A Guide to Writing Your Research Proposal (SOC 331)
At the beginning of the semester, most students do not fully understand what a research proposal means, nor do they understand its importance. To put it bluntly, one’s research is only as good as one’s proposal. A research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the work plan to complete it. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the key elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to evaluate the proposed study.
Regardless of your research topic and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions: What you plan to accomplish, why you want to do it, and how you are going to do it. The proposal should have sufficient information to convince your readers that you have an important research idea, that you have a good grasp of the relevant literature and the major issues, and that your methodology is sound.
The quality of your research proposal depends not only on the quality of your proposed project but also on the quality of your proposal writing. A good research project may include not only a good idea but also your writing coherent, clear, and compelling. The due date to submit your research proposal is in Week 15th.
Six aspects need to be listed on your proposal (total 8-10 pages):
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Expected Results
Discussion
Abstract (1 page):
It is a summary of approximately 250 words. It should include the research question, the rationale for the study, the hypothesis (if any), and the method. Descriptions of the method may include the design, procedures, the sample, and any instruments that will be used.
Introduction (1-2 pages):
The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary background or context for your research problem. How to frame the research problem is perhaps the biggest problem in proposal writing. If the research problem is framed in the context of a general, rambling literature review, then the research question may appear trivial and uninteresting.
The introduction typically begins with a general statement of the problem area, with a focus on a specific research problem, to be followed by the rationale or justification for the proposed study. The introduction generally covers the following elements:
State the research problem, which is often referred to as the purpose of the study.
Provide the context and set the stage for your research question in such a way as to show its necessity and importance.
Present the rationale of your proposed study and indicate why it is worth doing.
Specify the hypothesis you want to study. Identify the key independent and dependent variables of your experiment.
Literature Review (2 pages):
The literature review serves several important functions:
Ensures that you are not “reinventing the wheel”.
Gives credits to those who have laid the groundwork for your research.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the research problems.
Provides new theoretical insights or develops a new model as the conceptual framework for your research.
Convinces your reader that your proposed research will make a significant contribution to the literature (i.e., resolving an important theoretical issue or filling a major gap in the literature).
There are different ways to organize your literature review. It is helpful to keep in mind that you are telling a story to an audience. Try to tell it in a stimulating and engaging manner. Do not bore them, because it may lead to under-evaluation of your worthy proposal.
Methods (2 pages):
The Method section is very important because it tells your “Research Committee” how you plan to tackle your research problem(s). It will provide your work plan and describe the activities necessary for the completion of your project. The guiding principle for writing the Method section is that it should contain sufficient information for the reader to determine whether the methodology is sound. Some even argue that a good proposal should contain sufficient details for another qualified researcher to implement the study.
You need to demonstrate your knowledge of alternative methods and make the case that your approach is the most appropriate and valid way to address your research question. Typically, the method section consists of the following sections:
Design -Is it a questionnaire study or a laboratory experiment? What kind of design do you choose?
Subjects or participants – Who will take part in your study? What kind of sampling procedure do you use?
Instruments – What kind of measuring instruments or questionnaires do you use? Why do you choose them? Are they valid and reliable?
Procedure – How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities are involved? How long does it take?
Expected Results (1 page):
You do not have results at the proposal stage. However, you need to have some idea about what kind of data you will be collecting, and what statistical procedures will be used to answer your research question or test your hypothesis.
Discussion (1-2 page)
It is important to convince your reader of the potential impact of your proposed research. You need to communicate a sense of enthusiasm and confidence without exaggerating the merits of your proposal. That is why you also need to mention the limitations and weaknesses of the proposed research, which may be justified by time and financial constraints as well as by the early developmental stage of your research area.
Last, don’t forget to organize the sources of citations you used in the proposal as a title of References.
A proposal is to be expected no less than 8 pages and no longer than 10 pages in length, typed and double-spaced. Be sure to use a reasonable font (10-12 size), and check your paper for spelling and grammatical mistakes. The best project should be organized and thorough, yet concise. You may select the title of your project.
