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Published on: Dec 9, 2017
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A research proposal is the first and integral step in writing a research paper. It is considered a complex task because it requires multiple skills and a critical approach.
It is an essential part of any degree program and as a student, you will need to write one when you are nearing the end of your graduate or post-graduate degree. If you are planning to apply for a doctorate program, you will need to write a convincing and good research proposal.
If you are reading this, you are probably looking for help.
This guide offers a comprehensive outlook of the steps required to write a winning research project proposal.
Overview - Basics of a Research Proposal
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A research proposal is essentially a formal, structured document that states the aim of your study (i.e. the subject matter), why it's worth studying (i.e. the rationale), and how you intend to pursue it (i.e. the practical approach).
The goal of the research proposal (it's kind of work) is to persuade your study supervisor, committee, or institution that your study is relevant and manageable (given the time and resource restrictions you will face).
The most significant term is "convince," which means your study proposal must persuade the reader that it is worth reading (to whomever will give it approval). If it doesn't persuade them (of its suitability and manageability), you'll have to rewrite and resend it.
This will cost you much time, either delaying the start of your study or depleting your research time limit (which is not good news).
Keep in mind, an engaging proposal is a reflection of the writer’s subjectivity. Here you will also explain the nature and significance of the research study to persuade the audience.
The length of a proposal varies in different course programs. It consists of only a few pages for writing a bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal. But the proposals for PhD dissertations are long and detailed due to their complexity when developing research strategies.
A writer must answer the following questions to write a research proposal.
Specify what you will contribute to a specific research field. Be clear and brief while defining the research problem. When adding the research question, make sure that the topic is clear and it provides a clear picture and explanation of the topic. Do not start writing your proposal without having a clear picture and idea of your research question.
Before you begin, ask yourself, why are you doing it? This is a question that matters the most in research proposals.
It will direct you to conduct a thorough review of the literature. Also, offer convincing evidence to explain the contribution of the topic to the existing field.
Describe what methods and techniques you will use to conduct the research work. Similarly, discuss why you are the correct person to carry out this research. But never make the mistake of proposing a solution that is not feasible.
Here are some questions that you must answer in your research proposal;
The research proposal steps included in the format are discussed below in detail.
A title page is the first section of a research proposal that includes:
A research proposal abstract provides a concise summary of your paper. It should be no more than 250 words. On the other hand, an organized table of contents will help the readers to navigate the document. Both these sections are required if the proposal is too long.
A well-structured research proposal outline is a way to organize your ideas before writing a research paper. It will decide what headings and subheadings the research paper will have.
The introduction should be brief and catchy to grab the reader’s attention. It must include the below-given elements.
The background and significance section explains the detailed context of your research work. You can merge this section with the introduction. However, create a separate section with extensive information if the proposal is lengthy.
Highlight the following key points while writing a background and significance section.
A comprehensive literature review is important. It is a thorough analysis of literature sources that are relevant to the research topic. A strong review aims to convince readers about the valuable contribution to the existing knowledge by giving information.
Moreover, this section is usually challenging to complete because it contains lots of information. However, a strong literature review aims to convince readers about a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge.
Analyze what research questions are raised by others. Similarly, identify the methods used by them.
Don’t be afraid to challenge the findings of others. Just make sure that you have challenged their results with substantial and relevant information.
Here are the 5 C’s that can make up a literature review.
By using them, compare and contrast the main theories and methods. Also, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches while writing a literature review.
The methodology section explains the overall strategy and steps you should take to address your research questions.
Don't just compose a list of methods but try to prove that your method is the most relevant and practical approach to answering the questions.
When writing, always be specific. Using multiple methods in your work can confuse the readers.
The below table will help you identify the methodology in a research proposal.
Research Type |
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Sources |
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Research Methods |
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Practicalities |
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A hypothesis is the first step in setting a clear goal for your research. It sets a clear objective for researchers and also helps other readers understand what's being studied.
Furthermore, if your hypotheses are well-worded and easy to follow, conducting research becomes much more efficient.
The substantive, methodological, and theoretical frameworks are generally highlighted in the discussion. The primary purpose is to analyze the significance of your findings in light of the research problem. This section also explores new and fresh insights for future research studies.
It is likely to be connected to the introduction, research questions, and hypothesis. Thus, stick to the purpose of the research to make it easier for the audience to understand.
The conclusion is a summary of the entire research study. It describes the importance and significance of your proposal.
Moreover, this section should be one to two paragraphs long that emphasizes on:
Lastly, discuss the prospects for future implications.
A research proposal formatting must include proper citations for every source that you have used. Similarly, the referencing list should also contain full publication details. Remember, writing the work cited list properly will increase the credibility of your work.
A standard paper proposal has two kinds of citations.
Always choose the specific citation formats required by the professors. It includes APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Have a look at the sample research proposal for a better understanding.
Below is a list of interesting and easy research proposal topics.
If you still need more ideas, here are some research paper topics to help you choose a good topic.
Follow the below-given writing strategies to write a perfect research proposal.
Hopefully, this guide will help you understand the structure of a research proposal. But there are cases when students lack good research and writing skills. For this, they prefer to seek writing help from different paper writing services.
While doing so, they often fall victim to the low-quality research proposals delivered by such scams. In return, they get nothing but low-quality papers.
So to avoid this, you can always reach out to MyPerfectWords.com. Our professional writer only aims to write high-quality research proposals and papers for you at affordable rates.
So contact us to get the best writing services online!
The research proposal is your chance to tell the audience what the project will be about and how important it is. It also shows your ability to conduct the research efficiently.
A researcher should plan the proposal almost eight weeks before begin writing a research paper.
WRITTEN BY
Nova A. (Literature, Marketing)
Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.
Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.
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