How exciting does the prospect of doing your own original research feel? If you’re anything like most students, it probably feels pretty scary. And if you’re anything like most students again, you probably also feel as if there is no way that any professor would ever let you do your own research and give you marks for it. Still, doing your own research isn’t actually as scary or impossible as it might seem. You just need to know how. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to write a research proposal in order to successfully get a proposal for your own research project approved by your professors.
Table of Contents
What is a Research Proposal?
A research proposal is a document that outlines your research project and explains what your study aims to achieve, why it is important, and how you will go about conducting your research. A research proposal is your chance to prove to your professor that you have thoroughly thought out your project and have a good reason for doing it – and that you deserve to be given the chance to do your own research and be given marks for it. A research proposal is usually between 2-6 pages long and follows a similar format to a journal article.
Why Write a Proposal Before Starting Your Research?
A research proposal is an important part of doing your own research because it is the first time that you have to prove that you’re actually a capable researcher. You have to explain what your research project is, why you want to do it, and how you’re going to go about doing it. During the process of writing your proposal, you will have to actually think about all of these things, which is a big part of actually becoming a researcher. You will have to reflect on what you’ve learned from your readings, think about how your study will add to existing knowledge, and figure out how you will actually go about conducting your study.
Research Proposal Examples
Writing a research proposal can be difficult, but looking at samples might be a good starting point. One is listed below.
Research Proposal Format
It usually has an introduction that explains what your study is about, followed by a literature review explaining what has already been done on your topic and why your study is important. It then goes on to explain the methods you will use to conduct your study, followed by a conclusion in which you outline how your study will help further the field and suggest what your next steps will be after your research is complete.
Let’s discuss these and more in a little more detail:
Title
Just like a thesis or dissertation, the research proposal usually has a title page that includes:
- The proposal title of the project
- Your name
- Supervisor’s name
- Institution and department
Tip: if your proposal is longer than you anticipated, you may also include an abstract and a table of content to make it easy for the reader to navigate your work.
Introduction
As we said before, in this part of your proposal you explain what your research is about. It is basically the initial pitch for your project. Make sure that you explain what you want to do and why concisely.
Your introduction should:
- Introduce the topic
- Give necessary background and context
- Outline your problem statement and research questions
Information you should include:
- Who could have an interest in the topic
- Research that is already done on the topic
- What is missing from the existing research
- What contribution you will make to the research
- Why do you believe this research is worth doing
Literature Review
It’s important to show right away that you are knowledgeable about the key research findings on your topic. A thorough literature review demonstrates that your research is well-grounded in existing information or theory. Additionally, it demonstrates that you are doing your own research rather than using existing research as your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field. To that you need to:
- Compare and contrast the main theories, methodologies and debates.
- Investigate the strength and weaknesses of various different approaches
- Explain how you will expand on, challenge or combine prior scholarship
Research Methodology
Restate your research object after the literature review in order to bring back focus to your own research. Then, in your methodology section, you will explain your overall approach and the steps you will take to answer your research question.
Your methodology should include:
- Research type
- Who is this research for?
- When and where you will collect your data?
- What data collection method will you use and why?
- How will you address any obstacles you face?
Implications/ Contribution to Knowledge
To end on a strong note, explore how your research will contribute to your field. Emphasize again why your research matters.
Reference List
And we are at the finish line (of the research proposal, there’s a lot more to do) referencing is an important part of research and your research proposal should have correct citations of the sources that you have used. If you require help with the citation you can look up our referencing guide or ask our experts to do it for you.
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3 Important Tips for Writing a Good Research Proposal
Be honest about what you don’t know – When you are writing your proposal, you are expected to know everything about your topic. But the truth is that no one knows everything. There are always going to be grey areas and unanswered questions in your research. Be honest about the things you don’t know, and you’ll likely earn the respect of your professor.
Ask questions – Your professors are there to help you with research, and they are probably more than willing to give you advice if you just ask them. If you come up against something that you don’t understand or don’t know how to do, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professors are there to help you learn and do your best.
Be flexible – Research isn’t an exact science, and it can be hard to predict exactly how long a study will take and exactly how much it will cost. Be flexible, and don’t make any hard-and-fast rules when you are planning your study.
Conclusion
The process of writing a research proposal can be a stressful and confusing process for anyone – especially students who are just starting out in their research. But the process will go a lot smoother if you know what you are doing and have a plan of attack when it comes to writing your proposal. It is important to remember that your research proposal is the first chance that you have to prove that you are a capable researcher and deserve to be doing your own study. So, when you are writing your proposal, make sure that you give it your all and put all of your efforts into making it the best that it can be. Good Luck!
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