Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
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As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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This InfoGuide assists students starting their research proposal and literature review.
A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research. Your paper should include the topic, research question and hypothesis, methods, predictions, and results (if not actual, then projected).
Research Proposal Aims
The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements: Literature review
Reference list While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take. Proposal FormatThe proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
Introduction The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.. Your introduction should:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own. In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Research design and methods Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. Write up your projected, if not actual, results. Contribution to knowledge To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters. For example, your results might have implications for:
Lastly, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use free APA citation generators like BibGuru. Databases have a citation button you can click on to see your citation. Sometimes you have to re-format it as the citations may have mistakes.
Edit this Guide Log into Dashboard Use of RIT resources is reserved for current RIT students, faculty and staff for academic and teaching purposes only. Please contact your librarian with any questions. ![]() Help is Available![]() Email a LibrarianA librarian is available by e-mail at [email protected] Meet with a LibrarianCall reference desk voicemail. A librarian is available by phone at (585) 475-2563 or on Skype at llll Or, call (585) 475-2563 to leave a voicemail with the reference desk during normal business hours . Chat with a LibrarianSocial/behavioral sciences research guide infoguide url. https://infoguides.rit.edu/researchguide Use the box below to email yourself a link to this guide![]() School of Social Sciences How to write a research proposalYou will need to submit a research proposal with your PhD application. This is crucial in the assessment of your application and it warrants plenty of time and energy. Your proposal should outline your project and be around 1,500 words. Your research proposal should include a working title for your project. Overview of the researchIn this section, you should provide a short overview of your research. You should also state how your research fits into the research priorities of your particular subject area. Here you can refer to the research areas and priorities of a particular research grouping or supervisor. You must also state precisely why you have chosen to apply to the discipline area and how your research links into our overall profile. Positioning of the researchThis should reference the most important texts related to the research, demonstrate your understanding of the research issues, and identify existing gaps (both theoretical and practical) that the research is intended to address. Research design and methodologyThis section should identify the information that is necessary to carry out the analysis and the possible research techniques that could deliver the information. Ethical considerationsYou should identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research. Please discuss your research with your proposed supervisor to see how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance, and ensure that your proposed supervisor is happy for you to proceed with your application. Your research proposal will be used to assess the quality and originality of your ideas, whether you are able to think critically and whether you have a grasp of the relevant literature. It also gives us important information about the perspectives you intend to take on your research area, and how you fit into the department's research profile overall. This is helpful when assigning a supervisor. If you are applying to study an Economics postgraduate research programme, our advice and requirements are slightly different:
SupervisorsWe encourage you to discuss your proposal informally with a potential supervisor before making a formal application to ensure it is of mutual interest. Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will be able to allocate you to the supervisor you initially contact and that we may allocate you to another expert in the area.
FlexibilityYou will not be forced to follow the proposal exactly once you have started to study. It is normal for students to refine their original proposal, in light of detailed literature review, further consideration of research approaches and comments received from your supervisors (and other academic staff). Pitfalls to avoidWe sometimes have to reject students who meet the academic requirements but have not produced a satisfactory research proposal, therefore:
The University uses electronic systems to detect plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for assessment. All Humanities PhD programmes require the submission of a research proposal as part of the application process. The Doctoral Academy upholds the principle that where a candidate approaches the University with a project of study, this should be original. While it is understandable that research may arise out of previous studies, it is vital that your research proposal is not the subject of plagiarism. Example proposals
Further helpThe following books may help you to prepare your research proposal (as well as in doing your research degree).
If you need help and advice about your application, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team. Admissions contacts University guidelinesYou may also find it useful to read the advice and guidance on the University website about writing a proposal for your research degree application. Visit the University website ![]() Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Chapter 14: The Research Proposal 14.3 Components of a Research ProposalKrathwohl (2005) suggests and describes a variety of components to include in a research proposal. The following sections – Introductions, Background and significance, Literature Review; Research design and methods, Preliminary suppositions and implications; and Conclusion present these components in a suggested template for you to follow in the preparation of your research proposal. IntroductionThe introduction sets the tone for what follows in your research proposal – treat it as the initial pitch of your idea. After reading the introduction your reader should:
As you begin writing your research proposal, it is helpful to think of the introduction as a narrative of what it is you want to do, written in one to three paragraphs. Within those one to three paragraphs, it is important to briefly answer the following questions:
Note : You may be asked by your instructor to include an abstract with your research proposal. In such cases, an abstract should provide an overview of what it is you plan to study, your main research question, a brief explanation of your methods to answer the research question, and your expected findings. All of this information must be carefully crafted in 150 to 250 words. A word of advice is to save the writing of your abstract until the very end of your research proposal preparation. If you are asked to provide an abstract, you should include 5 to 7 key words that are of most relevance to your study. List these in order of relevance. Background and SignificanceThe purpose of this section is to explain the context of your proposal and to describe, in detail, why it is important to undertake this research. Assume that the person or people who will read your research proposal know nothing or very little about the research problem. While you do not need to include all knowledge you have learned about your topic in this section, it is important to ensure that you include the most relevant material that will help to explain the goals of your research. While there are no hard and fast rules, you should attempt to address some or all of the following key points:
Literature ReviewThis key component of the research proposal is the most time-consuming aspect in the preparation of your research proposal. As described in Chapter 5 , the literature review provides the background to your study and demonstrates the significance of the proposed research. Specifically, it is a review and synthesis of prior research that is related to the problem you are setting forth to investigate. Essentially, your goal in the literature review is to place your research study within the larger whole of what has been studied in the past, while demonstrating to your reader that your work is original, innovative, and adds to the larger whole. As the literature review is information dense, it is essential that this section be intelligently structured to enable your reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your study. However, this can be easier to state and harder to do, simply due to the fact there is usually a plethora of related research to sift through. Consequently, a good strategy for writing the literature review is to break the literature into conceptual categories or themes, rather than attempting to describe various groups of literature you reviewed. Chapter 5 describes a variety of methods to help you organize the themes. Here are some suggestions on how to approach the writing of your literature review:
