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Research Proposal: Initiating Research

This course is part of Market Research Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Instructor: Jim Fong

Financial aid available

60,767 already enrolled

(853 reviews)

Recommended experience

Intermediate level

At least 2 years of business experience.

What you'll learn

Determine possible market research constraints and be able to determine the appropriate questions to ask in the research planning process

Assess the credibility and value of secondary research

Apply basic sampling theory to a given situation

Compose a professionally packaged research plan or proposal

Skills you'll gain

Market research.

• Research Methods
• Product Research
• Marketing Intelligence

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There are 4 modules in this course

Market Research is a growing and important field that is used in many industries around the world. Given all the data that is collected whether by organizations, industries, social media, governments, etc., it’s important that someone can review and sift through all the noise to provide valuable insights. And that’s where you come in as a market researcher. This course will only scratch the surface and provide you a foundational understanding of this field.

In this course, you will be able to define market research and identify some tools used in the industry. You will be able to discuss the importance of secondary and internal research in terms of the planning process. You will be able to define what primary research is and identify the various ways to conduct primary research. You will be able to focus on an actual research plan or proposal for your peer review project. You will be able to compose a response to a request for a proposal or research plan and be able to address the various components of the proposal and package it in a professional manner.

Getting Started and Introduction to Market Research

In this module, you will be able to define what market research is and identify the tools that are used. You will be able to discuss the various motivations behind a research inquiry and what goes into a market research request. You will define the services, the roles and the qualities of a market researcher. You will also be able to identify constraints to help you ask the right questions. Finally, you will be able to respond to a market research proposal.

What's included

9 videos 5 readings 1 quiz 1 discussion prompt

9 videos • Total 30 minutes

• Course Introduction • 3 minutes • Preview module
• Survey to Build Our Database • 1 minute
• Introduction to Market Research • 0 minutes
• Defining Market Research • 3 minutes
• Motivation for Market Research • 5 minutes
• Requests for Market Research • 3 minutes
• The Services, Roles, and Qualities of a Market Researcher • 3 minutes
• Complexities, Constraints, and Questions to Ask • 4 minutes
• Planning a Response to a Market Research Inquiry • 5 minutes

5 readings • Total 60 minutes

• A Note from UC Davis • 10 minutes
• Take the Specialization Smartphone Survey • 15 minutes
• Market Research Is the Answer to 'Uberization' and the Customer Challenges of the 21st Century • 10 minutes
• 20 Market Research Questions to Ask Your Customers • 10 minutes
• 13 Questions Every Marketing Consultant Should Ask Prospects • 15 minutes

1 quiz • Total 30 minutes

• Module 1 Quiz • 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt • Total 20 minutes

• So, why Market Research? • 20 minutes

Secondary and Internal Research

In this module, you will be able to recognize the importance of secondary and internal research in the planning process. You will be able to assess the value and credibility of the secondary and internal data you have at your disposal. You will also be able to identify a starting point should a new client approach you. You will recognize the pros and cons of each method of research. And you will be able to budget appropriately and decide what type of market researcher you need or want to be for a given project.

8 videos 3 readings 1 quiz 1 discussion prompt

8 videos • Total 41 minutes

• Introduction to Secondary and Internal Research • 1 minute • Preview module
• The Importance of Secondary and Internal Research • 6 minutes
• Secondary and Internal Research in the Planning Process • 6 minutes
• Starting Cold with Secondary and Internal Research • 6 minutes
• Pros and Cons of Secondary and Internal Research • 5 minutes
• Three Levels of a Professional Market Researcher • 6 minutes
• Budget Considerations While Initiating Market Research • 5 minutes
• Developing Your Research Skills Further • 2 minutes

3 readings • Total 35 minutes

• Quirk's: Time-Saving Tips for Conducting Secondary Research • 10 minutes
• Quirk's: Save Money - Conduct Secondary Research • 10 minutes
• Quirk's: Meta-Analysis Offers Research on Research for MR • 15 minutes
• Module 2 Quiz • 30 minutes
• Compare Secondary and Internal Research • 20 minutes

Primary Research Introduction

In this module, you will be able to discuss various primary research methods for collecting data. You will be able to define what primary research is and be able to choose the appropriate method for your proposal. You will be able to consider various sampling and survey methods and even the less used observational method.

7 videos 2 readings 1 quiz 2 discussion prompts

7 videos • Total 33 minutes

• Introduction to Primary Research • 1 minute • Preview module
• Defining Primary Research • 4 minutes
• Sampling and a Sampling Frame • 4 minutes
• Deciding on the Kind of Sampling and How Many to Sample • 6 minutes
• Observational Research • 4 minutes
• Surveys • 6 minutes
• Methods and Tools in Qualitative Research • 5 minutes

2 readings • Total 25 minutes

• Quirk's: What Everyone Needs to Know About Sampling • 10 minutes
• Quirk's: Forget Exact Science: Drawing Conclusions from Observational Research • 15 minutes
• Module 3 Quiz • 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts • Total 35 minutes

• Sampling Frame • 15 minutes
• Observational Research • 20 minutes

Research Plan or Proposal

In this module, you will be able to write a research proposal for a client. You will be able to recognize and take action when a proposal has been requested. You will be able to collect and compose the necessary proposal requirements and be able to professionally package your proposal. You will be able to apply strategies on how to follow-up with a client about your proposal and be able to take action when you are awarded the bid.

8 videos 1 reading 1 quiz 1 peer review 1 discussion prompt

8 videos • Total 33 minutes

• Introduction to Market Research Plan or Proposal • 1 minute • Preview module
• How a Research Plan or Proposal Might be Presented • 4 minutes
• Components of a Research Plan or Proposal (Part 1) • 6 minutes
• Components of a Research Plan or Proposal (Part 2) • 6 minutes
• Packaging the Research Plan or Proposal • 3 minutes
• How to Follow Up with Your Client • 4 minutes
• You Won the Project, Now What? • 5 minutes
• Course Summary • 1 minute

1 reading • Total 15 minutes

• Six Keys to Writing a Great Proposal • 15 minutes
• Module 4 Quiz • 30 minutes

1 peer review • Total 180 minutes

• Project Proposal and Communications • 180 minutes

1 discussion prompt • Total 30 minutes

• Following Up on a Loss • 30 minutes

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

UC Davis, one of the nation’s top-ranked research universities, is a global leader in agriculture, veterinary medicine, sustainability, environmental and biological sciences, and technology. With four colleges and six professional schools, UC Davis and its students and alumni are known for their academic excellence, meaningful public service and profound international impact.

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Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 853

853 reviews

Reviewed on Jul 15, 2023

Got excited to learn this at the start but as it progresses, it added knowledge that was even more vital when used in real life. Highly recommended.

