research proposal is important for a researcher because

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• Writing a Research Proposal
• Generative AI and Writing
• Acknowledgments

The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. 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. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

• Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
• Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
• Improve your general research and writing skills;
• Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
• Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
• Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

• What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
• Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
• How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
• Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal.  The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• Why is the topic important?
• How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
• What problems will it help solve?
• How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
• What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

Most proposals should include the following sections:

I.  Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

• What is the central research problem?
• What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
• What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
• Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II.  Background and Significance

This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.

To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:

• State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
• Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
• Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
• Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
• Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
• If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.

III.  Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

• Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
• Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
• Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV.  Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

• Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
• Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
• Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!

V.  Preliminary Suppositions and Implications

Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance.   When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:

• What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
• What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
• What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
• Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
• How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
• Will the results influence policy decisions?
• In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
• How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?

NOTE:   This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.

ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.

VI.  Conclusion

The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.

Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:

• Why the study should be done;
• The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
• The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
• The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
• A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.

VII.  Citations

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

• References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
• Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.

In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.

Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. 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 Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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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 a research proposal is
• What a research proposal needs to cover
• How to structure your research proposal
• Example /sample proposals
• Proposal writing FAQs
• Key takeaways & additional resources

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:

• What’s being investigated – factors that make people promote or advocate for a brand of a specific makeup brand
• Who it involves – female Gen-Y consumers
• In what context – the United Kingdom

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:

• How will you actually undertake your research (i.e., your methodology)?
• Is your research methodology appropriate given your research aims?
• Is your approach manageable given your constraints (time, money, etc.)?

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:

• Will you take a qualitative , quantitative or mixed -method approach?
• What sampling strategy will you adopt?
• How will you collect your data (e.g., interviews, surveys, etc)?
• How will you analyse your data (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics , content analysis, discourse analysis, etc, .)?
• What potential limitations will your methodology carry?

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 Proposal

Now 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:

• A rich introduction and background to the proposed research
• An initial literature review covering the existing research
• An overview of the proposed research methodology
• A discussion regarding the practicalities (project plans, timelines, etc.)

In the video below, we unpack each of these four sections, step by step.

Research Proposal Examples/Samples

In 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 FAQs

How 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:

• The research topic is too broad (or just poorly articulated).
• The research aims, objectives and questions don’t align.
• The research topic is not well justified.
• The study has a weak theoretical foundation.
• The research design is not well articulated well enough.
• Poor writing and sloppy presentation.
• Poor project planning and risk management.
• Not following the university’s specific criteria.

Key Takeaways & Additional Resources

As 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:

• Proposal Writing 101 : A Introductory Webinar
• Research Proposal Bootcamp : The Ultimate Online Course
• Template : A basic template to help you craft your proposal

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 .

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51 Comments

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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

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11.2 Steps in Developing a Research Proposal

Learning objectives.

• Identify the steps in developing a research proposal.
• Choose a topic and formulate a research question and working thesis.
• Develop a research proposal.

Writing a good research paper takes time, thought, and effort. Although this assignment is challenging, it is manageable. Focusing on one step at a time will help you develop a thoughtful, informative, well-supported research paper.

Your first step is to choose a topic and then to develop research questions, a working thesis, and a written research proposal. Set aside adequate time for this part of the process. Fully exploring ideas will help you build a solid foundation for your paper.

Choosing a Topic

When you choose a topic for a research paper, you are making a major commitment. Your choice will help determine whether you enjoy the lengthy process of research and writing—and whether your final paper fulfills the assignment requirements. If you choose your topic hastily, you may later find it difficult to work with your topic. By taking your time and choosing carefully, you can ensure that this assignment is not only challenging but also rewarding.

Writers understand the importance of choosing a topic that fulfills the assignment requirements and fits the assignment’s purpose and audience. (For more information about purpose and audience, see Chapter 6 “Writing Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content” .) Choosing a topic that interests you is also crucial. You instructor may provide a list of suggested topics or ask that you develop a topic on your own. In either case, try to identify topics that genuinely interest you.

After identifying potential topic ideas, you will need to evaluate your ideas and choose one topic to pursue. Will you be able to find enough information about the topic? Can you develop a paper about this topic that presents and supports your original ideas? Is the topic too broad or too narrow for the scope of the assignment? If so, can you modify it so it is more manageable? You will ask these questions during this preliminary phase of the research process.

Identifying Potential Topics

Sometimes, your instructor may provide a list of suggested topics. If so, you may benefit from identifying several possibilities before committing to one idea. It is important to know how to narrow down your ideas into a concise, manageable thesis. You may also use the list as a starting point to help you identify additional, related topics. Discussing your ideas with your instructor will help ensure that you choose a manageable topic that fits the requirements of the assignment.

In this chapter, you will follow a writer named Jorge, who is studying health care administration, as he prepares a research paper. You will also plan, research, and draft your own research paper.

Jorge was assigned to write a research paper on health and the media for an introductory course in health care. Although a general topic was selected for the students, Jorge had to decide which specific issues interested him. He brainstormed a list of possibilities.

If you are writing a research paper for a specialized course, look back through your notes and course activities. Identify reading assignments and class discussions that especially engaged you. Doing so can help you identify topics to pursue.

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in the news
• Sexual education programs
• Hollywood and eating disorders
• Americans’ access to public health information
• Media portrayal of health care reform bill
• Depictions of drugs on television
• The effect of the Internet on mental health
• Popularized diets (such as low-carbohydrate diets)
• Fear of pandemics (bird flu, HINI, SARS)
• Electronic entertainment and obesity
• Advertisements for prescription drugs
• Public education and disease prevention

Set a timer for five minutes. Use brainstorming or idea mapping to create a list of topics you would be interested in researching for a paper about the influence of the Internet on social networking. Do you closely follow the media coverage of a particular website, such as Twitter? Would you like to learn more about a certain industry, such as online dating? Which social networking sites do you and your friends use? List as many ideas related to this topic as you can.

Narrowing Your Topic

Once you have a list of potential topics, you will need to choose one as the focus of your essay. You will also need to narrow your topic. Most writers find that the topics they listed during brainstorming or idea mapping are broad—too broad for the scope of the assignment. Working with an overly broad topic, such as sexual education programs or popularized diets, can be frustrating and overwhelming. Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper. However, more specific choices, such as the pros and cons of sexual education in kids’ television programs or the physical effects of the South Beach diet, are specific enough to write about without being too narrow to sustain an entire research paper.

A good research paper provides focused, in-depth information and analysis. If your topic is too broad, you will find it difficult to do more than skim the surface when you research it and write about it. Narrowing your focus is essential to making your topic manageable. To narrow your focus, explore your topic in writing, conduct preliminary research, and discuss both the topic and the research with others.

Exploring Your Topic in Writing

“How am I supposed to narrow my topic when I haven’t even begun researching yet?” In fact, you may already know more than you realize. Review your list and identify your top two or three topics. Set aside some time to explore each one through freewriting. (For more information about freewriting, see Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” .) Simply taking the time to focus on your topic may yield fresh angles.

Jorge knew that he was especially interested in the topic of diet fads, but he also knew that it was much too broad for his assignment. He used freewriting to explore his thoughts so he could narrow his topic. Read Jorge’s ideas.

Conducting Preliminary Research

Another way writers may focus a topic is to conduct preliminary research . Like freewriting, exploratory reading can help you identify interesting angles. Surfing the web and browsing through newspaper and magazine articles are good ways to start. Find out what people are saying about your topic on blogs and online discussion groups. Discussing your topic with others can also inspire you. Talk about your ideas with your classmates, your friends, or your instructor.

Jorge’s freewriting exercise helped him realize that the assigned topic of health and the media intersected with a few of his interests—diet, nutrition, and obesity. Preliminary online research and discussions with his classmates strengthened his impression that many people are confused or misled by media coverage of these subjects.

Jorge decided to focus his paper on a topic that had garnered a great deal of media attention—low-carbohydrate diets. He wanted to find out whether low-carbohydrate diets were as effective as their proponents claimed.

Writing at Work

At work, you may need to research a topic quickly to find general information. This information can be useful in understanding trends in a given industry or generating competition. For example, a company may research a competitor’s prices and use the information when pricing their own product. You may find it useful to skim a variety of reliable sources and take notes on your findings.

The reliability of online sources varies greatly. In this exploratory phase of your research, you do not need to evaluate sources as closely as you will later. However, use common sense as you refine your paper topic. If you read a fascinating blog comment that gives you a new idea for your paper, be sure to check out other, more reliable sources as well to make sure the idea is worth pursuing.

Review the list of topics you created in Note 11.18 “Exercise 1” and identify two or three topics you would like to explore further. For each of these topics, spend five to ten minutes writing about the topic without stopping. Then review your writing to identify possible areas of focus.

Set aside time to conduct preliminary research about your potential topics. Then choose a topic to pursue for your research paper.

Collaboration

Please share your topic list with a classmate. Select one or two topics on his or her list that you would like to learn more about and return it to him or her. Discuss why you found the topics interesting, and learn which of your topics your classmate selected and why.

A Plan for Research

Your freewriting and preliminary research have helped you choose a focused, manageable topic for your research paper. To work with your topic successfully, you will need to determine what exactly you want to learn about it—and later, what you want to say about it. Before you begin conducting in-depth research, you will further define your focus by developing a research question , a working thesis, and a research proposal.

Formulating a Research Question

In forming a research question, you are setting a goal for your research. Your main research question should be substantial enough to form the guiding principle of your paper—but focused enough to guide your research. A strong research question requires you not only to find information but also to put together different pieces of information, interpret and analyze them, and figure out what you think. As you consider potential research questions, ask yourself whether they would be too hard or too easy to answer.

To determine your research question, review the freewriting you completed earlier. Skim through books, articles, and websites and list the questions you have. (You may wish to use the 5WH strategy to help you formulate questions. See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for more information about 5WH questions.) Include simple, factual questions and more complex questions that would require analysis and interpretation. Determine your main question—the primary focus of your paper—and several subquestions that you will need to research to answer your main question.

Here are the research questions Jorge will use to focus his research. Notice that his main research question has no obvious, straightforward answer. Jorge will need to research his subquestions, which address narrower topics, to answer his main question.

Using the topic you selected in Note 11.24 “Exercise 2” , write your main research question and at least four to five subquestions. Check that your main research question is appropriately complex for your assignment.

Constructing a Working ThesIs

A working thesis concisely states a writer’s initial answer to the main research question. It does not merely state a fact or present a subjective opinion. Instead, it expresses a debatable idea or claim that you hope to prove through additional research. Your working thesis is called a working thesis for a reason—it is subject to change. As you learn more about your topic, you may change your thinking in light of your research findings. Let your working thesis serve as a guide to your research, but do not be afraid to modify it based on what you learn.

Jorge began his research with a strong point of view based on his preliminary writing and research. Read his working thesis statement, which presents the point he will argue. Notice how it states Jorge’s tentative answer to his research question.

One way to determine your working thesis is to consider how you would complete sentences such as I believe or My opinion is . However, keep in mind that academic writing generally does not use first-person pronouns. These statements are useful starting points, but formal research papers use an objective voice.

Write a working thesis statement that presents your preliminary answer to the research question you wrote in Note 11.27 “Exercise 3” . Check that your working thesis statement presents an idea or claim that could be supported or refuted by evidence from research.

Creating a Research Proposal

A research proposal is a brief document—no more than one typed page—that summarizes the preliminary work you have completed. Your purpose in writing it is to formalize your plan for research and present it to your instructor for feedback. In your research proposal, you will present your main research question, related subquestions, and working thesis. You will also briefly discuss the value of researching this topic and indicate how you plan to gather information.

When Jorge began drafting his research proposal, he realized that he had already created most of the pieces he needed. However, he knew he also had to explain how his research would be relevant to other future health care professionals. In addition, he wanted to form a general plan for doing the research and identifying potentially useful sources. Read Jorge’s research proposal.

Before you begin a new project at work, you may have to develop a project summary document that states the purpose of the project, explains why it would be a wise use of company resources, and briefly outlines the steps involved in completing the project. This type of document is similar to a research proposal. Both documents define and limit a project, explain its value, discuss how to proceed, and identify what resources you will use.

Writing Your Own Research Proposal

Now you may write your own research proposal, if you have not done so already. Follow the guidelines provided in this lesson.

Key Takeaways

• Developing a research proposal involves the following preliminary steps: identifying potential ideas, choosing ideas to explore further, choosing and narrowing a topic, formulating a research question, and developing a working thesis.
• A good topic for a research paper interests the writer and fulfills the requirements of the assignment.
• Defining and narrowing a topic helps writers conduct focused, in-depth research.
• Writers conduct preliminary research to identify possible topics and research questions and to develop a working thesis.
• A good research question interests readers, is neither too broad nor too narrow, and has no obvious answer.
• A good working thesis expresses a debatable idea or claim that can be supported with evidence from research.
• Writers create a research proposal to present their topic, main research question, subquestions, and working thesis to an instructor for approval or feedback.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Writing a Research Proposal

• First Online: 10 April 2022

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• Fahimeh Tabatabaei 3 &
• Lobat Tayebi 3  

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A research proposal is a roadmap that brings the researcher closer to the objectives, takes the research topic from a purely subjective mind, and manifests an objective plan. It shows us what steps we need to take to reach the objective, what questions we should answer, and how much time we need. It is a framework based on which you can perform your research in a well-organized and timely manner. In other words, by writing a research proposal, you get a map that shows the direction to the destination (answering the research question). If the proposal is poorly prepared, after spending a lot of energy and money, you may realize that the result of the research has nothing to do with the initial objective, and the study may end up nowhere. Therefore, writing the proposal shows that the researcher is aware of the proper research and can justify the significance of his/her idea.

