcher is supposed to prepare dummy tables. These tables help the researcher in finding faults with the proposal and also help in deciding whether to go ahead with the execution, as detailed in the proposal. |
Key Definitions
- funded business research Refers to basic research usually performed by academic researchers that is financially supported by some public or private institution, as in federal government grants.
- dummy tables Tables placed in research proposals that are exact representations of the actual tables that will show results in the final report with the exception that the results are hypothetical (fictitious).
[1] jotting down: write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of. jot. write - communicate or express by writing; "Please write to me every week"
[2] relevance: the quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate.
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