A research proposal is a document written by a researcher that provides a

detailed description of the proposed program. It is like an outline of the entire

research process that gives a reader a summary of the information discussed in
a project.
Research proposals are written for various reasons, such as requesting a budget
(grant) for the research they describe, certification requirements for research (as
from an institutional review board committee if the experiment is to be done
onhuman beings or animals protected by animal rights laws), as a task in tertiary
education (e.g., before performing research for a dissertation), or as a condition
for employment at a research institution (which usually requires sponsor-
approved research proposals). They may be considered as grey literature.






How t o wr i t e a r e s e ar c h pr opos al *
These recommendations do not guarantee a successful research application!
They are intended to help you conceptualize and prepare a research proposal,
giving the process structure and a timetable for you to develop. Good luck!
When applying for a research grant or a study scholarship, you are expected
to
hand in a "detailed and precise description of study or research proposal as
well as information on any previous study or research projects of particular
relevance to a decision of award."
The purpose of the proposal is to ensure that
the candidates have done sufficient preliminary reading/research
in the area of their interest
that they have thought about the issues involved and are able to provide
more than a broad description of the topic which they are planning to
research.
The proposal is not a fixed blueprint. One cannot predict one's findings
beforehand or mechanically stick to an argument since the research will
inevitably alter or even unseat one's initial expectations. There is no fixed
formula for writing a proposal.
However, your challenge is to convince members of the scientific community
that you
have identified a scientific problem
have a theoretical background and a methodical approach to solve the
problem
within a realistic time frame and at reasonable expenses.
With your research you will add a new aspect to the scientific discourse.
First, consult your advisor on length, layout (typeface, line spacing, font,
etc.), format, as well as a table of contents and page numbers. Members of
the selection committee may have to read a large number of research
proposals so good construction and legibility of your proposal is to your
advantage.
Title Page:
Personal data (name, academic title, your position at your own
university, date of
birth, nationality, your contact information, institutional contact.
(Working) Title of your planned dissertation or research report.
words in the title should be chosen with great care, and their association
with one another must be carefully considered. While the title should be
brief, it should be accurate, descriptive and comprehensive, clearly
indicating the subject of the investigation.
In order to develop a clear title, you must also be clear about the focus of
your research!
Strive for the title to be ten words or 60 characters: focus on or incorporate
keywords that reference the classification of the research subject
Indicate a realistic time frame toward project completion,
followed by the name(s) of your supervisor(s), the university
department where you hope to do your research and, if applicable,
information about other academics with whom you plan to collaborate.
Refer to successfully funded projects to determine whether your topic
fits with the granting organization's mission and to mimic their
title/proposal structure
Abstract/summary statement of the research project:
This one page summary focuses on the research topic, its new, current and
relevant aspects. Strive for clarity; your greatest challenge might be
narrowing the topic
Review of research literature
A short and precise overview about the current state of research that is
immediately
connected with your research project.
Reference the most important contributions of other scientists.
Discuss the theoretical scope or the framework of ideas that will be used
to back the research.
Demonstrate that you are fully conversant with the ideas you are
dealing with and that you
grasp their methodological implications.
Indicate the open problem which then will be the motive for your
project. State clearly how your research will contribute to the existing
research.
Your history/preparation
Summarize the most important impact of your own work on the topic (if
applicable).
Attach copies of your own publications that might be seen in relation to your
research project.
Objective of the research project
Give a concise and clear outline of the academic (possibly also non-
academic, e.g. social and political) objectives that you want to achieve
through your project. Your proposal
needs to show why the intended research is important and justifies the search
effort. Here you outline the significance (theoretical or practical) or relevance
of the topic.
Such justification may either be of an empirical nature (you hope to add to, or
extend
an existing body of knowledge) or of a theoretical nature (you hope to
elucidate contentious
areas in a body of knowledge or to provide new conceptual insights into such
knowledge). All research is part of a larger scholarly enterprise and
candidates should
be able to argue for the value and positioning of their work.
