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Research Proposals: Connors Writing Center

The document provides guidance on writing an effective research proposal. It explains that a proposal allows one to explain the significance of a research project and demonstrate their ability to conduct the research. An effective proposal includes components like a title, statement of purpose, background, significance, methodology, potential problems, and bibliography. The proposal should contextualize the research question within the relevant literature and present a coherent argument for why the proposed research is worth pursuing. The document stresses following guidelines, proofreading, and consulting others to develop a strong proposal.

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Masuk Ur Rahman
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90 views2 pages

Research Proposals: Connors Writing Center

The document provides guidance on writing an effective research proposal. It explains that a proposal allows one to explain the significance of a research project and demonstrate their ability to conduct the research. An effective proposal includes components like a title, statement of purpose, background, significance, methodology, potential problems, and bibliography. The proposal should contextualize the research question within the relevant literature and present a coherent argument for why the proposed research is worth pursuing. The document stresses following guidelines, proofreading, and consulting others to develop a strong proposal.

Uploaded by

Masuk Ur Rahman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Proposals

NOTE: Each discipline and granting agency has its own guidelines for writing research proposals, so be sure
to consult your professor or advisor as well as any specific guidelines you have received. It is also helpful to
locate sample proposals in your discipline or from the agency to which you are applying.
The purpose of the research proposal: The research proposal is your chance to explain the significance of
your project to organizations who might wish to fund or otherwise support it. Ideally, it will demonstrate the
quality and importance of your project as well as your ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal
also gives you the opportunity to think through your research project, to refine your focus, and to predict any
challenges that may arise. It may be helpful to consult your proposal at various stages in your research process
to remind yourself of your focus and to chart how your project has progressed.

Components of a Research Proposal


 Title page: Give your project a working title, which may or may not change.
 Statement of Purpose: Explain what you hope your research will find or show. State your research
question or a series of research questions that you hope to answer.
 Background: Explain your interest in an experience with this topic. Describe any previous research
you have conducted on this or related topics, any classes you have taken on this or related topics or any
reading you have done in the field. If you have personal experience that has led to you want to do more
research, describe that here.
 Significance: Explain why this topic is worth considering or why this question or series of questions is
worth answering. What do you hope to learn from it? How or what will you contribute to the field of
knowledge that exists on this topic? What new perspective will you bring? What use might your final pa-
per be for others in the field or in the general public? With whom might you share your findings once the
project is complete?
 Methodology: Describe the kind of research you will conduct this project (library research, internet re-
search, interviews, observations, ethnographies, etc.). Explain how you will conduct your research in as
much detail as possible. If you will consult other sources (such as a statistician, an ethnographer, or a li-
brarian) explain what role they will serve and how you hope they will enhance your development of an
appropriate methodology for this project. Discuss the kinds of sources you hope to consult and the
methods you will use to extract and process the information you gather in as much detail as possible.
Once the project is underway, you might find you need to revise your methodology or adopt new meth-
ods of gathering and processing data.
 Problems: Describe problems you expect to encounter and how you hope to solve them. For example,
texts might be unavailable, necessitating travel to other libraries or use of inter-library loan facilities; the
time frame may limit the amount of research or the quality or specificity of research you are able to do;
people you had hoped to interview might be unavailable or unwilling to participate. Try to anticipate
every major problem and make contingency plans so that the project doesn’t become derailed.
 Bibliography: Make a list of texts you plan to consult. You may modify this list as you conduct your re-
search.

Connors Writing Center Dimond Library 329 . UNH . [email protected] 603-862-3272


Helpful Research Proposal Tips

 Contextualize your research question within literature in your field. Tie your research to major
questions in your field.
 Limit the boundaries of your research question so that it is not too broad.
 Cite landmark studies in your field.
 Reference theoretical and empirical contributions of others researchers.
 Develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research.
 Follow specific proposal guidelines.
 Consult professors and other students in your field.
 Proofread!

Connors Writing Center Dimond Library 329 . UNH . [email protected] 603-862-3272

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