Reviewed on Apr 7, 2020

Thank you so much, sir. I am a beginner stage in proposal writing. It was really useful to me. Now I had a piece of knowledge about proposal writing.

Reviewed on Dec 26, 2022

The lecturer is fantastic, but I think that the course material is insufficient to wrap-up what lecturer stated on the course. But overall speaking, it is a good stuff for beginner.

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Frequently asked questions

When will i have access to the lectures and assignments.

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

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Research Proposal

Course: research proposal.

Course Overview

This course gives you an understanding of the different elements and purpose of a research proposal, and suggests strategies for avoiding avoid common pitfalls when preparing your proposal. 

It also provides a step-by-step plan for crafting a winning proposal, from early preparation through to submission.

Learning Outcomes

This course will help you to:

• Understand the value of a research proposal and the contribution it makes to your project
• Craft a research proposal to demonstrate and articulate the merits of the researcher, the research question, and the proposed methods
• Use your proposal as a blueprint for action by developing it to clarify your thinking, embed your ideas, and articulate your thoughts clearly
• Identify the key preparation steps of a research proposal
• Use each step to effectively articulate your research question and general research plan
• Learn how to assess and implement proposal guidelines
• Follow the correct steps to clearly articulate what you know when writing a proposal
• Understand what each section of the proposal requires
• Formulate your own research proposal with the help of examples and guidelines
• Anticipate potential obstacles in writing your proposal and develop strategies to overcome or avoid them

Course Instructor: Zina O'Leary

Zina o’leary.

Zina O’Leary is an internationally-recognized leader in research methodologies, and has a keen interest in the application of research to evidence-based decision-making.

Zina is a Senior Fellow at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government where she coordinates research and project units for their Executive Masters and Executive Education Programs.

Module One: What Is the Purpose of a Research Proposal?

This module will help you to:

• Craft a research proposal to demonstrate and articulate the merits of the researcher, the research question, and your proposed methods

Module Two: Before You Start Writing Your Proposal

Module three: how can i write a winning proposal, module four: writing each section of a proposal, module five: how do i overcome obstacles.

• Anticipate potential obstacles in writing your proposal
• Develop strategies to overcome or avoid them

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Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal MOOC

Discovering your phd potential: writing a research proposal mooc , 5 weeks, course information, course description.

• Next start date: Open Now

A carefully prepared and thorough research proposal is usually crucial for applications for advanced or doctoral study, and can provide the launchpad for the first stages of that postgraduate study.

This online course will give you the awareness, skills and tools to write a well thought-out and achievable research proposal, helping you improve the quality of your postgraduate applications. It will also give you a taste of the self-study required in postgraduate doctoral research.

This course will enable you to:

• Understand why you want to do a PhD and whether your expectations are realistic
• Be familiar with the main requirements, structures and problems with aiming to undertake a PhD
• Know how to set a realistic, manageable and impactful research question
• Be able to differentiate between deductive and inductive research questions
• Understand and be able to implement the steps required to writing a literature review, including: doing a literature search, planning, organising and writing the literature review
• Know what kind of theoretical approach would be useful for your research proposal
• Be able to differentiate between ontology, epistemology, different research designs and methodology
• Pull together what you have learned from this course into a first draft of a research proposal

How a MOOC works

MOOCs are flexible courses which allow you to participate at your own pace. Once a course has started you can study the week’s material at a time that suits you. You do not need to be online at the same time as the other students.

If you want to leave your course at any point you may do so, whether or not it has already begun. You can sign up for the same course when it runs again if you want to have another go at it. There is no limit on the number of MOOCs you can take: if you think you have the time to do several simultaneously, that's fine.

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for the current range of MOOCs available from the University of Leicester. You simply need an internet connection and a computer or tablet device. Some other courses may specify expected levels of understanding or experience in certain areas but this will be made clear before signing up for the course.

English Language Requirements

There are no specific English language requirements for our MOOCs. However, to get the most out of this course you should have a reasonable command of written English.

Fees and funding

Uk students.

Enjoy this course for free - there are no fees for any of our MOOCs.

International Students

Careers and employability.

Find out about the range of PhDs offered at the University of Leicester , including details of funding, support and how to apply.

Receive email updates

Course structure, introduction to doctoral research.

In this first week, we will look at what doctoral research involves and how to avoid potential problems. We will also provide guidance on securing funding for your research, where to apply and what to apply for.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Problem definition and research question

This week we will help you to consider which problem your research will cover, and how this will be defined. We will look at approaches to your research problem and the impact your research will have, and provide guidance and exercises to help you to write your research question.

Literature review

A well-developed literature review is vital for a good research proposal. This week will help you to find the right literature with or without access to a university, and guide you in structuring and planning a structured literature review.

Research philosophy, design and methodology

In this week, we tackle the large issues of research philosophy, research design, research methodology and research ethics, which all research touches on.

Bringing the proposal together

In the final week of the course we will give guidance on how to construct a good research proposal. We will look at all the elements you need to include in your proposal, and provide a checklist of what to include with your proposal and further resources to help you to submit a successful proposal.

Why Leicester?

International networks facilitate collaborative work focused on theoretical and real-world solutions.

The University of Leicester is one of the UK's leading research and teaching universities with over 25 years' experience of offering high quality distance learning courses.

Teaching and learning

At the end of each week of the course there is often a set of multiple choice questions to test your understanding of what you have learned, and this will count towards your overall course score. Please note that this is a FutureLearn score, and is not valid as credit for other courses at the University of Leicester - although a MOOC is a great 'taster' for university learning and research.

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Writing a Proposal

via LinkedIn Learning Help

• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• An overview of proposal writing
• Reviewing the general purpose of RFP
• Reading the RFP
• Asking questions
• Understanding the time element
• Using charts
• Understanding the reader
• External solicited
• External unsolicited
• Internal solicited
• Internal unsolicited
• Following the writing process
• Using a direct approach
• Following the rules
• Connecting the dots
• Offering more
• Researching the company
• Giving complete and specific answers
• Using the client's jargon
• Being concise
• Constructing a reader-friendly design
• Overview of proposal parts
• Prefatory parts
• Ending parts
• Appended parts
• Taking initiative
• Debrief on the outcome

Judy Steiner-Williams

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The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

• Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
• Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
• Improve your general research and writing skills;
• Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
• Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
• Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

• What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
• Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
• How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
• Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal.  The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• Why is the topic important?
• How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
• What problems will it help solve?
• How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
• What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

Most proposals should include the following sections:

I.  Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

• What is the central research problem?
• What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
• What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
• Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II.  Background and Significance

This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.

To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:

• State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
• Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
• Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
• Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
• Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
• If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.

III.  Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

• Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
• Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
• Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV.  Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

• Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
• Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
• Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!

V.  Preliminary Suppositions and Implications

Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance.   When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:

• What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
• What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
• What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
• Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
• How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
• Will the results influence policy decisions?
• In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
• How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?