It is important to note that a significant challenge related to undertaking a literature review is knowing when to stop. As such, it is important to know when you have uncovered the key conceptual categories underlying your research topic. Generally, when you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations, you can have confidence that you have covered all of the significant conceptual categories in your literature review. However, it is also important to acknowledge that researchers often find themselves returning to the literature as they collect and analyze their data. For example, an unexpected finding may develop as you collect and/or analyze the data; in this case, it is important to take the time to step back and review the literature again, to ensure that no other researchers have found a similar finding. This may include looking to research outside your field. This situation occurred with one of this textbook’s authors’ research related to community resilience. During the interviews, the researchers heard many participants discuss individual resilience factors and how they believed these individual factors helped make the community more resilient, overall. Sheppard and Williams (2016) had not discovered these individual factors in their original literature review on community and environmental resilience. However, when they returned to the literature to search for individual resilience factors, they discovered a small body of literature in the child and youth psychology field. Consequently, Sheppard and Williams had to go back and add a new section to their literature review on individual resilience factors. Interestingly, their research appeared to be the first research to link individual resilience factors with community resilience factors. Research design and methodsThe objective of this section of the research proposal is to convince the reader that your overall research design and methods of analysis will enable you to solve the research problem you have identified and also enable you to accurately and effectively interpret the results of your research. Consequently, it is critical that the research design and methods section is well-written, clear, and logically organized. This demonstrates to your reader that you know what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Overall, you want to leave your reader feeling confident that you have what it takes to get this research study completed in a timely fashion. Essentially, this section of the research proposal should be clearly tied to the specific objectives of your study; however, it is also important to draw upon and include examples from the literature review that relate to your design and intended methods. In other words, you must clearly demonstrate how your study utilizes and builds upon past studies, as it relates to the research design and intended methods. For example, what methods have been used by other researchers in similar studies? While it is important to consider the methods that other researchers have employed, it is equally, if not more, important to consider what methods have not been but could be employed. Remember, the methods section is not simply a list of tasks to be undertaken. It is also an argument as to why and how the tasks you have outlined will help you investigate the research problem and answer your research question(s). Tips for writing the research design and methods sectionSpecify the methodological approaches you intend to employ to obtain information and the techniques you will use to analyze the data. Specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of those operations in relation to the research problem. Go beyond stating what you hope to achieve through the methods you have chosen. State how you will actually implement the methods (i.e., coding interview text, running regression analysis, etc.). Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers you may encounter when undertaking your research, and describe how you will address these barriers. Explain where you believe you will find challenges related to data collection, including access to participants and information. Preliminary Suppositions and ImplicationsThe purpose of this section is to argue how you anticipate that your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the area of your study. Depending upon the aims and objectives of your study, you should also discuss how your anticipated findings may impact future research. For example, is it possible that your research may lead to a new policy, theoretical understanding, or method for analyzing data? How might your study influence future studies? What might your study mean for future practitioners working in the field? Who or what might benefit from your study? How might your study contribute to social, economic or environmental issues? While it is important to think about and discuss possibilities such as these, it is equally important to be realistic in stating your anticipated findings. In other words, you do not want to delve into idle speculation. Rather, the purpose here is to reflect upon gaps in the current body of literature and to describe how you anticipate your research will begin to fill in some or all of those gaps. The conclusion reiterates the importance and significance of your research proposal, and provides a brief summary of the entire proposed study. Essentially, this section should only be one or two paragraphs in length. Here is a potential outline for your conclusion: Discuss why the study should be done. Specifically discuss how you expect your study will advance existing knowledge and how your study is unique. Explain the specific purpose of the study and the research questions that the study will answer. Explain why the research design and methods chosen for this study are appropriate, and why other designs and methods were not chosen. State the potential implications you expect to emerge from your proposed study, Provide a sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship currently in existence, related to the research problem. ![]() Citations and ReferencesAs with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used in composing your research proposal. In a research proposal, this can take two forms: a reference list or a bibliography. A reference list lists the literature you referenced in the body of your research proposal. All references in the reference list must appear in the body of the research proposal. Remember, it is not acceptable to say “as cited in …” As a researcher you must always go to the original source and check it for yourself. Many errors are made in referencing, even by top researchers, and so it is important not to perpetuate an error made by someone else. While this can be time consuming, it is the proper way to undertake a literature review. In contrast, a bibliography , is a list of everything you used or cited in your research proposal, with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem. In other words, sources cited in your bibliography may not necessarily appear in the body of your research proposal. Make sure you check with your instructor to see which of the two you are expected to produce. Overall, your list of citations should be a testament to the fact that you have done a sufficient level of preliminary research to ensure that your project will complement, but not duplicate, previous research efforts. For social sciences, the reference list or bibliography should be prepared in American Psychological Association (APA) referencing format. Usually, the reference list (or bibliography) is not included in the word count of the research proposal. Again, make sure you check with your instructor to confirm. Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction Copyright © 2020 by Valerie Sheppard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted. Share This Book![]() Writing a social sciences PhD proposalFor many academics, each new year brings a flurry of email enquiries about PhD supervision. In my experience these tend to range between a vague notion about a topic (or a few possible topics) and a detailed account of a research idea, usually drawn from a successful MA thesis or an area of professional interest. What I hardly ever get, however, is a proper draft proposal that I can start working up with an applicant. For me, having at least a rough draft of your proposal before you contact potential supervisors is good practice, for a number of reasons:
If you are planning to apply for Research Council funding, a draft gives you a valuable head start – I also see the process of feedback and amendment for these high-profile applications as an excellent insight into what a student will be like to supervise (I generally ask for several redrafts before I will sign off). A PhD proposal does not need to be long. In fact, I encourage applicants to be as concise as they can – Research Council application forms generally allow a couple of sides, 10 pt font minimum, so I would stick to that. For a social science PhD, proposals will contain a number of common elements: A short paragraph describing your topic, stating why it is important. First and foremost, you should be proposing a project which is fresh and interesting rather than repeating previous studies. This doesn’t necessarily mean a completely new topic (and there are no completely original arguments), but it could mean, for instance: looking at an existing topic in a new way; asking slightly different questions; researching a specific population; or bringing together two theories that haven’t been used together, or haven’t been used to explore this topic, before. The best research in my field tends to be both policy/society-relevant and able to make a contribution to academic debates, so look for a social need and gaps in the relevant literature. Your project should pass the ‘so what?’ test on both intellectual and practical grounds. This is especially the case if you want to work with a marginalised group as an outsider – your study needs to have clear benefits for your participants, and it should be obvious that you are the right person to do it and are doing it for the right reasons (if you’re not sure this is the case, perhaps read this post and reflect). If you’re applying for research funding, your project rationale should also link to the strategic priorities of the funding body. Research questionsTwo or three specific questions you will answer. They must be ones which have not been asked before in the particular way you will ask them. They should usually be open but narrow, focusing on aspects of issues or relationships between phenomena (e.g. ‘what are the causes of violence against sex workers?’ is too broad, but ‘what are sex workers’ experiences of violence under different legal/regulatory models?’ is more promising). You should also be realistic – what exactly are you going to be able to find out? Be wary of questions which are too ambitious – in social research this often means causal, categorical, or conclusive. Avoid making assumptions that will threaten the validity of your analysis (e.g. ‘how can parents who formula-feed be made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding?) Never ask something you feel you already know. The trick is to develop research questions which both create a do-able project and account for the complexity of the social world, and to represent these as simply as you possibly can. This is difficult! Your research questions will probably go through several iterations with your prospective supervisor, so they don’t have to be perfect first time. Literature reviewThis is directly linked to your rationale and research questions – a summary of existing relevant work, identifying the gaps (both empirical and theoretical) your project will fill. You may be looking at several areas of literature – some providing general context while others relate to particular issues. In a project on violence against sex workers under different legal/regulatory models, you would probably be making use of general work on violence against women/sexual violence, more specific literature on violence against sex workers (of all genders) and violence against particular groups who may be more at risk within the industry (women of colour and trans women, for example), and literature covering different models of sex industry regulation and their implications. Studies would probably be both empirical and more conceptual in focus. Don’t just write a list in this section – introduce different bodies of literature, summarise key themes and points, identify gaps, and make explicit how all this frames your particular project. Be clear in your mind about how you are using the literature at hand, and how you might feed back into the literature and make new contributions when you have completed your research. Theoretical frameworkThe conceptual material in your literature review might inform your theoretical framework – the concepts most central to your research project. You might be focusing on gender as a key category of analysis; you might (should) also be taking an intersectional approach. You might be making use of other concepts such as agency or stigma, or developing the work of particular theorists. You need to have an idea of how all this relates together and whether there are any useful connections or knotty contradictions at work. Your theoretical framework will and should change as you develop your PhD project, coming to fruition when you have finished your data analysis and are (hopefully) ready to say something new. It need not be fully developed in your proposal. In fact, if I see a PhD proposal which has an elaborate theoretical framework already, it often raises questions about whether the student is setting out to confirm things they feel they already know. Nevertheless, your proposal should contain some indication of the theories and concepts you find relevant to your research questions, and (most importantly) some thoughts about how you might operationalise these. How can you identify agency, for example? How might you measure stigma? How can you put intersectionality into practice? N.B. Not all proposals will have a separate literature review and theoretical framework: if your project is heavily conceptual these might be merged into one longer section, or if you are conducting a large empirical study which will generate an entirely new dataset you may not need to be so focused on the theory. MethodologyThis is probably the most important part of your proposal – a description of what you are going to do in very precise terms. This should include your your broad methodological approach – is it quantitative or qualitative? Are you using a particular research design, for instance ethnography or case study? Are you situated within a specific epistemological framework, and why? It should also include any specific methodological techniques or elements of research design – for instance, if you are trying to explore the interactions between phenomena, how will you measure and establish these? (e.g. in a qualitative study exploring how breastfeeding impacts on mothers’ experiences of bonding with their babies, you would need to consider how you would tease out the role of breastfeeding from other factors). Your methodology should give details of your planned sources of data and how you will sample them. Be specific: if you are doing interviews, how many? What types of people will you hope to recruit as participants, and why? If you are working with documents, how many and how will they be selected? You need to give assurances that you are not just cherry-picking your sample to confirm what you feel you already know – for instance, a proposed study on whether the media contains racist bias will be stronger if you are not just working with content from the Daily Mail . You should also give details of how you will negotiate access to your sources, and the more groundwork you can do in advance the better, especially if you are working on sensitive issues or with marginalised communities. Your methods should then be described as accurately as you possibly can, as well as your planned techniques of data analysis, with full attention paid to how you might operationalise your theories. Your methodology section should be primarily descriptive – your prospective supervisor needs to be confident that you have thought your project through and are in a good position to carry it out. It should also be mostly practical: although reflexivity is essential to qualitative social research, your PhD proposal is probably not the best place to present your autobiography. You need to show that you are conversant with the methodological literature and with other, similar studies, and have thought about your planned project with reference to these. Of course, your methodology will evolve during the course of your project and it is always possible to change it – but it is essential to be thinking like a researcher from the start. Sometimes this section will be part of your methodology; sometimes it will be separate. If you are doing any research with human subjects you will probably undergo a rigorous ethical review process within your institution, before you are cleared for fieldwork. If your topic is sensitive or you are working with marginalised communities, this can take a while and can involve various requests for amendments. This section is your chance to show that you have engaged with the literature on research ethics and thought about any potential issues for your study: use it to identify these and talk about how you might address them. Power relations, informed consent, anonymity/confidentiality, risk/harm, participant and self-care all need to be covered. University ethics committees can be conservative; you can take a critical perspective, especially where notions of ‘risk’ and ‘harm’ are concerned, and particularly in relation to the differences between working with more marginalised and more elite groups. However, you should also be aware that this is a bureaucratic process that could potentially stand between you and the successful completion of your research: some hoop-jumping may be necessary. As the last section, your proposal should present a description of how you will break your research into manageable tasks and deadlines in order to get your PhD finished within the time you have (3-4 years full-time, 6-8 years part-time). It is best to present this in the form of a table, specifying dates by which you will have completed particular tasks. This timeline may change – but it is useful to have done some advance planning to show potential supervisors and funders that you are organised and likely to be able to deliver. Finally, remember that you should probably try to fit all this on to two sides of A4. This usually includes references, so be strategic/sparing with these, and remember that you can allude to wider reading by using phrases such as ‘such as’, or ‘amongst others’ as part of your citations (this last tip is for PhD proposals only – you must not do this in your final thesis!) Alison Phipps is Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Sussex. She was Chair of the Feminist and Women's Studies Association UK and Ireland, 2009-2012. You can visit her blog at https://genderate.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter @alisonphipps. Keep reading![]() Where did we come from? International Relations in Britain before BISA![]() Why study International Relations?![]() What is International Relations?Bisa is entirely self-funded. Your donations help us to support the International Studies community. Choose to donate towards free memberships for Global South scholars, conference bursaries or student experience events. Then receive updates on how your donation has helped.
