How to write a dissertation

proposal
Paul Owen
07/02/19
 "A dissertation
proposal is essential
in preparing you for
the writing process
and will actually
serve to make
beginning your
dissertation decidedly
less frightening."
 In what ways is writing a
dissertation proposal part of a
process?
It guides you:
By outlining a strong methodology to ensure that
you maintain consistency and conformity when
gathering and analysing your data
By including ethical considerations
By giving reasons for your choice of aims/
objectives
By perceiving limitations of your research will also
help to protect your work from criticism
The proposal communicates the
following with your supervisor :

The aims and objectives for your research

The methods you intend to use in making an
assessment of your topic.
Your supervisor may then present you with a
critical evaluation of your proposal, highlighting
areas in which they foresee difficulty, ethical
concerns, or lack of transparency.
NOTE: Do not be “put off” by this process.
Constructive criticism is an integral part of
‘shaping’ your work.
 Making a start

Read around your subject area and select a specific topic

Start by backing through all of your lecture slides, notes and

assignments that you have completed so far

Was there a topic that you were particularly interested in?

Was there a concept that you thought could have been developed
further?

Have you noticed a stark lack of scholarship in your research for an

assignment, that suggests to you that further research into this
particular subject area is needed?
 Getting down to business
Narrowing your focus and choose existing literature to
include
Remember: Thinking critically about your sources is
integral to achieving high marks – you should consider:
The date of publication – is the source outdated?
Has there been any significant development that would
affect the field of research since the study was carried
out?
Can you identify any methodological errors that would
undermine the results that the authors presented?
Are there any ethical concerns that you believe should be
rectified in any future studies of the same topic?
Is there any other type of bias that you can cite when
considering the author’s characteristics?
Are there external factors, or events happening
simultaneously to the research, that would affect the
author’s findings or provide the potential for bias?
What are the Proposal subsections?
Discuss…
Methodology
Aims and Objectives
Literature Review
Limitations
Ethical Considerations
Timeframe
Plus…
 Conclusion (of sorts)
‘I have chosen to investigate the relationship
between ___ and ___ since I believe that proving a
positive correlation would have serious
implications for ___, and that carrying out further
qualitative research in this area will be integral to
improving understanding. After having identified
the limitations of previous studies in this field, I
have worked on producing a methodology that will
avoid these same pitfalls, and predict that the
research will portray a strong enough relationship
between the two factors to encourage further
scholarship.’
 Do not leave yourself
open to criticism!
‘Ethics’ refers to moral principles or concerns that can be
found throughout any kind of research
Indeed you will perhaps have noticed that a large amount
of the criticisms of existing studies, are in relation to their
neglect of consideration for ethical principles.
"Integrity and value should be upheld throughout your
proposal, planning, research, and writing phases.“
Confidentiality and anonymity are central to research
participation. It is your duty as a researcher to ensure that
your participants can not be identified within your
research
Be sure to include a
bibliography!
Barrass, R. (1979) Scientists must write. A guide to better writing for scientists,
engineers and students. London: Chapman and Hall.
Taylor, G. (1989) The Student’s Writing Guide for the Arts and Social Sciences.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/how-to-write-dissertation-proposal/
(Access Date: 05/02/19)