How to write your research proposal

A research proposal is a document used to propose a research project. This is generally used by research students, for sponsorship and approval. They are later evaluated by the authority the proposal is submitted to.

A research proposal’s main goal is to present and justify the need for a specific research, opening avenues towards a solution for the problem posed and to present plausible ways of conducting the research.

A good Research proposal must contain extensive literature reviews, with persuasive evidence that needs to exist for the proposed study, and benefits on working towards that particular issue.

How are research proposals useful?

• Research proposals open avenue to new modicums of thought, they look towards finding solutions to regular problems.

• Writing a research proposal is an important part of Ph.D. degree as it is an integral part of the Ph.D. application process. More importantly, in many international universities, the research proposal has been used to make decisions on whether to make acceptance offers onto the DBA/ Doctoral program.

• Therefore, the research proposal should be written in such a way where it must make a positive and powerful first impression about your potential to become a good researcher and should enable the university to examine whether you are a good ‘match’ for the mentors or supervisors and their areas of research expertise.

• Research proposals help accumulate likeminded individuals with access to the right resources to help solve unsolved questions, and help society as a whole.

How should my research proposal be?

A good research proposal is anywhere between 2500-4000 words. A great research proposal follows a fixed easy to understand, yet technically sound pattern, leaving an imprint of the proposed research in the reader’s mind. It needs to be grammatically sound, while not losing the message. You must follow the university guidelines and adopt a style as recommended by the university.

How do I format my research proposal?

A universally accepted format for a research proposal is:

1. Title

The title makes the first impression. It needs to be easy to remember, and completely unique. This leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

2. Background

The second part of a research proposal leads the reader through a background to the topic which is to be researched on, and a timeline of all recent developments in the field. This section could also, highlight key points, which made you, want to research, and have a list of books which mention the topic on hand. This followed by an in-depth explanation will take your proposal a long way towards being accepted.

3. The Questions

These need to be formulated clearly, giving a slight intro followed by a direct question addressing the information you are looking for. These need to be grammatically correct and in simple language.

4. Research Methods

In the next section, you need to talk about how exactly you’ll conduct the research. That is,

• The theoretical resources that will be used

• The theoretical framework for conducting the research

• Proposed research method

• A comparison of advantages and limitations among the available approaches and methods to conducting the research.

5. Working plan and Schedule

Your thesis, with a projected timeline and schedule comes up next, with a projected date of completion. A brownie point here would be possible outcomes. Alongside this, you will have to write on the execution of the research in detail.

6. Bibliography

The final part of your research proposal is also the most important; it gives credit to all the authors and primary data used in your research proposal, while lending the proposal validity. In case of adopting APA style for your dissertation, the bibliography section doesn’t exist; instead it is a reference section.