Writing a research proposal can feel like a big challenge, especially when you are not a native English speaker. But a good proposal is not about using complicated words; it is about having a clear and logical plan.
This guide will show you a simple, 6-part structure. If you follow these steps, you will be able to write a strong and convincing research proposal.
The 8 Key Parts of Your Proposal
First, let’s look at the big picture. Your proposal will have six main sections:
- Title Page
- Introduction
- Background
- Research Problem
- Aim and Objectives
- Research Methodology
- Conclusion
- Reference List
Now, let’s look at each part in detail.
1. Title Page
The title page is a formal requirement. It must clearly present the essential administrative information:
- The Proposed Title of your project
- Your Name and contact details
- Your Supervisor’s Name
- The Institution and Department you belong to
Always check with your department for any specific formatting or information requirements for this page.
2. The Introduction
Keep your introduction short and clear. One paragraph is perfect. Your goal is to tell the reader two things:
- What is your research about?
- Why is it interesting or important?
This section should quickly get your reader interested in your topic. A good tip is to write your introduction after you have finished the other five sections. It is much easier to introduce your project when you already have all the details clear in your mind.
3. The Background
Think of this section as a critical literature review that tells a story. Your job is to guide your reader on a journey by building a logical path. You will use two main things:
- Knowledge: This must come from scientific literature (like academic journals and books).
- Facts: These should also come from scientific literature whenever possible.
Sometimes, you might need a fact that is not available in scientific papers (for example, a statement from a government official). In these special cases, you can use a fact from a reliable non-scientific source, like a major newspaper or an official website.
However, you must be very clear with your reader. When you use a non-scientific source, you must say so. For example, you could write: “In an interview with the Sunday Newspaper, the Prime Minister reportedly said that there is no plan for…”
By carefully arranging this knowledge and these facts, you are not just listing information. You are building an argument. As the reader follows this path, they should start to see a problem. By the end of this section, the reader should be thinking, “Based on this evidence, it seems there is an important problem that needs a solution.”
4. The Research Problem
This section should be a short, single paragraph that concisely summarizes the problem you have already built up in the background. It directly states the issue and then explains why it is a research problem. A problem becomes a research problem only when an effective solution cannot be found because important knowledge is missing. If the problem is there for other reasons (like lack of money or political issues), it is just a problem, not a research problem. Your task here is to state the problem and then identify the specific knowledge gap—the missing information that currently prevents a solution.
5. Aim and Objectives
Now that you have identified the knowledge gap, you can explain your plan to acquire the knowledge to fix it. Both your aim and objectives are about finding or creating new knowledge.
- Your Aim is your main, big-picture goal. Your aim is to bridge the knowledge gap by establishing the new knowledge that is currently missing. It points to your final destination.
- Your Objectives are the small, clear steps you will take to achieve your aim. They are the specific pieces of knowledge you need to find along the way. For your objectives to be effective, they should be:
- Specific: Say exactly what knowledge you will find.
- Measurable (or Testable): You must be able to demonstrate if the objective has been achieved or not.
- Achievable: You, the researcher, must have the skills and resources to complete them.
- Relevant: Each objective must be a necessary step towards reaching your overall aim.
6. The Research Methodology (Your Plan of Action)
The methodology section explains how you will achieve each of your objectives. This is your detailed plan. Let’s look at two ways to think about this.
A Simple Way to Plan Your Methodology
The basic idea is to explain your plan to find the answers for your objectives. For each objective, you need to decide:
- Can I find the answer by reading existing books and articles (literature)?
- Or, do I need to collect new information (data) and analyze it?
Your methodology will describe the steps you will take to do this work. This is a good starting point for your thinking.
A Better, More Detailed Way (The Preferred Option)
For a stronger proposal, it is better to be more specific. This method has three clear steps.
Step 1: Preliminary Literature Review for Each Objective
At the proposal stage, you cannot read all the relevant literature in detail. The goal of this preliminary review is to be efficient. For each of your objectives, you should search the scientific literature and carefully read the abstracts of the most relevant papers. This will give you a good idea of the likely status of current knowledge. Based on this search, you can make an educated guess about which objectives are probably already answered in the literature.
Step 2: Create Specific Research Questions
Based on your preliminary review, you will have a list of objectives that likely cannot be answered from existing literature. These are the areas where the knowledge gap appears to be. From these objectives, you can now write your preliminary Specific Research Questions. It is good practice to indicate that this is the likely scenario based on your initial search. These are the exact questions your new research will focus on answering.
Step 3: Propose Your Methodology
Now, your methodology section will be very focused. It will be a detailed plan to answer only your Specific Research Questions. This is where your basic understanding of research philosophy is important. For each question, you need to decide on your approach based on what you need to find out.
- Will you use a quantitative approach? This approach uses numbers and statistics to measure, test, and find patterns. It is suitable if your research question is about “how many,” “how often,” or “what is the relationship between…”
- Will you use a qualitative approach? This approach uses words, meanings, and experiences to understand a topic in depth. It is suitable if your research question is about “why,” “how,” or “what are the experiences of…”
Your choice of approach must logically connect to your research questions. In your proposal, you will then briefly explain your plan:
- How you will collect data: For example, “a questionnaire will be used to collect numerical data from 200 students,” or “semi-structured interviews will be conducted with 15 teachers.”
- How you will analyze that data (in general): For example, “the data will be analyzed using statistical software,” or “the interview transcripts will be analyzed using thematic analysis to find common patterns.”
Feasibility and Practicalities: Finally, you must demonstrate that your project is feasible. Describe any foreseeable obstacles or limitations in terms of time scale or resources required, and how you plan to overcome them. If required by your department, you may also need to include a detailed Timeline and Budget.
7. The Conclusion
This method is very strong because it shows the reader you have a clear and logical plan for finding the new knowledge.
Finally, write a short and strong conclusion. Do not just stop writing. Briefly summarize the most important points. Remind the reader why your research is valuable and worth doing.
8. Reference List
Your proposal must include proper citations and a comprehensive Reference List for every source you’ve used. This list should start on a new page and follow the required citation style (e.g., APA, Harvard, IEEE) of your institution.
A Final Tip: Writing Your Title
After you understand your whole project, it’s time to write your title. A good title is short (less than 15 words) and clear. It should focus on two things:
- What is your topic?
- Where or Who is your study about (the context or population)?
For example: “Student Engagement” (the what) in “University Science Lectures” (the where/who).
The Essential Final Step
Before you submit, it is essential to edit and proofread your research proposal carefully for errors in language, grammar, and clarity. A clean, well-structured proposal significantly improves your chances of approval and/or better grade.
By following this structure, you can organize your ideas logically and write a research proposal that is clear, convincing, and easy for anyone to understand. Good luck!