research proposal format sociology

How to write a Research Proposal: Explained with Examples

At some time in your student phase, you will have to do a Thesis or Dissertation, and for that, you will have to submit a research proposal. A Research Proposal in its most basic definition is a formally structured document that explains what, why, and how of your research. This document explains What you plan to research (your topic or theme of research), Why you are doing this research (justifying your research topic), and How you will do (your approach to complete the research). The purpose of a proposal is to convince other people apart from yourself that the work you’re doing is suitable and feasible for your academic position.

The process of writing a research proposal is lengthy and time-consuming. Your proposal will need constant edits as you keep taking your work forward and continue receiving feedback. Although, there is a structure or a template that needs to be followed. This article will guide you through this strenuous task. So, let’s get to work!

Research Proposal: Example

[ Let us take a running example throughout the article so that we cover all the points. Let us assume that we are working on a dissertation that needs to study the relationship between Gender and Money. ]

The Title is one of the first things the reader comes across. Your title should be crisp yet communicate all that you are trying to convey to the reader. In academia, a title gets even more weightage because in a sea of resources, sometimes your research project can get ignored because the title didn’t speak for itself. Therefore, make sure that you brainstorm multiple title options and see which fits the best. Many times in academic writing we use two forms of titles: the Main Title and the Subtitle. If you think that you cannot justify your research using just a Title, you can add a subtitle which will then convey the rest of your explanation.

[ Explanation through an example: Our theme is “Gender and Money”.

Insider’s Info: If you are not confident about your title in your research proposal, then write “Tentative Title” in brackets and italic below your Title. In this way, your superiors (professor or supervisor) will know that you are still working on fixing the title.

Overview / Abstract

The overview, also known as abstract and/or introduction, is the first section that you write for your proposal. Your overview should be a single paragraph that explains to the reader what your whole research will be about. In a nutshell, you will use your abstract to present all the arguments that you will be taking in detail in your thesis or research. What you can do is introduce your theme a little along with your topic and the aim of your research. But beware and do not reveal all that you have in your pocket. Make sure to spend plenty of time writing your overview because it will be used to determine if your research is worth taking forward or reading.

Existing Literature

Difference between “literature review” and “existing literature”.

A literature review is a detailed essay that discusses all the material which is already out there regarding your topic. For a literature review, you will have to mention all the literature you have read and then explain how they benefit you in your field of research.

[ Explanation through an example: Now we know that our topic is: Our theme is “A study of “Gendered Money” in the Rural households of Delhi.”

To find the existing literature on this topic you should find academic articles relating to the themes of money, gender, economy, income, etc. ]

Research Gap

Insider’s Info : If you are unable to find a research gap for your dissertation, the best hack to fall back on is to say that all the research done up to this point have been based on western notions and social facts, but you will conduct research which holds in your localized reality.

Research Question / Hypothesis

Some of the research questions you can state can be,

Research Methodology / Research Design

This part of the research proposal is about how you will conduct and complete your research. To understand better what research methodology is, we should first clarify the difference between methodology and method. Research Method is the technique used by you to conduct your research. A method includes the sources of collecting your data such as case studies, interviews, surveys, etc. On the other hand, Methodology is how you plan to apply your method . Your methodology determines how you execute various methods during the course of your dissertation.

Therefore, a research methodology, which is also known as research design, is where you tell your reader how you plan to do your research. You tell the step-by-step plan and then justify it. Your research methodology will inform your supervisor how you plan to use your research tools and methods.

Your methodology should explain where you are conducting the research and how. So for this research, your field will be rural Delhi. Explain why you chose to study rural households and not urban ones. Then comes the how, some of the methods you might want to opt for can be Interviews, Questionnaires, and/or Focused Group Discussions. Do not forget to mention your sample size, i.e., the number of people you plan to talk to. ]

Insider’s Info: Make sure that you justify all the methods you plan to use. The more you provide your supervisor with a justification; the more serious and formal you come out to be in front of them. Also, when you write your why down, it is hard to forget the track and get derailed from the goal.

For this project, you can mention that you will be allocated 4 months, out of which 1 month will be utilized for fieldwork and the rest would be used for secondary research, compilation, and completion of the thesis. ]

Aim of the Research

You can present that through your research you will aim to find if the money which enters the household belongs equally to everyone, or does it get stratified and gendered in this realm. Through this research, you aim to present a fresh new perspective in the field of studies of gendered money. ]

Bibliography

Insider’s Info: You do not number or bullet your bibliography. They should be arranged alphabetically based on the surname of the author.

Learn: Citation with Examples

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/

Department of Sociological Studies

Writing a research proposal

Guidelines on preparing a thesis proposal to support your application.

These guidelines are intended to assist you in developing and writing a thesis proposal. Applications for admission to a research degree cannot be dealt with unless they contain a proposal.

Your proposal will help us to make sure that:

The topic is viable
That the department can provide appropriate supervision and other necessary support
You have thought through your interest in and commitment to a piece of research
You are a suitable candidate for admission

The process of producing a proposal is usually also essential if you need to apply for funding to pay your fees or support yourself whilst doing your research. Funding bodies will often need to be reassured that you are committed to a viable project at a suitable university.

The research proposal – an outline

Your proposal should be typed double-spaced, if possible, and be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Your PhD proposal can be added under the 'Supporting Documents' section of the Postgraduate Applications Online System .

Your proposal should contain at least the following elements:

A provisional title
A key question, hypothesis or the broad topic for investigation
An outline of the key aims of the research
A brief outline of key literature in the area [what we already know]
A description of the topic and an explanation of why further research in the area is important [the gap in the literature - what we need to know]
Details of how the research will be carried out, including any special facilities / resources etc. which would be required and any necessary skills which you either have already or would need to acquire [the tools that will enable us to fill the gap you have identified]
A plan and timetable of the work you will carry out

For more detailed information on each element of your research proposal, see our extended guidance document .

Three additional points:

Try to be concise. Do not write too much – be as specific as you can but not wordy. It is a difficult balance to strike.
Bear in mind that the proposal is a starting point. If you are registered to read for a PhD you will be able to work the proposal through with your supervisor in more detail in the early months.
Take a look at the Department’s staff profiles, research centres, and research clusters. Can you identify possible supervisors and intellectual support networks within the Department?

Examples of Successful PhD Proposals

PhD sample proposal 1
PhD sample proposal 2
PhD sample proposal 3
PhD sample proposal 4
PhD sample proposal 5
PhD sample proposal 6
PhD sample proposal 7
PhD sample proposal 8

Related information

Applying for a PhD

Our Research Themes

Our Research Areas

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

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Proposal writing

The goal of a research proposal is 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 the research are governed by standards within the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, so 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/or 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.

"Document that is typically written by a scientist or academic which describes the ideas for an investigation on a certain topic. The research proposal outlines the process from beginning to end and may be used to request financing for the project, certification for performing certain parts of research of the experiment, or as a required task before beginning a college dissertation."

Web Finance Inc. (c. 2019). What is research proposal? definition and meaning. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/research-proposal.html

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 ensure a research problem has not already been answered [or you may determine the problem has been answered ineffectively] and, in so doing, become better at locating 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 doing 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 results. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your writing 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 research.
Why do you want to do it? 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 study. Be sure to answer the "So What?" question.
How are you going to do it? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having trouble formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failure to be concise; being "all over the map" without a clear sense of purpose.
Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review.
Failure to delimit the contextual boundaries of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.].
Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research.
Failure to stay focused on the research problem; going off on unrelated tangents.
Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar.
Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.

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.

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing a regular academic paper, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. Proposals vary between ten and twenty-five pages in length. 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!"

In general your proposal 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 or 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 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 one to three paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

What is the central research problem?
What is the topic of study related to that problem?
What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
Why is this 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 section can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. This is where you explain the context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. 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 relevant to help explain the goals for your study.

To that end, while there are no hard and fast rules, you should attempt to address some or all of the following key points:

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. Answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care].
Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
Explain how you plan to go about conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
Set the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you will study, but what is excluded from the study.
If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts 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 demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methods they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, where stated, their recommendations. Do not be afraid to challenge the conclusions of prior research. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

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 study in relation to that of other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically 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 read 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.

To help frame your proposal's literature review, here are 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: what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate?
Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, 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 it is 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 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 operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of these operations 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 a methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is an argument as to why these tasks 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 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 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 reader.

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 policymaking. 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 the theoretical framework that underpins 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?
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 will come about?

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.

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 to 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 composing your proposal. In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

References -- lists only the literature that you actually used or cited in your proposal.
Bibliography -- lists everything you used or cited in your proposal, 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 make sure the project will complement and not duplicate the efforts of other researchers. 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 [i.e., education=APA; history=Chicago, etc] 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.

Proposal Writing

The advice given in this section is geared towards the proposals you will be required to submit when applying for OUR programs and funding opportunities. Though much of this information will be useful when writing proposals or personal statements for non-OUR applications, we recommend you refer to the guidelines in the application you are working on and the advice provided by the UConn Writing Center to guide the development of your proposal. If you are applying for OUR Programs you should also review the criteria specific to the program to which you are applying to ensure your proposal is appropriately tailored.

Where to Begin

Start by brainstorming answers to the following questions:

Why am I doing this project? What issues, problems, or questions will I explore and answer?
What am I hoping to gain or learn from this experience? Why is this project important to me?
What are my goals for the project and how will I accomplish those goals? What do I hope to realize as a result of my efforts?
Is my topic too broad or too narrow? Is it feasible?