Outline the project
This is the central part of your research outline.
Detail your research procedure within the given time.
List sources and quality of evidence you will consult, the analytical
technique you will employ, and the timetable you will follow.
Depending on the topic, suitable research strategies should be defined to
ensure
that enough and adequate empirical data will be gathered for a
successful research project.
Describe the intended methods of data gathering, the controls you will
introduce, the statistical methods to be used, the type of literature or
documentary analysis to be followed, etc.
Consider your work to be a Work-in-Progress and allow yourself a flexible
planning:
Stay ready to revise the proposal according to new insights and newly
aroused questions
and keep on modifying the working hypothesis according to new insights
while
formulating the proposal and the working hypothesis. Once you have a useful
working hypothesis, concentrate on pursuing the project within the limits of
the topic.
Timetable
Develop a time table (if possible in table form), indicating the sequence of
research phases and the time that you will probably need for each phase.
Take into account that at this stage, it can only be estimated, but make clear
that you have an idea about the time span that will be needed for each step.
Selective research bibliography
List academic works mentioned in your research outline as well as other
important works to which you will refer during your research
Attachments:
List other documents attached to your proposal.
References, CV, etc.
Editing:
Once you have finished the conceptual work on your proposal, go through a
careful
editing stage
Writing/presentation style:
1. Verify that the title, the abstract and the content of your proposal
clearly correspond to each other!
2. Maintain a clear structure,
an intuitive navigational style throughout the document with headings
and summaries, enabling the reader to quickly reference where they are
for future commenting;
(Have a reader skim your document to verify)
3. Summarize significant issues and make no assumptions where possible.
4. Keep a reasonable, clear, declarative writing style (active verbs!)
throughout the document;
5. Breakup the narrative with bulleted lists, visuals, etc. demonstrating a
command of abstract concepts and relationships
Use white space to highlight and emphasize important sections
6. Make sure your proposal does not contain any grammatical/spelling
mistakes or typos; engage a proofreader;
7. Request an experienced academic to proofread your proposal in order
to ensure the proposal conforms to institutional and international
academic standards.




Research Proposal Steps
Step 1: The Title
Naming your research is an important part of the research proposal. It should tell the user (In 25
words or less) what you intend to research and how you intend to do it. You may also wish to
give your research project both a Mori and English title. The choice is up to you, as long as
your title is relevant to the research question.
Step 2: The Abstract
Your research proposal in its entirety may be anywhere between 5,000 to 25,000 words in
length. So it is important that you give a summary of the entire document. This summary is
known as the abstract, and should demonstrate to the reader the most important parts of each
of the sections of the research proposal in around 200 words. It is often useful to write the
abstract last, after the rest of the research proposal has been written and fully thought out.
Step 3: Aims and Objectives
In this section you should expand on the title of your research project to articulate in full detail
the aims and objectives of your research. You should be able to provide a detailed description
of the research question, the purpose of the research, and a description of your approach
(methodology and method) to the research.
Included in this section should be discussion around the research problem that you intend to
answer or investigate, your hypothesis, the parameters of the research i.e. what you intend to
include within the research, and what you intend to leave out.
Step 4: Background
This section should provide detail about the background to the research question. In this section
you will need to demonstrate an understanding of the existing literature and research studies
within the area of your proposed research topic. This is to assist the reader to understand the
significance of your research, and where it fits within the existing body of knowledge.
The background section is a significant portion of your proposal and therefore should be an
extensive review of the literature related to your topic (see literature review). You should be able
to discuss what the existing literature is about and highlight any gaps, issues or contentions that
arise. You also need to be able to show where your research fits within this literature and enter
into discussions on issues that relate to your research question. The point of this background
section is to demonstrate to the reader your understanding and knowledge of the research area,
as well as the contribution that your research project will make to the existing research and
knowledge.