NOTE:   This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.

ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.

VI.  Conclusion

The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.

Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:

• Why the study should be done;
• The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
• The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
• The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
• A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.

VII.  Citations

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

• References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
• Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.

In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.

Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Home » How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

Table of Contents

How To Write a Research Proposal

Writing a Research proposal involves several steps to ensure a well-structured and comprehensive document. Here is an explanation of each step:

1. Title and Abstract

• Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research.
• Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal.

2. Introduction:

• Provide an introduction to your research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance.
• Clearly state the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Discuss the background and context of the study, including previous research in the field.

3. Research Objectives

• Outline the specific objectives or aims of your research. These objectives should be clear, achievable, and aligned with the research problem.

4. Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings, identify gaps, and highlight how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge.

5. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to employ to address your research objectives.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques you will use.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate and suitable for your research.

6. Timeline:

• Create a timeline or schedule that outlines the major milestones and activities of your research project.
• Break down the research process into smaller tasks and estimate the time required for each task.

7. Resources:

• Identify the resources needed for your research, such as access to specific databases, equipment, or funding.
• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources to carry out your research effectively.

8. Ethical Considerations:

• Discuss any ethical issues that may arise during your research and explain how you plan to address them.
• If your research involves human subjects, explain how you will ensure their informed consent and privacy.

9. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

• Clearly state the expected outcomes or results of your research.
• Highlight the potential impact and significance of your research in advancing knowledge or addressing practical issues.

10. References:

• Provide a list of all the references cited in your proposal, following a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

11. Appendices:

• Include any additional supporting materials, such as survey questionnaires, interview guides, or data analysis plans.

Research Proposal Format

The format of a research proposal may vary depending on the specific requirements of the institution or funding agency. However, the following is a commonly used format for a research proposal:

1. Title Page:

• Include the title of your research proposal, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the date.

2. Abstract:

• Provide a brief summary of your research proposal, highlighting the research problem, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Introduce the research topic and provide background information.
• State the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Explain the significance and relevance of the research.
• Review relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings and identify gaps in the existing knowledge.
• Explain how your research will contribute to filling those gaps.

5. Research Objectives:

• Clearly state the specific objectives or aims of your research.
• Ensure that the objectives are clear, focused, and aligned with the research problem.

6. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to use.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for your research.

7. Timeline:

8. Resources:

• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources effectively.

9. Ethical Considerations:

• If applicable, explain how you will ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of research participants.

10. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

11. References:

12. Appendices:

Research Proposal Template

Here’s a template for a research proposal:

1. Introduction:

2. Literature Review:

3. Research Objectives:

4. Methodology:

5. Timeline:

6. Resources:

7. Ethical Considerations:

8. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

9. References:

10. Appendices:

Research Proposal Sample

Title: The Impact of Online Education on Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study

1. Introduction

Online education has gained significant prominence in recent years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes by comparing them with traditional face-to-face instruction. The study will explore various aspects of online education, such as instructional methods, student engagement, and academic performance, to provide insights into the effectiveness of online learning.

2. Objectives

The main objectives of this research are as follows:

• To compare student learning outcomes between online and traditional face-to-face education.
• To examine the factors influencing student engagement in online learning environments.
• To assess the effectiveness of different instructional methods employed in online education.
• To identify challenges and opportunities associated with online education and suggest recommendations for improvement.

3. Methodology

3.1 Study Design

This research will utilize a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study will include the following components:

3.2 Participants

The research will involve undergraduate students from two universities, one offering online education and the other providing face-to-face instruction. A total of 500 students (250 from each university) will be selected randomly to participate in the study.

3.3 Data Collection

The research will employ the following data collection methods:

• Quantitative: Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted to measure students’ learning outcomes. Data on student demographics and academic performance will also be collected from university records.
• Qualitative: Focus group discussions and individual interviews will be conducted with students to gather their perceptions and experiences regarding online education.

3.4 Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data will be transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and themes.

4. Ethical Considerations

The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of participants. Informed consent will be obtained, and participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

5. Significance and Expected Outcomes

This research will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of online education on student learning outcomes. The findings will help educational institutions and policymakers make informed decisions about incorporating online learning methods and improving the quality of online education. Moreover, the study will identify potential challenges and opportunities related to online education and offer recommendations for enhancing student engagement and overall learning outcomes.

6. Timeline

The proposed research will be conducted over a period of 12 months, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.

The estimated budget for this research includes expenses related to data collection, software licenses, participant compensation, and research assistance. A detailed budget breakdown will be provided in the final research plan.

8. Conclusion

This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes through a comparative study with traditional face-to-face instruction. By exploring various dimensions of online education, this research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and challenges associated with online learning. The findings will contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational practices and help shape future strategies for maximizing student learning outcomes in online education settings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Research Grant Proposal Writing Course for Students in Higher Institutions

Genevieve dable-tupas.

1 Research Center, College of Medicine, Davao Medical School Foundation Inc., Davao, The Philippines.

Victoria Toralba-Lupase

2 Graduate School, Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Davao City, Philippines.

Juan C. Puyana

3 MD, FRCSC, FACS, FACCP. School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, and Clinical Translational Science, Director for Global Health-Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. Editorial Board Member, IJMS.

Mihnea-Alexandru Găman

4 Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Department of Hematology, Center of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute. Alumnus, Society of Students in Medicine of Bucharest (SSMB), Bucharest, Romania. Scientific Editor, IJMS.

Research grant proposals have become part of the everyday life of every scientist working in the field of life sciences. Although most early career researchers begin working on research grant proposals during their doctorate, laying the foundation of this complicated task should occur during their undergraduate training. This editorial serves as an introduction into research grant proposal writing for students enrolled in higher education and tackles subjects such as choosing a research topic and writing a successful grant application, as well as possible challenges and funding opportunities that we considered appropriate for students and early career researchers.

Introduction

Writing a research proposal is already a big challenge in itself. How much more if you write a research proposal to seek funding? Can we do it? How? The answers to these questions are provided in this editorial. While it is true that writing a research proposal is indeed a challenging task, it does not mean that it is impossible. It does take time and a lot of effort, but once you have done it, getting someone to fund it, is not much of a problem anymore. A lot of funding agencies, local, national and international are willing to fund research projects that are sound, innovative and have the potential to help improve the way we do things, the environment and the community.

So where do we start? We begin by conceptualizing a research question that seeks to answer or clarify a certain need or problem. The research question can come from daily experiences and challenges. It can be a local, national or global issue or problem that needs to be clarified, improved or addressed. An example of a global problem that needs solutions would be climate change. In developing and tropical countries like the Philippines, research on Dengue Fever can be considered relevant. Most recently is the emergence of a new infectious viral disease, the novel Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Ideas that would seek to address these problems are good research topics to work on. Since these problems pose great impact for society, naturally, many agencies would support research innovations that offer potential solutions to such. This is where we start.

