E A R ES EAR C H P R O P O SA L

HO W T O PR E PA R
L N EED TO P R O D U C E A R E SEARCH
S T TY P E S O F R E S EA R C H YOU WIL
FOR M O R ID E A S IN A N E ASILY
EN T W H IC H SETS O U T Y O U
H IS IS A D O C U M
PROPOSAL. T PEC IF IC A LL Y T O P R OD U C EA
N IF Y O U H A V E N O T B E EN ASKED S
ACCESSIBLE WAY. EV E O D O S O, AS IT
UTOR, IT IS A GO OD ID EA T
S A L B Y Y O U R B O S S O R T
RESEARCH PROPO A U S EFU L D O C U M E N T F OR YOU TO
OC U S Y O U R ID E AS A N D P ROVIDES
HELPS YOU TO F A ND ER O F F T RA C K A LITTLE.
H O U LD Y O U R R ESEARCH W
REF ER EN C E , S
 THE CONTENTS OF A PROPOSAL
• TITLE
THIS SHOULD BE SHORT AND EXPLANATORY.

• BACKGROUND
THIS SECTION SHOULD CONTAIN A RATIONALE FOR YOUR RESEARCH . WHY ARE YOU UNDERTAKING THE PROJECT? WHY
IS THE RESEARCH NEEDED? THIS RATIONALE SHOULD BE PLACED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF EXISTING RESEARCH OR
WITHIN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AND/OR OBSERVATION

• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

MANY RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORMATS WILL ASK FOR ONLY ONE OR TWO AIMS AND MAY NOT REQUIRE OBJECTIVES.
HOWEVER, FOR SOME RESEARCH THESE WILL NEED TO BE BROKEN DOWN IN MORE DEPTH TO ALSO INCLUDE THE
OBJECTIVES
 EXAMPLE 6: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aim:
To identify, describe and produce an analysis of the interacting factors which influence the learning choices of adult
returners, and to develop associated theory.
Objectives:
The research seeks to determine:
1. The nature, extent and effect of psychological influences on choices, including a desire to achieve
personal goals or meet individual needs.
2. The nature, extent and effect of sociological influences on choices, including background, personal and
social expectations, previous educational experience and social role.
3. The nature and influence of individual perceptions of
courses, institutions and subject, and how these relate to self-perception and concept of self.
4. The influence on choice of a number of variables such as age, gender, ethnicity and social class.
5. The role and possible influence of significant others on choice, such as advice and guidance workers,
peers, relatives and employers.
6. The nature and extent of possible influences on choice of available provision, institutional advertising
and marketing.
7. The nature and extent of possible influences on choice of mode of study, teaching methods and type of
course.
8. How and to what extent influencing factors change as adults re-enter and progress through their chosen
route.
• Methodology/methods
For research at postgraduate level you may need to split the methodology and methods section
into two. However, for most projects they can be combined.
• TImetable
A detailed timetable scheduling all aspects of the research
should be produced. This will include time taken to conduct background research, questionnaire or
interview
schedule development, data collection, data analysis and
report writing
• Budget and resources
If you’re applying to a funding body you need to think about what you will need for your research and
how much this is likely to cost. You need to do this so that you apply for the right amount of money and
are not left out of pocket if you have under-budgeted
• Dissemination
What do you expect to do with the results of your research? How are you going to let people know about
what
you have found out? For students it will suffice to say that the results will be produced in an
undergraduate dissertation which will be made available in the institution library
 WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROPOSAL?
•RELEVANCE, EITHER TO THE WORK OF THE FUNDING BODY OR TO
THE STUDENT’S COURSE.
•THE RESEARCH IS UNIQUE, OR OFFERS NEW INSIGHT OR DEVELOPMENT.
•THE TITLE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE ALL CLEAR AND SUCCINCT
•COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH BACKGROUND RESEARCH AND LITERATURE REVIEW HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN.
•THERE IS A GOOD MATCH BETWEEN THE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE APPROACH BEING ADOPTED.
•THE RESEARCHER DEMONSTRATES RELEVANT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXPERIENCE.
•TIMETABLE, RESOURCES AND BUDGET HAVE ALL BEEN WORKED OUT THOROUGHLY, WITH MOST EVENTUALITIES
COVERED.
•USEFUL POLICY AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.
REASONS WHY RESEARCH PROPOSALS FAIL
• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE UNCLEAR OR VAGUE.
• THERE IS A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE APPROACH BEING ADOPTED AND THE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.
• THE OVERALL PLAN IS TOO AMBITIOUS AND DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE IN THE TIMESCALE.
• THE RESEARCHER DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE CONDUCTED ENOUGH IN-DEPTH BACKGROUND RESEARCH.
• PROBLEM IS OF INSUFFICIENT IMPORTANCE.
• INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATA COLLECTION IS INSUFFICIENTLY DETAILED.
• INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATA ANALYSIS METHOD IS INSUFFICIENTLY DETAILED.
• TIMESCALE IS INAPPROPRIATE OR UNREALISTIC.
• RESOURCES AND BUDGET HAVE NOT BEEN CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT.
• THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN DONE TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE – INDICATES A LACK IN BACKGROUND RESEARCH.
 SUMMARY
• MOST RESEARCH PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL WHICH SETS OUT CLEARLY AND SUCCINCTLY YOUR
PROPOSED PROJECT.

• BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR PROPOSAL, CHECK WHETHER YOU NEED TO PRODUCE IT IN A SPECIFIC FORMAT.
• THE STANDARD RESEARCH PROPOSAL SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
– TITLE
– BACKGROUND (INCLUDING LITERATURE SEARCH)
– AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
– METHODOLOGY/METHODS
– TIMETABLE
– BUDGET AND RESOURCES
– DISSEMINATION.

• RESEARCH PROPOSALS STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING ACCEPTED IF YOU’RE ABLE TO PROVE THAT YOU HAVE THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND/OR
EXPERIENCE TO CARRY OUT THE RESEARCH EFFECTIVELY.

• IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROPOSED METHODS WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED AND THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
DISPLAY AN UNDERSTANDING OF THESE
METHODS.