Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasise again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement.
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, June 13). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved 3 September 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/research-proposal-explained/
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If you’re in academia or planning to pursue higher education, you’ve probably come across the terms “research statement” and “research proposal.” At first glance, they might seem similar, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics.
In this post, we’ll break down the differences between these two important documents and help you understand when and how to use each one.
What You'll Learn
A research statement is a brief document that outlines your research interests, experience, and future plans. It’s like a snapshot of your academic journey and where you want to go next.
You might need to write a research statement when:
Here’s a brief example of what part of a research statement might look like:
“As a marine biologist, my research focuses on the impact of climate change on coral reef ecosystems. Over the past five years, I have conducted extensive field studies in the Great Barrier Reef, analyzing the resilience of various coral species to rising ocean temperatures. My current work involves developing new methods for coral restoration using 3D printing technology. In the future, I plan to expand this research to other reef systems around the world, with the goal of creating a global network of coral restoration sites.”
A research proposal is a detailed plan for a specific research project. It’s like a roadmap that outlines the what, why, and how of your intended research.
You might need to write a research proposal when:
Here’s a brief example of what part of a research proposal might look like:
“Project Title: The Impact of Microplastics on Marine Mammal Health in the North Atlantic
Now that we’ve looked at each document separately, let’s compare them side by side to highlight the main differences:
Now that we understand what a research statement is, let’s look at how to write one that stands out.
Begin your research statement with a powerful opening that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be a brief story about what inspired your research interests or a compelling statistic that highlights the importance of your work.
Example: “When I first witnessed the devastating effects of coral bleaching during a diving expedition in 2015, I knew my life’s work would be dedicated to understanding and preserving these vital marine ecosystems.”
Describe your research background and how your interests have evolved over time. This shows your growth as a researcher and your ability to adapt to new challenges.
Example: “My early work focused on cataloging coral species diversity in the Caribbean. As I observed the rapid decline of certain species, my research shifted towards understanding the factors contributing to coral resilience in the face of climate change.”
Mention your key accomplishments, such as publications, grants, or impactful findings. Be specific and quantify your achievements where possible.
Example: “My research on heat-resistant coral strains led to the publication of three peer-reviewed articles in leading marine biology journals and secured a $500,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
Clearly articulate your current research interests and ongoing projects. This demonstrates that you’re actively engaged in your field and have a clear direction.
Example: “Currently, I’m leading a team of researchers in developing innovative coral transplantation techniques using 3D-printed reef structures. Our preliminary results show a 40% increase in coral survival rates compared to traditional methods.”
Describe your future research goals and how they build upon your previous work. This shows that you have a long-term vision and are committed to making a lasting impact in your field.
Example: “In the coming years, I plan to expand our coral restoration techniques to other reef systems around the world. I’m particularly interested in establishing a global network of coral nurseries to preserve genetic diversity and enhance reef resilience.”
Explain how your research contributes to your field and society at large. This helps the reader understand the significance of your work beyond academia.
Example: “By developing more effective coral restoration techniques, my research not only contributes to marine conservation but also helps protect coastal communities that rely on healthy reef systems for food security and economic stability.”
Keep your writing clear, concise, and free of jargon. Remember that your audience may include people from different academic backgrounds.
Always proofread your research statement carefully and ask colleagues for feedback. A polished, error-free document shows professionalism and attention to detail.
Writing a research proposal requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a compelling proposal:
Your title should be clear, concise, and accurately reflect the content of your proposal. It should grab the reader’s attention and give them a good idea of what your research is about.
Example: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Predict and Prevent Coral Reef Bleaching Events”
Start with a brief background of the research problem and explain why it’s important. State your research question or hypothesis clearly.
Example: “Coral reefs, often called the ‘rainforests of the sea,’ are facing unprecedented threats due to climate change. This research aims to develop an AI-powered early warning system for coral bleaching events, potentially revolutionizing our ability to protect these crucial ecosystems.”
Demonstrate your knowledge of the existing research in your field. Identify gaps in the current understanding that your research will address.
Example: “While numerous studies have documented the causes and effects of coral bleaching (Smith et al., 2018; Jones & Lee, 2020), there’s a lack of predictive models that can accurately forecast bleaching events on a local scale. This research builds upon the work of Zhang (2021) on using machine learning for environmental prediction…”
List your specific research goals or questions. These should be clear, measurable, and achievable within the scope of your project.
Example: “The objectives of this study are to:
Explain how you plan to conduct your research. Include information about data collection methods, analysis techniques, and any special equipment or resources you’ll need.
Example: “We will collect real-time data from a network of underwater sensors installed at 20 reef sites across the Great Barrier Reef. This data will include water temperature, pH levels, salinity, and light intensity. We’ll combine this with satellite imagery and historical bleaching data to train our AI model using deep learning algorithms…”
Provide a realistic schedule for your research activities. Break down your project into phases and estimate how long each will take.
Example: “Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Literature review and data collection setup Phase 2 (Months 4-9): Data collection and AI model development Phase 3 (Months 10-18): Model testing and refinement Phase 4 (Months 19-24): Field trials and system optimization”
Show that you’ve thought about possible obstacles and have plans to overcome them. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and realistic approach.
Example: “One potential challenge is the reliability of underwater sensors in harsh marine environments. To mitigate this, we’ll use redundant sensors and develop a maintenance schedule to ensure consistent data collection. We’ll also implement data interpolation techniques to handle any gaps in the dataset.”
If you’re seeking funding, provide a detailed budget that outlines all the costs associated with your research. Be realistic and justify major expenses.
Example: “Equipment costs:
Personnel costs:
Explain why your research matters and how it could benefit your field or society at large. This helps justify the resources and support you’re requesting.
Example: “By developing an accurate early warning system for coral bleaching, this research has the potential to save countless reef ecosystems worldwide. It could provide reef managers with crucial time to implement protective measures, potentially preserving biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions who depend on healthy coral reefs.”
Provide a comprehensive list of all the sources you cited in your proposal. Follow the citation style required by your institution or funding agency.
Carefully review your proposal for clarity, coherence, and typos. Ask colleagues or mentors to read it and provide feedback. A polished, well-written proposal greatly increases your chances of success.
Whether you’re writing a research statement or a proposal, these general tips can help you create a more effective document:
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Research statement
To wrap up our discussion, let’s address some common questions about research statements and proposals:
A research statement is typically 1-3 pages long, but always check specific guidelines as requirements can vary.
While not always required, including a few key references can strengthen your research statement. However, it shouldn’t read like a literature review.
Your methodology should be detailed enough that another researcher in your field could understand and potentially replicate your approach. However, you don’t need to include every minor detail.
While you can use the same basic structure, it’s best to tailor your research statement to each specific position or institution you’re applying to.
It’s a good idea to review and update your research statement at least once a year, or whenever you have significant new research developments.
Focus on your research interests, any relevant coursework or projects, and your future research goals. Everyone starts somewhere!
If relevant, discussing how you’ve learned from past challenges can demonstrate your problem-solving skills and resilience. However, focus more on your successes and future plans.
This depends on your audience. For a specialized committee in your field, you can use more technical language. For a general audience, err on the side of clarity and simplicity.
While you can briefly mention what inspired your research interests, a research statement should focus primarily on your academic and professional experiences and goals.
Very important! A well-thought-out, realistic budget demonstrates that you’ve carefully planned your research and understand what resources you’ll need.
While the core of your proposal might remain the same, it’s important to tailor each submission to the specific requirements and priorities of each funding agency.
Some degree of flexibility is usually expected in research. If you receive funding and need to make significant changes to your plan, communicate with your funding agency about the necessary adjustments.
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The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.
Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.
Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:
A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.
Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Beginning the Proposal Process
As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.
A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:
In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"
Most proposals should include the following sections:
I. Introduction
In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.
Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :
II. Background and Significance
This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.
To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:
III. Literature Review
Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.
Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.
NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .
To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:
IV. Research Design and Methods
This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.
Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].
When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:
V. Preliminary Suppositions and Implications
Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance. When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:
NOTE: This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.
ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.
VI. Conclusion
The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.
Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:
VII. Citations
As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.
In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.
Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.
Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
What's the difference.
A research proposal and a research report are both essential components of the research process, but they serve different purposes. A research proposal is a document that outlines the objectives, methodology, and significance of a research project. It is typically submitted to gain approval and funding for the research. On the other hand, a research report is a detailed account of the research findings, analysis, and conclusions. It presents the results of the research in a structured and organized manner, often including tables, graphs, and references. While a research proposal focuses on the planning and design of the study, a research report focuses on the actual execution and outcomes of the research.
Attribute | Research Proposal | Research Report |
---|---|---|
Objective | States the purpose and goals of the research | Summarizes the findings and conclusions of the research |
Introduction | Provides background information and context for the research | Introduces the research topic and its significance |
Literature Review | Reviews existing research and theories related to the topic | Summarizes and analyzes relevant literature and studies |
Methodology | Explains the research design, data collection, and analysis methods | Describes the research methods and procedures used |
Timeline | Outlines the proposed timeline for completing the research | May include a timeline of the research process |
Expected Results | Predicts the potential outcomes and findings of the research | States the actual results and findings of the research |
Conclusion | Summarizes the main points and significance of the proposed research | Summarizes the main findings and implications of the research |
References | Lists the sources cited in the proposal | Includes a bibliography of all sources referenced in the report |
Introduction.
Research is an essential component of academic and professional endeavors, providing a systematic approach to gather and analyze information. Two crucial elements of the research process are the research proposal and the research report. While both serve distinct purposes, they share common attributes that contribute to the overall success of a research project. This article aims to explore and compare the attributes of research proposals and research reports, highlighting their significance in the research process.
A research proposal is a document that outlines the objectives, methodology, and potential outcomes of a research project. It serves as a blueprint for the research, providing a comprehensive plan that guides the researcher throughout the process. The key attributes of a research proposal include:
A research report is a comprehensive document that presents the findings, analysis, and conclusions of a research study. It serves as a means of communicating the research outcomes to the intended audience, whether it be academic peers, industry professionals, or policymakers. The key attributes of a research report include:
While research proposals and research reports have distinct purposes, they share several common attributes that contribute to the overall success of a research project. These attributes include:
In conclusion, research proposals and research reports are integral components of the research process, each serving distinct purposes. While the research proposal outlines the plan and objectives of the study, the research report presents the findings and conclusions. However, both documents share common attributes such as clarity, structure, research objectives, methodology, relevance, and evidence-based approaches. Understanding and effectively utilizing these attributes contribute to the success of a research project, ensuring that it is well-planned, executed, and communicated to the intended audience.
Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.
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Research is a costly venture. In a research organization inclusive of university and college departments, funds for research are released only after careful scrutiny of the merit of the proposed work. A formal research proposal and its approval are also necessary for thesis works of students. In addition to the in-house funds of the organization, scientists may get funds from external agencies—both national and international. Fortunately, there are several funding agencies to promote research and development in specified areas, usually on project mode, by providing grants to individuals and groups. Therefore, instead of waiting for the meagre resources of parent institutions, scientists can approach a suitable external agency for financing research projects. Your success in obtaining a research grant means that you and your institution are benefited in various ways.
Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning . Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931)
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ICAR - https://icar.org.in/ .
ICFRE - http://www.icfre.org .
ICHR - http://www.ichrindia.org .
ICMR - http://www.icmr.nic.in .
ICSSR - http://www.icssr.org .
McArthur Foundation - http://www.macfound.org .
Ministry of Earth Sciences - http://www.moes.gov.in .
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change - http://www.moef.nic.in .
Ministry of Food Processing Industries - http://www.mofpi.nic.in .
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - http://www.mohfw.nic.in .
Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources - http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in .
NASF - http://www.icar.org.in/nfbsfara/index.html .
National Horticulture Board - http://www.nhb.gov.in .
National Medicinal Plant Board - http://www.nmpb.nic.in .
NICRA - http://www.nicra-icar.in/ .
Oil India Limited - http://www.oil-india.com .
Packard Foundation - https://www.packard.org .
Rockfeller Foundation - http://www.rockfellerfoundation.org .
SERB - http://www.serb.gov.in/ .
SIDA - http://www.sida.se/english .
State Council on S&T Gujarat - http://dst.gujarat.gov.in/gcst.htm .
State Council on S&T Haryana - http://www.dstharyana.org .
State Council on S&T Karnataka - http://www.kscst.org.in .
State Council on S&T Kerala - http://www.kscste.kerala.gov.in .
State Council on S&T Punjab - http://www.pscst.com .
State Council on S&T Tamil Nadu - http://www.tanscst.org .
State Council on S&T UP - http://www.cstup.gov.in .
State Council on S&T West Bengal - http://www.dstwb-counsil.gov.in .
State Council on S&T, Andhra Predesh - http://www.apcost.gov.in .
Toyota Foundation - http://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english .
UGC - https://www.ugc.ac.in .
USAID - https://www.usaid.gov .
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Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) ( ) | The Secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board, 5 and 5A, Lower Ground Floor, Vasant Square Mall, Sector-B, Pocket-5 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 |
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) ( ) | Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi 110114 |
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) ( ) | Department of Biotechnology, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, Block No. 2, Floor 7, New Delhi-110003 |
University Grants Commission (UGC) ( ) | University Grant Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 |
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ( ) | P.O. Box No. 4911, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029 |
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ( ) | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110011 |
Department of Health Research ( ) | Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110011 |
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) ( ) | Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, P.O., New Forest, Dehradun-248006 (Uttarakhand) |
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) ( ) | Director (Research Projects), Indian Council of Social Science Research, (P.O. Box No. 10528), Aruna Asaf ali Marg, JNU Institutional Area, New Delhi-110067 |
Indian Council of History Research (ICHR) ( ) | Indian Council of Historical Research, 35 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001 |
Department of Atomic Energy ( ) | Anushakti Bhavan, C.S.M. Marg, Mumbai-400001 |
Department of Higher Education ( education) | Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001 |
Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change ( ) | Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi-110003 |
Ministry of Earth Sciences ( ) | Ministry of Earth Sciences Prithvi Bhavan, Opp. India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 |
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemical ( ) | Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Janpath Bhawan, (3rd Floor, B-Wing), Janpath, New Delhi-110001 |
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ( ) | Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016 |
Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources ( ) | The Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Block No. 14, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 |
Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) ( ) | Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), India Habitat Centre, Zone-V-A, 2nd Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 |
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) ( ) | Head, HRD Division, CSIR, CSIR Complex, NPL Campus, Pusa, New Delhi-110012 |
Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) ( ) | Defence Research & Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, DRDO Bhavan, DHQ PO, New Delhi-110011 |
Oil India Limited (OIL) ( ) | The General Manager, (R&D), Oil India Limited, Duliajan-786602 |
National Medicinal Plant Board ( ) | The Chief Executive Officer, National Medicinal Plant Board, Chandralok Building, 36 Janpath, New Delhi-110001 |
Ministry of Food Processing Industries ( ) | Ministry of Food processing Industries, Panchaseel Bhavan, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi-110049 |
National Horticulture Board ( ) | National Horticultural Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, 85, Institutional Area, Sector-18, Gurgaon-122015 |
Website addresses of some state councils on science and technology | Andhra Pradesh ( ); Gujarat ( ); Haryana ( ); Karnataka ( ); Kerala ( ); Punjab ( ); Tamil Nadu ( ); UP ( ); West Bengal ( ) |
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Thomas, C.G. (2021). Planning and Writing a Research Proposal. In: Research Methodology and Scientific Writing . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64865-7_7
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Health research, medical education and clinical practice form the three pillars of modern day medical practice. As one authority rightly put it: ‘Health research is not a luxury, but an essential need that no nation can afford to ignore’. Health research can and should be pursued by a broad range of people. Even if they do not conduct research themselves, they need to grasp the principles of the scientific method to understand the value and limitations of science and to be able to assess and evaluate results of research before applying them. This review paper aims to highlight the essential concepts to the students and beginning researchers and sensitize and motivate the readers to access the vast literature available on research methodologies.
Most students and beginning researchers do not fully understand what a research proposal means, nor do they understand its importance. 1 A research proposal is a detailed description of a proposed study designed to investigate a given problem. 2
A research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work-plan to complete it. Broadly the research proposal must address the following questions regardless of your research area and the methodology you choose: What you plan to accomplish, why do you want to do it and how are you going to do it. 1 The aim of this article is to highlight the essential concepts and not to provide extensive details about this topic.
