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:
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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. Emphasize 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:
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
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.
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 dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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 Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
Other students also liked, how to write a problem statement | guide & examples, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to write a literature review | guide, examples, & templates, what is your plagiarism score.
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About the university, research at cambridge.
Department of Psychology
Your research proposal is your opportunity to show your prospective supervisor that you have interesting ideas, and that you have some idea of how to test them.
It should consist of about two sides of A4, including references and it should include:
Firstly you need to lay out the theoretical background to your research question, and then provide a rationale for testing a hypothesis or two. You should briefly outline your methods, your sample, and the various techniques you hope to use. Finally give a brief statement of how the data will be analysed, and outline what various findings might lead to.
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Proposals using the "full proposal" form.
Experiments in Virtual Reality (Crawford, Twedt, et al)
The full research proposal submission, Experiments in Virtual Reality , consists of four components: (1) the completed full proposal form , (2) the proposal consent form , (3) a debriefing form to be used with subjects after their participation in the study, and (4) recruiting materials which announce the study and solicit participants.
Mindsets Matter: An interdisciplinary approach for increasing female involvement and acheivement in STEM: Renewal (Burnette, Hoyt, Lawson et al)
The full research proposal submission, Mindsets Matter , consists of two components: (1) the full proposal form , which also includes information needed by the IRB for the renewal of the proposal, and (2) additional materials , which include the consent form, instruments to be used in the research, and other materials.
Examples of approved unique full proposals from past years follow. Note that some of these proposals may not include all of the information currently required by the IRB.
Example of Unique Faculty Psychology Proposal .
Example of Unique Student Geography Proposal .
In some cases, a professor may want to submit a proposal that incorporates various components of separate student surveys or interviews. An example of such a classroom proposal can be downloaded HERE .
Writing a brief research proposal cultivates all kinds of intellectual skills..
Posted May 3, 2018 | Reviewed by Matt Huston
NOTE: This post was co-authored with the SUNY New Paltz students in PSY 307 (1) of Spring 2018 (in particular, Zachary Ertrachter, Mariah Griffin, and Gianna Petrera).
A solid psychology education should lead to all kinds of outcomes related to analytical skills, statistical reasoning, and research design. One of the core skills that I try to cultivate in my students is the ability to write a clear and concise research proposal. Being able to write a solid research proposal demonstrates the following qualities:
* An understanding of some theoretical concepts in the behavioral sciences
* The ability to organize one's ideas in a coherent and efficient way
* The ability to get to the foundation of a set of research ideas
* The ability to write clearly and concisely in a scientific manner
* The ability to describe a hypothesis, proposed methodology, and proposed set of statistical analyses
* The ability to efficiently contextualize one's ideas in the existing scientific literature in some area
* The ability to think about how statistics can be used to examine some research-based predictions
* and probably more
Toward this end, I tend to give the following assignment to students in my undergraduate class in evolutionary psychology :
"Evolutionary psychology is a research-based enterprise. And learning about evolutionary psychology tends to lead people to develop hypotheses about human nature. For this assignment, you are to write a brief paper that does the following:
Importantly, this paper is to be no more than two pages—printed on two sides of a single page. And it should be double-spaced.
This kind of assignment, forcing you to get your ideas reduced in a small space matches the kinds of assignments that professionals have all the time—this assignment will help prepare you for this kind of assignment in your future."
As an end-of-the-semester activity, to demonstrate the process of writing a research proposal, we actually worked together today (5/3/2018) as a class to develop and to fully create a research proposal. The document below is the result of this work. Nice job, evolutionary psychology students!
Research Proposal: A Proposed Study on the Mental Health Effects of Outdoor Experiences
Written by the SUNY New Paltz Spring 2018 Evolutionary Psychology Class
The evolutionary psychological perspective on human behavior suggests that instances of evolutionary mismatch may lead to adverse psychological functioning (e.g., Geher, 2014). Mismatch can exist in multiple domains, including nutritional offerings, exercise, community size, technology, transportation, and the nature of one’s physical environment—among many others.
One important way that modern environments are mismatched to ancestral environments pertains to the proportion of time that people spend in the out of doors. In fact, many evolutionists have made the case that humans have a natural love of the living world (see Wilson, 1984). Based on this reasoning, it may be the case that increased time spent in the outdoors leads to positive mental health outcomes. On the other hand, we might predict that increased time spent in human-made, non-natural environments might have adverse mental health outcomes.