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Additional Resources

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https://www.niaid.nih.gov

http://www.grantcentral.com

http://www.saem.org/research

http://www.cfda.gov

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http://www.nsf/gov

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Tabatabaei, F., Tayebi, L. (2022). Writing a Research Proposal. In: Research Methods in Dentistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98028-3_4

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Write Like a Scientist

A Guide to Scientific Communication

The Research Proposal

Before you can begin doing any research, you must obtain funding from a foundation or government organization. Whether or not you are granted this funding relies heavily on the quality of the grant proposal you submit to the organization; regardless of the quality of research you propose, a poorly written document will get quickly disregarded in favor of those more easily understood.

Unlike primary research articles and posters, proposals do not have any conventional format (such as IMRD ). The most common way to organize a research proposal is through three major sections:

• Project summary
• Project description
• References cited

The Project Description is the most extensive of the sections, but we will cover each of them in detail in “Organization,” below.

Because nearly every funding organization has a different yet exact way they want your proposal to be organized, it is best to research what format the organization you are applying to would like you to use. This information is usually available on websites along with example proposals.

Besides the extremely general guidelines we provide you on this website, you have another invaluable resource for writing your research proposal: the  Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP, sometimes also called a Request for Applications (RFA), is a document provided by the funding agency that includes all the instructions you need to apply for a grant.

RFPs are your best friends  when writing proposals. Reading these documents carefully will save you undue time and stress trying to figure out how to properly construct your document. The instructions within will tell you exactly how to format and organize your proposal and how to address the needs of the funding agency so that you  will get funded .

As you read through the rest of this page and learn how to create a compelling research proposal, keep in mind the following reasons that research proposals are  rejected :

* Table is adapted from Robinson et al. (2008) , who gathered this information from Bowman and Branchaw (1992)

After you study the information on the rest of this page, revisit the table above and test yourself to see if you know exactly how to avoid each of the mistakes listed.

[bg_faq_start]

Audience and purpose

The audience for your research proposal are the people who get to decide whether or not you deserve to be funded by their agency. They will be at least somewhat familiar with your line of research, although it is rare that they will be complete experts in your exact research topic (unless you are applying for a very specialized grant). The RFP for your grant should inform you of who will be reading your proposal so that you can gauge how familiar they already are with your topic.

The RFP is not so explicit, one possible approach is to approach your audience on two levels. The first is to address a more general audience when first introducing your ideas and providing background information. Some of the ways you can accomplish this are to 1)  define more acronyms and other terms  you might normally assume are known by a more expert audience and 2)  use graphics to help illustrate more complex ideas .

In your experimental approach section, however, you should start to address a true expert audience. By including proper details and using formal scientific language —skills reviewed in our section on Addressing Your Audience here —you can fully demonstrate your own expertise in the area.

Because your audience, being comprised of people from various backgrounds and with diverse biases, has a highly critical and inherently more subjective perspective on your research, your proposal must be more welcoming and readable than a journal article. The terse verging on mechanistic style of an article has to be smoothed into an enjoyable (yet convincing!) read.  Remember that your readers are sifting through sometimes hundreds of proposals and will likely spend less than an hour deciding the fate of your grant request; if your proposal is dense and unpleasant to read, they won’t bother spending more time than necessary trying to decipher it . We will address how to make your proposal approachable and welcoming in our Style and Conventions section, below.

Purpose: to persuade

Everything you include in your proposal should contribute to the goal of  persuading your potential funding agency that they should fund your work . The three most important components of this process are to convince them that their interests require your work, that your research ideas and abilities are intellectually sound, and that your work will have broad impacts on your community and society.

If your audience doesn’t believe that your research wouldn’t contribute to attaining the goals of the funding agency, they aren’t probably going to want to fund your project. The first step in this, of course, is to apply for grants from the appropriate agencies , ones whose goals already align with your work. The agency’s RFP should delineate the needs of the agency for you if you are not already familiar with them.

Assuming you’ve chosen an appropriate grant to apply to, all you have to do is make this connection clear in your proposal . Don’t be afraid to use the ideas provided for you in the RFP instructions to state explicitly in which ways your research goals overlap with theirs. Don’t make the readers infer the connection themselves!

Your second major goal is to convince your funders that both you and your research plan are worth funding . The following points summarize the most critical components of this part of the proposal assessment.

• Is your proposal well-written?  A well-written proposal shows that you pay attention to detail, are thorough, and are organized. Your competence will truly be partly evaluated on your ability to write a good proposal, so be sure to spend adequate time editing your writing itself.
• Is your timeline realistic?  The timeline you propose for your project must simultaneously reflect an efficient process and be realistic. If you estimate too much or too little time for some components of your project or fail to convince your audience that you will be able to complete your project according to your timeline, you won’t appear to be a reliable candidate for funding.
• Do you know the limitations of your methods?  By demonstrating that you know the extent of your methodology, you show your audience that you are a reasonable and experienced scientist. Error bars, detection limits, and other methodological limitations should always be included in your proposal.
• Do you have the necessary skills?  You need to tell your readers why you are the right person to conduct this research by enumerating your past accomplishments and research experience, education, publications, grants received, conference presentations, and other contributions to science. For undergraduates, some of these areas may need to be replaced by letters of recommendation, transcripts, and other documents.
• Is your research more deserving than others?  In order to contribute to the progress of science, your research needs to explore something novel and/or do so in a novel way. If your work seems unoriginal, funders won’t be interested in it. Gap statements are a great way to introduce what exactly your research contributes.

Even if your research is creative and explores a novel subject, if its scope is too narrow, it will be hard to convince people to fund it. At the very least your research should be able to impact other scientists; ideally, it will impact a particular community or even all of society. With this aim you are addressing a broader audience, so be sure to express the impacts of your work in broadly accessible language. Even if your particular results will be small in the scope discovering planets or of curing cancer, their implications should be large.

[bg_faq_end]

Style and conventions

Readability is one of the most important aspects of your proposal. Within the often very strict length limits of a given proposal you have to fit as much persuasive information as possible without losing your reader’s focus. According to Robinson et al. (2008) ,

A 15-page proposal should take less time to read than it typically takes to read a five-page journal article.

To see some examples of how this is accomplished in successful proposals, open any of the samples below.

What similarities do you notice in these sample proposals? What differences? The content of the proposals is dependent, of course, on the RFP for each grant, but you should notice some stylistic themes.

The following tools and proposal-specific conventions can help you write a proposal that makes highly technical science more accessible and welcoming as do the samples above.

Headings and subheadings

Like in journal articles, separating sections of your proposal with clear headings is important. But because proposals are often longer and more variable than articles, it is critical to maintain an especially clear hierarchical heading format .

Below we provide examples of what this hierarchy  could  look like in your proposal.

You can usually choose any heading styles you like, as long as they are clear and simple and that you use them consistently throughout your proposal.

One highly recommended strategy for designing sub-section contents is to match these sections and section headings directly with each instruction given in a research proposal. So if the proposal asks for the following information (numbered), you may consider using the corresponding headings (italicized) for those sections of your proposal:

1) a summary of what has already been completed in your project

“Summary of accomplished work”

2) an explanation of what your work will contribute to the field

“Intended contributions to the field”

This strategy will make it clear to your reader how you have addressed each of their requirements.

Be sure to maintain  formatting parallelism  in your headings by keeping capitalization, punctuation, and structure consistent among headings whenever possible. Compare the following two sets of lists:

In the example on the left, the numbering scheme, uses of capitalization and punctuation, and grammatical structure are inconsistent. The example on the right is consistent in each of these areas.

Verb tense and personal pronouns

While a published journal article focuses almost entirely on what research you have already  conducted, a proposal is based upon what you  will do. Accordingly, in the latter genre you will make heavy use of the future tense in addition to past and present tenses.

Your goals and objectives should be written using the present tense , such as:

“The primary goal of my thesis project is X.”

“The specific objectives contributing to this goal are  A, B, and C.”

The present tense should, as always, also be used for any type of knowledge that has been considered to be true over time while the past tense should be used for information discovered at one point in time but that does not necessarily still hold true.

Because it has occurred recently and is considered part of the current project, work conducted in the past is generally referred to in  present perfect tense, such as in the following statements.

“The first step in this process has been tested .”

“The relationship among these variables  has been investigated  by our group.”

All planned work is often discussed in the  future  tense in proposals. This may seem obvious, but note that in articles, it is often suggested that future work  could or  should  be done. But in a research proposal you are using the future tense to state a fact of what  will  be done, as in:

“ During the duration of this fellowship, I  will concentrate on X.”

“These accomplishments  will fulfill  objective Y.”

Unlike in other forms of professional writing, personal pronouns are also acceptable in research proposals. Normally these pronouns are omitted for the sake of objectivity , but a proposal is already a very subjective work in which you are convincing the reader that  you and  your  work should get funded. Thus, personal pronouns are used commonly, such as in the following statements:

“ Our approach is based on X.”

“ We propose to apply these methods.”

Note, however, that these pronouns are not equally appropriate in  all areas of a proposal. When a statement is based on a particular scientific concept and not on anything involving you as a researcher or your lab’s work, it is probably still better to focus on the science at hand by avoiding personal pronouns. Additionally, it is recommended that you refrain from using “I” or “we” in opening statements of each major section.

When constructed well, bulleted and numbered lists are  efficient  and  effective  tools for getting ideas across in research proposals. Lists organize your information in a highly readable format that readers can reference when needed.

Lists are common for outlining project objectives and for the expected outcomes of your project. As an example, we created a list adapted from the Expected Outcomes portion of the proposal by Ricks (2008) :

Wherever you choose to use them, lists need to adhere as closely as possible to parallelism guidelines, summarized below:

Language:  Parallel language should be used whenever possible in lists to make them cohesive and coherent. For example, if item one in your list says, “Providing a measurable increase in efficiency,” item two should also begin with a gerund and be followed by a noun, such as, “Enabling immediate access to databases.”

Numbering:  If in one part of your proposal you use a “1, 2, 3…” numbering system, do not use a “I, II, III…” or “A, B, C …” system in another part.

Formatting:  All other components of formatting, such as indentation, bullet style, text style, and punctuation should be consistent throughout your proposal.

Organization

Here, we will cover a standard format for constructing the Project Description portion of a research proposal. Throughout this section, keep in mind that each and every funding agency will have its own specific instructions for how it wants your proposal to be organized. You should always follow these instructions exactly, although you’ll likely find that sections that may be called by different names than we call them here, they include much of the same content and can be organized similarly.

Goals and Importance

The first section of the Project Description is intended to introduce the work by establishing its goals and its importance in the context of other scientific research. A clearly laid out argument is critical in this section for convincing a funding agency that it is worth their time to look at the details of the project itself.

1. Identify goals and objectives. Although this section might have a narrower focus than Moves 2 and 3, it is usually important that it come first so that a funding agency can quickly determine whether or not the project will contribute to the agency’s own goals and therefore merits further review. The g oals of your study are usually broad, long-term ends toward which your project is directed but will not achieve on its own; objectives are more specific and should be directly measurable in your research. Move 1 should establish both of these aspects of your study.

2. Establish importance. Proving to your audience that your project is important is crucial to obtaining funding. Each submove contributes to establishing the importance of the research you are proposing. First, you should introduce the general topic of your project in a way that hints at its importance. For example:

Although premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, its contributing factors are poorly understood.

In submove (ii), the scientific literature should be used to provide background information and important details about the topic. Who else has interest in this area of research? What have they discovered that is of great importance? Who benefits or will benefit from the research? What have others stated a need for? This should set you up to identify the gap in the literature (which you intend to fill with the results your project).

3. Introduce the proposed work. Once you have established that there is a great need for a greater understanding of some kind in the general scientific topic you identified in Move 2, you can present your project, which will save the day! If Move 2 identified a challenge, explain how your project faces the challenge. If it identified a problem, your project will solve the problem. This solidifies the importance of your project while identifying what it will actually do. Move 3 is not often given a separate heading of the kind in Moves 1 and 2, but instead flows more smoothly from Move 2 in a new paragraph.

Experimental Approach

This section is the most technical of the three in the Project Description and therefore must proceed in a logical manner that is easy to follow. By starting with what you’ve already accomplished in relation to the proposed project and showing that it is already yielding favorable results, you contextualize and strengthen the reader’s confidence in your proposed methodology.

1. Describe previous accomplishments. If you have done any previous research that worked towards the same or a similar goal, this is your opportunity to share its accomplishments. Doing so will build readers’ confidence in your research abilities and current project plan.

