In a short essay, list and discuss at least seven elements that are included in a proposal presenting a detailed research design

What will be an ideal response?

a. Executive summary - the proposal should begin with an overview of the entire proposal, a summary of the major points from each of the other sections.
b. Background - the background to the problem, including the environmental context, should be described.
c. Problem definition/research objectives - normally, a statement of the problem should be presented. If this statement has not been developed, the objectives of the marketing research project should be clearly specified.
d. Approach to the problem - a review of the relevant academic and trade literature, along with some kind of an analytical model, should be included. If research questions and hypotheses have been identified, these should be included in the proposal.
e. Research design - the type of research, whether exploratory, descriptive, causal, or a combination, should be specified. This section often forms the heart of the proposal.
f. fieldwork/data collection - the proposal should discuss how the data will be collected and who will collect it. If the fieldwork is to be subcontracted to another supplier, this should be stated. Control mechanisms to ensure the quality of data collected should be described.
g. Data analysis - the kind of data analysis that will be conducted and how the results will be interpreted should be described.
h. Reporting - the proposal should specify the nature and number of intermediate reports. The form of the final report, including whether a formal presentation of the results will be made, should also be stated.
i. Cost and time - the cost of the project and a time schedule, broken down by phases, should be presented. A payment schedule should also be worked out in advance, especially for large projects.
j. Appendices - any statistical or other information that is of interest to only a few people should be presented in appendices.