Choosing a Research Topic

In everyday life, we are confronted with so many problems. So how do we choose? You can approach this issue in several ways. Firstly, you may consider thinking about your potential beneficiaries. Who do you want to help? What subset of the population do you want to benefit from your project? For example, if you want to help the earthquake victims, then think of disaster related activities that can help improve the way we deal with natural calamities or disaster preparedness. Such ideas may address problems that have occurred before, during or after the disaster. In particular, you can think of ways on how to streamline the approach of distributing relief goods for the affected community so that these goods reach the victims in the earliest time possible while minimizing expenses. Secondly, you may opt to look for funding opportunities first that are in line with your expertise, then think of a particular problem you want to address. For example, you may just search the World Wide Web: look for legitimate websites like for the Philippines, Department of Health (DOH) or Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and scroll down on funding opportunities. 1 These websites usually give details on the research topics they prefer to fund. Choose a topic you are most interested in and that suits your expertise and write about it. These funding sites also have their own research proposal templates which you need to follow.

Writing the Research Proposal

Generally, the major components of a research proposal are the following: Introduction, Methodology, Results (Dummy tables), Timetable and Budget ( Figure 1 ). The following section presents the general contents of a research proposal as well as instructions on how to write each component. Normally, since we are still proposing something, we use the future tense especially in the Methodology section. There may be variations depending on the funding institution. Nevertheless, this section will just serve as a guide on how to develop your research proposal.

Major Components of a Research Proposal.

Preliminaries

Write the title of your research proposal. Some funding agencies may have specific formats for you to follow. There is no ideal number of words that should make up a research title although some sources advise to limit it to 10 to 15 words. 2 In our opinion, researchers should not limit themselves with a specific number of words but that the title should be as concise as possible, yet adequate enough to describe the contents and purpose of your research. Firstly, a good title predicts the content of the research paper. Secondly, a good title should be interesting to the reader. Thirdly, it should reflect the tone of the writing. Fourthly and finally, it should contain important keywords that will make it easier to be located during a keyword search. Avoid phrases like “A study on…” or “Analysis of…”; research titles are usually in the form of a phrase or less commonly a question. 2

Table of Contents

Arrange this section with main headings and subheadings with the following major parts, namely: Introduction, Methodology and Results. The Results section will only include dummy tables. Other important parts include the preliminaries, references, appendices, and curriculum vitae. 3

List of Tables

List the number and titles of tables as they appear in the body of the research proposal. The first table may start in the Methodology. 3

List of Figures

Make a list of figures and arrange in this section as they appear in the body of the research. The first figure may start in the Methodology. 3

Body of a Full-Blown Research Proposal

The full-blown proposal contains only three parts: Introduction, Methodology and Results (dummy tables only). 3

This part justifies the need to answer the main question you are designed to answer. It gives a clear idea about the seriousness of the problem. It sets the scene of the setting of the study that is to interest the reader. It starts with general ideas then moves down to specifics. This contains the background, review of related literature, theoretical framework, conceptual framework, objectives, hypothesis, and significance of the study. 3

Background of the Study

Writing the background of your study is like writing an interesting story that will engage your reader. Start with a brief provocative problem statement that is applicable to the theme of the study. This one statement should catch the attention of the reader. Include convincing arguments that will support the statement on the seriousness and urgency of the problem. Follow with facts/statistics that portray the problematic situation (global, national, regional, and local setting). Present a resume of events/programs/projects that have been done by various public and private sectors to address the problem. Indicate a firm stand on the need to bridge the gap between existing facts and the problematic situation. Indicate what should be done and what data are needed to address the problem. Present the rationale on the need to conduct the study. 4 – 5 The length of the write-up should not exceed three pages in double space setting. 3

Review of Related Literature

This section provides information on the background of the problem, theories that explain the existence of the problem and determinants, and previous studies done. Acquaint the reader with existing studies as to what has been found, who has done the work, when and where the latest studies have been conducted. Provide the reader with information on what research methods were utilized and provide information on what problems were met and how were they resolved. Use sub-headings and use past tense. 6 – 7 Establish the theoretical and conceptual framework for the research.

• Theoretical Framework - Make use of a theory or theories to explain why a phenomenon exists and how the different factors which brought about the phenomenon are interrelated. The purpose of the theoretical framework is to develop and present a unified explanation of related ideas and to provide the foundation on which the study will build and develop. 3 , 8
• Conceptual Framework - Make a diagram to present how different variables in the study are related to each other. It has the same function as the theoretical framework but instead of using theories, it uses constructs which are specific and well-defined. Explain how the different variables are related to each other. 3 , 8

These are statements of purpose for which the investigation is conducted. These serve as guides in the specification of variables, selection of research methods, determination of the data to be collected and planning of analysis of results.

For a quantitative study, state the General Objective by transforming the problem statement from an interrogative form to a declarative statement, usually introduced by the phrase “to determine”. State the specific objectives which are specific activities/questions that are desired to be done to answer the general objectives. These are statements of the specific outcomes expected in the study. 3 , 9

In a qualitative study, the objectives appear as a) “Grand Tour Question” as the main aim which is written in a declarative statement; and b) the sub-problems which are in the interrogative form. 3 , 10 Although the focus of this editorial is quantitative research, it is also good to note this distinction between quantitative and qualitative research in terms of objective formulation.

This section appears in the proposal only if the study determines relationship(s) or difference(s) between variables. This is an educated guess, an assertion or proposition about the interrelationship or about differences between two or more variables. If your study does not test causal relationships or differences between variables, do not use a hypothesis (e.g., in purely descriptive, diagnostic, or exploratory investigations). There are two types of hypotheses, the Null Hypothesis (statement of denial of an existence, attribute, relationship, difference, or an effect) and Alternative Hypothesis (statement of relationship, difference or an effect). Of these two, use the null hypothesis because errors in accepting or rejecting the hypothesis can be easily avoided. 3 , 11

Significance of the Study

State the value of the study or justification for making the study. Make a list of potential users and indicate the specific contribution of the results (findings, conclusions, recommendations) to these beneficiaries of the study. (Note: In the final research write-up, you have to integrate significance in the Discussion). 3

Methodology

This section provides a detailed description of the basic research plan or procedure on how the study will be done so that it will be reproduced by a competent colleague or that the procedures are needed to judge the validity of its answer. This may be a place to begin writing then return to introduction when a flow of words has already started. Include in this section the following parts: research design, setting, population, variables and measures (dependent and independent variables), sampling (design, randomization and estimation of sample size), data collection procedures and ethical considerations. 3 In the proposal, this chapter is written in future tense. In the final write-up, it is written in past tense.