Several mental health outcomes have been documented as important in all kinds of human psychological functioning. In particular, this research will focus on depressive tendencies, tendencies toward anxiety , and general psychological well-being. The basic prediction is that increased out-of-door experiences will correspond to less depression and anxiety and higher scores on a measure of well-being.
This study will utilize a randomized between-groups design using 200 relatively fit American adults ranging in age from 18-34 selected from Southern California. Using a random-assignment process, participants will be assigned to either (a) the outdoor condition or (b) the indoor condition.
Participants in the two experimental conditions will all be included in a climbing camp for two weeks. The outdoor participants will be at an all-outside version of the camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Southern California in September. The indoor participants will be at an all-indoor version of the camp at an indoor climbing gym for the same two weeks. Importantly, these climbing experiences will be overseen by the same Climbing Camp with the same activities and personnel.
This methodology would allow for the isolation of the “out of doors” variable and will have participants across groups have the same experiences otherwise. Given the random assignment to experimental conditions, this methodology would allow for an examination of the specific effects of the outdoor experience.
To measure anxiety, Liebowitz’s (1987) measure of social anxiety will be used. To measure depressive tendencies, Kessler et al.’s (2003) measure will be used. We will create a 5-item Likert scale of subjective well-being that participants will also complete.
Anticipated Results
Across the three outcome measures, including social anxiety, depressive tendencies, and subjective well-being, it is predicted that the outdoor group will score as less anxious, less depressed, and as higher in subjective well-being. These results will be examined using three between-groups t-tests.
Potential Implications
Evolutionists are interested in the mismatches between modern conditions and ancestral conditions. Simply being in the out-of-doors or not is a classic mismatch that surrounds us all the time, often unbeknownst to ourselves. The experimental design here would allow us to zero in on the effects of the outdoor experience as it relates to mental health outcomes, controlling for individual differences between groups.
If the predicted pattern of results is obtained, then we would have strong evidence suggesting that people function best when they are provided with outdoor experiences. Such a pattern would support an evolutionary-mismatch approach to understanding the interface of people with their physical environments.
Here is a PDF link to the two-page paper. Enjoy!
Geher, G. (2014). Evolutionary Psychology 101. New York: Springer.
Kessler, R .C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L.J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D.K., Normand, S.L....Zaslavsky,A.M. (2002) Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32, 959-956.
Liebowitz, M. R . (1987). Social phobia. Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry, 22, 141-173.
Wilson, Edward O. (1984). Biophilia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
Glenn Geher, Ph.D. , is professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is founding director of the campus’ Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program.
At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that could derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face triggers with less reactivity and get on with our lives.
Research degrees
How to write your research proposal, with examples of good proposals.
Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use.
We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.
In your proposal, please tell us if you have an interest in the work of a specific academic at York St John. You can get in touch with this academic to discuss your proposal. You can also speak to one of our Research Leads. There is a list of our Research Leads on the Apply page.
When you write your proposal you need to:
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Project Types We Cover
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By: Tasha Kolesnikova
When writing a proposal, first, you need to select a topic that interests you the most. Once you are done selecting it, ask yourself why this research is innovative? How is it going to contribute or provide a solution to the problem being studied? For that, make sure there is a fair amount of literature and theories in that particular area. The literature that has already been written will help you explain your topic. When doing so, make sure you use reliable resources. But, how to make sure your research proposal is good enough to make an impression? To find that out, continue reading.
Coming up with an impressive research question, abstract and table of contents, introduction, purpose of the study, background of the study, literature review, empirical justification, literature gap, proposed methodology, analysis of results, scope, limitations, and delimitation of the study, bibliography, what is the purpose of the proposal, social psychology prompts, physiological psychology prompts, neuropsychology prompts, mental health prompts, developmental psychology prompts, health psychology prompts, educational psychology prompts, clinical psychology prompts, criminal psychology prompts, writing an exceptional psychology research proposal.
Do you want your paper to stand out from the rest and score excellent marks? If yes, make sure you do a great literature search. This will help you write a strong literature review with reliable sources. Also, it will help you write a meaningful rationale. A strong rationale leads to strong study results.
As a student, you probably have access to various academic databases. Make sure you make the most out of it. These databases, such as Medline and PsychInfo, etc., help you find reliable and up-to-date sources. Apart from them, you may also use Google Scholar for searching relevant journal articles.