Step 5: Methodology and Method
In this section of the proposal you will need to demonstrate how you intend to go about
investigating the research question. The methodology generally refers to the theory to be used
to justify the use of the particular research methods that you are choosing to use. You may use
more than one methodology to inform your method of research. The method describes the way
you intend to investigate the question, such as a questionnaire, a hui, in-depth individual
interviews, focus group interviews, a wnanga, a survey and so forth.
Kaupapa Mori is a methodology, that also gives rise to and guides research methods. In this
section you will need to give a brief overview of Kaupapa Mori theory and/or theories, why you
have chosen to use this methodology and how your research question fits within this
methodological framework.
If you are using more than one methodology then you will need to demonstrate why you have
chosen to use another methodology alongside Kaupapa Mori, and how it is relevant to the
aims and objectives of your research.
You should also discuss the different methods you intend to use in full detail, and provide
justification as to why you have chosen to use these methods. It is also helpful to discuss how
many participants you intend to involve in your research, how you intend to find or approach
participants, and how they will be used in your study.
Step 6: Schedule and Timeline
You need to be able to demonstrate that your research is possible within a given timeframe.
You may be able to define your own timeframe, or the institution for which you are writing a
proposal may have a set timeframe that you will need to work within. Either way, it is important
that you are able to plot the intended progress of the project from start to finish. If you intend to
produce any outputs, reports, findings then they should be inserted into this schedule.
Step 7: Ethical Approval
Some institutions require that any research involving interaction with human participants get
approval from ethical advisory committees or boards. This ethical approval is sought to ensure
that the researcher conducts research in a manner that is respectful to the participants and
other human beings that may be influenced by the research process. It is important that you
seek out what ethical approval is required within your area of research. You may need to seek
approval from more than one advisory committee depending on the institutional, financial and
disciplinary context. Applications for ethical approval are obtained directly from the ethical
committees themselves.
Ethical considerations is a key part of conducing Kaupapa Mori research. Understanding
researchethics will impact on all aspects of your research, in particular, how you engage with
communities to conduct your research and disseminate your research findings. Mori
community research organizations are also beginning to develop their own research ethics
guidelines to assist both the researchers and participants to be culturally safe during the
research process.
In the ethical approval section, it is important to outline who you intend to seek ethical approval
from, and/or when ethical approval was granted and for what period of time.
Step 8: Resources
This section demonstrates to the reader that you are both suitable and capable of carrying out
the proposed research. You will need to discuss what resources you have at your disposal that
makes it possible for you to carry out this research. For example, physical resources (such as
research instruments), personal resources (such as knowledge of the discipline, area or
community under study), as well as any other resources that you have as a researcher (or
research team) that will enable you to carry out the research from beginning through to
completion.
You may also need to highlight what resources you still require in order to complete the
research, and also discuss how you intend to go about acquiring these resources (i.e. through
funding, through research collaborations etc.)
Step 9: Budget
Not all research proposal require a budget (such as thesis proposals for academic institutions),
however if you intend to apply for funding for research it is important that you are able to show
how much money you require, and justify the amount asked for. The way to justify the amount
you are asking for is to provide a detailed budget outlining what expenses you predict you will
incur in conducting the research. Exactly where and how money will be spent will differ from
project to project, and the size of the budget should reflect the size of the research project.
Some of the main expenses that may be included in any budget could be researchers time,
human resources (such as other research assistants, transcribers, advisory board members),
technical equipment (Dictaphones, transcribers, computer hardware and software etc),
stationary, koha and others.

10 Steps to Writing an Academic
Research Proposal

This hub discusses some of the common elements in a research
proposal. Whether you are doing quantitative or qualitative
research, it is important that you outline the reasons why you
propose doing the study and what process or procedures you will
follow to complete the proposed study.
Some of the important parts of a good quantitative or qualitative
research proposal include:
1. Determining the general topic;
2. Performing a Literature review on the topic;
3. Identifying a gap in the literature;
4. Identifying a problem highlighted by the gap in the literature and
framing a purpose for the study;
5. Writing an Introduction to the study;
6. Framing research hypotheses and or research questions to
investigate or guide the study;
7. Determine the method of investigation
8. Outline the research design
9. Define the Sample size and the characteristics of the proposed
sample;
10. Describe the procedures to follow for data collection and data
analyses.
