Before you write a research proposal you must know what the research proposal is:
A research proposal is a document that outlines a research project's plan for reviewers to consider. A research proposal should be such that it should persuade the reader that the proposed study is useful and the researchers are qualified to carry it out. Regardless of the methodology or field of study, all research proposals should address the following questions:
- What is the question that the research proposes to answer?
- Why does the researcher want to undertake the study and how will the research study be conducted?
In order for the reader to grasp the research plan, the researcher must explicitly state what it is they want to undertake. Research Proposal provides a thorough explanation of the research problem, its significance, and the methodologies that will be employed, gives evidence for why the chosen approach is appropriate. It explains why the suggested approach will give a reliable response to his or her research questions.
The main goal of the proposal is to answer the what, why, and how questions, along with predicted outcomes.
Components of proposal
A research proposal should be composed of following components:
- Cover page with Title
- Background -Background information & relevance of study (nature of the study).
- Rationale of the study
- Statement of the problem
- Research questions
- Hypothesis (If hypothesis testing research)
- Purpose of the study/Objectives of the study (General and Specific)
- Significance of the study
- Limitations of the study
- Assumptions of the study
- Review of related literature
- Methodology
- Time Schedule
- Cost estimate (If funding is there)
- Expected Outcome ( If required)
- References