Research proposal

Writing the Research Proposal

A research proposal is similar in a number of ways to a project proposal; however, a research proposal addresses a particular project: academic or scientific research.  The forms and procedures for such research are well defined by the field of study, so guidelines for research proposals are generally more exacting than less formal project proposals.  Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews and must offer convincing support of need for the research study being proposed.  Doctoral dissertations begin with research proposal; the proposal must be accepted by a panel of experts (usually professors) before the actual research can begin.  In addition to providing rationale for the proposed research, the proposal must described a detailed methodology for conducting the research--a methodology consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field. 

As any other research work, research proposal has its own format. Its peculiarities are as follows:

• a language simple enough for a non-specialist to understand the major points of the paper
• absence of references, unusual terms, scientific jargon
• a proposed researched question should be determined by one field of science
• proposed researched question should be as specific as possible
• research proposal should contain the following parts:

Title – a brief precise phrase rendering the main problem of your research proposal (up to 80 characters spaces including)
 
Abstract – a clear summary of the work you have done, throwing light on purposes, theoretical background of the question under consideration and experimental approach (up to 10 typed lines)
 
Historical Background – a section where you describe your predecessors’ deeds in the field you are studying now. Note that all information taken from different sources is to be referenced
 
Objective – an explanation of your paper’s value, naming concrete purposes to achieve
 
Technical Approach – a description of the actual work you are planning to accomplish and concrete ways of doing it (theoretical and research basis)
 
Bibliography – a reference list where you name all sources you have referred to or cited. Note that the items should go in an alphabetical order.
 
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