Clinical Psychology Research Proposal Example [Edit & Download]

A clinical psychology research proposal outlines the structure of a planned study, focusing on investigating psychological phenomena, treatments, or behaviors. Below is a basic framework you could follow for a clinical psychology research proposal:

1. Title

• A concise and informative title that captures the essence of your research.

2. Introduction

• Background: Provide a brief overview of the research topic, including previous studies and current gaps in knowledge.
• Research Problem: State the specific issue or problem your research aims to address.
• Research Question(s): Clearly define the primary research question(s) driving your study.

3. Literature Review

• Summarize relevant research, including key findings, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks.
• Highlight gaps or controversies in the existing literature that your study aims to address.

4. Objectives and Hypotheses

• Objectives: State the main goals of the research.
• Hypotheses: If applicable, list the hypotheses that you plan to test during the research.

5. Methodology

• Participants: Describe the sample population, including the selection criteria, sample size, and any inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• Study Design: Explain the design of the study (e.g., experimental, observational, correlational).
• Materials/Measures: Detail the tools, surveys, or assessments that will be used to collect data.
• Procedure: Outline how the study will be conducted, including any interventions, treatments, or procedures the participants will undergo.
• Data Analysis: Explain how the data will be analyzed (e.g., statistical tests, qualitative analysis methods).

6. Ethical Considerations

• Discuss any ethical issues, including informed consent, confidentiality, and how you plan to minimize potential risks to participants.

7. Expected Results

• Briefly outline what you expect to find based on your hypotheses or theoretical framework.

8. Timeline

• Provide a rough timeline of the different stages of the research, from participant recruitment to data analysis and final reporting.

9. References

• List all the references used in your proposal following the appropriate citation style.