Use your answers, in conjunction with the guidelines below, to develop the first draft of your proposal. Once you have a draft, plan to seek feedback from trusted sources. You should also plan to attend a workshop at the Writing Center and review their resources on writing personal statements .

Guidelines for a Successful Proposal

While there is no magic formula to follow for a successful proposal, following these general guidelines will help you develop a thorough, well-developed proposal.

Guideline 1: Review the prompts

The applications for OUR programs will ask you to answer specific questions relating to your project, including some combination of the following:

the purpose of the work
the steps you intend to take to complete the project
why the work is meaningful to you
how participating in this project will contribute to your educational and career goals

A good proposal clearly outlines the project or research question and convinces others of its merits. The proposal should demonstrate why the project is worthy of support, and why the topic is of interest to you, the applicant. Avoid simply writing a summary of what you’ve done (unless specifically asked to do so); rather, focus on your project or research, and what you’re hoping to accomplish.

Each application is a different, and you need to carefully read and understand all the questions being asked to assure your proposal addresses them. Stay focused on your topic and make sure to fully answer the questions that are asked. Neglecting to answer or not focusing on the questions at hand will hurt your proposal.

Guideline 2: Follow directions

Word and character limits, as well as format requirements, are given for a reason. Stay within the guidelines and parameters. Though you may think it won’t matter if you are 10 words over the limit, or your font size is .5 smaller than instructed, it does matter. Not following the guidelines indicates to the reviewers that you are either unable to follow directions or that you did not read the directions carefully. This is not the impression you want to make.

Guideline 3: Consider your audience

At UConn, the review committees are composed of faculty and professional staff from across the University. They are not experts in every field of study and may not be familiar with the topic of study or type of project you are proposing. Therefore, your aim should be to write your proposal for a well-educated audience that does not have the in-depth technical knowledge associated with your field.

Do not assume the reader will know what you’re talking about or what contribution your project may make to your field of study. Give the reader enough background information to understand the importance of the research or project without overwhelming them with technical details.

Guideline 4: Be specific

You can have a well-developed idea or solid research question, but if you fail to clearly articulate how you plan to execute your idea or answer your research question, the feasibility of your proposal will be questioned. Be as specific as possible. If you intend to bring speakers to campus, indicate who you hope to bring and why you chose those individuals. If you propose to travel to archives to conduct research, describe why you chose those archives and what special collections you plan to access at the archives. If you intend to conduct focus groups, indicate why you chose to do focus groups and how you plan to recruit participants.

It’s not enough to only state what you intend to do, you need to indicate why and how. Explain the thought process behind the steps you will take to execute your project or answer your research question.

Guideline 5: Allow time for revisions and rewrites

Plan ahead; a well-written proposal doesn’t emerge overnight. Perfunctory proposals rarely excite anyone, and if your proposal comes across as a last-minute endeavor it may signal a lack of sincere investment in your project.

Starting early will also give you time to seek feedback, which is a necessary part of proposal writing. Ask for a critique from faculty mentors, advisors, and writing tutors to assure your intended message is clear and that your proposal addresses the key points. Take feedback into consideration, but make sure that you don’t lose your voice in the process. Your proposal needs to be genuine and sincere, accurately representing your interests, goals, and intentions, and not those of well-meaning reviewers.

Proofread your proposal. Spell check does not catch all errors. Read your proposal aloud; this will help you catch spelling, grammatical, and word use errors. Spelling errors, grammatical errors, and poor word choice are the quickest ways to undermine the effectiveness of your proposal.

Thank you to the University of Southern California Libraries for a great resource!

Additional resources

The Research Proposal - video
Writing a research proposal video
Example from Psychology Today
Writing for psychology

This is a video produced at Massey University in New Zealand for GRADUATE STUDENTS. It is the model which your assignment is based. It is a useful introduction to proposals as one type of undergraduate paper.

The opening discusses doing graduate work. You can start the video at 2:40.

Yes, this is a long video (1 hour). However, the presenter makes good points. There is a link to the documents he uses in the presentation.

How to Write a Psychology Research Proposal : Writing a brief research proposal cultivates all kinds of intellectual skills.

A PDF of the document is available at the end of the article.

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Acknowledgments

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.

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

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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School of Social Sciences

How to write a research proposal

You will need to submit a research proposal with your PhD application. This is crucial in the assessment of your application and it warrants plenty of time and energy.

Your proposal should outline your project and be around 1,500 words.

Your research proposal should include a working title for your project.

Overview of the research

In this section, you should provide a short overview of your research. You should also state how your research fits into the research priorities of your particular subject area.

Here you can refer to the research areas and priorities of a particular research grouping or supervisor.

You must also state precisely why you have chosen to apply to the discipline area and how your research links into our overall profile.

Positioning of the research

This should reference the most important texts related to the research, demonstrate your understanding of the research issues, and identify existing gaps (both theoretical and practical) that the research is intended to address.

Research design and methodology

This section should identify the information that is necessary to carry out the analysis and the possible research techniques that could deliver the information.

Ethical considerations

You should identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research. Please discuss your research with your proposed supervisor to see how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance, and ensure that your proposed supervisor is happy for you to proceed with your application.

Your research proposal will be used to assess the quality and originality of your ideas, whether you are able to think critically and whether you have a grasp of the relevant literature. It also gives us important information about the perspectives you intend to take on your research area, and how you fit into the department's research profile overall. This is helpful when assigning a supervisor.

If you are applying to study an Economics postgraduate research programme, our advice and requirements are slightly different:

How to write an economics proposal

Supervisors

We encourage you to discuss your proposal informally with a potential supervisor before making a formal application to ensure it is of mutual interest.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will be able to allocate you to the supervisor you initially contact and that we may allocate you to another expert in the area.

Find a supervisor

Flexibility

You will not be forced to follow the proposal exactly once you have started to study. It is normal for students to refine their original proposal, in light of detailed literature review, further consideration of research approaches and comments received from your supervisors (and other academic staff).

Pitfalls to avoid

We sometimes have to reject students who meet the academic requirements but have not produced a satisfactory research proposal, therefore:

Make sure that your research idea, question or problem is very clearly stated and well-grounded in academic research.
Make sure that your proposal is well focused and conforms exactly to the submission requirements described here.
Poorly specified, jargon-filled or rambling proposals will not convince us that you have a clear idea of what you want to do.

The University uses electronic systems to detect plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for assessment. All Humanities PhD programmes require the submission of a research proposal as part of the application process. The Doctoral Academy upholds the principle that where a candidate approaches the University with a project of study, this should be original. While it is understandable that research may arise out of previous studies, it is vital that your research proposal is not the subject of plagiarism.

Example proposals

Philosophy - Example 1
Philosophy - Example 2
Politics - Example 1
Politics - Example 2
Social Anthropology - Example 1
Social Anthropology - Example 2
Social Statistics - Example 1
Social Statistics - Example 2
Sociology - Example 1
Sociology - Example 2

Further help

The following books may help you to prepare your research proposal (as well as in doing your research degree).

Bell, J. (1999): Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education & Social Science , (Oxford University Press, Oxford).
Baxter, L, Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (2001): How to Research , (Open University Press, Milton Keynes).
Cryer, P. (2000): The Research Student's Guide to Success , (Open University, Milton Keynes).
Delamont, S., Atkinson, P. and Parry, O. (1997): Supervising the PhD , (Open University Press, Milton Keynes).
Philips, E. and Pugh, D. (2005): How to get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and their Supervisors , (Open University Press, Milton Keynes).

If you need help and advice about your application, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team.

Admissions contacts

University guidelines

You may also find it useful to read the advice and guidance on the University website about writing a proposal for your research degree application.

Visit the University website

School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies

How to write a phd research proposal.

In order to help you with your application, the information below aims to give some guidance on how a typical research proposal might look.

Your research proposal is a concise statement (up to 3,000 words) of the rationale for your research proposal, the research questions to be answered and how you propose to address them. We know that during the early stages of your PhD you are likely to refine your thinking and methodology in discussion with your supervisors.

However, we want to see that you can construct a fairly rigorous, high quality research proposal.

We use your research proposal to help us decide whether you would be a suitable candidate to study at PhD level. We therefore assess your proposal on its quality, originality, and coherence. It also helps us to decide if your research interests match those of academics in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS) and whether they would be able to provide suitably qualified supervision for your proposed research.

Format of the research proposal

Your proposal should include the following:

Title. A short, indicative title is best.

Abstract. This is a succinct summary of your research proposal (approximately 200-300 words) that will present a condensed outline, enabling the reader to get a very quick overview of your proposed project, lines of inquiry and possible outcomes. An abstract is often written last, after you have written the proposal and are able to summarise it effectively.

Rationale for the research project. This might include a description of the question/debate/phenomenon of interest; an explanation of why the topic is of interest to you; and an outline of the reasons why the topic should be of interest to research and/ or practice (the 'so what?' question).

Aims and initial research question. What are the aims and objectives of the research? State clearly the puzzle you are addressing, and the research question that you intend to pursue. It is acceptable to have multiple research questions, but it is a good idea to clarify which is the main research question. If you have hypotheses, discuss them here. A research proposal can and should make a positive and persuasive first impression and demonstrate your potential to become a good researcher. In particular, you need to demonstrate that you can think critically and analytically as well as communicate your ideas clearly.

