How to Write Research Proposals

Posted by Paper Success
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Aug 19, 2017
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Research proposals are succinct and intelligible summaries of your projected research. It elucidates the major theme or questions that you intend to discourse. The general area of research is outlined along with references to any recent developments on the topic. It also establishes the ingenuity of your proposed research.

The proposal is a significant document that you have to submit as a part of the application process.  It helps you exhibit the aptitude for graduate level research, by validating the ability to communicate complex ideas plainly, succinctly and critically. The proposal is also used by the administration to assign you an appropriate supervisor who is interested in the same research topic. The most common research proposals follow a format mentioned below.

Title

Don’t waste too much time thinking about the title but ensure that it is relevant to your area of interest. This will just serve as a tentative title for your research work as you will be able to change it later on.

Abstract

The abstract should be terse and to the point and must be written after you have completed the other sections of a proposal. Clearly state your problem and how you plan to tackle it in 100 – 150 words.

Context of research

The background of the research should be explained in this section. It should include a brief synopsis of the area of study within which your proposed research falls while stating briefly the current stance on the matter. As your research paper would cover a narrow view on the subject, the research proposals should also be written to cater to that specific narrower view.

Research question

During your research process, you must note down the key questions that you want to address in the research. Avoid taking up broader subjects as your area of study to improve the quality of your proposal. Prioritize your major research questions and while answering them you can ask other similar questions that fall under a broader category. How you are going to approach these questions is another vital question that must be indicated briefly in the proposals.

Methods and materials

Highlight your key research methods and materials for your proposed research. An influential research paper always bases its finding on results backed by data. The methods and materials you include in the research proposals should be convincing and accurate. They should make sense while evaluating the proposed area of research.

Significance


After you have included all the necessary information in the proposal, you must write a little bit about why this research is important and how it will add up to the current knowledge in the field. The paper must add up to what is already known about the subject. It is, in fact, the measure of a quality research.

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