2. Identify promising results. Most funding agencies will hope that you have some empirical reason to believe that your proposed project will work, meaning that you have conducted preliminary research that has indicated that your objectives are reasonable and achievable. In this move, you should share these results (if you have them).

3. Propose methodology for reaching an objective. This move should be distinctly made for each objective that you presented in your Goals and Importance section in the same order as you presented them. It is customary to first present simpler, more straight-forward experiments first and progress to those of higher risk or, alternatively, to group methodologies by the types of information that will be gathered, such as synthesis yields versus biproduct identifications. Start by transitioning from your preliminary work to your proposed work in submove (i) before getting into the exact methodology.

It is helpful to use a separate sub-heading for each iteration of Move 3, as well, so that each objective’s methodology is clearly distinguished from the next. These headings can be generic, such as “Objective 1,” or descriptive, such as “TENR Library Construction.”

Unlike in a journal article methods section, only provide enough detail in this section to convince your audience that you can do the work. Focus on the general approach and avoid details (e.g. instrument model numbers or reagent purities) that will take up space and distract your reader from the overall importance of your project.

In submove (iii), address potential limitations or setbacks you can foresee in your plan. You are bound to have some in any research, and acknowledging them shows that you have thought carefully about your proposed research.

Outcomes and Impacts  The first two moves of this section essentially summarize what you have already presented in a new format. The end of the proposal then broadens in scope to focus on the wider impacts of the research, beyond its addressing of your individual objectives to the more general goals of the scientific area.

1. Present project timeline. This move allows you to summarize your experimental section in away that makes your anticipated accomplishments tangible. The timeline is presented in paragraph form but reads very list-like, with phrases like “In the spring of 2016, we will complete the Si experiments.” The timeline can be fairly general but must be realistic.

2. Describe predicted outcomes. List measurable achievements that link back to your objectives in section 1. Be as specific as possible so that readers are left with the feeling that your project will result in tangible outcomes.

3. Conclude the proposal. Because they are key components of the proposal, Move 3 begins by summarizing once again the goals and significance of the proposal. This can usually be accomplished in roughly 3 sentences and comprises its own paragraph. Make your closing remarks in submove (ii), where you tell your funding agency how your project will benefit the greater scientific community and/or general public. The broader the impact of your project and the more people it benefits, the more likely it is to be funded.

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6 Preparing Your Research Proposal

More often than not, there will be a few steps that you’ll have to take before you can start gathering and analyzing data in pursuit of an answer to your research question. Preparing a research proposal is a milestone in any research project and is often required by sponsoring institutions in order to transition from ‘the ‘planning’ phase to the ‘doing’ phase. So why, you might ask, are we talking about this step in phase III, ‘writing’? That’s a great question and it has to do, primarily, with the order of thought and the information that must be included in a research proposal. In this chapter, we’ll cover the basic requirements of most research proposals and address the requirements and responsibilities of a researcher.

Chapter 6: Learning Objectives

Before you prepare to implement your research methodology, it is likely that you’ll need to gain approval to continue. As we explore the development of the research proposal, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the individual elements of a research proposal
• Delineate between the rationale and implementation portions of a research proposal
• Discuss the ethical tenets which govern researchers
• Define the purpose of an institutional review board
• Compare categories of institutional review board applications

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal can be thought of as the general blueprint for a proposed research project. There are very few instances wherein research projects can be pursued without support of a sponsoring institution. That is, a healthcare system, hospital, or academic institution. To receive support from a sponsoring institution, a researcher must articulate a clear plan for their research process to include:

• An overview of the literature which supports the investigation
• A statement of the problem
• A statement of purpose
• A hypothesis or central question
• An overview of how participants will be identified, selected, contacted or data will be identified, analyzed, and protected
• An overview of the proposed methodology (i.e. approach to the study)
• An acknowledgment that participants, data, and results will be treated ethically throughout the study
• A timeline for the project

As Crawford, Burkholder, and Cox (2020) describe, these items can be split into separate portions of a research proposal, the rationale (i.e. Whye) and implementation (i.e. How).

As we discussed in previous chapters, developing a robust rationale for your research will help guide the entire research process. The introduction to your research proposal should include a general description of why the research should be conducted. Aside from your general interest, the introduction to the research should be firmly rooted in the available evidence which, first identifies a problem; second, identifies a purpose for the pursuit of inquiry into the problem; and finally, articulates a clear and focused research question which addresses the gap in current knowledge on the topic.

Implementation

Outlining your plan for implementation is essential to gain approval to conduct your research. Equally important to developing a well-articulated rationale, the identification of a clear methodology for how you will implement your approach is an important component of a research proposal.

A plan of implementation can be presented in several ways. However, an inclusive plan should include the following elements (Crawford, Burkholder, & Cox, 2020):

• How you will select participants or identify ‘what’ is included in your investigation
• How you will measure what you’re investigating
• What type of data you will collect and how
• How you will analyze the data
• Frame the terms that specify your investigation
• Qualities of the study that are inherent to the study, but may be overlooked as obvious unless addressed
• Delimitations narrow the scope of the study regarding what it does not include. Limitations are an acknowledgement of the weaknesses of the study design or methodology (Spoiler: there are limitations to EVERY study).
• Influence practice?
• Impact policy?
• Provide a foundation for future research?

We’ve spent a lot of time discussing how to identify a problem, a purpose, articulate a question, and identify a sample and the selection and implementation of an appropriate approach. Ethical considerations of the researcher is another essential topic for any researcher to cover. Here, we’ll provide a general overview of ethical considerations that are required of sponsoring institutions to ensure the ethical treatment of study participants and related data.

As a clinician, you’re likely familiar with the tenets of bedside bioethics that guide clinical practice:

• Autonomy : The right to self-direction and control
• Beneficence : The intention to do ‘good’, or what is in the best interest of the patient
• Non-Maleficence : The goal to ‘do no harm’ in practicing
• Justice : The pursuit of fairness and equity

These basic tenets of care do not change much when viewed through the lens of a researcher. However, it is important to note the foundation upon which research ethics were built. In 1974, the National Research Act was drafted in response to blatant abuse of research methods such as the Tuskegee study and resulted in the establishment of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.The ethical principles which guide researchers are derived outlined by the Belmont Report (HHS.gov) and include:

• Autonomy : Respect for a person to make personal choices and provisions and protections to be provided for participants belonging to vulnerable populations
• Beneficence : The intention to do what is morally right; to minimize risk and maximize benefits
• Justice : To promote equity among the treatment of individuals and groups

Researchers must address the ways in which they intent to uphold these principles in their proposed research project. Methods by which they do this include:

• Voluntary Informed Consent : Informed consent is a process which ensures that a participant is educated in terms that they can understand about the risks inherent to their participation. This process underscores respect through the provision of consent for a voluntary act (HHS.gov, n.d.)
• Avoidance of Harm : Avoidance of harm is related to the ethical tenet of beneficence and is the primary responsibility of the researcher
• Assessment of Risk: The common rule mandates that researchers ensure that the risk to potential participants in a research study are minimized and that the research cannot impose risk that outweighs the potential benefit of the outcomes.
• Right to Withdrawal: Participants must be made aware of their rights to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without consequences.
• Responsibility to Terminate: The principle investigator has the responsibility to terminate the research intervention should it be made clear that the intervention has either a detrimental effect on participants or an overwhelmingly positive effect such that it would be unethical to continue the study.

Universal research practices which promote these principles must be included in a research proposal in order to conduct research at most institutions and are outlined in the Common Rule which regulates the functions of institutional review boards (IRBs).

Institutional Review Board

An IRB is a formally designated group which has been established to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in research; specifically research conducted at, or supported by, a specific institution. Here it is important to understand what is meant by the terms ‘research’ and ‘human subjects’. In regards to the requirement of IRB review, the term research means a systematic investigation, development, testing and evaluation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge (University of Southern California, n.d.). Human subjects in relation to research refers to a living individual who’s information or biospecimens are used or analyzed to generate either identifiable private information or biospecimens for the purpose of generalizable information (University of Southern California, n.d.).

Although there are some details which will differ between organizations, there are general categories of human subject research which must be reviewed by an IRB. These classifications are designated by the degree of risk assumed by the participants and the ability of the researcher to mitigate those risks. Minimal risk is described by the federal regulations as the probability and magnitude of physical or psychological harm that is normally encountered in the daily lives, or in the routine medical, dental, or psychological examination of healthy persons (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, n.d). Generally, research proposals will fall into one of the following categories:

• Exempt : Exempt research poses no more than minimal risk to adult, non-vulnerable populations.
• Expedited : Research that poses no more than minimal risk to participants and fits into one of the expedited categories described in federal regulations 45 CFR 46.110 (HHS.gov)
• Full Board : Research that does not qualify for either exempt or expedited review and poses more than minimal risk to participants. This type of review requires the approval from a full membership of an IRB.

Projects that don’t need IRB approval

Projects which are not considered human subjects research are not required to be reviewed by an IRB. Quality improvement projects do not typically require formal IRB review. However, individual institutional requirements should be reviewed and followed; preferably, in the planning phase of your research project to ensure that the requirements of your specific review align with both your approach and your timeline.

Key Takeaways

• Research proposals can be split into two primary components: The rational and the plan of implementation
• The introduction of your research proposal should encompass a description of your problem, purpose, and research question
• The identification of your research approach should be firmly guided by the ethical tenets of autonomy, beneficence, and  justice
• The researcher has an ethical responsibility to protect participants from risk
• An institutional review board is a formal board charged with reviewing risks associated with research projects
• There are differing levels of institutional review; assumption of risk is the primary factor in classifying level of IRB review

Crawford, L.M., Burkholder, G.J., Cox, K.A. (2020). Writing the Research Proposal. In G.J. Burkholder, K.A Cox, L.M. Crawford, and J.H. Hitchcock (Eds.), Research design and methods: An applied guide for the scholar-practitioner (pp. 309-334). Sage Publications

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. (2020, August, 17). Protection of human subjects . Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=83cd09e1c0f5c6937cd9d7513160fc3f&pitd=20180719&n=pt45.1.46&r=PART&ty=HTML#se45.1.46_1104

Health and Human Services. (2020, August, 14). The Belmont report . Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html

University of Southern California. (2020, August, 17). Office for the protection of research subjects . University of Southern California. https://oprs.usc.edu/irb-review/types-of-irb-review/

The right to self direction and control

The intention to do 'good'

The intention to do no harm

Pursuit of fairness and equity

A systematic investigation

Living persons participating in research

Probability of harm that does not exceed that encountered in every day life

IRB classification for research projects that do not pose more than minimal risk to adult, non-vulnerable populations

Classification of IRB approval for research that does not pose more than minimal risk, but fits into federally regulated categories.

IRB Classification for research that does pose more than minimal risk for participants

Practical Research: A Basic Guide to Planning, Doing, and Writing Copyright © by megankoster. All Rights Reserved.

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• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on 30 October 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on 13 June 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

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 organised and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, frequently asked questions.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

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

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

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’
• Example research proposal #2: ‘ Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use’

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

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:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

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:

• 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 synthesise prior scholarship

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.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasise again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

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

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:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

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.

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Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Research Proposal

• Purpose of Guide
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• The Research Problem/Question
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Evaluating Sources
• Reading Research Effectively
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Is it Peer-Reviewed?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism [linked guide]
• Annotated Bibliography
• Grading Someone Else's Paper

The goal of a research proposal is to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting the research are governed by standards within the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, so guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and/or benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

• Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
• Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to ensure a research problem has not already been answered [or you may determine the problem has been answered ineffectively] and, in so doing, become better at locating scholarship related to your topic;
• Improve your general research and writing skills;
• Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
• Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
• Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of doing scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those results. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your writing is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

• What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to research.
• Why do you want to do it? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of study. Be sure to answer the "So What?" question.
• How are you going to do it? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having trouble formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise; being "all over the map" without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review.
• Failure to delimit the contextual boundaries of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.].
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research.
• Failure to stay focused on the research problem; going off on unrelated tangents.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal .  The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal . Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal . International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal . University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing a regular academic paper, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. Proposals vary between ten and twenty-five pages in length. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• Why is the topic important?
• How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
• What problems will it help solve?
• How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
• What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like--"Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

In general your proposal should include the following sections:

I.  Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea or a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in one to three paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

• What is the central research problem?
• What is the topic of study related to that problem?
• What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
• Why is this important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II.  Background and Significance

This section can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. This is where you explain the context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is relevant to help explain the goals for your study.

To that end, while there are no hard and fast rules, you should attempt to address some or all of the following key points:

• State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
• Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing. Answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care].
• Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
• Explain how you plan to go about conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
• Set the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you will study, but what is excluded from the study.
• If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts or terms.

