Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
- Knowledge Base
- Starting the research process
- How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates
Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on June 13, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.
The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:
Introduction
Literature review.
- Research design
Reference list
While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.
Table of contents
Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.
Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .
In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.
Research proposal length
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
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
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”
- Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
- The proposed title of your project
- Your supervisor’s name
- Your institution and department
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:
- Introduce your topic
- Give necessary background and context
- Outline your problem statement and research questions
To guide your introduction , include information about:
- Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
- How much is already known about the topic
- What is missing from this current knowledge
- What new insights your research will contribute
- Why you believe this research is worth doing
A faster, more affordable way to improve your paper
Scribbr’s new AI Proofreader checks your document and corrects spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes with near-human accuracy and the efficiency of AI!

Proofread my paper
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:
- Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
- Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
- Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship
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.
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:
- Improving best practices
- Informing policymaking decisions
- Strengthening a theory or model
- Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
- Creating a basis for future research
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
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:
- Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
- Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
- Source : how did you calculate the amount?
To determine your budget, think about:
- Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
- Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
- Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?
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
- Sampling methods
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Cluster sampling
- Likert scales
- Reproducibility
Statistics
- Null hypothesis
- Statistical power
- Probability distribution
- Effect size
- Poisson distribution
Research bias
- Optimism bias
- Cognitive bias
- Implicit bias
- Hawthorne effect
- Anchoring bias
- Explicit 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.
Cite this Scribbr article
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, June 13). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved November 13, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
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.
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
Academic Proposals

Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
This resource introduces the genre of academic proposals and provides strategies for developing effective graduate-level proposals across multiple contexts.
Introduction
An important part of the work completed in academia is sharing our scholarship with others. Such communication takes place when we present at scholarly conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and publish in books. This OWL resource addresses the steps in writing for a variety of academic proposals.
For samples of academic proposals, click here .
Important considerations for the writing process
First and foremost, you need to consider your future audience carefully in order to determine both how specific your topic can be and how much background information you need to provide in your proposal. While some conferences and journals may be subject-specific, most will require you to address an audience that does not conduct research on the same topics as you. Conference proposal reviewers are often drawn from professional organization members or other attendees, while journal proposals are typically reviewed by the editorial staff, so you need to ensure that your proposal is geared toward the knowledge base and expectations of whichever audience will read your work.
Along those lines, you might want to check whether you are basing your research on specific prior research and terminology that requires further explanation. As a rule, always phrase your proposal clearly and specifically, avoid over-the-top phrasing and jargon, but do not negate your own personal writing style in the process.
If you would like to add a quotation to your proposal, you are not required to provide a citation or footnote of the source, although it is generally preferred to mention the author’s name. Always put quotes in quotation marks and take care to limit yourself to at most one or two quotations in the entire proposal text. Furthermore, you should always proofread your proposal carefully and check whether you have integrated details, such as author’s name, the correct number of words, year of publication, etc. correctly.
Methodology is often a key factor in the evaluation of proposals for any academic genre — but most proposals have such a small word limit that writers find it difficult to adequately include methods while also discussing their argument, background for the study, results, and contributions to knowledge. It's important to make sure that you include some information about the methods used in your study, even if it's just a line or two; if your proposal isn't experimental in nature, this space should instead describe the theory, lens, or approach you are taking to arrive at your conclusions.
Reasons proposals fail/common pitfalls
There are common pitfalls that you might need to improve on for future proposals.
The proposal does not reflect your enthusiasm and persuasiveness, which usually goes hand in hand with hastily written, simply worded proposals. Generally, the better your research has been, the more familiar you are with the subject and the more smoothly your proposal will come together.
Similarly, proposing a topic that is too broad can harm your chances of being accepted to a conference. Be sure to have a clear focus in your proposal. Usually, this can be avoided by more advanced research to determine what has already been done, especially if the proposal is judged by an important scholar in the field. Check the names of keynote speakers and other attendees of note to avoid repeating known information or not focusing your proposal.
Your paper might simply have lacked the clear language that proposals should contain. On this linguistic level, your proposal might have sounded repetitious, have had boring wording, or simply displayed carelessness and a lack of proofreading, all of which can be remedied by more revisions. One key tactic for ensuring you have clear language in your proposal is signposting — you can pick up key phrases from the CFP, as well as use language that indicates different sections in academic work (as in IMRAD sections from the organization and structure page in this resource). This way, reviewers can easily follow your proposal and identify its relatedness to work in the field and the CFP.
Conference proposals
Conference proposals are a common genre in graduate school that invite several considerations for writing depending on the conference and requirements of the call for papers.
Beginning the process
Make sure you read the call for papers carefully to consider the deadline and orient your topic of presentation around the buzzwords and themes listed in the document. You should take special note of the deadline and submit prior to that date, as most conferences use online submission systems that will close on a deadline and will not accept further submissions.
If you have previously spoken on or submitted a proposal on the same topic, you should carefully adjust it specifically for this conference or even completely rewrite the proposal based on your changing and evolving research.
The topic you are proposing should be one that you can cover easily within a time frame of approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. You should stick to the required word limit of the conference call. The organizers have to read a large number of proposals, especially in the case of an international or interdisciplinary conference, and will appreciate your brevity.
Structure and components
Conference proposals differ widely across fields and even among individual conferences in a field. Some just request an abstract, which is written similarly to any other abstract you'd write for a journal article or other publication. Some may request abstracts or full papers that fit into pre-existing sessions created by conference organizers. Some request both an abstract and a further description or proposal, usually in cases where the abstract will be published in the conference program and the proposal helps organizers decide which papers they will accept.
If the conference you are submitting to requires a proposal or description, there are some common elements you'll usually need to include. These are a statement of the problem or topic, a discussion of your approach to the problem/topic, a discussion of findings or expected findings, and a discussion of key takeaways or relevance to audience members. These elements are typically given in this order and loosely follow the IMRAD structure discussed in the organization and structure page in this resource.
The proportional size of each of these elements in relation to one another tends to vary by the stage of your research and the relationship of your topic to the field of the conference. If your research is very early on, you may spend almost no time on findings, because you don't have them yet. Similarly, if your topic is a regular feature at conferences in your field, you may not need to spend as much time introducing it or explaining its relevance to the field; however, if you are working on a newer topic or bringing in a topic or problem from another discipline, you may need to spend slightly more space explaining it to reviewers. These decisions should usually be based on an analysis of your audience — what information can reviewers be reasonably expected to know, and what will you have to tell them?
Journal Proposals
Most of the time, when you submit an article to a journal for publication, you'll submit a finished manuscript which contains an abstract, the text of the article, the bibliography, any appendices, and author bios. These can be on any topic that relates to the journal's scope of interest, and they are accepted year-round.
Special issues , however, are planned issues of a journal that center around a specific theme, usually a "hot topic" in the field. The editor or guest editors for the special issue will often solicit proposals with a call for papers (CFP) first, accept a certain number of proposals for further development into article manuscripts, and then accept the final articles for the special issue from that smaller pool. Special issues are typically the only time when you will need to submit a proposal to write a journal article, rather than submitting a completed manuscript.
Journal proposals share many qualities with conference proposals: you need to write for your audience, convey the significance of your work, and condense the various sections of a full study into a small word or page limit. In general, the necessary components of a proposal include:
- Problem or topic statement that defines the subject of your work (often includes research questions)
- Background information (think literature review) that indicates the topic's importance in your field as well as indicates that your research adds something to the scholarship on this topic
- Methodology and methods used in the study (and an indication of why these methods are the correct ones for your research questions)
- Results or findings (which can be tentative or preliminary, if the study has not yet been completed)
- Significance and implications of the study (what will readers learn? why should they care?)
This order is a common one because it loosely follows the IMRAD (introduction, methods, results and discussion) structure often used in academic writing; however, it is not the only possible structure or even always the best structure. You may need to move these elements around depending on the expectations in your field, the word or page limit, or the instructions given in the CFP.
Some of the unique considerations of journal proposals are:
- The CFP may ask you for an abstract, a proposal, or both. If you need to write an abstract, look for more information on the abstract page. If you need to write both an abstract and a proposal, make sure to clarify for yourself what the difference is. Usually the proposal needs to include more information about the significance, methods, and/or background of the study than will fit in the abstract, but often the CFP itself will give you some instructions as to what information the editors are wanting in each piece of writing.
- Journal special issue CFPs, like conference CFPs, often include a list of topics or questions that describe the scope of the special issue. These questions or topics are a good starting place for generating a proposal or tying in your research; ensuring that your work is a good fit for the special issue and articulating why that is in the proposal increases your chances of being accepted.
- Special issues are not less valuable or important than regularly scheduled issues; therefore, your proposal needs to show that your work fits and could readily be accepted in any other issue of the journal. This means following some of the same practices you would if you were preparing to submit a manuscript to a journal: reading the journal's author submission guidelines; reading the last several years of the journal to understand the usual topics, organization, and methods; citing pieces from this journal and other closely related journals in your research.
Book Proposals
While the requirements are very similar to those of conference proposals, proposals for a book ought to address a few other issues.
General considerations
Since these proposals are of greater length, the publisher will require you to delve into greater detail as well—for instance, regarding the organization of the proposed book or article.
Publishers generally require a clear outline of the chapters you are proposing and an explication of their content, which can be several pages long in its entirety.
You will need to incorporate knowledge of relevant literature, use headings and sub-headings that you should not use in conference proposals. Be sure to know who wrote what about your topic and area of interest, even if you are proposing a less scholarly project.
Publishers prefer depth rather than width when it comes to your topic, so you should be as focused as possible and further outline your intended audience.
You should always include information regarding your proposed deadlines for the project and how you will execute this plan, especially in the sciences. Potential investors or publishers need to know that you have a clear and efficient plan to accomplish your proposed goals. Depending on the subject area, this information can also include a proposed budget, materials or machines required to execute this project, and information about its industrial application.
Pre-writing strategies
As John Boswell (cited in: Larsen, Michael. How to Write a Book Proposal. Writers Digest Books , 2004. p. 1) explains, “today fully 90 percent of all nonfiction books sold to trade publishers are acquired on the basis of a proposal alone.” Therefore, editors and agents generally do not accept completed manuscripts for publication, as these “cannot (be) put into the usual channels for making a sale”, since they “lack answers to questions of marketing, competition, and production.” (Lyon, Elizabeth. Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write . Perigee Trade, 2002. pp. 6-7.)
In contrast to conference or, to a lesser degree, chapter proposals, a book proposal introduces your qualifications for writing it and compares your work to what others have done or failed to address in the past.
As a result, you should test the idea with your networks and, if possible, acquire other people’s proposals that discuss similar issues or have a similar format before submitting your proposal. Prior to your submission, it is recommended that you write at least part of the manuscript in addition to checking the competition and reading all about the topic.
The following is a list of questions to ask yourself before committing to a book project, but should in no way deter you from taking on a challenging project (adapted from Lyon 27). Depending on your field of study, some of these might be more relevant to you than others, but nonetheless useful to reiterate and pose to yourself.
- Do you have sufficient enthusiasm for a project that may span years?
- Will publication of your book satisfy your long-term career goals?
- Do you have enough material for such a long project and do you have the background knowledge and qualifications required for it?
- Is your book idea better than or different from other books on the subject? Does the idea spark enthusiasm not just in yourself but others in your field, friends, or prospective readers?
- Are you willing to acquire any lacking skills, such as, writing style, specific terminology and knowledge on that field for this project? Will it fit into your career and life at the time or will you not have the time to engage in such extensive research?
Essential elements of a book proposal
Your book proposal should include the following elements:
- Your proposal requires the consideration of the timing and potential for sale as well as its potential for subsidiary rights.
- It needs to include an outline of approximately one paragraph to one page of prose (Larsen 6) as well as one sample chapter to showcase the style and quality of your writing.
- You should also include the resources you need for the completion of the book and a biographical statement (“About the Author”).
- Your proposal must contain your credentials and expertise, preferably from previous publications on similar issues.
- A book proposal also provides you with the opportunity to include information such as a mission statement, a foreword by another authority, or special features—for instance, humor, anecdotes, illustrations, sidebars, etc.
- You must assess your ability to promote the book and know the market that you target in all its statistics.
The following proposal structure, as outlined by Peter E. Dunn for thesis and fellowship proposals, provides a useful guide to composing such a long proposal (Dunn, Peter E. “Proposal Writing.” Center for Instructional Excellence, Purdue University, 2007):
- Literature Review
- Identification of Problem
- Statement of Objectives
- Rationale and Significance
- Methods and Timeline
- Literature Cited
Most proposals for manuscripts range from thirty to fifty pages and, apart from the subject hook, book information (length, title, selling handle), markets for your book, and the section about the author, all the other sections are optional. Always anticipate and answer as many questions by editors as possible, however.
Finally, include the best chapter possible to represent your book's focus and style. Until an agent or editor advises you to do otherwise, follow your book proposal exactly without including something that you might not want to be part of the book or improvise on possible expected recommendations.
Publishers expect to acquire the book's primary rights, so that they can sell it in an adapted or condensed form as well. Mentioning any subsidiary rights, such as translation opportunities, performance and merchandising rights, or first-serial rights, will add to the editor's interest in buying your book. It is enticing to publishers to mention your manuscript's potential to turn into a series of books, although they might still hesitate to buy it right away—at least until the first one has been a successful endeavor.
The sample chapter
Since editors generally expect to see about one-tenth of a book, your sample chapter's length should reflect that in these building blocks of your book. The chapter should reflect your excitement and the freshness of the idea as well as surprise editors, but do not submit part of one or more chapters. Always send a chapter unless your credentials are impeccable due to prior publications on the subject. Do not repeat information in the sample chapter that will be covered by preceding or following ones, as the outline should be designed in such a way as to enable editors to understand the context already.
How to make your proposal stand out
Depending on the subject of your book, it is advisable to include illustrations that exemplify your vision of the book and can be included in the sample chapter. While these can make the book more expensive, it also increases the salability of the project. Further, you might consider including outstanding samples of your published work, such as clips from periodicals, if they are well-respected in the field. Thirdly, cover art can give your potential publisher a feel for your book and its marketability, especially if your topic is creative or related to the arts.
In addition, professionally formatting your materials will give you an edge over sloppy proposals. Proofread the materials carefully, use consistent and carefully organized fonts, spacing, etc., and submit your proposal without staples; rather, submit it in a neat portfolio that allows easy access and reassembling. However, check the submission guidelines first, as most proposals are submitted digitally. Finally, you should try to surprise editors and attract their attention. Your hook, however, should be imaginative but inexpensive (you do not want to bribe them, after all). Make sure your hook draws the editors to your book proposal immediately (Adapted from Larsen 154-60).
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments
- Annotated Bibliography
- Analyzing a Scholarly Journal Article
- Group Presentations
- Dealing with Nervousness
- Using Visual Aids
- Grading Someone Else's Paper
- Types of Structured Group Activities
- Group Project Survival Skills
- Leading a Class Discussion
- Multiple Book Review Essay
- Reviewing Collected Works
- Writing a Case Analysis Paper
- Writing a Case Study
- About Informed Consent
- Writing Field Notes
- Writing a Policy Memo
- Writing a Reflective Paper
- Writing a Research Proposal
- Generative AI and Writing
- Acknowledgments
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.
How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal
Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:
- Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
- Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
- Improve your general research and writing skills;
- Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
- Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
- Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.
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:
- What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
- Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
- How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
- Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
- Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
- Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
- Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
- Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.
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.
Structure and Writing Style
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:
- What do I want to study?
- Why is the topic important?
- How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
- What problems will it help solve?
- How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
- What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?
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 :
- What is the central research problem?
- What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
- What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
- Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?
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:
- State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
- Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
- Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
- Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
- Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
- If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.
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:
- Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
- Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
- Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
- Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
- Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?
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:
- Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
- Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
- Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!
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:
- What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
- What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
- What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
- Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
- How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
- Will the results influence policy decisions?
- In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
- What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
- How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?
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:
- Why the study should be done;
- The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
- The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
- The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
- A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.
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.
- References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
- Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.
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.
- << Previous: Writing a Reflective Paper
- Next: Generative AI and Writing >>
- Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023 9:37 AM
- URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments
How to Write a Research Proposal

Once you’re in college and really getting into academic writing , you may not recognize all the kinds of assignments you’re asked to complete. You know what an essay is, and you know how to respond to readings—but when you hear your professor mention a research proposal or a literature review, your mind might do a double take.
Don’t worry; we’ve got you. Boiled down to its core, a research proposal is simply a short piece of writing that details exactly what you’ll be covering in a larger research project. You’ll likely be required to write one for your thesis , and if you choose to continue in academia after earning your bachelor’s degree, you’ll be writing research proposals for your master’s thesis, your dissertation , and all other research you conduct. By then, you’ll be a research proposal pro. But for now, we’ll answer all your questions and help you confidently write your first one.
Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.
Your writing, at its best Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly
What is the goal of a research proposal?
In a research proposal, the goal is to present the author’s plan for the research they intend to conduct. In some cases, part of this goal is to secure funding for said research. In others, it’s to have the research approved by the author’s supervisor or department so they can move forward with it. In some cases, a research proposal is a required part of a graduate school application. In every one of these circumstances, research proposals follow the same structure.
In a research proposal, the author demonstrates how and why their research is relevant to their field. They demonstrate that the work is necessary to the following:
- Filling a gap in the existing body of research on their subject
- Underscoring existing research on their subject, and/or
- Adding new, original knowledge to the academic community’s existing understanding of their subject
A research proposal also demonstrates that the author is capable of conducting this research and contributing to the current state of their field in a meaningful way. To do this, your research proposal needs to discuss your academic background and credentials as well as demonstrate that your proposed ideas have academic merit.
But demonstrating your research’s validity and your personal capability to carry it out isn’t enough to get your research proposal approved. Your research proposal also has to cover these things:
- The research methodology you plan to use
- The tools and procedures you will use to collect, analyze, and interpret the data you collect
- An explanation of how your research fits the budget and other constraints that come with conducting it through your institution, department, or academic program
If you’ve already read our post on literature reviews , you may be thinking that a research proposal sounds pretty similar. They’re more than just similar, though—a literature review is part of a research proposal. It’s the section that covers which sources you’re using, how you’re using them, and why they’re relevant. Think of a literature review as a mini-research proposal that fits into your larger, main proposal.
How long should a research proposal be?
Generally, research proposals for bachelor’s and master’s theses are a few pages long. Research proposals for meatier projects, like Ph.D. dissertations and funding requests, are often longer and far more detailed. A research proposal’s goal is to clearly outline exactly what your research will entail and accomplish, so including the proposal’s word count or page count isn’t nearly as important as it is to ensure that all the necessary elements and content are present.
Research proposal structure
A research proposal follows a fairly straightforward structure. In order to achieve the goals described in the previous section, nearly all research proposals include the following sections:
Introduction
Your introduction achieves a few goals:
- Introduces your topic
- States your problem statement and the questions your research aims to answer
- Provides context for your research
In a research proposal, an introduction can be a few paragraphs long. It should be concise, but don’t feel like you need to cram all of your information into one paragraph.
In some cases, you need to include an abstract and/or a table of contents in your research proposal. These are included just before the introduction.
Background significance
This is where you explain why your research is necessary and how it relates to established research in your field. Your work might complement existing research, strengthen it, or even challenge it—no matter how your work will “play with” other researchers’ work, you need to express it in detail in your research proposal.
This is also the section where you clearly define the existing problems your research will address. By doing this, you’re explaining why your work is necessary—in other words, this is where you answer the reader’s “so what?”
In your background significance section, you’ll also outline how you’ll conduct your research. If necessary, note which related questions and issues you won’t be covering in your research.
Literature review
In your literature review , you introduce all the sources you plan to use in your research. This includes landmark studies and their data, books, and scholarly articles. A literature review isn’t merely a list of sources (that’s what your bibliography is for); a literature review delves into the collection of sources you chose and explains how you’re using them in your research.
Research design, methods, and schedule
Following your research review, you’ll discuss your research plans. In this section, make sure you cover these aspects:
- The type of research you will do. Are you conducting qualitative or quantitative research? Are you collecting original data or working with data collected by other researchers?
- Whether you’re doing experimental, correlational, or descriptive research
- The data you’re working with. For example, if you’re conducting research in the social sciences, you’ll need to describe the population you’re studying. You’ll also need to cover how you’ll select your subjects and how you’ll collect data from them.
- The tools you’ll use to collect data. Will you be running experiments? Conducting surveys? Observing phenomena? Note all data collection methods here along with why they’re effective methods for your specific research.
Beyond a comprehensive look at your research itself, you’ll also need to include:
- Your research timeline
- Your research budget
- Any potential obstacles you foresee and your plan for handling them
Suppositions and implications
Although you can’t know your research’s results until you’ve actually done the work, you should be going into the project with a clear idea of how your work will contribute to your field. This section is perhaps the most critical to your research proposal’s argument because it expresses exactly why your research is necessary.
In this section, make sure you cover the following:
- Any ways your work can challenge existing theories and assumptions in your field
- How your work will create the foundation for future research
- The practical value your findings will provide to practitioners, educators, and other academics in your field
- The problems your work can potentially help to fix
- Policies that could be impacted by your findings
- How your findings can be implemented in academia or other settings and how this will improve or otherwise transform these settings
In other words, this section isn’t about stating the specific results you expect. Rather, it’s where you state how your findings will be valuable.
This is where you wrap it all up. Your conclusion section, just like your conclusion paragraph for an essay , briefly summarizes your research proposal and reinforces your research’s stated purpose.
Bibliography
Yes, you need to write a bibliography in addition to your literature review. Unlike your literature review, where you explained the relevance of the sources you chose and in some cases, challenged them, your bibliography simply lists your sources and their authors.
The way you write a citation depends on the style guide you’re using. The three most common style guides for academics are MLA , APA , and Chicago , and each has its own particular rules and requirements. Keep in mind that each formatting style has specific guidelines for citing just about any kind of source, including photos , websites , speeches , and YouTube videos .
Sometimes, a full bibliography is not needed. When this is the case, you can include a references list, which is simply a scaled-down list of all the sources you cited in your work. If you’re not sure which to write, ask your supervisor.
Here’s a tip: Grammarly’s Citation Generator ensures your essays have flawless citations and no plagiarism. Try it for citing journal articles in MLA , APA , and Chicago styles.
How to write a research proposal
Research proposals, like all other kinds of academic writing, are written in a formal, objective tone. Keep in mind that being concise is a key component of academic writing; formal does not mean flowery.
Adhere to the structure outlined above. Your reader knows how a research proposal is supposed to read and expects it to fit this template. It’s crucial that you present your research proposal in a clear, logical way. Every question the reader has while reading your proposal should be answered by the final section.
Editing and proofreading a research proposal
When you’re writing a research proposal, follow the same six-step writing process you follow with every other kind of writing you do.
After you’ve got a first draft written, take some time to let it “cool off” before you start proofreading . By doing this, you’re making it easier for yourself to catch mistakes and gaps in your writing.
Common mistakes to avoid when writing a research proposal
When you’re writing a research proposal, avoid these common pitfalls:
Being too wordy
As we said earlier, formal does not mean flowery. In fact, you should aim to keep your writing as brief and to-the-point as possible. The more economically you can express your purpose and goal, the better.
Failing to cite relevant sources
When you’re conducting research, you’re adding to the existing body of knowledge on the subject you’re covering. Your research proposal should reference one or more of the landmark research pieces in your field and connect your work to these works in some way. This doesn’t just communicate your work’s relevance—it also demonstrates your familiarity with the field.
Focusing too much on minor issues
There are probably a lot of great reasons why your research is necessary. These reasons don’t all need to be in your research proposal. In fact, including too many questions and issues in your research proposal can detract from your central purpose, weakening the proposal. Save the minor issues for your research paper itself and cover only the major, key issues you aim to tackle in your proposal.
Failing to make a strong argument for your research
This is perhaps the easiest way to undermine your proposal because it’s far more subjective than the others. A research proposal is, in essence, a piece of persuasive writing . That means that although you’re presenting your proposal in an objective, academic way, the goal is to get the reader to say “yes” to your work.
This is true in every case, whether your reader is your supervisor, your department head, a graduate school admissions board, a private or government-backed funding provider, or the editor at a journal in which you’d like to publish your work.
Polish your writing into a stellar proposal
When you’re asking for approval to conduct research—especially when there’s funding involved—you need to be nothing less than 100 percent confident in your proposal. If your research proposal has spelling or grammatical mistakes, an inconsistent or inappropriate tone, or even just awkward phrasing, those will undermine your credibility.
Make sure your research proposal shines by using Grammarly to catch all of those issues. Even if you think you caught all of them while you were editing, it’s critical to double-check your work. Your research deserves the best proposal possible, and Grammarly can help you make that happen.


Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
11.2 Steps in Developing a Research Proposal
Learning objectives.
- Identify the steps in developing a research proposal.
- Choose a topic and formulate a research question and working thesis.
- Develop a research proposal.
Writing a good research paper takes time, thought, and effort. Although this assignment is challenging, it is manageable. Focusing on one step at a time will help you develop a thoughtful, informative, well-supported research paper.
Your first step is to choose a topic and then to develop research questions, a working thesis, and a written research proposal. Set aside adequate time for this part of the process. Fully exploring ideas will help you build a solid foundation for your paper.
Choosing a Topic
When you choose a topic for a research paper, you are making a major commitment. Your choice will help determine whether you enjoy the lengthy process of research and writing—and whether your final paper fulfills the assignment requirements. If you choose your topic hastily, you may later find it difficult to work with your topic. By taking your time and choosing carefully, you can ensure that this assignment is not only challenging but also rewarding.
Writers understand the importance of choosing a topic that fulfills the assignment requirements and fits the assignment’s purpose and audience. (For more information about purpose and audience, see Chapter 6 “Writing Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content” .) Choosing a topic that interests you is also crucial. You instructor may provide a list of suggested topics or ask that you develop a topic on your own. In either case, try to identify topics that genuinely interest you.
After identifying potential topic ideas, you will need to evaluate your ideas and choose one topic to pursue. Will you be able to find enough information about the topic? Can you develop a paper about this topic that presents and supports your original ideas? Is the topic too broad or too narrow for the scope of the assignment? If so, can you modify it so it is more manageable? You will ask these questions during this preliminary phase of the research process.
Identifying Potential Topics
Sometimes, your instructor may provide a list of suggested topics. If so, you may benefit from identifying several possibilities before committing to one idea. It is important to know how to narrow down your ideas into a concise, manageable thesis. You may also use the list as a starting point to help you identify additional, related topics. Discussing your ideas with your instructor will help ensure that you choose a manageable topic that fits the requirements of the assignment.
In this chapter, you will follow a writer named Jorge, who is studying health care administration, as he prepares a research paper. You will also plan, research, and draft your own research paper.
Jorge was assigned to write a research paper on health and the media for an introductory course in health care. Although a general topic was selected for the students, Jorge had to decide which specific issues interested him. He brainstormed a list of possibilities.
If you are writing a research paper for a specialized course, look back through your notes and course activities. Identify reading assignments and class discussions that especially engaged you. Doing so can help you identify topics to pursue.
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in the news
- Sexual education programs
- Hollywood and eating disorders
- Americans’ access to public health information
- Media portrayal of health care reform bill
- Depictions of drugs on television
- The effect of the Internet on mental health
- Popularized diets (such as low-carbohydrate diets)
- Fear of pandemics (bird flu, HINI, SARS)
- Electronic entertainment and obesity
- Advertisements for prescription drugs
- Public education and disease prevention
Set a timer for five minutes. Use brainstorming or idea mapping to create a list of topics you would be interested in researching for a paper about the influence of the Internet on social networking. Do you closely follow the media coverage of a particular website, such as Twitter? Would you like to learn more about a certain industry, such as online dating? Which social networking sites do you and your friends use? List as many ideas related to this topic as you can.
Narrowing Your Topic
Once you have a list of potential topics, you will need to choose one as the focus of your essay. You will also need to narrow your topic. Most writers find that the topics they listed during brainstorming or idea mapping are broad—too broad for the scope of the assignment. Working with an overly broad topic, such as sexual education programs or popularized diets, can be frustrating and overwhelming. Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper. However, more specific choices, such as the pros and cons of sexual education in kids’ television programs or the physical effects of the South Beach diet, are specific enough to write about without being too narrow to sustain an entire research paper.
A good research paper provides focused, in-depth information and analysis. If your topic is too broad, you will find it difficult to do more than skim the surface when you research it and write about it. Narrowing your focus is essential to making your topic manageable. To narrow your focus, explore your topic in writing, conduct preliminary research, and discuss both the topic and the research with others.
Exploring Your Topic in Writing
“How am I supposed to narrow my topic when I haven’t even begun researching yet?” In fact, you may already know more than you realize. Review your list and identify your top two or three topics. Set aside some time to explore each one through freewriting. (For more information about freewriting, see Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” .) Simply taking the time to focus on your topic may yield fresh angles.
Jorge knew that he was especially interested in the topic of diet fads, but he also knew that it was much too broad for his assignment. He used freewriting to explore his thoughts so he could narrow his topic. Read Jorge’s ideas.
Conducting Preliminary Research
Another way writers may focus a topic is to conduct preliminary research . Like freewriting, exploratory reading can help you identify interesting angles. Surfing the web and browsing through newspaper and magazine articles are good ways to start. Find out what people are saying about your topic on blogs and online discussion groups. Discussing your topic with others can also inspire you. Talk about your ideas with your classmates, your friends, or your instructor.
Jorge’s freewriting exercise helped him realize that the assigned topic of health and the media intersected with a few of his interests—diet, nutrition, and obesity. Preliminary online research and discussions with his classmates strengthened his impression that many people are confused or misled by media coverage of these subjects.
Jorge decided to focus his paper on a topic that had garnered a great deal of media attention—low-carbohydrate diets. He wanted to find out whether low-carbohydrate diets were as effective as their proponents claimed.
Writing at Work
At work, you may need to research a topic quickly to find general information. This information can be useful in understanding trends in a given industry or generating competition. For example, a company may research a competitor’s prices and use the information when pricing their own product. You may find it useful to skim a variety of reliable sources and take notes on your findings.
The reliability of online sources varies greatly. In this exploratory phase of your research, you do not need to evaluate sources as closely as you will later. However, use common sense as you refine your paper topic. If you read a fascinating blog comment that gives you a new idea for your paper, be sure to check out other, more reliable sources as well to make sure the idea is worth pursuing.
Review the list of topics you created in Note 11.18 “Exercise 1” and identify two or three topics you would like to explore further. For each of these topics, spend five to ten minutes writing about the topic without stopping. Then review your writing to identify possible areas of focus.
Set aside time to conduct preliminary research about your potential topics. Then choose a topic to pursue for your research paper.
Collaboration
Please share your topic list with a classmate. Select one or two topics on his or her list that you would like to learn more about and return it to him or her. Discuss why you found the topics interesting, and learn which of your topics your classmate selected and why.
A Plan for Research
Your freewriting and preliminary research have helped you choose a focused, manageable topic for your research paper. To work with your topic successfully, you will need to determine what exactly you want to learn about it—and later, what you want to say about it. Before you begin conducting in-depth research, you will further define your focus by developing a research question , a working thesis, and a research proposal.
Formulating a Research Question
In forming a research question, you are setting a goal for your research. Your main research question should be substantial enough to form the guiding principle of your paper—but focused enough to guide your research. A strong research question requires you not only to find information but also to put together different pieces of information, interpret and analyze them, and figure out what you think. As you consider potential research questions, ask yourself whether they would be too hard or too easy to answer.
To determine your research question, review the freewriting you completed earlier. Skim through books, articles, and websites and list the questions you have. (You may wish to use the 5WH strategy to help you formulate questions. See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for more information about 5WH questions.) Include simple, factual questions and more complex questions that would require analysis and interpretation. Determine your main question—the primary focus of your paper—and several subquestions that you will need to research to answer your main question.
Here are the research questions Jorge will use to focus his research. Notice that his main research question has no obvious, straightforward answer. Jorge will need to research his subquestions, which address narrower topics, to answer his main question.
Using the topic you selected in Note 11.24 “Exercise 2” , write your main research question and at least four to five subquestions. Check that your main research question is appropriately complex for your assignment.
Constructing a Working ThesIs
A working thesis concisely states a writer’s initial answer to the main research question. It does not merely state a fact or present a subjective opinion. Instead, it expresses a debatable idea or claim that you hope to prove through additional research. Your working thesis is called a working thesis for a reason—it is subject to change. As you learn more about your topic, you may change your thinking in light of your research findings. Let your working thesis serve as a guide to your research, but do not be afraid to modify it based on what you learn.
Jorge began his research with a strong point of view based on his preliminary writing and research. Read his working thesis statement, which presents the point he will argue. Notice how it states Jorge’s tentative answer to his research question.
One way to determine your working thesis is to consider how you would complete sentences such as I believe or My opinion is . However, keep in mind that academic writing generally does not use first-person pronouns. These statements are useful starting points, but formal research papers use an objective voice.
Write a working thesis statement that presents your preliminary answer to the research question you wrote in Note 11.27 “Exercise 3” . Check that your working thesis statement presents an idea or claim that could be supported or refuted by evidence from research.
Creating a Research Proposal
A research proposal is a brief document—no more than one typed page—that summarizes the preliminary work you have completed. Your purpose in writing it is to formalize your plan for research and present it to your instructor for feedback. In your research proposal, you will present your main research question, related subquestions, and working thesis. You will also briefly discuss the value of researching this topic and indicate how you plan to gather information.
When Jorge began drafting his research proposal, he realized that he had already created most of the pieces he needed. However, he knew he also had to explain how his research would be relevant to other future health care professionals. In addition, he wanted to form a general plan for doing the research and identifying potentially useful sources. Read Jorge’s research proposal.

Before you begin a new project at work, you may have to develop a project summary document that states the purpose of the project, explains why it would be a wise use of company resources, and briefly outlines the steps involved in completing the project. This type of document is similar to a research proposal. Both documents define and limit a project, explain its value, discuss how to proceed, and identify what resources you will use.
Writing Your Own Research Proposal
Now you may write your own research proposal, if you have not done so already. Follow the guidelines provided in this lesson.
Key Takeaways
- Developing a research proposal involves the following preliminary steps: identifying potential ideas, choosing ideas to explore further, choosing and narrowing a topic, formulating a research question, and developing a working thesis.
- A good topic for a research paper interests the writer and fulfills the requirements of the assignment.
- Defining and narrowing a topic helps writers conduct focused, in-depth research.
- Writers conduct preliminary research to identify possible topics and research questions and to develop a working thesis.
- A good research question interests readers, is neither too broad nor too narrow, and has no obvious answer.
- A good working thesis expresses a debatable idea or claim that can be supported with evidence from research.
- Writers create a research proposal to present their topic, main research question, subquestions, and working thesis to an instructor for approval or feedback.
Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Research Proposal Template
Used 7,990 times
Reviewed by Olga Asheychik
e-Sign with PandaDoc
Prepared by: [Researcher.FirstName] [Researcher.LastName]
Prepared for: [Supervisor.FirstName]
[Supervisor.LastName]
This should be clear and concise, leaving the reader with no doubt regarding your field of study. A good title structure can often be “Short Title: Longer Explanation of Your Field.” Your academic institution may have a preferred format for the title, or even a title page. Find out before you submit your proposal. If there is no preferred format, keep it simple and clear, and use a “serif” font that is easily legible.
(Main title: What I am trying to find out by taking on this project)
(Academic Institution)
(Subject Area)
[Supervisor.FirstName]
[Supervisor.LastName] (if you already have one)
[Researcher.FirstName]
[Researcher.LastName]
(Student ID/Number)
2. Abstract
100-200 words. This summarizes the central theme of your research. Use concise, clipped language that is academic without being over-wordy and verbose. The abstract needs to be entirely your own words, as every abstract should be completely different, unique in its approach to your topic. Like the rest of the document, apart from block quotations, it should be double-spaced and laid out clearly.
3. Contents
Depending on the length of your research proposal, you may wish to include a contents page for the proposal itself (not for your main research project: suggested contents for this are included in your Proposed Chapter Outline, section 9) , as follows (add page numbers/subsections when you know them, depending on your research) . As you introduce sub-sections into your different sections, number them accordingly e.g. subsections of the literature review could be numbered 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, etc.
Abstract………………………………………pn
Contents……………………………………..pn
Introduction………………………………..pn
Problem Statement……………………pn
Objectives…………………………………..pn
Literature Review……………………….pn
Notion of Original Research……..pn
Key Assertions / Objectives……..pn
Research Methods…………………….pn
Sample Audience……………………….pn
Research Questions…………………..pn
Research Design………………………..pn
Analysis………………………………………pn
Proposed Chapter Outline…………pn
Research Limitations…………………pn
Proposed Timescale………………….pn
Funding (Optional)……………………..pn
References/ Bibliography………….pn
4. Introduction
200-400 words. Unlike the abstract, this is not a summary of everything you are about to say — you can afford to grab your readers’ attention right out of the gate. Deliver a surprise beginning, perhaps a quote from someone who inspires you on this topic, and show your knowledge of the research area (include, if you like, your previous research experience in this field; in fact, it may serve you well to be personal in this section) and why it is relevant to today’s world.
Try to provide facts and references here in order to give relevance to your study and why it is being conducted. This will help to explain the motivation behind your research and how important it is for academia, the industry or public sector it is being conducted in.
5. Problem Statement
Keep this short and informative. This section is meant to provide the reader with a summarized description of the problems you seek to address through your research proposal. Showcase the questions you seek to answer through your research and how it will help benefit those who read it. A problem statement should include the context of the problem, a particular audience you are targeting, and a timeline for the study. This will ensure that your research is well-focused and relevant to the current time and people.
The application of (topic, aka the main title of the subject you are researching) for (a particular group of people) in (timeline, this should either be current year or upcoming years but research can be done on past years as well) .
6. Objectives
This follows up on the problem statement section. It elaborates further on the problem statement by dividing it into a set of 3 to 5 descriptive assertions or intentions that relate to the problem. Objectives establish the scope and depth of your project and also help set up the idea for the research design (as seen later in the research proposal template) . The objectives can also indicate a section that shows how your research will contribute to already existing research and knowledge.
To study the applications of blockchain in the gaming industry and how it can help be a new source of revenue.
To study how blockchain gaming can influence people who don’t gamble to actively invest time in gaming.
To determine whether blockchain gaming can be a viable job opportunity in the future.
7. Literature review
Length can vary immensely, but probably 300-1500 words or more, depending on the nature of your research. This is one of the most important sections of your research proposal. It demonstrates that you know your field, who the key research players are in it, what has been said in the past and what is being said at the moment. You will want to mention — and where appropriate, quote from — key works in your area.
This is the section that requires the most preliminary research, so be sure you spend ample time in an academic library and use search engines for relevant academic papers before presenting. You do not need to discuss every work in your area, but you need to present a competent outline, and (especially if this is a proposal for doctoral research) you need to be sure that no one else has already done the same project. A good way of presenting a literature review coherently is in the form of a narrative, which can either be chronological or thematic.
There has been a (small/considerable/state value here) amount of previous academic research in this field.
(For a chronological narrative) I will outline how the understanding of (subject) has developed over (the last number of) years.
(Insert chronological narrative, remembering to introduce key players, dates, and academic works, and end with the state of the field as it is today.)
(For a thematic narrative) I will outline the major themes that are of relevance in this field, and go through them each in turn:
• (use a bulleted list to outline what themes/topics you are planning on covering)
After your bulleted list, you can use the themes from your list as subtitles to split up your literature review. Put them in bold. You could also add them as subsections in your contents page.
Under each subtitle, describe the state of the field of research in this area, including the most important researchers and works in this area.
8. Notion of original research
Length varies here as well, but similar in length to the literature review is likely a good place to start. This is where you sell your research proposal to the reader. You need to explain, clearly and simply, how your research will complement the field you have just described in your literature review — what you will add, how it fills an existing gap, why the academic world would benefit from your research, etc.
9. Key Assertions/Objectives
One sentence for each question/assertion. This is really part of the “notion of original research” section. A good way of making your research aim clear is to state a clear research question, and back it up with 2-4 specific assertions or objectives.
My central research question is as follows:
(insert research question here, in bold)
In the light of this, I will make the following observations/assertions: (insert observations/assertions here, in bulleted list.)
10. Research methods
Approx. 50-1000 words, depending on the nature of your research. This is where you explain how and where you plan to carry out your research. This will vary hugely depending on your subject. Will you be researching in libraries and archives? Which ones hold the books and documents you will need? Will you need to travel? If so, where? Will your research involve extensive field work? How and where? State whether you will plan to use different methods of data collection, and if so what they will be.
Do you need to be in a laboratory? Will you be emphasizing qualitative or quantitative collection of data, or both equally? Do you have the necessary skills and qualifications to undertake your research (for instance, foreign languages, statistical analysis, laboratory training, etc) ? If not, what are your plans to acquire these skills? (Note: many postgraduate institutions offer considerable support in the acquisition of new skills necessary to perform research, but this will require discussion at the proposal stage.)
11. Sample Audience
This section aims to provide the reader of the proposal with a description of who the sample audience is. You can add a brief description of your ideal sample audience and why such a person is relevant or necessary to the research. You can also mention what measures can be taken to gain their consent for the research in order to get a more enthusiastic and unbiased response. Lastly, you should mention where you propose to find this sample audience and any barriers that may occur in finding or engaging them.
12. Research Questions
13. research design.
This section will give the reader a description of what the research stimuli will look like. It gives a background of the different variations you may employ to better help test your hypothesis. It should also showcase the different factors that may vary a person's response to the research problem while you are researching the topic. This is important in a research proposal, because as with method, different factors help show what could affect you by confirming or denying your hypothesis. Keep your design descriptive and show how you will rule out or control factors that may come up.
14. Analysis
Approx. 50-300 words. Once you have collected your data, include details about what you plan to do with it. Again, depending on the nature of your research, this section could be anywhere from one or two sentences to several paragraphs.
If your research is in a survey format, then include the questions to the survey along with the method of collecting the survey. You can also include a few examples of how you plan to present the data, such as in a pie chart format or as a bar graph.
15. Proposed chapter outline
Probably less than 200 words, unless you have a very detailed plan already in mind. Note: this is like the preliminary contents page, but it does not need to be very specific, and can suggest sections rather than chapters at this stage. The academics reading your proposal will be impressed to know that you have some idea how you may wish to present your work, and that you have some way in mind of translating your research to paper.
(title of your first chapter) (explanation of your first chapter contents: one sentence)
(first subsection of your first chapter)
(second subsection of your first chapter)
(title of your second chapter) (explanation of your second chapter contents: one sentence)
(first subsection of your second chapter)
(second subsection of your second chapter)
(smaller section)
(another small section)
(title of your third chapter) (explanation of your third chapter contents: one sentence)
16. Research limitations
Approx 50-300 words. This section states everything you won’t be able to do in your research. It is surprisingly important, as it shows that you can recognise the limited scale of your work. Every project needs distinct limiting factors and clear boundaries in order to be manageable.
Naturally, the scope of this project is limited. This section describes specific limitations. (add limitations here) .
17. Proposed Timetable
Approx 50-300 words. This section is optional, but may be helpful to show your potential supervisors that you are being realistic and recognize that your project has set parameters within which to conduct the study. It also will help you to know the scale of your work in the preliminary stages of planning, and help you to maintain realistic expectations of yourself.
I predict that this research project will take (number) months/years. I propose a rough timeline, as follows:
(Here, include a list of tasks that will need completing as part of your research project, and how long you predict each will take in terms of weeks or months. End with a final count of months. If you have a predicted start date, you can begin with this and work towards a proposed end date.)
You can also use a project schedule table in order to plan out the project for yourself as well as give a better understanding as to the breakup of the project timeline. An example of this is:
18. Funding
For example, your money allocation table can look like this:
19. References/Bibliography
The reference list should always begin on a new page. Depending on your subject, there will probably be a specific format and referencing pattern for written work (Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Social Sciences) . Before you start writing, make sure you know what the convention for your subject area is, learn it and stick to it. There are a wide variety of different referencing conventions so it is important to make sure you find the correct one and stay consistent.
This will make doing your research proposal (and future research) a lot easier. Depending on your subject, your referencing may involve in-text citations or footnotes. Either way, your proposal will need a full reference list or bibliography at the end, including all of the secondary works you have mentioned in your literature review and primary sources (if applicable) .
You do not, however, need to include work that you have read in preparation but not used or mentioned in your work. Make sure this is correctly formatted — plenty of style guides for each referencing style are available online. Also, remember to lay out your reference list in alphabetical order by the authors’ surnames.
[Researcher.FirstName] [Researcher.LastName]
Care to rate this template?
Your rating will help others.
Thanks for your rate!
Useful resources
- Featured templates
- Sales proposals
- NDA agreements
- Operating agreements
- Service agreements
- Sales documents
- Marketing proposals
- Rental and lease agreement
- Quote templates
How to write a research proposal?
To make a comprehensive research proposal, make sure you answer all the questions your review committee might have, such as who is your sample audience, what kind of questions you plan to ask them, why you are conducting this research, what you think will come out of it, etc. Leave no room for assumptions. Alternatively, you can also use this template to best understand which nitty-gritty details to cover.

