st ignatius college is prestigeous private school in zimbabwe that has been recently facing a downfall in it's passrate in recent years so given that the data to do a project known asanalyse historical student performance data at St$.$ Ignatius College to identify trends and factors affecting academic success as a data science student and use this information to draft a project proposal $"1.$ INTRODUCTION

$1\mathrm{.}1$ Introduction

The candidate should introduce the topic$/$object of inquiry in a single paragraph to demonstrate that the research is topical and relevant. The candidate is expected to answer some of the following questions:

What is the interesting situation in the research area?

What are the trends and progress in the area of study? Support with statistics or quotes.

Why should the reader care about the object of inquiry?

NB: End the introduction by outlining the sections to be covered in this chapter.

$1\mathrm{.}2$ Background to the study $2$ to $3$ paragraphs $($Last paragraph to indicate the research gap$)$

The background must masterly demonstrate the phenomenon $($issue$)$ to be investigated by the candidate. This masterly is demonstrated among others by the up$-$to$-$dateness of the citations made and the candidates eloquent understanding of empirical studies done in the area of study. Under this section, the candidate should write a paragraph but preferably two so that he$/$she does not delay stating the research problem. The background to the study should also address the following questions:

What has been said about your topic or object of inquiry previously, or which studies of interest have been done to UNDERSTAND the object of inquiry?

What are the chief approaches to it$?$

What has been overlooked by these studies? $/$ What are the deficiencies of previous research and the consequences of these deficiencies which your research seeks to address?

In what way$($s$)$ is the current state of knowledge lacking $/$ limited $/$ in need of extending?

Why is there a need to do more in the area?

Candidates should AVOID the following in indicating the knowledge gap:

Negative assertions; statements that imply that little, few or not much has been done in the area. Statements of this sort are usually taken as indications that the candidate is not familiar with the literature.

Asserting a lack of knowledge or research on the phenomenon without any justification or grounding.

$1\mathrm{.}3$ Problem statement or statement of the problem $[$select appropriate heading$]-$ Single paragraph

This section is about the real problem that the research wants to focus on and the specific area of problem location and localisation. The candidate should avoid giving the SYMPTOMS of the problem but must give the REAL PROBLEM$($s$)$ of the research. This section should therefore bring out what the problem is and provide verifiable evidence of its existence in each context. The problem statement or statement of the problem should constitute the following four $(4)$ elements:

What the problem is$?$

Where the problem is$?[$contextualisation$]$

What is the consequence of this problem?

What is the intended output of the research?

$1\mathrm{.}4$ Research objectives

Research objectives are statements of what the researcher intends to do to find the answer to the research question. Research objectives should be worded using action words $($VERBS$)$ that are oriented toward an OUTCOME. Use bullet or alphabets in numbering research objectives or hypotheses.

$1\mathrm{.}5$ Delimitations of the study

Delimitations are in essence the limitations consciously set by the researchers themselves. They are concerned with the definitions that the researchers decided to set as the boundaries or limits of their research so that the studys aims and objectives do not become impossible to achieve. In this respect, it can be argued that delimitations are in the researchers control. Thus, delimitations are mainly concerned with the studys theoretical$/$conceptual elements, objectives, research questions, variables under study, geographical location$/$setting in which the study will be conducted, population characteristics, and study sample.

NOTE: Do not mistake delimitations for limitations $[$see chapter $5$ for limitations of the study$]$

$2.$ BRIEF LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature refers to the previous works or sources of information relevant to your research area, both theoretical $($ideas$-$based$)$ or empirical $($collected or observed data$).$ As a researcher, you will be expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of your topic across a range of sources. It is useful $($necessary$)$ to show that you have conducted a review of the latest research $[$not more than $3$ years old unless its a theory or critical information relevant to your study$].$ The purpose of the literature is to:

help the researcher understand the existing body of knowledge including where excess research exists $($i$.$e$.$ what is already know?$)$ and where new research is needed $($i$.$e$.$ what is needed to be known?$).$

show where the research fits into the existing body of knowledge

illustrate how the subject has been studied previously

highlight flaws in previous research

outline gaps in previous research

show that the work is adding to the understanding and knowledge of the field

Substantiating the presence of the research problem $($related to what is needed to be known?$)$

NB$.$ For now provide a maximum of $2$ pages for the Literature Review

$3.$ RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This section is about choices, alignment and justification of choices. This implies that the methodology chosen should align with a specific research philosophy based on the main research question of the study. In addition, research strategy, sampling techniques, research methods and data analysis procedure and techniques should align with a specific and appropriate methodology. The statements used to justify choices should be specific to the study. Avoid using a generalised statement such as the study used quantitative research because it intends to collect quantitative data.

NOTE: All choices and justifications in this chapter should be supported by the literature.

$3\mathrm{.}1$ Introduction

Introduce the chapter and include a research onion in your introduction covering items used in the study

$3\mathrm{.}4$ Research strategy$/$design

For HCF use Design Science Research

For HDS use CRISP$-$DM$,$ TDSP $($You can also use KDD or SEMMA$)$

Look up all these research designs and select the appropriate one.

$3\mathrm{.}6$ Data collection procedure

Describe the step$-$by$-$step procedure used to collect data. $[$How did you collect data from the participants?$]$

$3\mathrm{.}7$ Data analysis procedure and techniques

Justify the techniques chosen for data analysis.

$4.$ EXPECTED RESEARCH OUTCOMES

Provide us with the outcomes that you expect from your study

REFERENCES

Provide a list of references that you cited in$-$text.

$"$