Can Financial Ratios Predict Bankruptcy? A Quantitative Approach
1. Proposed Title
Give a clear and succinct title, indicating the problem area around which the research will be undertaken.
2. Introduction/ Background (20% of marks)
You should provide a short overview of your research: the key issue(s) and the research problem that you want to investigate. Try to address the following questions:
Why do you feel this research project is necessary?
What is the problem or issue that needs sorting out?
Why are you interested in the project? What has aroused your curiosity?
What is the current state of knowledge and recent debates on the topic?
Why is important to conduct research on your topic?
What are the central objectives and key questions that guide your research?
What is the originality of your intended research?
3. Preliminary Review of the Literature (35% of marks)
Give a brief critical review of the literature within your topic area and justify the need for your research. The review shall be comprised of articles published in academic journals but may be complemented by other sources.
Your review should attempt to answer the following questions:
What is the theoretical framework of your research topic?
What research has already been carried out on your topic area?
How was the research carried out? What research methods had been used? Briefly
comment on the currency, validity, and reliability of the literature.
What are the key findings/results reported in the previous research?
What different opinions have emerged from different authors? Have you identified any areas of controversy in the literature?
What gaps in knowledge have you identified? Which specific area has still not been covered by previous research?
Have the authors made any recommendation for future research that you could consider for your research topic?
What is the justification for your research?
Have you cited all sources of references correctly using the Coventry University Harvard Referencing Style?
Have you covered most key articles including most recent studies (last 5 years)?
What are your research hypotheses of your research topic?
3. Research Methodology (35% of marks)
This is the most important section. You should answer the following questions and clearly demonstrate how you are going to do that:
How do you plan to answer your research questions and achieve your research objectives?
What is the main design of your research? Is it exploratory, descriptive or explanatory research?
What is your research method? Do you plan to use quantitative or qualitative research methods?
How will you justify for your choice of the above research method? Is it the most appropriate to achieve your research objectives?
What is the population you intend to study? How will you select the samples? What is your proposed sample size?
What is/are your data collection method(s)? Will it be based on primary data (questionnaires,interviews, observations), or secondary data, or a combination of the two methods?
How will the data be analysed and presented? How will you analyse the quantitative and/or qualitative data? Do you require any computer software for data analysis? (You may include this in Section 7 as one of special resources required)
What is your model specification (dependent, independent and control variables)?
Comment briefly on how you will meet the basic criteria for validity and reliability of data.
All research studies have their limitations. What are the limitations of your research? How will you handle these limitations?
The following sub–headings are suggested for the research methodology section:
(a) Research Design
(b) Research method
(c) sample selection
(d) Data Collection
(e) Data Analysis
(f) Model specification
(g) Research Limitations
(h) Research quality
4. Time Plan (5% of marks)
Your proposal must include some element of planning by using Gantt Chart.
Specify any problems you are likely to face.
Are you sure you will get access to your samples? If not, you will need to change your data collection methods or change your topic.