Research Proposal

What is meant by a research proposal?

A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research. It sets out
the central issues or questions that you intend to address. It outlines the general area of study
within which your research falls, referring to the current state of knowledge and any recent
debates on the topic. It also demonstrates the originality of your proposed research.

The proposal is the most important document that you submit as part of the application
process. It gives you an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the aptitude for graduate
level research, for example, by demonstrating that you have the ability to communicate
complex ideas clearly, concisely and critically. The proposal also helps us to match your
research interest with an appropriate supervisor.

Research proposal should normally include the following information:

1. Title

This is just a tentative title for your intended research. You will be able to revise your title
during the course of your research if you are accepted for admission.

2. Abstract

The proposal should include a concise statement of your intended research of no more than
100-200 words. This may be a couple of sentences setting out the problem that you want to
examine or the central question that you wish to address.

3.Introduction or Background of the Research

In an introduction, the researcher should create reader interest in the topic, highlight the
research problem, place the study within the larger context of the scholarly literature, and
reach a specific audience.

The introduction is considered a starting point to persuade, inform, or indicate the reader’s
need for the research. This attempts to convince the reader that the research will be useful,
interesting, or significant for the academic community. A well-written introduction is an
important way to attract readers and set the context of the proposed research.

4.Aims and Objectives

A research proposal should state the aims and objectives of the research. The research aims
should be clear, succinct, and realistic because these can be achieved in a reasonable time
frame.

5.Justification or Rationale or Significance of the Research

This part of the research proposal should demonstrate how the proposed research will refine,
revise, or extend existing knowledge in the area under investigation.

• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?

• Is there a gap in knowledge that the proposed research can help fill or a controversy
that might help resolve? In what ways will the research fill the knowledge gap?
• How is the proposed research beneficial, and for whom?
• How will it build on the existing body of knowledge? Is the research timely,
innovative, or responding to a new trend?
• Is the research project worth doing?
• Is it significant, and will it make an original contribution to knowledge in the chosen
field?
• What ethical issues are raised by the proposed approaches, and how will these be
addressed?
• Identification of a gap or deficiency in the existing literature is needed for a good
research proposal.

To summarize, the research proposal should demonstrate that a researcher is engaged in

genuine and worthwhile inquiry. There is a need for the research, is significant, and
contributes something original to the field.

6. Statement of the Problem

The research problem statement should demonstrate a problem or unresolved issues that are
yet to be resolved or explored. The problem statement should be described clearly to present
a context for the study and identify the area to be investigated.

In addition, the statement of the problem should clearly indicate that the researcher has a
comprehensive grasp of the field and are aware of important recent substantive and
methodological developments.

7.Research Questions

There is a difference between research problem and question. A research proposal is largely
seen as building or constructing the research problem, and the research question is one of the
central components of the problem. The central research question is more general in nature,
while related or subsidiary questions are more specific

8.Methodological Approach

• How will the research aims achieve?

• What methodology will be applied?
• What methodological issues needed to be addressed by this research?

If the proposed research is quantitative, it should mention which data collection method is
appropriate and explain the validity and reliability of data gathering. It will also describe how
the data will be used to answer the questions.
In empirical research, data should be linked to concepts and concepts to data, and the links
between concepts and data should be tight, logical, and consistent.

Conclusion

The research proposal should be clear regarding the major approach of the research, including
conceptual, theoretical, and empirical approaches, and the rationale and significance of the
research.

Limitation of the Research

Limitations refer to limiting conditions or ‘restrictive weaknesses.’ A limitation identifies

potential weaknesses of the study. Every research work has some limitations, and they should
be mentioned in the proposal.

7. Bibliography

The proposal should include a short bibliography identifying the most relevant works for
your topic.

A reference list contains only sources you have cited in-text in your assignment.

A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used to generate your ideas about the topic
including those cited in your assignment as well as those you did not cite.