Research Design

This refers to the plan of action, approach or strategy to be used in the study. Define the research design used, whether it is descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort or experimental, quasi-experimental, etc. Indicate who has the authority of such definition and cite the reference. 3

Describe the study area or the venue where the study will be conducted (e.g., hospital, university, research centre, etc.). Provide a justification for choosing the study area. A map may be shown when necessary. 3

Indicate the number and significant characteristics of the participants. Provide inclusion criteria (specific characteristics that make the participants qualified to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (specific characteristics that render a certain segment of the population to be ineligible to be included in the study). 3

Variables and Measures

Variables are characteristics that are measured numerically (e.g. blood pressure) or in terms of categories (e.g. presence or absence of a disease, smoker or non-smoker, etc.). If your study determines a relationship between variables, write the dependent variable first. A dependent variable “hangs on” to another variable or is a putative effect of one or more variables. Then write the independent variable(s). This/these characteristic(s) is/are the assumed cause(s) or reason(s) for any variation of a dependent variable which is usually the problem in the study. 3

Specify the categories or classes of the dependent and independent variables in terms of scales of measurement. These maybe written in a form of a nominal (two or more categories that are qualitatively different from each other (e.g. place of delivery such as hospital and home); ordinal (ranked categories, e.g. severity of a disease); interval (zero does not indicate absence of attribute and equal differences between any pair of numbers in the scale indicate equal differences but not in the amounts of the attribute such as temperature); and ratio (zero indicates absence of attribute and equal differences between any pair of numbers is the same as that between the amounts of attribute being measured (e.g. hemoglobin concentration or scores in the examination). 3

Explain the process of choosing the samples that will represent the entire population. Include in this section three issues about sampling: i.e., sampling design, randomization, and estimation of sample size if appropriate.

Sampling design:

Explain the entire procedure on how the participants will be chosen. Choose the appropriate sampling design. There are two basic types of sampling designs namely non-probability or non-random or judgmental sampling (e.g. accidental and purposive) and probability sampling (e.g. simple random, systematic, stratified random, stratified systematic, cluster, two-stage and multi-stage designs). State the sampling frame, whether a spot map or a list will be used. 3

Randomization:

Describe the randomization procedure if needed in the study. This refers to the procedure where each participant is assigned to a treatment group or control group by chance (e.g. by random numbers) to reduce the influence of extraneous factors. 3

Estimation of sample size:

Show how sample size is derived using some formula for estimation of sample size. This is used to consider the availability of human resources and logistics. 3

Data Collection Procedure

Explain in detail how pre-testing or pilot testing will be conducted including the number of participants, recruitment, setting, and instrument to be pre-tested, procedures to be used in pre-testing. 3

Explain in detail how the data will be gathered, whether through observation method using instruments (like tape measure or weighing scale); personal interview using a structured interview schedule, self-administered interview, key informant interview and/or focus group discussion. Describe the instrument in terms of number and content of questions to be used, type of scale, how these are organized, and the method of validation. Attach a copy of the instrument in the appendix. Also describe here when the study will start and when it will end. Describe the enumerators in terms of their educational attainment, employment status, experience as interviewers/observers, method and duration of training for the study. 3

Data Analysis

Indicate the type of statistical test(s), decision making criteria (alpha level) and computer software that will be used in the study. Refer to the specific objectives as a guide in the identification of appropriate statistical tools. (Note: In the final research write-up, integrate data analysis in the Results. 3

Limitations of the Study

The limitations of the study should provide information on certain conditions which are beyond the control of the investigator. (Note: In the final paper, integrate limitations of the study in the Discussion). 3

Ethical Considerations

Describe the ethical issues that will be observed to protect the rights, safety, privacy, and sensitivity of laboratory animals and/or human participants as well as the researchers themselves, the community and the environment. If the study deals with human participants, state clearly how informed consent is obtained. This means that the participants will give their consent (by signing in the informed consent form) after they have been informed of the nature of the study, their roles in the study, risks and inconveniences, benefits for participation, compensation, provision for illness/injury, whom to contact, voluntariness of participation, and confidentially that must be carried out to secure their anonymity and privacy. Guidelines for ethical considerations can be accessed from the manual of the Research Ethics Committee of the institution in accordance with internationally approved ethical standards in the conduct of human research. 12 If the study deals with animals, it should be stated that extreme care must be observed in every step from the time these are purchased to the time that they are disposed of. These guidelines should be available and well stipulated in the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Manual. 13 Take into consideration that any research project you conduct must also adhere to the local regulations, national law and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. 14 Do not forget to disclose any possible conflicts of interest or competing interests: research funding, honoraria from pharmaceutical companies, personal fees, payments for partaking in advisory boards, etc.

The results section of a research proposal will only contain the Dummy tables and/or figures which should be left empty until data have been collected and analyzed. The dummy tables and/or figures will depend on the specific objectives of your research. Roughly, there should be at least one table and/or figure per specific objective. 3

For example, if one specific objective states: To determine and compare the demographic data of the participants in the treatment and control group. For this type of objective, a table summarizing the demographic data of your population would be most appropriate.

Timetables or Gantt charts provide a visual presentation of the specific tasks that will be undertaken in the research project and their relative timing or expected length of time from start to completion of each task. 15 This gives the reader an idea on the chronological activities to be undertaken from the beginning to the end of the research project ( Table 2 ).

Sample Timetable for a One-Year Research Project.

A budget plan is a crucial part of every research proposal. If a funding agency has already been identified, just check the website and you will surely find a budget template which will serve as your guide. Generally, the basic parts of a budget proposal consist of the following: Personnel Services, Maintenance and Operating Expenses, and Supplies or Capital Outlay but the format may vary according to the preferred budget format of the funder. Personnel Services include honoraria of the researchers and salaries of research assistants who will help conduct the study. Maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) includes repairs and maintenance of facilities and equipment, supplies and materials, travelling and communication expenses and all expenses pertaining to the data collection and completion of the research. 16

A good budget proposal is often a reflection of well-planned research activities. It provides information on how the requested funds will be spent. As much as possible, the amount reflected in the budget should be based on actual costs. Additionally, some funders may require budget justification or explanations aside from the costing. 16 Please find below ( Table 3 ) an example of a budget proposal of one of our funded research projects.

Actual Example of a Budget Proposal for Funding.

Legend: Budget in Romanian leu. 1 Romanian leu equals 0.2 USD.

