What are preliminary pages in a research proposal?

Preliminary pages are the front matter or introductory sections of an academic research proposal or report. These pages appear before the main content (chapters) and serve important administrative, legal, and organizational purposes. They provide vital information such as authorship, institutional affiliation, acknowledgments, ethical tools, and formatting elements that make the proposal professional, credible, and compliant with academic standards.

5 Reasons Why Preliminary Pages Are Important in Academic Research

1. They provide essential administrative, ethical, and academic documentation that validates the proposal.
2. They offer organizational tools (e.g., table of contents, list of acronyms) that help readers navigate the document easily.
3. They demonstrate compliance with institutional and ethical research guidelines (e.g., consent forms, data collection tools).
4. They acknowledge contributors, funding bodies, and institutions involved in the research.
5. They create a professional and standardized appearance that enhances the credibility of the proposal.

Components of Preliminary Pages in a Research Proposal

Here is a breakdown of common elements found in the preliminary section:

Lets use an example topic; “The impact of Employee motivation on Employee performance”

1. Cover Page

This is the first page of the proposal. It includes the title of the study, researcher’s name, institutional affiliation, department, degree program, supervisor’s name, and date.

Example:
Title: The Impact of Employee Motivation on Employee Performance in Uganda
Submitted by: John Doe
Institution: Makerere University
Supervisor: Dr. Jane Namusoke
Date: July 2025

2. Declaration Page

A formal statement by the student declaring that the work is original, has not been submitted elsewhere, and adheres to academic integrity standards.

Example:
“I declare that this proposal is my original work and has not been submitted to any other institution…”

3. Approval Page

Includes signatures of the student, supervisor(s), and departmental authorities to confirm official approval of the proposal.

4. Copyright Page

States the researcher’s ownership of the intellectual property and restricts unauthorized reproduction or distribution.

5. Acknowledgment

Expresses gratitude to supervisors, institutions, funding bodies, and any other individuals or organizations who supported the proposal.

6. Table of Contents and General Formatting

Outlines all sections and sub-sections of the proposal with corresponding page numbers. General formatting should follow institutional guidelines (e.g., font, margins, spacing, citation style).

7. List of Tables and List of Figures

These pages list all tables and figures used in the proposal, along with their page numbers, for easy reference.

8. List of Acronyms

Provides a list of all abbreviations or acronyms used in the document, with their full meanings.

Example:
FGD – Focus Group Discussion
HRM – Human Resource Management

9. Operational Definitions

Defines key terms or variables used in the study to ensure clarity and consistency.

Example:
Employee Motivation: The internal and external factors that drive an employee’s desire to perform.
Performance: The measurable output or productivity of an employee.

10. Consent Form Development

A form that seeks informed consent from participants. It outlines the purpose of the study, confidentiality measures, potential risks, and participant rights.

Includes: Study purpose, voluntary participation, confidentiality, benefits/risks, and signature space.

11. Questionnaire

A structured data collection tool used in quantitative research. It should be attached in the appendix and referenced in the methodology section.

Includes: Demographics, Likert-scale items, performance-related questions, etc.

12. Interview Guide

A semi-structured or structured set of questions used for in-depth interviews in qualitative research.

Includes: Open-ended questions related to employee motivation and workplace experiences.

13. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide

A set of discussion prompts used to guide conversations with groups of participants. Useful in qualitative studies involving collective opinions.

Includes: Introductory remarks, ground rules, probing questions.

14. Data Abstraction Form

A tool used to extract relevant information from existing documents, reports, or records. Common in retrospective studies or document analysis.

Includes: Fields for document title, dates, variables of interest, and data source.

Example of Preliminary Page Flow (For a Complete Proposal)

Data Abstraction Form

Cover Page

Declaration Page

Approval Page

Copyright Page

Acknowledgment

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Acronyms

Operational Definitions

Consent Form

Questionnaire

Interview Guide

FGD Guide