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:
Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example
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.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved August 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
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The CISSR Dissertation Completion Grant provides funding and office space for doctoral students in the final year of the dissertation. CISSR supports doctoral research on international, transnational, and global questions. Dissertation fellows are expected to engage with others at CISSR and contribute to intellectual life of the Center. Fellows are asked to acknowledge CISSR support in all related publications and submit an end-of-year report.
The application portal will open February 6, 2024 and close on March 31, 2024 .
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Apply for the CISSR Dissertation Fellowship
Deadline to submit applications: March 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM (CT)
For questions, please contact CISSR at [email protected] .
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Doctoral Program | Student Spotlights
Congratulations to Eudes S. Budhai who on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, successfully defended his dissertation. The title of Eudes’ dissertation is: A DESCRIPTIVE MULTIPLE CASE STUDY EXAMINING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: FROM THE VOICES OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
Members of school learning communities and researchers recognize that partnerships between families and schools are critical to the success of student learning (Epstein et al., 2018; Galindo & Sheldon, 2012; Sanders & Sheldon, 2009). This qualitative descriptive multiple case study aimed to understand how five school superintendents from culturally and linguistically diverse school districts, redefined their practices to engage families during the COVID-19 pandemic in urban/suburban diverse school districts. Special attention was given to ways schools ensured equity and access for all families in family engagement efforts. Eudes’ analysis drew upon the Dual Capacity Framework for School-Family Partnership, an approach to evaluating the effectiveness of educational initiatives and ensuring that all families can be actively engaged in their children's education, thereby promoting a more inclusive and equitable educational system. The findings highlight the importance of engagement opportunities tailored to families' unique circumstances and strengths.
Dissertation Committee Chair(s) : Dr. Kenneth Mitchell
Dissertation Committee Member(s) : Dr. Peter Troiano Dr. Miriam Ebsworth
Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.
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Congratulations to Ashley Cruz who on Thursday, May 16, 2024, successfully defended her dissertation proposal. The...
Congratulations to Terry Dade who on Friday, May 17, 2024, successfully defended his dissertation proposal. The...
Congratulations to Frances Havard who on Monday, May 20, 2024, successfully defended her dissertation proposal. The...
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Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components : Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we've compiled some examples for you to get your started. Example #1: "Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907" by Maria Lane. Example #2: "Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society" by Dimitri Nakassis.
Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.
Proposal Overview and Format. Students are urged to begin thinking about a dissertation topic early in their degree program. Concentrated work on a dissertation proposal normally begins after successful completion of the Second-Year Review, which often includes a "mini" proposal, an extended literature review, or a theoretical essay, plus advancement to doctoral candidacy.
Table of contents. Step 1: Coming up with an idea. Step 2: Presenting your idea in the introduction. Step 3: Exploring related research in the literature review. Step 4: Describing your methodology. Step 5: Outlining the potential implications of your research. Step 6: Creating a reference list or bibliography.
Award: 2017 Royal Geographical Society Undergraduate Dissertation Prize. Title: Refugees and theatre: an exploration of the basis of self-representation. University: University of Washington. Faculty: Computer Science & Engineering. Author: Nick J. Martindell. Award: 2014 Best Senior Thesis Award. Title: DCDN: Distributed content delivery for ...
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
Structuring Your Proposal. A typical dissertation proposal includes the following sections: Introduction: Introduce your research topic and explain its significance. Provide some background information and state your research question or hypothesis. Literature Review: Summarize existing research on your topic. Highlight key findings, gaps, and ...
The best place to look for a PhD proposal sample is your university. Consider asking your supervisor if they can share a good proposal from a previous student in your subject - or put you in touch with a current student you can ask. #3 Confuse the proposal with the PhD. We've covered this on the blog, but it's simple enough to include here too.
Most dissertations run a minimum of 100-200 pages, with some hitting 300 pages or more. When editing your dissertation, break it down chapter by chapter. Go beyond grammar and spelling to make sure you communicate clearly and efficiently. Identify repetitive areas and shore up weaknesses in your argument.
