How to Write a Research Proposal: Step-by-Step Guide

Project Outline Proposal

In order to prepare for their business project, students are required to produce Project Outline Proposal of 2,500 words The research proposal plays a critical role in the dissertation process. It should provide an outline of the study, as well as a blueprint for future action (O’Leary, 2010).

A well-designed and well-written research proposal should provide a clear overview ‘of the what, why, how, when and where of your research project’ (Saunders et al., 2019, Chap2).

• What do you plan to accomplish in your research? (Objectives)
• Why do you want to undertake this research? (Rationale)
• How will you carry out this research? (Methodology) 
• Where will the research be conducted? (Methodology)

When will the research be conducted? (Timetable) Saunders et al. (2019) outline a number of useful questions that will help you to write and evaluate your proposal – see p.54. As a guide, your research proposal should contain the following:

Research Title This is not a fixed statement, however, you are advised to concisely describe your project. Your title should be unambiguous and indicate the specific content and context of the problem you wish to explore.

Introduction and Rationale An overview of the issue or problem you intend to address. You should clearly articulate why the problem merits investigation and its significance. It should provide some context to the problem.

Research Question/ Hypothesis, Aims and Objectives Developing a well-articulated research question (or hypothesis) is vital because it defines the project, sets boundaries, gives direction, and acts as a frame of reference for evaluating your work. Your aims stem from what you hope to achieve through undertaking the research? What is its overall purpose? You should formulate your overall expectations and aspirations. Objectives should be more specific and set out how you hope to achieve your overall aim. They should be precisely written and lead to observable outcomes. 

How does your research relate to what has been done before in the subject area? You must demonstrate your knowledge of the relevant literature and outline how and where your study is positioned within this body of work. It is also important that you identify, explain and justify the theoretical approach informing your work and the role this theory (or theories) will play. This section should further develop your rationale and should contain clear statements of the gaps that your research will fill. In conducting a literature review, it is useful to look for contradictions and paradoxes as these can help to highlight interesting research questions which could be addressed. It is important that you cite well known and authoritative material (from academically robust sources), critically reviewing the findings, implications and conclusions from previous work.

Literature Review

Design and Methodology Articulate your plan for the research; how will it be carried out? You should clearly identify how your research will lead to credible answers to the questions posed. It is important that the methods you describe are very clearly linked to the objectives you have previously defined. Be explicit in your writing and state exactly how the methods you have chosen will fulfil your objectives. Under this heading, you should explain and justify your approach, e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, how you will find respondents (including articulation of population and sampling procedures), the data collection method (s) you intend to use, e.g. surveys, interviews, focus groups etc., and methods of analysis. You should clearly highlight why your chosen method(s) will achieve your objectives over other possible research approaches. Attention should also be paid to issues of ‘validity’ and ‘reliability’. Additionally, you should try to provide some indication of the research instruments you intend to use and possible sources of information.

Your proposal should clearly outline the practical importance of your study. It should convince the reader that research into your chosen area is essential for improving a situation or problem resolution. The manner in which your research will add value should be clearly specified.

Your timetable should be realistic and conform to any overarching time-frames or deadlines. You should be very specific with respect to dates and are advised to follow the suggested progression dates for key sections of your work in the BMG843 Dissertation Module Handbook. You may find it useful to develop a Gantt chart to monitor your progress and set personal deadlines (see Saunders et al., 2019, p.59 for an example). You should factor in time for contingencies and feedback from your supervisor. Common problems that arise in research projects include time delays in gaining access, or interviews cancelled at short notice. 

References

A list of the sources you have cited in the proposal. This is important as it provides an assessment of your knowledge of your chosen research area and indicates your ability to source robust material. Ethical Considerations In developing your proposal, you should consider if there are there any particular ethical issues or problems you will need to address. It is important that you demonstrate sensitivity to ethical concerns. For example, you may require informed consent from the organisation in which you plan to gather your primary data, as well as access to individual participants. Some organisations may also require you to sign a confidentiality agreement. Certain contexts may also raise ethical concerns, e.g. research conducted in healthcare settings. You should carefully read through the Ethical Approval Form (see Blackboard Learn) and attach a copy to your research proposal submission.