When searching, type all terms that you think are appropriate and relevant. For instance, are you searching about the impact of the internet on the levels of depression among college students? You could use the following terms:
Using different terms will help you perform a comprehensive search for your study area.
The best way to come up with a great research question is to do extensive reading. Once you have read and comprehend your area of study well, it will be easier to identify gaps.
Identifying the gaps means you will get a clear picture of which areas you haven't done much work on. This will allow you to perform another research on the literature to find out material in those areas. Consequently, you will come up with a clearer and precise research question. Having a clear idea about your study question will help you craft a robust research methodology.
If you're confused about how to go about your proposal, here is a sample that is sure to help you get started:
A proposal should start with a title page. This page should include your topic and give a clear idea of your proposed study approach. So, make sure you include the following:
Check with your university's website or department if there is any specific requirement for this page's formatting.
After the title page comes the abstract, the abstract is generally around 250 to 350 words. It includes key snippets of the entire document. When crafting it, ensure you mention the title, research question, the methodology proposed, and the methods used to analyze the results. You may also include the implications of your project and how it will contribute to the existing literature.
After the abstract, you need to add a table of contents. This will help the reader navigate your proposal.
This section should introduce your research problem and give a brief context of it. This explanation should indicate your research questions. And make sure the ideas and information should flow logically. Moreso, keep the following questions in mind while writing this section:
It's a good idea to use separate sections to explain and provide information that will give a clear understanding of the problem's background and context, including aims and objectives and significance of the study.
Since it is the first part of the document, it serves as an initial pitch. Hence, ascertain that it clearly defines what your project is all about.
Research Questions
Once you have done writing the introduction and background, it's time to formulate your research questions. Ensure they are clear and well stated and give a clear indication of what issues your study will be exploring. Additionally, they should also indicate why they are worth investigating.
Not all research studies have a hypothesis. But, if you are trying to find a relationship between two variables, this section is necessary.
This section includes your intention behind the proposed study. Why do you think this study is worth conducting? What is the purpose of carrying out this project? What are the advantages of doing it?
The purpose may include the following justifications:
This section includes the issues of your proposed study and determines your discipline. This may also include a brief review of the literature you studied. Besides, add a summary of intrinsic developments and debates in the area.
A full literature review makes sure the reader is convinced that the proposed study has a solid base in the current knowledge. This is why it is vital to demonstrate that you are well-aware of the essential theories and publications in your study area.
Besides, it also demonstrates that your project is going to contribute something new in the research area. Your project is not repeating what other researchers have already done. Thus, try to depict how exactly your study is going to contribute.
Furthermore, it is also essential to compare and contrast. What are the intrinsic debates, theories as well as controversies on this topic?
While writing this section, try to be critical. Try to discuss the weaknesses and strengths of various approaches. Demonstrate how your project will build on or challenge the already published studies.
In this section, include the past research studies that reveal data on your proposed topic.
In this section, you will identify the gaps in the current literature. What past studies have offered and what your study is going to offer. Sometimes the area of research might be widely studied. But, there must be a different aspect to it that you may select to study.
This section should include an overview of the theoretical resources you are using for your study approach. And most importantly, you should explain your methodology comprehensively. What kind of research are you conducting - qualitative or quantitative? What is going to be the sampling method and the sample size? And how will it be done? What instruments will be used to collect the data?
Also, why do you think this is the best methodology to use? Are there any limits to other methods and approaches?
Since a literature review follows the section, restate your key objectives. This will help the reader stay on track. So, make sure you elaborate on what actions you will take to answer the questions. However, ensure you don't just write down the name of methods and instruments. Target convinces the reader why this is the most appropriate method to find answers to the questions.
Once the data is collected, it will be analyzed and interpreted to yield the study results. Here you will explain what methods you will be used to analyze your data.
Describe any limitations, scope, or delimitation here.
Now summarize the entire proposal. Highlight the key details and wrap up the entire document in a few sentences.
Once you've completed your proposal, add a bibliography of the sources/references used. Also, don't forget to add an abstract and table of contents after the title page.
The timeline is an essential part of your thesis proposal. It includes an outline of phases with an indication of their timeline. This demonstrates how your project will be developed and implemented, including crafting your dissertation.
Usually, you are required to complete your project within 3 years if you're a full-time student. For part-time students, it is usually six years.
So, whatever the duration is, make sure you create a feasible work plan and timeline.
