How to Write a Successful Research Proposal | Scribbr 🎓

0:00 Most research projects start with a proposal.

0:02 You’ll probably have to write one before you start your thesis or dissertation.

0:06 A research proposal is designed to persuade someone that your project is worthwhile, for

0:11 example, your supervisor or funding body.

0:14 If you want to know how to write a proper research proposal, then stay tuned.

0:19 --- Hi, I'm Jessica from Scribbr, here to help

0:22 you achieve your academic goals.

0:26 A research proposal aims to reflect the relevance, context, approach and feasibility of your

0:31 project.

0:33 Big words, but what do they mean?

0:35 Let's find out with some concrete examples.

0:38 The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals should contain

0:43 at least these elements: Title page

0:47 Introduction Literature review

0:50 Research design Reference list

0:52 Now, let’s go through what you should include in each element!

0:57 The title page of your proposal should include: The proposed title of your project

1:02 Your name Your supervisor’s name

1:05 The institution and department You should also check with your department

1:10 to see if there are specific requirements.

1:12 The introduction is where you hook the reader and demonstrate relevance.

1:16 Here you should introduce the context of your research problem and show that your project

1:20 is interesting, original and important.

1:23 Here are some questions to guide your introduction: How much is already known about the problem?

1:29 For whom is this interesting?

1:31 (e.g. policymakers or scientists) What are the key research questions that you

1:36 aim to answer?

1:37 A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in

1:42 existing knowledge or theory.

1:44 It also shows that you’re familiar with the field.

1:46 In this section, you're explaining how your project will contribute to conversations on

1:51 your topic.

1:52 If you're not sure where to start, we have a playlist on how to write a literature review,

1:56 where you'll learn about searching for relevant literature, outlining the structure, and more!

2:01 The research design or methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical

2:06 steps you will take to answer your research questions.

2:09 Here are things you should describe in the research design section:

2:13 Research type, so is it qualitative or quantitative, primary or secondary?

2:18 Sources, who or what will you actually study?

2:22 Research methods, what tools and procedures will you use?

2:26 Practicalities, any foreseeable obstacles in terms of timescale or resources required?

2:32 Click here to dive deeper into this section!

2:35 To finish your proposal on a strong note, you can explore the potential implications

2:40 of the research for theory or practice, and emphasize again what you aim to contribute

2:45 to existing knowledge on the topic.

2:47 For example, your results might have implications for:

2:51 Confirming or developing a theory Challenging current assumptions

2:56 Creating a basis for further research

2:58 Of course, your research proposal must include proper citations and a reference list for

3:03 every source you've used.

3:05 It’s important to keep track of your sources right from the beginning.

3:09 You can create and manage your sources easily with Scribbr's free citation generator!

3:14 Depending on the requirements of your program, you might have to include a detailed timeline

3:18 and budget of the project.

3:20 This aims to show that the research is feasible.

3:23 Within the timeline, you'll explain what you will do at each stage, how long it will take

3:29 and how much it will cost.

3:30 We have an example research schedule in our article, you can take a look here.

3:34 As in any other piece of academic writing, it’s essential to edit and proofread your

3:39 research proposal before you submit it.

3:42 For the best chance of approval, you might want to consider using a professional proofreading

3:46 service to get rid of language errors, check your proposal’s structure, and improve your

3:51 academic style.

3:52 As for how long the research proposal should be, it really depends.

3:56 A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for

4:01 PhD dissertations and research funding are often very long and detailed.

4:06 So check with your supervisor!

4:07 Before you go and start writing, make sure to subscribbr for more videos on how to conduct

4:14 research and write academic papers!

4:15 Thanks for watching and I'll see you soon!

How to Write a Successful Research Proposal | Scribbr 🎓

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