Research context for your proposed project. Provide a short introduction to your area of interest with a succinct, selective and critical review of the relevant literature. Demonstrate that you understand the theoretical underpinnings and main debates and issues in your research area and how your proposed research will make an original and necessary contribution to this. You need to demonstrate how your proposed research will fill a gap in existing knowledge.

Intended methodology. Outline how you plan to conduct the research and the data sources that you will use. We do not expect you to have planned a very detailed methodology at this stage, but you need to provide an overview of how you will conduct your research (qualitative and/or quantitative methods) and why this methodology is suited for your proposed study. You need to be convincing about the appropriateness and feasibility of the approaches you are suggesting, and reflective about problems you might encounter (including ethical and data protection issues) in collecting and analysing your data.

Expected outcomes and impact. How do you think the research might add to existing knowledge; what might it enable organisations or interested parties to do differently? Increasingly in academia (and this is particularly so for ESRC-funded studentships), PhD students are being asked to consider how their research might contribute to both academic impact and/or economic and societal impact. (This is well explained on the ESRC website if you would like to find out more.) Please consider broader collaborations and partnerships (academic and non-academic) that will support your research. Collaborative activity can lead to a better understanding of the ways in which academic research can translate into practice and it can help to inform and improve the quality of your research and its impact.

Timetable. What is your initial estimation of the timetable of the dissertation? When will each of the key stages start and finish (refining proposal; literature review; developing research methods; fieldwork; analysis; writing the draft; final submission). There are likely to overlaps between the stages.

Why Bristol? Why – specifically – do you want to study for your PhD at Bristol ? How would you fit into the School's research themes and research culture . You do not need to identify supervisors at the application stage although it can be helpful if you do.

Bibliography. Do make sure that you cite what you see as the key readings in the field. This does not have to be comprehensive but you are illustrating the range of sources you might use in your research.

We expect your research proposal to be clear, concise and grammatically correct. Prior to submitting your research proposal, please make sure that you have addressed the following issues:

Have you included a clear summary of what the proposed research is about and why it is significant?
Have you clearly identified what your proposed research will add to our understanding of theory, knowledge or research design?
Does it state what contributions it will make to policy and/or practice?
Does the proposal clearly explain how you will do the research?
Is the language clear and easy to understand by someone who is not an expert in the field?
Is the grammar and spelling correct?

3 March 2007

Sociological Research, Analytical Methodology

Spring 2007

The Basic Content of a Research Proposal:

In general, a research proposal attempts to describe the plan for a specific research project in a way that other scholars find worthy. A research proposal seeks approval and support from the faculty overseeing students in a graduate program, the scholars and administrators responsible for human subject requirements, and those who advise and control funding programs in foundations, government, and universities. In general terms, research proposals attempt to show that the authors know what they are doing. A proposal tries to show that the planned research meets scholarly standards, that the research will produce worthwhile results (usually meaning that we can reasonably anticipate it will advance our knowledge about a question worth answering), often tries to show a practical payoff to the expected findings (a common requirement for funding), and seeks to defend the project against plausible criticisms. When a proposal is successful, those reading the proposal will decide that it is a good plan, that they cannot conceive any shortcomings or pitfalls that threaten the project, that there is a high probability that the research will successfully achieve its stated goals, and that the researchers have the expertise, commitment, and vision to see the project through. Those at whom a research proposal is aimed will, and should, approach it critically, looking hard for its shortcomings, demanding that the proposal be convincing, not giving it the benefit of doubt. It is worth noting that it is almost impossible to write a successful proposal without getting considerable feedback from others who stand in for the critical readers to whom the proposal is addressed.

Here is an outline of what we can expect to find in a research proposal in the social sciences. The amount of attention paid to these points, the order in which they are addressed, and the character of the presentation will vary considerably according to the specifics of the project, the authors, and its intended audience.

A summary or abstract ; this should give the heart of the research project in a nutshell.
Concisely state how does the research promise to make a contribution to the scholarly literature relating to some issue with a history and a future, using a method that will be effective and accepted.
Possible significance to scholars working on other problems
Possible relevance to policy issues
Important recent work on main theoretical questions
Historical background of theoretical questions
Important recent work on general empirical issues
Best work on specific research questions, both regarding the hypotheses and the data
Literature review should aim at a dialogue with the past work, putting into context, identifying relevant limitations, inconsistencies, and opportunities for extension
Should locate the research within an area in sociology and a program of past research, clarifying the theoretical and empirical traditions that shape and motivate the research
If the research has relevance for policy issues, these should be examined (critical for funding proposals)
Consider both the narrow and big questions
Consider both the relatively certain contribution and the less certain but potentially higher pay off possibilities
Will the research extend previous research on the topic?
Will it fill gaps in the existing research literature?
Will it resolve disputes among scholars working in the substantive area?
Ideally, hypotheses should distinguish competing arguments
Hypotheses normally should be derived from theoretical arguments, not appear as simple empirical projections or common sense predictions
Clarify what assumptions are implicit in the research design
What methodological approach will be used? Why?
Variable conceptualization
Measurement
Means for observing and collecting data
What is the sampling plan?
Why is this an optimal sampling plan?
Locating the sample
Acquiring the data
Getting relevant permissions
Be concrete about what the data will look like and what you will do with it
The aim is both to give a clear description of the intended data analysis and to convince the reader that the authors are sufficiently knowledgeable about the relevant data analysis techniques and issues that they will successfully overcome the unanticipated problems sure to arise.
This section should anticipate the potential issues good scholars are likely to raise.
What are the explicit goals for the research project?
What specific questions will it investigate?
What do you expect to find? Why do you expect that?
How will the research show you are wrong in your assumptions or your arguments if you are wrong? Why are the results you expect very unlikely if your theoretical position is wrong?
What are the limitations of this planned project?
Schedule for project (time for each stage and when expect to complete)
Budget and means of funding
Anticipated practical or logistical problems and means of solving
Approval by human subjects board?
Discussion/Conclusion
Bibliography

📕 Studying HQ

Sociology Research Proposal Topics: A Guide for College Students

Rachel r.n..

July 4, 2024
How to Guides

Hey there, fellow sociology enthusiasts! Are you scratching your head trying to come up with a killer topic for your sociology research proposal? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

This guide is here to help you navigate the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) world of sociology research. We’ll explore a bunch of interesting topics, break down the research proposal process, and give you some tips to make your proposal stand out.

So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let’s dive in!

What You'll Learn

Why Choose a Good Research Topic Matters

Before we jump into the topics, let’s talk about why picking a good research topic is so important. Think of it like choosing a destination for a road trip – the right choice can make your journey exciting and memorable, while the wrong one might leave you stuck in a boring town with nothing to do.

A good research topic:

Keeps you motivated throughout your project
Contributes something new to the field of sociology
Allows you to showcase your skills and interests
Can open doors for future research or career opportunities

So, take your time in choosing a topic that really speaks to you. Trust me, your future self will thank you!

How to Choose a Sociology Research Topic

Alright, now let’s talk about how to actually pick a topic. It’s not just about throwing a dart at a list of ideas (though that could be fun). Here are some steps to help you find the perfect fit:

Reflect on your interests : What areas of sociology get you excited? Is it social media’s impact on relationships? The changing dynamics of family structures? Write down a few broad areas that interest you.
Look at current events : Sociology is all about studying society, so what’s happening in the world right now? Browse news websites, social media trends, or even chat with friends about issues they care about.
Review your course materials : Your textbooks and lecture notes are goldmines for research ideas. Look for themes or concepts that caught your attention during the semester.
Talk to your professors : They’re not just there to grade your papers! Your professors can offer valuable insights and might even suggest cutting-edge research areas you hadn’t considered.
Narrow it down : Once you have a general area, start focusing on specific aspects or questions within that topic. For example, if you’re interested in education, you might look at the impact of online learning on student performance.

Remember, choosing a topic is just the first step. You’ll refine and narrow your focus as you develop your research proposal.

1. Social Media and Technology

In today’s digital age, the impact of social media and technology on society is huge. Here are some potential research topics in this area:

The influence of social media on body image among college students
How online dating apps are changing relationship dynamics
The role of social media in political activism and social movements
Cyberbullying and its effects on mental health in teenagers
The impact of smartphone use on face-to-face social interactions
How social media affects the spread of misinformation during global events

Example: You could propose a study on how the use of Instagram affects self-esteem in college-aged women. This might involve surveying a group of students about their Instagram habits and measuring their self-esteem levels over time.

2. Family and Relationships

Family structures and relationships are always changing, providing plenty of research opportunities:

The effects of divorce on children’s academic performance
Changing attitudes towards same-sex marriage across generations
The impact of social media on family communication
Single-parent households and their economic challenges
The role of grandparents in modern family structures
Interracial relationships and social acceptance in different communities

Example: A research proposal could focus on how the increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage has affected family dynamics in conservative communities. This might involve interviews with LGBTQ+ couples and their family members in specific regions.

3. Education and Inequality

Education is a key factor in social mobility, but it’s also an area where inequalities are often highlighted:

The impact of socioeconomic status on educational opportunities
Gender disparities in STEM fields at the college level
The effectiveness of affirmative action policies in higher education
The role of standardized testing in perpetuating educational inequalities
Access to education for immigrant and refugee populations
The long-term effects of student loan debt on career choices and life decisions

Example: You might propose a study on how access to technology at home affects academic performance in low-income neighborhoods. This could involve comparing test scores and graduation rates between schools with different levels of technology access.

