PRELIMINARY RESEARCH EXAMPLE : PR/SEMESTER_2

This is actually a last semester group assignment for the class of Principle of Public Relations. I just put it in here so others who never yet get involved in doing preliminary research/ case study can make it as an easy reference. It is not perfect but I'm pretty sure this can be a good example for a beginner in understanding how does a research paper works. I urge the viewer NOT TO PLAGIARISE. Our teachers are not fool. Mind to tell yourself that your ETHICS are corrupted if you continue to do so. Kindly ask me if you are in doubt of anything that come into your sense about this assignment. 

I'm still a learning babe. Enjoy the class!

PRO410/GroupAssignmentQuestion1/ResearchProposal/MC242/EMCP2A/Anisa/Diana 

CAR-POOLING CAMPAIGN AT

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UiTM) SHAH ALAM:

 A FEASIBILITY STUDY

1.     Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research framework to investigate the feasibility of car-pooling campaign among students of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam. The campaign will be conducted in collaboration with Public Affairs Unit, Corporate Communication Department of the university.

2.     Background of the Research

The expansion of educational programmes in UiTM clearly defines it as one of the top local university in Malaysia. Thus, the numbers of students also increase in every intake. Today, the numbers of students who use private cars has become greater. This has results limited parking spaces within university vicinity. In order to address this issue, UiTM has come up with an idea to promote car-pooling among the students. Therefore, research has to be conducted before a car-pooling practice is being implemented. Issues regarding dissemination of information; knowledge about car-pooling; readiness to share resources and the best tool of communication during a campaign needs to be answered.

3.     Research Objectives

This research has the following objectives:

i)         To provide recommendations to Public Affairs Director of UiTM about car- pooling campaign.

ii)        To assist the implementations of car-pooling campaign based on the findings of this research.

4.     Research Questions

This research is guided by the following research questions:

a)     Research Question 1 (RQ1): What are the perceptions about car pooling and sharing resources?

b)     Research Question 2 (RQ2): What is the best tool of communication to disseminate car-pooling information?

c)     Research Question 3 (RQ3): What is the positive message about car-pooling that needs to be delivered during the campaign?

5.     Research Method

In order to answer the three research questions, the quantitative and qualitative research techniques are chosen as follows.

5.1            Target Respondents

The targets respondents in this research would be the students of UiTM. Therefore a sample of 500 students will be selected.

5.2            Data Collection Technique

5.2.1         Survey Questionnaire (Primary Quantitative Data)

For RQ1, a survey technique using questionnaire is chosen. The questionnaire will have a list of questions that would provide information regarding respondents’ perceptions toward car pooling and sharing resources. Appendix A is the sample of the questionnaire.

Observation and interviewing respondents (Primary Qualitative Data) would also be used prior to the survey to obtain insights about car-pooling practice.

5.2.2         Online Searching from the Literature (Secondary Data)

For RQ2, online searching will be conducted. A review of the research literature on car-pooling published in several online journals to identify the media being used by organisations or countries who had practice car-pooling. This review would also provide useful information about the strength, weaknesses and limitations of the media used.

5.2.3               For RQ3, based on the findings obtained from RQ1, several positive messages of car-pooling can be formulated for the campaign.

5.3             Data Analysis Technique

5.3.1         Quantitative Data from Survey

Data obtained from survey will be analysed using descriptive statistics. For example the use of frequency and percentage to represent the number of respondents.

5.3.2         Qualitative Data from Interview.

All interviews will be transcribed and the important factors associated with car-pooling will be identified.

6.     Timeline

An estimated duration is needed in order to accomplish this research study. The proposed timeline is illustrated in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Proposed Research Timeline

CAR-POOLING CAMPAIGN AT UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UiTM) SHAH ALAM:  A FEASIBILITY STUDY
Activities	2014
	Jan				Feb				March				April				May				June
	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
Developing research proposal
Getting approval from UiTM's Public Affairs Director
Data Collection: Questionnaire Survey, observing and interviewing respondents
Analyse the data and target objectives
Presentation to the UiTM's top management
Report writing
Report Submission

7.     Financial Implications

In order to begin the research, an application of a research grant amounting RM 4,000.00 will be submitted to Public Affairs Unit, Corporate Communication Department of UiTM Shah Alam.  The details of how the fund will be used as follows:

Table 2: Estimated Costs for Research Activities

Activities	Estimated Costs (RM)
Travelling allowance	RM 1200
Printing, Photostating,	RM 500
Internet , Fax and Telephone	RM 400
Postage and Envelope for Survey	RM 200
Buying Books or Reference Materials	RM 1000
Professional Service for Report Writing	RM 500
Miscellaneous fees	RM 200
TOTAL	RM 4000

8.     Significant Contributions of Research based on the Research Objectives

                 i.          This research will provide recommendations to UiTM’s Public Affairs Unit to design effective car-pooling campaign to the students. It can provide details such as the needs, capacity, the best communication tool and the suitable duration of the campaign.

                ii.          All positive findings derived from this research will be formulated so that important messages to promote car-pooling could reach to the targeted users.

9.     Conclusion

 The research study will be based on observations, interviewing publics and surveys trough questionnaires towards the implementation of car-pooling campaign among students of UiTM Shah Alam. In addition, a review of published online international journals will help the researchers to identify the best tool of communication in disseminating information during the campaign. The findings of the research will be the general guide to plan the car-pooling campaign for the students systematically and decide the realistic relevance of car-pooling practise which is able to be achieved individually. Therefore, through the findings, the researchers will also be able to help UiTM’s management in applying the best methods to solve current problems such as limited parking spaces in university vicinity. Moreover, the campaign will contribute to the development of students’ education culture and community at large.

References

Research Proposal, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_proposal

Setiawan, R. (2006) Reducing car Use Through Carpool Program, Case Study Petra Christian University, International Civil Engineering Conference “Towards Sustainable Civil Engineering Practise”, Surabaya, August 2006 http://fportfolio.petra.ac.id/user_files/01-065/20%20-%20KTS-TE-02.pdf

Sekaran, U. (2003) Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach, 4^TH Edition, USA pp.54-72

Sobush, H. (2002) Designing a Preferential Carpool Parking Program to Effectively Reduce Parking Demand and Trafic Congestion on University Campuses, TDM and Universities, August 2002 http://www.nctr.usf.edu/clearinghouse/html/pref%20parking%20at%20universities.htm

Www.uitm.edu.my