![]() What (Exactly) Is A Research Proposal?A simple explainer with examples + free template. By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020 (Updated April 2023) Whether you’re nearing the end of your degree and your dissertation is on the horizon, or you’re planning to apply for a PhD program, chances are you’ll need to craft a convincing research proposal . If you’re on this page, you’re probably unsure exactly what the research proposal is all about. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Overview: Research Proposal Basics
What is a research proposal?Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (your research topic), why it’s worth researching (your justification), and how you plan to investigate it (your methodology). The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is suitable (for the requirements of the degree program) and manageable (given the time and resource constraints you will face). The most important word here is “ convince ” – in other words, your research proposal needs to sell your research idea (to whoever is going to approve it). If it doesn’t convince them (of its suitability and manageability), you’ll need to revise and resubmit . This will cost you valuable time, which will either delay the start of your research or eat into its time allowance (which is bad news). ![]() What goes into a research proposal?A good dissertation or thesis proposal needs to cover the “ what “, “ why ” and” how ” of the proposed study. Let’s look at each of these attributes in a little more detail: Your proposal needs to clearly articulate your research topic . This needs to be specific and unambiguous . Your research topic should make it clear exactly what you plan to research and in what context. Here’s an example of a well-articulated research topic: An investigation into the factors which impact female Generation Y consumer’s likelihood to promote a specific makeup brand to their peers: a British context As you can see, this topic is extremely clear. From this one line we can see exactly:
So, make sure that your research proposal provides a detailed explanation of your research topic . If possible, also briefly outline your research aims and objectives , and perhaps even your research questions (although in some cases you’ll only develop these at a later stage). Needless to say, don’t start writing your proposal until you have a clear topic in mind , or you’ll end up waffling and your research proposal will suffer as a result of this. Need a helping hand?As we touched on earlier, it’s not good enough to simply propose a research topic – you need to justify why your topic is original . In other words, what makes it unique ? What gap in the current literature does it fill? If it’s simply a rehash of the existing research, it’s probably not going to get approval – it needs to be fresh. But, originality alone is not enough. Once you’ve ticked that box, you also need to justify why your proposed topic is important . In other words, what value will it add to the world if you achieve your research aims? As an example, let’s look at the sample research topic we mentioned earlier (factors impacting brand advocacy). In this case, if the research could uncover relevant factors, these findings would be very useful to marketers in the cosmetics industry, and would, therefore, have commercial value . That is a clear justification for the research. So, when you’re crafting your research proposal, remember that it’s not enough for a topic to simply be unique. It needs to be useful and value-creating – and you need to convey that value in your proposal. If you’re struggling to find a research topic that makes the cut, watch our video covering how to find a research topic . ![]() It’s all good and well to have a great topic that’s original and valuable, but you’re not going to convince anyone to approve it without discussing the practicalities – in other words:
While it’s generally not expected that you’ll have a fully fleshed-out methodology at the proposal stage, you’ll likely still need to provide a high-level overview of your research methodology . Here are some important questions you’ll need to address in your research proposal:
So, be sure to give some thought to the practicalities of your research and have at least a basic methodological plan before you start writing up your proposal. If this all sounds rather intimidating, the video below provides a good introduction to research methodology and the key choices you’ll need to make. How To Structure A Research ProposalNow that we’ve covered the key points that need to be addressed in a proposal, you may be wondering, “ But how is a research proposal structured? “. While the exact structure and format required for a research proposal differs from university to university, there are four “essential ingredients” that commonly make up the structure of a research proposal:
In the video below, we unpack each of these four sections, step by step. Research Proposal Examples/SamplesIn the video below, we provide a detailed walkthrough of two successful research proposals (Master’s and PhD-level), as well as our popular free proposal template. Proposal Writing FAQsHow long should a research proposal be. This varies tremendously, depending on the university, the field of study (e.g., social sciences vs natural sciences), and the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, Masters or PhD) – so it’s always best to check with your university what their specific requirements are before you start planning your proposal. As a rough guide, a formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words, while a PhD-level proposal can be far more detailed, ranging from 5000-8000 words. In some cases, a rough outline of the topic is all that’s needed, while in other cases, universities expect a very detailed proposal that essentially forms the first three chapters of the dissertation or thesis. The takeaway – be sure to check with your institution before you start writing. How do I choose a topic for my research proposal?Finding a good research topic is a process that involves multiple steps. We cover the topic ideation process in this video post. How do I write a literature review for my proposal?While you typically won’t need a comprehensive literature review at the proposal stage, you still need to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the key literature and are able to synthesise it. We explain the literature review process here. How do I create a timeline and budget for my proposal?We explain how to craft a project plan/timeline and budget in Research Proposal Bootcamp . Which referencing format should I use in my research proposal?The expectations and requirements regarding formatting and referencing vary from institution to institution. Therefore, you’ll need to check this information with your university. What common proposal writing mistakes do I need to look out for?We’ve create a video post about some of the most common mistakes students make when writing a proposal – you can access that here . If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary:
Key Takeaways & Additional ResourcesAs you write up your research proposal, remember the all-important core purpose: to convince . Your research proposal needs to sell your study in terms of suitability and viability. So, focus on crafting a convincing narrative to ensure a strong proposal. At the same time, pay close attention to your university’s requirements. While we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations and it’s essential that you follow these to maximise your chances of approval. By the way, we’ve got plenty more resources to help you fast-track your research proposal. Here are some of our most popular resources to get you started:
If you’re looking for 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, be sure to check out our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the proposal development process (and the entire research journey), step by step. ![]() Psst… there’s more!This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this . 