1. Chapter 5 Crafting a Research Proposal
Zina O’Leary

2. The Role of a Research Proposal
A research proposal offers an opportunity to clarify your thinking, bed down ideas and articulate thoughts in a way that will provide a blueprint for future action.
It is also a means for ‘selling’ your project and getting it off the ground.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

3. The Role of a Research Proposal
Your proposal should convince assessors of the merits of:
your research question - you have clearly articulated the question and successfully argued that it is worth exploring
your proposed methods - you have clearly proposed a logical, practical, ethical means for answering your research question
you as the researcher - you have shown a requisite level of skill, knowledge, and potential.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

4. Proposal Requirements
Proposals differ in requirements, but most will ask you to articulate some combination of the following:
title
summary/abstract
aims/objectives
research question/hypothesis
introduction/background/rationale
literature review
theoretical perspectives
methods: limitations/delimitations
ethical considerations
timelines
budget/funding
references.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

5. Writing Your Proposal
Writing a winning proposal requires you to follow guidelines as close to the letter as possible.
Writing purposively involves good planning, knowing your subject, finding a voice, writing tightly yet sufficiently, writing for the non-expert, and being prepared to redraft.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

6. Obstacles Obstacles can involve:
proposals that do not fit a committee’s requirements
proposals with emergent designs.
In both cases, being knowledgeable, confident and open will enhance chances of success.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

7. Changes Post Approval
Even though it may seem painful, if you want or need to change direction/ method you are well advised to keep your approval body informed.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage