An academic proposal (for Thesis, Dissertation or Research work) is the first step in producing a major project. The purpose is to convince your supervisor that the topic chosen and the approach suggested are sound. Once approved, the student can proceed with the actual research work.
Here’s how to Write an effective academic proposal. Also find templates, formats and samples.
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Read: Difference between Thesis, Dissertation, and Research Report.
Introduction
The research proposal provides an indication of what you intend to do for your dissertation, rather than a rigid plan. It is very likely that your final work will vary from your initial proposal in some respects. However, the proposal is the first stage of your project, and an important starting point for your research and for your discussions with your supervisor. It will help you to plan your work and to focus on the purpose and structure of your final project work.
Your college university will provide you with more guidelines on how the proposal will be assessed. usually, a word count is also provided. In most cases, the Word limit is around 1,500 words.
Why is a Research Proposal Required?
Here’s how a research proposal helps students:
- It offers students you the opportunity to think carefully about the research project (i.e. what, why, how, etc.)
- You can check for feasibility
- It forms the basis of your research work/dissertation where you can elaborate further
Things to Keep in Mind
Before you begin on your research, you need to first submit your proposal. Every college has a proposal form, and you have to fill in that format.
Make sure you consider the learning from all your class sessions in the academic year, review the slides, materials, etc; basically, read whatever has been taught to you.
Refer to the example proposals shared, the online Mark Saunders book, and the proposal Marking criteria. Understand how a dissertation proposal looks like.
Make sure you write in an academic, third person, and direct style. Make use of Grammarly if possible.
Use lots of citations integrated throughout all sections with an extensive references list correctly formatted and made up of primarily academic journal articles.
Please note this is just the proposal part, once you have discussed this with your professor, you can proceed with the complete research. You can go through Research report formats & examples here.
Research/Dissertation Proposal Format
Here’s how you should structure a research proposal.
Some colleges ask you to submit this information in a Research/Dissertation Proposal form.
- Working title of your dissertation (this is subject to change). This should concisely summarise the research question.
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- Introduction to topic including an identification of the research problem and context (company, market, sector, or location, etc), and the justification/rationale for the study.
Here, you should present the central idea. Provide reasons for choosing this topic. Why it is worth studying and for whom?
- Literature Review: Identify what research has been done and your choice of topic. Quote the references, the work done, the gaps not researched and how you will develop the research question from these gaps.
What has been done in the field so far? Is there a gap? What will be your contribution; you need to provide theory to support your arguments.
- Research question/objective/hypothesis: Specify the problem/gap you have identified. What is it precisely that you are attempting to find out? A clear statement of the purpose of your research is necessary, either in the form of a hypothesis or a research question. Your research findings will be measured against your statement of research objectives, so they should be clear and achievable.
You need to present the gap (research problem) and the Research Question that derives from it, as well as the Research Objectives.
- Research method/s and proposed rationale for testing and analysis: Here, you talk about research design, philosophy, participants, research strategies, type of data, sampling technique. Outline the research methods you propose to use to undertake your study and to gather data. Both secondary and primary research methods should be described in as much detail as possible. Describe the techniques you plan to use to analyse the data you collect. Provide a rationale on how you will be able to test your hypothesis or evaluate your research question.
- Practical and ethical issues: Identify any practical difficulties you may have to overcome in working on your project and gathering information, and discuss any ethical issues involved in undertaking your research.
- Plan or timetable: Show when you plan to complete each of the major elements of your project (divide process plan into stages). A Gantt chart would be useful (see Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill ‘Research Methods for Business Students’ for guidance).
- References: Please provide a complete list of all the references you have used in writing your research proposal. It is vital that you list your references correctly. It is recommended that you follow the proper conventions, else you could fail the proposal stage. Refer to English Language and Learning Support website (in case your college has one) for guidance on how to reference your work
How is Proposal Assessed (Assessment / Marking Criteria)?
A proposal is usually assessed based on the following:
- ORIGINALITY AND RELEVANCE
Originality and creativity; relevance; thoroughness, critical evaluation of extant theory and research; identification of research problem, etc.
Suitability of literature review including identification of research problem/gap. Clarification of research objectives/questions based on the chosen topic.
- STRUCTURE, ARGUMENT AND FOCUS Clarity, presentation and definition of research objectives; presentation and coherence of literature review; continuity of themes; logical development; internal logic of arguments; use of evidence to support arguments, etc.
- METHODOLOGY
Critical evaluation of available research approaches and methods; selection and presentation of methodology appropriate to research objectives; selection of analytical techniques appropriate to data collection, Ethical issues
Selection of research design/method justified
Appropriateness and justification of proposed research instrument and data collection procedure, data analysis, and sampling procedures
Appropriateness of Ethical and Practical Considerations as well as timetable. - STYLE AND REFERENCING
Grammar and syntax, use of tables, appropriate referencing.
Presentation, report structure, logical sequencing of discussion grammar, and spelling
References must be cited and/or listed following the Harvard system.
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