An official website of the United States government
The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
- Publications
- Account settings
- Advanced Search
- Journal List
- v.23(2); 2008 Apr

How to prepare a Research Proposal
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
- - What are the criteria for inclusion or selection?
- - What are the criteria for exclusion?
- - What is the sampling procedure you will use so as to ensure representativeness and reliability of the sample and to minimize sampling errors? The key reason for being concerned with sampling is the issue of validity-both internal and external of the study results. 9
- - Will there be use of controls in your study? Controls or comparison groups are used in scientific research in order to increase the validity of the conclusions. Control groups are necessary in all analytical epidemiological studies, in experimental studies of drug trials, in research on effects of intervention programmes and disease control measures and in many other investigations. Some descriptive studies (studies of existing data, surveys) may not require control groups.
- - What are the criteria for discontinuation?
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:
- • Is the research design adequate to provide answers to the research question? It is unethical to expose subjects to research that will have no value.
- • Is the method of selection of research subjects justified? The use of vulnerable subjects as research participants needs special justification. Vulnerable subjects include those in prison, minors and persons with mental disability. In international research it is important to mention that the population in which the study is conducted will benefit from any potential outcome of the research and the research is not being conducted solely for the benefit of some other population. Justification is needed for any inducement, financial or otherwise, for the participants to be enrolled in the study.
- • Are the interventions justified, in terms of risk/benefit ratio? Risks are not limited to physical harm. Psychological and social risks must also be considered.
- • For observations made, have measures been taken to ensure confidentiality?
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.
- Privacy Policy
- SignUp/Login

Home » How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]
How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]
Table of Contents

How To Write a Research Proposal
Writing a Research proposal involves several steps to ensure a well-structured and comprehensive document. 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. Introduction:
- Provide an introduction to your research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance.
- Clearly state the research problem or question you aim to address.
- Discuss the background and context of the study, including previous research in the field.
3. Research Objectives
- Outline the specific objectives or aims of your research. These objectives should be clear, achievable, and aligned with the research problem.
4. Literature Review:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
- Summarize key findings, identify gaps, and highlight how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge.
5. Methodology:
- Describe the research design and methodology you plan to employ to address your research objectives.
- Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques you will use.
- Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate and suitable for your research.
6. Timeline:
- Create a timeline or schedule that outlines the major milestones and activities of your research project.
- Break down the research process into smaller tasks and estimate the time required for each task.
7. Resources:
- Identify the resources needed for your research, such as access to specific databases, equipment, or funding.
- Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources to carry out your research effectively.
8. Ethical Considerations:
- Discuss any ethical issues that may arise during your research and explain how you plan to address them.
- If your research involves human subjects, explain how you will ensure their informed consent and privacy.
9. Expected Outcomes and Significance:
- Clearly state the expected outcomes or results of your research.
- Highlight the potential impact and significance of your research in advancing knowledge or addressing practical issues.
10. References:
- Provide a list of all the references cited in your proposal, following a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).
11. Appendices:
- Include any additional supporting materials, such as survey questionnaires, interview guides, or data analysis plans.
Research Proposal Format
The format of a research proposal may vary depending on the specific requirements of the institution or funding agency. However, the following is a commonly used format for a research proposal:
1. Title Page:
- Include the title of your research proposal, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the date.
2. Abstract:
- Provide a brief summary of your research proposal, highlighting the research problem, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.
3. Introduction:
- Introduce the research topic and provide background information.
- State the research problem or question you aim to address.
- Explain the significance and relevance of the research.
- Review relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
- Summarize key findings and identify gaps in the existing knowledge.
- Explain how your research will contribute to filling those gaps.
5. Research Objectives:
- Clearly state the specific objectives or aims of your research.
- Ensure that the objectives are clear, focused, and aligned with the research problem.
6. Methodology:
- Describe the research design and methodology you plan to use.
- Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques.
- Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for your research.
7. Timeline:
8. Resources:
- Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources effectively.
9. Ethical Considerations:
- If applicable, explain how you will ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of research participants.
10. Expected Outcomes and Significance:
11. References:
12. Appendices:
Research Proposal Template
Here’s a template for a research proposal:
1. Introduction:
2. Literature Review:
3. Research Objectives:
4. Methodology:
5. Timeline:
6. Resources:
7. Ethical Considerations:
8. Expected Outcomes and Significance:
9. References:
10. Appendices:
Research Proposal Sample
Title: The Impact of Online Education on Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study
1. Introduction
Online education has gained significant prominence in recent years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes by comparing them with traditional face-to-face instruction. The study will explore various aspects of online education, such as instructional methods, student engagement, and academic performance, to provide insights into the effectiveness of online learning.
2. Objectives
The main objectives of this research are as follows:
- To compare student learning outcomes between online and traditional face-to-face education.
- To examine the factors influencing student engagement in online learning environments.
- To assess the effectiveness of different instructional methods employed in online education.
- To identify challenges and opportunities associated with online education and suggest recommendations for improvement.
3. Methodology
3.1 Study Design
This research will utilize a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study will include the following components:
3.2 Participants
The research will involve undergraduate students from two universities, one offering online education and the other providing face-to-face instruction. A total of 500 students (250 from each university) will be selected randomly to participate in the study.
3.3 Data Collection
The research will employ the following data collection methods:
- Quantitative: Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted to measure students’ learning outcomes. Data on student demographics and academic performance will also be collected from university records.
- Qualitative: Focus group discussions and individual interviews will be conducted with students to gather their perceptions and experiences regarding online education.
3.4 Data Analysis
Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data will be transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and themes.
4. Ethical Considerations
The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of participants. Informed consent will be obtained, and participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.
5. Significance and Expected Outcomes
This research will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of online education on student learning outcomes. The findings will help educational institutions and policymakers make informed decisions about incorporating online learning methods and improving the quality of online education. Moreover, the study will identify potential challenges and opportunities related to online education and offer recommendations for enhancing student engagement and overall learning outcomes.
6. Timeline
The proposed research will be conducted over a period of 12 months, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.
The estimated budget for this research includes expenses related to data collection, software licenses, participant compensation, and research assistance. A detailed budget breakdown will be provided in the final research plan.
8. Conclusion
This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes through a comparative study with traditional face-to-face instruction. By exploring various dimensions of online education, this research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and challenges associated with online learning. The findings will contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational practices and help shape future strategies for maximizing student learning outcomes in online education settings.
About the author
Muhammad Hassan
Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer
You may also like

How To Write A Proposal – Step By Step Guide...

Grant Proposal – Example, Template and Guide

How to choose an Appropriate Method for Research?

Business Proposal – Templates, Examples and Guide

Proposal – Types, Examples, and Writing Guide

How To Write A Business Proposal – Step-by-Step...

Research Topics & Ideas
The ultimate topic list to kickstart your dissertation, thesis or research paper.
If you’re at the start of your research journey and are trying to figure out which research topic you want to focus on, you’ve come to the right place. Select an area of interest below to view a comprehensive collection of potential research topics.
Research Topic FAQs
What (exactly) is a research topic.
A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.
A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.
To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.
What constitutes a good research topic?
A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.
- Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
- Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
- Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.
To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .
What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?
A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.
To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.
Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:
- What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
- How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
- What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?
Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.
How can I find potential research topics for my project?
There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).
How can I find quality sources for my research topic?
Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.
Identifying Relevant Sources
When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.
You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.
Evaluating Sources
Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).
By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.
How can I find a good research gap?
Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.
How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?
When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:
- Originality
- Feasibility
So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.
Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.
How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?
When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.
First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.
Time commitment
When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.
Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.
Resources needed
It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.
Potential risks
It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).
If you’re looking for more information about how to find, evaluate and select research topics for your dissertation or thesis, check out our free webinar here . Alternatively, if you’d like 1:1 help with the topic ideation process, consider our private coaching services .

Psst… there’s more (for free)
This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project.
265 Powerful Research Proposal Topics to Consider [+ Writing Tips]
![research proposal themes 265 Powerful Research Proposal Topics to Consider [+ Writing Tips]](https://studycorgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/top-view-young-redhead-male-student-preparing-university-exam-792x528.jpg)
A research proposal is a common task for students of different levels and areas of study. Although it is relatively straightforward, it still can be hard to start and choose an engaging topic. In this article, you will find 255 strong suggestions on crime & law, business, finance, politics, sociology, and other subjects. Feel free to use this list for your inspiration when writing your paper. Alternatively, you can look at sample essays for free from our database and try to come up with the topic on your own.
Let’s start!
What is a Research Proposal?
- Crime & Law Research Topics
- Business Proposal Topics
- English Proposal Topics
- Interesting Proposal Topics
Undergraduate Research Proposal
- How To Write A Proposal
First thing first, let’s define what a research proposal is. This type of assignment is similar to research; however, it’s shorter and more general. It aims at introducing a topic that needs a more in-depth discussion. The student should prove that this issue requires further research. Usually, professors assign this type of task for you to practice before working on a bigger format.

A typical research proposal consists of three key sections: introduction, literature review, and methodology of your future study. Keep reading to get to know more about each part and how you can succeed in writing them.
The length of a research proposal depends on the future paper you’re writing it for and on your task requirements. It can be from four to twenty pages. Finally, all proposals should meet the standards of the referencing style that your professor asks for.
You should also understand the difference between a qualitive and a quantitative research proposal. The first one collects non-numerical data while the second one presents numerical information. The results of a qualitive research proposal can be displayed as photographs or recordings, while the quantative research results are usually shown as graphs and tables.
Now, let’s see what topics you can choose for your assignment. Click on the links we shared to find more research proposal examples.
Crime & Law Research Proposal Topics
Law students frequently get tasks like research proposals to develop their academic writing skills and understand complicated cases better. You can be more creative with law & criminology research proposal topics than you expect. Find inspiration for your work in the list below!
International Law Topics
International relations are complicated due to numerous external and internal factors. So, setting laws that would be applicable within different societies is a tough task. In the selection of international law topics below, we collected some challenging ideas. Check it out!
- International law and CIA rendition.
- Individual legal personality in international law.
- The importance of international treaties in warfare.
- Russian and european international competition law.
- International marine pollution law.
- Human rights in international law .
- The relations between domestic and international laws .
- International law, organizations, and power.
- International trade law evolution.
- Legal personality development in international law.
Business Law Topics
Business is another field full of unresolved issues and puzzles from the law perspective. From ownership to taxes – each aspect hides dozens of nuances and business law cases. Let’s see what topics you can discuss in your paper.
- International business law.
- Business law concept and employee arbitration.
- Personnel recruitment and equal opportunities law.
- Piracy effects on the profitability of a business.
- Salesperson’s negligence and consumer law.
- The practical use of trademark and copyright by entities.
- Model business corporation act: the australian law.
- The effects of religion on the implementation of contract law .
- Terrorism as global issue and preventive laws.
- US traditional business law and Its elements.
Criminology Research Proposal Topics
Today, more and more fields of study discuss equality-related issues. Criminology is not an exception. The most popular topics concern crimes against women, children, minorities, mass violence, race-based felony, etc. Discover more engaging law research proposal topics related to criminology in our list below!
- The law of criminal procedure.
- Understanding sexual harassment law in action.
- Three-strikes law for preventing violent crimes.
- The investigation of domestic violence cases.
- Criminal behavior investigation and search warrants.
- Marijuana legalization and criminalization.
- The relations between mental health and criminal behavior .

- Criminal behavior theories and contributing factors.
- Criminal profiling and police corruption.
- Is criminal behavior dependable on one’s genes?
- Grounds of victimization .
- The criminal analysis of the O.J. Simpson case.
- The development of serial killers .
- Eyewitness testimony and its role in criminal cases.
- Legal issue and criminal evidence.
Criminal Justice Research Proposal Topics
Delivering justice to those who committed crimes can be a complex process. There are many unexpected and controversial issues that institutions should take into account when solving particular cases. We prepared some criminal justice research proposal topics to dwell on. See the following list.
- Criminal law: case of susie and perry.
- Pulling the trigger: evaluating criminal gun laws.
- The ethics of capital punishment .
- The difference between war and civil crimes.
- Pretrial procedures in the criminal justice system.
- Juvenile detention criminal procedure.
- Plea-bargaining law impact on criminal justice.
- False confession in the criminal justice system.
- The dissimilarity of criminal justice laws in different states.
- Professional ethics in criminal justice: Singleton vs Norris.
- Racial bias in criminal justice systems and workplaces.
- Gender bias in criminal justice laws.
- Confessions in saudi vs US criminal justice systems.
- Severe financial crimes and their investigation.
- Jury’s professionalism in criminal trials.
Business Research Proposal Topics
Business is a complex area that consists of various disciplines like marketing, finance, recruitment, business administration, and so on. In this section, we selected 60 business research proposal topics related to each of them. First, let’s see what ideas there are for general business issues.
- Quality & environmental management for business excellence.
- Entrepreneurship and small business management.
- How can small businesses survive financial instability?
- Quantitative techniques in business to manage quality.
- Best strategies for an effective sales pitch.
- SAS institute’s generic & business strategies.
- Capitalism and free market issues.
- The impact of leadership skills on business management .
- International business: Sino-American trade war.
- The impact of globalization on small businesses .
- Needs-based business plan and project management.
- Importance of negotiation contracts in the business.
- Personal success factors in the business world.
- Consequences of working overtime.
- Time management as an effective business tool.
Marketing Research Proposal Topics
Today, a well-built marketing department can contribute a lot to the company’s success. On the other hand, having a weak promotion strategy can make even the best product unnoticeable on the market. Let’s see which marketing research proposal topics you can bring to light!
- Telecommuting as a trend of contemporary business.
- Differences between traditional and digital marketing.
- The importance of creating a consistent brand image .
- Market globalization and global marketing pitfalls.
- International marketing: global corporation vs. company.
- Use of alternative media in marketing communications .
- Gamification as a marketing tool.
- Paid search marketing and search engine optimization.
- How do brands exploit impulsive buying ?
- Influencer marketing in the fashion industry.
- How to get readers engaged with your content?
- The evolution of consumer behavior in the past twenty years.
- Advertising analytics and marketing innovations.
- The distinction in marketing strategies across different cultures.
- Which Marketing Channel Has the Biggest Potential Today?
Research Proposal Topics in Human Resource Management
Any business is more about people than about a particular product. Hiring the right fits and supporting them in their working journey is challenging – many issues can appear out of nowhere. Discuss one of the research proposal topics in human resource management from our list below and shed light on the questions you find crucial.
- Corporate social responsibility & business ethics.
- Ethics in business: child labor in chocolate industry.

- Human resources: social media policy in companies.
- Hiring the right fits: best strategies.
- Human resources and organization management.
- How to deal with overqualified employees?
- Aligning human resources and business strategy.
- The responsibilities of a human resource manager regarding talent hunting and management.
- Healthcare human resources management and changes.
- What fringe benefits are the most desirable for employees today?
- Google company: international human resources management.
- Ways of encouraging employee’s personal and professional growth .
- Human resources in global business management.
- What factors promote employee’s loyalty ?
- Federal and state human resources in Florida’ health care.
Finance Research Proposal Topics
Excellent finance management is the key to success for any company. This area has multiple internal and external aspects that should be considered when building business plans and strategies. In the list below, you will find finance research proposal topics related to such issues as corporate responsibility, investment, crisis management, shares, etc.
- Project cost and finance management challenges.
- Foreign direct investment and collaborative ventures.
- The impact of global financial crisis on large-scale companies.
- Fiscal policy: federal investment and taxes.
- Corporate social responsibility and corporate finance.
- Finance and corporate responsibility .
- Financial constraints and investment cash flow sensitivity.
- Roles of finance in business modernization.
- The issues of traditional finance.
- Investor’s role in creating culture of excellence.
- Large profit margins and utilitarian business ethics.
- Finance and crisis management .
- Are a firm’s cash flow and profit different?
- The role of shares in the company’s financial system .
- Debt management process and its impact on the company.
English Research Proposal Topics
English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It’s associated with outstanding achievements and changes in society. Also, it brought to light a handful of written masterpieces and their famous authors. Discuss one of the works or issues from the list below – dive into the depth of language!
Research Proposal: English Literature Topics
It’s hard to deny the talent of such writers as Jane Austen or Mark Twain. However, there are also less well-known masters, like Sylvia Plath, whose writings also deserve your undivided attention. Their works will teach you a lot about life in the previous centuries. Discover more research proposal English literature topics below!
- Meanings in “Lady Lazarus” poem by Sylvia Plath.
- Themes in poems by Robert Frost and Dylan Thomas.
- Gender roles in Jane Austen’s novels.
- Portraying feminism in the 20th century American poems.
- War attitudes in American and British poems.
- The story behind “ The Lord of the Rings .”

- The definition of a Noble Outlaw and examples in English literature.
- Death in Emily Dickinson’s poems .
- Jane Austen’s novels: pastiches’ analysis.
- Why do authors create fictional languages?
- How is piracy depicted in “Treasure Island”?
- Slavery in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” the novel by Mark Twain.
- The hidden concepts and parallels in “The War of Worlds.”
- Satire in “Gulliver’s Travels.”
- Conflicts in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Research Proposal on the English Language
Language is a diverse world that lives by its rules and gets constantly enriched by its speakers. English is a unique one in terms of being a second language to representatives of multiple nations and cultures. That’s why it is influenced by many languages and develops faster than any other one. We prepared fifteen topics for a research proposal on the English language to dwell on its current issues.
- Gender differences in using the english language.
- Speech disorders in english language learners.
- How does english influence other languages?
- Challenges in teaching english as a foreign language.
- The status of english as an international language.
- The origins of the english language.
- The reasons behind the differences between American and British english .
- Black english and non-standard language.
- Language as a political tool.
- Phenomena that enrich the english language.
- Transgender community and heterosexism in language.
- The future of the english language.
- The influence of author’s neologisms on the english language.
- Diversity psychology: foreign canguage and cognition.
- How are ethnic minorities in the US shaping the english language?
Interesting Research Proposal Topics
Writing a research proposal can be more entertaining if you’re presenting a topic you’re deeply interested in. Whether it is politics or psychology, there is a lot to talk about. In this section, you can choose an exciting topic for a research proposal on different subjects and issues. Let’s see what we selected for you!
Political Science Research Proposal Topics
Today’s politics is developing in a tight bond with the issues of inequality, climate change, and others. Society requires the government’s immediate decisions regarding the subsequent problems. The relations between certain countries also become tense, making politicians react to urgent issues as soon as possible. All the above make politics a complex and controversial subject. Expose your thoughts on one of the political science research proposal topics we have chosen for you.
- African-American political science: 14th amendment.
- Political environment: democrats and republicans.
- The relation between climate and politics.
- Political activism: “Forces of Labor” by Beverly Silver.
- The challenges of 2020 United States presidential election .
- The relation between poverty and corrupted government.
- Hegemony vs. counter hegemony: power & speech.
- The American tradition of federalism and multiculturalism.
- Who is more responsible for building democracy – government or society?
- Authoritarian & totalitarian autocracy in examples.
- The reasons why socialism has failed.
- Is global democracy achievable in the future?
- The origins of Sino-American conquest.
- Nuclear Politics in the Modern World.
- World government: utopian dream or dystopian nightmare?
Research Proposal Topics in Education
Education is a vital part of one’s life and growth. Moreover, we spend most of our youth studying and preparing for our future life. So, why not make the most of this time? In recent years, the views on the perfect study process have changed a lot. Speak out your ideas on these research proposal topics in education:
- Teenagers’ contemporary issues: bullying at school.
- Math and science opportunities in a preschool program.
- Authoritative teachers: classic behavior or remnants of the past?
- Psychological development of a school-aged child.
- Should schoolgoers take sex education classes?
- The reasons why education is not free.
- High school challenges in personal experience.
- Will there be no schools in the future?
- Factors affecting technology uses in schools.

