A properly written proposal is crucial for major academic writing projects, such as research papers, journal papers, master’s theses, and dissertations. Most students or writers think of just jumping into the project without writing the proposal.
They imagine that they are saving time by doing so. However, this could not be further from the truth. A proposal is a roadmap that lets you know where you want to get and shows you the fastest path to get there.
In this article, we discuss what a research proposal is and the steps to follow in writing an effective one. We also discuss the best approach to completing a project after you have written the proposal. Read on to learn more.
What is a research proposal?
A research proposal is a brief document that provides an outline and a summary of a proposed research project. This could be one of a number of projects, including a master’s thesis, PhD dissertation, grant proposal, or academic essay.
A proposal can be thought of as a simplified and condensed version of what the original project would be. It is usually one to five pages, minus the abstract, references, and title page. It will be more or less a mini-research paper giving some idea of how you plan to go about completing your thesis.
What is Included in a research proposal?
This is what you should include in your proposal:
An abstract
An introduction
A list of objectives
The literature gap
Hypotheses or research statements
Proposed methodology
Expected results
Expected results give an idea of what you expect your results to be. This is why it’s important to do extensive and deep reading. A survey of the literature will give you an idea of what type of results to anticipate for this type of study, as well as the appropriate methodology to use.
When writing your proposal, you should know how to identify the background or context of the problem you wish to tackle. That could be how it relates to wider societal problems. You should also be able to identify the research gap in the literature — that is, something that other researchers have missed.
Proposal abstract example |
The following is a proposal example of a research paper my a master’s student. This proposal can be seen as either a proposal for a master’s thesis or a journal paper.
Background: Agricultural bio-fortification programs promote the cultivation of crop varieties that are naturally fortified with micronutrients, and they are widely seen as a cost-effective method of solving the problem of micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger in developing countries. However, the sociological (political, cultural, and economic) contexts of these programs are rarely examined.
Objectives: In this research, we propose to study the factors that affect the success of agriculture-based bio-fortification programs in The Gambia in relation to bio-fortified sweet potato varieties. We plan to achieve the following objectives: 1)determine the characteristics of the farmers most likely to adopt bio-fortified crops; 2) determine the policy approaches most effective in determining adoption; and 3) determine how farmers benefit economically, if at all, from these programs.
Methods: We plan to use a mixed methods approach to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty extension officers and 200 Gambian extension officers who participated in the study will be interviewed. Additionally, key individuals responsible for formulating and overseeing the policy will also be interviewed.
Expected results: We expect that the results of this research will provide useful information on 1) the farmer attitudes and 2) farmer characteristics that increase the likelihood of participating in bio-fortification programs in The Gambia. We also plan to determine 3) how these programs can be improved in terms of increased adoption rates and enhancing the economic benefits derived by farmers.
This proposal abstract describes a proposal to investigate the sociological implications of agriculture-based bio-fortification programs in The Gambia. You can view the full proposal example here. Bio-fortification programs refer to policies where farmers are encouraged to grow crop varieties rich in micro-nutrients like calcium, vitamin A, and so on.
This may help in reducing malnutrition among infants, children, and adults. For example, biofortified orange sweet potato reduces vitamin A deficiency in children and women of reproductive age.
However, most of these studies are written from a health perspective. They are studies published by students studying for master's in health or medicine. Or they are typically published in medical journals. What about the socio-economic consequences of these policies?
Thus, a research gap is born. If most medical-based studies simply focus on health outcomes. For example, maybe they observed a 20% reduction in vitamin A deficiency in the population after the program. This study however sought to answer other questions related to economics. For example:
Do farmers benefit economically from switching to sweet potatoes?
Do farmers stand to benefit more from crops that can be sold abroad for higher profits?
Would it not be better to encourage high-income cash crops that can allow farming communities to purchase more nutritious meals?
Of course, a single study won't be able to answer all these questions. But it provides the basis for these questions to be properly explored.
Plan a system to complete your proposal project on time
Now, you have finished your proposal. What’s next? You should develop a process or method to complete your project on time.You can focus on increasing your productivity. I looked at this topic in hacks to increase your academic writing productivity.
Let’s go over them quickly here:
1. Make and keep a schedule. You should break down challenging tasks into manageable units. You can also make use of a Gannt chart to check your progress.
2. Make a detailed outline for your paper. You should do this before you start writing your paper and after you write the proposal. You don’t necessarily have to write in a linear way. It’s best to begin with the easiest section of your paper.
3. Make use of productivity tools. There are academic writing tools and resources that can boost your productivity and efficiency as an academic writer. These include:
Grammar and spelling checkers
Automated citation and referencing tools
Writing guides and manuals
Writing centers and tutors
These tools of course are not a panacea. Completing major research projects like a journal paper or master’s thesis require much time and effort that no efficient tool can make up for. However, they will contribute to making the process easier and even more pleasant.
How EminentEdit can help with your proposal
At EminentEdit, we understand the importance of planning and completing major research projects on time. We have editors who have edited and even published a range of major academic works. This includes:
Master’s theses
Academic reports
PhD dissertations
Journal papers
& more
So, we know exactly what it takes to get your thesis ready for submission. We also make sure that even before any work gets done we both are on the same page through clear and effective communication. Take a look at our editing SOP below.
Our services don't just start with proofreading the final document. It also includes help from the very start, such as editing and double-checking your proposals. Our editing services include the following:
Developmental editing to make sure your proposal can be transformed into a thesis that can pass your defense or committee review
Substantive editing to improve the quality of your writing on a sentence level
Extensive commentary and recommendations to improve literature review, structure, and arguments
Proofreading to make sure your writing is grammatically correct with proper spelling and punctuation
Assistance in transforming your thesis into a published scientific paper
Editing research papers
Editing grant proposals
So feel free to get in touch through our contact page here: CONTACT US AT EMINENT EDIT. Good luck with your research writing!
Cite this EminentEdit article |
Antoine. M. (2024, November 12). How to Write a Research Proposal. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/how-to-write-a-research-proposal |
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