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If you are a PhD doctoral or Master’s student approaching graduation, then a large research project, dissertation, or thesis is in your future. These capstone research projects take months if not years of preparation, and the first step in this process is first writing a compelling, organized, and effective research proposal. Check out the key differences between a PhD dissertation versus thesis. Research Proposal Checklists Are ImportantWe’ve got some good and bad news for the PhD and Master’s graduate students out there. First, the bad news. Research proposals are not easy to write. They require lots of preparation and planning. They can also seem to be an administrative task, with your PhD advisors constantly reminding you to write something that you’re not yet sure about. And of course, it’s also yet another written document that could be rejected. Now, the good news. Research proposals help you organize and focus your research. They also eliminate irrelevant topics that your research cannot or should not cover. Further, they help signal your academic superiors (professors, advisors, scientific community) that your research is worth pursuing. Research proposal checklists go one step further. A research proposal checklist helps you identify what you will research, why it is important and relevant, and how you will perform the research. This last part is critical. Research proposals are often rejected for not being feasible or being unfocused. But an organized research or thesis proposal checklist can help you stay on topic. This article goes into the following topics about research proposal checklists: What is a Research Proposal?Research proposals are documents that propose a research project in the sciences or academic fields and request funding or sponsorship. The primary objective is to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project as well as an organized plan to accomplish it. A main purpose of a research plan is to clearly state the central research topic or question that you intend to research while providing a solid background of your particular area of research. Your research proposal must contain a quick summary of the current literature, including gaps in your research area’s knowledge base as well as areas of controversy, which together demonstrate your proposal is relevant, timely, and worth pursuing. But what functions does a research proposal perform?: Research proposals explain your research topicAn effective research proposal should answer the following questions:
Research proposals explain why your research topic is importantA compelling research proposal should answer the following questions:
Research proposals explain how you will perform your researchA feasible research proposal should answer the following questions:
Research Proposal Checklist ExampleUse this research proposal checklist example as an aid to draft your own research proposal. This can help you decide what information to include and keep your ideas logically structured. Remember, if your research proposal cannot effectively answer every single question below, then you may want to consult your advisor. It doesn’t mean your chosen research topic is bad; it just means certain areas may need some additional focus. Click here for the full Research Proposal Checklist Example in .pdf form The title of your research proposal must attract the reader’s eye, be descriptive of the research question, and be understandable for both casual and academic readers. The title of your research proposal should do the following:
Introduction and Research BackgroundThe introduction typically begins with a general overview of your research field, focusing on a specific research problem or question. This is followed by an explanation of why the study should be conducted. The introduction of your research proposal should answer the following questions:
Significance of Research ProposalYour proposal’s introduction section should also clearly communicate why your research is significant, relevant, timely, and valid. To effectively confirm the significance of your proposal, make sure your study accomplishes the following:
Literature ReviewIn the literature review section, you should provide a review of the current state of the literature as well as provide a summary of the results generated by your research. Determine relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research to support your research claim. State an overview and significance of your primary resources and provide a critical analysis highlighting what those sources lack and future directions for research.
Theoretical Methodology and DesignFollowing the literature review, it is a good idea to restate your main objectives, bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design or methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. To help you write a clear and structured methodology, use your plan and answer the following issues. This will give you an outline to follow and keep you on track when writing this section of your research proposal.
Additionally, explain how your results will be processed:
Read about how to explain research methods clearly for reproducibility. Discussion and ConclusionYour discussion and conclusion section has an important purpose: to persuade the reader of your proposed research study’s potential impact. This section should also directly address potential weaknesses and criticisms put forth by other researchers and academics.
References and BibliographyAlthough it comes at the end, your reference section is vital and will be carefully scrutinized. It should include all sources of information you used to support your research, and it should be in the correct citation format.
Use the Wordvice Citation Generator to instantly generate citations in multiple formats. Proofreading and EditingIt’s vital to take the time to redraft, edit, and proofread a research proposal before submitting it to your PhD advisor or committee. You certainly have the option of a free online grammar checker or even self-editing, but professional researchers and graduate students usually turn to a professional proofreading and editing service to get an extra edge on every aspect of their research study. |