Writing a research proposal for funding is a very challenging and demanding job. Even if you are convinced that the problem or issue you want to address is relevant and has a big potential to change or improve the way we do things, we can never say 100% that it will be funded. The decision whether our proposal will be funded or not remains in the hands of the funding agency. To increase our chance to be funded, we need to seek guidance from the funding agencies themselves. We need to determine what types of research they prefer and what their needs are. Priority issues or problems that need solutions are usually included in the research agenda of the funding agency which we can access from their websites. Once we have set our goals on what research proposal we are going to pursue, we work on it to the best of our abilities. If ever we fail to get the funding the first time we submit our proposal, it does not mean we give up right away. Usually, the funding agencies will give their comments and recommendations on how to improve our proposal. If their recommendations are doable, then we can work on them, improve our proposal, and submit again. Hard work and perseverance will usually get you somewhere. We can also opt to submit our proposal to another funding agency, but we have to submit to only one funding agency at a time. Do not make the mistake of sending your proposal to several funding agencies at one time. This is not a good research practice.

Funding Opportunities for Students

Although the opportunities to receive funding as a student are small, opportunities may arise at any time during an aspiring young researcher’s career. In many instances, students should take into consideration that the first research proposal and grant that they present to the scientific world is their graduation thesis. Most of the time, their investigation is financed by their university or by research grants obtained by their supervisors and (or) coordinators. However, there are still some opportunities to apply for financing from professional societies. Fortunately, most international societies offer free membership for students, and we encourage you to join as many societies as possible and benefit from free lectures, workshops, or participation in congresses, as well as apply for travel and (or) accommodation grants as to partake in scientific events.

For example, the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) offers several awards and grants for students interested in medical education. The Student Initiatives Grant consists of a funding opportunity of £2000 ( https://amee.org/awards-prizes/student-initiatives-grant ) for students who would like to coordinate a project in the field of medical education. Another AMEE change to receive an imbursement (£10000) is the Research Grant Awards for an educational research project. 17 – 18 In addition, the pharmaceutical company AMGEN finances an undergraduate summer research program in Science and Biotechnology ( AMGEN Scholars Program ) for undergraduates willing to partake in a short research internship in a top-notch university in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia or Asia, such as Harvard University, Yale University, Cambridge University, The Pasteur Institute, The Karolinska Institute, The University of Tokyo or The University of Melbourne. The AMGEN Foundation does not ask for previous experience in research for the students who want to apply. More details can be obtained at the following website: https://amgenscholars.com/ . 19

In addition, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) offers awards for Medical Students and Early-Career Investigators who are aspiring to conduct research in the field of Hematology or who want to pursue specialty training in Hematology. More information can be obtained at the following address: https://www.hematology.org/awards/medical-student . 20

In terms of courses and lectures, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) organizes annual five-day courses for medical students who are interested in the field of Oncology. Some of the topics tackled during these scientific meetings are Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Melanoma and other malignancies. Please access https://www.esmo.org/meetings/esmo-eso-courses-on-medical-oncology-for-medical-students to discover this opportunity. 21

Further Recommended Readings and Training Opportunities

Although there are less opportunities for students enrolled in higher education to submit grant applications and receive funding for their ideas, there are sufficient chances to receive free training in the field before starting to get involved in research projects. For example, Elsevier’s Researcher Academy ( https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com ) offers several free webinars and e-learning opportunities for researchers who want to improve their grasp of knowledge. The e-learning modules are focused on research preparation (funding, management of data, research collaborations), writing for research (manuscript preparation and book writing), the basics of the publication process, peer-review and methods to communicate your research findings. 22

Another opportunity for students to get involved in the process of manuscript and grant evaluation is The Web of Science Academy ( https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/web-of-science-academy/ ) a peer-review training course available for free which enables researchers to become certified peer-reviewers. Applicants are mentored by experts in their field of research and the course is divided in 10 modules: introductory modules, an overview of peer-review and scientific journals, ethics, how to evaluate different sections of a paper (introduction, methodology, data and results, discussions, conclusions) and how to structure a review. 23

In summary, we have given you a guide on how to make a research proposal for funding from conceptualization to execution to facing the challenges and more. 24 Writing a research proposal for funding is hard work and very challenging. However, if you succeed, it is also very rewarding, not as much financially but more so on the potential of improving the lives of the people in the community and in contributing to the body of knowledge which can benefit humanity.

Sample Table of Contents. 3

Acknowledgments

M.-A.G. acknowledges the support of the Society of Students in Medicine of Bucharest (SSMB) - research grant competition for students, contract no. 231/29.03.2017.

Dr. Juan C. Puyana work is partially funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) of the United States with the grant 5UG3HL151595. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Conflict of Interest Statement & Funding

The Authors have no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Research Proposal Writing Online Course and Project Management 101

Course description.

Research plays a crucial role in advancing the agriculture sector and addressing its pressing problems such as climate change, land degradation, and pest infestations by introducing new technologies and innovative solutions. However, conducting research alone is not enough. To truly drive development and progress in agriculture, it is essential to ensure that research is focused on the most pressing problems and that our findings are effectively translated into practical solutions.

Thus, the Integrated Course on Research Proposal Writing and Project Management 101 aims to equip the participants with the knowledge and competencies necessary to develop an effective and data-driven project-based research proposal. This will enable the participants to actively contribute in advancing any Research for Development and Extension (R4DE) initiative. The output of the participants in this integrated course can serve as a roadmap for each project team in achieving its research and project goals.

This 8-day training course takes up the overview of research proposal writing, the initiation, planning, and the actual writing of research proposal, the basics of project management, and IRRI’s project management processes. From guiding principles, to managing the project budget, writing project reports, and project presentations, learners will be highly involved in a project report writing workshop and discussions with IRRI’s experts.

Course Objectives

After this training, the participants will be able to:

• Define research proposal and the project management lifecycle;
• Identify the parts of a research proposal and the basic principles of project management;
• Demonstrate an understanding of project management in the IRRI context; and
• Draft a project-based research proposal.

Key Modules

• Introduction to Research Proposal Writing
• Initiation and Planning
• Research Proposal Writing
• Other Project Considerations
• Basics of Project Cycle Management for R4DE
• Project Management Tools and Strategies
• Project Management at IRRI
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation
• Project Work Plan Preparation
• Project Budget Preparation
• Financial Monitoring

Learning Modality

The course will be delivered using a hybrid mode, utilizing face-to-face and online sessions using zoom platform. The participants will also be joining both on-site face-to-face and online. Online access to supplemental materials through the IRRI Education learning management system will also be provided.

Apply for Research Proposal Writing Online Course and Project Management 101

Course dates.

17-23 April 2024

Deadline of Application

12 April 2024

Your message (optional)

Fellowship and Scientific Writing Resources

Weill Cornell Graduate School (WCGS) strongly encourages our students to apply for external funding. While we guarantee funding for all students during their training, the process of writing a fellowship allows you to hone your scientific writing skills and develop your research project. Receiving a fellowship can also make your future job applications - in and outside academia - more competitive.  The Office of Fellowships and Scientific Writing (OFSW) supports students through the grant writing and submission process. 