4. Race and Ethnicity

Issues of race and ethnicity continue to be crucial areas of sociological research:

The impact of racial stereotypes in media representation
Experiences of microaggressions among minority college students
Racial disparities in healthcare access and outcomes
The effectiveness of diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace
Cultural assimilation vs. multiculturalism in immigrant communities
The intersection of race and class in urban gentrification

Example: A research proposal could examine how racial stereotypes in popular TV shows affect viewers’ perceptions of different ethnic groups. This might involve content analysis of shows and surveys of viewers.

5. Gender and Sexuality

Gender roles and sexuality are constantly evolving, providing rich ground for sociological research:

The impact of the #MeToo movement on workplace dynamics
Changing perceptions of gender roles in millennial and Gen Z populations
The experiences of transgender individuals in healthcare settings
Gender wage gap across different industries and job levels
The influence of social media on LGBTQ+ youth identity formation
Representations of non-binary and genderqueer individuals in mainstream media

Example: You could propose a study on how the presence of gender-neutral bathrooms on college campuses affects the experiences of transgender and non-binary students. This might involve surveys and interviews with students before and after the implementation of such facilities.

6. Health and Healthcare

Health issues have significant social implications, especially highlighted by recent global events:

The social determinants of health in different communities
Mental health stigma among different cultural groups
The impact of social support networks on chronic disease management
Healthcare disparities in rural vs. urban areas
The societal impact of anti-vaccination movements
The role of social media in spreading health information (and misinformation)

Example: A research proposal could focus on how social support networks affect the management of chronic diseases like diabetes in different ethnic communities. This might involve comparing health outcomes and interviewing patients about their support systems.

7. Crime and Deviance

The study of crime and deviant behavior is a classic area of sociology with many contemporary applications:

The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in reducing recidivism
The impact of marijuana legalization on crime rates and social attitudes
Cybercrime and its effects on individuals and businesses
The relationship between poverty and crime in urban areas
Gender differences in types of crimes committed and sentencing
The role of social media in gang recruitment and activities

Example: You might propose a study on how the legalization of marijuana in certain states has affected crime rates and public perceptions of drug use. This could involve analyzing crime statistics and conducting surveys in states before and after legalization.

8. Environment and Society

Environmental issues have significant social implications:

The impact of climate change on migration patterns
Environmental racism and the location of hazardous waste sites
Social movements and environmental activism in the digital age
The effectiveness of recycling programs in different communities
The social and economic impacts of natural disasters on vulnerable populations
Consumer behavior and attitudes towards sustainable products

Example: A research proposal could examine how social media campaigns affect young people’s engagement with environmental issues. This might involve analyzing social media data and surveying young activists.

Structure of a Sociology Research Proposal

Now that we’ve explored some topic areas, let’s break down what actually goes into a research proposal. Think of this as the blueprint for your research project.

Your title should be clear, concise, and reflect the main idea of your research. It’s like the headline of a newspaper article – it should grab attention and give a good idea of what’s to come.

Example: “The Impact of Social Media Use on Self-Esteem Among College Students: A Longitudinal Study”

2. Abstract

This is a brief summary of your entire proposal, usually about 150-300 words. It should cover your research question, methodology, and the significance of your study. Think of it as the trailer for your research movie – it should give a taste of what’s to come and make people want to read more.

3. Introduction

Here’s where you set the stage for your research. You should:

Provide background information on your topic
Explain why this research is important
State your research question or hypothesis clearly

Example: “In recent years, social media use has skyrocketed among college students. While these platforms offer new ways to connect, they may also be affecting users’ mental health and self-esteem. This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and self-esteem among college students over time.”

4. Literature Review

This section shows that you’ve done your homework. You’ll need to:

Summarize relevant existing research on your topic
Identify gaps in current knowledge that your study will address
Explain how your research fits into the broader academic conversation

Remember to cite your sources properly!

5. Methodology

Here, you’ll explain exactly how you plan to conduct your research. Be specific about:

Your research design (e.g., survey, experiment, interviews)
Your sample (who will participate in your study and how you’ll recruit them)
Your data collection methods
How you plan to analyze your data

Example: “This study will use a longitudinal survey design. We will recruit 200 college students and have them complete online surveys about their social media use and self-esteem at three time points over one academic year. Data will be analyzed using regression analysis to examine the relationship between social media use and changes in self-esteem over time.”

6. Ethical Considerations

Research involving human subjects always requires careful ethical consideration. Discuss:

How you’ll protect participants’ privacy and confidentiality
Any potential risks to participants and how you’ll minimize them
How you’ll obtain informed consent
Whether you need approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB)

7. Timeline

Provide a realistic schedule for your research. This might include:

When you’ll recruit participants
When data collection will occur
Time for data analysis
Writing up your results

If your research requires funding, include a detailed budget. This might cover:

Equipment or software needed
Compensation for participants
Travel expenses
Costs for data analysis or transcription services

9. Expected Results and Significance

Discuss what you expect to find and why it matters. Consider:

How your findings might contribute to sociological theory
Practical implications of your research
Potential for future research based on your study

10. References

List all the sources you cited in your proposal. Make sure to use the citation style required by your institution (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

Tips for Writing a Stellar Sociology Research Proposal

Alright, now that you know what goes into a research proposal, here are some tips to make yours shine:

Be clear and concise : Your writing should be easy to understand. Avoid jargon or overly complex language.
Show your passion : Let your enthusiasm for your topic come through in your writing. If you’re excited about your research, your readers will be too!
Be realistic : Make sure your proposed research is something you can actually do with the time and resources available to you.
Proofread, proofread, proofread : Typos and grammatical errors can make your proposal look sloppy. Take the time to review and edit your work carefully.
Get feedback : Ask your professors, classmates, or even friends outside your field to read your proposal. They might spot things you’ve missed or have great suggestions.
Connect to broader issues : Show how your research relates to larger societal issues or current events. This helps demonstrate the relevance and importance of your work.
Be specific : The more details you can provide about your methods and analysis, the stronger your proposal will be.
Address potential limitations : No study is perfect. Showing that you’ve thought about potential weaknesses in your research design demonstrates critical thinking skills.
Use visuals if appropriate : Charts, graphs, or diagrams can sometimes help explain complex ideas more clearly than text alone.
Follow the guidelines : Make sure you’re adhering to any specific requirements set by your professor or institution.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even the best researchers can fall into some common traps when writing proposals. Here are some to watch out for:

Being too ambitious : It’s great to dream big, but make sure your research is actually doable within your timeframe and resources.
Neglecting the literature review : Your research doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Make sure you’re familiar with existing work in your area and can explain how your study fits in.
Vague research questions : Your research question should be specific and answerable. “How does social media affect people?” is too broad. “How does daily Instagram use affect self-esteem in college students?” is much better.
Ignoring ethical issues : Even if your research seems harmless, always consider potential ethical implications and address them in your proposal.
Poor organization : A jumbled, hard-to-follow proposal won’t impress anyone. Use clear headings and a logical structure to guide your reader through your ideas.
Weak methodology : Be as specific as possible about how you’ll conduct your research. Vague statements like “I’ll interview some people” won’t cut it.
Forgetting about analysis : It’s not enough to collect data – you need to explain how you’ll make sense of it. Don’t neglect your data analysis plan.
Overuse of jargon : While some technical terms might be necessary, try to write in a way that an educated non-expert could understand.
Plagiarism : Always cite your sources properly. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense.
Ignoring formatting requirements : Pay attention to any specific formatting guidelines provided by your institution. Details matter!

How to Write a Comprehensive PhD Research Proposal in Sociology

140+ Good Argumentative Essay Topics Psychology [Updated]

Sociology Research Topics: 120 Compelling Ideas

Top Most 240+ Interesting Sociology Research Topics Ideas

Whew! We’ve covered a lot of ground here. Choosing a sociology research topic and writing a proposal might seem daunting, but remember – this is your chance to explore something you’re truly interested in. Your research has the potential to contribute to our understanding of society and maybe even make a real-world impact.

As you work on your proposal, keep these key points in mind:

Choose a topic you’re passionate about
Make sure your research question is clear and specific
Ground your work in existing literature
Be detailed about your methodology
Consider the ethical implications of your research
Show why your research matters

Remember, your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. The research process is iterative – you’ll likely revise and refine your ideas as you go along. Don’t be afraid to seek help from your professors or peers. They can offer valuable insights and feedback.

Start by filling this short order form order.studyinghq.com

And then follow the progressive flow.

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Professional Sociology Research Proposal Writing Example

A research proposal is a draft that is made up of what your original research work would contain. If you’re writing a research paper that should get approval from your supervisor, your proposal becomes equally important. This is because it would determine if your research work would be approved and given an affirmation for you to begin working. Hence, your proposal must be professional and perfect.

Different sociology research paper examples are available for different professional purposes. You may be looking to get examples on Ph.D., Master’s, or a workplace research proposal. While the sociology research proposal example in this article may not be detailed, it gives a general outline of how a professional sociology research proposal should be.

A Good Combination Sociology Research Proposal Example Would Feature:

The title of your research work

These are often known as sociology research paper topics and it is the base of your research. A good research proposal topic should aim to answer a relevant question. Some sociology research proposal topics include topics on religion, racism, sex, education, etc.

An Introduction

This is also known as the abstract of your work. It is a summary of what your research would entail. The abstract should not be too lengthy, rather you want your work to be concise and give out the right information.

Aims and objectives of your research

This is usually an outline of the primary goals that you hope to achieve by carrying out your research. You may need to be creative in this area because it gives your work purpose. Your supervisor would not approve a research work that will not achieve useful results.