The elements of a research proposal are highlighted below:
1. Title: It should be concise and descriptive. It must be informative and catchy. An effective title not only prick’s the readers interest, but also predisposes him/her favorably towards the proposal. Often titles are stated in terms of a functional relationship, because such titles clearly indicate the independent and dependent variables. 1 The title may need to be revised after completion of writing of the protocol to reflect more closely the sense of the study. 3
2. Abstract: It is a brief summary of approximately 300 words. It should include the main research question, the rationale for the study, the hypothesis (if any) and the method. Descriptions of the method may include the design, procedures, the sample and any instruments that will be used. 1 It should stand on its own, and not refer the reader to points in the project description. 3
3. Introduction: The introduction provides the readers with the background information. Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers can understand how it relates to other research. 4 It should answer the question of why the research needs to be done and what will be its relevance. It puts the proposal in context. 3
The introduction typically begins with a statement of the research problem in precise and clear terms. 1
The importance of the statement of the research problem 5 : The statement of the problem is the essential basis for the construction of a research proposal (research objectives, hypotheses, methodology, work plan and budget etc). It is an integral part of selecting a research topic. It will guide and put into sharper focus the research design being considered for solving the problem. It allows the investigator to describe the problem systematically, to reflect on its importance, its priority in the country and region and to point out why the proposed research on the problem should be undertaken. It also facilitates peer review of the research proposal by the funding agencies.
Then it is necessary to provide the context and set the stage for the research question in such a way as to show its necessity and importance. 1 This step is necessary for the investigators to familiarize themselves with existing knowledge about the research problem and to find out whether or not others have investigated the same or similar problems. This step is accomplished by a thorough and critical review of the literature and by personal communication with experts. 5 It helps further understanding of the problem proposed for research and may lead to refining the statement of the problem, to identify the study variables and conceptualize their relationships, and in formulation and selection of a research hypothesis. 5 It ensures that you are not "re-inventing the wheel" and demonstrates your understanding of the research problem. It gives due credit to those who have laid the groundwork for your proposed research. 1 In a proposal, the literature review is generally brief and to the point. The literature selected should be pertinent and relevant. 6
Against this background, you then present the rationale of the proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing.
4. Objectives: Research objectives are the goals to be achieved by conducting the research. 5 They may be stated as ‘general’ and ‘specific’.
The general objective of the research is what is to be accomplished by the research project, for example, to determine whether or not a new vaccine should be incorporated in a public health program.
The specific objectives relate to the specific research questions the investigator wants to answer through the proposed study and may be presented as primary and secondary objectives, for example, primary: To determine the degree of protection that is attributable to the new vaccine in a study population by comparing the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. 5 Secondary: To study the cost-effectiveness of this programme.
Young investigators are advised to resist the temptation to put too many objectives or over-ambitious objectives that cannot be adequately achieved by the implementation of the protocol. 3
5. Variables: During the planning stage, it is necessary to identify the key variables of the study and their method of measurement and unit of measurement must be clearly indicated. Four types of variables are important in research 5 :
a. Independent variables: variables that are manipulated or treated in a study in order to see what effect differences in them will have on those variables proposed as being dependent on them. The different synonyms for the term ‘independent variable’ which are used in literature are: cause, input, predisposing factor, risk factor, determinant, antecedent, characteristic and attribute.
b. Dependent variables: variables in which changes are results of the level or amount of the independent variable or variables.
Synonyms: effect, outcome, consequence, result, condition, disease.
c. Confounding or intervening variables: variables that should be studied because they may influence or ‘mix’ the effect of the independent variables. For instance, in a study of the effect of measles (independent variable) on child mortality (dependent variable), the nutritional status of the child may play an intervening (confounding) role.
d. Background variables: variables that are so often of relevance in investigations of groups or populations that they should be considered for possible inclusion in the study. For example sex, age, ethnic origin, education, marital status, social status etc.
The objective of research is usually to determine the effect of changes in one or more independent variables on one or more dependent variables. For example, a study may ask "Will alcohol intake (independent variable) have an effect on development of gastric ulcer (dependent variable)?"
Certain variables may not be easy to identify. The characteristics that define these variables must be clearly identified for the purpose of the study.
6. Questions and/ or hypotheses: If you as a researcher know enough to make prediction concerning what you are studying, then the hypothesis may be formulated. A hypothesis can be defined as a tentative prediction or explanation of the relationship between two or more variables. In other words, the hypothesis translates the problem statement into a precise, unambiguous prediction of expected outcomes. Hypotheses are not meant to be haphazard guesses, but should reflect the depth of knowledge, imagination and experience of the investigator. 5 In the process of formulating the hypotheses, all variables relevant to the study must be identified. For example: "Health education involving active participation by mothers will produce more positive changes in child feeding than health education based on lectures". Here the independent variable is types of health education and the dependent variable is changes in child feeding.
A research question poses a relationship between two or more variables but phrases the relationship as a question; a hypothesis represents a declarative statement of the relations between two or more variables. 7
For exploratory or phenomenological research, you may not have any hypothesis (please do not confuse the hypothesis with the statistical null hypothesis). 1 Questions are relevant to normative or census type research (How many of them are there? Is there a relationship between them?). Deciding whether to use questions or hypotheses depends on factors such as the purpose of the study, the nature of the design and methodology, and the audience of the research (at times even the outlook and preference of the committee members, particularly the Chair). 6
7. Methodology: The method section is very important because it tells your research Committee how you plan to tackle your research problem. The guiding principle for writing the Methods section is that it should contain sufficient information for the reader to determine whether the methodology is sound. Some even argue that a good proposal should contain sufficient details for another qualified researcher to implement the study. 1 Indicate the methodological steps you will take to answer every question or to test every hypothesis illustrated in the Questions/hypotheses section. 6 It is vital that you consult a biostatistician during the planning stage of your study, 8 to resolve the methodological issues before submitting the proposal.
This section should include:
Research design: The selection of the research strategy is the core of research design and is probably the single most important decision the investigator has to make. The choice of the strategy, whether descriptive, analytical, experimental, operational or a combination of these depend on a number of considerations, 5 but this choice must be explained in relation to the study objectives. 3
Research subjects or participants: Depending on the type of your study, the following questions should be answered 3 , 5
Sample size: The proposal should provide information and justification (basis on which the sample size is calculated) about sample size in the methodology section. 3 A larger sample size than needed to test the research hypothesis increases the cost and duration of the study and will be unethical if it exposes human subjects to any potential unnecessary risk without additional benefit. A smaller sample size than needed can also be unethical as it exposes human subjects to risk with no benefit to scientific knowledge. Calculation of sample size has been made easy by computer software programmes, but the principles underlying the estimation should be well understood.
Interventions: If an intervention is introduced, a description must be given of the drugs or devices (proprietary names, manufacturer, chemical composition, dose, frequency of administration) if they are already commercially available. If they are in phases of experimentation or are already commercially available but used for other indications, information must be provided on available pre-clinical investigations in animals and/or results of studies already conducted in humans (in such cases, approval of the drug regulatory agency in the country is needed before the study). 3
Ethical issues 3 : Ethical considerations apply to all types of health research. Before the proposal is submitted to the Ethics Committee for approval, two important documents mentioned below (where appropriate) must be appended to the proposal. In additions, there is another vital issue of Conflict of Interest, wherein the researchers should furnish a statement regarding the same.
The Informed consent form (informed decision-making): A consent form, where appropriate, must be developed and attached to the proposal. It should be written in the prospective subjects’ mother tongue and in simple language which can be easily understood by the subject. The use of medical terminology should be avoided as far as possible. Special care is needed when subjects are illiterate. It should explain why the study is being done and why the subject has been asked to participate. It should describe, in sequence, what will happen in the course of the study, giving enough detail for the subject to gain a clear idea of what to expect. It should clarify whether or not the study procedures offer any benefits to the subject or to others, and explain the nature, likelihood and treatment of anticipated discomfort or adverse effects, including psychological and social risks, if any. Where relevant, a comparison with risks posed by standard drugs or treatment must be included. If the risks are unknown or a comparative risk cannot be given it should be so stated. It should indicate that the subject has the right to withdraw from the study at any time without, in any way, affecting his/her further medical care. It should assure the participant of confidentiality of the findings.
