How to Write a Research Proposal: A Step-by-Step Guide

What a research proposal must do

A proposal convinces a reader — a supervisor, admissions panel or funder — of three things: the question matters, it has not been answered yet, and you have a realistic plan to answer it. Every section should serve one of those three goals.

Standard structure

1. Title — specific and informative.
2. Background — the context and why the topic matters now.
3. Literature review and gap — what is known, and the specific gap you will fill.
4. Aims, objectives and research questions — one aim, 3–4 objectives, 2–4 questions.
5. Methodology — design, sample, data collection, analysis and ethics.
6. Timeline — a realistic Gantt-style plan.
7. Expected contribution — what will be different because of your study.
8. References.

Finding the research gap

Read the most recent review articles in your area, note the “future research” sections, and look for contexts, populations or methods that have not been studied. A good gap is narrow: “how hybrid working affects employee engagement in UK SMEs” is stronger than “employee engagement”.

Writing the methodology

Justify every choice against your questions. If your question asks “how” or “why”, a qualitative design may fit; if it asks “how much” or “what is the relationship”, a quantitative design may fit. Explain your sample size, how you will reach participants and how you will analyse the data.

Common mistakes

• A topic that is too broad to finish in the time available.
• Methods chosen before the question.
• A literature review that lists studies instead of building towards the gap.
• Objectives that do not match the research questions.