III.  Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methods they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, where stated, their recommendations. Do not be afraid to challenge the conclusions of prior research. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your study in relation to that of other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you read more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

To help frame your proposal's literature review, here are the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

• Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate?
• Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.] .
• Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV.  Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that it is worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

• Specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of these operations in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
• Keep in mind that a methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is an argument as to why these tasks add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you explain this.
• Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method is perfect so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your reader.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal . Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal . 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 Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal . University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Research Proposal: What it is + Free Guide

The success of your project, your team, and your financial future is dependent on the success of your research proposal. In some instances, it will assist in obtaining funding in your chosen field of study, while in other cases, it may facilitate your receiving a grant or funding.

The following article is designed to help you provide your decision-makers with the best research proposal strategy.

What is a Research Proposal?

A Research Proposal is an outline and overview of the research you intend to conduct. Its goal is t o establish expertise and support your proposed area of research in shaping the assessment of your application. Your research proposal is just the beginning of your research project. Over time, your ideas will grow and develop.

Benefits of writing a well-designed research proposal

The purpose of a research proposal is to inform your client or end-user of the significance of your research . It will also provide the following benefits:

• Show that your project is important and of high quality and that you are capable of completing the research.
• Provide an opportunity for you to think through your research project, refine your focus, and anticipate any challenges that may arise. 
• You may want to review your proposal at different stages of your research process .

to remind yourself of your focus and to chart how your project has progressed.

How to write a Research Proposal 

What to include in the proposal:.

Provide a brief and concise overview of the survey in your introduction. Identify the survey topic, the data sought, and the target. Additionally, the introduction should describe the purpose of the survey, how the results will be used, how the volunteers or paid respondents will be contacted, and how many people will be contacted.

Include the dates on which the survey will begin and end. It should also be noted whether the identities of the participants will also be revealed with the results. The proposal should include a copy of the survey.

This will give the relevant authority or review committee that will be approving or disapproving the survey the opportunity to analyze the survey intent in detail. In the event that the results are subject to sampling errors , specify how the data will be handled.

1. Specificity Is Key

Imagine a professor of neurology heading a research group that wants to survey college students’ sleeping habits and needs 100 volunteers to complete five short questions. Researchers could contact students on campus to recruit participants. The survey proposal would include detailed information on what the neurology team is trying to learn, including information on why the survey is important, such as citing prior research in the field.

2. Provide Contact Information

A survey proposal should identify the surveyors involved and include the name of the person who will handle the proposal. In addition, a description of the manner in which participants will be contacted (by telephone, email, or in-person) should be included.

3. Example of an outline for a survey research proposal

It is important to structure your Survey Proposal Outline so that it provides structure to your reader, addressing your problem statement or main point of the study.

Describe your objectives, research methodology, research activities, and a timeline similar to what follows.

What Not To Do While Writing A Research Proposal

• The topic of your research cannot be generic. It has to be concise and to the point.
• Not explaining the need for your study: If anyone has to invest anything into your research, you’ll need to sell it.
• Having impractical goals or suggestions without any backing.
• Have poor theory and knowledge of the subject.
• Use outdated material and data sources as reference points.
• Poor grammar and poor presentation skills for your idea

LEARN ABOUT: Theoretical Research

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9.2: Steps in Developing a Research Proposal

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Learning Objectives

• Identify the steps in developing a research proposal.
• Choose a topic and formulate a research question and working thesis.
• Develop a research proposal.

Writing a good research paper takes time, thought, and effort. Although this assignment is challenging, it is manageable. Focusing on one step at a time will help you develop a thoughtful, informative, well-supported research paper.

Your first step is to choose a topic and then to develop research questions, a working thesis, and a written research proposal. Set aside adequate time for this part of the process. Fully exploring ideas will help you build a solid foundation for your paper.

Choosing a Topic

When you choose a topic for a research paper, you are making a major commitment. Your choice will help determine whether you enjoy the lengthy process of research and writing—and whether your final paper fulfills the assignment requirements. If you choose your topic hastily, you may later find it difficult to work with your topic. By taking your time and choosing carefully, you can ensure that this assignment is not only challenging but also rewarding.

Writers understand the importance of choosing a topic that fulfills the assignment requirements and fits the assignment’s purpose and audience. (For more information about purpose and audience, see Chapter 6 “Writing Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content”.) Choosing a topic that interests you is also crucial. You instructor may provide a list of suggested topics or ask that you develop a topic on your own. In either case, try to identify topics that genuinely interest you.

After identifying potential topic ideas, you will need to evaluate your ideas and choose one topic to pursue. Will you be able to find enough information about the topic? Can you develop a paper about this topic that presents and supports your original ideas? Is the topic too broad or too narrow for the scope of the assignment? If so, can you modify it so it is more manageable? You will ask these questions during this preliminary phase of the research process.

Identifying Potential Topics

Sometimes, your instructor may provide a list of suggested topics. If so, you may benefit from identifying several possibilities before committing to one idea. It is important to know how to narrow down your ideas into a concise, manageable thesis. You may also use the list as a starting point to help you identify additional, related topics. Discussing your ideas with your instructor will help ensure that you choose a manageable topic that fits the requirements of the assignment.

In this chapter, you will follow a writer named Jorge, who is studying health care administration, as he prepares a research paper. You will also plan, research, and draft your own research paper.

Jorge was assigned to write a research paper on health and the media for an introductory course in health care. Although a general topic was selected for the students, Jorge had to decide which specific issues interested him. He brainstormed a list of possibilities.

If you are writing a research paper for a specialized course, look back through your notes and course activities. Identify reading assignments and class discussions that especially engaged you. Doing so can help you identify topics to pursue.

Possible topics

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in the news
• Sexual education programs
• Hollywood and eating disorders
• Americans’ access to public health information
• Media portrayal of the health care reform bill
• Depictions of drugs on television
• The effect of the Internet on mental health
• Popularized diets (such as low-carbohydrate diets)
• Fear of pandemics (bird flu, H1N1, SARS)
• Electronic entertainment and obesity
• Advertisements for prescription drugs
• Public education and disease prevention

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Set a timer for five minutes. Use brainstorming or idea mapping to create a list of topics you would be interested in researching for a paper about the influence of the Internet on social networking. Do you closely follow the media coverage of a particular website, such as Twitter? Would you like to learn more about a certain industry, such as online dating? Which social networking sites do you and your friends use? List as many ideas related to this topic as you can.

Narrowing Your Topic

Once you have a list of potential topics, you will need to choose one as the focus of your essay. You will also need to narrow your topic. Most writers find that the topics they listed during brainstorming or idea mapping are broad—too broad for the scope of the assignment. Working with an overly broad topic, such as sexual education programs or popularized diets, can be frustrating and overwhelming. Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper. However, more specific choices, such as the pros and cons of sexual education in kids’ television programs or the physical effects of the South Beach diet, are specific enough to write about without being too narrow to sustain an entire research paper.

A good research paper provides focused, in-depth information and analysis. If your topic is too broad, you will find it difficult to do more than skim the surface when you research it and write about it. Narrowing your focus is essential to making your topic manageable. To narrow your focus, explore your topic in writing, conduct preliminary research, and discuss both the topic and the research with others.

Exploring Your Topic in Writing

“How am I supposed to narrow my topic when I haven’t even begun researching yet?” In fact, you may already know more than you realize. Review your list and identify your top two or three topics. Set aside some time to explore each one through freewriting. (For more information about freewriting, see Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?”.) Simply taking the time to focus on your topic may yield fresh angles.

Jorge knew that he was especially interested in the topic of diet fads, but he also knew that it was much too broad for his assignment. He used freewriting to explore his thoughts so he could narrow his topic. Read Jorge’s ideas.

Our instructors are always saying that accurate, up-to-date information is crucial in encouraging people to make better choices about their health. I don’t think the media does a very good job of providing that, though. Every time I go on the Internet, I see tons of ads for the latest “miracle food.” One week it’s acai berries, the next week it’s green tea, and then six months later I see a news story saying all the fabulous claims about acai berries and green tea are overblown! Advice about weight loss is even worse. Think about all the diet books that are out there! Some say that a low-fat diet is best; some say you should cut down on carbs; and some make bizarre recommendations like eating half a grapefruit with every meal. I don’t know how anyone is supposed to make an informed decision about what to eat when there’s so much confusing, contradictory information. I bet even doctors, nurses, and dieticians have trouble figuring out what information is reliable and what is just the latest hype.

Conducting Preliminary Research

Another way writers may focus a topic is to conduct preliminary research. Like freewriting, exploratory reading can help you identify interesting angles. Surfing the web and browsing through newspaper and magazine articles are good ways to start. Find out what people are saying about your topic on blogs and online discussion groups. Discussing your topic with others can also inspire you. Talk about your ideas with your classmates, your friends, or your instructor.

Jorge’s freewriting exercise helped him realize that the assigned topic of health and the media intersected with a few of his interests—diet, nutrition, and obesity. Preliminary online research and discussions with his classmates strengthened his impression that many people are confused or misled by media coverage of these subjects.

Jorge decided to focus his paper on a topic that had garnered a great deal of media attention—low-carbohydrate diets. He wanted to find out whether low-carbohydrate diets were as effective as their proponents claimed.

Writing at Work

At work, you may need to research a topic quickly to find general information. This information can be useful in understanding trends in a given industry or generating competition. For example, a company may research a competitor’s prices and use the information when pricing their own product. You may find it useful to skim a variety of reliable sources and take notes on your findings.

The reliability of online sources varies greatly. In this exploratory phase of your research, you do not need to evaluate sources as closely as you will later. However, use common sense as you refine your paper topic. If you read a fascinating blog comment that gives you a new idea for your paper, be sure to check out other, more reliable sources as well to make sure the idea is worth pursuing.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Review the list of topics you created in Note 11.18 “Exercise 1” and identify two or three topics you would like to explore further. For each of these topics, spend five to ten minutes writing about the topic without stopping. Then review your writing to identify possible areas of focus.

Set aside time to conduct preliminary research about your potential topics. Then choose a topic to pursue for your research paper.

Collaboration

Please share your topic list with a classmate. Select one or two topics on his or her list that you would like to learn more about and return it to him or her. Discuss why you found the topics interesting, and learn which of your topics your classmate selected and why.

A Plan for Research

Your freewriting and preliminary research have helped you choose a focused, manageable topic for your research paper. To work with your topic successfully, you will need to determine what exactly you want to learn about it—and later, what you want to say about it. Before you begin conducting in-depth research, you will further define your focus by developing a research question, a working thesis, and a research proposal.

Formulating a Research Question

In forming a research question, you are setting a goal for your research. Your main research question should be substantial enough to form the guiding principle of your paper—but focused enough to guide your research. A strong research question requires you not only to find information but also to put together different pieces of information, interpret and analyze them, and figure out what you think. As you consider potential research questions, ask yourself whether they would be too hard or too easy to answer.

To determine your research question, review the freewriting you completed earlier. Skim through books, articles, and websites and list the questions you have. (You may wish to use the 5WH strategy to help you formulate questions. See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for more information about 5WH questions.) Include simple, factual questions and more complex questions that would require analysis and interpretation. Determine your main question—the primary focus of your paper—and several subquestions that you will need to research to answer your main question.

Here are the research questions Jorge will use to focus his research. Notice that his main research question has no obvious, straightforward answer. Jorge will need to research his subquestions, which address narrower topics, to answer his main question.

Topic : Low-carbohydrate diets

Main question : Are low-carbohydrate diets as effective as they have been portrayed to be by media sources?

Subquestions :

• Who can benefit from following a low-carbohydrate diet?

What are the supposed advantages of following a low-carbohydrate diet?

• When did low-carb diets become a “hot” topic in the media?
• Where do average consumers get information about diet and nutrition?
• Why has the low-carb approach received so much media attention?
• How do low-carb diets work?

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Using the topic you selected in Exercise 2, write your main research question and at least four to five subquestions. Check that your main research question is appropriately complex for your assignment.

Constructing a Working ThesIs

A working thesis concisely states a writer’s initial answer to the main research question. It does not merely state a fact or present a subjective opinion. Instead, it expresses a debatable idea or claim that you hope to prove through additional research. Your working thesis is called a working thesis for a reason—it is subject to change. As you learn more about your topic, you may change your thinking in light of your research findings. Let your working thesis serve as a guide to your research, but do not be afraid to modify it based on what you learn.

Jorge began his research with a strong point of view based on his preliminary writing and research. Read his working thesis statement, which presents the point he will argue. Notice how it states Jorge’s tentative answer to his research question.

Main research question : Are low-carb diets as effective as they have sometimes been portrayed to be by the mass media?

Working thesis statement : Low-carb diets do not live up to the media hype surrounding them.

One way to determine your working thesis is to consider how you would complete sentences such as I believe or My opinion is . However, keep in mind that academic writing generally does not use first-person pronouns. These statements are useful starting points, but formal research papers use an objective voice.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

Write a working thesis statement that presents your preliminary answer to the research question you wrote in Exercise 3. Check that your working thesis statement presents an idea or claim that could be supported or refuted by evidence from research.

Creating a Research Proposal

A research proposal is a brief document—no more than one typed page—that summarizes the preliminary work you have completed. Your purpose in writing it is to formalize your plan for research and present it to your instructor for feedback. In your research proposal, you will present your main research question, related subquestions, and working thesis. You will also briefly discuss the value of researching this topic and indicate how you plan to gather information.

