Guidelines for preparing research proposals

2023

A research proposal is a serious statement that addresses a researcher’s intent to conduct a study on a phenomenon and a plan about how to perform the research. Students usually undertake research under the guidance of a supervisor from faculty in tandem with assistance and supervision of other faculty members. Thus, the proposal should be a clear statement of intent that aims at elucidating the plan of research to make it feasible and acceptable for all parties concerned. The most essential characteristic of a research proposal is that it should be sufficient to present the researcher’s idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition (the what). It should also make a case for the reason the researcher’s focus of study is significant and the value that it will bring to the discipline under study (the why).

A research proposal is a written document specifying what a researcher intends to study and written before beginning the research which communicate research problem and proposed methods of solving it. A research proposal should be built on a concrete plan to conduct academic or scientific research. Types of proposals include internal, external, solicited, unsolicited, preproposals, continuation or non-competing and renewal or competing. Purpose of a Research Proposal is to convince the organization and readers .Characteristics need to be based on attention, interest, desire and action. Qualities of good proposal include specific scope, realistic nature, appropriate credentials, fulfill needs, beneficial, short and simple. Need for good preparation of proposal is vital in formulating proposal, assisting researcher and improving the research quality. Functions of Proposal consists to synthesize critical thinking, clarifies own thinking, refine proposed research, communicate ideas, open thinking and negotiation between researcher and involved parties. Basic composition of Proposal needs a beginning, middle and an end. Typical proposal format includes title, abstract, introduction, background, preliminary studies, research methodology, budget, curriculum vitae for principal investigators, appendix and human subjects. Proposal development strategies and writing tips includes use of outline , listings, visuals, forecasting , internal summaries , significant issues , sequencing components , review , edit , proof read , avoiding overkill point and errors. Proposals are turned down when problems are trivial, complex, nebulous, diffuse without clear aim, lack of sufficient evidence, imagination and originality.

abasynuniv.edu.pk, 2000

Research is not a luxury but an essential need that no nation can afford to ignore. The purpose of this paper is to develop and suggest a Research Proposal template for the students of social and behavioral sciences that might help them in setting out their research proposals. The template and the attached guidelines fit the proposal requirements of most study programs all over the world. 122 environment. The degree of sophistication and comprehensiveness of the proposal is directly related to the level of degree, availability of time and resources and the purpose of research.

The development of a research project is always a remarkable and extraordinary enterprise, whereby the organization and structure of the plan of action is a crucial step toward its construction, development, implementation, and success. A 14-step revisited proposal for the structure of a research project is presented in this paper, which I believe responds to the more general needs of novice researchers.

Some practical steps to consider when developing a research proposal

Springer eBooks, 2021

Langley, BC: Trinity Western University. …, 2002

Most students and beginning researchers do not fully understand what a research proposal means, nor do they understand its importance. To put it bluntly, one's research is only as a good as one's proposal. An ill--conceived proposal dooms the project even if it somehow gets through the Thesis Supervisory Committee. A high quality proposal, on the other hand, not only promises success for the project, but also impresses your Thesis Committee about your potential as a researcher.

Education India: A Quarterly Refereed Journal of Dialogues on Education, 2022

Writing a research proposal for an early career researcher is one of the toughest part of research work. A research proposal is a blueprint to conduct research work and a well-structured proposal provides smooth functioning for the proposed research. Generally, young researchers face various types of problem in structuring a good research proposal in absence of proper guidelines, steps and strategies. This paper aims to provide a general guideline to the students and researchers to develop a wellstructured research proposal for the purpose of PhD/dissertation/research projects, etc. The concept and significance of a research proposal, how to start research work, the process of producing and appropriate sections for a good research proposal has been discussed in great detail.

2016

Proposal writing stifles the creative process necessary to conduct good research The research proposal is a detailed description of how the study will be conducted that includes the study title and researcher names, statement of the research problem and research purpose, review of relevant literature, and the research question(s) or hypothesis(es). The proposal also includes a formal description of the procedure to be used in the study that includes the information or variables to be gathered, the participants of the study and potential benefits or risks, the design and procedure for gathering data, what data gathering method(s) will be used, and how the data will be analyzed. The research proposal can be envisaged as the process to plan and to give structure to the prospective research with the final aim of increasing the validity of the research. It is therefore a written submission to spell out in a logic format the nature of the design and the means and strategies that are going...

Journal of NELTA, 2014

A research study begins with the preparation of a proposal, which serves as a comprehensive plan for the study. Crafting a research proposal involves numerous steps and can be particularly challenging for beginners. To assist them, this brief article provides practical guidance and useful tips for writing an effective proposal. It also outlines the procedures and offers a clear roadmap to help beginners navigate the process of creating a well-structured research proposal.