research proposal paper example

research proposal paper example

The Importance of Research Proposal Papers

1. Introduction

According to New Wah Education Consultancy (2008), the research proposal is a “comprehensive plan for research on a specific topic. It is a written explanation of the research problem, rationale of the study, objectives of the study, methodology, expected findings, and how the results are going to be useful to a particular community.” This shows how important a research proposal is for the research. It is more like a proper detailed plan than the previous notion of an idea or a blueprint. Any research worker will have a clear-cut idea about what he wants to do in his mind, but that might not always be correct or the best way to do it. A research proposal paper would give him a scope to realize and understand if his idea is worth researching and how he should go about doing it.

According to Biddix (2004), “The research proposal is a plan that proposes an idea, justifies the need to study that idea, explains the methodology, and also explains the potential findings.” This could be analogous to the blueprint of a building. Just like a builder needs a map or blueprint to construct a building, a research worker needs a plan before venturing into the unknown. Building needs a thorough check to avoid any mistakes and wasting the raw materials, also it helps in utilizing the resources to the most. Similarly, when research is conducted, it is very important to have enough knowledge and a clear-cut idea of what is being researched. If there is no planning and not enough knowledge, the research might end up being a failure or a waste of time. Like building a plan gives an idea about the building, a research proposal gives the idea about the research to be conducted.

2. Background and Significance

The Background and significance section is therefore one of the most crucial sections by which to write a research proposal. The importance of the problem your research addresses is a very important component of this section. Basically, if the problem is not important in the minds of your readers and/or not feasible to research, you will have difficulty getting it funded. This should keep in mind while writing this type of proposal. A good way to go about beginning this section can be to probe into the history the problem has played in the field of inquiry. This movement into the history essentially sets up the importance of the current findings and also may provide a series of ideas for the significance section. Keet & Kuiper (2004) explain that a research problem has set itself in a historical context and it is in this context that a problem attains significance. A culmination of findings can lead to the impact/implications from the research which should also have been stated in the opening part to this section. Generally, the section ends with the specific aims of the research. This is not always a separate section so it’s important to note with section aims are specific predictors for the hypotheses that come later in the proposal.

The introduction of a research proposal should begin with a succinct statement of the problem to be addressed by the research. This should be a general statement rephrased more detailed on the basis of the knowledge in the field. In this section, you should concisely state the importance of this research to the field of inquiry and the implications it may have in the long term (findings on public policy).

3. Research Objectives and Questions

With the completion of a thesis being such a critical learning and training exercise, it’s written with the best effort and quality. A document enables a student to demonstrate skill and mastery of their given field.

An evidence of the amount of work and effort that goes into completing a thesis, Eyler et al. studied this issue using a sample of nearly 3000 students at 21 research universities. First, the students were asked to reflect on their experience at college and indicate the amount of learning that occurred in 38 areas of knowledge or skills. This survey was administered again when a random sample of the same students had reached the sample size. A variety of statistical corrections for potential bias were employed, with the sample reaching 1235 students. A range of data analysis found that a thesis or its equivalent was linked to significant learning gains in 22 of 38 areas of learning and skill. This is strong evidence that the completion of a thesis represents an important learning experience.

Completing a thesis is the result of a graduate student’s capacity to apply the knowledge and skills gained through study, internship, practicum, and other experiences to a significant problem. The completion of the very best theses demands a significant amount of a student’s available time, energy, and thought, during several months or even longer. With competition for good jobs becoming more fierce as the number of students seeking higher degrees grows, one good reason to write a high-quality thesis is to increase one’s chances of obtaining a desirable position. A good thesis can also be the ticket to a lifetime of learning and a rewarding career, so the quality of the degree may have a significant impact on your future (Eyler et al., 1998, pp. 573-574).

Researchers translate their vision into specific objectives. The nature of the research objectives will depend on where the research is situated. At the very start, the objectives may be quite vague and change and evolve as the research progresses. In most cases, however, the application for research funding in the form of a research proposal, or for approval of a thesis or dissertation, requires a clear specification of the research objectives. This is a pragmatic constraint as researchers need resources to conduct their research and must convince others that their work is worth doing.

4. Methodology

A document examination of any forms used by the staff can be planned as part of the investigation. This will dissect the problems of the current forms and possibly uncover unknown requirements or the need for additional functions, which forms part of the complex equation of Systems Development.

This investigation will involve speaking to the staff and the supervisor using various interviewing techniques, i.e. structured, semi-structured, and open interviews, to gain a good understanding from the staff’s perspective and to allow them to be comfortable in explaining the current system. A case of direct observation is yet to be confirmed because a new timetable for the coming year has jeopardized the project, but a possibility of observing the staff can be noted at any time during the research period. This may involve various aspects of work and may be done at different times each week, but the investigation can be noted and documented via journal, detailing the investigation.

To achieve my goal, and to achieve the best quality result (in this case, development of a program), a detailed plan must be devised to understand the direct and indirect problems associated with the real-world entity, such as the current manually oriented system used by the staff. The analysis of the current system will enable me to get a full understanding of the problems associated with it and a firm understanding of exactly what the client wants – gaining much information about the requirements for the new system.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, research proposal papers have become a vital part of academic and practical research. Though they have a transient effect, the effort and time put into the preparation of the paper should reflect its importance. An excellent research proposal garners the interest of the reader, convinces them of the viability and necessity of your project, and predicts success. Without a well thought out proposal, your research may not receive the funding it needs or the approval from the necessary entities to begin. In that case, your research would also end in failure. Thus, a research proposal paper is an essential tool in ensuring the success of research. As such, the same can be said about its importance. A successful research project can be greatly hindered by a lack of support or unenthusiastic endorsements of its value. By maintaining the mindset that the research proposal paper is a worthy and necessary effort, your research project will have the best possible chance to succeed. In more practical terms, writing research proposals often provide a good opportunity to students to further develop their research interests and familiarize themselves with the research endeavor. A research project may begin in an initial course, be further revised in an advanced course, and finally be polished and completed in a master’s or doctoral program. Because it is often difficult to find the appropriate research materials and define a solid research topic for upper level students, writing a research proposal could prove to be an extremely useful exercise.