52 CommentsI truly enjoyed this video, as it was eye-opening to what I have to do in the preparation of preparing a Research proposal. I would be interested in getting some coaching. I real appreciate on your elaboration on how to develop research proposal,the video explains each steps clearly. Thank you for the video. It really assisted me and my niece. I am a PhD candidate and she is an undergraduate student. It is at times, very difficult to guide a family member but with this video, my job is done. In view of the above, I welcome more coaching. Wonderful guidelines, thanks This is very helpful. Would love to continue even as I prepare for starting my masters next year. Thanks for the work done, the text was helpful to me Bundle of thanks to you for the research proposal guide it was really good and useful if it is possible please send me the sample of research proposal You’re most welcome. We don’t have any research proposals that we can share (the students own the intellectual property), but you might find our research proposal template useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-proposal-template/ Cheruiyot Moses Kipyegon Thanks alot. It was an eye opener that came timely enough before my imminent proposal defense. Thanks, again thank you very much your lesson is very interested may God be with you I am an undergraduate student (First Degree) preparing to write my project,this video and explanation had shed more light to me thanks for your efforts keep it up. Very useful. I am grateful. this is a very a good guidance on research proposal, for sure i have learnt something Wonderful guidelines for writing a research proposal, I am a student of m.phil( education), this guideline is suitable for me. Thanks You’re welcome 🙂 Thank you, this was so helpful. A really great and insightful video. It opened my eyes as to how to write a research paper. I would like to receive more guidance for writing my research paper from your esteemed faculty. Thank you, great insights Thank you, great insights, thank you so much, feeling edified Wow thank you, great insights, thanks a lot Thank you. This is a great insight. I am a student preparing for a PhD program. I am requested to write my Research Proposal as part of what I am required to submit before my unconditional admission. I am grateful having listened to this video which will go a long way in helping me to actually choose a topic of interest and not just any topic as well as to narrow down the topic and be specific about it. I indeed need more of this especially as am trying to choose a topic suitable for a DBA am about embarking on. Thank you once more. The video is indeed helpful. Have learnt a lot just at the right time. Thank you so much. thank you very much ,because have learn a lot things concerning research proposal and be blessed u for your time that you providing to help us Hi. For my MSc medical education research, please evaluate this topic for me: Training Needs Assessment of Faculty in Medical Training Institutions in Kericho and Bomet Counties I have really learnt a lot based on research proposal and it’s formulation Thank you. I learn much from the proposal since it is applied Your effort is much appreciated – you have good articulation. You have good articulation. I do applaud your simplified method of explaining the subject matter, which indeed has broaden my understanding of the subject matter. Definitely this would enable me writing a sellable research proposal. This really helping Great! I liked your tutoring on how to find a research topic and how to write a research proposal. Precise and concise. Thank you very much. Will certainly share this with my students. Research made simple indeed. Thank you very much. I an now assist my students effectively. Thank you very much. I can now assist my students effectively. I need any research proposal Thank you for these videos. I will need chapter by chapter assistance in writing my MSc dissertation Very helpfull the videos are very good and straight forward thanks so much for this wonderful presentations, i really enjoyed it to the fullest wish to learn more from you Thank you very much. I learned a lot from your lecture. I really enjoy the in-depth knowledge on research proposal you have given. me. You have indeed broaden my understanding and skills. Thank you interesting session this has equipped me with knowledge as i head for exams in an hour’s time, am sure i get A++ This article was most informative and easy to understand. I now have a good idea of how to write my research proposal. Thank you very much. Wow, this literature is very resourceful and interesting to read. I enjoyed it and I intend reading it every now then. Thank you for the clarity Thank you. Very helpful. Thank you very much for this essential piece. I need 1o1 coaching, unfortunately, your service is not available in my country. Anyways, a very important eye-opener. I really enjoyed it. A thumb up to Gradcoach What is JAM? Please explain. Thank you so much for these videos. They are extremely helpful! God bless! very very wonderful… thank you for the video but i need a written example So far , So good! 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![]() On the Art of Writing ProposalsDescription. Writing proposals for research funding is a peculiar facet of North American academic culture, and as with all things cultural, its attributes rise only partly into public consciousness. A proposal’s overt function is to persuade a committee of scholars that the project shines with the three kinds of merit all disciplines value, namely, conceptual innovation, methodological rigor, and rich, substantive content. But to make these points stick, a proposal writer needs a feel for the unspoken customs, norms, and needs that govern the selection process itself. These are not really as arcane or ritualistic as one might suspect. For the most part, these customs arise from the committee’s efforts to deal in good faith with its own problems: incomprehension among disciplines, work overload, and the problem of equitably judging proposals that reflect unlike social and academic circumstances. MAIN SECTIONS
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Proposal Writing for Social Science Research (Spring 2023)
About This GuideGetting started, additional resources on the literature review, research/grant proposal writing, and dissertation writing.
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This guide was originally created for AN510 / AR510: Proposal Writing for Social Science Research. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in other social science and humanities fields may also find this guide helpful as they prepare to write grant proposals, theses or dissertations. ![]() Writing the Grant & Research / Dissertation Proposal
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Dissertation Writing ![]() This guide was originally authored by Chris Smith, April, 2023.
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![]() Writing Research Proposals for the Social Sciences and Humanities in a Higher Education Context![]() 2019, Cambridge Scholars Publishing A research proposal is a plan that a candidate submits to gain approval for post-graduate research. Although it is a typical requirement for any research in higher education, it has failed to receive the attention it is due from the academic community as a procedure of systematic teaching and learning. This book provides a support framework with step-by-step guidance about what constitutes a good research proposal and what can be done to maximize our chances of writing a successful application. It also presents advice and practical activities to enhance skill development. The book doesn’t offer any short and safe route to getting the task done. Instead, it proposes a rather balanced perspective, where by success is within reach if we are willing to face our flaws and grasp how to use the available information productively and persuasively. This endeavour is supported with a good number of authentic, annotated proposals at various stages of their development. Related PapersAnas Iftikhar Admission into a higher degree research program or confirmation of candidature into such a program of most universities often requires the applicant to submit a research proposal. This is a very important document which not only articulates the research topic and research question, but also explains the research design which outlines how the proposed research will be carried out. The significance of the research proposal is highlighted by the fact that failure to write a good research proposal may mean failure to be admitted into a higher degree research program, or failure to be confirmed as a continuing doctoral candidate. In spite of such significance, however, my experience when supervising many higher degree research students is that many of them struggle to write a good research proposal. One of the contributing factors to this is the apparent void that exists in research methods textbooks on exactly what a research proposal is and how it should be written. This paper aims to help fill that void by articulating a detailed structure of a research proposal that could be used as part of the application to gain admission into a higher degree research program of any good university or for confirmation of candidature in such a research study program. The paper draws on the expertise accumulated on this topic as a result of many decades of writing research proposals for higher degree research projects, conducting many higher degree research studies successfully in several universities in Australia and other countries, teaching research methods to higher degree research students and supervising many successful masters and doctoral theses. The paper concludes, that while there is no 'one-size-fits-all' research proposal, a careful design of a higher degree research proposal along the structure discussed in this paper should improve one's chances of success greatly. ![]() FOREX Publication FOREX Publication , Mohd Akhter Ali , M Kamraju Writing an effective research proposal is crucial for individuals pursuing higher degree research in higher education. This paper presents best practices for crafting such proposals, providing guidance to aspiring researchers. The paper begins with an overview of the higher degree research landscape and highlights the significance of research proposals within this context. It then delves into the key elements of an effective research proposal, emphasizing the importance of a clear research question, comprehensive literature review, appropriate research methodology, and expected outcomes. The paper also offers practical advice on writing techniques, organization, and communication to enhance the proposal's effectiveness. Furthermore, it addresses common challenges and pitfalls encountered during the proposal writing process, providing strategies to overcome them. Institutional guidelines and requirements are discussed, along with ethical considerations and research governance obligations. Case studies and examples are included to illustrate successful research proposals, analyzing their strengths and characteristics. In conclusion, this paper underscores the importance of an effective research proposal for higher degree research and provides valuable insights and recommendations for future researchers. abasynuniv.edu.pk Flora Maleki Javed Iqbal Journal Academica, Volume 1, July 2010, p. 1-5. [ISSN 2026 559X] What is the purpose of a Research proposal, its components and how should it be presented? In the following we briefly consider all these issues which have been a challenge to students who are to submit no research proposal before embarking on a Research Project for a partial fulfillment of conditions for the award of a degree by their respective institutions. Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies N.J. Dewasiri This eminent professor of Political Science has addressed a significant issue encountered by many postgraduate students and researchers in undertaking serious research in the disciplines of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Management in Sri Lanka. It is available in both English and Sinhala languages. He has addressed a wide spectrum of concerns related to writing a research proposal that covers research philosophies, methodology as well as methods in academic research. Guided by the scientific method, it presents ten comprehensive chapters that define the key elements of a marketable research proposal as well as sheds light on the key skills in writing such as winning proposals. It also covers the bibliography and glossary of key terms at the end. As the book is handy, it can be used as a practical handbook at all levels of academic research. Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research morrin phiri Education India: A Quarterly Refereed Journal of Dialogues on Education Shubham kumar Sanu , Vishwa Raj Sharma , Dr Mukesh Kumar , Smriti Shreya Writing a research proposal for an early career researcher is one of the toughest part of research work. A research proposal is a blueprint to conduct research work and a well-structured proposal provides smooth functioning for the proposed research. Generally, young researchers face various types of problem in structuring a good research proposal in absence of proper guidelines, steps and strategies. This paper aims to provide a general guideline to the students and researchers to develop a wellstructured research proposal for the purpose of PhD/dissertation/research projects, etc. The concept and significance of a research proposal, how to start research work, the process of producing and appropriate sections for a good research proposal has been discussed in great detail. S M Mukarram Jahan A research proposal is a serious statement that addresses a researcher’s intent to conduct a study on a phenomenon and a plan about how to perform the research. Students usually undertake research under the guidance of a supervisor from faculty in tandem with assistance and supervision of other faculty members. Thus, the proposal should be a clear statement of intent that aims at elucidating the plan of research to make it feasible and acceptable for all parties concerned. The most essential characteristic of a research proposal is that it should be sufficient to present the researcher’s idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition (the what). It should also make a case for the reason the researcher’s focus of study is significant and the value that it will bring to the discipline under study (the why). moawia A alshiek After more than a decade of teaching the course of research skills, I believe that the need for reference works on proposal writing for students and researchers is an essential handout. Not only to acquire the ability to write successful researched proposals but also to share my experience with them. The purpose of this review is to screen research skills literature to identify how and why proposals are written. Ultimately, to provide a document that guides students and researchers to write an effective proposal for their research projects. I found following accredited proposal guidelines will help to produce an effective successful document. However, there is no one single format but general template. Every institution, journal or funding agency has its own format. But all have this sequence: introduction, objectives, methodology, workplan, budget, references and annexes. 1) Background: There is no single formula for a strong effective proposal. There are a number of precepts that are consistently found in successful proposals. The sooner one learns them, the better. (1) When a social scientist desires to conduct an experiment, he first develops a proposal. The proposal introduces the problem, the significance of a study as well as the experimenter's research question and hypothesis. It also gives a brief explanation of the theory guiding the study, a review of relevant literature pertaining to the theory, and the procedure for the experiment. (2) The goal of a research proposal is to present and justify the need to study a research problem. As well as, to show design elements and procedures for conducting the research. It goes without saying the proposal must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. (3) Loading Preview Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. RELATED PAPERSDr. Awais H. Gillani The Free School Holuphumiee Adegbaju JOHN KARANJA, PhD , Dr. John Karanja Langley, BC: Trinity Western University. … Paul T P Wong S Vasantha Kumari norizan razak abdul rahim Maddy Thompson GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS DAE HOON JANG Acitya : Journal of Teaching and Education Yanti Sri Rezeki Farhan Ahmad Alternation: Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of the Arts and Humanities in Southern Africa Njabulo Simelane Emil Ilyasov International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI) ninik suryatiningsih MASEREKA GILBERT Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Marjorie Mitchell Kai Hakkarainen Ali Algaddafi RELATED TOPICS
Components of a Humanities/Social Sciences Research Proposalcomponents of a humanities/social sciences research proposal. ![]()
The Training to Engaged Research Group in partnership with The Arab Council for the Social Sciences COMPONENTS OF A HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH PROPOSAL Funded by a generous grant from the Foundation to Promote Open Society ![]() Proposal Writing WorkshopsSuad joseph, university of california, davis. The basic components of research proposals are the same in humanities and social sciences. How they are phrased and staged varies by discipline and by funding agency. The questions posed below are required by most agencies in some form. If you answer the “maximal” components below, you should be able to write proposals for most funding agencies. The components may seem more “social science” than “humanities”, but in fact, humanities funders ask the same questions, sometimes using different language. Decode the language for your discipline. Keep in mind, many agencies are interdisciplinary in their funding and have interdisciplinary review panels. Follow the guidelines of your funding agency, answer the questions the funder poses, and use the funder’s language for the components described below. I. Statement of the Problem (the questions you are trying to answer) First paragraph or first page gives a brief summary of the whole project including: A. Statement of Problem / Statement of Question / Statement of Project Objective 1. State objectives / what you intend to do / the questions you will answer Every project seeks an answer to a question. The clearer the question, the more convincing the project a. Analytical, problem solving, hypothesis testing Ex: Test the hypothesis that the higher the level of education, the more positive are attitudes towards women’s rights among men between 20-50 in Cairo, Egypt Ex: Explain why the French Revolution limited democratization in municipal institutions (Ted Margadant* UCD History, by permission) b. Descriptive Ex: Identify the differences in representations of father/son and mother/son relations and in Naguib Mahfouz’s Palace Walk Ex: Compare the materialist orientations towards geography in the Roman Empire to the symbolic/metaphorical orientation towards geography by early Christian writers (Brenda Schildgen* UCD Comp. Lit. by permission) 2. Objectives should be: a. specific, concrete [you & others can attain them and agree they have been attained] b. researchable [Question can be answered in reasonable time with reasonable funds] c. measurable [Specify the criteria by which you will know you have found what you are looking for. Humanities note: criteria may but need not numerical.] 