Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
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Planning out a PhD trajectory can be overwhelming. Example PhD timelines can make the task easier and inspire. The following PhD timeline example describes the process and milestones of completing a PhD within 3 years.
What to include in a 3-year PhD timeline depends on the unique characteristics of a PhD project, specific university requirements, agreements with the supervisor/s and the PhD student’s career ambitions.
For instance, some PhD students write a monograph while others complete a PhD based on several journal publications. Both monographs and cumulative dissertations have advantages and disadvantages , and not all universities allow both formats. The thesis type influences the PhD timeline.
The most common elements included in a 3-year PhD timeline are the following:
Many (starting) PhD students look for examples of how to plan a PhD in 3 years. Therefore, let’s look at an example scenario of a fictional PhD student. Let’s call her Maria.
In order to complete her PhD programme, Maria also needs to complete coursework and earn 15 credits, or ECTS in her case.
Most PhD students start their first year with a rough idea, but not a well-worked out plan and timeline. Therefore, they usually begin with working on a more elaborate research proposal in the first months of their PhD. This is also the case for our example PhD student Maria.
Example: planning year 3 of a 3-year phd, example of a 3 year phd gantt chart timeline.
Combining the 3-year planning for our example PhD student Maria, it results in the following PhD timeline:
In fact, in real life, many PhD students spend four years full-time to complete a PhD based on four papers, instead of three. Some extend their studies even longer.
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PDF | LEARN MORE ABOUT WRITING A PHD RESEARCH PLAN | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate. ... Specifically, the overall research plan includes the following steps: (1) ...
Considering a UK PhD: Your Next Steps
Guidance for PhD applicants Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. The 1,500 word research proposal is an important element of your application to doctoral study, whether full-time or part-time. It offers you the opportunity to outline the research you intend to conduct, including how you plan to go about it, and how your research might ...
A PhD research plan or schedule can be prepared using the GANTT chart which includes a month, semester or year-wise planning of the entire PhD research work. First, enlist goals and objectives. It's not about your research objective enlisted in your proposal. I'm talking about the objectives of your PhD.
A PhD proposal is an outline of your proposed project. It needs to: Define a clear question and approach to answering it. Highlight its originality and/or significance. Explain how it adds to, develops (or challenges) existing literature in the field. Persuade potential supervisors of the importance of the work, and why you are the right person ...
Research Proposal Example (PDF + Template)
4. The Format of the Research Proposal. The proposal should be typed in Times New Roman (font size 12), using 1.5 line spacing, and should be at least 3 000 words in length (which is equivalent to approximately 15 to 16 pages).
4)Research plan (1 -3 pages) A description of the future experiments and their expected outcome is developed. Mention the main "deliverables"; i.e. at which time point do you expect that a critical experimental series will be finished; at which point in time could a given sub-project be finished (i.e. generation of a research manuscript).
Outline. ReferencesPurpose of the PhD research planDevelop a PhD project with realistic goals that can be achieved within the time. ame of the PhD period (normally 3-4 years).Ensure that the PhD student and PhD supervisor(s) are aligned wrt goa. of the project and the work plan/schedule. mentfunding for e.g. equipment an.
How to Write a PhD Proposal. 1. Introduction. A PhD proposal is a focused document that int roduces your PhD study idea and seeks to. convince the reader that your idea is interesting, original ...
How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal
nd its implications for the research methods]Method:1. Conduct a l. te. ature review on leadership and communication in SMTs.2. Observe the group four hours per week for six weeks, focusing mostly on conversations at team meetings, especially those conversations in which the group addresses changes to their work proc. ss.
How to write a research proposal for a strong PhD application
guidelines-for-the-PhD-dissertation.pdf - HSPH.Harvard.edu
How to Write a PhD Research Proposal
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & ...
The research proposal is one of the mandatory parts of your research master's. Within this proposal, you describe a study that has the duration of a PhD-project. First you select a research paper as the basis for your proposal. You need to completely understand this paper in order to come up with new questions and hypotheses.
Your research plan should contain the following elements and be submitted to the Joint PhD in Education Studies with the rest of your application package. Bear in mind that your plan will likely change as you move through the program. This is just an initial explanation of your area of interest and understanding of the field. Please remember to ...
Example: Planning year 2 of a 3-year PhD. Maria completed her first round of data collection according to plan, and starts the second year of her PhD with a lot of material. In her second year, she will focus on turning this data into two journal articles. Months 1-2: Maria works on her data analysis.
A well-made study and research plan is an essential part of a good application for doctoral studies. The applicant should develop it in collaboration with the prospective supervisor. The study and research plan has three sections: 1. Research plan of up to 5 pages, including a description of the objectives and
DOCTORAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• State your research questions and hypothesis/hypotheses. • Describe the experimental objectives. Optional: Preliminary data (1-2 pages) • If you already generated relevant data that supports your hypothesis and/or the feasibility of your proposal, you may include key elements of it in a separate section between the
The research plan is the broad lines that are guided. by the researc h er for the i m plementation o f the. research and th is means that the research plan pl ans. to resear ch before its ...