How to Write a research proposal

When you are applying for Master, PhD, any research or a study scholarship, you are expected to submit a "detailed and precise description of study or research proposal as well as information on any previous study or research projects of particular relevance." in order to prove your competency.

The purpose of the proposal is to ensure that

• The candidate is fully interested and committed towards the mentioned area.
• The candidates have done sufficient reading/research in the area of their interest.
• 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.

Parts of the Research proposal

Title Page

• Personal data (name, academic title, your position at your own university, date of birth, nationality, your contact information, institutional contact.
• Title of your planned research report. Words in the title should be chosen with care and their association with one another must be carefully considered.
• The title should be brief, it should be accurate, descriptive and comprehensive, clearly indicating the subject of the investigation.
• 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.
• 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 statement of the research project

This one page summary focuses on the research topic, its new, current and relevant aspects. This area should be very precise and should not be more than one line. Try your best to narrowing the topic.Watch out for clarity. Abstract is the first impression of your intentions. You never get a second chance to make a first impression

Literature Review

• The literature review serves several important functions:
• Ensures that you are not "reinventing the wheel".
• Gives credits to those who have laid the groundwork for your research.
• Demonstrates your knowledge of the research problem.
• Demonstrates your understanding of the theoretical and research issues related to your research question.
• Show your ability to critically evaluate relevant literature information.
• Indicate your ability to integrate and synthesize the existing literature.
• Provide new theoretical insights or develops a new model as the conceptual framework for your research.
• Convince your reader that your proposed research will make a significant and substantial contribution to the literature,

Your preparations

•  Summarize the most important impact of your own work on the topic.
•  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 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 of the topic.
• 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 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.
• 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.

Timetable

Develop a time table, 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. Develop a good tentative plan.

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. 

• Proof read it.
• Show it to experts near by you. If there are none show it to your teachers and friends.
• Write several drafts to make improvements.