Literature review and research methodology

Sociological research proposal topics need to be decided based on the availability of materials for your research. Your research methodology may include field works, the use of books, or the internet. Either way, it is important that you briefly state how you wish to carry out your research. For books, you should give a brief review of what the books contain and how they will help you in your research work. If your research would require that you use specific resources or get some extra fundings, you might have to state it in your proposal.

Your research proposal would require references to back up the information that you give. This is similar to endnotes or footnotes contained in your original research paper. The more your references, the more your work is considered factual and valid.

The concluding notes of your proposal are a summary of everything that your research must achieve. You must be optimistic and write your conclusion like you have achieved what you wanted to achieve.

A Sociology Research Proposal Example

The internet as a unifying factor: The Role of the Internet in the “Black Lives Matter” Campaign of 2020.

This research project aims to address the role that the internet plays as a platform for unity. The specific area of study is the global unrest fuelled by the black lives matter campaign of 2020. In May 2020, a singular event that occurred in the United States of America, speedily metamorphosed into a significant event in world history. Nations across the globe formed a united front against police brutality and racism in general. This topic is of great fascination as the protests were organized even amid lockdowns and restrictions from the outbreak of the COVID-19.

Some of the characteristics of these protests are; their method of assembly, and universal symbols and phrases irrespective of language barriers. The black lives matter also piqued the interest of celebrities who joined in the cry for justice. This was evident several times when celebrities joined in kneeling or laying on the ground, as well as taking to their large platform to express their support.

For days, the angry crowd gathered in front of strategic places, seeking justice for the death of George Floyd. This research project will examine how the internet helped the spread of the campaign across continents, even amid a restriction of movements. It will also examine the outcome of the protest, to see if it yielded the results that the people clamored for.

Research Description and Goals

The internet performs many roles today and its importance cannot be undermined. Many people would argue that the internet has been a curse as much as it has been a blessing from the time of its emergence. This research topic is highly sensitive because it expands beyond internet activities. It also covers different fields that have contributed to the outcome of the 2020 black lives matter campaign. Some of these fields include racism and police brutality at their peak.

This research work is unique because it touches important aspects of human behavior, and helps determine if the unifying factor of the internet is indeed a blessing or a curse. For this research, I will be examining:

Past scenarios where the internet have been a yardstick to appeal for important issues
Past protests in comparison to the 2020 black lives matter protests
Past black lives matter protests in comparison to the 2020 black lives matter protest

The black lives matter campaign of 2020 appears to have been the outburst of years’ worth of frustration bottled up on the inside. The primary goals of this research are:

To describe and analyze one of the many effects of the internet in our everyday lives, using a highly significant event in world history
To examine how people took to virtual protests to express their discomfort on the issue.
To discuss how certain symbols and converging points were unanimously agreed
To outline the different ways that the internet has been used as a force to achieve set goals.
To weigh the power of the internet and foretell the height of its power

Research Methodology

The broadness of this topic is such that it touches the internet, social movements, as well as the fight against racism. Many of the facts are contained on the internet. However, the following methods will be applied:

Oral interviews

Oral interviews will be conducted both physically and virtually with participants of the movement. Although there are fewer available books on the subject matter, physical interviews with key activists in strategic points of convergence will be carried out. The virtual protestors will also be interviewed, and their views on how they were involved through the internet will be used in this research project.

Questionnaires

Online and physical questionnaires will be given out to persons concerning the topic. Data gathered will be compiled to aid the research work.

Internet research

The data analysis of the internet within the time frame of the protest will be a primary source of research.

Extra fundings

Extra fundings will be needed to access the data analysis of the internet within the course of the research.

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/30/950053607/in-2020-protests-spread-across-the-globe-with-a-similar-message-black-lives-matter (accessed on October 10)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_George_Floyd_protests_outside_the_United_States ( accessed on October 10)

At the end of this research project, information gathered would portray how the internet has proven to break barriers and facilitate unity. Also, there will be facts as to how the internet aided the speedy popularity of the 2020 black lives matter. We should also be able to analyze the different ways that the internet can be explored for the benefit of man to produce wanted results.

Your Professional Research Proposal

Finally, you now know that the research proposal is extremely important. However, a good professional research proposal is more important. Hence, you should carefully construct yours with the guidelines listed above to get the best research proposal for you.

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Research Proposal

Purpose of Guide
Writing a Research Proposal
Design Flaws to Avoid
Independent and Dependent Variables
Narrowing a Topic Idea
Broadening a Topic Idea
The Research Problem/Question
Academic Writing Style
Choosing a Title
Making an Outline
Paragraph Development
The C.A.R.S. Model
Background Information
Theoretical Framework
Citation Tracking
Evaluating Sources
Reading Research Effectively
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
Is it Peer-Reviewed?
Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods
Common Grammar Mistakes
Writing Concisely
Avoiding Plagiarism [linked guide]
Annotated Bibliography
Grading Someone Else's Paper

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 ensure a research problem has not already been answered [or you may determine the problem has been answered ineffectively] and, in so doing, become better at locating 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 doing scholarly research.

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 research.
Why do you want to do it? 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 study. Be sure to answer the "So What?" question.
How are you going to do it? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having trouble formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failure to be concise; being "all over the map" without a clear sense of purpose.
Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review.
Failure to delimit the contextual boundaries of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.].
Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research.
Failure to stay focused on the research problem; going off on unrelated tangents.
Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar.
Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.

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

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 your proposal should include the following sections:

I. Introduction

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

What is the central research problem?
What is the topic of study related to that problem?
What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
Why is this 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

To that end, while there are no hard and fast rules, you should attempt to address some or all of the following key points:

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. Answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care].
Describe the major issues or problems to be addressed by your research. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
Explain how you plan to go about conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
Set the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you will study, but what is excluded from the study.
If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts or terms.

III. Literature Review

To help frame your proposal's literature review, here are 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: what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate?
Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, 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

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

Specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of these operations 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 a methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is an argument as to why these tasks 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 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 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 reader.

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Next: Types of Research Designs >>
Last Updated: Sep 8, 2023 12:19 PM
URL: https://guides.library.txstate.edu/socialscienceresearch

17 Research Proposal Examples

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research proposal example sections definition and purpose, explained below

A research proposal systematically and transparently outlines a proposed research project.

The purpose of a research proposal is to demonstrate a project’s viability and the researcher’s preparedness to conduct an academic study. It serves as a roadmap for the researcher.

The process holds value both externally (for accountability purposes and often as a requirement for a grant application) and intrinsic value (for helping the researcher to clarify the mechanics, purpose, and potential signficance of the study).

Key sections of a research proposal include: the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, research design and methods, timeline, budget, outcomes and implications, references, and appendix. Each is briefly explained below.

Watch my Guide: How to Write a Research Proposal

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Research Proposal Sample Structure

Title: The title should present a concise and descriptive statement that clearly conveys the core idea of the research projects. Make it as specific as possible. The reader should immediately be able to grasp the core idea of the intended research project. Often, the title is left too vague and does not help give an understanding of what exactly the study looks at.

Abstract: Abstracts are usually around 250-300 words and provide an overview of what is to follow – including the research problem , objectives, methods, expected outcomes, and significance of the study. Use it as a roadmap and ensure that, if the abstract is the only thing someone reads, they’ll get a good fly-by of what will be discussed in the peice.

Introduction: Introductions are all about contextualization. They often set the background information with a statement of the problem. At the end of the introduction, the reader should understand what the rationale for the study truly is. I like to see the research questions or hypotheses included in the introduction and I like to get a good understanding of what the significance of the research will be. It’s often easiest to write the introduction last

Literature Review: The literature review dives deep into the existing literature on the topic, demosntrating your thorough understanding of the existing literature including themes, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the literature. It serves both to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and, to demonstrate how the proposed study will fit alongside the literature on the topic. A good literature review concludes by clearly demonstrating how your research will contribute something new and innovative to the conversation in the literature.

Research Design and Methods: This section needs to clearly demonstrate how the data will be gathered and analyzed in a systematic and academically sound manner. Here, you need to demonstrate that the conclusions of your research will be both valid and reliable. Common points discussed in the research design and methods section include highlighting the research paradigm, methodologies, intended population or sample to be studied, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures . Toward the end of this section, you are encouraged to also address ethical considerations and limitations of the research process , but also to explain why you chose your research design and how you are mitigating the identified risks and limitations.

Timeline: Provide an outline of the anticipated timeline for the study. Break it down into its various stages (including data collection, data analysis, and report writing). The goal of this section is firstly to establish a reasonable breakdown of steps for you to follow and secondly to demonstrate to the assessors that your project is practicable and feasible.

Budget: Estimate the costs associated with the research project and include evidence for your estimations. Typical costs include staffing costs, equipment, travel, and data collection tools. When applying for a scholarship, the budget should demonstrate that you are being responsible with your expensive and that your funding application is reasonable.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: A discussion of the anticipated findings or results of the research, as well as the potential contributions to the existing knowledge, theory, or practice in the field. This section should also address the potential impact of the research on relevant stakeholders and any broader implications for policy or practice.

References: A complete list of all the sources cited in the research proposal, formatted according to the required citation style. This demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the relevant literature and ensures proper attribution of ideas and information.

Appendices (if applicable): Any additional materials, such as questionnaires, interview guides, or consent forms, that provide further information or support for the research proposal. These materials should be included as appendices at the end of the document.