At the end of the document, you must include a bibliography of the sources/citations used within the document. Make sure you have used a good range of appropriate and reliable sources.
Often, students are required to submit a proposal for their thesis. This document aims to help understand what they are doing and what resources are available to them. It will also help them have a clear picture of how they will carry out their study.
Just like the above example, the document should contain a snippet into each section. Make sure you state the problem clearly, and why is it important? Also, formulate your questions and hypothesis carefully. Moreso, choose the right methodology to test your hypotheses or answer your questions.
Once you are done writing all the sections, ensure the document is formatted according to your university's requirements.
Your document will indicate that you are well aware of all the research requirements with all these elements, also included that you are fully prepared for the project.
Selecting a topic can be a daunting business. To help you get started, here are some prompts:
Looking for some ideas for your social psychology study? Check out the prompts mentioned below:
If you are looking for ideas in the area of physiology, here are some suggestions:
Are you looking for topic ideas for your neuropsychology research? Check these out:
If you're looking for mental health topics, the following are some great suggestions:
Can't think of an exciting topic for your developmental psychology thesis? Here are some suggestions:
If you are looking for an idea in this area, check out the following suggestions:
Are you looking for an educational psychology topic? Here are some suggestions:
Following are some excellent clinical psychology prompts that will help you create a vital research question:
This is a subject with a vast research area. And selecting a topic in this area can be a little confusing. To choose an exciting topic, here are some suggestions:
The topics mentioned above are sure to help get started with your research proposal. Once you have selected the topic that interests you the most, follow the sample provided above. And, make sure you have done the correct formatting.
The final word would be to go through this article, operationally and start your proper research. Pick a topic after rigorous research and get going. Now you know how to write a research proposal; you see the project prospects and proposal writing skills; you know the art to execute it to perfection. Be very careful with the research work. Your ideas have to be extremely clear and research-backed with facts.
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Come up with compelling research proposal ideas psychology.
Before embarking on a psychology proposal, it is important to understand its main components. Only this way you can properly lay the groundwork for future study. The first and arguably the most crucial step when you write research proposal psychology is selecting a topic that genuinely interests you.
After selecting a topic, you should formulate a clear and compelling question to focus the PhD study efforts efficiently.
Now that we understand how to choose a topic and formulate a question, let’s review the main components of a research proposal in psychology.
The abstract, typically 250 to 350 words in length, provides a concise summary of your entire PhD proposal psychology. It’s the brief with research keywords everyone can review to familiarize themselves with your main paper without reading it. Thus, the abstract only repeats the statements from a research proposal. You should prepare it after writing a whole paper.
This states the main PhD psychology research problem you set, describes the context, and formulates the research questions. To make your work easier, consider questions such as:
Who would be interested in your topic? What about existing research in the field? Are there any missing aspects or knowledge gaps? How will your project contribute to the field? How is your study important & applicable? Why?
An in-depth literature review is the foundation of any PhD project. This is true whether you’re developing practical solutions as a part of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology project or working on theoretical concepts. You should demonstrate familiarity with the most prominent theories and publications on your topic. Include past studies that provide data related to your research proposal topics in psychology. Describe how these studies are related to your project.
Identify gaps in the current literature. Outline what previous researchers have suggested and how your PhD project will address neglected or under-researched areas. State how your work will contribute to the field knowledge or disprove existing psychology theories.
Explain your approach and methodology comprehensively. Specify whether you are using qualitative or quantitative methods, your sampling method, sample size, data collection instruments, and why you believe this methodology is the most suitable.
We also invite you to explore this psychology research proposal example and seek other topic-relevant samples to visualize expert recommendations and tips on structure.
The proposed PhD research must be realistic and feasible to achieve the expected results within a typical degree program. A PhD in research psychology usually takes three years full-time (or two years for an MPhil).
Strong psychological research proposals can and should create a positive first impression and showcase your potential to be a good researcher. They should also confirm that your ideas are focused, innovative, and have academic value.
Although you should prepare your PhD proposal yourself, you can always ask for help. You can discuss its contents with your intended supervisor and seek their recommendations. Feel free to ask someone else to review and comment on the proposal to ensure it is sufficiently clear. These could be a PhD researcher from your current or previous institution, your peers, or even an expert from a writing service. Such professional PhD assistance is often more valuable, as experts always have enough time and resources to help you comprehensively.
