15 PERTANYAAN SEMPRO + JAWABAN | Tips Seminar Proposal

Summary

In this video, Wiwi Fauziah offers practical tips for university students preparing for their seminar proposal (sempro) or thesis defense. She covers common questions posed by professors, providing strategies for answering with confidence. Topics include explaining research titles, defining research scope, identifying research gaps, and justifying methodological choices. Wiwi emphasizes the importance of using data and facts to support answers, as well as staying calm and focused during the process. She also shares motivational advice to help students handle revisions and stay positive throughout their academic journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understand that the most nerve-wracking part of a proposal seminar is answering questions from the examiners, so be prepared and stay calm.
• 😀 Your proposal seminar is an opportunity to explain your research plan before you begin the actual study. Make sure your presentation is clear and comprehensive.
• 😀 Always back your answers with data or credible sources. For example, when asked why you chose your research title or location, provide relevant statistics and research findings.
• 😀 When explaining the scope of your research, clarify the sample, location, variables, methodology, and theoretical framework you're using.
• 😀 Be ready to articulate the research gap or novelty in your study. Highlight areas that previous research hasn’t covered and explain how your study fills those gaps.
• 😀 Stay objective when answering questions about your research location or sample. Avoid personal or subjective reasons, and always provide factual, data-driven explanations.
• 😀 When discussing what differentiates your research from others, focus on the unique variables, methods, or locations you’re using.
• 😀 Always have a clear understanding of the key variables in your research. Be able to explain their relationships (independent, dependent, moderating, etc.).
• 😀 Be familiar with your research framework and ensure it aligns logically with the variables and research design.
• 😀 Clearly justify your choice of research method (quantitative or qualitative) based on your study’s objectives and the type of data you need to collect.
• 😀 If asked about your choice of data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, PLS), explain how these tools are commonly used in your field and how they fit your research needs.
• 😀 Emphasize the significance of your research and its potential benefits. Be prepared to explain why your study is valuable to your field or to society.

Q & A

Why is it important to explain the problem behind your research title during a seminar proposal?

Explaining the problem behind your research title provides context and demonstrates the relevance of your study. It shows that your research addresses a real-world issue, which makes your study meaningful and rooted in actual phenomena. Using data from reliable sources helps reinforce the importance of your research topic.

How can you define the scope of your research when asked about it during a seminar proposal?

The scope of your research should clearly outline the specific aspects of the topic you are focusing on. This includes the sample you are studying, the location of your research, the variables involved, and the methodology. By narrowing down your focus, you show that your study is manageable and well-defined.

What should you include when answering why you chose a specific research location?

When justifying your choice of location, you should use credible data, such as statistical findings, to back up your decision. You can also mention any preliminary surveys or fieldwork that provided insights into the location's relevance to your research.

What is a research gap, and why is it significant in a seminar proposal?

A research gap refers to areas or topics in existing research that have not been fully explored or addressed. Identifying a research gap shows that your study will contribute new insights or fill a void in the current body of knowledge, making your research valuable and original.

How do you distinguish your research from previous studies?

You can distinguish your research by highlighting the unique aspects of your study, such as new variables, a different methodology, or a novel theoretical framework. These differences show how your study builds upon or diverges from previous research.

What does 'novelty' mean in a seminar proposal, and how do you demonstrate it?

Novelty refers to the new contributions your research makes to the existing body of knowledge. You can demonstrate novelty by explaining how your study addresses a research gap, introduces new variables, or employs unique methodologies that have not been explored before.

How should you explain the concept of your research in a seminar proposal?

In explaining the concept of your research, you should clearly define the variables or elements in your study and describe how they interact with one another. For a quantitative study, you could explain how the independent and dependent variables are related and how this informs your research objectives.

What types of variables should you mention in your seminar proposal?

You should mention the independent, dependent, and any moderating or mediating variables in your research. Explaining these variables ensures that you demonstrate a clear understanding of the elements that influence or are influenced by the phenomena you are studying.

How do you justify the choice of research methodology in a seminar proposal?

You should justify your choice of methodology by linking it to the goals of your research. For quantitative research, the focus is on testing theories and analyzing relationships between variables, while qualitative research is aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of complex phenomena. Your methodology should align with these objectives.

What is the Slovin formula, and why would you choose it for sample size calculation?

The Slovin formula is used to calculate sample size while considering an acceptable error tolerance, typically set at 10%. This formula helps ensure that the sample is statistically representative while balancing time, cost, and practicality.

Why is it important to mention the data analysis software you are using in a seminar proposal?

Mentioning the data analysis software (such as SPSS or PLS) shows that you have considered the tools necessary for analyzing your data. By referencing software commonly used in your field, you justify your choice and demonstrate its appropriateness for your research.

How do you explain the significance of your research during a seminar proposal?

You should explain the broader impact of your research, emphasizing how it can benefit society, contribute to existing knowledge, or support decision-making in your field. Highlighting the practical and theoretical implications shows that your research has value beyond just fulfilling academic requirements.

How do you choose the population or sample for your research?

You should select your research population based on its relevance to the research topic. Use actual data or findings from preliminary surveys to justify why this group is appropriate for your study. For example, if studying a new payment system, you might choose a specific region where this system is emerging, supported by local data.