Research Proposal Examples

Research proposals often extend anywhere between 2,000 and 15,000 words in length. The following snippets are samples designed to briefly demonstrate what might be discussed in each section.

1. Education Studies Research Proposals

See some real sample pieces:

Assessment of the perceptions of teachers towards a new grading system
Does ICT use in secondary classrooms help or hinder student learning?
Digital technologies in focus project
Urban Middle School Teachers’ Experiences of the Implementation of
Restorative Justice Practices
Experiences of students of color in service learning

Consider this hypothetical education research proposal:

The Impact of Game-Based Learning on Student Engagement and Academic Performance in Middle School Mathematics

Abstract: The proposed study will explore multiplayer game-based learning techniques in middle school mathematics curricula and their effects on student engagement. The study aims to contribute to the current literature on game-based learning by examining the effects of multiplayer gaming in learning.

Introduction: Digital game-based learning has long been shunned within mathematics education for fears that it may distract students or lower the academic integrity of the classrooms. However, there is emerging evidence that digital games in math have emerging benefits not only for engagement but also academic skill development. Contributing to this discourse, this study seeks to explore the potential benefits of multiplayer digital game-based learning by examining its impact on middle school students’ engagement and academic performance in a mathematics class.

Literature Review: The literature review has identified gaps in the current knowledge, namely, while game-based learning has been extensively explored, the role of multiplayer games in supporting learning has not been studied.

Research Design and Methods: This study will employ a mixed-methods research design based upon action research in the classroom. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design will first be used to compare the academic performance and engagement of middle school students exposed to game-based learning techniques with those in a control group receiving instruction without the aid of technology. Students will also be observed and interviewed in regard to the effect of communication and collaboration during gameplay on their learning.

Timeline: The study will take place across the second term of the school year with a pre-test taking place on the first day of the term and the post-test taking place on Wednesday in Week 10.

Budget: The key budgetary requirements will be the technologies required, including the subscription cost for the identified games and computers.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: It is expected that the findings will contribute to the current literature on game-based learning and inform educational practices, providing educators and policymakers with insights into how to better support student achievement in mathematics.

2. Psychology Research Proposals

See some real examples:

A situational analysis of shared leadership in a self-managing team
The effect of musical preference on running performance
Relationship between self-esteem and disordered eating amongst adolescent females

Consider this hypothetical psychology research proposal:

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress Reduction in College Students

Abstract: This research proposal examines the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on stress reduction among college students, using a pre-test/post-test experimental design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods .

Introduction: College students face heightened stress levels during exam weeks. This can affect both mental health and test performance. This study explores the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions such as meditation as a way to mediate stress levels in the weeks leading up to exam time.

Literature Review: Existing research on mindfulness-based meditation has shown the ability for mindfulness to increase metacognition, decrease anxiety levels, and decrease stress. Existing literature has looked at workplace, high school and general college-level applications. This study will contribute to the corpus of literature by exploring the effects of mindfulness directly in the context of exam weeks.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n= 234 ) will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, receiving 5 days per week of 10-minute mindfulness-based interventions, or a control group, receiving no intervention. Data will be collected through self-report questionnaires, measuring stress levels, semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences, and students’ test scores.

Timeline: The study will begin three weeks before the students’ exam week and conclude after each student’s final exam. Data collection will occur at the beginning (pre-test of self-reported stress levels) and end (post-test) of the three weeks.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: The study aims to provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress among college students in the lead up to exams, with potential implications for mental health support and stress management programs on college campuses.

3. Sociology Research Proposals

Understanding emerging social movements: A case study of ‘Jersey in Transition’
The interaction of health, education and employment in Western China
Can we preserve lower-income affordable neighbourhoods in the face of rising costs?

Consider this hypothetical sociology research proposal:

The Impact of Social Media Usage on Interpersonal Relationships among Young Adults

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effects of social media usage on interpersonal relationships among young adults, using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach with ongoing semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data.

Introduction: Social media platforms have become a key medium for the development of interpersonal relationships, particularly for young adults. This study examines the potential positive and negative effects of social media usage on young adults’ relationships and development over time.

Literature Review: A preliminary review of relevant literature has demonstrated that social media usage is central to development of a personal identity and relationships with others with similar subcultural interests. However, it has also been accompanied by data on mental health deline and deteriorating off-screen relationships. The literature is to-date lacking important longitudinal data on these topics.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n = 454 ) will be young adults aged 18-24. Ongoing self-report surveys will assess participants’ social media usage, relationship satisfaction, and communication patterns. A subset of participants will be selected for longitudinal in-depth interviews starting at age 18 and continuing for 5 years.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of five years, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between social media usage and interpersonal relationships among young adults, potentially informing social policies and mental health support related to social media use.

4. Nursing Research Proposals

Does Orthopaedic Pre-assessment clinic prepare the patient for admission to hospital?
Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of providing psychological care to burns patients
Registered psychiatric nurse’s practice with mentally ill parents and their children

Consider this hypothetical nursing research proposal:

The Influence of Nurse-Patient Communication on Patient Satisfaction and Health Outcomes following Emergency Cesarians

Abstract: This research will examines the impact of effective nurse-patient communication on patient satisfaction and health outcomes for women following c-sections, utilizing a mixed-methods approach with patient surveys and semi-structured interviews.

Introduction: It has long been known that effective communication between nurses and patients is crucial for quality care. However, additional complications arise following emergency c-sections due to the interaction between new mother’s changing roles and recovery from surgery.

Literature Review: A review of the literature demonstrates the importance of nurse-patient communication, its impact on patient satisfaction, and potential links to health outcomes. However, communication between nurses and new mothers is less examined, and the specific experiences of those who have given birth via emergency c-section are to date unexamined.

Research Design and Methods: Participants will be patients in a hospital setting who have recently had an emergency c-section. A self-report survey will assess their satisfaction with nurse-patient communication and perceived health outcomes. A subset of participants will be selected for in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and perceptions of the communication with their nurses.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including rolling recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing within the hospital.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the significance of nurse-patient communication in supporting new mothers who have had an emergency c-section. Recommendations will be presented for supporting nurses and midwives in improving outcomes for new mothers who had complications during birth.

5. Social Work Research Proposals

Experiences of negotiating employment and caring responsibilities of fathers post-divorce
Exploring kinship care in the north region of British Columbia

Consider this hypothetical social work research proposal:

The Role of a Family-Centered Intervention in Preventing Homelessness Among At-Risk Youthin a working-class town in Northern England

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effectiveness of a family-centered intervention provided by a local council area in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth. This case study will use a mixed-methods approach with program evaluation data and semi-structured interviews to collect quantitative and qualitative data .

Introduction: Homelessness among youth remains a significant social issue. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in addressing this problem and identify factors that contribute to successful prevention strategies.

Literature Review: A review of the literature has demonstrated several key factors contributing to youth homelessness including lack of parental support, lack of social support, and low levels of family involvement. It also demonstrates the important role of family-centered interventions in addressing this issue. Drawing on current evidence, this study explores the effectiveness of one such intervention in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth in a working-class town in Northern England.

Research Design and Methods: The study will evaluate a new family-centered intervention program targeting at-risk youth and their families. Quantitative data on program outcomes, including housing stability and family functioning, will be collected through program records and evaluation reports. Semi-structured interviews with program staff, participants, and relevant stakeholders will provide qualitative insights into the factors contributing to program success or failure.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Budget: Expenses include access to program evaluation data, interview materials, data analysis software, and any related travel costs for in-person interviews.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in preventing youth homelessness, potentially informing the expansion of or necessary changes to social work practices in Northern England.

Research Proposal Template

Get your Detailed Template for Writing your Research Proposal Here (With AI Prompts!)

This is a template for a 2500-word research proposal. You may find it difficult to squeeze everything into this wordcount, but it’s a common wordcount for Honors and MA-level dissertations.

Section	Checklist
Title	– Ensure the single-sentence title clearly states the study’s focus
Abstract (Words: 200)	– Briefly describe the research topicSummarize the research problem or question – Outline the research design and methods – Mention the expected outcomes and implications
Introduction (Words: 300)	– Introduce the research topic and its significance – Clearly state the research problem or question – Explain the purpose and objectives of the study – Provide a brief overview of
Literature Review (Words: 800)	– Gather the existing literature into themes and ket ideas – the themes and key ideas in the literature – Identify gaps or inconsistencies in the literature – Explain how the current study will contribute to the literature
Research Design and Methods (Words; 800)	– Describe the research paradigm (generally: positivism and interpretivism) – Describe the research design (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods) – Explain the data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations) – Detail the sampling strategy and target population – Outline the data analysis techniques (e.g., statistical analysis, thematic analysis) – Outline your validity and reliability procedures – Outline your intended ethics procedures – Explain the study design’s limitations and justify your decisions
Timeline (Single page table)	– Provide an overview of the research timeline – Break down the study into stages with specific timeframes (e.g., data collection, analysis, report writing) – Include any relevant deadlines or milestones
Budget (200 words)	– Estimate the costs associated with the research project – Detail specific expenses (e.g., materials, participant incentives, travel costs) – Include any necessary justifications for the budget items – Mention any funding sources or grant applications
Expected Outcomes and Implications (200 words)	– Summarize the anticipated findings or results of the study – Discuss the potential implications of the findings for theory, practice, or policy – Describe any possible limitations of the study

Your research proposal is where you really get going with your study. I’d strongly recommend working closely with your teacher in developing a research proposal that’s consistent with the requirements and culture of your institution, as in my experience it varies considerably. The above template is from my own courses that walk students through research proposals in a British School of Education.