Avoid using long sentences and technical jargon to make your proposal clear and understandable to all the readers. Even if the committee is made up entirely of PhDs in psychology, it will be excellent practice for you to create papers that can be distributed to other specialists.
Your psychology research proposal should be well-structured, aesthetically designed, and professional-looking. It is vital to carefully check it for typos and spelling errors, consistent style, and accurate referencing. There should be no font inconsistencies or issues with headings or citations. If you include figures, they should be accompanied by captions underneath.
There are some thematic psychology research proposal ideas that you can consider. This list is not exhaustive, but we’ve prepared one to demonstrate the diversity of available study areas. Psychology is a reputable and popular science, comprising many directions, including ones related to other subjects.
1. Clinical Psychology:
2. Social Psychology:
3. Cognitive Psychology:
4. Developmental Psychology:
6. Forensic Psychology:
There are many ways to find a topic for writing a psychology research paper . Start with something that interests you, and then narrow this area down. If the subject of your interest is already researched enough, you can try to approach it from another angle. For example, you may consider some cognitive psychology aspects within physical psychology models. Another great option is to apply some effective psycho practices in other fields like business, sociology, education, etc.
Writing an original proposal is not easy. It must reveal your research proposal ideas psychology and demonstrate your professional readiness to work on the project. The paper involves detailed planning, a solid understanding of the study area, and a systematic approach to developing each component. Moreover, it should engage and lead to approval of your future research. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Especially if you choose an in-demand PhD program with many competitors for one spot. In such a case, getting expert help is not cheating but an effective tool to get this opportunity.
We have the leading field experts who are well-versed in academic writing and the intricacies of PhD proposals that win. We’ll assign you a subject-relevant PhD specialist with the best knowledge of your research area. This way, you will get a high-quality and 100% original PhD paper that will impress your committee and be quickly approved.
UCL Doctorate In Clinical Psychology
The purpose of the research proposal is to help you organise your ideas about your major research project, and to enable you to get feedback on what you are planning to do. It is worth putting in careful thought at this stage: it will mean that the project is more likely to run smoothly in the long run, and much of what you write in it can eventually be recycled into the final thesis write-up. The proposal is also needed for NHS ethics applications.
The proposal is a course requirement, but is not an assessed piece of work. It is due early in Term 1 of Year 2 (the date will be announced). Please submit an electronic copy to the Research Administrator (following the procedure detailed on the Project Support Moodle site).
There is no formal word limit (but conciseness is essential): we suggest that you aim for around 2500 words, plus references and any necessary appendices. Format it double-spaced, and include page numbers so that reviewers can easily refer back to specific points. Since it is not assessed work, it does not need your code number; please put your name on it.
Some sample proposals from previous years are available on the 'Proposal' (Topic 4) section of the Research Project Support Moodle.
The structure and content of the proposal is similar to that of the introduction and method sections of a journal article:
A title page with (1) the provisional title of the project (this can be modified later on), (2) your name, (3) your internal and external supervisors, (4) the setting where the study is likely to take place and (5) the date. If you are doing a joint project with other trainees, this should be stated here and the other trainees should be named. (Including all of this information on the title page is very helpful for the course's administrative purposes.)
The introduction (3 or 4 pages) states what the research topic is and why it is important. It succinctly reviews previous research in the area and relevant psychological theory, and summarises the rationale for the intended study. The introduction should end with one or more clearly stated research questions or hypotheses.
The method section (3 or 4 pages) describes in detail the proposed research methods: the setting, participants, sample size, research design, measures, ethical considerations, and data analysis procedures. For quantitative research, the sample size needs to be determined by a power calculation, which should be reported here (a separate document on power calculations is on the Project Support Moodle site). Measures that are not well known should be included as an appendix. For qualitative research, describe your interview schedule (append a draft) and your proposed method of analysis, including the types of "credibility checks" that you propose to use.
The service user involvement section (one or two or paragraphs) describes how the needs and views of service users or other relevant members of the public have shaped or will shape your project. This could include examples of service users influencing: (1) the choice of topic to be researched; (2) decisions about methodology; (3) the design of materials such as invitation letters and participant information sheets; (4) the design of a qualitative interview schedule, and (5) the ethics of the research. Please outline any plans for service user involvement later in the project. Remember, whilst there are formal ways of eliciting service user views, such as the use of focus groups and services such as FAST-R ( Feasibility And Support to Timely recruitment for Research ), informal sources of information are also valuable, and can be described here. This might include conversations with individual service users, experiences from clinical work, or interactions that take place on-line.
