How to Write a Research Proposal
A Formal Template for Preparing a Proposal for Research
A proposal introduces the problem, purpose, and significance of a study as well as the
experimenter’s research question and hypothesis. It also gives a brief explanation of the
theory guiding the study, a review of relevant literature pertaining to the theory, and the
procedure for the research. The proposal should be written in American Psychological
Association (APA) format. Without an elaborate introduction, the researcher will leave
his or her readers wondering what exactly the purpose of the research is. The introduction
explains in detail several components of the research that must be included in any
proposal. After reading the introduction, the reader should conclude why the researcher is
conducting the research and how this research will affect the academic community and
society. For this paragraph in particular, it is sufficient to grab the reader’s attention,
introduce the topic at hand, and provide a brief definition of the theory from which the
study is based.
Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary of the entire proposal, typically ranging from 150
to 250 words. It is different from a thesis statement in that the abstract summarizes
the entire proposal, not just mentioning the study’s purpose or hypothesis.
Therefore, the abstract should outline the proposal’s major headings: the research
question,
theoretical
framework,
research
design,
sampling
method,
instrumentation, and data and analysis procedures. A good abstract accurately
reflects the content of the proposal, while at the same time being coherent,
readable, and concise. Do not add any information in the abstract that is not
previously discussed throughout the proposal. Notice this paragraph is not
indented; the abstract will be the only paragraph in the entire proposal that is not
indented. Because it highlights the entire proposal, it would be wise to wait and
write the abstract last. This way, one merely has to reword information that was
previously written.
Statement of the Problem
The “Statement of the Problem” is an imperative part of the
proposal, for in order for research to be conducted; one must notice a
problem in the existing literature that has not been previously addressed.
For this section, the following questions should be answered: Why does
this research study need to be conducted? What specific issues does this
study raise that have not been observed in other literature pertaining to
the topic? Answering these questions will allow readers to understand
why this particular study is important and how the study will attempt to
answer new, never-before asked questions.
Purpose of the Study
It is appropriate include a sentence saying, “The purpose of this
study is…” under this section. Clearly identify the goal of the study in
one precise sentence. For example, the sentence could look like this:
“the purpose of this study is to determine whether the decision of firstsemester male students to live with or reject living with their
roommates is related to whether their roommates affirm their self-views
or not.” Why is this an important area of study? Answer this question
under this section. Also, identify the unit of analysis or specific inquiry
used. Examples of different units of analysis include self-report
surveys, observational studies, etc.
Research Question/Hypothesis
Research questions ask what relationships exist between the different
variables in the study, while the hypothesis predicts the relationship
between variables. List all the research questions in the study, and
then include the researcher’s hypothesis for the study. Format this
section as seen below.
For the purpose of this study, the following question were addressed:
1. List the research question here. For example, based on selfverification theory, will a college student’s preference to stay with
his roommate increase or decrease depending on whether his
roommate sees him as he sees himself?
As part of this study, investigation included one research hypothesis:
1. List the study’s hypothesis here: The more invested college
students are in their self-views, the more they will express a
desire to verify these self-views by preferring roommates who
see them as they see themselves.
Literature Review
The Literature Review provides the background for the research
problem and illustrates to the reader that the researcher is
knowledgeable about the scope of the theory. Research as many
studies pertaining to the theory as possible, and summarize them in a
succinct manner. Review various dissertations, as they may help one to
understand how to write and summarize previous research. When
writing the literature review, it is wise to separate the various studies
one finds into different categories. Under these categories, create
“Level 2 subheadings” in APA style. These subheadings are formatted
just like Level 1 headings, but they are aligned left. See the
subheadings below for an example.
1st Subheading
Choose one evident theme or that became apparent when
researching the theory. Briefly share the results of the various studies,
including the most pertinent information such as the studies’ hypotheses,
population, methodology, and results. Relate the study to an ongoing
dialogue of the literature pertaining to the research topic. This means
that each study one lists should relate to new, proposed study in some
way. Report the studies sequentially if possible, building upon the
findings of prior studies. Remember to separate each category of studies
with a new subheading. Do this as many times as needed.
Methodology
The “Methodology” section is the most important section in the
entire proposal, as it explains each step the researcher will take in
order to conduct his or her research. This section discusses what
measures the researcher will take in order to test the study’s
hypothesis. In this section, it is vital to include the following
subheadings while expanding on them in as much detail as possible.
Research Design
Include the proposed research design of the study, whether it is a
survey, experiment, observation, secondary data of analysis, etc. Then,
explain how this design will derive results. Briefly discuss how the data
will be administered and collected, including how the subjects will
participate in the study. Also, briefly discuss which theoretical model
will guide this study and what the model predicts will be the results of
the study.
Sampling
This section should include an expanded discussion of the sample. First,
discuss the population under consideration. From where will
participants be selected? Second, give the sampling method to be used.
Which specific sampling method will be used to select participants?
Lastly, list the elements that will be characteristic of the sample, such as
gender, age, etc.
Instrumentation
In this paragraph, briefly outline the instruments that will be used in the
study, including all surveys, interviews, or observation grids. Discuss
how the instrument(s) will measure the study’s independent and
dependent variables. Each instrument should be discussed below in
more detail under separate subheadings.
Instrument #1
List the first instrument that will be used in the study. Bold and
indent the name of instrument once to the right, as seen in the
example above. For this paragraph in particular, include why the
instrument is considered to be valid and/or reliable as well as how it
will be useful for the proposed study. Repeat the same procedure for
all other instruments.
Data Collection and Analysis Procedures
Explain the general plan for how the data will be collected, especially
how the letter of consent will be administered and collected. Include any
survey, interview, or observation procedures, and identify any incentives
for students participating in the study. Also, include what statistics or
analytical tools will be used for analyzing the data, such as ANOVA,
SPSS, etc. if applicable.
Discussion
The Discussion may be placed near the end of the Introduction. The
Discussion focuses on the implications of the proposed study, such as
how the study’s results will affect future research, theory, counseling,
policy, etc. Therefore, write this section with the focus on how the
study’s results will benefit others. Identify any weaknesses to the
proposed study and why they were not addressed. Address how well the
study will do in terms of internal and external validity, and discuss the
implications of the study affecting practice, policy, and scholarly/future
research. When the proposal is finished, be sure to include a reference
list for all sources used at the end of the proposal.
References:•
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Websites
Journals
Dissertations
Research papers etc.
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