Fellowship Opportunities

Please check out our highlighted Fellowship Opportunities and the WCM Funding Database .

Services provided by OFSW

Fellowship writing workshops.

The OFSW has sourced materials from the NIH, professional grant writing consultants, and the literature to create multiple fellowship writing workshops that combine didactic lectures with peer review of participants’ proposals. Notification of the workshop dates are sent out via the Graduate Student email list.

• NSF GRFP Workshop: The NSF GRFP funds early-stage graduate students, first or second year students, who have not completed a stand alone Master’s degree. This mutli-week workshop includes detailed instruction regarding rules and regulations, review criteria, and coordination of peer review. Dates: Workshop September-October. Submission deadline typically mid-October.
• NIH F31 Workshops: The F31 National Research Service Award (NRSA) predoctoral training fellowship is given to promising applicants with the potential to become productive, independent investigators. We offer the F31 workshop series three times a year to coincide with NIH fellowship cycle deadlines. The goal of these multi-week workshops is to provide students with information regarding application components, outline the NIH peer review system for evaluating fellowships and grants, and coordination of peer review. Dates: Workshops October-November, February-April, and June-July. Submission deadline April 8, August 8, and December 8.  When deadline dates occur on a weekend or federal holiday, the submission deadline is the next business day. 

One-on-One Consultation and Proposal Editing Services

We encourage students to reach out to our office via email to set up appointments for individualized advice on all topics related to fellowships. We can assist at all stages of proposal development; including helping you choose a fellowship that is aligned with your research and career goals, brainstorming research topics/hypothesis development, and structuring an effective proposal.  With advanced notice, we also offer editing of finalized drafts.

Submission of Graduate Student Fellowship and Grant Applications

Some fellowships are submitted to the sponsor from the university using a "system-2-system" platform; other fellowships are submitted to the sponsor by the applicant. Regardless of the method of submission, all fellowships with a budget must be reviewed by the university prior to submission.

The Office of Fellowships and Scientific Writing is responsible for routing all graduate student fellowship and grant applications to the Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA) at Weill Cornell Medicine for review. Fellowship applications are routed to OSRA through Weill Research Gateway (WRG) . OSRA has standard due dates associated with application routing in WRG.

NIH submissions

NIH submissions are due for pre-review at 3pm EST 7 business days prior to the sponsor deadline . Pre-review requires that all “non-science” documents must be finalized. All attachments except the Specific Aims page, Research Strategy, and associated Bibliography are due in their final form at pre-review.

NIH submissions are due for final review at 3pm EST 2 business days prior to the sponsor deadline . All grant documents must be finalized at this time.  

All other submissions

All other submissions are due for   final review at 3pm EST 2 business days prior to the sponsor deadline . All grant documents must be finalized at this time. 

Fellowship Progress Reports and Termination Notices

The Office of Fellowships and Scientific Writing (OFSW) works together with the Graduate School's post-award and financial team and Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA) to help students with federal fellowships submit required progress reports. These include:

• NIH Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR)  for F31 and F99/K00 fellowships. RPPRs are due to the NIH 2 months before the start of the next project period. RPPRs are submitted to the NIH via eRA Commons , and must be routed to OSRA in eRA Commons for approval 7 business days prior to the NIH deadline for review.
• NSF GRFP Annual Activities Reports, described in the administrative guide . Annual Activities Reports are submitted via the NSF Fastlane portal . 

Additional Resources

Meet our fellows.

2024 NSF GRSP Awardees and Honorable Mentions

Leandro Pimentel Marcelino Program: Tri-I PhD in Chemical Biology Mentor: Dr. Tarun Kapoor at RU Award Result: Awarded Rose Sciortino Program: Neuroscience Mentor: Dr. Miklos Toth at WCM Award Result: Honorable Mention Jian Zheng Program BCMB Allied Program Mentor: Xiaolan Zhao at MSKCC Award Result: Honorable Mention

Fellowship Award Policies

While WCGS guarantees funding for all students, we strongly encourage our students to apply for external funding. As an incentive, WCGS issues an additional “Fellowship Award” to each student who receives a fellowship, scholarship, or grant from an external funding agency’s competitive award program. To learn more, click here .

Travel Award Policies

The Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences believes that presenting research as a first-author is an essential part of the graduate training experience. To support our graduate students, WCGS provides $1,200 per year to  PhD students in the BCMB, IMP, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and PBSB programs  to travel to present their  first author work , e.g., a poster or talk, at a conference or meeting. To learn more, click here .

Diversity Supplements Information

Diversity Supplements are additional financial support provided to Principle Investigators (PIs) who have already been awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal of these supplements is to  enhance the diversity of the research workforce by financially supporting the stipends/salaries of  students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. To learn more, click here .

Office of Fellowships and Scientific Writing Contact Information

Contact us with questions regarding fellowship development or scientific writing. 

Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences 1300 York Ave. Box 65 New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 746-6565 Fax: (212) 746-8906

What (Exactly) Is A Research Proposal?

A simple explainer with examples + free template.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020 (Updated April 2023)

Whether you’re nearing the end of your degree and your dissertation is on the horizon, or you’re planning to apply for a PhD program, chances are you’ll need to craft a convincing research proposal . If you’re on this page, you’re probably unsure exactly what the research proposal is all about. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Overview: Research Proposal Basics

• What a research proposal is
• What a research proposal needs to cover
• How to structure your research proposal
• Example /sample proposals
• Proposal writing FAQs
• Key takeaways & additional resources

What is a research proposal?

Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (your research topic), why it’s worth researching (your justification), and how  you plan to investigate it (your methodology). 

The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince  your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is  suitable  (for the requirements of the degree program) and  manageable  (given the time and resource constraints you will face). 

The most important word here is “ convince ” – in other words, your research proposal needs to  sell  your research idea (to whoever is going to approve it). If it doesn’t convince them (of its suitability and manageability), you’ll need to revise and resubmit . This will cost you valuable time, which will either delay the start of your research or eat into its time allowance (which is bad news). 

What goes into a research proposal?

A good dissertation or thesis proposal needs to cover the “ what “, “ why ” and” how ” of the proposed study. Let’s look at each of these attributes in a little more detail:

Your proposal needs to clearly articulate your research topic . This needs to be specific and unambiguous . Your research topic should make it clear exactly what you plan to research and in what context. Here’s an example of a well-articulated research topic:

An investigation into the factors which impact female Generation Y consumer’s likelihood to promote a specific makeup brand to their peers: a British context

As you can see, this topic is extremely clear. From this one line we can see exactly:

• What’s being investigated – factors that make people promote or advocate for a brand of a specific makeup brand
• Who it involves – female Gen-Y consumers
• In what context – the United Kingdom

So, make sure that your research proposal provides a detailed explanation of your research topic . If possible, also briefly outline your research aims and objectives , and perhaps even your research questions (although in some cases you’ll only develop these at a later stage). Needless to say, don’t start writing your proposal until you have a clear topic in mind , or you’ll end up waffling and your research proposal will suffer as a result of this.