When Jorge began drafting his research proposal, he realized that he had already created most of the pieces he needed. However, he knew he also had to explain how his research would be relevant to other future health care professionals. In addition, he wanted to form a general plan for doing the research and identifying potentially useful sources. Read Jorge’s research proposal.

Jorge Ramirez

March 28, 2011

Health Care 101

Professor Habib

Research Proposal

In recent years, topics related to diet, nutrition, and weight loss have been covered extensively in the popular media. Different experts recommend various, often conflicting strategies for maintaining a healthy weight. One highly recommended approach, which forms the basis of many popular diet plans, is to limit consumption of carbohydrates. Yet experts disagree on the effectiveness and health benefits of this approach. What information should consumers consider when evaluating diet plans?

In my research, I will explore the claims made by proponents of the “low-carbohydrate lifestyle.” My primary research question is: Are low-carbohydrate diets as effective for maintaining a healthy weight as they are portrayed to be? My secondary research questions are:

• What are the supposed advantages to following a low-carb diet?

My working thesis is that low-carbohydrate diets do not live up to the media hype surrounding them. For this assignment, I will review general-interest and scholarly articles that discuss the relationship between low-carbohydrate diets, weight loss, and long-term health outcomes.

Before you begin a new project at work, you may have to develop a project summary document that states the purpose of the project, explains why it would be a wise use of company resources, and briefly outlines the steps involved in completing the project. This type of document is similar to a research proposal. Both documents define and limit a project, explain its value, discuss how to proceed, and identify what resources you will use.

Writing Your Own Research Proposal

Now you may write your own research proposal, if you have not done so already. Follow the guidelines provided in this lesson.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Developing a research proposal involves the following preliminary steps: identifying potential ideas, choosing ideas to explore further, choosing and narrowing a topic, formulating a research question, and developing a working thesis.
• A good topic for a research paper interests the writer and fulfills the requirements of the assignment.
• Defining and narrowing a topic helps writers conduct focused, in-depth research.
• Writers conduct preliminary research to identify possible topics and research questions and to develop a working thesis.
• A good research question interests readers, is neither too broad nor too narrow, and has no obvious answer.
• A good working thesis expresses a debatable idea or claim that can be supported with evidence from research.
• Writers create a research proposal to present their topic, main research question, subquestions, and working thesis to an instructor for approval or feedback.

Research Proposal: Components, Structure, Sample, Example

A research proposal is prepared to present the conception of a topic and the research design to the authority for acceptance.

Research works are funded by organizations, development agencies, government organizations, or non-government organizations that generally provide funds for the research. Therefore, the topic of the research should serve their purposes.

A research proposal is a communication prepared to convey and convince the fund-giving authority with detailed elements required to conduct research successfully.

Business students are required to submit a research proposal to the MBA Program Director to obtain approval and conduct research based on it.

This is a special type of communication that contains both theory and methodology. All proposals are typed in double space. The following specimen would be followed systematically to make the proposal meaningful.

Research Proposal

What is a research proposal.

Writing a good research proposal is important for undertaking a higher degree by research, applying for a research grant or fund, and getting a scholarship to pursue higher study. Potential supervisors use a thesis or research proposal for a Ph.D. degree to assess the quality and originality of ideas, the researcher’s critical thinking, and the research project’s feasibility.

Research proposals are also used to assess the researcher’s expertise in the area where he/she wants to conduct research. Having decided to pursue a research study, the researcher must develop a written plan or protocol to guide the study. Such a plan is called a research proposal (RP).

A research proposal is an individual’s or research firm’s formal offer to produce a product or render a service to a client in response to a request from the client. A research proposal is a work plan, prospectus, outline, and statement of intent. It is an agreement between a client and a researcher.

When writing a research proposal, keep in mind that it will enter a competition, being read in line with quite a few other proposals. You have to come up with a document that has an impact on the reader.

Therefore, you must write your proposal clearly and well-structured so your message gets across quickly. Your proposal must explain the study’s purpose and the problem’s definition.

It will systematically outline the particular research methodology and detail the procedures followed at each stage of the research process .

Note that a good proposal must communicate to us:

• Why is it important to know what you are proposing to research?
• What information will be obtained to meet your objectives?
• Where will it be obtained?
• How will it be obtained?
• Why will it be obtained?
• What contribution is it going to make?

Because a research proposal is an outlined plan submitted to a client for consideration, it allows the client to assess your seriousness, sincerity, adequacy of your proposed design, the extent of your background information, competence, and commitment to undertaking the study.

The proposal should have sufficient information to convince your readers that you have an important research idea, a good grasp of the relevant literature and the major issues, and that your methodology is sound.

A poorly written or poorly organized proposal damages the researcher’s reputation. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the critical elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to evaluate the proposed study.

In writing a good proposal, one needs to follow a step-by-step process. Even after writing a good proposal, procuring funds could take as long as a year. And even a perfectly written proposal might be rejected for several reasons.

A research proposal is of two types: internal and external.

A company’s experienced staff or research department generates an internal proposal to suit their needs. An external proposal is either solicited or unsolicited. A solicited proposal is often made in response to a ‘request for proposal (RFP).’

Such a proposal will likely compete against several others for a contract or grant. An unsolicited proposal is a suggestion by a contract researcher for research that might be done. Such a proposal has the advantage of not competing against others.

For most outside contracts, proposals are usually submitted in response to a request for bid, or an RFP.

An RFP is a formal document issued by a corporate research department, a decision-maker, or some other sponsor to solicit services from researchers.

Proposals are prepared by the terms of reference (TOR) provided by the client or sponsor and included in the RFP. It becomes almost an obligation on the part of the bidder to follow this TOR in preparing the proposal.

Non- compliance with the specification outlined in the TOR may automatically disqualify the proposal.

If, however, the researcher can demonstrate a superior understanding of the problem and convince the sponsor that their knowledge will benefit the study, the conditions laid down in the TOR may be revised accordingly.

If the sponsor finally agrees with the proposal after reviewing it, it is accepted and approved for execution.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

In most instances, clients request the researchers or research firms to express if they are interested in submitting a formal proposal on pre-selected topics or packages.

This is what we call an Expression of Interest or, in short, EOI.

This EOI aims to identify a researcher or research firm capable of doing the job through an evaluation process following the government procurement rule.

The qualified researchers or research firms are then asked to submit their formal proposals in response to a call for RFP adhering to the TOR. An example of an EOI, adapted from NIPORT, is provided here as an illustration.

Evaluation of the EOIs

The following guidelines were followed to evaluate the EOIs and the firm or consultant. In preparing the guidelines, the World Bank’s Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, May 2004 was used.

As you see, the EOI is a type of pre-proposal designed to make a self-­evaluation of the respective consultant or firm.

If the consultants or firms are confident in their assessment that they can undertake the job, they might submit the EOI for evaluation by the sponsor.

We are now providing below a sample RFP and the corresponding TOR, as prepared by the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT) in their recent advertisement for contracting out a few research studies.

How to Write a Research Proposal

Generally, a research proposal outlines the proposed area of research. A completed proposal is “the product of a sustained process of planning and designing the research.” The topic of research should match the interests and capabilities of the researcher.

The research proposal also communicates the researcher’s intentions and research plans to those who approve or allocate funds. A research proposal should contain the context and background of the research, develop a research question, and approach it.

In the case of the doctoral research proposal, it must demonstrate originality and significance and explain how it adds to the existing knowledge.

A research proposal should be persuasive to persuade potential supervisors and funders of the importance of the research work.

The length of research proposals may vary. But ideally, a good research proposal should not be more than two thousand words.

A research proposal should contain research questions and address the following: What? How? Why?

• ‘What’ means the area of research that a researcher is investigating. It points to research questions.
• ‘How’ means how the research proposes to answer the research questions.
• ‘Why’ means why the research is important. It indicates the justification, significance, or expected outcome of the research.

A good research proposal should also contain a clear and concise title, problem statement, why the proposed research is significant, and the limitations of the proposed research.

In addition, key terminologies should be well-defined in the research proposal, and hypotheses and assumptions should be clearly stated.

Structure of a Research Proposal

Introduction or background of the research, aims and objectives, justification or rationale or significance of the research, statement of the problem, research questions, scope of the research, methodological approach, expected outcomes, limitations of the research.

The title of a research proposal should be attractive, interesting, and relevant. On the other hand, long and obscure titles should be avoided.

In an introduction, the researcher should create reader interest in the topic, highlight the research problem, place the study within the larger context of the scholarly literature, and reach a specific audience.

The introduction is considered a starting point to persuade, inform, or indicate the reader’s need for the research.

This attempts to convince the reader that the research will be useful, interesting, or significant for the academic community. A well-written introduction is an important way to attract readers and set the context of the proposed research.

A research proposal should state the aims and objectives of the research. The research aims should be clear, succinct, and realistic because these can be achieved in a reasonable time frame.

This part of the research proposal should demonstrate how the proposed research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the area under investigation.

• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
• Is there a gap in knowledge that the proposed research can help fill or a controversy that might help resolve? In what ways will the research fill the knowledge gap?
• How is the proposed research beneficial, and for whom?
• How will it build on the existing body of knowledge? Is the research timely, innovative, or responding to a new trend?
• Is the research project worth doing?
• Is it significant, and will it make an original contribution to knowledge in the chosen field?
• What ethical issues are raised by the proposed approaches, and how will these be addressed?
• Identification of a gap or deficiency in the existing literature is needed for a good research proposal.

To summarize, the research proposal should demonstrate that a researcher is engaged in genuine and worthwhile inquiry. There is a need for significant research that contributes something original to the field.

The research problem statement should demonstrate a problem or unresolved issues that are yet to be resolved or explored. The problem statement should be described clearly to present a context for the study and identify the area to be investigated.

In addition, the statement of the problem should clearly indicate that the researcher has a comprehensive grasp of the field and are aware of important recent substantive and methodological developments.

There is a difference between the research problem and the question.

A research proposal is largely seen as building or constructing the research problem, and the research question is one of the central components of the problem. The central research question is more general in nature, while related or subsidiary questions are more specific.

A research proposal shall carefully delineate the scope of research to be completed within the relevant timeframe.

However, the research proposal is not final as the research work progresses.

The original proposal may be refined and further developed in light of detailed literature reviews; research approaches consideration, and feedback from the supervisors and other academic staff.

Similarly, the initial title can be modified but should be related to the research proposal. A research proposal should demonstrate the researcher’s understanding of the research issues and identify gaps in the research literature.

A research proposal should be persuasive and address a demonstrable gap in the existing literature.

• How will the research aim achieve?
• What methodology will be applied?
• What methodological issues needed to be addressed by this research?

If the proposed research is quantitative, it should mention which data collection method is appropriate and explain the validity and reliability of data gathering. It will also describe how the data will be used to answer the questions.

In empirical research, data should be linked to concepts and concepts to data, and the links between concepts and data should be tight, logical, and consistent.

The research proposal should indicate the time frame of the completion of research, and it should demonstrate that the research can be completed within the expected or reasonable time frame.

For example, providing a timetable or research action plan explains that each chapter or task is completed within a time frame.

A research proposal should provide the anticipated or tentative outcomes of the research. Expected outcomes are general assumptions about the conclusion to be reached in research work.

Limitations refer to limiting conditions or ‘restrictive weaknesses.’ A limitation identifies potential weaknesses of the study. Every research work has some limitations, and they should be mentioned in the proposal.9

The research proposal should be clear regarding the major approach of the research, including conceptual, theoretical, and empirical approaches, and the rationale and significance of the research.

A good proposal should be forward-looking. It should also state how the research will be communicated to the wider community.

However, a research proposal is an evolving document as it can change over time, and the final research proposal is often radically different from the one originally prepared.

11 Components of the Research Proposal

There is no single format for research proposals. This is because every research project is different. Different disciplines, donor agencies, and academic institutions have various forms and requirements.

There are, however, several key components that must be included in every research proposal. The specific research problem will dictate what other sections are required.

Although this delineation is not necessarily final, a project proposal may be structured under the following headings:

• Executive Summary
• Purpose of the Study
• Significance of the Study
• Problem Statement
• Literature Review
• Benefits of the Study
• Research Objectives
• Methodology
• Project Management

Steps in the Development of the Research Proposal

A brief description of each of the steps listed above is provided in the following sub-sections;

1. Executive Summary

This part of the proposal is the most important section of the entire document. Although it usually appears as the first section of the proposal, it is not written until all other sections are completed.

Here you will provide the reader with a snapshot of what is to follow.

Specifically, it summarizes all of the key information and is a sales document designed to convince the reader that the proposed study should be considered for support.

The executive summary should include all the steps to be followed in executing the study in a very brief manner.

