Definition 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. 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 a 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 doing scholarly research.
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 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 investigation.
Be sure to answer the "So What? 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 on 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 issue. Failure to delimit the contextual boundaries of your research [e. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will examine 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 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. 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.
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?
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. 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? Why is this important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study? Background and Significance This is where you explain the context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. 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?
Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. It should also contain a statement of the progress that you have made to date. The timeline should also factor in other research related activities such as conferences and publications if applicable. Conclude your research proposal by stating your expected outcomes. At this stage in the research process, what arguments and conclusions do you expect to reach? Your reader will understand that these are projected outcomes based on the extent of research at the time of writing, and that they will almost certainly change in the light of further research.
It is essential, however, that you give your reader a sense of what conclusions may be drawn. This will allow your reader to further assess the significance and validity of your project.
It will also indicate to your reader that you have thought ahead and considered the potential outcomes and implications of your research. To avoid repetition with the description of your research aims and significance earlier in the proposal, focus on how you envisage your research will contribute to debates and trends in your field.
What impact might your findings have on how the problem is perceived? What impact might your methods have on how research is conducted in the future? Miner, J. Models of Proposal Planning and Writing. Home Courses Library Donate. Previous menu Toggle navigation. Why is academic integrity important? What is academic integrity? How can I study with integrity? Test your understanding Test your understanding Find out more Find out more Case note assignment Case note assignment Case note assignment Understanding case notes and marker expectations Understanding case notes and marker expectations Identifying the elements of a case note Identifying the elements of a case note Finding materials Finding materials Analysing materials Analysing materials Better writing Better writing Summary Summary Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Health Sciences case report Health Sciences case report Reflective writing and critical incidents Reflective writing and critical incidents Writing the comparative report Writing the comparative report Writing in Psychological Medicine Writing in Psychological Medicine Writing in Psychological Medicine 1.
Case history 1. Case history 2. Mental state examination 2. Mental state examination 3. Physical examination 3. Physical examination 4. Summary and diagnosis 4. Summary and diagnosis 5. Formulation 5. Formulation 6. Management 6. Skip to content Skip to navigation. Graduate research and writing Get started Assessing your skills Supervisor relationship Planning and time management Managing references and notes Data management Write the thesis Writing a research proposal Introduction to literature reviews Writing a literature review Selection Argument Structure Process Voice Writing the thesis chapters Writing about methods Reporting and discussing your findings Structuring a long text Writing productively Improving your editing skills Publish your research Writing an article.
We will then break down the research proposal into its core components and examine them individually What is the purpose of a research proposal?
The purpose of a research proposal can be summarised as follows: To propose a research project that will result in a significant contribution to knowledge. To formulate a detailed plan of the project including methodological approach and theoretical framework. To ensure that the proposed research is achievable within the required time and with the available resources. To demonstrate that you have adequate expertise and experience to undertake the project.
Which skills are required for a research proposal? These skills can be grouped into three clusters: Subject knowledge and research skills The proposal gives you an opportunity to exhibit your mastery of subject knowledge and familiarity with current research trends. Critical thinking skills A good research proposal displays evidence of advanced analysis, evaluation and synthesis skills, as well as creativity and the ability to combine vertical and lateral thinking.
Communication skills The proposal displays your ability to express yourself in precise and concise language. Content and structure The required content and structure of a research proposal varies from one field of study to another. Zeroing in on the target It is useful to think of a research proposal as an exercise in zeroing in from the big picture the broad academic field to a specific target your project. We will now individually examine the core components of a research proposal.
Writing the introductory section Background You will need to introduce the research topic to your reader and explain why it is significant. Significance Why is this topic significant to you? From identifying a gap to constructing a problem Identifying gaps in the academic literature in your field is essential to creating new knowledge. Activity Assemble a draft introductory section. Adapted from Miner, J. Models of Proposal Planning and Writing pp. In the working world, you will often be in the position of writing a proposal, usually to try to solve a problem or receive approval or funding for a project.
Such proposals must be prepared to exact specifications and must strike an artful balance between your own needs and those of your audience.
Recently, I worked closely with a professor as she prepared a proposal for some vital funding for her research, and her revisions during our discussion were effective because they were completely audience-centered and goal-oriented, even to the point that she revised tentative-sounding phrases into positive affirmations, shortened paragraphs and provided more transitions so that her sentences were easier to read and reread, and changed certain past-tense verbs to present tense to establish a stronger sense of immediate relevance.
In your courses, your professor may simply ask you to write a short topic proposal for his or her approval, or you may be asked to write an extensive proposal as a warm-up for a term paper or lengthy writing project. The advice that follows will help you prepare an extensive proposal. Believe me, when a professor asks you to write a proposal, what he or she wants to do is read and understand it rapidly, give some feedback, and then grant speedy approval to someone who is clearly prepared to begin writing a paper.
Empty phrases, vague detail, apparent self-absorption, cockiness, or a lack of confidence on your part just get in the way of all that. I once reviewed a batch of paper proposals in which the following sentences appeared verbatim:. Currently I am working hard at gathering more information and reviewing all my present information, maps, and resources that I have etc.
By the deadline of this paper I will have expected myself to have gone far more into depth about this interesting topic and would have all of the required information.
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In this part of Have you ever thought about the importance of transportation? We see thousands of cars and big trucks, planes, and ships, and even do not think what exactly they are doing. No, they do not only transport people from one place to another.
All those vehicles form a huge transportation system In a few words, family values can be defined as principles, some ideals, and beliefs within a family that are passed from generation to generation. You should keep in mind that family values might change with time. Besides, they may differ from culture to culture.
India gained its independence on August 15, Before that, it was a British colony. Since , India has changed a lot, and this is what you will have to discuss in your essay on India after 60 Years of Independence.
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