A research proposal is the first thing students do before embarking on a research endeavor. The proposal serves as a plan outlining how the study will be conducted.

Supervisors usually request a research proposal before allowing students under their guidance to commence the research proper. This is because they intend to see the student’s program, structure, and proposed content before the actual research starts; this way, the students can be better navigated and aligned to pursue the study within the approved minimal standards of the Department, Faculty, or school at large.

Let’s look at it this way; before building a house, the architect designs the house on paper and presents to the client for approval, adjustments may be made from time to time to meet the client’s specifications like size, patterns, shapes, looks, or even height after which the final drawing is submitted to appropriate state authorities for approval before the actual concretization of the paper work starts.

This is akin to a research proposal where the supervisor requests the plan of the study as a requisite for approval or disapproval. If the proposal represents the true structure of the proposed work, the student is allowed to continue with the actual research.

To write a good proposal, the following details should be covered to enable seamless approval of the project:

The title of the proposed project

Introduction to the study, also known as the background of the study

Statement of the research problem

Research aim, objectives, and questions

Scope or delimitation of the study

Methodology to be adopted

Timeline for completing the study and the expected outcome from the study

References from in-text citations are shown. Click here for a sample of research proposals