3. Statement of objectives should be: a. declarative ( I will measure levels of education and attitudes towards women’s rights among men... / I will identify the continuities and discontinuities in their representation of father/son and mother/son relations in Mahfouz’s Palace Walk. Not: If I get funds, I will…) b. prioritized – listed in order of priority. If you have more than one objective, question to answer, the priority will determine the rest of the proposal. The review of literature, theoretical framework, hypothesis, methodology, reflect the same ordering B. What you expect to find / answer to the question / results to be reached / hypothesis 1. Builds on respected theory / research 2. Offers plausible alternative to respected theory / research 3. Your point of departure needs to be utterly clear Ex: your point of departure is: the impact of level of education on… Ex: your point of departure is: what explains attitudes towards women’s rights… Ex: your point of departure is: describing how father/son vs. mother/son relations are represented. Ex: your point of departure is: explaining why there are differences in representation of father/son vs. mother/son relations in Egyptian literary culture. Ex: your point of departure is: explaining Mahfouz’s relationship to his father vs. his mother (as a semi-autobiographical text). Ex: your point of departure is: describing the gendering of representational forms. Ex: your point of departure is: demonstrate that Christian geography was not anti-scientific Ex: your point of departure is: shattering the illusion that geography is static & fixed Ex: your point of departure is: analyzing social order through analysis of institutions and practices of criminal justice Ex: your point of departure is: documenting the limits of revolutionary change C. Other answers, Need, Theory, Significance, Site Summary of state of the art, why research is needed, why your answer is better, why research is important, where it will be conducted D. Summary of Proposal One paragraph summary of question, answer, relevant literature, the need for this research; your theoretical framework, hypotheses; locale, population to be studied, research site; significance of the research. II. Review of the Literature (how the questions have been answered before) A. Summarize only the relevant research, key paradigms, models, theories, approaches B. Identify the limitations of past research on the question C. Specify the positive contributions of previous research on which you will build D. Review should be synthesizing; show the themes in the literature; do not summarize at length any one piece unless it is the dominant paradigm; demonstrate control of scholarship; do not quote; be highly selective in references cited III. Statement of Need (why answering these questions is important) A. Build on limitations cited in literature review; indicate that your research will overcome those limitations. Ex: There are contradictory explanations of "X" which you will resolve. Ex: The methodologies for resolving "X" are inadequate; your research will produce a superior methodology Ex: No research has been conducted on "X"– your research fills a significant gap in scientific knowledge. Ex: No research has tested this explanation of “X”. You will provide the test. Ex: No research has observed these patterns, these representations, these relationships. You will describe, explore, analyze newly observed patterns, representations, relationships. Ex: The previous research is excellent, foundational, you will refine, advance IV. Statement of Significance of this Research (why the answers to the questions are important and therefore why proposal should be funded) A. Demonstrate how this research goes beyond limitations of existing works B. Should be a synthesis of problem statement and review of literature C. Show significance of each item listed in objective and in that order D. Significance can be advancing theory, offering application to critical social problems, filling a critical void in a field of knowledge, opening new ways of thinking about an area of investigation. V . Theoretical Framework (why you answer the questions that way; justify your answer) A. Clearly outline the theory, model, perspective, or conceptual framework from which you will generate the answer to the question (hypothesis for social scientists). 1. This should be written as your position. 2. Identify where you build on others and where you differ. 3. Define all terms necessary to the theoretical framework and the answer to the question (hypotheses). Definitions should allow you to operationalize the terms. This means that you establish the criteria (measurement) by which you know that you have found what you are looking for so that the research findings can be clearly recognized, identified, and evaluated to produce the answer. Measurement means you have clear criteria for knowing you have found what you think you have found. B. Statement of Hypotheses (projected answers to the questions). 1. Hypothesis is a statement of a relationship between at least two variables. Variables are the different agents which are answered or help answer your question. The hypothesis indicates a process, change. Ex: If "z" happens to 'Y' then "w" happens to "y" Ex: As level of education increases among men between 25-50 in Cairo, a positive attitude towards women’s rights increases. 2. Variables must be identifiable, operationalizable. 3. Change must be identifiable, measurable. 4. Hypothesis should be ordered in same sequence as objectives. C. Optional: Statement of Alternative Hypotheses (the competing answers) 1. Research (science) never conclusively answers question; it only increases the probability of one answer by eliminating competing explanations. 2. Thus a hypothesis must be falsifiable. 3. State dominant alternative hypotheses concerning the relationship between the variables you are investigating (how others have answered the questions). 4. Order these in same sequence as objectives and hypotheses. VI. Method/Design (how you will achieve objectives, answer the questions) A. Specify research site. 1. Justify choice. Show how the “where/what” fits problem situation, maximizes possibility of controlling research information, allows you to answer the questions. 2. Show how all objectives of research can be met in the “where/what”, in order of priority of objectives. 3. Review literature on that where/what – population, site, archives, texts… 4. Enumerate skills you have, information, contacts, experience in relationship to population/site that makes this a good choice. a. Ex: language skill b. Ex: have contacts with local government or university which you will gain your entry into the research site c. Ex: have done research there before B. Specify kinds of data / research information needed 1. Data should constitute information that will allow you to answer the questions. 2. Show that data / research information will answer all questions listed in problem 1. Techniques, instruments, data-gathering methods. 2. Ex: surveys, questionnaires, participant observation, content analysis, close reading, archival searches (discipline specific) 3. Explain how these techniques will produce information to answer questions 4. Indicate how techniques are related to questions and expected answers 5. Order in same sequence as objectives D. Validity 1. Internal a. Tests measure what they say they will measure b. Ex: use pre-tests, post-tests, control groups, work of other researchers 2. External a. Procedures can be repeated by your or others and produce the same results b. Generalizable – can be applied to others situations with same conditions E. Analysis of Data (using the research information to answer the questions) 1. Procedures that will be used to transform raw data into answers to the question. 2. Methods of reading / interpreting research information 3. Be specific. Show that procedures will produce answers to full lists of questions, objectives, hypotheses, from the raw data VII. Time Table (how long it will take to achieve the objectives, answer the questions) A. Anticipated schedule by days, weeks, months. 1. Include pre-research preparations if you want to be paid for it. a. Ex: Language training Ex: Archival work 2. Include consultation time. 3. Include time for data analysis. B. Should parallel list of objectives and cover all objectives. C. Be reasonable and precise. VIII. Budget (how much it will cost to answer the questions) A. List all personnel salaries, including yourself. B. Include: equipment, computers, photo/video equipment, supplies, travel, training time,insurance, visas, per diem for special trips, medical supplies, fees to informants, gifts to informants or other research related personnel, car or other local transportation, permits and costs of gaining access to research facilities, research assistants/consultants, photocopying, later reproduction or dissemination costs, translation into local language, permits to use archives, purchase texts, indirect costs to university (varies by agency) C. Consider inflation. D. Justify budget in relation to method/design. XI. Abstract A. Brief statement of research question, objectives, answer, significance. B. Short, powerful, attention-getting. C. Usually repeats the first paragraph of Problem Statement A. Short, focus on the background and skills that qualify you to do this research. B. Vitae of other personnel on the project. XI. Bibliography A. List only references sited. B. Keep short, but complete. Include literature that one must know to do this project ![]() |
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The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews.