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Study Desk Aesthetic Ideas
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8 thoughts on “17 Research Proposal Examples”

Very excellent research proposals

very helpful

Very helpful

Dear Sir, I need some help to write an educational research proposal. Thank you.

Hi Levi, use the site search bar to ask a question and I’ll likely have a guide already written for your specific question. Thanks for reading!

very good research proposal

Thank you so much sir! ❤️

Very helpful 👌

How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)

Table of Contents

Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.

Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.

This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.

What is a Research Proposal ?

A research proposal¹ ,² can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.

With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.

Purpose of Research Proposals

A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.

Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³

To describe the importance of research in the specific topic
Address any potential challenges you may encounter
Showcase knowledge in the field and your ability to conduct a study
Apply for a role at a research institute
Convince a research supervisor or university that your research can satisfy the requirements of a degree program
Highlight the importance of your research to organizations that may sponsor your project
Identify implications of your project and how it can benefit the audience

What Goes in a Research Proposal?

Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.

The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.

The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.

The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.

Research Proposal Example

Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.

Structure of a Research Proposal

If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹

1. Introduction

This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.

2. Literature review

This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.

3. Objectives

Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.

4. Research design and methodology

Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.

5. Ethical considerations

This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.

6. Budget/funding

Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.

7. Appendices

This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.

8. Citations

Important Tips for Writing a Research Proposal

Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5

The Planning Stage

Manage your time efficiently. Plan to have the draft version ready at least two weeks before your deadline and the final version at least two to three days before the deadline.
What is the primary objective of your research?
Will your research address any existing gap?
What is the impact of your proposed research?
Do people outside your field find your research applicable in other areas?
If your research is unsuccessful, would there still be other useful research outcomes?

The Writing Stage

Create an outline with main section headings that are typically used.
Focus only on writing and getting your points across without worrying about the format of the research proposal , grammar, punctuation, etc. These can be fixed during the subsequent passes. Add details to each section heading you created in the beginning.
Ensure your sentences are concise and use plain language. A research proposal usually contains about 2,000 to 4,000 words or four to seven pages.
Don’t use too many technical terms and abbreviations assuming that the readers would know them. Define the abbreviations and technical terms.
Ensure that the entire content is readable. Avoid using long paragraphs because they affect the continuity in reading. Break them into shorter paragraphs and introduce some white space for readability.
Focus on only the major research issues and cite sources accordingly. Don’t include generic information or their sources in the literature review.
Proofread your final document to ensure there are no grammatical errors so readers can enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted read.
Use academic, scholarly language because it brings formality into a document.
Ensure that your title is created using the keywords in the document and is neither too long and specific nor too short and general.
Cite all sources appropriately to avoid plagiarism.
Make sure that you follow guidelines, if provided. This includes rules as simple as using a specific font or a hyphen or en dash between numerical ranges.
Ensure that you’ve answered all questions requested by the evaluating authority.

Key Takeaways

Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:

A research proposal is a document that outlines the details of a proposed study and is created by researchers to submit to evaluators who could be research institutions, universities, faculty, etc.
Research proposals are usually about 2,000-4,000 words long, but this depends on the evaluating authority’s guidelines.
A good research proposal ensures that you’ve done your background research and assessed the feasibility of the research.
Research proposals have the following main sections—introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, ethical considerations, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?

A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6

Significance —Does the research address any important subject or issue, which may or may not be specific to the evaluator or university?
Content and design —Is the proposed methodology appropriate to answer the research question? Are the objectives clear and well aligned with the proposed methodology?
Sample size and selection —Is the target population or cohort size clearly mentioned? Is the sampling process used to select participants randomized, appropriate, and free of bias?
Timing —Are the proposed data collection dates mentioned clearly? Is the project feasible given the specified resources and timeline?
Data management and dissemination —Who will have access to the data? What is the plan for data analysis?

Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?

A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.

Q3. How long should a research proposal be?

A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.


	Arts programs	1,000-1,500
University of Birmingham	Law School programs	2,500
	PhD	2,500
		2,000
	Research degrees	2,000-3,500

Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?

A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7

No clear objectives: Objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable for the easy understanding among readers.
Incomplete or unconvincing background research: Background research usually includes a review of the current scenario of the particular industry and also a review of the previous literature on the subject. This helps readers understand your reasons for undertaking this research because you identified gaps in the existing research.
Overlooking project feasibility: The project scope and estimates should be realistic considering the resources and time available.
Neglecting the impact and significance of the study: In a research proposal , readers and evaluators look for the implications or significance of your research and how it contributes to the existing research. This information should always be included.
Unstructured format of a research proposal : A well-structured document gives confidence to evaluators that you have read the guidelines carefully and are well organized in your approach, consequently affirming that you will be able to undertake the research as mentioned in your proposal.
Ineffective writing style: The language used should be formal and grammatically correct. If required, editors could be consulted, including AI-based tools such as Paperpal , to refine the research proposal structure and language.

Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.

This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.

References

Sudheesh K, Duggappa DR, Nethra SS. How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016;60(9):631-634. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037942/
Writing research proposals. Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Harvard University. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://uraf.harvard.edu/apply-opportunities/app-components/essays/research-proposals
What is a research proposal? Plus how to write one. Indeed website. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-proposal
Research proposal template. University of Rochester Medical Center. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/pediatrics/research/documents/Research-proposal-Template.pdf
Tips for successful proposal writing. Johns Hopkins University. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://research.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tips-for-Successful-Proposal-Writing.pdf
Formal review of research proposals. Cornell University. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys/survey-assessment-review-group/research-proposals
7 Mistakes you must avoid in your research proposal. Aveksana (via LinkedIn). Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-mistakes-you-must-avoid-your-research-proposal-aveksana-cmtwf/

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How to Write Your Research Paper in APA Format

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Sociology Research Proposal: A Complete Guide & Topics for Inspiration

Need some push to start with sociology research proposals? Here it is!

Sociology Research Proposals: What, Why, and How

Are you taking a sociology class? If so, you will be required to write a thesis or dissertation at some point in your journey. For this, you will have to submit a brief, formally structured document known as a sociological research proposal. This document explains:

What you intend to investigate (or your topic).
Why you are performing this investigation (or justification of your topic).
How you intend to conduct the investigation (or the approach you are going to take).

Its goal is also to convince your supervisor and other people involved that the work you’re doing is worthwhile and feasible for your academic position.

Writing such a paper is a lengthy, nerve-wracking process. However, this guide from our best experts is here to save you time and equip you with all the information you need for a winning copy: length, structure, a sociological research proposal example, a list of compelling sociology research proposal topics worthy of investigation in 2023, and much, much more. So, let’s dive right in!

How Long Should a Research Proposal for Sociology Be?

Sociology proposals are organized in the same way across most social science disciplines and have a general structure or template to follow. Their length typically depends on the supervisor’s instructions and ranges from ten to twenty-five pages.

A typical sociology research proposal includes the following sections:

One of the first things your supervisor will come across is the title or topic of your project. It should be concise and engaging yet reflect the essence of the study. Therefore, our experts recommend developing a list of potential topics and determining which fits best. If you cannot justify your investigation with just a title, you can try adding a subtitle that will include the rest of the explanation.

Introduction

This paper is typically submitted by students seeking grant funding for their project or as the first step in obtaining approval to write a dissertation. Even if this is only a class assignment, think of your introduction as a pitch of an idea or a brief yet in-depth examination of the chosen problem’s significance. After reading your introduction, your supervisor should get a sense of your passion for the subject matter. Make them excited about the potential outcomes of the study. So, you must approach your introduction with care and attention to detail to do this.

Note that the majority of sociology research proposals do not include an abstract or summary before the introduction.

Literature Review

Since this section serves as an information defense, it should be intelligently structured. Devote it to a comprehensive review and synthesis of prior studies relevant to the problem under investigation. It should also highlight knowledge gaps and provide a theoretical framework. In other words, the goal here is to place your study within the greater context. Tell what is being investigated while demonstrating that your project is unique and innovative. Do not be scared to question previous study findings. Explore what you believe is missing and explain how a prior study has failed to thoroughly investigate the subject matter that your study addresses.

A good strategy is to break the literature into conceptual themes rather than describe groups of materials individually and keep the five C’s (cite, compare, contrast, critique, and connect) of literature review writing in mind.

Research Questions & Hypothesis

Once you’ve located the gap and decided on the literature, this section will be easy. A study question is just a series of questions you will attempt to answer during your investigation. The number of these questions can vary depending on various factors, such as your time and resources. However, we recommend including at least three questions in your research proposal sociology.

Next, provide a clear statement of expectation or make a prediction that will be tested by your study.

Methodology

This section explains how you intend to undertake and complete your investigation. Consequently, in your “Methodology,” inform your supervisor of things you intend to use with an explanation of your choices. Such things may be the following:

The step-by-step plan.
Data collection methods
Instruments and tools.
Data analysis techniques.

This will not even be a section but rather two lines in your research proposal for sociology. Here, you will specify the time you plan to spend on your project and how you want to use that time. It can be combined with the “Methodology” section.

Aim of the Study

This is where you try to predict the expected outcome of your investigation or what you want to attain at the end of the process. The section also tells your supervisor how your sociology study will fit into the existing body of knowledge.

