What is a research proposal? What are the 7 parts of a research proposal structure? What goes into a research proposal? How long should be your research proposal?
A research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (i.e. your research topic), why it’s worth researching (i.e. your justification), and how you plan to work it (i.e. your practical approach).
The purpose of the research proposal is 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 (Smarandache, 2020).
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.
Writing a research proposal can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In this artcle, we will walk you through 10 easy steps that will help you write a high-quality research proposal. This process will help you organize your thoughts and make sure that your proposal is clear and concise.
1. Choose a topic
The first step in writing your research proposal is to choose a topic. It is important to choose a topic that you are interested in and that has enough information available to conduct research. Once you have chosen a topic, you can narrow it down by focusing on a specific research question.
2. Do your background research proposals.
Before you start writing your proposal, it is important to do some background research. This will help you better understand the topic and provide context for your research. Try to find scholarly articles, books, and other sources that are relevant to your topic.
3. Define your research question.
Once you have done some background research, you can define your research question. This will be the focus of your proposal and will help to keep your research focused. Make sure that your question is clear and concise.
4. Develop your argument.
After you have defined your research question, you need to develop an argument. This is the main point of your proposal and should be supported by your research. Start by stating your thesis, which is the main argument of your paper. Then, provide evidence to support your thesis.
5. Write a literature review.
A literature review is an important part of your proposal. In this section, you will discuss the existing research on your topic. This will help you better understand the current state of knowledge on your topic and identify gaps in the research.
6. Describe your methodology.
After you have reviewed the existing literature, you need to describe your methodology. This is how you will conduct your research and collect data. Make sure that your methodology is clear and concise. Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates. Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship Tip If you’re not sure where to begin, read our guide on how to write a literature review . Research design and methods: 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 (Leavy, 2022).
7. Discuss your results.
In this section, you will discuss the results of your research. This is where you will interpret your data and discuss the implications of your findings.
8. Write a conclusion.
After you have discussed your results, you need to write a conclusion. In this section, you will summarize your findings and discuss the implications of your research.
9. Edit and revise your proposal.
After you have written your proposal, it is important to edit and revise it. Make sure that your proposal is clear and concise. Check for grammar and spelling errors.
10. Get feedback from others.
Once you have edited and revised your proposal, it is important to get feedback from others. Ask a friend or colleague to read your proposal and give you feedback. Follow these 10 steps and you will be well on your way to writing a high-quality research proposal.
Accoriding to (Chanie Derso, 2019), the structure of a research proposal varies from university to university. However, there is an exact structure and format required for a dissertation or thesis research proposal. There are five “essential ingredients” that typically make up the structure of a research proposal. This includes:
For a detailed explanation of each of these, and step by step guidance covering how to write a research proposal, have a look at this video post.
A good dissertation or a thesis proposal needs to cover the “what”, the “why” and the “how” of the research. Let us look at ecah of the above.
Your proposal should clearly articulate your research topic. This needs to be specific. Your research topic should make it clear exactly what you plan to research. Additinally, to what context. Here’s an example: 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
This topic is extremely clear. From this one line we can see exactly:
Make sure that your research proposal provides an explanation of your research topic. It should go without saying, but don’t start writing your proposal until you have a crystal-clear topic in mind. You will end up waffling away a few thousand words.
Not only do you need to propose a research topic but also you need to justify why your topic is original. 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. You also need to justify why your proposed topic is important. In other words, what value will it add to the world if you manage to find answers to your research questions?
Always have a great topic that’s original and important. It is important in that, You arent going to convince anyone to approve it without discussing the practicalities. Here are some of the questions that ou can use to write a research proposal:
Always start your research strategy at the proposal stage. Additionally, provide a high-level view of your research methodology and some key design decisions. Here are some important questions you’ll need to answser in your proposal:
This is influenced by some factors such as:
According to (Weber, 2018), always check with your university what are the requirements before you start planning your proposal. A formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words. A PhD-level proposal can be far more detailed, ranging from 5000-8000 words. Occasionaly, a rough outline of the topic is all that’s needed. In other cases, universities expect a very detailed proposal that essentially forms the first three chapters of the dissertation.
Whether applying for a self-funded or studentship you should follow the guidance below. If you are looking for advice on writing your PhD, read our guide. Contact us to discuss the availability of supervision in your area of research before you make a formal application, by visiting our areas of research. ALWAYS – be sure to check with your institution requirements before you start writing.
In conclusion, the research proposal is your chance to explain the importance of your project to organizations who might be willing to fund it or sponsor or support it. Ideally, it demonstrates the quality and the importance of your project as well as the ability to support the proposed research. Finally, in the conclusion of a research proposal always conclude with brief information that summarizes the problem, solution, and the benefits. Make your audience remember the information in your research by stressing on ideas and the facts on that research.
A formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words.
Chanie Derso, M. “Under Graduate Scientific Paper (Academic Research Proposal, Research, Senior Seminar and Practical Attachment Report) Writing Guide Lines.” Journal of Biotechnology 7.3 (2019): 15-56.
Galvan, Jose L., and Melisa C. Galvan. Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences. Routledge, 2017.
Leavy, Patricia. Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. Guilford Publications, 2022.
Smarandache, Florentin, et al. Delphi method for evaluating scientific research proposals in a neutrosophic environment. Infinite Study, 2020.