This summary should not be overloaded with unnecessary information. There is a wide general agreement on the structure of a “typical” executive summary. Typically, an executive summary will

• possibly be 5-10% or so of the length of the main report
• be written in language appropriate for the target audience
• consist of short and concise paragraphs
• be written in the same order as the main report
• only include materials present in the main report
• have a brief statement of the problem
• be a statement of objectives
• contain expected implications
• consist of methods followed
• have a conclusion
• make recommendations
• provide a justification
• be able to be read separately from the main report
• sometimes summarize more than one document

2. Purpose of the Study

The purpose is a single statement or paragraph that explains what the study intends to accomplish. A few typical statements are:

The goal of this study is to

• Overcome the difficulty with _.
• Discover what _.
• Understand the causes or effects of _.
• Refine our current understanding of _.
• Provide a new interpretation of _.
• Redesign the existing instruments _.
• Suggest a new method of data collection _.

3. Significance of the Study

The significance section should create a perspective for looking at the problem. It should point out how your study relates to the larger issues and uses a persuasive rationale to justify the reasons for your study.

It makes the purpose worth pursuing. The significance of the study answers such questions:

• Why is your study important?
• To whom is it important?
• What benefits will occur if your study is done?

4. Problem Statement

A clear and well-defined statement of the problem is considered the foundation for the development of the research proposal.

It enables the researcher to systematically point out why the proposed research on the problem should be undertaken and what he hopes to achieve with the findings of the study.

The adage ‘a problem well-defined is a problem half-solved is worth remembering. This emphasizes that a well-defined statement of the problem will lead the researcher.

• To formulate the research objectives ;
• To understand the background of the problem;
• To isolate a research problem from a non-research problem;
• To state the research questions and hypotheses ;
• To identify and define the key variables;
• To construct a conceptual framework of analysis; and
• To select a proper research methodology .

What is the problem you aim to solve, and why is it important enough to be investigated? The problem statement summarizes the topic of your planned research and reviews how your research will affect others in your field.

It deals with such elements as problem identification, prioritizing the problem, analysis, and justifying the problem in response to such questions as “What is the problem, and why should it be studied.”

The problem statement, if narrated logically, will enable the reader to learn more about the issue you are addressing.

It presents the facts and evidence, background, and consequences that justify the need for the study and enhances the chances for final approval of the proposal. This section should be concise yet persuasive.

Assemble all the arguments, and present them logically to convince the reader of their importance. In presenting your arguments, take into consideration the following points:

• Decide which facts or statistics best support the study.
• Be sure that the data you present is updated and accurate.
• Avoid overstatements and overly emotional appeals.
• Determine whether it is reasonable to present the need as acute.

Here you are asking the funder to pay more attention to your proposal because the problem you address is worse than others or the proposed solution makes more sense than others.

Here is an example of a balanced but weighty statement.

While writing this section, take care that the statement does not become too long. Short and concise information captures the reader’s attention.

Contents of Problem Statement

We now turn to enumerate the types of information that should be included in the problem statement. These, among others, should include

• A brief description of the socio-economic and cultural characteristics and an overview of the issue at the macro-level relevant to the problem to be researched;
• A concise description of the nature of the problem (the discrepancy between what is and what should be), and of its size, distribution, and severity (who is affected, where, since when);
• An analysis of the major factors that may influence the problem and a convincing argument that available knowledge is insufficient to solve it;
• A brief description of any attempt in the past to solve the problem, the outcome thereof, and why further research is needed;
• A description of the type of information expected to result from the study and how this information will be used to help solve the problem.

Let us examine the following cases to illustrate the problem statement:

Justifying the Problem

Once the problem situation has been identified and clearly stated, it is important to justify the importance of the problem. Research often is expensive and time-consuming. Most funding agencies are reluctant to support studies unless the results have direct program intervention. Justification of the research topic thus is an important part of any proposal.

It is, therefore, important to know:

• Why is the problem of study important?
• Is the problem of current interest and timely one?
• Will more information about the problem have practical applications?
• How large and widespread is the problem?
• How large is the population affected by the problem?
• How important, influential, or popular is this problem?
• Would this study substantially revise or extend existing knowledge?
• Would this study create or improve an instrument of some utility?
• Would research findings lead to some useful change in best practices?
• Can others be convinced about the importance of the problem?
• Does the problem relate to broad social, economic, business, and health issues?
• Can this be implemented, given the resources and other logistic facilities?

Answers to the above questions should be reviewed and presented in one or two paragraphs that justify the importance of the problem.

Analyzing the Problem

In many instances, a researcher is not very familiar with the problem he is dealing with. This might also be true for those who are directly or indirectly involved in the study.

This calls for a systematic analysis of the various aspects of the problem by the researcher, user, and program manager.

As a first step in analyzing the problem, critical attention should be given to

• Accommodate the viewpoints of the managers, users, and researchers about the problem through threadbare discussions.
• Clarify the issues by listing all the problems in the area of research as they perceive them. The perceived problems should be worded in such a way as to illustrate the discrepancy between the ‘existing {what is)’ and ‘expected {what should be)’ conditions.
• Facilitate decisions concerning the focus and scope of the research.

Once the core problem has been identified, we should attempt to describe it more elaborately.

• The nature of the problem; the discrepancy between ‘what is’ and what you prefer the situation to be, in terms of unsafe abortions and/or complications;
• The distribution of the problem – who is affected, when, and where;
• The size and intensity of the problem – is it widespread, how severer is it, and what are its consequences (such as disability, death, waste of resources)?

While analyzing the problem, it is important to review the focus and scope of the research with particular emphasis on the

• The usefulness of the information to be gathered on the perceived problem;
• Feasibility of the study in terms of the time constraint; and
• Need for the study in the context of currently available information on the issue under investigation.

Soon after we have identified the core problem, we need to

• Identify factors associated with the problem;
• Clarify the relationship between the problem and the contributing factors.

It is helpful to understand these interrelationships in the form of a diagram that will indicate the inter-relationship between the perceived problem and contributing factors.

A diagram called a conceptual or theoretical framework, may help visualize these relationships and hence analyze the problem. It may be pertinent to give a brief outline of a conceptual framework and how to develop it here.

The conceptual framework of a research study is a key part of one’s research design.

Miles and Huberman (1994) defined a conceptual framework as a visual or written product that “explains, either graphically or in narrative form, the main things to be studied—the key factors, concepts, or variables—and the presumed relationships among them.

The most important thing to understand about the conceptual framework is that it is primarily a conception or model of what you plan to study, what is going on with these things, and why—a tentative theory of the phenomena that you are investigating.

The function of this theory is to inform the rest of your design, to help you to assess and refine your goals, develop realistic and relevant research questions, formulate research hypotheses and select an appropriate research design.

A conceptual framework represents the researcher’s synthesis of the literature on how to explain a phenomenon.

It maps out the actions required in the course of the study, given his previous knowledge of other researchers’ points of view and his observations on the subject of research.

In other words, the conceptual framework is the researcher’s understanding of how the particular variables in his study connect with each other.

Thus, it identifies the variables required in the research investigation. It is the researcher’s “map” in pursuing the investigation.

As McGaghieer al. (2001) put it: The conceptual framework “sets the stage” for presenting the particular research question that drives the investigation being reported based on the problem statement. The problem statement of a thesis presents the context and the issues that caused the researcher to conduct the study.

The conceptual framework lies within a much broader framework called a theoretical framework . The latter draws support from time-tested theories that embody the findings of many researchers on why and how a particular phenomenon occurs.

Before you prepare your conceptual framework, you need to do the following things:

• Choose your topic. Decide on what will be your research topic. The topic should be within your field of specialization.
• Do a literature review. Review relevant and updated research on the theme that you decide to work on after scrutiny of the issue at hand. Preferably use peer-reviewed and well-known scientific journals as these are reliable sources of information.
• Isolate the important variables. Identify the specific variables described in the literature and figure out how these are related. Some abstracts contain the variables, and the salient findings thus may serve the purpose. If these are not available, find the research paper’s summary. If the variables are not explicit in summary, get back to the methodology or the results and discussion section and quickly identify the study variables and the significant findings.
• Generate the conceptual framework. Build your conceptual framework using your mix of the variables from the scientific articles you have read. Your problem statement serves as a reference for constructing the conceptual framework. In effect, your study will attempt to answer a question that other researchers have not explained yet. Your research should address a knowledge gap.

The underlying principles of constructing such a diagram are illustrated below:

A real-life example may help understand the concept of a conceptual framework (a framework of analysis) more clearly. Such an example, along with the framework in question, is provided below.

5. Literature Review

A review of relevant literature prompts and strengthens the researcher to assess approaches to the problem and revise the plan accordingly.

A literature review educates a researcher, enhances his knowledge, and increases his confidence, which ultimately contributes to preparing an appealing proposal.

His earned knowledge on the subject of investigation through the reviewing process gives him a fair chance of proving his credibility.

Such a review not only provides him exposure to a larger body of knowledge but also equips him with efficiently setting his objectives, formulating testable hypotheses, identifying the variables to be included, and conceptualizing the theoretical framework for analyzing data.

To summarize, the literature review focuses on the following points:

• It explains the needs of the proposed study.
• It avoids duplication of work.
• It shares with the reader the results of other studies closely related to the study being undertaken.
• It appraises the shortcomings of others’ works
• It documents the accuracy of the secondary data
• It provides a framework for establishing the importance of the study, as well as a benchmark for comparing the results of a study with other findings.
• It examines the weakness (if any) of the methodology used in other studies.

To ensure a good review of the literature.

• Make your review brief.
• Refer to sources only.
• Emphasize the important results of other studies
• Indicate how your study relates to other studies
• Identify the weakness of the methodology adopted by others.
• Say how your study is different from others.

6. Benefits of the Study

This section of the proposal should focus on the importance and urgency of the data needed. It must, therefore, explicitly describe in two to three paragraphs what benefit will be accrued from the proposed study.

In describing this section, you must take care that you can convince the sponsor that your plan can meet its needs.

7. Research Objectives

This module represents an important section of the research proposal focusing on what is being planned in the proposed investigation.

Specifically, research objectives describe what will be demonstrated, tested, evaluated, confirmed, or compared. They communicate:

• Why do we carry out the research?
• What do we hope to achieve from such research?

The research objective section is the basis for judging the remainder of the proposal and, ultimately, the final report.

Because of this reason, objectives should be closely related to the statement of the research problem, giving the sponsor-specific, concrete, and achievable goals.

The research questions must be clearly stated, specifically, and with appropriate inclusiveness.

In addition to research objectives, all proposals should contain a formal and explicit statement of the research questions or hypotheses wherever applicable.

Whether to use research questions or hypotheses will depend on the type of research.

Exploratory or descriptive research does not involve hypothesis testing; it is based on underlying research questions. All proposals for analytical research must explicitly state the hypothesis.

8. Methodology

The methodology section describes your basic research plan. It usually begins with a few introductory paragraphs that restate the purpose and research questions. The phraseology should be identical to that used in Chapter 1.

This section should aim at addressing four broad questions:

• Where do we want to collect the data, how will we select our sample, and how many subjects will be included in the study? (This refers to the coverage, target population, sample design)
• What information do we need to collect to answer the research questions implied in our research objectives? (This refers to the variables we are interested in)
• What approach will we follow to collect this information? (This refers to the research design we want to employ)
• What techniques and tools will we use to collect them? (This refers to the data collection techniques and tools, such as questionnaires, observation check-list)

When more than one way exists to approach the design, discuss the methods you discarded, and justify why your selected approach is superior.

While proposing your methodology, you should explore other methodologies and highlight the comparability of those with the one you propose in terms of interpreting the available data, carrying out investigation and analysis, and suggesting alternative approaches if needed.

Data Collection

Data collection methods should be specified in the proposal. These methods may vary from simple observation to a large-scale field survey.

The specific method or methods to collect data largely depends on the objectives of the survey, the research design, and the availability of time, money, and personnel.

With the variation in the type of data) qualitative or quantitative) to be collected, the method of data collection also varies.

Plan for Data Analysis

The proposal should contain this section to assure the sponsor that you are familiar with the correct and theoretically sound techniques of data analysis procedures.

Keeping this in mind, you need to provide a brief overview of these procedures’ treatment and theoretical basis.

In doing so, you may lay out a sketch of sample graphs, charts, and dummy tables and an overview of the statistical techniques ranging from simple regression to multivariate techniques.

You may also indicate the possible statistical tests that you may employ depending on the nature of the data to verify the research hypothesis that you have formulated.

You are also required to specify the type of data you are anticipating and the tentative interpretation you will make in the analysis process.

Note that the data analysis plan that you are proposing is not a commitment, rather, it is an honest desire to fulfill the commitment as outlined in the proposal.

9. Work Plan

This section elaborates on the work schedule of the proposed study, answering such questions as, who will do what and when it will be done.

A work plan has two major components: personnel and schedule. The major issues that a work plan includes are;

• Preparatory works/questionnaire development
• Recruitment and training of project personnel
• Questionnaire revision
• Field interviews/data collection
• Data editing and data coding
• Data entry and data analysis
• Report writing

Each of these phases should have an estimated time and personnel needed. A chart known as the Gantt chart may be used for this purpose. A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule.

Gantt charts illustrate the start and completion dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project.