Like any other genre of writing, a good research proposal takes time, multiple drafts, and a clear understanding of the task at hand. The purpose of a research proposal is a) to persuade your reader of the value of your research. question, b) to show you have a clear idea of where your research sits in existing knowledge, and c) to demonstrate ...
Table 7-1 Breakdown of the research proposal per semester 136 Table 7-2 Main assessment criteria 141 Figures Figure 3-1 Link between topic, question and conceptual significance 40 Figure 3-2 Logical sequence of a research proposal based on a research question 53 Figure 3-3 Logical sequence of a research proposal based on a
The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills. Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International ...
funds basic science research in most fields of science, social science, and engineering, and mathematics (STEM); does not fund clinical or health research. Peer Review: The evaluation of research/creative work or a grant proposal by one or more people with similar competences as the producers of the work or proposers (peers).
Research proposal examples. Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We've included a few for you below. Example research proposal #1: "A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management".
A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it's important, and how you will conduct your research. Your paper should include the topic, research question and hypothesis, methods, predictions, and results (if not actual, then projected). ... Social/Behavioral Sciences Research Guide InfoGuide URL.
Make sure that your research idea, question or problem is very clearly stated and well-grounded in academic research. Make sure that your proposal is well focused and conforms exactly to the submission requirements described here. Poorly specified, jargon-filled or rambling proposals will not convince us that you have a clear idea of what you ...
Literature Review. This key component of the research proposal is the most time-consuming aspect in the preparation of your research proposal. As described in Chapter 5, the literature review provides the background to your study and demonstrates the significance of the proposed research.Specifically, it is a review and synthesis of prior research that is related to the problem you are setting ...
In introducing your problem in a research proposal, you should provide a succinct statement which will help you to remain focused on the issue that you are addressing and how the information you will be discussing is related to that issue. 2. BACKGROUND: create a common ground of understanding. In order for the reader to understand the issue ...
Sample Research Proposals. You will find here two examples of proposals for postgraduate research from the Department of Social Policy and Criminology. They both give good indication of the sorts of things that need to be included. The first, on fathering after divorce or separation, represents first thoughts on the proposed topic, but sets out ...
A PhD proposal does not need to be long. In fact, I encourage applicants to be as concise as they can - Research Council application forms generally allow a couple of sides, 10 pt font minimum, so I would stick to that. For a social science PhD, proposals will contain a number of common elements:
What is a research proposal? Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research ... This varies tremendously, depending on the university, the field of study (e.g., social sciences vs natural sciences), and the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, Masters or PhD) - so it's always ...
Pzreworski, Adam, Salomon, Frank, On the Art of Writing Proposals (Social Science Research Council, 1995 rev., 1988). The SSRC makes available interdisciplinary research to inform policy, academic discourse, and the public. These publications are freely accessible and include policy working papers to essays for the general public.
The basic components of research proposals are the same in humanities and social sciences. How they are phrased and staged varies by discipline and by funding agency. The questions posed below are required by most agencies in some form. If you answer the "maximal" components below, you should be able to write proposals for most funding ...
This guide was originally created for AN510 / AR510: Proposal Writing for Social Science Research. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in other social science and humanities fields may also find this guide helpful as they prepare to write grant proposals, theses or dissertations.
A research proposal is a plan that a candidate submits to gain approval for post-graduate research. Although it is a typical requirement for any research in higher education, it has failed to receive the attention it is due from the academic community as a procedure of systematic teaching and learning.
ready reference to support social science concentrators as they begin to design their thesis research and prepare their thesis proposal. Note also that this guide is oriented around the thesis proposal document, but many aspects of the proposal format are also relevant to the thesis. Thus , the information in this guide may be used to
University of Gondar, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Sociology 19/011/25/2020. 1. Hand Out. Chapter: Writing a Research Proposal. 1.1 Introduction. A research proposal is a document which accounts for the research topic chosen by a researcher. It is a written document which totally describes the investigator's plan ...
The research proposal outlines the process from beginning to end and may be used to request financing for the project, certification for performing certain parts of research of the experiment, or as a required task before beginning a college dissertation." Web Finance Inc. (c. 2019).
Every social and behavioral sciences writer (and other scholars who adhere to these principles) advocates these objectives and observes the long-standing standards that their professional groups follow (APA, 2014). ... Purpose of Research Proposals: They justify the need for investigating a research problem and present workable strategies for ...
Writing for The Social Sciences April 5, 2022 When it comes to video games there is a lot to talk about. Some people see it as a waste of time, others see it as a way to entertain themselves or to have fun, and some see it as a career. I remember playing video games for as long as I have memory.
Budgets are an integral part of proposals that have a direct effect on how monies can be used, are tracked, and are audited in the post award period. Start here: Stanford ORA Budget Resource Page - find templates and helpful links and information including California's partial sales and use tax exemption for research and development equipment
The basic components of research proposals are the same in humanities and social sciences. How they are phrased and staged varies by discipline and by funding agency. The questions posed below are required by most agencies in some form. If you answer the "maximal" components below, you should be able to write proposals for most funding ...
Congratulations to Sreemoyee Majumder on her successful thesis proposal defence! "My proposed doctoral research titled Uncovering Women's Agency Navigating India's Legally Plural System as a Domestic Violence Survivor investigates the interplay between legal pluralism, domestic violence, and women's agency in postcolonial India. Following India's independence, a pluralistic system of ...
People are described using language that affirms their worth and dignity. Authors plan for ethical compliance and report critical details of their research protocol to allow readers to evaluate findings and other researchers to potentially replicate the studies. Tables and figures present information in an engaging, readable manner.
Research and its impact on display as the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation meets on campus. ... meeting by outlining the University's rising research expenditures and projection to receive the nation's highest research designation, Carnegie R1 , early next year, and the emergence of the North Tryon Tech Hub with ...
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular illnesses are two metabolic conditions that are greatly influenced by insulin resistance (IR). Identifying genetic markers associated with IR can offer insights into its mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Objective: This study investigated the association between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insulin ...
The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills. Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International ...