GUIDE TO

WRITING A RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
WHAT IS A RESEARCH
PROPOSAL?
 Introductio
n
 A research is good if the proposal is good/clear.
 A loosely prepared proposal dooms the research or
project.

 A high quality and clear proposal will impress

the Evaluator/Committee, thus
(i)supports your potential as a researcher;
(ii)have potential to be a good research ;
(iii)have potential to win a research grant/good
pass.
Introductio
n
 The proposal needs to be presented
commonly known as Proposal Defence

 In front of a
committee variations

 Content-wise
brief or
detailed
Introductio
n
What is a thesis/research proposal?
 It is an outline that presents an overview of

your proposed research/study/project.

 It is designed to:
 Define a clear research question and the approach to answering
the identified research question.
 Highlight its originality (doctoral level only) and/or significance
 Explain how it adds to, develops (or challenges)
existing literature in the field (literature review’s role).
 Convince potential supervisors and/or funders of the
importance of the work, and that the research is worth solving.
A high quality research proposal
should consist …
 Title – must be catchy for a research/project proposal!
 Abstract (optional) – but very important if for research
proposal!
 Background of the research – must sufficiently elaborate
 Problem statement (very important!)
 Literature review with complete citations
 Research questions to be answered
 Research objectives to be answered (very important!)
 Research method to answer the questions
 Scope of the research (statements on coverage of your
research
approach)
 Significance of the research (statements on potential impacts
of your research findings)
 Expected results/findings
 Research plan/timeline
BASIC OUTLINE OF A
THESIS
 Chapter One –
Introduction
 Chapter Two – Literature  A Good
Review Proposa
 Chapter Three – Research l
Methodology

 Chapter Four – Results

 Chapter Five – Conclusions

Content of Proposal:
Title
 Should be concise and descriptive.

 Make sure to include important ‘key words’ that will

relate your proposal to relevant potential supervisors,
funding schemes and so on.

 NOTE: Use working title before final

submission
Abstract (not necessary for thesis
proposal)
 May or may not be required
 Should include:
 very brief problem description

 rationale for the study/research (problem statement)

 the hypothesis (if any)

 objective of the study/research

 method used

 the main findings/results

 main significance or impact of the study/research

NOTE: Descriptions of the method may include the design,

procedures, the sample and any instruments that will be
used.
 Problem
Statement
 Described the problem being examined.
 Main idea – tell the specific problem being identified and tell
why there is need for you to pursue the study/project.

 Problem statement – should not be too lengthy.

 If the research problem is framed in the context of a general,
rambling literature review, then the research question may
appear trivial and uninteresting.
 However, if the question is placed in the context of a very
focused and current research area, the significance will become
evident.
 A lot depends on your creativity, your ability to think clearly and
the depth of your understanding of problem areas.
Literature Review with Complete
Citations
(Normally embedded in the research background/problem statement/methodology)
 Establish research done to date (critical type of review)

 Establish theoretical concept for research or develop a new

model as the conceptual framework for your research

 Identify gaps in or limitations of existing research

 Establish need for research

 Ensure that you are not “reinventing the wheel”

 Give credits to those who have laid the groundwork for your
research.
 Literature Review/Related
Work
 Show your ability to critically evaluate
relevant literature information.
 Indicate your ability to integrate and synthesize the
existing literature.
 Highlight technique that is deemed appropriate or best
to solve the identified problem.
 Theoretical framework can be embedded as part of the
review.
 Determine Research Questions to be
Answered
 Usually established in the background section (relating to
the critical reviews that be have been done).

 First, describe what is already known about the problem,

including
previous researchers’ results and current theories.

 Describe what questions need to be answered to further our

understanding.

 Identify what needs to be answered, why and how?

 By answering these questions, we establish the

 Determine Research Objectives to be
Answered
 Research objectives are based on the specific types of
data/information/constraints/criteria/parameters, that you plan
to develop or gather.

 They are something specific that you wish to accomplish.

 When the objectives are taken together, they will allow you to
answer your research question(s).
Describe Research Method to Answer
the Questions
 The guiding principle for implementing the
research.

 Rule of thumb: A good proposal should contain

enough details for another qualified researcher to
implement the study (but this is actually true for a
thesis or research report).
Describe Research Method to Answer
the Questions

 Describe what you plan to do, how you plan to do

it, and what equipment and techniques you plan
to use, both to gather and analyze data.

 Describe the methodology section specifically.

 Describe Research Method to Answer
the Questions
For quantitative studies, as an example:
 Design

 Subjects of participants

 Instruments

 Procedure
 Describe Research Method to Answer
the Questions

For lab-based/system development type:

 Data/information gathering

 Field/laboratory methods/developing model or

system

 Data analysis/testing/evaluating/validating
Scope of the
Research
 Statements on coverage of the research/study

 Where the information that is going to be used

specifically come from.
Significance of the
Research
 Statements on potential impacts of your
research findings

 What potential value/benefit will this research have,

both to science and to society?
Expected
Results/Findings
 The expected results should be written to relate back
to your research questions.

 Your expected results should be as important as your

research questions
- this is what the proposal is all about!

 Tell what will be your achievement.

 Common mistakes?
Research
Plan
 Present your suggested plan of study/research
based on the duration of each activity.

 Can be presented in a Gantt Chart

Common Mistakes in Proposal
Writing
 Failure to provide the proper context to frame the research question
 Failure to delimit the boundary conditions for your research
 Failure to cite landmark/key studies
 Failure to accurately present the theoretical and empirical contributions
by
other researchers
 Failure to stay focused on the research question
 Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed
research
 Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues
 Too much rambling – going “all over the map” without a clear sense of
direction. (The best proposals move forward with ease and grace
like a seamless river)
 Failing to follow the appropriate writing style
 Sloppy writing
 Some Tips to Finish on
Time
 Be realistic & well organized
- do not attempt to solve a large problem
- choose suitable tools to organize your work (eg. Reference Manager)
 Keep up with deadlines
- submit papers to conferences as you progress
 Be confident, self-motivated & self-disciplined
- improve rejected papers as commented, try again
- set a role model to motivate and challenge you
- go to your lab and work at least 9 am to 5 pm
 Request meetings with your supervisors
- supervisors are busy, do not wait for them
- set meeting dates with them
 Start writing early
- submit a report after each semester (by chapters)
 Points to
Ponder

 A GOOD research proposal is NOT a project to be

thrown together in one night with ideas off the top
of your head.
1st
-- Choose a broad topic – then narrow down
2nd -- Prepare a proposal according to the skeleton
Points to
Ponder
 A Good thesis proposal evolve as the work
progresses.

 Can be refined later based on more insights

gathered from detailed literature reviews and
comments from the supervisor(s) (and/or
other academic staff).
THANK
YOU
&
BEST OF
LUCK