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.
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 September 7, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
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Can you judge an essay or paper by its title page? Perhaps not but the title page template has something to say about your character as a writer. One of the main functions of this page is to allow the reader to identify your work easily while making your written assignments look more professional.
Importance of a title page template.
When submitting your essay, the first thing that your teacher would notice is the title page template. You may consider this as a simple part of the process of writing an essay but it can have an important effect on your instructor’s opinion.
For instance, if you submit an essay with an incomplete title page or one that doesn’t follow the proper APA title page format, your teacher might assume that you didn’t put any effort into the rest of your paper either. Writing this page only takes a few minutes including the proper formatting.
With a well-crafted page, you can make a memorable first impression that will get carried over to the rest of your essay. Sometimes though, you might not even need this page. If you aren’t sure, ask your teacher first.
For APA style papers, this page is a requirement and there are both professional and student versions of the title page. The version you use depends on your teacher’s instructions.
What is the difference between a cover page and title page.
Title and cover pages are often mistaken as having the same purpose. Although they have some similar aspects, there are some distinct differences too. A cover page template usually involves a picture, a title, and a hard surface – like the cover of a book.
A title page template just includes a title and other important information. It is usually the page right after a book’s hardcover page.
The APA 7 manual provides instructions with slight differences in the formatting of APA title page examples of professional papers. But there are general guidelines for this. In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, the title page template should include the following:
Other formatting tips.
Generally, the title page template is the first cover page of a paper or book and usually includes a running head, the title of your work, and your affiliation. Any research paper needs a lot of concentration in the creation of the title page because of its importance.
After all, it is the very beginning and the APA front page of your paper. The page contains the heading, together with your name, and your organizational or institutional affiliation. When making this page, consider these formatting tips:
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Include here the title of the proposal, complete identification of the principal investigator(s) (PI), institutional name(s), and the address, telephone number, FAX number, and email address of the PI(s).
This is a brief, clear summary of your project, usually not more than half a page. For federal grants, include the identifying keywords for your grant and underline them.
Here you present yourself and establish your credibility. This is the place to set the "tone" for your proposal by establishing a link between your project and the interests of the grantor.
Following "report format," the table of contents should show the different sections of your proposal and the page numbers on which they begin.
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Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page. Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize major words of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired.
The title page (or cover page) of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes: Dissertation or thesis title. Your name. The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper) The department and institution. The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
The student version of the APA title page should include the following information (double spaced and centered): Paper title. Author name. Department and university name. Course number and name. Instructor name. Due date of the assignment. The professional title page also includes an author note (flushed left), but not a course name, instructor ...
Formatting Rules. In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include: A running head (professional papers only) and page number. The title of the paper. The name of the author (s) The institutional affiliation. An author note; optional (professional papers only) A student paper should also include course information.
10/31/2023. The title page is a crucial component of a research paper, serving as the first point of contact between the reader and the study. It provides readers with a first impression, signaling the credibility and relevance of the work. Beyond conveying essential information, a well-designed title page adds visual appeal to the paper ...
Title of the paper: The title should be concise and descriptive, reflecting the main idea or focus of the research paper. The title should be centered on the page and in title case (capitalize the first letter of each major word). Author's name: The author's name should be written below the title, also centered on the page.
The page number goes in the upper-right corner of the title page, as part of the running head. This should be flush right with the page margin (1 inch). Because the title page comes first, this page number is always 1. 2 Title. The first line of text on the title page is, appropriately, the title. It follows these formatting guidelines: The ...
Title Page Content. student title page includes the following elements: title of the paper. author(s) ° include the full names of all authors of the paper; use the form first name, middle initial, last name (e.g., Betsy R. Klein) ° if two authors, separate with the word "and". (e.g., Ainsley E. Baum and Lucy K. Reid)
The title page (or cover page) of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper should contain all the key information about your document. It usually includes: Dissertation or thesis title. Your name. The type of document (e.g., dissertation, research paper) The department and institution. The degree program (e.g., Master of Arts)
An APA title page must include: A running head (including page number) The title of your paper (one or two lines long) The full name of the author (s) Your university or institution. Additional information, such as a course number or an author's note, should be placed on a separate line below the institution. APA title page template.
Here is an explanation of each step: 1. Title and Abstract. Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research. Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal. 2.
The title should be provided in title case. This means that all major words are capitalized. Be bolded, centered, and begin 3-4 lines down from the top margin of the paper. Put a double-spaced blank line between the title and the byline. The paper title also appears at the top of the first page of your paper.
tu. ent title page in APA, 7th edition. 1. First, use the Insert Page Number button on the Insert Tab of a Microsoft Word document to insert a plain page nu. be. at the right margin of the header.2. Next, 3 or 4 lines down from your paper's. top margin, type your paper's title. The title's typeface sh. ul.
Step 4: Create a working research paper title. To create a working title, remove elements that make it a complete "sentence" but keep everything that is important to what the study is about. Delete all unnecessary and redundant words that are not central to the study or that researchers would most likely not use in a database search.
The title page (also known as the cover page) is the front page of your paper. It should contain: The running head, a header at the top of the page. The first page number. The title of the paper; Your name; The institution for which you writing. Running head. The running head should be in the top-left corner of the page in uppercase. It should ...
MLA title page format. To create an MLA format title page, list the following on separate lines, left-aligned at the top of the page: Then leave a few blank lines and list the title of the paper, centered and in title case, halfway down the page. All text should be double-spaced and in the same font as the rest of the paper.
August 12, 2020. The title page of your dissertation or thesis conveys all the essential details about your project, including: The title of your project. Your full name (including student number if required) Clarification of whether this is a dissertation or thesis document. The name of your academic department. The name of your university.
Top 125 Project Proposal Title Ideas [Updated]
Title of the paper: three to four lines down from the top of the title page, centered and in bold for APA 7 (APA 6 does not have a title in bold). Name of each author: include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names. Affiliation for each author: give the name of the institution at which the research was carried out.
APA title page. The APA style version of the dissertation title page includes the following details: Title of paper. 1. Ensure you use an informative title that summarizes your research project. It should be precise and use relevant terms. 2. The title should be: • Four lines from the top of the page.
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & ...
Importance of a title page template. When submitting your essay, the first thing that your teacher would notice is the title page template. You may consider this as a simple part of the process of writing an essay but it can have an important effect on your instructor's opinion.. For instance, if you submit an essay with an incomplete title page or one that doesn't follow the proper APA ...
TITLE PAGE. Include here the title of the proposal, complete identification of the principal investigator(s) (PI), institutional name(s), and the address, telephone number, FAX number, and email address of the PI(s). ABSTRACT. This is a brief, clear summary of your project, usually not more than half a page.