Ethics checklist: The proposal must describe the measures that will be undertaken to ensure that the proposed research is carried out in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical research involving Human Subjects. 10 It must answer the following questions:
Research setting 5 : The research setting includes all the pertinent facets of the study, such as the population to be studied (sampling frame), the place and time of study.
Study instruments 3 , 5 : Instruments are the tools by which the data are collected. For validated questionnaires/interview schedules, reference to published work should be given and the instrument appended to the proposal. For new a questionnaire which is being designed specifically for your study the details about preparing, precoding and pretesting of questionnaire should be furnished and the document appended to the proposal. Descriptions of other methods of observations like medical examination, laboratory tests and screening procedures is necessary- for established procedures, reference of published work cited but for new or modified procedure, an adequate description is necessary with justification for the same.
Collection of data: A short description of the protocol of data collection. For example, in a study on blood pressure measurement: time of participant arrival, rest for 5p. 10 minutes, which apparatus (standard calibrated) to be used, in which room to take measurement, measurement in sitting or lying down position, how many measurements, measurement in which arm first (whether this is going to be randomized), details of cuff and its placement, who will take the measurement. This minimizes the possibility of confusion, delays and errors.
Data analysis: The description should include the design of the analysis form, plans for processing and coding the data and the choice of the statistical method to be applied to each data. What will be the procedures for accounting for missing, unused or spurious data?
Monitoring, supervision and quality control: Detailed statement about the all logistical issues to satisfy the requirements of Good Clinical Practices (GCP), protocol procedures, responsibilities of each member of the research team, training of study investigators, steps taken to assure quality control (laboratory procedures, equipment calibration etc)
Gantt chart: A Gantt chart is an overview of tasks/proposed activities and a time frame for the same. You put weeks, days or months at one side, and the tasks at the other. You draw fat lines to indicate the period the task will be performed to give a timeline for your research study (take help of tutorial on youtube). 11
Significance of the study: Indicate how your research will refine, revise or extend existing knowledge in the area under investigation. How will it benefit the concerned stakeholders? What could be the larger implications of your research study?
Dissemination of the study results: How do you propose to share the findings of your study with professional peers, practitioners, participants and the funding agency?
Budget: A proposal budget with item wise/activity wise breakdown and justification for the same. Indicate how will the study be financed.
References: The proposal should end with relevant references on the subject. For web based search include the date of access for the cited website, for example: add the sentence "accessed on June 10, 2008".
Appendixes: Include the appropriate appendixes in the proposal. For example: Interview protocols, sample of informed consent forms, cover letters sent to appropriate stakeholders, official letters for permission to conduct research. Regarding original scales or questionnaires, if the instrument is copyrighted then permission in writing to reproduce the instrument from the copyright holder or proof of purchase of the instrument must be submitted.
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Types of project proposals, project proposal vs. project charter, project proposal vs. business case, project proposal vs. project plan, project proposal outline, how to write a project proposal, project proposal example, project proposal tips, what is a project proposal.
A project proposal is a project management document that’s used to define the objectives and requirements of a project. It helps organizations and external project stakeholders agree on an initial project planning framework.
The main purpose of a project proposal is to get buy-in from decision-makers. That’s why a project proposal outlines your project’s core value proposition; it sells value to both internal and external project stakeholders. The intent of the proposal is to grab the attention of stakeholders and project sponsors. Then, the next step is getting them excited about the project summary.
Getting into the heads of the audience for which you’re writing the project proposal is vital: you need to think like the project’s stakeholders to deliver a proposal that meets their needs.
We’ve created a free project proposal template for Word to help structure documents, so you don’t have to remember the process each time.
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Use this free Project Proposal Template for Word to manage your projects better.
In terms of types of project proposals, you can have one that’s formally solicited, informally solicited or a combination. There can also be renewal and supplemental proposals. Here’s a brief description of each of them.
All the elements in the above project proposal outline are present in our template. This free project proposal template for Word will provide you with everything you need to write an excellent project proposal. It will help you with the executive summary, project process, deliverables, costs—even terms and conditions. Download your free template today.
A project proposal is a detailed project document that’s used to convince the project sponsor that the project being proposed is worth the time, money and effort to deliver it. This is done by showing how the project will address a business problem or opportunity. It also outlines the work that will be done and how it will be done.
A project charter can seem like the same thing as a project proposal as it also defines the project in a document. It identifies the project objectives, scope, goals, stakeholders and team. But it’s done after the project has been agreed upon by all stakeholders and the project has been accepted. The project charter authorizes the project and documents its requirements to meet stakeholders’ needs.
A business case is used to explain why the proposed project is justified. It shows that the project is worth the investment of time and money. It’s more commonly used in larger companies in the decision-making process when prioritizing one project over another.
The business case answers the questions: what is the project, why should it be taken up, who will be involved and how much will it cost? It’s therefore related to a project proposal, but the project proposal comes before the business case and is usually part of the larger proposal.
Again, the project proposal and the project plan in this case are very similar documents. It’s understandable that there would be some confusion between these two project terms. They both show how the project will be run and what the results will be. However, they’re not the same.
The project proposal is a document that aims to get a project approved and funded. It’s used to convince stakeholders of the viability of the project and their investment. The project plan, on the other hand, is made during the planning phase of the project, once it’s been approved. It’s a detailed outline of how the project will be implemented, including schedule, budget, resources and more.
There are several key operational and strategic questions to consider, including:
In addition to these elements, it’s advisable to use a cover letter, which is a one-page document that helps you introduce your project proposal and grab the attention of potential clients and stakeholders.
To make the best proposal possible, you’ll want to be thorough and hit on all the points we’ve listed above. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing a persuasive priority proposal.
The executive summary provides a quick overview of the main elements of your project proposal, such as your project background, project objectives and project deliverables, among other things. The goal is to capture the attention of your audience and get them excited about the project you’re proposing. It’s essentially the “elevator pitch” for the project life cycle. It should be short and to the point.
The executive summary should be descriptive and paint a picture of what project success looks like for the client. Most importantly, it should motivate the project client; after all, the goal is getting them to sign on the dotted line to get the project moving!
The project background is a one-page section of your project proposal that explains the problem that your project will solve. You should explain when this issue started, its current state and how your project will be the ideal solution.
You’ll need to define your project vision. This is best done with a vision statement, which acts as the north star for your project. It’s not specific as much as it’s a way to describe the impact your company plans to make with the project.
It’s also important to set up success criteria to show that the project is in fact doing what it’s proposed to do. Three obvious project success criteria are the triple constraint of cost, scope and time. But you’ll need to set up a way to measure these metrics and respond to them if they’re not meeting your plan.
To reduce the impact of risk in your project, you need to identify what those risks might be and develop a plan to mitigate them . List all the risks, prioritize them, describe what you’ll do to mitigate or take advantage of them and who on the team is responsible for keeping an eye out for them and resolving them.
The project scope refers to all the work that’ll be executed. It defines the work items, work packages and deliverables that’ll be delivered during the execution phase of your project life cycle. It’s important to use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to define your tasks and subtasks and prioritize them.
The best mindset when developing goals and objectives for your project proposal is to use the SMART system :
Your project approach defines the project management methodology , tools and governance for your project. In simple terms, it allows project managers to explain to stakeholders how the project will be planned, executed and controlled successfully.
If you want to convince internal stakeholders and external investors, you’ll need to show them the financial benefits that your project could bring to their organization. You can use cost-benefit analysis and projected financial statements to demonstrate why your project is profitable.
Project resources are critical for the execution of your project. The project proposal briefly describes what resources are needed and how they’ll be used. Later, during the planning phase, you’ll need to create a resource management plan that’ll be an important element of your project plan. Project requirements are the items, materials and resources needed for the project. This section should cover both internal and external needs.
All the resources that you’ll need for your project have a price tag. That’s why you need to estimate those costs and create a project budget . The project budget needs to cover all your project expenses, and as a project manager, you’ll need to make sure that you adhere to the budget.