Some Gantt charts also show the dependency (i.e., precedence network) relationships between activities. As an example, a sample nine-month work plan of a hypothetical study is shown in the following Gantt chart:

The Gantt chart below shows that the planning and preparatory activities will begin at the start of the first month and continue for one month. The second month is devoted to the recruitment and training of the project personnel.

The questionnaire will also be pre-tested and finalized in the second month.

Soon after the finalization of the questionnaire, field teams will be sent for data collection, and the team will remain engaged until the end of the fifth month. During data collection, the editing of data will be started.

Data analysis will be over at the end of the seventh month, and the final report will be available any time during the last month of the project life.

It may be emphasized that the proposed work plan must be consistent with the technical approach and proposed methodology, showing an understanding of the TOR and the ability to translate them into a work plan.

Analysis Plan

The analysis plan should be described at length. Each research objective and hence the research question will require its analysis.

Thus, the research questions should be addressed one at a time, followed by a description of the type of statistical treatment (tables, statistical tests) that will be performed to answer that research question.

State what variables will be included in the analysis and identify the dependent and independent variables if such a relationship exists.

Indicate in advance what analytical techniques (univariate, bivariate, or multivariate) will be employed if data permit.

Reporting Findings

The proposal should indicate what reports and other means of disseminating research findings are planned. The types of reports that are usually included for reporting purposes are

• Progress report (weekly/monthly etc.)
• Final report
• Publications
• Seminar, workshop, conference
• Discussions with policymakers or program managers
• Qualification of the Key Persons

Qualifications of the key persons involved in the study play a vital role in evaluating the proposal.

A proposal with experienced researchers enhances its credibility and assures the program managers and policymakers of a set of policy-oriented recommendations that can ultimately be implemented.

This section should begin with the key qualifications and experiences of the investigators. Particular emphasis should be given to including previous experience doing related work.

Relevant societies to which the researcher belongs can be included in the curriculum vitae. Include the curriculum vitae of other personnel if the RFP desires so.

The budget details should be submitted in the format of the sponsor requests. In some cases, the budget is submitted as a separate proposal for sear reasons for the quality proposal, where the budget is somewhat of secondary importance. In all cases, the budget should be realistic.

Claims for any large and unusual items in the budget should be explained and justified. Arrange the major cost categories under the following major headings:

• Salaries and benefits,
• Materials, equipment, and supplies,
• Dissemination seminar, and
• Miscellaneous expenses.

11. Project Management

All administrative activities should be outlined in a master plan. This plan shows how the study team is organized to complete the work efficiently.

This plan is intended to demonstrate the following;

• the relationship between the researchers and the assistants, and
• who is to keep liaison with the sponsor.

The plan should also focus on the process of record control, fund handling, the mode of preparing and forwarding progress reports, progress monitoring, and project supervision.

Also, the mode of payment frequency and several installments in payment should also be included in the plan.

Legal responsibilities, liabilities, and involvement of the sponsors during the entire period of the project should also be delineated in this master plan.

Bibliography

A bibliography is necessary for many of the projects once you have done a literature review.

Following is a frequently used format for bibliographic citation:

Scope and Limitations

All research studies have limitations of one kind or another and a finite scope. If you anticipate any problem during your study, do not try to conceal it.

It may start with designing a questionnaire to data analysis with intermediate problems in sample size determination, selection of the sample, and data collection. Limitations are often imposed by time and budget constraints.

Fairly list the limitations of the study. Describe the extent to which you believe the limitations might degrade the data quality and your findings.

It is best to recognize these limitations rather than to pretend that they do not exist. Be frank and fair to mention any unprecedented or situational factors that you might encounter during the execution of your study. Study the following example:

A study is designed to assess the attitude of school-going children towards TV programs provided by satellite channels. The study is proposed to be conducted during March-May.

It is apprehended that for such a study, the proposed months are not suitable, because SSC examination is scheduled during these months. The key respondents are busy with their examination and are highly likely to be reluctant to participate despite their interest. This will certainly influence the study findings.

In a study on dowry and discrimination towards women, statistical representation cannot be ensured in determining the size of the sample. It is because such events are rare and localized.

This may be indicated as a limitation, and an alternative suggestion may be made for data collection. One may propose to conduct an in-depth interview, case studies, and FGD.

Any additional information that reinforces the body of the proposal can be included in the appendix.

This includes, for example, a CV of the project personnel, a detailed budget, a draft questionnaire, technical notes, an informed consent form, a list of references, and any other information you think might be helpful to the proposal reviewer.

A simple section consisting of the glossary of the terms should also be included whenever there are many words unique to the research topic. A list of abbreviations should also be provided in the appendix so that nobody faces any difficulty in understanding these acronyms.

Here are some examples of glossaries and abbreviations:

If you use technical terms in writing your proposal, you require clarifying them in non-technical terms to make them understandable to the readers with brief explanations of their meanings. Here are a few examples:

Abbreviations

Proposal Presentation

In many instances, the sponsor/donor wants you to present the proposal for more clarity and an understanding of the research process you have planned to follow in your proposed study.

This gives them an understanding if you have understood the problem they want to investigate and whether the proposal has been written by the guidelines as delineated in terms of Reference (TOR).

The researcher or the research firm also gets an opportunity to identify his proposal’s strengths and weaknesses and get a chance to modify his proposal accordingly.

Evaluation of a Research Proposal

All proposals submitted for funding are subjected to formal review. The criteria for reviewing the proposal are established in advance. Each criterion is given weights or points.

These points are recorded for each category, reflecting the client’s assessment of how well the proposal meets the category’s established criteria.

Usually, more than one reviewer does this job. After the review, the category scores are added to provide a cumulative total. The proposal with the highest score wins the bid.

Here we show how much scoring is done against some pre­fixed criteria.

A research proposal is an individual’s or research firm’s formal offer to produce a product or render a service to a client in response to a request from the client. It serves as a work plan, prospectus, outline, and statement of intent, acting as an agreement between a client and a researcher.

Why is writing a good research proposal important?

A well-written research proposal is crucial for undertaking higher degrees by research, applying for research grants or funds, and securing scholarships for higher studies. It helps assess the quality and originality of ideas, the researcher’s critical thinking, and the feasibility of the research project.

What should a research proposal communicate?

A research proposal should convey the importance of the research, the information that will be obtained to meet objectives, where and how it will be obtained, and the contribution it aims to make. It should be clear, well-structured, and persuasive to convey its message effectively.

What are the two types of research proposals?

Research proposals can be of two types: internal and external. An internal proposal is generated by a company’s experienced staff or research department to meet their needs. An external proposal can be either solicited, often in response to a ‘request for proposal (RFP)’, or unsolicited.

What is an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the context of research proposals?

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is a request made by clients to researchers or research firms to express if they are interested in submitting a formal proposal on pre-selected topics or packages. It aims to identify capable researchers or firms through an evaluation process.

What should be the structure of a research proposal?

A research proposal should have a clear and concise title, an introduction or background of the research, stated aims and objectives, justification or rationale of the research, a problem statement, research questions, scope of the research, methodological approach, time frame, expected outcomes, limitations, and a conclusion.

How does the problem statement differ from the research questions in a proposal?

The problem statement summarizes the topic and reviews how the research will impact others in the field. It presents the issue to be addressed. On the other hand, research questions are central components of the problem, being more specific in nature and guiding the research direction.

How to Write a Successful Research Proposal

Table of contents

Meredith Sell

It’s not easy to convince a university or federal institute to fund your research, but does it have to be hard?

Research proposals are typically required for… 

• A senior thesis
• A graduate dissertation
• Grants/funding
• Fellowships
• Ethical approval from academic institutions

If you’re serious about advanced education in the sciences or social sciences or if you want to work as a researcher, you won’t be able to avoid writing research proposals. They’re an inevitable part of the work, a guaranteed hurdle between you and groundbreaking discoveries.

So how do you clear that hurdle? How do you write a convincing research proposal that wins over your academic advisor, the grant-funding agency, or other powers that be?

While there’s no single approach to research proposals that will gain approval every time, this guide will help you write a research proposal that presents:

An original idea that adds knowledge and value to your field of study and fills gaps in the existing scholarship.

Let’s learn how to write a stand-out research proposal.

The Basics of a Research Proposal

A research proposal makes the argument that your particular research idea is necessary and will provide value to your field of study. 

Different institutions and funding organizations will have their own specific requirements for a research proposal, but in general, you’ll probably need:

Abstract/Summary

Introduction, methods/materials, expected results/hypotheses.

Each of these sections plays a different role in the argument you’re making.

This sums up your proposal overall, giving readers the nutshell version of your idea, why it’s needed, and how you will approach it.

The intro sets up your proposal. It sketches out your project aims and the big research questions you’re seeking to answer. This may include background information, or the background may be in its own section.

A significant chunk of your proposal will be spent on background information, including a detailed literature review. The goal of this section is to show your audience what is known about your particular topic and where the gaps are, especially the gap that your project seeks to fill.

According to Teresa Buckner, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Colorado, you’ll want to structure this section in a way that naturally leads into your research idea , arranging information and subsections in a way that raises the very questions your research will seek to answer.

How will you answer your research questions? What approaches will you use to gather and analyze data? What supplies or materials will you need? 

If you’re running experiments on mice, you’ll need to know how many mice, what kind, and where they will be kept. If you’re conducting a survey, you’ll need to outline how you will identify subjects for your survey and what survey methods you will use to reduce bias. 

This section shows that you’ve thought your project through. You know what steps you’ll take to carry out your research, what you’ll need to complete those steps, and what hiccups might come up along the way.

What do you expect your research to find? What hypotheses do you have? This is directly tied to your research questions and may stand in its own section or be part of another.

Your project should, in some way, seek to turn over a new leaf of knowledge. Whether through methodologies, use of tech, or approaching a research question that hasn’t been meaningfully answered yet, there should be something novel about your idea.

Special considerations when writing a research proposal for a grant

If you’re writing a proposal in pursuit of grant funding for your project, you’ll likely also need sections that explain:

• Budget (how much money you need and how it will be used)
• Facilities (where you’ll be doing the research, any unique benefits of your institution like state-of-the-art technology or lab space)
• Team (who you’re working with, especially if your collaborators are noted experts in their fields)
• Ethical approval (you should have this from your institution before seeking grant funding)

All of these different sections require a lot of one thing: thought. You need to think through your project from beginning to end, identify how it fits in the larger landscape of scholarship, figure out how you’ll carry it out and what you’ll need to do it well.

But where do you start?

The Optimal Order to Write Your Proposal Sections

1. start with research aims..

What are you trying to accomplish with your research? 

👆 Answer that question in a paragraph or in a single sentence. Then flesh out why you’ve chosen your particular aim.

Your answer will go in your proposal intro (or its own “Aims” section, if your institution calls for one). You’ll want to start with this element because it shapes every other piece of your proposal.

2. Develop your methods.

What is the best way to answer your research question or accomplish your aims? What have you seen in the literature as effective approaches to this type of question? What materials or supplies will you need to carry out your research?

Think through all of these questions and sketch out your research plan, step by step. If you can, get feedback on this section from others in your field to make sure your plan is realistic and feasible and uses the best methodology and analytical approach for your particular research question.

3. Write the relevant background.

Your initial research idea should come from ample time spent reading the scientific literature on your topic. Now’s the time to narrow down what literature makes the most sense to reference and summarize as you craft the background section. 

Remember: this section should be crafted in a way that naturally leads to your research question. 

You’ll want to inform your readers on the current knowledge on your topic, while also showing the gaps and (if possible) why those gaps exist. 

Buckner recommends outlining this section — and using headings to shape and organize everything in a logical manner. Your headings can serve as topic sentences for their subsections, so if you know what points you need to make in this section, use those to craft your headings . Then sort your background information under the headings they fit or support.

4. Describe how your approach will bring innovation and new information to the field.

In light of the background you just wrote and your particular aims and methods, how will your project turn a new leaf in your field of study?

What’s fresh or new or different about your approach in comparison to what has already been done?

Explain this as clearly and specifically as possible.

5. Summarize everything in an abstract.

Now that you have the main sections written, write them up in a condensed, concise manner. Typically, this will be one paragraph, so if you need help, enlist Wordtune Read to summarize your sections and use Wordtune Editor to tighten your self-drafted abstract.

6. Cite your sources.

Especially important for the background section, make sure that you properly credit any scholarship you reference using the citation style required by your institution or grant-making organization. A citation tool like Chegg’s Cite This For Me or MyBib will help you follow that style consistently — and avoid botching names and titles.

6 Tips to Make Your Proposal Stand Out

“If you’re submitting a grant, there is a nonzero chance that it will be rejected,” Buckner says. And if you’re making your career in research, your research proposals will be rejected sometimes. 

What you can do is focus on what you actually control: the quality of your research proposal. These tips may just help you turn what would have been a “nope” into a full-blown “yes.”

1. Develop your research idea from the existing literature of your field.

The best research ideas combine originality and a fresh angle with a grounding in existing knowledge. You want to know the field you’re researching in so you don’t propose redundant ideas, but you’ll also benefit from holding a fresh perspective that’s open to trying new approaches and methodologies to answer nagging research questions.

