The document outlines the essential elements and guidelines for writing a research project proposal, highlighting the importance of submitting proposals to funding agencies in prescribed formats. Key components include a project title, introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, time plan, budget, and references. It emphasizes the need for careful preparation, revision, and clarity in writing to effectively communicate the research aims and significance.

1. WRITING A RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
Professor Divya Upadhyaya Joshi
Director UGC-HRDC
Kumaun University,Nainital,Uttarakhand-263001
Contact: divyauj@gmail.com

2. Introduction
 Imperative that faculty members in HEI /researchers be able to
formulate and write a research proposal(RP)
 Submit the RP to a funding agency for financial support for their
research
 Most funding agencies in India require the researcher to submit
a proposal in a prescribed format.
 Major funding agencies include UGC,ICSSR,DST,ICHR,CSIR,etc

3. Elements of a proposal
A proposal generally has the following elements:
 Project Title
 Introduction
 Statement of problem
 Research Question
 Origin of the research problem
 Inter - disciplinary relevance
 Review of literature (Status of R & D )
 International & National
 Significance of study
 Objectives of study
 Methodology
 Time Plan
 Budget
 References & Bibliography
*Could include Hypothesis

4. Preparing a Project Proposal
 The sequence of the material in the project proposal
varies according to the different prescribed formats
of the funding agencies
 Most agencies are asking for online submission
 Prepare the proposal very carefully in a word
document and then start uploading online
 Always check,revise and edit several times before
submitting
 Be very careful about language and typos

5. Cover Page (For off-line
submissions & HRDC assignments)
The cover page should include :
 Name of funding agency and category of
project
 Title of proposed work
 Name , designation and affiliation of
researcher
 Address for correspondence/contact
including E-mail
 Year of submission

6. Choosing a Topic
 In choosing a topic, reflect on what really
interests you.
 The contemporary relevance of the topic
chosen for research.
 Before you finalize the topic, decide what is
practically possible in terms of the primary
and secondary data which would provide the
basis for the work.
 Explore the topic or theme by a specific
review of literature. Read journals, books,
research papers and articles related to the
topic you have chosen.
 Use focal group discussions or brainstorming
sessions

7. The Title
• Clear and designed to attract attention
• As short as possible
• A definite assertive statement rather than a question
• Specific, yet inclusive of scope/geographic location of
a project
• Should include key terms that readily identify the
scope and nature of the study
• Avoid using ambiguous or confusing words
• If necessary, break your title up into a title and subtitle
• Should not contain abbreviations or jargon

8. Introduction
 Introduction
 include a statement of the problem as an
expansion of the title with focus on a stated
goal.
 pose the research question
 Outline/define the basic concepts and theories
relating to the work
 Origin of the Problem: explain what the
genesis of the specific problem you propose to
study is
 Where, when ,how the problem manifests
itself/is located

9. Interdisciplinery relevance
 At two levels : what you have taken &
what you propose to give?
 How anticipated results will contribute to
body of knowledgeresearch in other
disciplines
 Any other linkages with other
disciplines-methods,models,theoretical
precepts that you may have taken.

10. Review of Relevant Literature
(Status of research )
 Available in books, research journals, project reports,
dissertations, etc.
 Getting acquainted with the current knowledge (at
national and international level) in the area of study
 Acquaints you with the research methodology,
methods, the tools and techniques which have proved
to be useful in similar research works
 When writing review of each discussed work you state
briefly the major findings of the said work,and sum up
by very briefly by reviewing it

11. Significance of Study
 Clarifies the research gap that exists in the
given area of study and how the proposed work
will fill it
 Should show that you do understand what
work has been done in the area in the past,
and where your proposed research fits in with
this work
 Explain clearly how existing findings relate to
the specific questions that you are asking
 Applied relevance/perceived benefits

12. Objective(s)
 State clearly and in specific terms what the
specific objective(s) of your research is
 Assertive sentences , not questions
 You can break the one major objective down
into a limited set of objectives for clarity
 Avoid positing any grandiose/impractical
objectives in generalised terms
 State only the objectives of your proposed
work

13. Suitability of methods
 Be very clear and specific about the research
methods you plan to use. Study any methods you
propose to use thoroughly.
 Your study may follow any one research design
/combination of more than one
design(exploratory/descriptive/experimental/
analytical, etc) depending on its suitability for your
work.
 You can use qualitative/quantitative/mixed methods-
triangulation

14. Time Plan
 This section should include a general
outline of the dates and time to be spent
on various aspects of the proposal. (Plan
of work)
 Total time can be divided into phases,&
the plan presented in tabular or
graphical form
 Avoid naming exact months /year unless
your work so requires

15. Example of Time Plan
S.
No.
Phase
(1 Phase=3 months)
Target to be
achieved
Additional
information
if any
1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Phase 4
Total Time 12 months

16. Financial Assistance required
 Frame the budget according to your work plan under the
given heads, matching the methods already given by you
 You should be clear about (& able to justify) why you need the
proposed amount under a given head
 Do not ask for large amounts for books/journals/equipment in a
minor RP
 In a major RP if asking for any big equipment/software, make
sure that equipment is already not available in your institution.
Collaborate where you can.
 Buy relevant latest software for data analysis both quantitative
and qualitative. Will make your proposal very sound and
contemporary.

17. Referencing
 Give citations/references throughout your
proposal
 Use any/required style of referencing/citation in
use in your discipline. For eg. in English
Literature follow the MLA style Guide
 You have to include a Bibliography: List the
works relevant to the proposed research work
including all the literature you have already
surveyed for preparing the proposal
 Difference between References and Bibliography
should be understood

18. Referencing/Citation
Citation systems
Broadly speaking, there are two citation
systems:
1.Note systems
 Note systems involve the use of sequential
numbers in the text which refer to either
footnotes (notes at the end of the page) or
endnotes (a note on a separate page at the
end of the paper) which gives the source
detail.
 In the humanities, many authors use
footnotes or endnotes to supply anecdotal
information. In this way, what looks like a
citation is actually supplementary material,
or suggestions for further reading.

19. Parenthetical Referencing
2.Parenthetical referencing is where full or
partial, in-text citations are enclosed
within parentheses and embedded in the
paragraph, as opposed to the footnote
style.
 The list of the citations with complete
bibliographical references may be
included in an end section sorted
alphabetically by author's last name.
 This end section may be known as:
References /Works cited

20. Draft, revise and edit
 Written works require several revisions to
initial draft
 The draft should be thoroughly checked for
consistency, errors, omissions and inclusivity
(e.g. figures, captions, references).
 Several revisions are usually necessary
before the draft can become the
proposal/report or manuscript.

21. Course Assignment:
Simple format for beginners
1. Title
2. Introduction(Statement of Problem, Origin of Research
Problem, Research Question)
3. Literature Review(Rudimentary) & Significance of Research
4. Objectives
5. Proposed Methods
6. Budget
7. Time Plan
8. References
9. Bibliography