How to Write a Research Proposal

Assignment Task

Purpose

• To elaborate on your original topic idea and provide an overall research question and the key objectives of the project;
• To demonstrate that you have considered how you may carry out this research;
• To demonstrate an understanding of the range of literature that you might explore and some of the key ideas that are of relevance to your study; 
• To provide a timescale/project plan detailing how you anticipate completing the dissertation.

It is recognized that it is likely that the proposed plan of research and/or timescales may be subject to some changes as the project progresses. However, your proposal at this stage should demonstrate that you have thought through what the main research questions and objectives of the project are; that you have given careful thought to appropriate research methods; that you have identified the main sources of secondary material from the literature; and that you have provided an initial timetable/plan for completion of the project.

Introduction

• What is the topic and briefly why you are interested in it?

Research aim/objectives/questions or hypothesis

• Clearly state the overarching aim of the research and the main objectives.
• What are your research questions that you need to answer, or hypotheses that you want to test?

Research Context

Provide a short review of literature to give an overview of existing research in this topic area.

• What other research has dealt with the particular research problem you plan to investigate?
• What are the main issues or limitations of previous research work?
• What will your research offer that is new (e.g. design, method, perspective, case study, algorithm) and why is this needed?

Research Methods

Outline which methods are you selecting, and why, by reflecting on what you need to find out, and the time available to achieve it.

Project Plan

This section should detail how you anticipate completing the dissertation. You will need to identify activities you will need to undertake to answer each of your research questions. From this, you should create a work breakdown structure (with timescales) as the basis for your project plan. If yours is a company based project, you will also need to identify the means of liaising with the company or companies to ensure you are able to collect the specific information you require to undertake the project.

Ethics

• What ethical considerations need to be made before embarking on your research?
• This section of your research proposal must contain a completed Ethical Review Checklist (this form is available on the module Blackboard site.

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