Once you’ve defined your project scope, you’ll need to estimate the duration of each task to create a project timeline. Later during the project planning phase , you’ll need to create a schedule baseline, which estimates the total length of your project. Once the project starts, you’ll compare your actual project schedule to the schedule baseline to monitor progress.
Now let’s explore some project proposal examples to get a better understanding of how a project proposal would work in the real world. For this example, let’s imagine a city that’s about to build a rapid transit system. The city government has the funds to invest but lacks the technical expertise and resources that are needed to build it, so it issues a request for proposal (RFP) document and sends it to potential builders.
Then, the construction companies that are interested in executing this rapid transit project will prepare a project proposal for the city government. Here are some of the key elements they should include.
Whatever project proposal you’re working on, there are a few tips that apply as best practices for all. While above we suggested a project proposal template that would have a table of contents, meaning it would be many pages long, the best-case scenario is keeping the proposal to one or two pages max. Remember, you’re trying to win over stakeholders, not bore them.
Speaking of project stakeholders , do the research. You want to address the right ones. There’s no point in doing all the work necessary to write a great proposal only to have it directed to the wrong target audience. Whoever is going to read it, though, should be able to comprehend the proposal. Keep the language simple and direct.
When it comes to writing, get a professional. Even a business document like a project proposal, business case or executive summary will suffer if it’s poorly constructed or has typos. If you don’t want to hire a professional business writer, make sure you get someone on your project team to copy, edit and proof the document. The more eyes on it, the less likely mistakes will make it to the final edition.
While you want to keep the proposal short and sweet, it helps to sweeten the pot by adding customer testimonials to the attachments. Nothing sells a project plan better than a customer base looking for your product or service.
ProjectManager allows you to plan proposals within our software. You can update tasks for the project proposal to signify where things stand and what’s left to be done. The columns allow you to organize your proposal by section, creating a work breakdown structure (WBS) of sorts.
When building a project proposal, it’s vital to remember your target audience. Your audience includes those who are excited about the project, and see completion as a gain for their organization. Conversely, others in your audience will see the project as a pain and something to which they aren’t looking forward. To keep both parties satisfied, it’s essential to keep language factual and concise.
Our online kanban boards help you think through that language and collaborate on it effectively with other team members, if necessary. Each card shows the percentage completed so everyone in the project management team is aware of the work done and what’s left to be done.
As you can see from the kanban board above, work has begun on tasks such as product documentation and design. Tasks regarding stakeholder feedback, ideation, market research and more have been completed, and there’s a good start on the engineering drawings, 3D rendering, supply chain sourcing and translation services.
A PDF is then attached to the card, and everyone added to the task receives an email notifying them of the change. This same process can be used throughout the life-cycle of the project to keep the team updated, collaborating, and producing a first-class project proposal. In addition to kanban boards, you can also use other project management tools such as Gantt charts , project dashboards, task lists and project calendars to plan, schedule and track your projects.
Project proposals are just the first step in the project planning process. Once your project is approved, you’ll have to solidify the plan, allocate and manage resources, monitor the project, and finally hand in your deliverables. This process requires a flexible, dynamic and robust project management software package. ProjectManager is online project management software that helps all your team members collaborate and manage this process in real-time. Try our award-winning software with this free 30-day trial .
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A project proposal is a written document outlining everything stakeholders should know about a project, including the timeline, budget, objectives, and goals. Your project proposal should summarize your project details and sell your idea so stakeholders buy in to the initiative. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to write a project proposal so you can win approval and succeed at work.
All projects have creation stories, but they don’t start with someone declaring, “Let there be resources!” To move forward with a project, teams must submit a proposal to decision-makers within their organization or to external stakeholders.
A project proposal is a written document outlining everything stakeholders should know about a project, including the timeline, budget, objectives , and goals. Your project proposal should summarize your project details and sell your idea so stakeholders feel inclined to get involved in the initiative.
The goal of your project proposal is to:
Secure external funding
Allocate company resources to your project
Gain stakeholder buy-in
Build momentum and excitement
Project proposals and project charters serve different purposes in the project creation process, and it’s important to understand the difference between the two. While a project proposal takes place in the initiation phase of the project, the project charter takes place in the planning phase.
As mentioned above, a project proposal is a persuasive document meant to convince stakeholders why the project should be carried out. A project charter is a reference document that defines project objectives, and it can’t be created until the project proposal is approved.
People also confuse the business case with the project proposal, but the business case also comes after the proposal. Once the project is approved through a proposal, a business case may be used to secure additional funding for the project.
There are six types of proposals you may encounter as a project manager, and understanding the different formats can be useful as you write yours. Each type has a different goal.
Solicited: You’ll send solicited proposals in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP). An RFP announces a project in detail and asks for bids from qualified teams. Because you’re competing against other companies for this type of proposal, you must do thorough research and write persuasively.
Unsolicited: You’ll send unsolicited proposals without an RFP, meaning no one asked for your proposal. In this case, you won’t be up against other companies or teams, but you’ll still need to be persuasive because you have no knowledge of whether the stakeholder you’re pitching to needs you.
Informal: You may have a client send you an informal request for a project proposal, in which case you can respond with your project pitch. Because this isn’t an official RFP, the rules are less concrete.
Renewal: You’ll send renewals to existing clients in hopes that they’ll extend their services with your organization. In this type of project proposal, the goal is to emphasize past results your team has produced for the client and persuade them you can produce future results.
Continuation: You’ll send continuations as a reminder to a stakeholder letting them know the project is beginning. In this project proposal, you’ll simply provide information about the project instead of persuading the stakeholder.
Supplemental: Similar to a continuation proposal, you’ll send a supplemental proposal to a stakeholder already involved in your project. In this type of proposal, you’re letting the stakeholder know the project is beginning, while also asking for additional resources. You should persuade the stakeholder to contribute more to the project in this proposal.
The tone of voice and content of your project proposal will differ based on the type of proposal you’re sending. When you know your project goals, you can write your proposal accordingly.
These step-by-step instructions apply to most project proposals, regardless of type. You’ll need to customize your proposal for the intended audience, but this project proposal outline can serve as a reference to ensure you’re including the key components in your document.
The executive summary serves as the introduction to your project proposal. Similar to a report abstract or an essay introduction, this section should summarize what’s coming and persuade the stakeholder to continue reading. Depending on the complexity of your project, your executive summary may be one paragraph or a few paragraphs.
Your executive summary should include:
The problem your project plans to solve
The solution your project provides for that problem
The impact your project will have
You should only address these items briefly in your executive summary because you’ll discuss these topics in more detail later in your proposal.
In this section, you’ll go into the background of the project. Use references and statistics to convince your reader that the problem you’re addressing is worthwhile.
Some questions to include are:
What is the problem your project addresses?
What is already known about this problem?
Who has addressed this problem before/what research is there?
Why is past research insufficient at addressing this problem?
You can also use this section to explain how the problem you hope to solve directly relates to your organization.
You just presented a problem in the project background section, so the next logical step in proposal writing is to present a solution. This section is your opportunity to outline your project approach in greater detail.
Some items to include are:
Your vision statement for the project
Your project schedule , including important milestones
Project team roles and responsibilities
A risk register showing how you’ll mitigate risk
The project deliverables
Reporting tools you’ll use throughout the project
You may not have all these items in your proposal format, but you can decide what to include based on the project scope . This section will likely be the longest and most detailed section of your proposal, as you’ll discuss everything involved in achieving your proposed solution.
Defining your project deliverables is a crucial step in writing your project proposal. Stakeholders want to know what you’re going to produce at the end of your project, whether that’s a product, a program, an upgrade in technology, or something else. As the stakeholder reads through your vision, this will be the section where they say, “Aha, this is what they’ll use my resources for.”
When defining your deliverables, you should include:
The end product or final objective of your project
A project timeline for when deliverables will be ready
SMART goals that align with the deliverables you’re producing
While it’s important to show the problem and solution to your project, it’s often easier for stakeholders to visualize the project when you can define the deliverables.
Now that you’ve outlined your problem, approach, solution, and deliverables, you can go into detail about what resources you need to accomplish your initiative.
In this section, you’ll include:
Project budget : The project budget involves everything from the supplies you’ll need to create a product to ad pricing and team salaries. You should include any budget items you need to deliver the project here.