- Methods of making the study process more practical.
- Do young people need to get a master’s degree ?
- Homeschooling disadvantages for students and parents .
- How many foreign languages should a person know?
- Is education the key to building a successful career ?
- School experience for students with disabilities.
Sociology Research Proposal Topics
Society is constantly evolving so that more and more new issues arise. Today, we speak more about gender, race, sexual orientation, and ethnic minorities than at any time in the history of humankind. What will be the results of this discussion? We suggest you express your opinion on one of the sociology research proposal topics!
- Ideal society and its constituents.
- Substance abuse and impact on the family.
- Gender bias : will the world ever eliminate them?
- Parasocial relationships and purchasing habits.
- The origins of vandalism.
- Community capacity building against suicide.
- The role of religion in contemporary society.
- The effects of ethnic minorities on prevailing nation.
- Sexual orientation as a social construction and reality.
- How does climate change shape society?
- Cultural and social literacy for millennials.
- The society of future: possible scenarios.
- The relations between art and society .
- Can intolerance be fully eliminated?
- White supremacy and historical blindness.
Psychology Research Proposal Topics
Today’s youth cares about their mental health more than the previous generation. Is that for good? Knowing what’s going inside your head can have an immense impact on your quality of life. This is a truly life-changing journey. The topical issues now are anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. We prepared fifteen psychology research proposal topics for you to discuss.
- Generalized anxiety disorder: treatment.
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction.
- The difference between clinical and situational depression.
- The concept of brain plasticity.
- Why has anxiety become so common today?
- Food and mental health: relations and impact.
- Childhood relationships & adolescent mental health.
- Defense mechanisms in psychological practice.
- How do political regimes influence mental health ?
- Postpartum depression: diagnosis and treatment.
- Personality types : myth or science-based classification?
- The impact of Freud’s ideas on today’s psychology.
- Were Freud’s statements innovative at his time?
- Psychology behind overworking and professional burnout .
- Positive psychology for military leadership.
Research Proposal Topics in Information Technology
Today’s life depends a lot on technology and its development. From work to health issues – many things can be solved or complicated by machines or algorithms. New technologies require new laws and ways of coping with everyday situations. However, there’s no correct answer whether they are good or bad. We prepared some absorbing information technology research proposal topics for you!
- Cyber surveillance and privacy of internet users.
- Military drones: innovation project.
- Cybersecurity and intellectual property issues.
- National incident management and command systems.
- The role of artificial intelligence in everyday life.
- The potential risks of online voting.
- Cybercrime and its impact on society.
- Artificial intelligence and language processing : contemporary challenges.
- Information technology-based data management in retail.
- The use of technologies in farming .
- Email Fraud and user protection strategies.
- Technological advancement of the study process.
- The approaches to maximizing the use of big data .
- Wireless technology and applications.
- The relations between technologies and globalization .
Biology Research Proposal Topics
Are you curious about what’s going on inside your body or any other living being? If you’re studying this, the biology research proposal topics below will be handy for you! We selected ideas for papers about bacteria, cells, innovations in biotechnologies, and more.
- Bacteria differentiation: endospore and acid-fast staining.
- The reasons behind common plant diseases.
- Water treatments and maximum plant height.
- Specific features of the underwater living beings.
- Camouflage techniques in the animal world.
- Agricultural biotechnology and its pros and cons.
- The impact of hormones on our wellbeing.
- Bacteria lab: enriched, selective, differential media.
- Homosexuality among mammals.
- Is domestication harmful to racoons?
- Biomimicry: innovations inspired by nature.
- Who has the world’s most incredible digestion systems among mammals?
- Stem cell debate.
- Molecular biology and genetics.
- Can aging be reverted?
Public Health Research Proposal Topics
With the advancements in governmental systems and technologies, public healthcare becomes more accessible and effective, yet many issues are to be resolved in the future. We found some research proposal topics in nursing and other medical disciplines that will be interesting to study.
- The epidemiology of obesity.
- Are addictions inevitable?
- Social media in nursing: pitfalls and opportunities.
- Can music be used as remedy?
- Artificial intelligence in healthcare: pros & cons.
- Chinese traditional medicine : what can it teach the west?
- National patient safety goals: critical care access.
- The effects of body positive movement on obesity rate .

- Health issues caused by climate change.
- Seasonal allergies and their impact on our health.
- The relations between psychology and physical health .
- Quit smoking: therapies and medications.
- AIDS treatment and common myths.
- Stress reduction programs for pregnant women.
- The importance of vaccines today.
You can find many engaging topics to discuss during your college or university life. We selected ideas for your paper that relate to different subjects and areas of study. Feel free to pick up any topics for an undergraduate research proposal you’re curious about and study it.
- “The Great Gatsby” a novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald.
- “Pride and Prejudice” a novel by Jane Austen.
- Shakespeare’s Masterpieces: Why They Deserve attention.
- Political ideologies and their differences.
- The evolution of gender .
- Race and gender in public relations.
- Why is It hard to achieve complete democracy ?
- Should people under 18 get a tattoo?
- Should living with parents after 30 be normalized?
- Fat acceptance and body positivity.
- How can society make the life of disabled people better?
- Divorce effects on children’s behavior.
- The benefits of Wi-Fi.
- How can investing be useful for young people?
- Artificial intelligence: pros and cons.
- Artificial intelligence and free will .
- Key aging factors among women.
- Can zodiac signs theories be scientifically proven?
- The evolution of cinematography .
- Space tourism: evolution and prospects.
How To Write A Research Proposal
If you made it down here, you probably want to know more about the research proposal structure. In this section, we’ll discuss the specific features of this type of assignment and how to title a research proposal.
A research proposal is a compelling abstract that introduces your proposed paper. In this writing, you present the key questions of the research. The research proposal format can be described as general, summarizing, and brief. Your main goal here is to demonstrate that the topic you’ve chosen deserves more attention.
How To Title A Research Proposal
Your research proposal should grab attention from the very first second when the reader looks at its title. Let’ see which points you should consider to make it impressive and engaging.
- The title should clearly state the subject under study.
- Stimulate reader’s interest by using powerful adjectives and adverbs – speak to their emotions.
- Hint at what type of work is that. For example, if you contrast two methods or situations, be sure to mention both within your title.
If you’re assigned a particular topic, it can be a little easier for you to title your research proposal. Simply rephrase the sentence or sentences in your task and cut off too specific information. Remember that your title should be as short as 10-15 substantive words.

Research Proposal Outline
It’s not enough to write valuable content. You should also know how to organize it properly. That’s why a good outline brings you halfway to a successfully completed task. A research proposal outline is similar to other academic papers. However, its structure has some crucial points to consider. Here are seven critical elements of a superb research proposal:
- Title We already discussed how to create an outstanding title for your paper. However, it’s essential that this is just a proposed name for your work, and you can revise it when it comes to working on the actual research paper.
- Research Proposal Abstract A research proposal introduction typically comes in the format of an abstract. It’s similar to a thesis statement but can be presented in up to 100 words. In this part, you should concisely point out the key issues to be discussed in your paper.
- Research Context In this section, you should explain the background behind the issue you’re studying. Introduce the reader to details and facts that will make understanding the subject and your conclusions easier. Start with talking about the area of study in general and then move to the smaller notions you operate in your paper.
- Research Questions Before starting your paper, dwell on the questions you’re trying to answer. Write them down separately first, and then present the essential ones in this section of a research proposal. One of the questions you will mention should relate to the usability of your research results: will this data be empirical or theoretical?
- Research Methods In this part, you should explain how you’re going to conduct your research. There are various methods of working with data: visiting libraries, taking interviews, field working, etc. Most of the research works are fully or partly library-based, so don’t forget to mention the exact institutions you will visit to find specific information. For empirical data collecting, it’s important to present a detailed description and potential problems you may encounter in the process.
- Significance of Research Your proposal should show how your research can be helpful and applicable for further exploration. It should also be original and seek answers to formerly unresolved issues.
- Works Cited A crucial part of any academic paper is the bibliography. Be sure to check the referencing style you should use and what requirements this part has.
In today’s article, we presented 255 topic proposals for a research paper for you to find inspiration and ideas for your work. You can also discover dozens of examples from one of the largest essay sample databases – StudyCorgi.
Stay tuned and follow our latest updates to know how to excel in your studies!
- A Guide to Research Proposals – Sacred Heart University Library
- Research Guides – USC Libraries
- How to Write a Research Proposal – University of Birmingham
- International Law Topics – University of Queensland
- Writing a Research Paper – OWL Purdue
- Outline for a Research Proposal Project – Portland State University
- A Sample Research Proposal with Comments
- Where do I Begin? – OWL Purdue
- Annotade Sample Research Proposal
- How to Choose a Dissertation Topic For Your Doctoral Degree – Walden University
- Choosing a Topic – Fontbonne University
- Thesis Topics – LSA Psychology University of Michigan
- Choosing a Topic for Your Research Paper – OWL Purdue
- Undergraduate Sample Research Topics: Political Science – Western Michigan University
- Business Research Topic Ideas – Frances Willson Thompson Library
- How to write a research proposal – The University of Sydney
- Share to Facebook
- Share to Twitter X
- Share to LinkedIn
You might also like
How to revise for exams effectively: guide + infographic, how to write an analysis essay: the ultimate study guide, 25 websites every student should know about.

Choose Your Test
Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.
In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.
What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?
Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.
#1: It's Something You're Interested In
A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.
#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper
Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.
Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines
Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.
113 Good Research Paper Topics
Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.
Arts/Culture
- Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
- Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
- How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
- How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
- How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
- How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events
- What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
- How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
- How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
- Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
- What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
- What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
- How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
- How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
- How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
- What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
- What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
- What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
- Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
- Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
- Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
- Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
- Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
- Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
- How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
- Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
- What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
- How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
- What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
- Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
- Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
- Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
- How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
- Should graduate students be able to form unions?

- What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
- How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
- Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
- Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
- How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
- How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
- Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
- Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
- Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
- Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
- Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
- Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
- Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
- Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
- Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
- How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
- How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
- What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
- What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
- Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
- What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
- What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
- Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
- Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
- How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
- Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
- What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
- How does stress affect the body?
- Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
- What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
- Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
- How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
- What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
- What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
- Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
- What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
- What were the causes of the Civil War?
- How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
- Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
- What caused Hitler's rise to power?
- Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
- What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
- How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
- What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

- Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
- Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
- How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
- How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
- What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
- What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
- How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?
Science/Environment
- How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
- How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
- Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
- Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
- How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
- How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
- What are the pros and cons of fracking?
- What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
- What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
- How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
- Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
- Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
- What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
- What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
- How are black holes created?
- Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
- How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
- Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
- How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
- Has social media made people more or less connected?
- What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
- Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
- What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
- How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
- When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
- Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper
Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.
#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early
Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!
As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."
If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."
#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research
Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.
#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing
You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!
Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.
What's Next?
Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .
Thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? Nurse practitioners have one of the fastest growing careers in the country, and we have all the information you need to know about what to expect from nurse practitioner school .
Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).
Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!
Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.
Student and Parent Forum
Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below
Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!
Improve With Our Famous Guides
- For All Students
The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points
How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer
Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:
Score 800 on SAT Math
Score 800 on SAT Reading
Score 800 on SAT Writing
Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:
Score 600 on SAT Math
Score 600 on SAT Reading
Score 600 on SAT Writing
Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests
What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?
15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay
The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points
How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer
Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:
36 on ACT English
36 on ACT Math
36 on ACT Reading
36 on ACT Science
Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:
24 on ACT English
24 on ACT Math
24 on ACT Reading
24 on ACT Science
What ACT target score should you be aiming for?
ACT Vocabulary You Must Know
ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score
How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League
How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA
How to Write an Amazing College Essay
What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?
Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide
Should you retake your SAT or ACT?
When should you take the SAT or ACT?
Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!
Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?
Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:
GRE Online Prep Blog
GMAT Online Prep Blog
TOEFL Online Prep Blog
Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”
Research Proposal Topics: 503 Ideas, Sample, & Guide [2023]
Do you have to write a research proposal and can’t choose one from the professor’s list? This article may be exactly what you need.
Our specialists will write a custom essay on any topic for 13.00 10.40/page
We will provide you with the most up-to-date undergraduate and postgraduate topic ideas. Moreover, we will share the secrets of the winning research proposal writing.
Here, you will find possible ideas for research proposal topics from the best custom writing service that may be used to create your own proposal project as well as a direction for further investigation! So let’s start!
- 🔬 Research Proposal Definition
- IT Research
- 📝 Writing Guide
- 📄 Proposal Sample
🔬 Research Proposal: Definition
First of all, let’s make clear what a research proposal is. A research proposal is a type of paper you write to show others that you have a project to investigate. A research proposal demonstrates the following:
The purpose of proposal writing is to persuade others that your topic needs to be investigated. Your task is to write a well-structured text that covers all the necessary points. Make sure that everyone can understand what you wish to investigate, why it’s important, and how you are going to do it.
💡 Research Proposal Topics
Now that you know what a research proposal is, it’s time to begin the work.
What is the first thing to be done, then?
That’s right—you need to choose a topic!
The list of research proposal topics below will help you start the process. Some of the research topics are simple, while others are quite complicated. The more difficult problems also contain a short description, so that you can understand immediately whether that topic would be interesting for you.
Political Science Research Proposal Topics
Researching political science gives you plenty of room for exploration. Do you want to investigate local or global politics? Are you interested in historical or contemporary issues? The number of options is overwhelming. Have a look at this list to make choosing easier:
- Fascism and Nazism: the contemporary usage of the terms and their meaning in the history of politics. Nowadays, the terms “Fascism” and “Nazism” are often used interchangeably. The terms are originally meant to refer to Italian and German political regimes . However, the doctrines themselves have important differences.
- Contemporary religious extremism and its political and economic basis. The modern Western society is ambiguous. On the one hand, religious tolerance endorsed; on the other, religious extremism is often used to add some fuel to the fire of intolerance. Understanding the economic and political basis of religious extremism might prove helpful in breaking the illusions of both sides.
- Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn: socialists in the contemporary U.K. and U.S. politics. The U.S. Democratic Party devised its failure during the 2016 Presidential Elections by selecting Hillary Clinton . She wasn’t very popular with the public, unlike well-loved, but so-scarily-leftist Bernie Sanders. At the same time, Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters were partially successful in addressing the stagnation in the British Labor Party. Comparing the two leftist leaders and their political agenda might serve as an interesting research project topic.
- Anarchism as a political orientation and a worldview. Anarchism is commonly mistaken for chaos. In fact, it simply means the absence of formal authority and prevalence of grassroots cooperation. Numerous movements exist within anarchism , such as anarcho-syndicalism, anarcho-pacifism, etc. Their proponents have a worldview that radically differs from the “center,” albeit often it’s by no means an extremist one. Classifying and elucidating different anarchist theories and worldviews can prove a worthy research topic.
- A fragile democracy: the contemporary political crisis in Myanmar. Myanmar has for a long time suffered under the dictatorship of a military junta. The junta only dissolved in 2011, and the National League for Democracy officially rules. Yet, the militaries remain strong and often uncontrollable. The resulting crisis is tragic, and writing about it could be a good topic for a research proposal.
- The Arab Spring and its impact on the contemporary Middle East . The Arab Spring was a wave of demonstrations, protests, and revolutions in the countries of the Middle East. There was a hope that they would result in more democratic political regimes across the region. However, the results were far from optimistic. The massive impact of this phenomenon makes the Arab Spring an excellent topic example for a research proposal.
- Sarah Palin and her role in the RNC .
- Shakespeare and his influence on politics.
- The military policy of Georgia toward South Ossetia .
- Racialization of Arab Americans in the post-9/11 era.
- What countries are most opposed to globalization ?
- The Supreme Court’s close decisions regarding minorities .
- The social credit system : myths and realities.
- Why are many people disappointed with the two-party system ?
- Discuss Mexico’s reaction to the US anti-immigration policies .
- How does religion influence secular countries’ politics?
Research Proposal Topics in Information Technology
In recent years, the demand for IT skills has skyrocketed. This trend is likely to continue for the next few decades. Humanity’s dependency on computers keeps growing. Because of this, solid knowledge in IT makes you an invaluable employee for any company. So, get started by writing about one of our engaging prompts:
Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions.
- Traditional envisioning centers on linear tracks. It connects lines to show differences or similarities. Explore how comparative genomics can analyze numerous genomes in 3D surfaces.
- Real-time feedback in education . Student’s feedback is essential for both teachers and learners. Examine the ways and existing technologies that allow a teacher to get feedback on how students understand the lessons. Suggest concepts aimed at improving the professor-student communication.
- WLAN Networks: H.264 video transmission. You can assess how to improve cross-layer architecture for video transmission in WLAN Network. Examine ways to enhance video quality performance.
- Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSN): performance. This topic can help you generate a whole list of ideas for further IT studies: frameworks, analysis of existing solutions, etc. You can investigate transport, physical layers, or application of the communication protocol stack.
- WLAN Network: improvement of FEC algorithms. Explore the possible way to improve FEC schemes in cases of wireless channel loss.
- Software sizing and pricing: correlation . As you may know, software’s size significantly impacts its estimated price. In your proposal, suggest methods to evaluate and lower software size.
- Component-based software engineering (CBSE) process: ways to improve. You can choose this topic among other interesting IT project proposal ideas. Investigate how CBSE can shorten the time for production, increase software quality, and reduce its costs.
- User’s behavior in social networks . Social networks are under the risk of improper users’ behavior. Provide points to detect such behavior and how to prevent it.
- Education technologies in higher education . Research methods and tools that will enhance constructive alignment in higher education teaching.
- How can the government potentially abuse facial recognition ?
- Discuss unmanned vehicles from drivers’ perception.
- 5G : usage barriers and future developments.
- Review possible solutions to current AI-related issues .
- Discuss the role of IT in promoting false information .
- What do massive data breaches mean for regular users?
- How do social media algorithms impact user experience?
- Review e-governments and other attempts to digitalize the state.
- What can happen if we integrate organic processes into robots ?
- AI in the military : violence mitigation effects.
Computer Science Project Proposal Topics
Technology surrounds us everywhere. The internet, for one, has drastically changed the way we communicate. These developments affect all aspects of our lives. One big area that has significantly benefited from ICT is education.
- Machine learning use in prediction of students’ success. Analyze how machine learning can be useful in predicting students’ grades and the rates of course completion. You can use this example to get more ideas on measurement teacher’s effectiveness.
- Students’ profile and study courses . Wrong course choice can lead to poor grades and turn studying into a waste of time. Provide suggestions on how analytics can help in students’ course choices.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in education. Examine how the use of AR and VR impacts students’ comprehension of the course contents. What effect do AR and VR have on students’ performance?
- Learning preferences and customized study process. You can analyze how various students’ learning preferences, e.g., Visual, Kinesthetic , etc. can benefit from optimized learning.
- IoT and teachers’ effectiveness. Provide suggestions on how educators can adjust their teaching styles using IoT devices and sensors .
- VR and AR roles in the assessment process. Virtual and Augmented Reality can be useful in students’ performance assessment. Suggest ways of how the professor can use VR and AR.
- Gamification in education . Gamification elements can be found almost everywhere: social media, professional software, and education. Analyze how gamification can be applied to various subjects. Assess the possible student outcomes.
- Social media and group projects . Social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, are an integral part of our daily life. Assess how social media can be useful in learning, and, especially, for group projects.
- Mobile apps: usage growth. Here’s another great sample of quantitative titles. Analyze the factors that impact the usage rate of mobile applications .
- Will the Internet be available everywhere in the future?
- Describe preview techniques to compensate for low bandwidth.
- What are the weak points of financial cybersecurity ?
- Discuss the risks related to the use of smart appliances.
- Write about issues with online surveys.
- Review the trends in medical software development .
- What health issues are associated with the use of VR devices?
- Cyberwarfare: restored and new underpinning technologies.
- Assess the use of e-learning in initial employee integration.
- Desktop and mobile app versions: how to ensure better functionality.
Business Research Proposal Topics
There’s much more to business than just talking finances. Your topic can be theoretical as well as empirical. Writing about business can cover areas such as strategic planning, leadership, or sustainability.
- The impact of employee motivation on their performance . Is it true that highly motivated staff work better? And if yes, how much better does it work? The importance of this question warrants its further investigation and may prove a worthwhile topic for your dissertation research proposal.
- Disaster preparedness plans for the business. In many regions of the world, disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes occur frequently. The costs and losses of business due to such disasters may be tremendous. Consequently, the ways to make one’s company safe is an excellent research topic in business.
- Ways to transition to a new organizational culture . Studying the ways to make such a transition smooth and seamless could be a great research paper idea.
- The most effective leadership styles for various types of businesses. The leadership has a great impact on business performance, but it’s possible that for all types of companies there’s a certain management style that would be most effective. This theme could be a useful and interesting research topic for your proposal.
- Environmental friendliness of a business : additional costs or a way to make more profit? Many business leaders assume that decreasing the amount of waste their company produces will only result in losses. However, this is not true: eco-friendliness improves business reputation and attracts more clients. Investigating the effect of environmental friendliness on business performance could be an interesting research idea.
- The impact of various types of stakeholders on the success of a business . Exploring its exact impact on a company may be an excellent idea for your quantitative research proposal.
- Business management and innovation . Social engineering technologies caused significant changes in marketing, customer-organization relations, communications, etc. Assess how these technologies can be used in business.
- Effective energy management and its role in sustainable development. If you’re looking for business proposal topics, analyze this title. Provide suggestions on how enterprises can increase their energy effectiveness.
- Social entrepreneurship in developing countries. How can a business increase its social value without prejudice to its profits? You can use this topic for your master’s or business administration dissertation.
- Ethics and corporate social responsibility . Ethical issues remain a popular topic for research studies. Point out how corporate responsibility can increase the loyalty of employees.
- Accounting and accountability . If you’re looking for business quantitative topic examples, explore the connection between accounting and accountability.
- Business management and its effect on profits . The goal of any company is to make profits. Assess how business management influences company’s losses and profits.
- Sustainable development : the relationship with business in the 21 st century. How does sustainable development affect business? What does it mean to be a sustainable leader? Give examples of organizations that became successful in the 21st century. What are the factors that have influenced their success?
- Strategy of communication : old vs. new. Choose a company featuring a new communication strategy. Why did the management of the company decide to use it? Describe the existing practices of communication strategies . What is their effect on the company’s reputation? How do they affect performance and financial outcomes? What difference can a chosen way of communication make to stakeholders?
- China and the US: cultural and organizational behavior . Why is the Chinese market so attractive for US companies? Give examples of US companies who depend on the Chinese market. What barriers for building a business on the Chinese market are there? What are the best strategies to sell products or services in China? Recommend the best-suited regimen for the introduction of a product. Give information about organizational behavior in China. What makes it unique?
- New technologies in hospitals. What are the main difficulties associated with new technologies in a medical center? Why is there a need to keep up with the changing technologies? What healthcare issues create the biggest administration barriers? Does it affect the cost? Provide a real-life example.
- Small businesses vs. big enterprises. What is the current stand of small businesses in your area? How does their performance compare to that of big established brands? Is there a place for small businesses in the next decades, or are they dying out? If that happens, in what way will it affect the economy? What can one do to prevent monopolization of the market?
- Advertising strategies: how to advertise different types of businesses. What types of ads are known to give the best results market-wise? What advertising strategies work best for big corporations? What about small businesses? Give real-life examples. Does the cost of advertising correlate with marketing success?
- Inexperienced workers : how can they find a job? Is there a market for people fresh out of colleges and inexperienced workers? What social groups fall under the category? Is the demand for such people reflected in the paychecks? What can be done to maximize their appeal as employees? Will it benefit or harm the economy?
- Employee reward system : how to boost the workers’ performance? Describe the programs that companies set up to reward employees. Does it affect employees’ motivation? Illustrate your analysis with statistics. What types of rewards are there? Which of them work better? Should a company decide whom to reward?
- How to implement corporate ethical policy. What is ethical in the corporate world of the 21st century? Does the public image of a company reflect on its sales? Give examples of successful marketing campaigns centered on ethical issues . Can a company’s message affect employees’ productivity?
- Advertising strategies and the importance of advertising for business.
- Strategies for running a business .
- Importance of business planning .
- How does virtual reality attract customers?
- What influences employees’ adaptation to new practices?
- How does competition function in disadvantageous times?
- Small and medium-sized enterprises : how to survive.
- Discuss ways of marketing the same product to different generations .
- Digitalization and supply chain recovery in crises.
- Out-of-touch leaders: are they useful for business initiatives?
Management Research Proposal Topics
Management is a vital part of every company. That’s why good governance is the key to success. Researching this subject will prove helpful for your future career.
- Ruskin Bond’s team conflict dynamic model: how to achieve project success . Analyze various conflict types using Ruskin Bond’s team model. What resolutions can improve a project? What can result in the project’s success?
- How to improve product development using dynamic capability? Do relationships between employees affect their performance? How can they achieve knowledge integration and strategic flexibility? Use a theoretical framework in your study. Analyze the data using structural equation modeling.
- Allocation of human resources . What are the issues associated with human resource allocation? Investigate the mechanisms of top-down resource allocation. Use empirical research techniques in your research.
- Project benefit management: how to set effective target benefits? What is the scale of practical target benefits? Validate your research by presenting case studies. Use goal-setting theory in your study. Analyze the dimensions of comprehensiveness, attainability, and specificity.
- Person-centered vs. team-centered leadership . Describe how to balance a project manager’s style of interaction. Use Archer realist social theory in your research. Conduct the study using mixed methods of data analysis.
- Project managers . What is their role in internal and external relationship management? Use mixed methods in your research. Categorize the role groups. Illustrate the transition from traditional to new project management.
- The project’s added value and trust-conflict in an inter-team relationship. Do trust-conflict interactions impact project added value? Investigate relational and calculative trust dimensions. Study the influence of trust-conflict interactions on project added values. Explore task, project, and relationship conflicts.
- How to encourage the building industry to evolve into a lower carbon construction equivalent. Analyze the effects of building development project processes. How much energy does building consume, and how much are there carbon emissions? Does it affect indoor environmental quality? What are the associated needs of operations management?
- Project management practices in private organizations. Which project management practices are used in private organizations? What are the sectors of their activity? Examine the influence of managers’ personal characteristics. How do they choose their project management practices? Use a mixed-methods research methodology.
- Process groups vs. the project life cycle . How are both methods implemented in a project? Collect the data using questionnaires sampled from project managers in your area. Analyze the data using inferential statistics.
- What are the advantages of Facebook in the e-commerce field ?
- What are the skills related to management strategies ?
- Why is genuineness a major factor of success?
- What is a red ocean strategy in social media marketing ?
- The benefits of exponential thinking in management.
- Virtual human resources : is it a complication?
- Explore constructive deviance’s role in improving businesses.
- Ambiguous IT innovations in human resource management.
- Big data competencies for maintaining managerial competitiveness.
- Discuss talent cultivation and protection in competitive fields.
MBA Research Proposal Topic Ideas
Time is money. How can you use it more effectively? That’s one of the central questions you can suggest investigating in an MBA research proposal. For more inspiration, check out these ideas:
- Cost of packaging : does it affect manufacturer’s profitability? What are the most and the least popular types of packaging materials? How does the cost of packaging depend on its type? What are the problems associated with the most popular types of packaging? Give recommendations to improve the packaging strategies.
- Financial incentives as a tool for boosting workers’ motivation. What types of financial incentives do workers receive in different kinds of organizations? Do organizations recognize the correlation between productivity and financial incentives? Study how to enhance workers’ productivity and motivation.
- Effective employee selection and recruitment . Does it work as a tool for achieving top productivity in a company? What should one consider in the process of employee selection ? How can the knowledge of the labor turnover rate help choose a suitable candidate? How do you identify the candidates most suitable for career promotion?
- The durability of small scale business start-ups . How can one make sure that they’ve chosen the best project? How does one determine investment appraisal of small business in your area? Does this process benefit both the economy in general and the investors in particular? Can inaccurate methods of project assessment be identified early? What are the ways to avoid low returns?
- Time management in a company. Study how time is usually managed in companies. What types of work-time organization are there? Why would a company choose unconventional time management techniques? Does it reflect on the productivity of employees? Does it affect the company’s success in general?
- Ailing industries: will privatization help them? Identify the prospects and problems of ailing industries’ privatization. Conduct a case study. What are the reasons for the ineffectiveness of the service? Will the privatization help the business?
- Work environment and employees’ productivity. Study how to identify inadequacies of the workplace environment . What physical and psychological discomfort is involved? What solutions can be provided? Examine the environmental factors in a given company. Employ both the investigative and the descriptive approach in your research. Collect data using the interview and survey methods.
- Strategic human resource management . What are the ways to determine its effectiveness? Are strategic human resource practice and a company’s performance connected? Obtain the information for the study through questionnaire responses. Analyze your findings. Find out whether there is a relationship between strategic resource management and organization performance.
- Corporate governance . Study its impact on the management of an organization. Who designs and implements the processes and rules practiced in a company? What is the primary force that influences corporate governance ? Use research questions, surveys, and questionnaires in your study. Analyze the collected data through mean scores and frequencies. What are the systemic problems militating against corporate governance?
- Microfinance organizations and their impact on small-scale organizations. How do microfinance organizations encourage banking habits among poorer populations? How can the economic status of the small scale manufacturers be improved by giving them more capital? How can microfinance credit influence a company’s performance? What are the possible drawbacks of this business relationship?
- Review how leadership relates to job satisfaction .
- What is the key to success behind family enterprises ?
- HR training’s direct impact on retaining employees.
- Managing stakeholder attitude: potential performance implications.
- What factors are responsible for an organization’s sustainability?
- How can AI help strategic business management?
- Discuss business start-ups in the digital age.
- What happens when law and decision-making collide?
- Employee commitment during uncertain times.
- Leadership reinvention: effects for a chosen model.
Business Project Proposal Ideas
Have you been planning to start your own company? Or maybe you’d like to develop a product that makes life easier? A business project research proposal allows you to put your dream on paper. If you don’t have a concrete idea just yet, here is some inspiration:
Just 13.00 10.40/page , and you can get an custom-written academic paper according to your instructions
- A mobile application to recruit potential staff. The app will involve problem-solving puzzles. It will monitor the time spent on solving them without using outside resources. The top 10 players can be later contacted.
- A website specializing in collecting customized orders. The website will gather information on what people want to be made. It will send requests to affiliated creators. They, in turn, choose what they can complete based on their specialty.
- An e-book café and hardware/software funding. It will focus on convenient models with vast libraries. They will also provide customers with food and music.
- A traditionally animated film in the style of old classics. Most of today’s animated films rely on CGI. Due to the nostalgia factor, a hand-drawn feature could be successful.
- A representative-operated national food restaurant. The idea is to hire representatives of the culture the restaurant is based on. It may increase engagement with different demographics.
- A social media website that takes user’s suggestions into account. Competing with more established players in the field is challenging. However, you may take advantage of their known weaknesses. Your website would mind user feedback and thus avoid introducing unpopular changes.
- Safe-space avenue for online and offline presentations. Minority groups may find it challenging to access busier platforms. Offering them a spot that will guarantee their safety may benefit both parties.
- A reverse experience school for disabled people. The experiment will follow the principles of inclusivity . People without disabilities would comprise a minority. It would allow disabled people to feel less constrained.
- A digital platform for aspiring influencers . The service will offer advice and suggest the steps for building an audience.
- An analog fast food product for vegans. Today’s restaurants offer replacements for meat-based dishes. Still, it’s not always the case. That’s why a product designed with the help of clients’ feedback may become popular.
- A tattoo studio for writing-based designs.
- A streaming service for cult classics.
- A smart hotel for pets.
- A vintage CD-ROM music production kit.
- A real-life matchmaking service for single parents.
- A lactose-free nutritional drink for selling in gyms.
- A hotline with qualified mental health specialists.
- A TV show focused on Native American representation.
- A third-party mediator in a customer-realtor transaction.
- An organization providing research opportunities for students.
Research Proposal Topics on Education
Education plays a crucial role in our lives. It’s an area where constant research and improvement are incredibly important. Check out these ideas:
- The importance of early interventions in special education for children with disabilities . Investigating the “why” of it might be an interesting research topic for high school students.
- The use of innovative technologies in education . The ubiquity of computers and smartphones means that they also used in studies. Finding out new ways in which innovations might assist teachers could be an interesting research paper idea.
- The effectiveness of online universities in providing education. It could be an exciting research topic idea to compare online institutions to traditional.
- University education in a narrow specialization: a way to increase professionalism, or to spread ignorance? There exists a trend of providing education in a narrow area or specialty in the contemporary higher education setting. However, traditional universities have also been known to teach their students a wide range of courses. The benefits of an education in a narrow field and the costs of losing the tradition of an all-encompassing education are a worthwhile topic for a Phd. research proposal.
- Innovative approaches to teaching . The need for the instructor to interact with students is becoming more and more apparent in the contemporary educational setting. Studying the benefits and drawbacks of this approach might be an excellent idea for a research proposal topic list for education majors.
- The impacts of inclusive education on children without special needs. Inclusive learning is believed to have a positive influence on children with special needs and has become a trend nowadays. However, it’s unclear how such education affects children without special needs, which warrants further investigation of this research topic.

