Table of Contents
What Is a Research Proposal?
A research proposal is a structured document that describes what you aim to examine, why the research is essential, and how you propose to do it. It is necessary for obtaining permission, financing, or entrance to academic programs. Writing a successful proposal is more than simply following a framework; it is also about properly articulating your research goal.
A successful proposal should persuade reviewers that:
- You comprehend the issue.
- Your objectives are clear and feasible.
- Your techniques are effective and realistic.
- Your effort is essential and deserves financing or approval.
Types of Research Proposals
1. Academic Research Proposal
Academic research proposal used for undergraduate, master’s, or PhD research projects. Focuses on contribution to academic knowledge.
2. Grant/Funding Proposal
Grant/Funding proposal submitted to funding bodies (e.g., WHO, NIH, Gates Foundation) to request money. Includes detailed budgeting and justification.
3. Institutional Proposal
Institutional Proposal used for ethical approval or policy influence within universities, hospitals, NGOs.
4. Business/Market Research Proposal
It use for commercial research, often used in consultancy, product development, or marketing analysis.
How to Think Before You Write
Before you begin, clarify these:
- What is the core research question?
- What gap in existing knowledge does it fill?
- Who will benefit from the findings?
- Is it feasible with your skills, time, and resources?
Note: The smart strategy is write a mini research log with your answers to the above questions. Keep refining until your idea is sharp and narrow.
Structure of a Standard Research Proposal
Most proposals follow this structure:
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Introduction / Background
- Objectives and Research Questions
- Literature Review
- Methodology
- Expected Results
- Significance of the Study
- Timeline / Work Plan
- Budget
- Ethical Considerations
- References
Let’s dive into deep about the structure
1. Title page
In title page include:
- Title of the project (clear, specific, meaningful)
- Author name(s)
- Institutional affiliation
- Supervisor name (if academic)
- Date
Tips:
i) Avoid broad titles. The title should be no more than 16 words long, typed in sentence case (not all capital letters), and without a full stop at the conclusion. Include a mention to South Africa (or another comparable nation). Avoid lengthy descriptions of the issue and technique, such as “an assessment of…”
ii) Reflect the factors or populations investigated.
- Abstract (150–300 words)
Its a mini-summary of the entire proposal.
Here include:
i. Problem statement
ii. Research aim and objectives
iii. Methodology (brief)
iv. Expected outcomes
v. Importance of study
Tips:
i. Write this section last after the full proposal
ii. Be concise and persuasive
3. Introduction / Background
In this section define the research problem and show why it matters.
Include here:
i. Global and local context
ii. Definitions and background terms
iii. Relevance to current policies or gaps
iv. Why this topic now?
Tip: Use current data (WHO, UN, peer-reviewed articles) to support your rationale.
For example, “According to WHO (2023), over 300 million people suffer from depression globally. In urban Bangladesh, mental health infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Despite international evidence supporting nature-based interventions, their role in South Asian cities is poorly studied.”
4. Research Objectives and Questions
Objectives describe what you will do. Research questions clarify what you want to find out.
Write SMART Objectives:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Relevant
T = Time-bound
Example Objective: “To assess the effect of 30-minute green space exposure on PHQ-9 depression scores among urban youth over six weeks.”
Example Question: “ Does regular exposure to green spaces improve depression recovery among adults aged 18–35 in Dhaka?
5. Literature Review
It shows, you know the field and justify your study.
For literature review you need to follow the following Steps:
i. Identify 5–10 key studies on the topic
ii. Summarize their findings, methods, and gaps
iii. Compare approaches
iv. Highlight what’s missing (the gap)
Tip: Group literature by themes instead of summarizing one paper at a time.
Example Themes:
‘Nature and mental health’
‘Green spaces in urban planning’
‘Young adult mental health trends’
6. Methodology
This is the heart of your proposal. Be specific and detailed.
Include here:
i. Study design (quantitative, qualitative, mixed)
ii. Population and sample (age, gender, number, location)
iii. Sampling technique (random, purposive, snowball)
iv. Data collection methods (survey, interview, experiment)
v. Tools and software (e.g., R, Python, NVivo)
vii. Analysis plan (descriptive stats, regression, thematic analysis)
Tip: Include reliability checks, limitations, and data security measures.
For example, ‘Quantitative data will be analyzed using RStudio. Depression scores will be assessed using PHQ-9. A paired t-test will compare scores before and after exposure. Qualitative interviews will be analyzed using NVivo 12 with thematic coding.’
7. Expected Results
Outline what you expect to find based on theory or similar studies.
For examples,
‘A statistically significant drop in PHQ-9 scores…….’
‘Identification of emotional and sensory benefits of nature……’
Tip: Use cautious academic language, like, “It is anticipated that…”, “The study may reveal…”
8. Significance of the Study
Explain how your research contributes to:
i. Scientific knowledge
ii. Policy or program design
iii. Local/global development
For example, ‘This study will inform urban design in South Asia and promote cost-effective mental health interventions aligned with SDG-3 and SDG-11.’
9. Timeline / Work Plan
Divide the study into manageable phases with deadlines.
Example:
Month
1: Literature review & tool development
Month
2–3: Data collection
Month
4: Data analysis and report writing
Tip:
Use a Gantt chart or table to visualize tasks.
10. Budget
Include
estimated costs with justification.
For example,
Item | Cost (USD) |
Survey printing | $50 |
Local travel | $120 |
Software (NVivo license) | $100 |
Internet/data | $40 |
Miscellaneous | $30 |
Total | $340 |
Tip: Use open-source tools like R and Python to reduce costs.
11. Ethical Considerations
Every serious research proposal must address ethics:
i. Informed consent
ii. Data privacy
iii. Voluntary participation
iv. Anonymity/confidentiality
v. If applicable, mention IRB or ethics board approval.
12. References
Follow your required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Example (APA):
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature. Cambridge University Press.
Ulrich, R. S., et al. (2020). The role of nature in recovery. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 45(2), 85–97.
Tip: Use tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to manage citations.
Final Writing Tips
- Write clearly and formally. Avoid jargon unless it’s field-specific.
- Use strong verbs: assess, analyze, evaluate, explore, determine
- Revise multiple times. Use Grammarly or Hemingway for style help.
- Ask for feedback from supervisors or peers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Too broad topic (lack of focus)
- No clear research question
- Weak methodology
- Overambitious scope
- Vague objectives
- No citation of existing literature
- Ignoring ethical considerations
Final Checklist Before Submission
[ ] Is the title concise and relevant?
[ ] Are your objectives SMART?
[ ] Have you clearly defined your research questions?
[ ] Is your methodology replicable and justified?
[ ] Have you included ethical safeguards?
[ ] Are references properly cited?
[ ] Is the language clear and academic?
By following these techniques, you’ll be equipped to craft a winning, academically strong, and methodologically sound research proposal for any context — academic, funded, institutional, or applied.
Great!
Thanks
thanks