Research proposals

1. Research proposals

2. Case Studies
You may be asked to write a research
proposal before a major piece of writing
such as a final dissertation. The purpose of
the proposal is to show how you intend to
tackle the study and whether or not you
have thought through the practicalities. You
need to show that you have planned your
research carefully in order to succeed.

3. Case Studies
The proposal will probably include the
following:
• Preliminary title: What is the topic?
What exactly is the research question?
• What exactly do you hope to show?
What is the purpose of your work?
Describe you research problem.

4. Case Studies
• Why is the research important? An
argument as to why that problem is
important, and what problems need to be
solved.
• What do you already know about the topic?
The proposal should begin by giving the
background to the subject area in which the
research is situated. It will describe the
important theoretical and practical issues it
plans to address.

5. Case Studies
This should be supported by some
reference to recent literature. It should
finish by indicating a problem that
your research will solve.
• How will the research be conducted?
A description of the proposed research
methodology. A time line may be
required.

6. Case Studies
• What resources will be needed? What
are the resource implications for the
proposed research with regard to
equipment, library resources, etc.?
• How will the findings be used? A
description of how the research
findings will be used and/or
communicated to others.

7. Case Studies
• A preliminary reading list. This gives
some ideas of the reading you have
already done and what you think you
will need to do.

8. Research Reports
Introduction
 Description of the
background.
 Explanation of
why the research
was necessary.
 Description of how
research will be
undertaken.

9. Research Reports
Preliminaries
Title
Brief description of research proposal.
Purpose
Description in detail of what you want to find out.
Justification
Argument to justify your research
Explanation as to why it is important

10. Research Reports
Literature review
Report of the previous research.
Examples of previous research.
Evaluation of previous research.
Identification of any gaps.
Description of how you are going to fill them.
Method
Description of your proposed research methodology.
Description of your time-frame
Description of how you intend to do this in the time.
Description of resources.
Description of how you intend to do this with available resources

11. Research Reports
Dissemination
Description of how the findings will be used.
Evaluation of this use.
Description of how the findings will be disseminated.
Reading list
List of reference plus other books you might find useful.
Reading list
End matter.