- Classroom management techniques for high school . High school teachers often have to deal with disruptive behaviors of their students. Finding out what classroom management techniques work best for this may prove a useful and engaging research topic idea.
- Problematic children: approaches to managing a child’s temperament . All children have their own personality. It can be difficult for parents to understand how to manage it. Many management approaches are depending on how a child behaves.
- How parents’ overprotectiveness may cause a child to become anxious? Some children are insecure and worrisome in unfamiliar situations. In this situation, parents should avoid being overprotective. Encouraging a child to explore is the best strategy.
- Impulsive children: parenting strategies . Parents often struggle with kids whose behavior is hard to predict. There are ways to make it easier. Parents should remain gentle with children. But, at the same time, they should promote their child’s self-discipline.
- What role does art play in child development ? It’s one of the most relevant and exciting topics for research proposals in education. Everyone supports art classes in early childhood development. However, in many countries, art disappears from the list of subjects in middle and high school. Is it the correct approach? How does art affect children’s development?
- Child development : aesthetic education as a core learning approach. Another great title of research proposal in education, also worth choosing it as a thesis topic. You can look into the benefits of aesthetic education. It helps children to become creative and see things from new points of view.
- Testing system: should it be reformed? Everyone agrees that there are too many flaws in the current testing system. Not only can it be unfair; it also puts pressure on children and college students. Look into why and how the testing system is flawed and if there is a need to fix it.
- Does the testing system impact on children’s self-confidence? Tests and exams cause children to develop anxiety and depression. Moreover, this problem may aggravate. It can lead children to develop low self-confidence and hurt their social skills.
- The purpose of early intervention . Some children need special or extra care and support throughout their development. But how to understand who needs it, and how will they benefit from it? Why would this approach be the best for them?
- Education and innovative technologies . E-books and tablets are replacing textbooks. Chalkboards are out of use since smart boards are the new solution. Both children and teachers are adapting to the latest technologies . You might research the most recent trends in this topic.
- Educational apps for children: advantages and disadvantages. Even toddlers can use smartphones and tablets now. Parents might as well use technologies for educational purposes. However, it may be tricky. Some apps combine the story with learning outcome goals and promote creativity. Others might have too much action and sound. This only distracts children from learning.
- What is the optimal “ screen time” for children ? When parents want some time to rest from kids, they just turn the TV on. Is it harmful or beneficial for children? Try to find out how much time they should spend with it.
- General education courses in college : are they necessary? Such courses include algebra, biology, and chemistry. But what if a student wants to focus on studying languages? It’s one of the best questions about higher education.
- Innovative approaches to contacting problematic children.
- Aesthetic education as a basis for child development .
- Advantages and disadvantages of a testing system .
- What’s your opinion on teachers instructing AI replacements?
- Real-time online classes or asynchronous learning models: what’s better?
- Assess learning loss in the top universities in 2023.
- Ineffective civics classes : where did the system fail?
- What are the health implications of remote teaching ?
- Learning to engineer : aims and instruments.
- Assess the importance of peer feedback in education.
Special Education Research Proposal Topics
There are many questions regarding the best approach in educating kids with special needs. Should they always study with their peers? Or do they need special classes to tackle their individual requirements? Your research proposal can focus on various aspects. The parents’ roles or the use of technology are compelling examples.
- Does inclusive education promote empathy in children without special needs? It’s one of the best learning strategies for kids with learning disabilities. No one asks what children without special needs think about it. Still, little kids are open-hearted. Most of them are happy to help their peers with difficulties.
- Does dyslexia affect a child’s social skills? In the company of loving parents, a child with dyslexia will be OK. As children start socializing, they start noticing the problems with reading . It may lead to shaming and excluding them from social groups.
- Classroom management for inclusive high schools. Disruptive behavior is a common thing in high schools. However, everything is different when the school is inclusive . Teachers face various challenges every day. New practical ideas in this field may be beneficial.
- Does early intervention impact children with learning disabilities ? Early intervention includes therapies for those who have issues with learning. Your research might consist of comparing and contrasting those methods. Find out which are the best. You may even try to develop a new approach!
- Should we educate children about their peers who have special needs ? There are training programs for teachers working with kids with learning disabilities . But what about their peers? Would children with special needs feel more support if their classmates were more understanding?
- Innovative approaches to teaching in special education . More individual interaction between a teacher and each student. In inclusive classes, it’s especially relevant. You would need to look for innovative approaches. Most research proposal questions in education are not as urgent as this one!
- Does stress influence children with learning disabilities more than others during testing? In this research, focus on the more vulnerable group of students. Special education should address this question with caution.
- How to identify and prevent reading problems in the early stage. In school, all the learning issues of a child come out. It’s vital to identify the problem immediately to prevent trauma. Look into the root causes of this problem and its possible solutions.
- Technology integration for children with special needs. This topic is connected with many questions. You would need to address all of them in your research. A sample would look like this: “What are the benefits of technology in special education?”
- How strict should educators be with children with learning disabilities ? Of course, it depends on each individual. Still, there should be some limits. All special education teachers should know how to balance being strict and permissive. Your research can serve as a guide for aspiring teachers!
- The role of parents in special education . Healthy development of a child with special needs doesn’t end with teachers. Parents also play an important role in their kids’ education. How exactly can they help their child with learning disabilities?
- The role of computers in accessible school environment.
- Learning disparity mitigation and special education certificates .
- Discuss the pros and cons of compromises in inclusive classrooms .
- What are the main challenges for FAPE’s universal application?
- Do we need new regulations in special education ?
- Review current school models for disabled students .
- Shortage of qualified educators: what can we do?
- Special education during a pandemic: lessons learned.
- What do co-occurring needs imply for teachers and students?
Research Proposal Topics in Early Childhood Education
Young children are extremely impressionable. Because of this, early childhood education has a huge impact on kids’ development. Many factors need careful consideration. Among them are learning techniques and the need of incorporating the child’s social background.
- Executive functions and early childhood education : working memory. It’s easily one of the most interesting research proposal topics in early childhood education. How do children connect their ideas? How does their mind work? And how can we use this in education?
- Early childhood : brain development through playing. The brain develops most actively during the first two years of our lives. At that age, the brain is especially vulnerable because it reacts to all environmental changes. It’s essential to support children’s development through play and stress reduction.
- Early childhood development : child care facilities vs. home. Increasingly more mothers prefer to get back to work right after the birth of their children. Daycare services are developing to meet all the child’s needs. However, can it replace the quality time children spend with their parents?
- Quality child care facility : an overview. What should high-quality child care be like? Parents often face the challenge of picking the right place for their child while they don’t know what to look for. You can provide research comparing and contrasting the best child care facilities in your area.
- Culture and early childhood education: immigrant families . Culture shapes the behavior and beliefs of small children. Immigrant families especially should always consider it. Education programs need to be adjusted to the cultural differences .
- How to divorce and not harm a child’s development. We all understand that there can be different life situations, and sometimes it’s better for people to be separated. However, it gets complicated when they are also parents. A child’s mental and emotional health is at risk during the divorce . What are the ways to protect children from this stress?
- Paternity and early childhood education . Fathers play an essential role in their children’s social skills. They affect children’s future relationships and emotional health. During your research on this topic, don’t forget to consider the sociocultural context.
- Early childhood development : gender socialization. It’s a controversial topic. Nowadays, more and more parents want to raise their children in a gender-neutral environment. How can they achieve a balance?
- Early childhood education and play-based learning. Play-based learning has been approved as one of the best approaches in early childhood development. It allows guidance from a parent while promoting a child’s independence. Play enables children to learn math, reading, and other skills engagingly.
- School readiness and early childhood education . Going to school can be stressful for both kids and parents. To minimize stress, parents can take an active part in preparing their children for this experience. This research would be aimed to identify the skills children need to gain to be ready for school.
- What are the benefits of learning the second language for children? In our globalized world, parents aim to give more opportunities to their children by teaching them foreign languages . It has been researched that learning a second language can be beneficial for children’s cognitive behavior.
- Aboriginal children education: obstacles to language development .
- Does the readiness rate contribute to injustice?
- Outline the new forms of play in schools.
- Discuss the use of relaxing games in class.
- How do teachers facilitate peer communication?
- Explore the implications of racial diversity in educators.
- Remote learning for young children: how much is enough?
- Assess teacher-child interactions during breaks.
- What activities contribute to improving reading skills ?
Sociology Research Proposal Topics
Humans are erratic creatures. Yet, we all manage to live together. Are you interested in studying the mechanics of society? Then you should consider a research proposal in sociology .
- The impact of citizen’s wealth elections . Determine how economic conditions and people’s income influence voting patterns.
- Correlation between personality, income, and career choice . You can explore how personal skills and family income motivate youth to choose their future career path.
- Population background and racial discrimination . Explore mechanisms to prevent racial discrimination in societies with a diverse background of people. You can also analyze the impact of Brexit and Trump’s slogan “Make America great again” on the rise of race discrimination .
- State pension age and its effect on the labor market . Identify how the increase of the state pension age (SPA) influences a person’s and country’s labor supply. What is the contribution of the increase of SPA to the state’s economy?
- Investing behavior: neuroeconomic approach. In the Ph.D. proposal, examine how cognitive factors influence success in the financial market. Offer your ideas on how to improve the decision-making process in investments.
- Poverty among ethnic minorities. Since the financial crisis in 2008, in-work poverty became a significant issue, especially among ethnic minorities . Analyze this issue and research how it impacts occupational mobility.
- Fiscal policy and its correlation to asset pricing . Generate risk aversion ideas and asset pricing concepts. Provide recommendations for optimal fiscal policy and its improvements.
- Racial identity and conflicts: interrelations. Conflicts are unavoidable in our daily life. In your Ph.D. research proposal, you can analyze how a person’s conflict behavior depends on their racial identity .
- Social responsibility : developing countries. Research what safety and health actions should take companies in the construction industry of developing countries.
- Describe the national specifics of poverty feminization.
- Is there a link between parental practices and children’s social attitudes?
- How did the meaning of happiness evolve through generations ?
- Segregation in modern cities.
- Discuss the early stages of language acquisition .
- Is the American dream attainable for minority groups?
- Social expectations and dating preferences: how to match pairs.
- Does family structure impact one’s occupation?
- Social networks and deviant tendencies: what’s the correlation?
- What factors are driving people to military enlistment?
Other Research Proposal Topics
History research proposal example topics.
Maybe you enjoy tracing the footsteps of past societies. Or perhaps you like to study the battles of the 20 th century. Whatever your preference is, researching any part of history will certainly yield fascinating results.
- The memory of World War II in the United States. American history books often depict the United States as a country that played a key role in defeating Nazi Germany and its allies. But was it true? And if not, what purpose did this image serve in the post-war years, and what is its function today?
- Witch Hunt in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The Holy Inquisition is notorious for its hunt and torturous murder of countless women for their alleged practice of witchcraft . The history of this hunt, as well as the doctrine of the Inquisition, might be an interesting research topic.
- Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin: a comparison of policies. The October Revolution played a significant role in history, resulting in the birth of the Soviet Union. The country was to become a communist utopia. Instead, the revolution proved violent. When Lenin died, and Stalin came to power , the country turned into a bloody dictatorship. A possible history research proposal, for example, would be the investigation of the differences between the policies of Lenin, who did try to build socialism, and Stalin, who organized a reign of terror.
- The French Revolution and its impact on the history of 19th century Europe . The French Revolution is known to be one of the most influential events in history, even though it ended in a dictatorship. The revolution’s impact on European history might serve as a worthwhile topic for research writing.
- European colonization of the Americas and the fate of Native Americans. Although the reputation of Christopher Columbus and other explorers of the New World is mostly positive, the reality was far more serious. The colonizers used ruthless and violent methods to deal with Native Americans , massacring them to gain land and enslaving them into labor. The history of cruelty might nonetheless prove an interesting topic for a history project proposal.
- The history of racism in the United States . Whether one likes it or not, racism played an important role in the history of the U.S. The country has not yet recovered from its consequences. The history of American racist ideas might be a good topic for research that may possibly help battle racial discrimination.
- History and evolution of Buddhism in the world.
- The fate of the Jewish people during World War II .
- Trace the development of the post-Macedonian empires.
- How did Princess Diana influence the Royal Family’s image ?
- Write about Magna Carta and its legacy.
- Discuss short-lived Chinese dynasties and their demise.
- Joan of Arc’s image throughout the ages .
- Explore the British Empire’s conflicts with its colonies.
- What was Caesar’s role in spreading Latin in Europe?
- The ideological background for 20 th -century civil wars .
Research Proposal Topics in English and World Literature
If you’re passionate about reading , this section is for you. From Dostoyevsky to Austen, this list contains only the most engaging prompts in literature.
- The character of Sonya Marmeladova in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment . Sonya Marmeladova is one of the most appealing and sympathetic characters in world literature. A teenage girl, she is the embodiment of kindness and allegiance, which is not changed by the fact that she has to work as a prostitute to support her family. Analyzing her character can be an excellent research project topic.
- Tragic love in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet . The tragic story of Romeo and Juliet’s love is perhaps one of the most well-known stories in the world. It may prove a good writing topic for any course in English literature.
- The real-life plausibility of the role of Dorian’s portrait in Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray . The picture of Dorian played the role of a “moral mirror” for the protagonist of the story. But would a real-world person such as Dorian pay so much attention to such a portrait, if they had it? This is a good research question that can be investigated further.
- The character of Eliza Doolittle in G. B. Shaw’s Pygmalion . In Shaw’s play, a simple flower girl turned into a refined woman after Professor Henry Higgins taught her. Her unique transformation may be studied further if you choose this sample idea as your research proposal topic.
- Melville’s Moby-Dick : a story of a captain’s folly. One of the greatest novels in the history of American literature is devoted to Captain Ahab , planning his revenge on a white whale named Moby Dick. Would such anthropomorphization of a whale make sense in real-life, though? Selecting this as a research paper topic may help you find more about this question.
- Jane Eyre : the story of Cinderella by C. Brontë . Does the complicated and multifaceted nature of Jane Eyre make it a Cinderella story? Further study of C. Brontë’s masterpiece may be one of the best proposal ideas for your research.
- Analysis of Poe’s writing style in The Raven .
- Lost hope in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms .
- Racial discrimination in Uncle Tom’s Cabin .
- Explore white normativity in Toni Morrison’s Tar Baby .
- What is the proposed image of Prometheus in Frankenstein ?
- Freudian concepts of sexuality in The Monk .
- Gender expectations and the Bronte sisters’ works.
- Study the anatomical imagery in The Merchant of Venice .
- Domestic animals in T.S. Eliot’s poetry.
- Vanity Fair : are its main characters realistic or symbolic?
Chemistry Research Proposal Topic Ideas
Do you enjoy analyzing what our world is made of? With a research proposal in chemistry , you can do precisely that. Whether you’re into inorganic or biochemistry, this section has what you need.
- The impact of the temperature on chemical reaction speed. Generally speaking, higher temperature means that chemical reactions occur faster. Investigating in greater detail why this happens may be an interesting research topic for high school students.
- The use of organometallic compounds in the industry. Organometallic compounds play a vital role in modern chemistry and widely used in numerous spheres of production. Studying their profits might prove an interesting research proposal idea.
- The use of organic solvents in the contemporary world. Organic solvents are essential today, being widely used for a variety of purposes. Studying them might be a great research idea for a proposal.
- The difference between covalent and ionic bonds. Covalent and ionic bonds are two of the most important types of chemical bonds between atoms. Further elucidating the similarities and differences between them is a worthwhile research proposal idea for high school students.
- The mechanisms of reaction catalysis and inhibition. Chemical catalysts and inhibitors are widely used in the contemporary world to quicken or slow down the speed of chemical reactions. The mechanism by which catalysts and inhibitors work could prove a worthwhile paper topic.
- Chemically related toxicants: their impact on human health. Chemical toxicants may be present as contaminants released by factories. Another way toxicants can exist is pollution and the results of environmental effects. In your chemistry research proposal, examine how to prevent potential toxic influence on human lives.
- Allergy and chemistry: interrelations. If you’re looking for high school research proposal titles, analyze this topic. Every year more and more people suffer from allergies. Investigate what role chemistry and toxicants play in increased disease rates.
- Respiratory toxicity: Chlorine . Chlorine is a toxicant that is exposed from plastic, paper, and chlorinated chemicals. Research the impact of Chlorine on health. How can organic home cleaning products usage lower risks of allergic rhinitis?
- Anthropogenic chemicals in the contemporary world. We face anthropogenic chemicals everywhere in our daily life. Industrial, consumer, and agricultural activities cause chemicals emissions. Investigating this issue can help you build an outstanding title list for further research.
- Toxicity profiling and its importance. Toxicity profiling can become a great research area for college and university students. Find out more about sample toxicity profiling and its purposes.
- Chemistry of LSD.
- Chemistry of synaptic transmitters.
- Alchemy in relation to physics.
- Study the potential usage of hybrid materials.
- Discuss ways to develop novel catalysts through organics.
- Atom movement and modeling of artificial molecules .
- Heterogeneous environment: impact on subatomic particle transfer.
- What are the developments in correcting cell function abnormalities?
- Review safe alternatives for contamination procedures.
- Explore the role of metal oxide catalysts in energy renewal.
Psychology Research Proposal Example Topics
In many ways, human mind remains a mystery. That’s probably one of the main reasons why psychology is such a fascinating subject. Do you want to dive into an uncharted territory or stay on the beaten track? You decide!
- Importance of being knowledgeable about cognitive psychology . Exploring people’s thought processes can be among the most exciting cognitive psychology research proposal ideas.
- The role of family in the socialization of an individual . Family plays a critical role in a person’s life, surrounding them from their childhood, providing them with food and shelter, and educating them. However, it’s important to know how a family socializes a child growing up.
- The potential consequences of an untreated post-traumatic stress disorder . PTSD is a condition that may develop in an individual after a highly traumatic event. It needs treatment , or it may have a profoundly adverse influence on the life of that individual. It’s pivotal to realize how exactly PTSD may impact a person’s life, which makes this a good research topic for a paper.
- The phenomenon of bullying in high schools from a psychological point of view . It’s unfortunate that in many contemporary high schools, bullying still poses a significant problem . It may have a serious adverse effect on the victims of bullying, so it’s pivotal to understand the reasons for bullying and the mechanisms that the victims may use to defend themselves.
- Sociopathy (ASPD) and psychopathy : similarities and differences. The terms “ sociopathy ” and “psychopathy” may often be confused by non-professionals. However, important differences between the conditions exist, and it’s paramount to understand them well.
- The psychological causes of employee resistance to change . Employees in various companies often tend to resist organizational change. Nevertheless, such resistance may sometimes have an adverse influence on organizational performance.
- Empathy from an evolutionary point of view. It’s likely that empathy—the ability to comprehend what another person feels—is a trait that emerged in humans as a part of an evolutionary process. Examining the matter further from can be an excellent evolutionary psychology research proposal.
- Jean Piaget’s contribution to psychology
- Role of methodology in developmental research
- Overcompensation of gender roles in single-mother households.
- Little Albert experiment : where did it go wrong?
- Freud and feminism : do they go together?
- Is aromanticism a choice or not?
- Discuss the trial-and-error method in choosing a therapy.
- Explore the psychology behind Mandela’s effect.
- Aging without children: what are the potential substitutes?
- Pinker’s Better Angels thesis: unchanged violence perception.
Research Proposal Topics in Philosophy
What is good and evil? Philosophers have been asking questions like this for centuries. You can join their pondering with a research proposal topic from the list below.
- Theodicy in the works of medieval philosophers. Theodicy, or the explanation of why God permits the existence of evil , was always a serious problem for religious philosophy. Medieval philosophers made numerous attempts to create a plausible theodicy. Whether they were successful or not can be demonstrated if the problem is selected as a research topic for your study.
- Refutation of proofs of God’s existence in Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason . Medieval philosophers tried hard to prove that God exists , but their “proofs” were all similar, wrote Kant. The great German philosopher argued that there are only a few main types of such proofs, and all of them do not work. Choose this as a research topic for your paper and find out why.
- Aristotelian Physics : verbalization of the “intuitively obvious.” Physics is a collection of works by Aristotle that deals with describing the physical world. Having no access to the experimental methods of science, Greek philosophers used reasoning, intuition, and speculation to build their theories. Aristotelian Physics is similar: it describes the physical world precisely as it intuitively appears to human senses.
- The concept of political power in John Searle’s works. John Searle is a contemporary American philosopher-analyst whose works cover a broad range of topics, from a philosophy of language and mind to political philosophy . Researching his ideas about political power can prove quite fruitful.
- The role of Aristotle’s works in the medieval Christian philosophy . Aristotle played a pivotal role in the development of medieval philosophy in Europe. Many philosophers of the Middle Ages based their philosophical theories and systems on what Aristotle had written. Studying Aristotelian influences on medieval philosophers is a great research topic.
- Thomas More’s Utopia and Tommaso Campanella’s The City of the Sun : a comparison of two utopias. Utopia and The City of the Sun are some of the most famous utopian writings in the history of philosophy; in fact, the very genre was named after More’s work . Comparing the two works can prove an interesting endeavor.
