What is the Research Proposal?

The research proposal is a document that outlines the objectives of a project, and provides an explanation for how the proposed work will accomplish those goals. This document is typically used to obtain funding from an external agency, such as a university or government grant program. The information it includes varies depending on the nature of the project and its funding source, but there are some common components that every proposal must include.

Describe the problem you are trying to address. Then, provide an overview of the existing literature related to your topic and identify any gaps in that knowledge. Explain how your study will fill those gaps and why yours is important. Make sure the language is clear, concise and easy to understand. Remember that many members of the review panel will not be experts in your field, and your goal is to convince them that your project is worthwhile and practical.

This section describes the research you will do to answer your research question(s). It should be specific, and be a good fit for the audience of the journal or conference where you are submitting your proposal. It also should be a good fit for the funding agency, as they want to see that you have thought through your project thoroughly.

Methodology: This is an essential part of the Research Proposal. Whether your research will be empirical (based on data collection) or theoretical (based on conceptual development), this section is necessary to show that you have considered the various approaches available to you and can apply them to your project.

It should be a detailed, step-by-step description of your methods and their limitations. The length of this section will depend on the type of research you are engaged in, but it should be as complete as possible to ensure that all the required steps have been covered.

Using a chart may be helpful in this section. It should also detail how you plan to share your findings with the academic community, and how you will make them available to students, staff, and the public.

If you are involved in a collaborative study with another institution, or if you will have international visitors, travel, or work on your project, contact the GCO and your export controls officer to determine if extra review is necessary before your proposal can be submitted. This can have a significant impact on your proposal deadlines, so consult with your GCO and your export controls officer early in your planning to allow them time to review the appropriate documents for each project component.