How to write a research proposal template

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If only universities explained it so simple. The abstract needs to be entirely your own words, as every abstract will be completely different depending on your topic. Like the rest of the document, apart from block quotations, it should be double-spaced and laid out clearly. As you introduce sub-sections into your different sections, number them accordingly e. Length can vary immensely, but probably words or more, depending on the nature of your research.

This is one of the most important sections of your research proposal. It demonstrates that you know your field, who the key research players are in it, what has been said in the past and what is being said at the moment. You will want to mention, and where appropriate quote from, key works in your area. This is the section that requires the most preliminary research: make sure you spend some time in an academic library and using search engines for relevant academic papers before presenting this.

You do not need to discuss every work in your area, but you need to present a competent outline, and, especially if this is a proposal for doctoral research, you need to be sure that no-one else has already done the same project. A good way of presenting a literature review coherently is in the form of a narrative, which can either be chronological or thematic. Length varies, but probably similar length to literature review.

This is where you sell your research proposal to the reader. You need to explain, clearly and simply, how your research will complement the field you have just described in your literature review: what you will add, how it fills an existing gap, why the academic world would benefit from your research, etc.

A good way of making your research aim clear is to state a clear research question, and back it up with specific assertions or objectives. This is where you explain how and where you plan to carry out your research. This will vary hugely depending on your subject. Will you be researching in libraries and archives? The length of a research proposal varies dramatically. Download the research proposal template. Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:.

Check with the department or funding body to see if there are any specific formatting requirements. If your proposal is very long, you might also have to include an abstract and a table of contents to help the reader navigate the document.

Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words and awkward phrasing. See editing example. The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

It should:. If your proposal is very long, you might include separate sections with more detailed information on the background and context, problem statement, aims and objectives, and importance of the research.

A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. In this section, aim to demonstrate exactly how your project will contribute to conversations in the field. The research design or methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. Make sure not to simply write a list of methods. Aim to make an argument for why this is the most appropriate, valid and reliable approach to answering your questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, you can explore the potential implications of the research for theory or practice, and emphasize again what you aim to contribute to existing knowledge on the topic. For example, your results might have implications for:. Your research proposal must include proper citations for every source you have used, and full publication details should always be included in the reference list.

To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator. The author should anticipate and acknowledge any potential barrier and pitfall in carrying out the research design and explain plans to address them, thereby avoiding lacunae due to incomplete data collection. If the researcher is planning to acquire data through interviews or questionnaires, copy of the questions used for the same should be attached as an annexure with the proposal.

This addresses the strength of the research with respect to its neutrality, consistency and applicability. Rigor must be reflected throughout the proposal. It refers to the robustness of a research method against bias.

The author should convey the measures taken to avoid bias, viz. Consistency considers whether the findings will be consistent if the inquiry was replicated with the same participants and in a similar context. This can be achieved by adopting standard and universally accepted methods and scales. Applicability refers to the degree to which the findings can be applied to different contexts and groups.

This section deals with the reduction and reconstruction of data and its analysis including sample size calculation. The researcher is expected to explain the steps adopted for coding and sorting the data obtained.

Various tests to be used to analyse the data for its robustness, significance should be clearly stated. Author should also mention the names of statistician and suitable software which will be used in due course of data analysis and their contribution to data analysis and sample calculation.

Medical research introduces special moral and ethical problems that are not usually encountered by other researchers during data collection, and hence, the researcher should take special care in ensuring that ethical standards are met. Ethical considerations refer to the protection of the participants' rights right to self-determination, right to privacy, right to autonomy and confidentiality, right to fair treatment and right to protection from discomfort and harm , obtaining informed consent and the institutional review process ethical approval.

The researcher needs to provide adequate information on each of these aspects. Informed consent needs to be obtained from the participants details discussed in further chapters , as well as the research site and the relevant authorities. All items in the budget should be justified. Appendices are documents that support the proposal and application. The appendices will be specific for each proposal but documents that are usually required include informed consent form, supporting documents, questionnaires, measurement tools and patient information of the study in layman's language.

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used in composing your proposal. It refers to all references cited in the research proposal. Successful, qualitative research proposals should communicate the researcher's knowledge of the field and method and convey the emergent nature of the qualitative design. The proposal should follow a discernible logic from the introduction to presentation of the appendices.

National Center for Biotechnology Information , U.