- Roger Bacon as the father of the experimental method in science. Roger Bacon is widely regarded as the person who introduced experimental method of inquiry into science. Investigate his works, as well as the context in which he worked. You will understand how Roger Bacon developed this idea if the proposed issue is chosen as a research topic for your study.
- What is the meaning of life?
- Ideas of philosophy and religion in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .
- How to deny the antecedent to enhance the argument.
- Define the meaning of a “norm” in its modern sense.
- Transhumanism: is digital immortality possible?
- Study the notions of free will and regret.
- Truthmaking: why are information gaps necessary?
- What do philosophical zombies mean for anti-materialism?
- Hume and miracles: a pro-religious justification.
- Is noncombatant immunity a beacon for warfare ethics?
Research Proposal Topics in Development Studies
The evolution of states and nations is at the core of developmental studies. You can observe this process from various perspectives. These include political, social, or cultural points of view.
- Education and success : interrelations. Explore the relations between success and education. Analyze the correlation between education, quality of life, and high living standards.
- Human rights : the impact of non-government organizations and social movements. Investigate how various social movements and NGOs impact and promote human rights in different countries.
- Conflicts and their impact on livelihood. The countries with conflicts are at risk of wars eruption, which will cause deaths and poor living conditions. Researching how conflicts must be addressed to avoid the problems mentioned above might be interesting if you’re searching for good project topics in development studies.
- Waste management programs : how they influence society. Nowadays, there are plenty of waste management projects and programs. Research this issue and analyze its impact on society, environment, and economics. You can examine the Swedish experience and suggest your waste management program.
- Women empowerment : how it contributes to women’s independence. Women empowerment programs significantly impact their autonomy and self-development. However, in some regions, women still have little or no access to education. Research how vocational education impacts empowering women in different societies.
- Social institutions and economic development: interrelations. Social institutions play a significant role in ensuring the well-being of citizens. In your study, you can explore how various social institutions contribute to the economic development of the country.
- The role of social movements in promoting equality . Minorities often face inequality and injustice, especially in countries where people have a diverse ethnic, religious, and economic background. In your research paper, highlight how various social movements ensure equality in a particular country.
- Globalization and the country’s development . We live in a world where countries can’t survive without multilateral relations. Analyze how international relations influence the economic growth of a country.
- Women leaders and their role in the country’s development. Many years women were not allowed to hold leadership positions. Even now female leaders often face criticism. In your research proposal, evaluate the perception of women leaders and their role in country’s development.
- How does globalization affect public health?
- Is microfinance in low-income communities a salvation?
- What does aging imply for one’s income level?
- Developing countries : what is in demand?
- Study capital accumulation in Taiwanese households.
- Review insurance risks in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Explore the saving habits of women in India.
- What did the current generation inherit from the Great Depression era ?
- What are the reasons behind excessive urban bias in Latin America ?
- Is pollution in developing countries inevitable?
- Caribbean states: external influences and countermeasure policies.
Medical Research Proposal Sample Topics
Thorough medical research is vital for human survival and wellbeing. The human body harbors many mysteries that need exploring. If you want to contribute to solving the puzzle, check out this section.
- Addictions among young people : treatment and prevention. Provide ideas for the treatment of young people and ways to help them live a drug-free life. Suggest concepts to prevent addictions to video games , alcohol, drugs, etc.
- Healthcare equality for minorities . Various minority groups may face inequality in healthcare. Analyze why the disparities occur for a certain minority group. Provide your suggestions on how to decrease the rates of under-insured minority representatives across the country.
- Healthcare in rural areas . People in backcountry often have limited or no access to adequate treatment. You can investigate and provide suggestions on how to improve quality of healthcare in these areas.
- Movement disorders: treatment. Neurologic conditions like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s are destructive for both the patient and their family. Assess ways to treat these conditions and help patients.
- Childhood obesity : prevention. According to the OECD report , one in six children suffers from obesity. Examine recent studies and suggest new concepts for obesity treatment and prevention .
- Pediatric transplants: patient survival. In your proposal, you can examine new drugs aimed to minimize the side effects of the treatment regimens or analyze challenges in the treatment of transplanted patients.
- Health education in high school . Numerous surveys show that more than 50% of parents are dissatisfied with the quality of health education their children receive at school. Suggest ideas to improve the quality of educational programs. What issues should they cover?
- Stress and depression among the youth . Stress-related disorders are common among students. Recent studies show that almost 75% of children up to 18 years with anxiety also suffer from depression. You can investigate ways to prevent depression and anxiety disorders.
- Mental health education . Examine the importance of proper mental health education in school, along with traditional health topics like abortions or drug abuse.
- What are the safer routes of estrogen intake for risk groups?
- Discuss disease prevention for pregnant women.
- Review the pros and cons of revascularization in older patients.
- Negligence of donor organs: who else can be potential patients ?
- The dark side of sports: diseases in athletes .
- Assess the accuracy of noninvasive screening .
- Delayed surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic : a difficult choice.
- Shift distribution in nursing : what are the adverse health outcomes?
- Sub-fertility in men and women: similarities and differences.
Biology Research Proposal Sample Topics
Biology is not just about watching birds or inspecting plants. The science of life has much to offer. If you choose to write a paper on this subject, why not study microbiology? Or maybe epidemiology? There is much left to understand about the organisms inhabiting this planet.
- Stem cell research: cloning . Examine the ethics of cloning and its effect on social development. Research what implications cloning may have on society.
- Honey bees’ disappearance . Research causes of mass disappearance of bees. What impact can it have on the agricultural industry? Provide suggestions on how to prevent its negative consequences.
- Cancer, stress, and treatment . Assess studies related to cancer and its causes. What role does stress play in cancer treatment? How can the atmosphere in hospitals help patients get better?
- Heart health and stimulants: interrelations. Examine the correlation between stimulants and risks of heart diseases .
- Diets and healthy food . Explore the most popular diets . How do they affect a person’s health? Are there any benefits of eating only certain vegetables and fruits?
- Pregnancy and hormones . Investigate how maternal hormones in the first trimester impact the risk of breast cancer . It can be a great topic for your Ph.D. dissertation since there is a lack of research on this issue. Most research works are related to the later gestation period.
- Human impact on marine life . Analyze how the Fukushima disaster influenced marine life and its effect on species population. What are the ways to protect rare or endangered species from radiation?
- Drug medicine in pediatrics. Discuss the ethics of drug prescription on children. Explore ways to improve pediatric drug trials and development.
- Indoor life and diseases : correlations. Modern life involves mostly indoor lifestyle. Analyze how it affects people’s ability to contract diseases. Is there a connection between the H1N1 flu epidemic and indoor life?
- Genetic engineering: what is possible in 2023 ?
- Discuss virus mutations and available means to prevent them.
- Explore priors in relation to epidemics .
- What biological factors influence a country’s economic stability?
- Recovery of endangered species: what obstacles persist ?
- Discuss the possible health effects of living on another planet .
- Study botanical structures in advanced artificial designs.
- What are the adverse effects of bioremediation in suburban areas?
- Rudimentary organs: which can be the next one?
Environmental Research Proposal Topics
Environmental disasters are happening at an unprecedented rate. Finding ways to combat them is an urgent mission. That’s why many countries made environmental issues a top priority on their political agendas.
- World’s coral reefs: how to prevent destruction . Provide ideas for the environmental management of the countries that will help to decrease the reefs’ destruction .
- Climate change: a scientific approach. Share your ideas on why governments criticize the Climate Change Agreement. Examine the Paris Climate Agreement and point out its weaknesses.
- LED lights and their role in environmental protection. LED lights become more and more popular. You can find them everywhere: in TVs, computers, and even cars. Point out why LED light bulbs are better than the traditional one and how they impact the environment.
- Acid rains and endangered species . Pollution is a significant issue, and one of the popular environmental proposal topics. Analyze the impact of acid rain on marine life and wildlife.
- Clothing industry and their impact on water contamination. Production of one T-shirt requires over 2,700 liters of water . Provide suggestions on how fashion trendsetters can impact the production of clothing. Suggest how upcycling programs can reduce water pollution.
- Alternative energy and transportation. Investigate whether alternative fuel vehicles can replace traditional ones. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of alternative energy.
- Fukushima disaster , Arkhangelsk explosion, and Chernobyl. Examine these three disasters: what role did a human factor play? Provide your ideas on how to prevent similar tragedies.
- Radon: how to protect families from its impact? Radon is a radioactive gas that can enter peoples’ homes through cracks in the home’s foundation. Investigate its effects on health and suggest concepts aimed to protect families from radon.
- Rainforests and their ecosystem. It’s a widely known fact that Amazon rainforests play a significant role in life on our planet. Assess the ecosystem of the rainforest and suggest methods aimed at rainforests restoration.
- How does invasive grass impact plants in arid lands?
- How do we regulate wildfire’s naturally beneficial functions?
- Review riparian forests’ role in carbon regulation .
- Explore the human factor in phenology-related disruptions.
- Describe successful watershed initiatives and their features.
- How can we replicate temperature tolerance in fish?
- Assess the environmental value of rangelands compared to other areas.
- Thriving ecosystems : what prevents their degradation?
- Modern species extinction : what happens when humans are uninvolved?
- Review existing instruments in predicting climate variability.
Research Proposal Topics in International Relations
Thanks to globalization, humanity is more interconnected than ever. How do various states, NGOs, and other global actors interact with each other? That’s the critical question of international relations. This subject contains aspects of economics, politics, and law.
- Female political leaders and their interaction specifics. Traditions inspire many political factors. Recently, women started bringing something new to it. For example, they eased the tension, especially in formal interactions.
- Representing a nation’s interest: who is the target audience? A country is at the most united while interacting with other nations. It has to present a consistent position. However, it doesn’t always reflect what the majority wants.
- The socio-economic system’s impact on foreign relations. Currently, there is a clash between two opposite views on production. Their differences might pose problems to cooperation.
- Wealth discrepancies: developing countries adopting free market approach. Many countries in the world currently require financial help. Providing it may lead to dependency on more prosperous partners. How can they adapt to capitalism?
- Free-trade organizations and their underlining political potential. Some people claim that countries in unions benefit only economically. However, they also build strong relations in other spheres. Besides, their membership may influence the union’s decision-making.
- State sovereignty : the extent of one’s independence. The countries involved in global cooperation are considered sovereign. You can debate whether we can say it about the countries dependent on others.
- The United Nation’s recent successes and failures. The organization is an influential actor on a global scale. It’s responsible for mitigating conflicts and disasters. However, not all of its initiatives are fruitful, such as Sudan.
- A personality in foreign policies : possible negative outcomes. Branches of the government cooperate on the unified state agenda. However, political leaders may eclipse this effort. For instance, their position can be unrelated to the country’s actual needs.
- Nationalism among global problems: advantages and risks . Currently, many issues require international cooperation . Still, some solutions may be harmful to particular countries.
- Debate takeover’s relevance to modern global discourse. Throughout history, countries were driven by their desire to conquer. See if this approach has transformed or outlived its purpose.
- Analyze barriers to nuclear disarming in the US.
- How do global companies affect native populations?
- What’s the impact of the liberal approach on long-lasting conflicts?
- Analyze favoritism in global relations.
- Discuss equality issues in smaller countries.
- Fake news in diplomacy and potential issues.
- Write about human rights promotion in autocracies.
- How does xenophobia influence diplomatic relations?
- Economic sanctions : how do they punish the population?
- Pick a local issue and discuss international responses to it.
Topics for a Research Proposal: Economics
It’s nice to have goods and valuables. But it’s also relevant to know how to properly handle them. Economics looks into how people produce, consume, and otherwise interact with resources.
- Subtle ways of violating workers’ rights . A government may present itself as a supporter of the working class . Study how actions such as prioritizing corporate interests reveal their real goals.
- Minimum wage equivalents in the freelance setting. A commission-based job has many advantages. However, the drawbacks are also numerous. Review them in your proposal.
- Income growth: which groups might be missing? The overall tendency for people is to earn more. Yet, it’s not always the case for minorities . See what the reasons behind it are.
- Newer industries fearing the power of unions. The benefits of labor unions are well-known. It includes better working environments and payment. But you may argue that corporations consider unions a nuisance.
- Homelessness : are we not addressing the problem’s root? Some communities have spent their budgets on making common spots for homeless people inaccessible. Yet, the underlying causes of this condition remain unresolved.
- Green proposals and initiatives : what are the reasons for rejection? Politicians have been offering plans to alleviate ecological damages. Yet, they are criticized by the representatives of the affected economic sectors.
- Federal aid: issues with transparency and legislature. Local and state governments manage their finances independently. Still, they remain under restrictions. It forces them to rely on higher-level support during difficult times.
- The fiduciary rule: who wants it revised? This rule aims to protect the customers’ interests in choosing investment plans. Discuss why some stakeholders view the initiative as an obstacle.
- Region-based wage increases : a potential temporary solution. The solution’s ultimate goal is to influence the federal wage. That’s why its proponents find regional proposals distracting. You can argue that they could work as a transitional mechanism.
- The US and migrant labor global standards. The issue with immigrants persists. Amid the crisis, select states strive to improve the situation. Does the federal level ignore international regulations?
- Wage suppression: what factors lead to it?
- Recent trade agreements ‘ implications for industry workers.
- How did COVID-19 affect farmworkers?
- Who are the potential benefactors for infrastructure investments?
- How do massive job losses impact state economies?
- Decreased economic growth : what could accelerate it?
- Why are pensions the central drawing aspect of a teacher’s profession ?
- New taxation suggestions: will the rich suffer?
- What should the fiscal policy target ?
- Tipping regulation policies and related issues.
Criminal Justice Research Proposal Topics
Criminal justice deals with the identification, judgment, and punishment of criminals. It encompasses three spheres: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
- Crime and emergencies . Is it true that a lot of crimes are committed during public emergencies? If so, what can be done to prevent them?
- The relationship between the police and people of different ethnicities. Can diverse police departments and body cameras prevent police violence? In what ways does the perception of police officers affect public safety?
- The efficiency of drug courts . What is the long-term effect of drug courts participation? Do they help or hurt people? What improvements can be made?
- The impact of parents’ incarceration on children. Children whose parents are imprisoned are indeed more likely to develop psychological problems. How can that be prevented? Who should take care of the children?
- How does gender influence criminal punishment ? Men are more likely to get the death penalty. Why? Are women mistreated in court?
- Can gun control reduce crimes ?
- How can drug trafficking be prevented?
- Can the death penalty ever be a fair punishment ?
- Will the legalization of prostitution cause more crimes or reduce them?
Qualitative Research Proposal Sample Topics
Are you more of a hands-on student? Does conducting interviews and fieldwork sound exciting to you? Then writing a proposal for qualitative research is the right thing for you.
- Beauty standards : women’s perception of themselves and others. The definition of beauty exists in society as an unspoken rule. Not everyone is fortunate to fit it. What does it entail?
- Feminism as an all-encompassing movement: opposing perspectives. Feminism has evolved from being about women to covering all gender rights. However, anti-feminist and notions continue to exist. See why some people insist on creating separate campaigns.
- The silent majority in non-democratic countries. Many such countries have a high population that could overthrow the regime. However, they seem content with the situation. Find a logical explanation for this phenomenon.
- Likes and reposts: how do they affect people? Social media are not just spots for sharing and discussing topics. They’re also about fame . Certain users make it their mission to achieve it.
- The allure of foreign media. Anime and Korean pop music have found success in the US. Discuss what makes them appealing to the audience.
- Successful women : what are their resilience factors? Some industries discriminate against their older female workers. However, opposite examples are also common. Demonstrate how a woman can stay on top at any age.
- The adult industry: how should we regulate it? People involved in the sex industry are often subject to abuse. The government makes attempts to prevent it. Would it be reasonable to ban the sector completely?
- Counter urbanization : why do people leave cities with opportunities? A new trend is moving into the countryside away from noise and pollution. Discuss what makes former city-dwellers make such a choice.
- Modern readers and their habits. People reading less is a topical issue. Analyze how people’s interactions with books have evolved.
- How hesitant decision-making affects abusive households . When abuse happens in a family, the sufferers often will trust experts to resolve the problem. But sometimes, the process can become complicated.
- What can people do to save the marine life ?
- Study race-based differences in accounts of police forces .
- How do you convince a child with disabilities not to give up?
- Research what happens when children’s favorite teacher retires.
- Review the methods of late-life language learning .
- What are the main obstacles when parting with one’s first job ?
- How are people with a Ph.D. degree perceived by society?
- Overweight people : what helps them the most?
- Subcultures of the past: are they coming back?
- Dealing with previously undiscovered diseases in children.
Quantitative Research Proposal Topics to Write About
If math doesn’t scare you, quantitative research might be what you’re looking for. It’s suitable for everything: from agriculture to microeconomics. Quantifying data collection and analysis is at the heart of this research method.
- Women’s contribution to the US economy . Since gaining equal rights, women started to work and buy goods actively. Assess the importance of their presence in the main economic sectors.
- The limited coverage of alternative energy sources . The world has known safer power generation means for years. Still, their usage remains limited. Discuss whether expansion is possible.
- Public security in democracies and modern autocracies. Security is one of our primary values. Sometimes people are willing to sacrifice their freedoms for it. But does it mean that less democratic countries are more secure?
- Cybercrimes: their rise and potential damage scope . Digitalization comes at a price. We can see it with criminal activity on the Internet. Discuss the forms of such activities.
- Online information sources vs. traditional media . Today, people have more news outlets than ever. Children start using social media from an early age. Yet, TV and newspapers might still have a large audience. What are their advantages?
- Violence is on the decline: myth or reality? The current time is relatively peaceful compared to earlier periods. Yet, violent incidents still happen. You can debate the trend’s universal nature in your paper.
- Natural disasters : does human activity affect their frequency? Earthquakes , landslides, and hurricanes have always posed a danger to people. Recently, they became more frequent than before. Is humanity involved in causing them?
- Smartphones as a catalyst for local decision-making. Today almost everyone owns a multi-functional mobile device. In what case can their use be an administrative issue?
- Social justice movements and feasible workplace outcomes. The recent years have seen several positive upheavals concerning women and minority groups. Evaluate their impact on employee discrimination around the world.
- Space exploration and environment: misguided priorities? Some believe that saving the Earth is hopeless. Thus, colonizing other planets is the solution. Could the money spent on those technologies have solved global issues?
- Discuss the millennials’ inclination towards volunteering .
- What’s the impact of streaming on the music industry ?
- Study cryptocurrencies and related tax evasion issues.
- Review recent trajectories in US media censorship .
- How successful are crowdfunding websites?
- Is it reasonable to choose homeschooling to avoid school shootings?
- LGBTQ’s mainstream media portrayal : a quantitative analysis.
- How do oil spills damage marine life?
- Does autocorrect function affect literacy levels in students?
- Assess satisfaction with medical services against their price.
Easy Research Proposal Topics for Students
A research doesn’t have to be about rocket science. Easy topics can be just as effective. Check out our collection of simple research proposal topics:
- Height reduction in children and older adults. Many people think that senior citizens are shorter than other age groups. Are all demographics affected by vertical changes?
- The Earth spins, but no one feels it. Some people still believe that the planet is flat. They argue that it’s so because we do not feel any movement. In fact, the sphere has certain features that prevent it. What are they?
- What is the mechanism of vaccination ? Some fear being vaccinated and prefer contracting viruses to develop immunity. It comes from not entirely understanding how vaccines work. How do they offer safer protection?
- Evolution of wings and humanity’s dreams of flying. People have always dreamed of conquering the sky. Evolution deprived them of such a skill. The dinosaur’s direct descendants were rewarded instead: common birds.
- Color perception in animals: humans vs. pets. Humans can see the world in all its glory. Yet, other creatures are not necessarily capable of that. Even cats’ and dogs’ color perception is limited.
- Time travel: is it only possible in fiction ? Many movies and TV shows use the concept of time traveling. Perhaps the future will make it possible, but under what conditions?
- How did the Solar System’s structure change over time? At some point, the Earth had eight accompanying planets. Later, the classification was overhauled. The system expanded, but it cost Pluto its planet status. What other changes occurred throughout history?
- The extent of regeneration : cells and organs. Humans are surprisingly capable of recovering from wounds. Does it also extend to whole organs?
- Current issues with space exploration and colonization. Decades ago, humanity managed to put people on the Moon. Since then, other space advancements have been made. Why weren’t they on the same scale?
- The origins of the modern-day Western calendar. Christian nations live according to the numerical system allegedly starting from Christ’s birth. It also includes seven days based on his life, although it predates him by long.
- Salt in tears and blood: is it the same?
- Assess noise sensitivity during sleep and intensive work.
- What determines the uniqueness of fingerprints?
- Alternative energy generators and how they work.
- What determines if a smell is unpleasant?
- How do optical illusions work ?
- Why do people’s preferences and hobbies change with age?
- What’s the purpose of bird songs?
- Dangerous wildfires : how much is humanity at fault?
- Animal extinction : potential impacts on other species.
If you still want to find some more topics, you are welcome to check science research proposal topics on our blog to make your academic writing life much easier.
📝 How to Write a Project Proposal
Before you start working on the proposal itself, it’s pivotal to understand the standard proposal writing format.
Every academic paper has defined rules to follow, so let’s take a look at the research proposal structure.
Components of Research Proposal
Typically, a research proposal consists of a title, abstract, introduction, research methodology, research results, discussion, ethical considerations, and references.
At the beginning stage, you should choose an interesting proposal title to investigate. It may sound unbelievable, but a carefully chosen title can do half the job in persuading your audience.

