1. What is a research proposal?

1.1. What is the purpose of a research proposal?

define a clear question to answer
to plan an approach to answering it
to explain how the proposed research will add to / develop / challenge existing literature in the field
to persuade the audience of the importance of the work, that it is feasible and that you are the right person to undertake it

it demonstrates that your proposed research is feasible
it demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge and expertise to conduct the research
it allows research committees to allocate the most suitable supervisor to guide and support you

Your title should give a clear indication of the intent of your project, directing attention explicitly to the central issue that you will address
Your title must show that you have thought through what you are hoping to achieve
The working title can change during the course of your research

The introduction gives a brief overview of the general area of study

provide the background against which your research will be carried out
be a brief introduction outlining the general area of study and identifying the subject area within which your study falls
include the key issue(s) that you wish to investigate and why these are important (the rationale)
include who would benefit from your research (e.g. practitioners, researchers)

list the research question(s) your project will aim to answer through the course of your research

explain which approach you are planning to use to research the answer to your research questions: primary or secondary research
outline your data collection method (existing data source(s) / qualitative or quantitative methods or both)
provide a justification for why these methods are suitable for your study and the limits and potential you envisage
give an indication of how you intend to analyse your research data

If you are planning to undertake primary research that involves humans, you should identify any risk to the researcher or participants, and explain how you will minimise those risks.
This section should consider relevant ethical issues (e.g. informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, privacy, avoiding harm to participants)

demonstrates you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis
demonstrates you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly
follows the appropriate guidelines
is refined and edited a number of times before it is submitted to ensure that it is well written, without any errors
leaves the reader with a clear sense of the purpose and direction of your research project
leaves the reader interested, excited and wanting to find out more about your ideas and your project!

A strategic statement of what the researcher would like to do if no constraints exist

Having a topic for your project is just the starting point. You must also be able to define the aim of your project. In other words: ‘What do I want to know?’
In the simplest terms, your aim is meant to let your reader know what you hope to achieve overall with your project.

Along with general background information, the Introduction is also where you should explain the rationale of your research.
In short, the rationale tells your reader why this research is important.

If your aim is what you want to learn by doing your research, then your objectives are the steps you take to get there.

Objectives: (How am I going to find that out?)
The objectives can be considered as tactical statements that, in the light of constraints, translate the aims into inter-related yet self-sufficient coherent statements of what the researcher hopes to achieve. Objectives specify what will be known at the end of the project that isn’t known at its beginning and has been revealed by the research.
The objectives are usually the steps you will take to achieve your aim.
Your objectives often play a huge role in structuring your report and in determining what kind of sources you need!

The hypothesis is the predicted answer to the problem

Most projects have very specific parameters or boundaries in order to make them convincing research

ask yourself how you plan to limit your study.
- by time period?
- by location?
- by industry? etc.