Breakdown of costs: This section should include research on why you need specific resources for your project; that way, stakeholders can understand what their buy-in is being used for. This breakdown can also help you mitigate unexpected costs.
Resource allocation plan : You should include an overview of your resource allocation plan outlining where you plan to use the specific resources you need. For example, if you determine you need $50,000 to complete the project, do you plan to allocate this money to salaries, technology, materials, etc.
Hopefully, by this point in the proposal, you’ve convinced the stakeholders to get on board with your proposed project, which is why saving the required resources for the end of the document is a smart strategic move.
Finally, wrap up your project proposal with a persuasive and confident conclusion. Like the executive summary, the conclusion should briefly summarize the problem your project addresses and your solution for solving that problem. You can emphasize the impact of your project in the conclusion but keep this section relevant, just like you would in a traditional essay.
Following the steps listed above will ensure your project proposal has all the right elements. But if you want to impress your readers and win their approval, your writing must shine. In addition to the above, a project proposal includes:
As you write your proposal, keep your audience (i.e. the stakeholders) in mind at all times. Remember that the goal of the proposal is to win your audience over, not just to present your project details. For example, if you’re creating a new editing tool for a children’s publishing house, can you determine whether your stakeholders are parents and appeal to their emotional side when persuading them to buy in to your product?
Persuasion is important in a project proposal because you’re hoping your audience will read your proposal and do something for you in return. If your reader isn’t intrigued by your project, they won’t feel inclined to help you. If you describe your editing tool but don’t mention the many features it will offer, how it will benefit clients, and its positive impact in the industry, your audience will wonder, “Why should I care about this project?”
While you should go into detail on your problem, approach, and solution, you shouldn’t make your project proposal overly complex. This means you can discuss the project plan for your proposed editing tool without discussing what codes the engineers will use to make each feature work.
A successful project proposal includes thorough research. Be prepared to back up your problem—and solution—with reputable sources, case studies, statistics, or charts so you don’t leave your audience with questions. When writing your proposal, put yourself in the reader’s shoes and ask:
Why is this a problem?
How is this a solution to the problem?
Has anyone addressed this problem before?
What are the project costs?
If you can answer these questions, then you’ve likely done enough research to support your proposed initiative.
Good project proposals require team collaboration . With the right management tools, your team can communicate, share information, and work together on one shared document.
When you store all your project information in one place, it’s easy to access that data when you need it. Project proposals stem from well-organized and properly planned projects, which is why project management software is a key resource to effectively write a project proposal. Ready to get started? Try Asana .
Contributor: B. Zakarin, Office of Fellowships, [email protected] Posted: 2011
A research proposal differs in important respects from other forms of writing with which students are more familiar, such as an academic essay or a research paper. Instead of trying to reach a minimum length (e.g., 7 pages or 2000 words), you must achieve discrete goals within a specified space constraint (e.g., 2 pages or 750 words). Many students find this shift challenging, but the process of writing a proposal is essential for organizing your exciting ideas and prioritizing your next steps.
While an essay or a research paper requires an overall argument and provides evidence to support it, a research proposal is organized around questions to which the author does not yet have answers. A good research proposal does make an argument of a particular sort: its purpose is to convince readers that the questions are worth trying to answer and that the author has a concrete plan for doing so.
A good proposal and, by extension, a solid research agenda are organized around a central interpretive problem broken down into a series of smaller, more specific questions. Even if you begin with a topic that just seems fascinating, you will find that you have lots of different kinds of questions about its historiography and history. As you work toward a proposal, try to isolate and prioritize those questions: Which questions do you most want to find the answers to? Which questions can you realistically answer? If they are not the same, how might you reconcile what you want to find out with what you can find out through independent research?
As you work on a central question for your thesis, you also need to consider how you can explain to others why it is meaningful. This is the universal “so what?”: How will answers to your particular questions contribute to our collective knowledge? How will your research help us better understand the subject? While there are many ways of establishing the significance of a project, never assume that an uninitiated reader will find your topic inherently interesting. You must hint at the broader implications of your research in order to win over a reader who does not necessarily know (or care) anything about your thesis topic. The examples in “Learning from Model Proposals” exhibit various means of achieving this end.
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Home » Education » Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report
Main difference – research proposal vs research report.
Research proposal and research report are two terms that often confuse many student researchers. A research proposal describes what the researcher intends to do in his research study and is written before the collection and analysis of data. A research report describes the whole research study and is submitted after the competition of the whole research project. Thus, the main difference between research proposal and research report is that a research proposal describes the proposed research and research design whereas a research report describes the completed research, including the findings, conclusion, and recommendations.
This article explains,
1. What is a Research Proposal? – Definition, Purpose, Content, and Characteristics
2. What is a Research Report? – Definition, Purpose, Content, and Characteristics
A research proposal is a brief and coherent summary of the proposed research study, which is prepared at the beginning of a research project. The aim of a research proposal is to justify the need for a specific research proposal and present the practical methods and ways to conduct the proposed research. In other words, a research proposal presents the proposed design of the study and justifies the necessity of the specific research. Thus, a research proposal describes what you intend to do and why you intend to do it.
A research proposal generally contains the following segments:
Each of these segments is indispensable to a research proposal. For example, it’s impossible to write a research proposal without reading related work and writing a literature review. Similarly, it’s not possible to decide a methodology without determining specific research questions.
A research report is a document that is submitted at the end of a research project. This describes the completed research project. It describes the data collection, analysis, and the results as well. Thus, in addition to the sections mentioned above, this also includes sections such as,
A research report is also known as a thesis or dissertation. A research report is not research plan or a proposed design. It describes what was actually done during the research project and what was learned from it. Research reports are usually longer than research proposals since they contain step-by-step processes of the research.
Research Proposal: Research Proposal describes what the researcher intends to do and why he intends to do it.
Research Report: Research report describes what the researcher has done, why he has done it, and the results he has achieved.
Research Proposal: Research proposals are written at the beginning of a research proposal before the research project actually begins.
Research Report: Research reports are completed after the completion of the whole research project.
Research Proposal: Research proposals contain sections such as introduction/background, literature review, research questions, methodology, aims and objective.
Research Report: Research reports contain sections such as introduction/background, literature review, research questions, methodology, aims and objective, findings, analysis, results, conclusion, recommendations, citation.
Research Proposal: Research proposals are shorter in length.
Research Report: Research reports are longer than research proposals.
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Every significant project begins with a proposal. But before you learn how to write a project proposal , you must master how to build an effective outline.
To create a project proposal outline, start by understanding the project goal and scope , its key stakeholders, their concerns, and the project's anticipated benefits. This will help provide a framework for the outline.
This article explores the importance and key components of a project proposal outline, highlights best practices for creating a solid outline, and explains how to write one. Write your project proposal outline in Confluence for free.
A project proposal outline aims to clearly explain a project in a way that convinces readers to support it. An effective project proposal outline is essential to strategic planning and influences your company’s decision-making process .
To create an effective project proposal outline, you must understand the stakeholders' primary goals and concerns. Draft your proposal outline to align with and address what those stakeholders care about and can expect from your project.
That effort begins with the outline’s title, which should persuade your audience to continue reading the outline. This approach will result in a project proposal outline that engages and persuades participants, stakeholders, and influencers to support your project.
There are multiple types of project proposals, including academic proposals, business proposals, project proposals, and research proposals.
The structure and components of each project proposal outline may vary depending on the type of proposal involved. Most of your proposals will likely be project management proposals, which aim to address a specific operational business need or pursue a specific business opportunity.
Every project proposal outline should include several key components. Use this project proposal format to write an effective outline:
Now that you have a usable structure, you can start creating your outline. Here’s a summary of the critical steps.
Start by researching your audience, their primary goals and concerns, and how your proposed project can align most closely with these. Gather information through surveys, interviews, and informal conversations to shape the structure and content of your proposal outline.
Take good notes and record conversations where possible, which will help ensure you capture all the valuable information your research unearths.
Structure your outline by using your primary research and the list of components above. Organize information logically and create headings and subheadings for each section to help enhance readability. Focus on presenting your project proposal outline clearly and concisely.
Once you have a structure in place, start writing. Draft each section in clear and professional language while incorporating terms familiar to or essential to your primary audience wherever appropriate.