Whilst we strongly encourage trainees to use service user input when developing their research, this is not obligatory. Sometimes consultation with service users and other members of the public is not necessary, for example in some studies of healthy volunteers. If there has been no input from service users or members of the public, please use this section to state this, and briefly (a couple of sentences) explain why.
The feasibility section has a brief appraisal of how realistic your project is in practical terms, particularly with regard to recruiting participants. Many trainees (and their supervisors!) tend to be over-optimistic at this stage of the project, and it is a good idea to address potential recruitment problems at the outset. You should also include a fallback plan in case things go pear-shaped (which, sadly, in clinical research they often do). It would be helpful if you provided an estimate of what the smallest viable sample size would be, so that we (and you) have an idea of what a worst-case scenario might look like. A general timetable for the project is given in the guidelines for the major research project . If you anticipate any major departures from this, give details and a rationale.
The joint working section is, of course, only required if you are proposing a joint project. In this section provide a brief outline of what your anticipated contribution to the overall study will be, and what will be done by others. There should be a statement of how your research question(s) and analyses will be distinct from those of other students involved in the project. It will be helpful to consult the course guidelines on joint projects when planning any joint study.
The institutional arrangements , e.g., the setting, and who has agreed to be your internal and external supervisors.
The costings section sets out any substantial expenses that the project may entail. Note that the Department has limited funds and does not normally fund projects costing more than £250 over two years (see the course document on research funding ). If your project is likely to cost more than this, the course may possibly be able to provide some additional funding up to £400, although this cannot be guaranteed. It is your responsibility to secure additional funding for expenses beyond that allocated by the course.
The reference list gives all cited works. (It is important to check that this is complete, because reviewers may consult some of your references to understand the background to your study.)
Appendices include measures not in common use, draft qualitative interview schedules, etc.
Research proposals usually need to go through several drafts. Show your internal and external supervisors a draft early enough so that you can incorporate their comments into a revised draft before submission.
The proposal will be read by one of the academic staff, and will be discussed at a proposals review meeting in October. The resultant written feedback that you receive (towards the end of October) will give you a clear indication of the general feasibility of your project, and suggest any changes that will need to be made before it goes ahead.
This process counts as the "peer review" that is required for all NHS ethics applications. Therefore, once your proposal has passed the review stage, those of you applying for NHS ethics should contact Will Mandy to ask for a letter confirming that your project has been successfully peer reviewed.
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When you need to prepare a great psychology paper, choosing a good topic is crucial. It can be challenging to find a decent topic. Still, only with a good theme for analysis, you can prepare a flawless and original psychology research proposal eventually. Many academic assignments are based on interesting subjects. Surely, you need to select the one that is related to psychology. When dealing with psychology papers, choose a solid and simple topic. There is no need to select a wide subject since it simply decreases the time needed for paper performing.
There are a few writing steps you need to follow to prepare a perfect article. This piece is a psychology-based research paper. Therefore, it requires a profound analysis of a topic. Further, you need to follow writing guidelines and tips to write down the main ideas and results of your research. You need to be very attentive to the details. Sometimes, it can be quite problematic coming up with a good topic. Still, choosing a proper subject is crucial.
The right topic and correct structure assure a perfect final research paper. You need to conduct a prior-research in order to analyze what branch of psychology your topic should be related to. Moreover, checking sources in advance is a great idea. It allows assuring a proper discovery of the topic. Be precise with your paper’s purposes, methods you are about to use, and research tools. Always choose a concise and understandable subject to analyze.
When writing a psychology research proposal, be aware of the exact branch of psychology. Your paper must be focused on a particular subject. Thus, there is no way to write about a single phenomenon analyzing a few spheres of psychological science. Choose a concise topic and a definite branch of psychology. Better select a narrow branch for your research. It will allow you coming up with solid arguments, a strong thesis statement, and relevant evidence faster. Once you have a defined subject to research, it is easier to check the available sources and materials. It is also easier to provide a thesis statement.
Selecting a specific branch of psychology, you ease your topic selection as well. You can prepare numerous great papers on social psychology, psychological disorders, and therapy, human cognition, human development, or a specific psychology career. You can also write about a famous historical figure. You choose for yourself what theme to select based on your personal interests and preferences. It can take time to find enough inspiration to come up with a great topic. Still, you need to pay your efforts to select the best possible subject. A solid topic always determines the paper’s final success.