To develop a research question that addresses a gap in the literature, pay special attention to the conclusions of the studies you’re reading.

What do the authors call for more research on? Is there a consistent pattern across studies of authors pointing out the same gap over and over again?

Answer those calls with your research proposal — and then reference those studies in your background section.

2. Get feedback on your ideas and methods early on.

“Iron sharpens iron” — and that’s true in research settings as well. As you develop your ideas and think through how, exactly, you’re going to tackle your research questions, talk with your collaborators, mentors, advisors, and others in your field to make sure you’re on the right track. 

They can help you narrow down an idea that’s too broad or refine your methods to make sure they’re effective. Enlisting help early in the process will set you up for success in the long term — especially if you’re getting feedback from the same people who will either approve or reject your final proposal.

3. Look at other proposals to make sure you’re on the right track.

Your grant provider or academic department probably has a repository of past research proposals that were successful. If you can’t find them online, reach out to your contact to request some. 

Other approved proposals can give you insight on what the organizations look for: how much detail they want, what types of ideas they favor, and how long (or short) yours could be.

4. Make a checklist of the specific parameters for your proposal.

Every institution and grant-making organization has their own requirements for research proposals. Make sure you meet them by turning the requirements into a checklist for your proposal.

Do this right away, at the beginning of the proposal-writing process, and use the checklist to guide you along. On top of the satisfaction that comes with checking each item off the list, you can be confident knowing your proposal won’t lose points for missing required sections and details.

5. Use Wordtune to polish your writing and help you summarize everything for your abstract.

A research proposal is a project. By the time you write the abstract, you’ve probably been staring at the same document for too long. So take a break, and hand things off to your AI writing assistant, Wordtune. 

Simply paste your proposal text into Wordtune Read , and Wordtune will provide summarized points that you can condense into an abstract. 

Once you have a rough abstract written, paste it into Wordtune Editor for some help fine-tuning verbiage and tightening the content. Then, you can stick the abstract into the top of your document and run a final round of edits, with Wordtune helping you smooth out clunky sentences and formalize informal language.

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Importance of Research Proposals in academic writing – with example

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Definition
• 3 Bachelor/Master Thesis
• 4 Examples of A Research Proposal
• 5 In a Nutshell

The research proposal example is a complex task that requires an understanding of multiple skills. The paper aims to deliver a brief overview of the research you will conduct. The research proposal example explains the main reasons why your research will be useful to the reader and to society in general. The research proposal example contains the main idea , the reason why you are doing the research , and the methodology you will use. A great research proposal example is especially important if you hope to get funding for your research.

This article gives a clear and simple guide to writing a research proposal. The research proposal example is an important part of beginning your research in college or university. If your supervisor does not approve it, you may not begin your research. Here is a detailed guide on how the process of coming up with a research proposal works.

What should a research proposal example include?

The research proposal example should include 7 main sections. You can find a detailed description of each section at our blog article about research proposal samples .

• Research overview
• Research context
• Research questions
• Research methods
• The significance of the research

It’s a clear outline of the topic/issues you’re going to cover in your thesis later on. While you may include other sections, these seven sections must always appear in the most basic research proposal examples.

What is the format of a research proposal?

During the first reading, your supervisors will most likely take a quick look at it to determine if it is worth going over or not. As such, you need to take full advantage of the title page and table of contents to include as much information as possible while also being mindful of whitespace. A great first impression is vital.

How long should the research proposal be?

Your research proposal example will typically be just 2500 words plus or minus a few hundred words. Having trouble getting started? Check out some tips for overcoming writer’s block .

Tip: The exact requirements and word count might change depending on the specific research body to which you are sending the research proposal. So be sure to double check.

Can the staff comment on a draft proposal?

Yes! The school recognizes that your research topic is still in development and you might need help to polish it up. It’s important that you take on all feedback- especially when it comes to refining your research questions . You will be able to contact your research supervisor who has the expertise to discuss your research proposal example and give you tips on how to make improvements to it.

What is the purpose of a research proposal example?

Your research proposal is the basis of your bachelor’s thesis and any other academic qualifying paper that you’re required to write. The main reason you write a research proposal example is to convince the reader of why your project is valuable and of your competence in that area. Your reader needs to be convinced that this is not yet another useless piece of writing, but a profound piece of research, which will serve a real-world purpose.

What tenses is a research proposal example written in?

A research proposal example is a piece of writing indicating what you intend to do at some point in the future. As such, the research proposal example is written in the present or future tense. For some more in-depth information about writing and structuring your  research proposal sample , head over to our blog post.

Why is learning how to write a good research proposal an important skill?

Research proposal writing is an important skill to master. You will be writing research proposals throughout your professional career from your bachelor’s thesis to your PhD. With the right skills, you will be able to convince others about a new product you wish to launch or a service and why it is worth their time.

Bachelor/Master Thesis

How important is a proposal example for academic writing?

The main purpose of your research proposal example is to convince the reader why your project is important and your competence in the chosen area of research. Writing a research proposal can be easy if you have a good research proposal example. Many students face problems when trying to come up with it alone. This is why using a research proposal example is so important. Here are some of the benefits of using a research proposal example:

See how the overall structure looks like

A research proposal example will show you which parts you need to include in your research proposal. You will understand how each part should be organized and what information needs to be included.

Understand the most important parts

A research proposal example contains the most important parts that must be included. You will understand which parts to include and how to include them.

Avoid common mistakes

A research proposal example is a great way to identify common mistakes that people make when writing research proposals. Amongst the mistakes is a failure to focus on the main problem of the research, failing to provide the required arguments in support of the proposal, and not using a given format.

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Examples of A Research Proposal

• Research Proposal Example 1

• Research Proposal Example 2

Research topic A working title that describes the content and direction of the project Project Description Background What is known and what is unknown in your chosen area of research.

Aims What you intend to know, demonstrate, test, investigate, examine? List the aims logically.

Methodology How do you intend to achieve your aims? What do you require? Are there barriers? Are there human or animal ethics involved? Is travel required? Expected outcomes, Why is this research important? What do expect from the research? What are the outcomes you expect? You need to show the research is original and worth looking into.

Timetable Indicate the timeframe of each broad stage of the research, including the data collection, literature review, production, modeling, review and analysis, testing, reporting, thesis writing, and submission date.

In a Nutshell

• Choose a realistic area of research
• Take time to go through a research proposal example
• Always speak to academic staff to provide you with guidance
• Do not plagiarize any research proposal example you find
• Think about the budgetary requirements when creating a research proposal

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Purpose of Research Proposal + Definition, Importance, & Writing Steps

Few students fully get the meaning and the importance of a research proposal. If you have a good research proposal, it means that you are going to carry out adequate research. A low-quality research proposal may be the reason your research will never start.

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The main purpose of a research proposal is to convince the reader of your project’s value . You will have to prove that you have a plan for your work and that your project will be successful. Your reader has to be sure that it is not another useless piece of writing, but a profound research work that will be extremely important for science.

Want to learn more about the reasons why it is important to have a research plan? Continue reading this article by Custom-writing.org experts!

• 🔤 Definition
• 🎯 Purpose & Importance

❗ Importance of Research Proposal

• 👣 Writing Steps

🔗 References

🔤 what is research proposal.

A research proposal is a document that proposes a particular research project, usually in academia or sciences, intending to get funding from an institution. A typical research proposal addresses a range of points:

• A research question(s) that the proposed research seeks to answer
• The data & methods that will be used to answer the questions
• The time and financial costs for the research
• The prior research in the field
• Potential benefits for the sponsoring institution

Research proposals are usually required when one plans to write a thesis, dissertation, or research paper. The format is similar to that of a research paper, with an introduction, a literature review, a methods section, and a conclusion.

🎯 Purpose of Research Proposal

The primary goal of any research proposal is to convince a sponsoring institution that a particular research project is worthwhile. The document usually aims to cover the aspects below.

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In other words, the purpose of a research proposal is to answer the following questions about your research project:

• What do you want to achieve? Try to be as clear as possible in defining the research problem and what aspect of it you intend to investigate.
• Why do you want to do it? You must thoroughly analyze the literature and present compelling evidence that the topic is worth researching.
• How are you going to do it? Make sure you have the time, finances, and competence to complete what you want to accomplish.

A research proposal is important for several reasons:

• It helps identify the research focus. A research proposal defines the topic, outlines methods, and clarifies your research objectives.
• It assists in research planning. You can use a research proposal as an overview of the work to be done, making the research process smoother and easier.
• It allows researchers to secure funding. Research proposals are essential for getting money to fund research projects. These documents help persuade internal and external agencies of the project’s significance and feasibility.
• It demonstrates the student’s communication skills. The way a proposal is worded and structured shows the student’s ability to organize their thoughts and communicate complex ideas.
• It shows the researcher’s competence. The research proposal demonstrates a scholar’s ability to select appropriate methods, justify the choice of topic and methodology, conduct a literature review, and address ethical and budget considerations.

👣 Making a Research Plan in 10 Steps

Research proposal topics.

• A research proposal on staff attitudes to physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) .
• Research the aspects of corporate social responsibility integration for multinational companies.
• Explore the efficacy of speaker recognition technology for the crime rate reduction.
• Analyze the peculiarities of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the problems it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Marketing research proposal : study the skill deficiencies of the students of the current occupational training programs and their influence on the job perspectives.
• Write a research proposal on the examination of asthma risk factors for African immigrants.
• Research proposal on the connection between hypertension and chronic kidney disease .
• Conduct research on cyber terrorism as a political weapon.
• Explore the effective programs for asthma education among adolescents .
• Research proposal on the controversy of the second amendment.
• Examine the impact of Nokia’s marketing strategy on its product popularity and the company’s share price.
• Analyze the current situation of VEGA medical center and the necessity to implement sustainable change.
• Formulate a research proposal on the sustainable innovation strategy implementation methods for logistics companies.
• Research proposal on homeland security in the United States .
• Study the most efficient ways to implement a harm reduction approach in healthcare practice.
• Research the efficacy of current procedures of early ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnostics.
• Explore and compare the consumer behavior of generation Y in the USA and China.
• Research proposal on the usefulness of the mobile app English at Hands implementation in educational establishments’ curricula.
• Justice in healthcare: a research proposal .
• Analyze whether watching movies can be considered an effective method of foreign language practice.
• Examine the most widespread reasons for medical personnel shortage in low-income countries.
• Research proposal on the current state of McDonald’s company .
• Study the effect of lowering high-calorie food consumption on human health and life quality.
• Write a research proposal on the effect of technology on human health and living conditions.
• Explore the connection between congestive heart failure and air travel.
• Study the role of government in enhancing the sustainable innovation strategy implementation rates.
• Research the use of BMP in improving e-government security.
• Analyze the necessity of health teaching to middle-aged women.
• Research proposal on the online buying site ViaBela.
• Examine the current methods of suicide prevention among geriatric patients.
• Write a research proposal on the investigation of the COVID-19 lockdown on people with mental health issues .
• Explore and compare consumers’ corporate social responsibility awareness in different countries.
• Study the use of the national DNA database for law enforcement.
• Research the specifics and the ways to eliminate narcoterrorism in Mexico.
• Examine the contemporary ways to prevent Clostridium difficile infection .
• Research proposal on the advantages and disadvantages of skin-to-skin contact after labor.
• Explore the reasons for inadequate nurse staffing and its impact on the level of healthcare service.
• Anasarca and acute renal failure: a research proposal .
• Analyze whether telephone follow-ups will help to improve the satisfaction and life quality of diabetic patients.
• Write a research proposal on the safety and efficiency of fad diets .
• Research proposal on capital punishment application .
• Examine the benefits and drawbacks of wireless technologies for modern business organizations.
• Research the reasons that influence the participation rates of African Americans in clinical trials .
• Study how motivational interviews can reduce childhood obesity rates.
• Research proposal on the role of e-marketing strategies in business development.
• Analyze the connection between critical thinking and mass media literacy.
• Explore the benefits of medicine computerization.
• Research proposal on green supply chain management .
• Examine the impact of computer technology development on criminology .
• Conduct intersectionality research on prejudices against Asian American women.
• Writing a Research Proposal (USC Library Guides)
• Writing a research proposal – Research & Learning Online
• How to write a research proposal? – NCBI
• How to Write a Research Proposal – University of Birmingham
• How To Write an Academic Research Proposal
• How to write a research proposal (Yale College)
• How to write a research proposal for a strong PhD application (University of Sydney)
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Sup guys! I need definitions about research defined by scholars and year of publication plz🙏

Very informative, as for social science student. 😍

Thanks a lot dear!! Many information gained

Thanks it’s so much easier and helpful who are work first time in research proposal like me It’s interesting but I can’t decided what topic I researching for my collage project or which topic is better 🙂 so I need a guide line or instructions for choosing a good topic

thank you for our explanation about research proposal but i want to know the aims or purpose of research proposal

This is informative and inspiring paper for me👏👏

very good concept on research proposal. thank you

useful data