Review and revise each outline section to achieve maximum accuracy and completeness. If time and circumstances permit, try to get at least one or two members of your primary audience to review and comment on your outline before developing and sharing your final version.
When creating a project proposal outline, it’s crucial to keep your work concise, focused, and aligned with your goals and objectives (and those of your primary audience). Use familiar, comfortable language and include credible supporting data within the body of your outline or as appendices. Use consistent formatting and fonts to prevent visual disruption and focus your readers’ experience on the content of your outline.
The right software can ease and speed up your entire project proposal creation process, including collaborative review and editing. This is where Confluence shines.
Confluence brings everyone together in a connected workspace to move projects forward. Teams can create, edit, and share project plans so everyone is on the same page. Every project, proposal, and outline can include multiple types of information, including action items, assignees, dates, tables, and more. Confluence offers a range of available templates, including a project proposal template , to help you start quickly and efficiently. Explore the project poster template in Confluence, and use Confluence to write your project proposal outline for free .
Why is a proposal outline important.
A project proposal outline helps you organize your thoughts and ensure that you cover all critical points. It also makes the writing process more efficient and enables you to clearly communicate the proposal's objectives and methodology to reviewers and stakeholders. A solid project proposal outline can benefit all of your project management phases , including project planning .
You can use the same basic proposal outline structure for different types of proposals. Tailor each outline to fit the specific context and goals of each proposal and the needs and expectations of your primary audience and stakeholders. Primary research can help you select the best proposal type and structure for your specific outline.
Some common mistakes to avoid when creating a proposal outline include overloading the outline with information, unclear directions, or a lack of precision. Others include ignoring your primary audience's needs and expectations, lack of cohesion, and poor information flow.
Sticking closely to a well-crafted structure such as the one outlined in this article can help you avoid these and other pitfalls. Soliciting reviews and comments from select audience members and stakeholders while crafting your outline can help ensure that your final version resonates with and positively persuades your audience.
Project poster template.
A collaborative one-pager that keeps your project team and stakeholders aligned
Use this collection of Confluence templates to create and execute a project
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Funding News Edition: September 4, 2024 See more articles in this edition
NIH's SBIR program accepts Phase I, Phase II, Fast Track, and Direct-to-Phase II research proposals.
Each year, NIH solicits research proposals from small businesses through A Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals . The latest version was published on August 2, 2024. The solicitation serves as a vehicle for offerors to propose research projects on a multitude of scientific topics from across NIH.
Proposals are due by October 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
NIH’s Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) program will host an HHS SBIR Contract RFP Pre-proposal Conference Webinar (PHS-2025-1) to discuss the mechanics of the contract opportunity on September 23, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation materials will be posted on that same event page following the session.
Note : This SBIR contract solicitation is distinct from the 2024 SBIR and STTR Omnibus/Parent Grant Solicitations for the NIH, CDC, and FDA released in July, which are notices of funding opportunities for grant awards (despite the word “solicitation” appearing in their titles). Learn about those grant opportunities in our August 7, 2024 article “ Small Business Research: Priority Funding Topics for 2025 .”
To differentiate among the proposal types:
The table below summarizes NIAID’s research topics of interest for contract proposals. Refer to the attachment posted within the solicitation linked above for full details, including the number of anticipated awards and descriptions of required activities and deliverables.
137. New Drug Classes with Novel Mechanisms of Action for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Tuberculosis | To develop new drug classes for HIV, HBV, or Mtb therapy with a different mode of action than FDA-approved drugs currently in use. HBV and Mtb drugs must be compatible with current antiretroviral regimens. | Phase I, Fast Track | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $2 million for up to 3 years |
138. Devices and Materials-Based Platforms for the Delivery of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (bNAbs) | To develop devices and materials for administering HIV-1 bNAb(s) and bNAb derivatives that increase protection from infection. Devices or materials should demonstrate 1) sustained release and stability, 2) increased bioavailability, 3) increased protective durability, 4) increased concentration or dose, 5) reduced burden of administration, or 6) increased user acceptability of the bNAb(s) relative to standard intravenous or subcutaneous administration methods. | Phase I, Fast Track | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $2 million for up to 3 years |
139. Rapid Diagnostic Assays for Self-Monitoring of Acute or Rebound HIV-1 Infection | To support early-stage diagnostic technologies as platforms for developing simple, low-cost, rapid diagnostic assays that enable individuals to directly detect HIV-1 during the earliest stages of initial infection or to monitor viral suppression in chronic treated infection, i.e., when antibody responses are not an accurate surrogate for viral load. | Phase I, Fast Track | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $2 million for up to 3 years |
140. Adjuvant Discovery and Down-Selection for Vaccines Against Infectious and Immune-Mediated Diseases | To support screening for new adjuvant candidates for vaccines against infectious diseases, autoimmune and allergic diseases, or transplantation; candidate characterization; and early-stage optimization. Also, to support the down-selection of adjuvants for subsequent vaccine development in side-by-side comparisons.
| Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $1 million each year—with appropriate justification—for up to 3 years |
141. Reagents for Immunologic Analysis of Non-mammalian and Underrepresented Mammalian Models | To develop and validate reliable monoclonal antibodies or other reagents that can identify and track primary immune cells (e.g., cell surface markers and receptors) or analyze immune function/responses (e.g., cytokines, chemokines, intracellular signaling) in non-mammalian models or underrepresented mammalian models. | Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $500,000 each year for up to 3 years |
142. Adjuvant Development for Vaccines and for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases | To support preclinical development and optimization of a single lead adjuvant for use in vaccines to prevent or treat human disease caused by infectious pathogens or to treat immune-mediated diseases. The lead adjuvant may be a single entity or a combination adjuvant. Adjuvants may be chemical, biological, or genetic adjuvants. Adjuvants may be novel or may functionally replicate adjuvants used in licensed vaccines. | Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $300,000 each year for up to 2 years Phase II: $1 million each year—with appropriate justification—for up to 3 years |
143. Development of Diagnostics for (Mg) Infection | To develop a new, more rapid, nucleic acid-based test for the diagnosis and treatment of Mg infection. The test should detect Mg and determine macrolide and quinolone sensitivity in clinical specimens to aid resistance-guided therapy. | Phase I, Fast Track
| Phase I: $300,000 for up to 1 year Phase II: $1.5 million for up to 3 years |
144. Development of Medical Interventions for Treating Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterial (NTM) Infections | To support preclinical investigational new drug (IND) enabling development of therapeutic products that target NTM infections. This includes 1) improved strategies and regimens for treatment of NTM infections, 2) newer chemical entities with demonstrated anti-NTM inhibitory activity and , 3) optimized analogs or formulations of established antimicrobials with anti-NTM activity, and 4) selected bacteriophages for treatment of NTM infection in combination with antibiotics. | Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $300,000 for up to 1 year Phase II: $1.5 million for up to 3 years |
145. Diagnostics to Detect Host Immunity to Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) or Histoplasmosis | To develop an , cytokine-release assay for the detection of coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) or histoplasmosis. | Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $300,000 for up to 1 year Phase II: $1.5 million for up to 3 years |
146. Discovery and Development of Oral Small-molecule Direct-acting Antivirals Targeting Viruses of Pandemic Potential | To support antiviral drug discovery, evaluation and development targeting one or more viral pathogens from the following RNA virus families with pandemic potential: coronaviruses, paramyxoviruses, bunyaviruses, togaviruses, filoviruses, picornaviruses, flaviviruses, and orthomyxoviruses. Proposals must have in hand a new chemical series with mode of action through inhibition of a viral target and confirmed antiviral activity in a cellular assay. | Phase I, Fast Track, Direct-to-Phase II | Phase I: $500,000 for up to 1 year Phase II: $2 million for up to 3 years |
147. Software or Web Services to Assess Quality and Reproducibility of Data and Information About Therapeutics and Vaccines | To develop digital tools that assess quality and reproducibility of research-based digital information for infectious disease therapeutics and vaccines. The proposed tools could be specific to a single digital platform and verify the quality and reproducibility of infectious disease data. Ultimately these approaches would enable the development of software or web services that quantify rigor and reproducibility of datasets underlying vaccines and treatments to infectious diseases. | Phase I, Fast Track | Phase I: $300,000 for up to 1 year Phase II: $1.5 million for up to 3 years |
Your contract proposal should address only one topic; if you wish to pursue multiple topics, submit a separate proposal for each topic. Submit your proposal(s) through the electronic Contract Proposal Submission . Direct any technical questions about the solicitation and NIAID’s topics to Jonathan Bryan in NIAID’s Office of Acquisitions at [email protected] or 240-669-5180.