Dissertation Proposal | Examples, Steps & Structure. The research proposal in the dissertation stage of a doctoral program is a critical step that sets the tone for the research to be conducted. Read more about the dissertation proposal and how it contributes to the doctoral research process. Roehl Sybing. Content creator and qualitative data ...
A dissertation proposal should include: An introduction to your dissertation topic. Aims and objectives of your dissertation. A literature review of the current research undertaken in your field. Proposed methodology to be used. Implications of your research. Limitations of your research.
Research proposal example/sample - PhD-level (PDF/Word) Proposal template (Fully editable) If you're working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful: Research Proposal Bootcamp: Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible; 1:1 Proposal Coaching: Get ...
Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things: 1. that you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis. 2. that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly. Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.
I. Introduction. Introduce the topic of the dissertation and provide background information. Write a clear research question or statement of the problem that the study aims to address. Explain the significance of your research and discuss the contribution it will make to the field of study. II.
Dissertation proposals should be written in the present tense and should contain an introduction, conceptual framework, methodology, literature review, a bibliography, and appendices. The introduction should summarize the broad concepts and issues, and present your main research question. Get to the point in your introduction—there is no room ...
Expect a few rounds of revisions! Use this as practice for the dissertation. Start identifying recurring feedback. Practice asking for high and low-order feedback. Createaccountability- deadlines, writing. groups. Steps 5 & 6: Submit and Approve!
4. Stay Motivated While Writing a Dissertation. A study by the International Journal of Doctoral Studies states that a desire for a better life is a key motivator and a contributing factor in success for all doctoral students. 1 Keep that goal in mind by visualizing where the completion of your degree will take you.
A dissertation proposal is a major step in your master's or doctoral degree. It provides an outline of the future work you will do to complete that degree. The length of a dissertation proposal varies from field to field. However, a lengthy proposal usually takes up to 20 pages, while the shorter one is around 9 to 10 pages.
The best proposals generally are 20-25 double-spaced pages of text. The oral defense of the dissertation proposal must occur within six months after the student passes the comprehensive exams. The defense is scheduled upon approval of the dissertation committee and the Graduate Program Director. The proposal is presented to committee
Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on November 21, 2023. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process.It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to ...
The first thing you should know is that your defense has already begun. It started the minute you began working on your dissertation— maybe even in some of the classes you took beforehand that helped you formulate your ideas. This, according to Dr. Celeste Atkins, is why it's so important to identify a good mentor early in graduate school.
Research and Proposal Development. In most graduate programs, you will need to write and present a research proposal before you can really get started on your thesis or dissertation. Most research proposals are reviewed and approved by a professor or other faculty. Conducting a Literature Review
Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers' plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed ...
Doctoral Dissertation Research (18 credits minimum) HCC Ph.D. students are also expected to meet a prerequisite computing requirement, which can be met by completing one of the following: ... The Dissertation Proposal; The Dissertation Defense; The information below is intended as an overview of each requirement. Current School of Computing ...
We wish you the best as you move through the program. Please contact your advisor, Graduate Program Coordinator, or the Department Head if you have questions or concerns along the way. ... Form: PhD Dissertation Proposal Acceptance; 37 ; APPENDIX B. Graduate School Forms for PhD Program • Graduate School Forms can be found in their website:
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.
The CISSR Dissertation Completion Grant provides funding and office space for doctoral students in the final year of the dissertation. CISSR supports doctoral research on international, transnational, and global questions. Dissertation fellows are expected to engage with others at CISSR and contribute to intellectual life of the Center.
Congratulations to Eudes S. Budhai who on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, successfully defended his dissertation. The title of Eudes' dissertation is: A DESCRIPTIVE MULTIPLE CASE STUDY EXAMINING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: FROM THE VOICES OF SUPERINTENDENTS. Members of school learning communities and researchers recognize that partnerships between families ...
Breaking made its debut as an Olympic sport Friday, and among the competitors was Dr. Rachael Gunn, also known as B-girl Raygun, a 36-year-old professor from Sydney, Australia, who stood out in ...