Remember the study questions you asked yourself earlier? This is the time to envision your answers to them.

The references page is the most uncomplicated and organized section of your research proposal in sociology. It is just a list of all the sources you will or have previously studied to complete your investigation. This list will include all the articles or essays you indicated in the existing literature section. You can also add any other books, reviews, journal articles, news, etc., cited in your project.

The most basic format for a bibliography is as follows:

Author’s name, followed by surname, then initials.
Title of the article in single or double quotes.
Italicized journal title.
Volume, number of the issue.
Publication year in brackets.

Note that your bibliography should not be numbered or bulleted. All sources have to be listed alphabetically by the author’s surname.

Now that you know the basics, let’s move on to the sociology research proposal example and the best sociology topics to research in 2023.

20 Powerful Sociology Research Proposal Topics to Consider in 2023

Check out the list of pertinent sociology topics to help you fetch impressive scores in the subject this year:

Impact of Social Media on Self-Identity.
Community Policing & Crime Prevention.
Gender & Leadership Roles.
Online Dating & Intimate Relationships.
Racial Disparities in Educational Achievement.
Youth Gangs & Urban Violence.
Mental Health Stigma in Different Cultures.
The Aging Workforce.
Political Polarization in the Digital Age.
Family Structures & Child Well-Being.
Inequality & Access to Healthcare.
Religion & Social Integration.
Cyberbullying Among Adolescents.
Environmental Activism & Social Change.
Housing Segregation & Neighborhood Development.
Criminal Justice Reform & Recidivism.
Immigration & Cultural Identity.
Addiction & Social Support.
Globalization & Indigenous Cultures.
Social Media Activism & Social Movements.

Read also: Helpful tips on selecting a research topic .

Still Stuck? Let Pros Handle Your Research Proposal Sociology Today!

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How to write a Research Proposal: Explained with Examples
The overview, also known as abstract and/or introduction, is the first section that you write for your proposal. Your overview should be a single paragraph that explains to the reader what your whole research will be about. In a nutshell, you will use your abstract to present all the arguments that you will be taking in detail in your thesis or ...
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In introducing your problem in a research proposal, you should provide a succinct statement which will help you to remain focused on the issue that you are addressing and how the information you will be discussing is related to that issue. 2. BACKGROUND: create a common ground of understanding. In order for the reader to understand the issue ...
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The research proposal - an outline. Your proposal should be typed double-spaced, if possible, and be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Your PhD proposal can be added under the 'Supporting Documents' section of the Postgraduate Applications Online System. Your proposal should contain at least the following elements:
Research Proposal
The research proposal outlines the process from beginning to end and may be used to request financing for the project, certification for performing certain parts of research of the experiment, or as a required task before beginning a college dissertation." Web Finance Inc. (c. 2019).
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Table 7-1 Breakdown of the research proposal per semester 136 Table 7-2 Main assessment criteria 141 Figures Figure 3-1 Link between topic, question and conceptual significance 40 Figure 3-2 Logical sequence of a research proposal based on a research question 53 Figure 3-3 Logical sequence of a research proposal based on a
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Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. ... 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 ...
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Social Statistics - Example 2; Sociology - Example 1; Sociology - Example 2; Further help. The following books may help you to prepare your research proposal (as well as in doing your research degree). Bell, J. (1999): Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education & Social Science, (Oxford University Press, Oxford).
How to write a PhD research proposal
It also helps us to decide if your research interests match those of academics in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS) and whether they would be able to provide suitably qualified supervision for your proposed research. Format of the research proposal. Your proposal should include the following:
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1 Rarely, a student will write a senior thesis that focuses exclusively on sociological theory. If you wish to pursue this option, you should discuss it with your advisor as soon as possible to determine if this is an acceptable course of action. independent research.
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Think of your dissertation proposal as a roadmap for your PhD research. As with any good map, your ... a succinct statement of the sociological problem or issue, 2) a sentence on the extension of or challenge to the literature that you are making with the study, 3) the methods/sample and 4) potentially the preliminary findings of the study or ...
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University of Gondar, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Sociology 19/011/25/2020. 1. Hand Out. Chapter: Writing a Research Proposal. 1.1 Introduction. A research proposal is a document which accounts for the research topic chosen by a researcher. It is a written document which totally describes the investigator's plan ...
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ginal or existing, and a written final product. The thesis should be a projec. that can be feasibly completed in 7-10 months. Generally, a thesis is about 60 t. 100 pages, but there is no minimum or maximum.Senior Sociology c. ncentrators are not required to write a thesis. A thesis is required for those student.
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Sample Research Proposals. You will find here two examples of proposals for postgraduate research from the Department of Social Policy and Criminology. They both give good indication of the sorts of things that need to be included. The first, on fathering after divorce or separation, represents first thoughts on the proposed topic, but sets out ...
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Sample Sociology SRP Proposal Names of Applicants: Dr. Danielle M. Currier, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Abigail Smith '15. Sociology Major Title: Exploring the factors that encourage and/or motivate students at Randolph College to participate in volunteerism. Abstract This research project will explore the factors that encourage and/or motivate students at
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Research Proposal Guidelines, sociology course on methodology emphasizing analytical principles . ... A research proposal seeks approval and support from the faculty overseeing students in a graduate program, the scholars and administrators responsible for human subject requirements, and those who advise and control funding programs in ...
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Like any other genre of writing, a good research proposal takes time, multiple drafts, and a clear understanding of the task at hand. The purpose of a research proposal is a) to persuade your reader of the value of your research. question, b) to show you have a clear idea of where your research sits in existing knowledge, and c) to demonstrate ...
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LITERATURE REVIEW (6-7PP) The literature review should be a well-organized synthesis of the research most closely related to your work. This might likely include the dominant debates, theoretical approaches, methodological research designs that have been used to understand your topic. Your literature review needs to make an argument.
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1. Social Media and Technology. In today's digital age, the impact of social media and technology on society is huge. Here are some potential research topics in this area: The influence of social media on body image among college students. How online dating apps are changing relationship dynamics.
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A Sociology Research Proposal Example Title. The internet as a unifying factor: The Role of the Internet in the "Black Lives Matter" Campaign of 2020. Abstract. This research project aims to address the role that the internet plays as a platform for unity. The specific area of study is the global unrest fuelled by the black lives matter ...
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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 ...
17 Research Proposal Examples (2024)
The Impact of Social Media Usage on Interpersonal Relationships among Young Adults. Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effects of social media usage on interpersonal relationships among young adults, using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach with ongoing semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data. Introduction: Social media platforms have become a key medium for ...
How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)
Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers' plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed ...
How to Write a Research Proposal in Sociology: A Step-by-Step Guide
Though sociology is a very flexible science and leaves so many chances for writing a good paper, crafting a research proposal on a sociological topic is really tough. Already printed facts and numbers can't be presented as 100% reliable since they aren't yours and you have no clue how the former researcher came at such conclusions.
Sociology Research Proposals: Top Guide to Write Effectively
20 Powerful Sociology Research Proposal Topics to Consider in 2023. Check out the list of pertinent sociology topics to help you fetch impressive scores in the subject this year: Impact of Social Media on Self-Identity. Community Policing & Crime Prevention. Gender & Leadership Roles.
What is Project 2025? Wish list for a Trump presidency, explained
Increased funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border - one of Trump's signature proposals in 2016 - is proposed in the document. Project 2025 also proposes dismantling the Department of Homeland ...

How to write a Research Proposal: Explained with Examples

Research Proposal: Example

Overview / Abstract

Existing Literature

Research Gap

Research Question / Hypothesis

Research Methodology / Research Design

Aim of the Research

Bibliography

Writing a research proposal

The research proposal – an outline

Three additional points:

Related information

Proposal Writing

Where to Begin

Guidelines for a Successful Proposal

Guideline 1: Review the prompts

Guideline 2: Follow directions

Guideline 3: Consider your audience

Guideline 4: Be specific

Guideline 5: Allow time for revisions and rewrites

Additional resources

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Structure and Writing Style

How to write a research proposal

Overview of the research

Positioning of the research

Research design and methodology

Ethical considerations

Supervisors

Flexibility

Pitfalls to avoid

Example proposals

Further help

University guidelines

School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies

Format of the research proposal

Sociological Research, Analytical Methodology

The Basic Content of a Research Proposal:

Sociology Research Proposal Topics: A Guide for College Students

Why Choose a Good Research Topic Matters

How to Choose a Sociology Research Topic

Popular Sociology Research Topics

1. Social Media and Technology

2. Family and Relationships

3. Education and Inequality

4. Race and Ethnicity

5. Gender and Sexuality

6. Health and Healthcare

7. Crime and Deviance

8. Environment and Society

Structure of a Sociology Research Proposal

2. Abstract

3. Introduction

4. Literature Review

5. Methodology

6. Ethical Considerations

7. Timeline

9. Expected Results and Significance

10. References

Tips for Writing a Stellar Sociology Research Proposal

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

New Concept ? Let a subject expert write your paper for You​

Professional Sociology Research Proposal Writing Example

A Good Combination Sociology Research Proposal Example Would Feature:

A Sociology Research Proposal Example

Research Description and Goals

Research Methodology

Your Professional Research Proposal

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Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Research Proposal

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Structure and Writing Style

17 Research Proposal Examples

Research Proposal Sample Structure

Research Proposal Examples

1. Education Studies Research Proposals

2. Psychology Research Proposals

3. Sociology Research Proposals

New Concept ? Let a subject expert write your paper for You