Find general information and advice on our Small Business Programs page and contact NIAID SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator Natalia Kruchinin, Ph.D., at [email protected] for funding questions specific to small businesses.
Email us at [email protected] for help navigating NIAID’s grant and contract policies and procedures.
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View guidelines, important information about nsf’s implementation of the revised 2 cfr.
NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website . These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.
All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.
Supports requests for up to $4 million from NSF for the development or acquisition of multi-user research instruments that are critical to the advancement of science and engineering.
Instrument Acquisition or Development
The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program ( MRI Program Website) serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities, thereby advancing instrumentation capabilities and enhancing expertise for instrument design and fabrication at academic institutions. MRI instruments are, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.
MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to obtain next-generation research instruments by developing instruments with new capabilities that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.
An MRI proposal may request from NSF up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Each performing organization may submit in revised "Tracks" as defined below, with no more than two (2) submissions in Track 1 and no more than one (1) submission in Track 2 . For the newly defined Track 3, no more than one (1) submission per competition is permitted. As a result, it is now possible for an institution to submit up to four MRI proposals within the Track limits as described above.
Cost sharing requirements for new awards in the MRI Program are waived for a period of 5 years beginning with the FY 2023 MRI competition. Institutional submission limits for Track 1, Track 2 and Track 3 proposals remain.
The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Proposals from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities and early-career PIs are encouraged, as are proposals that benefit early-career researchers and proposals with PIs from geographically underserved regions, including EPSCoR jurisdictions. Additionally, proposals are encouraged from under-resourced institutions, including from emerging research institutions, where MRI can significantly build capacity for research.
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[1] Track 1 proposals requesting funds from NSF less than $100,000 will be accepted only from: a) eligible performing organizations requesting instrumentation supporting research in the disciplines of mathematics or social, behavioral and economic sciences; or b) non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education requesting instrumentation supporting research in any NSF-supported disciplines.
2023 mri townhall q&a report now available, the september 2023 mri townhall webinar video recording and powerpoint presentation are now available, program contacts.
Primary Contacts
Randy L. Phelps | OD/OIA | (703) 292-5049 | |
Jonathan Friedman | OD/OIA | (703) 292-7475 |
Additional MRI Program Contacts
BIO | DBI | De Belle, Steven |
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CISE | CNS | Medhi, Deep |
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CISE | CNS | Goldsmith, Nicholas |
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CISE | OAC | Suarez, Alejandro |
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CISE | OAC | Kanaev, Andrey |
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EDU | DUE | Krupczak, John | |
ENG | ECCS | Krishnamurthy, Mahesh |
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ENG | ECCS | Kuh, Anthony | |
ENG | ECCS | Nash, Richard | |
ENG | CBET | Chellia, Harsha |
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ENG | CBET | Shojaei-Zadeh, Shahab |
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ENG | CMMI | Leonessa, Alexander |
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GEO | AGS | Anderson, Nicholas F. |
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GEO | EAR | Keen-Zebert, Amanda |
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GEO | EAR | Lambert, David |
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GEO | OCE | Binkley, Kandace S. |
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GEO | OPP | Rack, Frank R. |
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MPS | AST | Peck, Alison |
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MPS | CHE | Whitmer, Tanya |
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MPS | CHE | Greenlief, Michael |
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MPS | DMR | Meulenberg, Rob |
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MPS | DMR | Omar Diallo, Souleymane |
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MPS | DMR | Spinu, Leonard |
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MPS | DMR | Tessema, Guebre |
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MPS | DMR | Ying, Charles |
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MPS | DMS | Bartoszynski, Tomek |
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MPS | PHY | McCloud, Kathy |
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SBE | BCS | Yellen, John E. |
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General information for the MRI Program is available as follows:
Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Major Research Instrumentation Program National Science Foundation 2415 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 22314
E-Mail: [email protected]
OIA MRI Website: http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri
(703) 292-5049 | OD/OIA | ||
Program Director | (703) 292-7475 | OD/OIA |
Organization(s).
COMMENTS
A research proposal is prepared at the beginning of the project. In contrast, the research report is prepared after the completion of the project. The length of a research proposal is about 4-10 pages. On the contrary, the length of the research report is about 100 to 300 pages.
Abstract: This is a brief (300-500 words) summary that includes the research question, your rationale for the study, and any applicable hypothesis. You should also include a brief description of your methodology, including procedures, samples, instruments, etc. Introduction: The opening paragraph of your research proposal is, perhaps, the most ...
The research paper proposal relates to a more serious academic field, whereas projects are mainly assigned in schools and don't have the scientific significance the research paper could have. First, however, we must mention that the project proposal must be written to get the necessary funding. The difference in academic levels presupposes that ...
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & ...
The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is suitable (for the requirements of the degree program) and manageable (given the time and resource constraints you will face). The most important word here is "convince" - in other words, your ...
best essay writing service reviews 2022. However, the main difference is that while an academic research proposal is for a specific line of research, a project proposal is for approval of a relatively smaller enterprise or scientific scheme; most often, project proposals are written with the intent of obtaining support in the form of budget ...
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a ...
Here is an explanation of each step: 1. Title and Abstract. Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research. Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal. 2.
Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components: Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
Research proposal examples. Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We've included a few for you below. Example research proposal #1: 'A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management'.
The main difference between research and project is that research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, while a project is a specific and finite activity that gives a measurable and observable result under preset requirements. Both research and projects use a systematic ...
Key Differences Between Research Statements and Research Proposals. Now that we've looked at each document separately, let's compare them side by side to highlight the main differences: Scope. Research Statement: Broad overview of your entire research career and interests. Research Proposal: Focused on a specific project or study.
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments
A research proposal is a document that outlines the objectives, methodology, and significance of a research project. It is typically submitted to gain approval and funding for the research. On the other hand, a research report is a detailed account of the research findings, analysis, and conclusions. It presents the results of the research in a ...
A research proposal usually contains a small introduction, objectives, brief review of literature supporting the study, data collection procedures, and financial requirements. However, a protocol is a detailed set of activities for the project proposed, which happens only after the proposal stage is over.
It puts the proposal in context. 3. The introduction typically begins with a statement of the research problem in precise and clear terms. 1. The importance of the statement of the research problem 5: The statement of the problem is the essential basis for the construction of a research proposal (research objectives, hypotheses, methodology ...
A research proposal outlines the intended research project and seeks approval and funding, while a research paper reports on the actual conduct and outcomes of the research. Content:
How to Write a Project Proposal (Examples & ...
How to Write a Project Proposal [2024]
A research proposal is a document proposing a research project, generally in the sciences or academia, and generally constitutes a request for sponsorship of that research. [1] Proposals are evaluated on the cost and potential impact of the proposed research, and on the soundness of the proposed plan for carrying it out. [2] Research proposals generally address several key points: [3]
A research proposal differs in important respects from other forms of writing with which students are more familiar, such as an academic essay or a research paper. Instead of trying to reach a minimum length (e.g., 7 pages or 2000 words), you must achieve discrete goals within a specified space constraint (e.g., 2 pages or 750 words).
A research report describes the whole research study and is submitted after the competition of the whole research project. Thus, the main difference between research proposal and research report is that a research proposal describes the proposed research and research design whereas a research report describes the completed research, including ...
A research proposal, which should be as brief as possible, describes an idea for a project, emphasizes the research question the project would help to answer, and the how and why of the project.
Every significant project begins with a proposal. But before you learn how to write a project proposal, you must master how to build an effective outline.. To create a project proposal outline, start by understanding the project goal and scope, its key stakeholders, their concerns, and the project's anticipated benefits.This will help provide a framework for the outline.
Each year, NIH solicits research proposals from small businesses through A Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals.The latest version was published on August 2, 2024. The solicitation serves as a vehicle for offerors to propose research projects on a ...
The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (MRI Program Website) serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations.An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is ...