Research Proposal format

How to Write a 2000 words Research Proposal
 Provide an overview of your research question, explaining why it is of academic and or practical importance
 Outline the main objectives of your research, providing details of two or three key aspects
 Write a short literature review, indicating the importance of previous related research or investigated literature and how your own research question might make a useful contribution to the area
 State the main research techniques (interviews, case studies, modelling etc.) you might use
 Indicate your suggested data collection procedures, indicating sources and any possible difficulties
 Explain any analytical techniques you intend to use
 State your proposed timetable of activities
 Finally, list the references in your proposal or provide a short bibliography.

Some of the common problems
In our experience, there are a number of common reasons why proposals from well qualified potential students are rejected.
Some common problems are outlined below:
 Your research topic is inadequately specified. You must write to a very tight format stating what you plan to research, why and how. The format is clearly outlined above.
 Whilst your proposal may identify a practical managerial problem it does not demonstrate its analytical importance. A study that merely aims to discover new empirical information or simply solve a current issue will probably not be accepted. Your proposal must engage with controversies, new ideas/thought and demonstrate strong critical insight into one or more academic disciplines to succeed in your research.

The format of your Research Proposal
Project Title
The title of your project must reflect the content.
(20 words)
Aims and Objectives
Supply an overall aim and approximately 3 or 4 objectives that the research will address.
(300 words)
Relevance to Professional or Academic Field
Describe using referenced material (no more than six key texts)
 How your proposed research will fit in to the existing body of academic knowledge and practice in the professional field.
 How your research will enhance knowledge or contribute to new understandings in the subject
(1000 words)
Research Approach or Methodology
1. Describe the methods you intend to use to deliver your aim and objectives.
2. Provide detail of data source and any specialist resources or facilities you may require
(400 words)
Expected Outcomes
Summarise the outcomes/personal development that you hope will result from the project.
(280 words)
Potential Director of Studies (if known)