14+ Research Proposal Examples & Samples – PDF, DOC, Pages

When you were in high school or in college, I bet you are familiar with research proposal. Remember that time in science class when you were grouped were asked to write a request for proposal for a project. And you went out and probably stayed overnight to do some research.

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Even now, in the fields of business and science, you still have to make project proposals. Because the truth is, writing a proposal in our scholastic years was just preparation. The true battle is when we are in our chosen line of work. Here are some samples of what these proposals would then look like.

Market Research Proposal Template

One Page Research Proposal Template

Marketing Research Proposal Template

Nursing Research Proposal Template

Free Research Proposal Template

Medical Research Proposal

Academic Research Proposal

What Is Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a systematic document presented by a proponent/s to a prospective sponsor/s to win support to conduct a research project, generally in the field of science and academics. Commonly, evaluation of professional proposals is based on the proposed research project’s expense, possible impact, and soundness.

What to Include in a Research Proposal?

Taking into account that a research proposal is a systematic document, it is already given that there are particular pieces of information that a proponent needs to include. To lead you with the fundamental elements of a proposal for your study to be supported, here are the specific parts of a research proposal.

1. Title of the Research Project

A title of a research project is a set of words and punctuation marks that represents the principal idea of your study. In a more modest sense, it provides your readers with the essential thought of your research. Frequently, the word count boundary of a research proposal title is from 10 to 15 substantial words. In constructing your title, ensure to keep it captivating while holding the significant variables in your study.

2. Project background or rationale

The background of the study or rationale is among the initial parts of a research proposal. This portion is where you justify the reason behind your procedures and its significance.

In articulating your rationale, it is important to take note of a few key points. First, ensure to include the history and issues involved in your suggested research. Second, mention the purpose and function of the study as well as its educational significance. Third, provide a brief work summary. And, do not forget to stick to your discipline and add a summary of your key arguments, evidence, and developments in the said field.

3. Research questions

In producing your research proposal, it is vital to have a distinct point on which specific problems do you want to answer at the end of your study. In writing your research questions, make sure to keep it apparent and accurate. Considering that several proposals are too broad, indicating questions is a brilliant way to ensure that your composition is adequately narrow, feasible, and is on the right track.

As a novice, it would be beneficial to start focusing on one or two principal questions from which you can eventually derive some secondary research questions. You may also consider asking yourself about the appropriate approach to be used.

4. Research methodology

The research methodology is the segment where you indicate how will you obtain the necessary data and information in your study. It outlines the research methods and explains how will conduct your research. Furthermore, a research methodology also states your study’s approach, advantages, constraints, and theoretical resources to be tested on

In composing this section, it is vital to keep it coherent, concise, and detailed. It should also meticulously assessed the variables you have mentioned in the earlier part of the proposal.

5. Work plan and time schedule

Succeeding your research methodology is the plan of how to execute the proposed research project. In this segment, outline the different phases of your study with their respective timelines. This section is in regards to the development and implementation of your research.
If your study is full-time, you should complete it within three years, with writing up completed in the fourth year of registration. On the other hand, if your research is part-time, you need to finish it within six years, with writing up completed by the eighth year.

6. Bibliography

At the end of your research proposal, it is important to include a list of reference for the essential pieces of information from various articles and texts included in your proposal. In this part, be reminded to use the appropriate standard reference styles such as the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and Chicago style. Reference styles to be used are based on the distinct field you are writing to.

Research Project Proposal

Marketing Research Proposal

Undergraduate Research Proposal

How to Start Your Research Proposal

A research proposal may sound like a paper just for discovery and academic purposes. However, keep in mind that this document is not made solely for that. You compose a research proposal to persuade potential sponsors or investors to support your plan. And for you to be successful on that goal, catching their attention is a key factor. Read through this segment to learn how to compose a compelling introduction for your research proposal.

The primary function of an introduction is to catch the interest of the reader. Similarly, your research proposal must contain that quality. Consequently, a good introduction contains the following components:

1. Mention the research problem/s you want to assess in your study. This is also called as the purpose of the study sometimes.
2. Provide your reader with interesting background regarding your study. This part should be relevant and critical. It is important to consider this characteristic so you could introduce your research question as a serious case that needs attention and solution.
3. Display your rationale and specify the significance of your study.
4. Define the major and minor issues in your study.
5. Distinguish the fundamental variables involved in your study. Consequently, classify these factors as independent and dependent. Independent variables refer to the factors that are controlled in your scientific experiments while the dependent variables are the ones that are measured and tested in response to the changes performed in the independent variables.
6. Mention your hypothesis or theory if applicable.
7. State the scope and delimitation of your proposal to have a definite focus.
8. Define the key concepts included in your proposal.

How to Write a Research Proposal

Writing a proposal could be a tedious and complex task, especially if asking for a grant. Here are a few tips on how to write it.

1. State the problem.

A research proposal should start with the definition of the problem. This allows you to be guided on the flow chart of your research.

2. Recommend solutions.

Offer possible solutions to the problem. Back this up with factual and real information coming from reliable resources. Also, add statistical data (if and when necessary) to make it more convincing. You may also see service proposal examples.

3. Add your estimated timeline and budget.

It is always important to include schedule samples and personal budget so that your project can be well-funded. Always make sure that the timeline is attainable and realistic.

4. Make a conclusion.

This should wrap up all the important things you stated from the beginning. Highlight the problem, solutions, budget, and timeline.

Business Research Proposal

Psychology Research Proposal

How to Develop a Research Proposal

Planning out a research proposal could be an extensive task than the act of writing itself. Here are a few tips to help you ease up that burden.

1. Determine the problem.

This is the first step before making a research proposal. Make sure to identify what you will be working on so that you have an objective. You may also see fundraising proposal examples & samples.

2. Do your research.

If necessary and if your time allows it, do a quick survey among your audience to get to know more about the problem and to think of possible solutions. Give more emphasis on your research to keep you informed. You may also like non-profit proposal examples & samples.

3. Prepare an outline.

This will make sure that your ideas and thoughts will be properly laid out. It allows you to avoid the repetition of ideas.

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Initial PhD Research Proposal

The Importance of a Research Proposal

Now that you are already educated with the technicalities on how to craft a research proposal, it would be absurd to not know the reason why you must create one. In this segment, we are going to tackle the importance of this document. Nevertheless, these significances could also be realized from the proposal examples we gathered for you. View it to witness them all.

1. Research proposals present your ideas to a larger audience. Considering that it is presented to the potential investors, there will be a chance for your idea to be funded and executed. Once it is realized, there will be a higher chance for your concept to be exposed in the crowd.
2. Most importantly, when you write with a persuasive and strong tone, you could get approval not only from the board of trustees or the project management but also their constituents.