In this article, you’ll find research proposal topics in many different areas. It’s always easier to choose one if you have a list of proposal topics to browse. Once you’ve chosen your topic, make your research proposal title catchy and relevant.
Next, every research proposal needs an abstract. This part of your paper has a limited word count, typically between 100 and 300 words. If you want to convince your research committee in just a few lines, you should take this stage very seriously.

The abstract must summarize your research proposal, so it’s better to write it after the rest of your paper is done.
Introduction
This is a standard part of every paper, but different documents include various elements in their introductory texts.

A research proposal introduction should contain the following three parts:
Research Methodology
When writing a research proposal, you need to describe the methods you’ve used. It will make your work more credible and allow the readers to evaluate it properly.

Your methodology helps you carry out your research. It serves as a basis for any academic paper, and it’s closely connected with your research question.
Research Results
You may be wondering how you can write the research proposal results when you haven’t actually conducted the research yet.
Well, don’t worry—you’re not expected to draw final conclusions at this stage. Instead, just try to analyze what research proposal results you’ll get after your project is done and how those results will impact your field of study or the world at large.

This is an important part of your paper because it explains to the research committee whether or not your results will be worth the effort. Try to persuade the audience that you can get important results, but never promise too much.
Research Discussion
It’s okay to face some problems with your research, whether it’s trouble getting an interview from a foreign professor or having the funds to complete an expensive experiment.
Just don’t try to hide from the research committee the things you can’t do for your project. Instead, discuss them with your committee so they can have the whole picture and give you helpful advice on your research. Who knows—maybe one of them can introduce you to this foreign professor!
Ethical Considerations
If your research is conducted on people or animals, you should mention how you’re going to collect your data. Make sure your research proposal methodology doesn’t conflict with ethical guidelines.
References and Appendices
No research paper can be written without reading and studying dozens of sources. You site them all in the References section . If you have any questionnaires for your research proposal or any other documents related to your investigation, include them all in the appendices .

Outline of a Research Proposal: Step by Step
STEP #1. Write the abstract.
How should you write your research proposal abstract? Explain the primary problem you want to explore and tell why it’s important:
The next step is writing a research methodology section.
STEP #2. Introduce your methodological approach.
To choose a methodological approach, you need to analyze your research question. Do it from the following points of view:
STEP #3. Introduce your data collection methods.
Depending on how you answered the previous questions, choose which types of data you will need for your research:
- Primary data that you collect yourself.
- Secondary data , already available and presented by someone else.
Here are the main methods of primary data collection:
- Surveys are perfect for assignments where you need to gather information from a group of people. It can be done in the form of a questionnaire or as an interview.
- Observation is used when you need to see how something occurs in natural conditions.
- An experiment is a set of procedures conducted in order to test a theory.
Secondary data is usually obtained from books and articles. The main method here is the literature review , where you analyze and evaluate information from the source.
STEP #4. Describe your methods of analysis.
The methods of analysis can be qualitative or quantitative.

- T-tests estimate the difference between the means of two groups (e.g., populations of two cities)
- Simple linear regression analysis estimates the relationship between two variables (e.g., amount of rainfall and crop growth)
- Multiple regression analysis estimates the relationships between one dependent and several independent variables (e.g., pneumonia in people of different ages)
- Content analysis (e.g., the use of certain words in texts)
- Thematic analysis (e.g., to identify common topics in texts)
- Discourse analysis (e.g., to analyze the text in relation to its social context)
STEP #5. Justify your choices.
Here you should explain why you’ve chosen a particular methodology for your project. Show why your approach is the most appropriate one, and why other methods are not suitable. Here’s the list of the most common disadvantages:
- T-tests become unreliable when the normal distribution of data is violated.
- In simple linear regression , the results are often over-simplified.
- Multiple regression analysis can sometimes use incomplete data.
- Content analysis can disregard important nuances.
- Thematic and discourse analysis can be too subjective.
Research Proposal Cover Page & Format
Every academic paper has defined rules to follow, so let’s take a look at the research proposal writing format.
Research Proposal Title Page
The front page of a proposal includes the following:
- Your name ;
- Your project’s title ;
- Name of the institution or organization you’re applying to;
- Name and contact information of your research’s supervisor ;
- Submission date .
Formatting and References
Remember to make a reference to every article or website that you used to write your research proposal, and only use credible sources for your study, such as books and peer-reviewed articles. You are usually required to cite your sources in one of the existing citing styles, such as APA or MLA .
Research Proposal Timeline
A timeline is a plan that indicates the milestones of your research and the dates at which you could realistically achieve these milestones. Time schedules are especially important for lengthy researches.
Here are the milestones that you can include in your timeline:
- Research proposal completion
- Literature review
- Conducting experiments
- Data analysis
- First draft completion
- Rewriting and editing
- Final draft.
It’s handy to have two versions of the same timeline. First, make a shorter one to include in your research proposal. Then, write a more detailed version for your personal reference.
📄 Undergraduate Research Proposal Sample
Finally, we’ve prepared a research proposal example (MLA format) to help you better understand your task. Feel free to download it below.
This study examines the effect of mobile educational applications on pre-school children and their academic achievements. The research was conducted by studying and analyzing the information provided by similar previously conducted researches. The interpretive methods, which focus on understanding a phenomenon comprehensively, and secondary data collection, were used for this research.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. Have any interesting questions or ideas? Let us know in the comments!
Learn more on this topic:
- Research Proposal Help: Amazing Resources, Tips & Tools
- Best Research Proposal: How to Write, Sample and Tips
- The Importance of a Research Proposal: Purpose and Advantages
🔗 References
- Research Process, A Step-by-Step Approach: Nash Library & Student Learning Commons at Gannon University
- How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography: LibGuides at Cornell University
- Effective Writing: Grammar Rules
- Making an Outline, Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Research Guides at University of Southern California
- A Guide for Proposal Writing: The National Science Foundation
- What’s the Best Business Proposal Format: Bplans, Palo Alto Software, Inc.
- How to Write a Business Proposal, A Basic Guide: The Balance Small Business
- How to Write Your Research Proposal: University of Westminster, London
- Medical Students Topics: Medscape
- Psychology Research Paper Topics, 50+ Great Ideas: Kendra Cherry, Verywell Mind
- Topics: HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, LLC.
- 10 Best Proposal Examples [With Critical Critiques]: Mary Cullen, Instructional Solution
- Free Business Proposal Templates: Proposify
- Writing Your Research ProposaL: Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
- Writing a Good PhD Research Proposal: FindAPhD
- Nick Bostrom’s Home Page: Nick Bostrom
- Research Priorities: Minerva Research Initiative
- Generate Topic Ideas Quickly and Easily: Online Research Library Questia
- Faculty Research Topics: USC Viterbi, School of Engineering
- Writing Research Proposals: University of California, Berkeley
- Finding a project: Washington State University
- Undergraduate Sample Research Topics: Political Science: Western Michigan University
- World History: Britannica
- Literature Topics and Research: Purdue University
- Most Downloaded Journal of Business Research Articles: Elsevier
- Recent Research Topics on Management: Research Gate
- Business Administration: Academia.edu
- Sample Business Proposals: Proposal Kit
- Political Science Research and Methods: Cambridge University Press
- Articles: Frontiers of Business Research in China: Springer Open
- Management Science/Operations Research: Emerald.com
- Working Knowledge: Business Research for Business Leaders: Harvard Business School
- Education Research: EdSurge
- Special Education: American Institutes for Research
- Special Education Research Programs: US Department of Education
- Early Childhood Education Research: Australian Council for Education Research
- Research Areas: Department of Chemistry: Stanford University
- Research: Chemistry World
- Metaphysics and Epistemology: PhilPapers
- Research Programs in Development Studies: Princeton University
- Research Articles: The BMJ
- Medical Research News: Medical Xpress
- Nature Research: Nature.com
- Research Topics: Natural Resources and Environment: The University of Arizona
- Areas of Research: Economic Policy Institute
- International Affairs: RAND
- International Relations: SAGE Journals
- Quantitative Research Topics: Frontiers In
- Articles on Curious Kids: The Conversation
- Study of Impacts of Global Warming on Climate Change: Rise in Sea Level and Disaster Frequency: IntechOpen
- Research Methodology: Open.edu
- Background Research: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Background Research: LibGuides at University of Connecticut
- Data Analysis: The Office of Research Integrity: HHS.gov
- Five Principles for Research Ethics: American Psychological Association
- Share to Facebook
- Share to Twitter
- Share to LinkedIn
- Share to email
I am a student in Kenya at Taita Taveta University…I need a proposal on investigating voters registration turn out in Taita Taveta County

Hello, Dennis! Our experts can help you with any task
I need a research proposal regarding Effective Energy management and its roles in sustainable development
Hello! Our experts will help you with any task
Hello! Our experts can help you with any task
Hello, I am a undergraduate student in Addis abeba university I want a proposal for construction and technology management
Hello Merry, Our experts will definitely help you with your proposal here .
Hello, I am an undergraduate student in Addis abeba university I want a proposal for construction and technology management
Hi I’m a student studying English language ( literature) , my teacher & for the 1 st time asked me to find a gap in a book & do a research proposal about it & never do it & don’t know how to do it . Can you help plz ?
Hello, Soumia! Our experts will help you with any task
Hello Merry, Our experts can help you with your proposal https://custom-writing.org/ .
I’m a undergraduate student in kenya I want a proposal for water resource management
Hello Brian, Our experts will definitely help you with your assignments here .
Interesting Topics
Thanks for stopping by🙂!
Hello, I am a student of Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource management and industrial relations and need a research topic in the area. Thanks!
Hello, Keneilwe! Maybe our Topic Generator can help you, or you can ask our academic experts here .
Need a unique academic research proposal related to global health and travel medicine.
Sure, Catherine! Our academic experts can help you with your proposal here .
Recommended for You
![research proposal themes Gun Control Argumentative Essay: 160 Topics + How-to Guide [2023]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/bullets-gun-black-velvet-desk-284x153.jpg)
Gun Control Argumentative Essay: 160 Topics + How-to Guide [2023]
After the recent heartbreaking mass shootings, the gun control debate has reached its boiling point. Do we need stricter gun control laws? Should everyone get a weapon to oppose crime? Or should guns be banned overall? You have the opportunity to air your opinion in a gun control argumentative essay....
![research proposal themes Best Childhood Memories Essay Ideas: 94 Narrative Topics [2023]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/child-working-in-cambodia-284x153.jpg)
Best Childhood Memories Essay Ideas: 94 Narrative Topics [2023]
Many people believe that childhood is the happiest period in a person’s life. It’s not hard to see why. Kids have nothing to care or worry about, have almost no duties or problems, and can hang out with their friends all day long. An essay about childhood gives an opportunity...
![research proposal themes 435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2023 Upd]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/girl-having-idea-with-copy-space-284x153.jpg)
435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2023 Upd]
Literature courses are about two things: reading and writing about what you’ve read. For most students, it’s hard enough to understand great pieces of literature, never mind analyzing them. And with so many books and stories out there, choosing one to write about can be a chore. But you’re in...
![research proposal themes 255 Unique Essay Topics for College Students [2023 Update]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/smiling-students-walking-after-lessons1-284x153.jpg)
255 Unique Essay Topics for College Students [2023 Update]
The success of any college essay depends on the topic choice. If you want to impress your instructors, your essay needs to be interesting and unique. Don’t know what to write about? We are here to help you! In this article by our Custom-Writing.org team, you will find 255 interesting...

192 Free Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
Looking for a good argumentative essay topic? In need of a persuasive idea for a research paper? You’ve found the right page! Academic writing is never easy, whether it is for middle school or college. That’s why there are numerous educational materials on composing an argumentative and persuasive essay, for...

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics: 285 Simple Ideas for 2023
A persuasive speech on any topic is a performance designed to convince people about something and prove your point. Choosing a suitable topic is crucial for your speech’s success. Do you need some help with finding easy topics for a persuasive speech? Then check these fantastic and easy ideas from...