Need a helping hand?

As we touched on earlier, it’s not good enough to simply propose a research topic – you need to justify why your topic is original . In other words, what makes it  unique ? What gap in the current literature does it fill? If it’s simply a rehash of the existing research, it’s probably not going to get approval – it needs to be fresh.

But,  originality  alone is not enough. Once you’ve ticked that box, you also need to justify why your proposed topic is  important . In other words, what value will it add to the world if you achieve your research aims?

As an example, let’s look at the sample research topic we mentioned earlier (factors impacting brand advocacy). In this case, if the research could uncover relevant factors, these findings would be very useful to marketers in the cosmetics industry, and would, therefore, have commercial value . That is a clear justification for the research.

So, when you’re crafting your research proposal, remember that it’s not enough for a topic to simply be unique. It needs to be useful and value-creating – and you need to convey that value in your proposal. If you’re struggling to find a research topic that makes the cut, watch  our video covering how to find a research topic .

It’s all good and well to have a great topic that’s original and valuable, but you’re not going to convince anyone to approve it without discussing the practicalities – in other words:

• How will you actually undertake your research (i.e., your methodology)?
• Is your research methodology appropriate given your research aims?
• Is your approach manageable given your constraints (time, money, etc.)?

While it’s generally not expected that you’ll have a fully fleshed-out methodology at the proposal stage, you’ll likely still need to provide a high-level overview of your research methodology . Here are some important questions you’ll need to address in your research proposal:

• Will you take a qualitative , quantitative or mixed -method approach?
• What sampling strategy will you adopt?
• How will you collect your data (e.g., interviews, surveys, etc)?
• How will you analyse your data (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics , content analysis, discourse analysis, etc, .)?
• What potential limitations will your methodology carry?

So, be sure to give some thought to the practicalities of your research and have at least a basic methodological plan before you start writing up your proposal. If this all sounds rather intimidating, the video below provides a good introduction to research methodology and the key choices you’ll need to make.

How To Structure A Research Proposal

Now that we’ve covered the key points that need to be addressed in a proposal, you may be wondering, “ But how is a research proposal structured? “.

While the exact structure and format required for a research proposal differs from university to university, there are four “essential ingredients” that commonly make up the structure of a research proposal:

• A rich introduction and background to the proposed research
• An initial literature review covering the existing research
• An overview of the proposed research methodology
• A discussion regarding the practicalities (project plans, timelines, etc.)

In the video below, we unpack each of these four sections, step by step.

Research Proposal Examples/Samples

In the video below, we provide a detailed walkthrough of two successful research proposals (Master’s and PhD-level), as well as our popular free proposal template.

Proposal Writing FAQs

How long should a research proposal be.

This varies tremendously, depending on the university, the field of study (e.g., social sciences vs natural sciences), and the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, Masters or PhD) – so it’s always best to check with your university what their specific requirements are before you start planning your proposal.

As a rough guide, a formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words, while a PhD-level proposal can be far more detailed, ranging from 5000-8000 words. In some cases, a rough outline of the topic is all that’s needed, while in other cases, universities expect a very detailed proposal that essentially forms the first three chapters of the dissertation or thesis.

The takeaway – be sure to check with your institution before you start writing.

How do I choose a topic for my research proposal?

Finding a good research topic is a process that involves multiple steps. We cover the topic ideation process in this video post.

How do I write a literature review for my proposal?

While you typically won’t need a comprehensive literature review at the proposal stage, you still need to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the key literature and are able to synthesise it. We explain the literature review process here.

How do I create a timeline and budget for my proposal?

We explain how to craft a project plan/timeline and budget in Research Proposal Bootcamp .

Which referencing format should I use in my research proposal?

The expectations and requirements regarding formatting and referencing vary from institution to institution. Therefore, you’ll need to check this information with your university.

What common proposal writing mistakes do I need to look out for?

We’ve create a video post about some of the most common mistakes students make when writing a proposal – you can access that here . If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary:

• The research topic is too broad (or just poorly articulated).
• The research aims, objectives and questions don’t align.
• The research topic is not well justified.
• The study has a weak theoretical foundation.
• The research design is not well articulated well enough.
• Poor writing and sloppy presentation.
• Poor project planning and risk management.
• Not following the university’s specific criteria.

Key Takeaways & Additional Resources

As you write up your research proposal, remember the all-important core purpose:  to convince . Your research proposal needs to sell your study in terms of suitability and viability. So, focus on crafting a convincing narrative to ensure a strong proposal.

At the same time, pay close attention to your university’s requirements. While we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations and it’s essential that you follow these to maximise your chances of approval.

By the way, we’ve got plenty more resources to help you fast-track your research proposal. Here are some of our most popular resources to get you started:

• Proposal Writing 101 : A Introductory Webinar
• Research Proposal Bootcamp : The Ultimate Online Course
• Template : A basic template to help you craft your proposal

If you’re looking for 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, be sure to check out our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the proposal development process (and the entire research journey), step by step.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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51 Comments

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I would be interested in getting some coaching.

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In view of the above, I welcome more coaching.

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Bundle of thanks to you for the research proposal guide it was really good and useful if it is possible please send me the sample of research proposal

You’re most welcome. We don’t have any research proposals that we can share (the students own the intellectual property), but you might find our research proposal template useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-proposal-template/

Cheruiyot Moses Kipyegon

Thanks alot. It was an eye opener that came timely enough before my imminent proposal defense. Thanks, again

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I am an undergraduate student (First Degree) preparing to write my project,this video and explanation had shed more light to me thanks for your efforts keep it up.

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Wonderful guidelines for writing a research proposal, I am a student of m.phil( education), this guideline is suitable for me. Thanks

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Thank you. This is a great insight. I am a student preparing for a PhD program. I am requested to write my Research Proposal as part of what I am required to submit before my unconditional admission. I am grateful having listened to this video which will go a long way in helping me to actually choose a topic of interest and not just any topic as well as to narrow down the topic and be specific about it. I indeed need more of this especially as am trying to choose a topic suitable for a DBA am about embarking on. Thank you once more. The video is indeed helpful.

Have learnt a lot just at the right time. Thank you so much.

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Hi. For my MSc medical education research, please evaluate this topic for me: Training Needs Assessment of Faculty in Medical Training Institutions in Kericho and Bomet Counties

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I need any research proposal

Thank you for these videos. I will need chapter by chapter assistance in writing my MSc dissertation

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thank you for the video but i need a written example

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