When you need to prepare an original psychology research proposal topic, you need to follow some useful guidelines. They can help you to find the best theme. There are the key steps you need to follow in order to select a winning subject:
The psychology proposal usually contains a few parts. You need first to describe the purpose of your paper. Once selecting a topic, you have already figured out the purpose of your psychology proposal paper. You also need to write down the methods used for your paper’s preparation. It will give your readers important information on your topic.
Make sure to conduct a prior-research in advance. Check the set of relevant sources and materials to have enough information to prepare a strong thesis statement. Make sure to come up with solid arguments and evidence. You can look for a discussion on the topic. You need to provide a set of important questions in your paper and answer them. Once dealing with a proposal, it is important to follow the tutor’s requirements and guidelines. A psychology research proposal requires a short explanation of ideas. Be aware of your paper’s goals to complete an excellent article. If you deal with a specific language in your research paper, make sure to explain complex concepts. The formatting style is usually assigned by a tutor. Thus, every writer must follow a certain formatting style and assure the paper’s proper structure. It is also important to prepare original and flawless content. Your paper must be useful for other researchers.
The useful writing steps can help to complete a good paper. You need to follow some guides to succeed in your academic writing. Every research paper requires a profound analysis of a topic. When writing a psychology-based research paper, make sure to define a certain branch of psychology. It is even better if you narrow it for your research. Further, you need to follow writing guidelines and writing tips to write down the main ideas and research results’ explanation. Be very attentive to the slightest details. From time to time, it can be quite problematic coming up with a certain topic that can be analyzed easily. Still, choosing a proper subject is essential.
The right topic and correct structure of your article assure a perfect final content. Be ready to conduct a short prior-research in order to analyze what branch of psychology your topic should be related to and narrow it eventually. Moreover, check the sources on the topic in advance. It will allow assuring a proper discovery of the subject. Be accurate with your paper’s resolutions. Choose a concise and logical subject to study.
When writing a psychology research proposal, focus on a particular theme. Consequently, be ready to describe a certain phenomenon once analyzing numerous relevant sources. Choose a concise topic that inspires you. It will allow you coming up with solid arguments, a strong thesis statement, and relevant up-to-date evidence. Once you have a defined subject to research, be ready to use your best writing and analytical talents. Make your work really valuable for your target audience.
For your Research Proposal, you will prepare a written document that includes an Introduction section and a Methods section.
Introduction : includes the problem to be studied, theory that is guiding the research/review of current literature, relevance of the work, and specific study hypothesis. Your introduction should discuss the articles that you've used to build your study, but also be more than just a summary of the articles you've read. Your introduction should be a compelling narrative about how the articles you've read have built up to your study hypothesis and make the case for why your research study is important.
1. Go to Find Articles to find peer-reviewed journal articles about your research area.
2. Go to Analyze Your Articles and Use Your Articles to analyze and evaluate your sources and use them to build your arguments and justifications for your research study.
3. Go to Develop A Researchable Hypothesis to use your articles to build your study hypothesis
Research Methods : includes proposed subject recruitment, experimental design (variables you will study, measures and assessments you will use, procedures you will follow), and proposed data analysis plan
1. Follow the steps under Identify/Justify Methods & Populations to identify appropriate methodologies and populations for your research area and then find articles that justify the use of those methodologies and populations for your research design.
2. Follow the steps under Identify/Justify/Find Tests to identify appropriate test and measures for your research area, find articles that justify the use of those tests and measures for your research design, and then find those tests and measures for data collection.
For more writing help, contact the Writing Center and make an online appointment to meet with one of their consultants.
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General information from the American Psychological Association.
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1. Research Proposal Format Example. Following is a general outline of the material that should be included in your project proposal. I. Title Page II. Introduction and Literature Review (Chapters 2 and 3) A. Identification of specific problem area (e.g., what is it, why it is important). B. Prevalence, scope of problem.
A psychology research proposal is an academic document that a person submits to propose a research project, specifically in the field of clinical psychology. The purpose of research proposals is to outline the research questions and summarize your selected research topic. Another necessary reason for creating this proposal is to present ways ...
Research Proposal Examples. Research proposals often extend anywhere between 2,000 and 15,000 words in length. The following snippets are samples designed to briefly demonstrate what might be discussed in each section. 1. Education Studies Research Proposals.