Determine a General Topic
The first step in writing an academic research proposal is to idenitfy
a general topic or subject area to investigate. Usually this first point
is the easiest because the research proposal will be tied to the
overall theme of a course. In such a case, the the general subject
for investigation is normally determined by a professor who is
leading the class, the school's department chair, or academic
advisory committee.
Perform a Literature Review
The next step is to read as much literature on the general subject
matter as time will allow. While you read the literature it is advised
to take copious notes and then summarize the purpose and findings
of each study relevant to the general subject matter of the eventual
research proposal.
Identify a Gap in the Literature
The general purpose of the literature review is not to have notes on
a whole bunch of different journal articles and books on a particular
subject. The purpose is to understand what studies have already
been done on the subject and then to identify any glaring gaps in
the literature. Identifying gaps in the literature will open up
opportunities to add to the body of knowledge within the general
subject area.
For instance, both Kimura and Coggins found that servant
leadership is actively admired and taught in the Cambodian
Christian community which makes up only a small percentage of the
Cambodian population. However, no one has yet investigated
attitudes towards servant leadership in the non-Christian
Cambodian community which makes up over 90% of the population.
This is an obvious gap in the literature.
Identify a Problem and Frame a Purpose Statement
After you have performed the literature review and hopefully
identified an obvious gap in the literature, next you need to identify a
problem related to the gap and frame a purpose statement as to
why you are investigating what you propose and why other should
care about the study. If your readers cannot answer the question so
what? Or your answer the question why should I care? Then it may
be interesting to you, but not relevant to anyone else.
Write an Introduction
After you have identified a pertinent problem and framed a purpose
statement, then you need to craft an introduction. Among other
things, the introduction to the proposal will include
The Problem Statement
A brief summary of the literature
A brief description of the gap in the literature
A Purpose statement as to why you are proposing the study and
why others should care about the subject matter tied to your
research proposal.
Determine Research Hypotheses and or Reseach
Questions
Next, you need to identify and craft carefully defined research
hypotheses and or research questions. Research hypotheses
identify what you are actually going to investigate and what you
expect to find from your research study. Research hypotheses are
normally found in quantitative research proposals which compare
differences and/or relationships between independent variables (or
causes of phenomena) and dependent variables (or the effects that
result from causes). Research questions are normally found in
qualitative research studies. Most importantly, in good academic
writing, research hypotheses and questions must be informed or
flow from the literature review.
Determine the Method of Investigation
The method section is the second of the two main parts of the
research proposal. In good academic writing it is important to
include a method section that outlines the procedures you will follow
to complete your proposed study. The method section generally
includes sections on the following:
Research design;
Sample size and characteristics of the proposed sample;
Data collection and data analysis procedures
Determine the Research Design
The next step in good academic writing is to outline the research
design of the research proposal. For each part of the design, it is
highly advised that you describe two or three possible
alternatives and then tell why you propose the particular design you
chose. For instance, you might describe the differences between
experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs
before you elaborate on why you propose a non-experimental
design.
Determine the Sample Size and the Characteristics
of the Sample
In this section of your research proposal, you will describe the
sample size and the characteristics of the participants in the sample
size. Describe how you determined how many people to include in
the study and what attributes they have which make them uniquely
suitable for the study.
Determine the Data Collection and Data Analysis
Procedures
The last section highlighted in this hub is the data collection and
analysis procedures. In this section you will describe how you
propose to collect your data e.g. through a questionnaire survey if
you are performing a quantitative analysis or through one-on-one
interviews if you are performing a qualitative or mixed methods
study.
After you collect the data, you also need to follow a scheme as how
to analyze the data and report the results. In a quantitative study
you might run the data through Excel or better yet SPSS and if you
are proposing a qualitative study you might use a certain computer
program like ATLAi. to perform a narrative study or grounded theory
study that exposes the main themes from the proposed interviews.