Being able to write a solid research proposal demonstrates the following qualities: * An understanding of some theoretical concepts in the behavioral sciences. * The ability to organize one's ...
Microsoft Word - PSY410-Example Research Proposal.doc. PSY 410 - Cognitive Psychology. J. P. Toth. Example Research Proposal (note: the study describe here is not meant to be perfect, but rather to give you an idea of the level of detail that would be most useful for evaluating & commenting on your proposal). 1.
Writing a solid research proposal is a crucial first step in conducting a successful psychology study. A well-crafted proposal not only demonstrates your understanding of the research topic but also convinces others that your study is methodologically sound, feasible, and likely to yield valuable insights. This comprehensive guide will walk you ...
Template 1 Project objectives of psychology research proposal. Use this creative and illustrative PPT Slide to flesh out the core aims of your research process. Fully use the substance of the slide to advance the goals of your psychological study, establishing its broad objectives. In addition to this, include some crucial details such as the ...
When applying to study for a PhD or MPhil in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, you will typically need to send us an initial 500-word research proposal. The content and structure of your research proposal will be influenced by the nature of the project you wish to pursue. The guidance and suggested headings provided here ...
A psychology research proposal outlines a proposed study consisting of the objectives, hypotheses, methods, and expected outcomes. This document serves as the blueprint for conducting a successful experiment or data collection effort in the field of psychology. Research proposals are often required by granting agencies or academic institutions.
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".
Choosing a Topic and the Research Proposal. Contributors: By: Jennifer Evans Book Title: Your Psychology Project: The Essential Guide Chapter Title: "Choosing a Topic and the Research Proposal" Pub. Date: 2007 Access Date: April 9, 2019 Publishing Company: SAGE Publications Ltd City: London Print ISBN: 9781412922326 Online ISBN: 9781446213667 ...
Writing the Experimental Report: Methods, Results, and Discussion. Tables, Appendices, Footnotes and Endnotes. References and Sources for More Information. APA Sample Paper: Experimental Psychology. Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises. Purdue OWL. Subject-Specific Writing.
Research proposal. Your research proposal is your opportunity to show your prospective supervisor that you have interesting ideas, and that you have some idea of how to test them. It should consist of about two sides of A4, including references and it should include: clear empirical objective. some idea of the research methods you would use.
The full research proposal submission, Experiments in Virtual Reality, consists of four components: (1) the completed full proposal form, (2) the proposal consent form, (3) a debriefing form to be used with subjects after their participation in the study, and (4) recruiting materials which announce the study and solicit participants. Mindsets ...
Being able to write a solid research proposal demonstrates the following qualities: * An understanding of some theoretical concepts in the behavioral sciences. * The ability to organize one's ...
Research proposals. Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use. We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.
Psychology Research Proposal Sample. If you're confused about how to go about your proposal, here is a sample that is sure to help you get started: Title. A proposal should start with a title page. This page should include your topic and give a clear idea of your proposed study approach. So, make sure you include the following:
It is thus for at least two reasons: 1. Psychology is, as has already been said, a link to the understanding of biological, psychological and social factors in understanding the problem and 2. Psychology as a profession has scientifically-based capacities for complex and wide-ranging education (specific education and psychoeducation) as well as ...
Structural Components of a Psychology Research Proposal Example. Now that we understand how to choose a topic and formulate a question, let's review the main components of a research proposal in psychology. Title page; Abstract; The abstract, typically 250 to 350 words in length, provides a concise summary of your entire PhD proposal psychology.
Research proposals usually need to go through several drafts. Show your internal and external supervisors a draft early enough so that you can incorporate their comments into a revised draft before submission. Review of the proposal. The proposal will be read by one of the academic staff, and will be discussed at a proposals review meeting in ...
A psychology research proposal requires a short explanation of ideas. Be aware of your paper's goals to complete an excellent article. If you deal with a specific language in your research paper, make sure to explain complex concepts. The formatting style is usually assigned by a tutor.
For your Research Proposal, you will prepare a written document that includes an Introduction section and a Methods section. Introduction: includes the problem to be studied, theory that is guiding the research/review of current literature, relevance of the work, and specific study hypothesis.Your introduction should discuss the articles that you've used to build your study, but also be more ...
PSY 330: Experimental Psychology: Experimental Research Proposals. Home; Finding Articles; Experimental Research Proposals; Citing Sources; RefWorks