17 Research Proposal Examples

A research proposal systematically and transparently outlines a proposed research project.
The purpose of a research proposal is to demonstrate a project’s viability and the researcher’s preparedness to conduct an academic study. It serves as a roadmap for the researcher.
The process holds value both externally (for accountability purposes and often as a requirement for a grant application) and intrinsic value (for helping the researcher to clarify the mechanics, purpose, and potential signficance of the study).
Key sections of a research proposal include: the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, research design and methods, timeline, budget, outcomes and implications, references, and appendix. Each is briefly explained below.
Research Proposal Sample Structure
Title: The title should present a concise and descriptive statement that clearly conveys the core idea of the research projects. Make it as specific as possible. The reader should immediately be able to grasp the core idea of the intended research project. Often, the title is left too vague and does not help give an understanding of what exactly the study looks at.
Abstract: Abstracts are usually around 250-300 words and provide an overview of what is to follow – including the research problem , objectives, methods, expected outcomes, and significance of the study. Use it as a roadmap and ensure that, if the abstract is the only thing someone reads, they’ll get a good fly-by of what will be discussed in the peice.
Introduction: Introductions are all about contextualization. They often set the background information with a statement of the problem. At the end of the introduction, the reader should understand what the rationale for the study truly is. I like to see the research questions or hypotheses included in the introduction and I like to get a good understanding of what the significance of the research will be. It’s often easiest to write the introduction last
Literature Review: The literature review dives deep into the existing literature on the topic, demosntrating your thorough understanding of the existing literature including themes, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the literature. It serves both to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and, to demonstrate how the proposed study will fit alongside the literature on the topic. A good literature review concludes by clearly demonstrating how your research will contribute something new and innovative to the conversation in the literature.
Research Design and Methods: This section needs to clearly demonstrate how the data will be gathered and analyzed in a systematic and academically sound manner. Here, you need to demonstrate that the conclusions of your research will be both valid and reliable. Common points discussed in the research design and methods section include highlighting the research paradigm, methodologies, intended population or sample to be studied, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures . Toward the end of this section, you are encouraged to also address ethical considerations and limitations of the research process , but also to explain why you chose your research design and how you are mitigating the identified risks and limitations.
Timeline: Provide an outline of the anticipated timeline for the study. Break it down into its various stages (including data collection, data analysis, and report writing). The goal of this section is firstly to establish a reasonable breakdown of steps for you to follow and secondly to demonstrate to the assessors that your project is practicable and feasible.
Budget: Estimate the costs associated with the research project and include evidence for your estimations. Typical costs include staffing costs, equipment, travel, and data collection tools. When applying for a scholarship, the budget should demonstrate that you are being responsible with your expensive and that your funding application is reasonable.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: A discussion of the anticipated findings or results of the research, as well as the potential contributions to the existing knowledge, theory, or practice in the field. This section should also address the potential impact of the research on relevant stakeholders and any broader implications for policy or practice.
References: A complete list of all the sources cited in the research proposal, formatted according to the required citation style. This demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the relevant literature and ensures proper attribution of ideas and information.
Appendices (if applicable): Any additional materials, such as questionnaires, interview guides, or consent forms, that provide further information or support for the research proposal. These materials should be included as appendices at the end of the document.
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
See some real sample pieces:
- Assessment of the perceptions of teachers towards a new grading system
- Does ICT use in secondary classrooms help or hinder student learning?
- Digital technologies in focus project
- Urban Middle School Teachers’ Experiences of the Implementation of
- Restorative Justice Practices
- Experiences of students of color in service learning
Consider this hypothetical education research proposal:
The Impact of Game-Based Learning on Student Engagement and Academic Performance in Middle School Mathematics
Abstract: The proposed study will explore multiplayer game-based learning techniques in middle school mathematics curricula and their effects on student engagement. The study aims to contribute to the current literature on game-based learning by examining the effects of multiplayer gaming in learning.
Introduction: Digital game-based learning has long been shunned within mathematics education for fears that it may distract students or lower the academic integrity of the classrooms. However, there is emerging evidence that digital games in math have emerging benefits not only for engagement but also academic skill development. Contributing to this discourse, this study seeks to explore the potential benefits of multiplayer digital game-based learning by examining its impact on middle school students’ engagement and academic performance in a mathematics class.
Literature Review: The literature review has identified gaps in the current knowledge, namely, while game-based learning has been extensively explored, the role of multiplayer games in supporting learning has not been studied.
Research Design and Methods: This study will employ a mixed-methods research design based upon action research in the classroom. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design will first be used to compare the academic performance and engagement of middle school students exposed to game-based learning techniques with those in a control group receiving instruction without the aid of technology. Students will also be observed and interviewed in regard to the effect of communication and collaboration during gameplay on their learning.
Timeline: The study will take place across the second term of the school year with a pre-test taking place on the first day of the term and the post-test taking place on Wednesday in Week 10.
Budget: The key budgetary requirements will be the technologies required, including the subscription cost for the identified games and computers.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: It is expected that the findings will contribute to the current literature on game-based learning and inform educational practices, providing educators and policymakers with insights into how to better support student achievement in mathematics.
2. Psychology Research Proposals
See some real examples:
- A situational analysis of shared leadership in a self-managing team
- The effect of musical preference on running performance
- Relationship between self-esteem and disordered eating amongst adolescent females
Consider this hypothetical psychology research proposal:
The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress Reduction in College Students
Abstract: This research proposal examines the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on stress reduction among college students, using a pre-test/post-test experimental design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods .
Introduction: College students face heightened stress levels during exam weeks. This can affect both mental health and test performance. This study explores the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions such as meditation as a way to mediate stress levels in the weeks leading up to exam time.
Literature Review: Existing research on mindfulness-based meditation has shown the ability for mindfulness to increase metacognition, decrease anxiety levels, and decrease stress. Existing literature has looked at workplace, high school and general college-level applications. This study will contribute to the corpus of literature by exploring the effects of mindfulness directly in the context of exam weeks.
Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n= 234 ) will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, receiving 5 days per week of 10-minute mindfulness-based interventions, or a control group, receiving no intervention. Data will be collected through self-report questionnaires, measuring stress levels, semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences, and students’ test scores.
Timeline: The study will begin three weeks before the students’ exam week and conclude after each student’s final exam. Data collection will occur at the beginning (pre-test of self-reported stress levels) and end (post-test) of the three weeks.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: The study aims to provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress among college students in the lead up to exams, with potential implications for mental health support and stress management programs on college campuses.
3. Sociology Research Proposals
- Understanding emerging social movements: A case study of ‘Jersey in Transition’
- The interaction of health, education and employment in Western China
- Can we preserve lower-income affordable neighbourhoods in the face of rising costs?
Consider this hypothetical sociology research proposal:
The Impact of Social Media Usage on Interpersonal Relationships among Young Adults
Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effects of social media usage on interpersonal relationships among young adults, using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach with ongoing semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data.
Introduction: Social media platforms have become a key medium for the development of interpersonal relationships, particularly for young adults. This study examines the potential positive and negative effects of social media usage on young adults’ relationships and development over time.
Literature Review: A preliminary review of relevant literature has demonstrated that social media usage is central to development of a personal identity and relationships with others with similar subcultural interests. However, it has also been accompanied by data on mental health deline and deteriorating off-screen relationships. The literature is to-date lacking important longitudinal data on these topics.
Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n = 454 ) will be young adults aged 18-24. Ongoing self-report surveys will assess participants’ social media usage, relationship satisfaction, and communication patterns. A subset of participants will be selected for longitudinal in-depth interviews starting at age 18 and continuing for 5 years.
Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of five years, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between social media usage and interpersonal relationships among young adults, potentially informing social policies and mental health support related to social media use.
4. Nursing Research Proposals
- Does Orthopaedic Pre-assessment clinic prepare the patient for admission to hospital?
- Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of providing psychological care to burns patients
- Registered psychiatric nurse’s practice with mentally ill parents and their children
Consider this hypothetical nursing research proposal:
The Influence of Nurse-Patient Communication on Patient Satisfaction and Health Outcomes following Emergency Cesarians
Abstract: This research will examines the impact of effective nurse-patient communication on patient satisfaction and health outcomes for women following c-sections, utilizing a mixed-methods approach with patient surveys and semi-structured interviews.
Introduction: It has long been known that effective communication between nurses and patients is crucial for quality care. However, additional complications arise following emergency c-sections due to the interaction between new mother’s changing roles and recovery from surgery.
Literature Review: A review of the literature demonstrates the importance of nurse-patient communication, its impact on patient satisfaction, and potential links to health outcomes. However, communication between nurses and new mothers is less examined, and the specific experiences of those who have given birth via emergency c-section are to date unexamined.
Research Design and Methods: Participants will be patients in a hospital setting who have recently had an emergency c-section. A self-report survey will assess their satisfaction with nurse-patient communication and perceived health outcomes. A subset of participants will be selected for in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and perceptions of the communication with their nurses.
Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including rolling recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing within the hospital.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the significance of nurse-patient communication in supporting new mothers who have had an emergency c-section. Recommendations will be presented for supporting nurses and midwives in improving outcomes for new mothers who had complications during birth.
5. Social Work Research Proposals
- Experiences of negotiating employment and caring responsibilities of fathers post-divorce
- Exploring kinship care in the north region of British Columbia
Consider this hypothetical social work research proposal:
The Role of a Family-Centered Intervention in Preventing Homelessness Among At-Risk Youthin a working-class town in Northern England
Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effectiveness of a family-centered intervention provided by a local council area in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth. This case study will use a mixed-methods approach with program evaluation data and semi-structured interviews to collect quantitative and qualitative data .
Introduction: Homelessness among youth remains a significant social issue. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in addressing this problem and identify factors that contribute to successful prevention strategies.
Literature Review: A review of the literature has demonstrated several key factors contributing to youth homelessness including lack of parental support, lack of social support, and low levels of family involvement. It also demonstrates the important role of family-centered interventions in addressing this issue. Drawing on current evidence, this study explores the effectiveness of one such intervention in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth in a working-class town in Northern England.
Research Design and Methods: The study will evaluate a new family-centered intervention program targeting at-risk youth and their families. Quantitative data on program outcomes, including housing stability and family functioning, will be collected through program records and evaluation reports. Semi-structured interviews with program staff, participants, and relevant stakeholders will provide qualitative insights into the factors contributing to program success or failure.
Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.
Budget: Expenses include access to program evaluation data, interview materials, data analysis software, and any related travel costs for in-person interviews.
Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in preventing youth homelessness, potentially informing the expansion of or necessary changes to social work practices in Northern England.
Research Proposal Template
This is a template for a 2500-word research proposal. You may find it difficult to squeeze everything into this wordcount, but it’s a common wordcount for Honors and MA-level dissertations.
Your research proposal is where you really get going with your study. I’d strongly recommend working closely with your teacher in developing a research proposal that’s consistent with the requirements and culture of your institution, as in my experience it varies considerably. The above template is from my own courses that walk students through research proposals in a British School of Education.

Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/ 7 Best Scientific Calculators for Students
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/ Is Canada Socialist Or Capitalist? (With Examples)
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/ Multiple Nuclei Model - Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/ World Systems Theory - Definition, Examples, Critiques
6 thoughts on “17 Research Proposal Examples”
Very excellent research proposals
very helpful
Very helpful
Dear Sir, I need some help to write an educational research proposal. Thank you.

Hi Levi, use the site search bar to ask a question and I’ll likely have a guide already written for your specific question. Thanks for reading!
very good research proposal
Leave a Comment Cancel Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
125 Original Research Proposal Topics and Ideas
Table of Contents
A research proposal is an academic paper that presents a research topic that requires an in-depth discussion. Basically, it covers the significant details such as the scope, objectives, and timeline of a project to be submitted. Its ultimate aim is to explain the reasons why a particular topic that you have chosen needs further research. Currently, would you have to prepare a research proposal? Are you seeking the best research proposal topics in your field of study? Don’t worry! We will help you in preparing a great research proposal . For a research proposal, a good topic is necessary. If you have no idea what topic to choose for your research proposal, then keep on reading this blog post.
Here, we have presented a list of brilliant research proposal topic ideas on various academic subjects. Explore and pick an ideal topic that is suitable for scoring an A+ grade.
Research Proposal Writing
Generally, many students without having a basic knowledge of research proposals prepare the document by presenting all the information in an improper structure and format. In the research paper preparation process, research proposal writing is an important step that shouldn’t be skipped.
If you want funds for your research project, then you must have approval for your research proposal. Mainly, to craft a winning research proposal, you should prove how worthy your research paper is by including the benefits and results of the proposed study along with strong evidence. In specific, you should mention the need for researching the topic and justify your interest.
In case, you are unsure of how to write an acceptance-worthy research proposal, then make sure to follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Firstly, find the right topic or theme for research.
- Secondly, analyze and generate your research question from the topic you have selected.
- Thirdly, collect the important points and ideas you would like to discuss.
- Fourthly, create a unique research proposal outline with essential sections.
- Fifthly, pick a catchy title for your research proposal.
- Next, construct a concise abstract.
- Then, write a catchy introductory paragraph.
- Explain the research objectives and importance of the research.
- Include a literature review.
- Describe the research methodology.
- Present the expected research results or hypothesis.
- Mention the ethical considerations.
- Specify the research limitations.
- In the end, include citations and references.
- Finally, proofread and edit.
Executing all these steps will help you to come up with a brilliant research proposal. Most importantly, while preparing a proposal for your research topic, you should strictly stick to the guidelines and standard referencing style that your professors ask for.
List of Research Proposal Topics and Ideas
Below we have listed some captivating research proposal ideas on different subjects such as business, medicine, law, education, and so on. If you are struggling to find a unique topic for your research proposal, then from the below-suggested list, pick a topic that is interesting to you.
Business Research Proposal Topics
- Explain the effect of globalization on small businesses.
- Share some best strategies for an effective sales pitch.
- Discuss the consequences of working overtime.
- How does virtual reality attract customers?
- Explain the importance of business planning.
- How to run a business effective-share some strategies.
- Explain the advertising strategies for different business types.
- How to shift to a new organizational culture?
- Explain how to market the same product to different generations.
- How to implement corporate ethical policy?
- Discuss the way of business operations in the digital era
- Analyze the impact of COVID-19 on businesses
- How the regular operations of businesses have changed due to the pandemic?
- Discuss the importance of different leadership styles for businesses
- Why do equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace becoming essential for every business organization?
Marketing Research Proposal Topics
- Analyze ‘geographic arbitrage’ in the context of business
- Research and write about influencer marketing in the fashion industry.
- Present the marketing strategies across different cultures.
- Write about Global Marketing Pitfalls.
- How do brands exploit impulsive buying?
- Trace the evolution of consumer behavior in the past 15 years.
- Compare traditional and digital marketing.
- Explain the importance of creating a consistent brand image.
- Analyze and present whether gamification is a powerful marketing tool or not.
- Write about Advertising Analytics and Marketing Innovations.
- Explain the difference between Paid Search Marketing and Search Engine Optimization.
- Critical evaluation of influencer marketing
- Comparative analysis of video marketing and omnichannel marketing
- Discuss the top trends that have impacted marketing in 2022
- How brand awareness is related to repeat purchases?
Research Proposal Topics on Computer Science and IT
- List the weak points of financial cybersecurity.
- Analyze the trends in medical software development.
- Discuss the risks associated with the use of smart appliances.
- What effect do AR and VR have on students’ performance?
- Present possible solutions to current AI-related issues.
- Write about software sizing and pricing.
- How to maximize the use of big data?
- 5G: usage barriers and future developments.
- Analyze the performance of Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks.
- How do social media algorithms impact user experience?
- Explain how detention policies in Australia go against the country’s human rights.
- Explain the impact of international business law market expansion decisions of SMEs.
- Does the verdict of “not guilty by reason of insanity” do justice to the victims?
- Importance of parental and community involvement in the education system?
- How can covert racism in the classroom impact the mental health of first nation students and impact their educational outcome, motive to participate, and engagement?
Ideas for Law Research Proposal
- Write about gender bias in Criminal Justice Laws.
- Explain Human Rights in International Law.
- Describe the evolution of International Trade Law.
- Write about Salesperson’s Negligence and Consumer Law.
- Explain International Marine Pollution Law.
- Discuss Sexual Harassment Law in Action.
- What are the elements of US Traditional Business Law?
- Explain the law of criminal procedure.
- Describe International Business Law.
- What is the impact of Plea-Bargaining Law on Criminal Justice?
Research Proposal Ideas on Education
- Explain how psychology can improve education.
- Discuss the effective ways to improve education using digitalization.
- What are the best studying methods for students?
- How does social learning affect education?
- Discuss the difference between practical education and theoretical education.
- What are the effects of blended learning?
- Analyze the parenting strategies to handle impulsive children.
- What are the best education apps for children?
- Discuss the high school classroom management techniques.
- How to provide special education for children with disabilities.
MBA Research Proposal Ideas
- What is the key to success behind family enterprises?
- Write about business start-ups in the digital age.
- How to handle overqualified employees.
- Discuss Healthcare Human Resources Management.
- How can microfinance credit influence the performance of a company?
- Research how to enhance workers’ productivity and motivation.
- What factors promote employee Loyalty?
- How can AI help strategic business management?
- What happens when law and decision-making clash?
- Describe the factors that are responsible for an organization’s sustainability.
Medical Research Proposal Topics
- Explain the connection between Psychology and Physical Health.
- Discuss the impact of seasonal allergies on health.
- Assess the accuracy of noninvasive screening.
- Discuss disease prevention for pregnant women.
- Explain the features of medical ethics and deontology.
- Share some modern medical techniques.
- How to prevent depression and anxiety disorders.
- What are the safer routes of estrogen intake for risk groups?
- Compare Sub-fertility in people.
- Explain the common disease in athletes.
See Also – Outstanding Medical Research Topics for you to Explore & Analyze
Research Proposal Topics for Postgraduate Students
- Describe the red ocean strategy in social media marketing.
- Discuss the ethical issues with international electronic voting.
- Explain the benefits of exponential thinking in management.
- Assess noise sensitivity during sleep and intensive work.
- What are the health implications of remote teaching?
- How to improve pediatric drug trials and development.
- A quantitative analysis of LGBTQ’s mainstream media portrayal.
- Discuss the demand for electric vehicles in the 21st century.
- Review the methods of late-life language learning.
- Trace the development of the post-Macedonian empires.
Captivating Research Proposal Topics
- Explain how to replicate temperature tolerance in fish.
- How to prevent virus mutations?
- Write about nuclear politics in the modern world.
- Explain the reasons why socialism has failed.
- How does invasive grass impact plants in arid lands?
- Explain the problems of Genetic Engineering.
- Discuss the concept of brain plasticity.
- Explain the relation between parental practices and children’s social attitudes.
- Examine the ethics of cloning.
- Discuss the political identity of a multicultural state.
- Research the war attitudes in American and British poems.
- Explore the psychology behind Mandela’s effect.
- Discuss the myths and realities of the social credit system.
- Explain how to improve the decision-making process in investments.
Impressive Research Proposal Topics
- Research the early stages of language acquisition.
- Explain the correlation of fiscal policy to asset pricing.
- Discuss the psychology behind professional burnout.
- What are the effects of the State Pension Age on the labor market?
- Discuss the effects of individualism in British Romantic Literature.
- Changes in healthcare human resource management.
- Which ancillary perks are most valued by employees today?
- Google: a global human resources management organization.
- It is the responsibility of the teacher to stop students from delaying slavery in Mark Twain’s book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
- What Relationship Does Family Income Have to Academic Performance?
- Why are so many schools reintroducing single-sex education?
- Methods for fostering employees’ professional and personal growth.
- A discussion of the reasons why American and British English are different.
- Examine e-governments and other state digitalization initiatives.
- What may happen if we incorporate biological functions into robots?
The Bottom Line
Out of the 125 research proposal topics and ideas suggested in this blog, choose any topic that you and your readers will find compelling. Since, a topic plays a vital role in getting fund approval, wisely handle your research proposal topic selection phase. In case, you need help with research proposal topic selection and writing, get in touch with us immediately. We have numerous PhD-certified academic writers in our team to offer high-quality assignment writing help online at a reasonable cost. Especially, based on the requirements you submit to us, our subject experts will compose and dispatch original and winning research proposals in advance of the deadline.
Related Post
50+ Interesting DBMS Project Ideas for Students
50+ Web Development Project Ideas to Update Your Skills
Learn How to Write an Outstanding 900-Word Essay
About author.
https://www.greatassignmenthelp.com/
Comments are closed.
- Featured Posts
Get to Know How to Write a Reflective Essay
What are the different types of essay format, apa vs. mla: know the major differences between the citation styles, top 155 bioethics topics to consider for writing a research paper, 145 best java project ideas for beginners and experts, how many pages is 2500 words, what is criminology and how to begin a career in it, learn how to write an internal medicine personal statement, 210 excellent business research topics and ideas, get help instantly.
Raise Your Grades with Great Assignment Help
70 Research Proposal Topics – the Collection for Your Inspiration

The research proposal is a paper that you have to compose and present if you want to join some of the college research programs. It is also a necessary document if you plan to write the dissertation for the Master’s or Ph.D. degree. In a nutshell, it means that you have some project on the mind and want to investigate it, so you ask the college for permission and – in some cases – support. But the fundamental reason is to get the approval to start the research.
The choice of the topic for that research proposal plays a significant role in this document. Of course, the approval will depend on the quality of that application, but the topic choice is essential as well. Your goal is to persuade that your topic is valuable, and you are capable of getting excellent results with that research.
The research proposal is an application paper having strict requirements for its format and contents. In his article, we’ll describe all the peculiarities of the task. Also, you will find a compilation of various research proposal topics to choose from. We hope that our work will be helpful to you. So, let’s start!
The format requirements of the research proposal
The research proposal is a standard application. It has a standard structure, and you need to match it when you compose that paper. You have to establish yourself as a diligent researcher in front of your college. Your most powerful helpers are the correct format and academic writing style. These features make this document as convincing as possible.
The title is what the committee will see first. It has to name your choice of the research proposal topics. Also, it specifies the exact area of your investigations.
The proper title has to be short, eye-catching, and easy to read. You have to write in an active voice, and note that it should clearly define the idea of your research.
Abstract
An abstract is a relatively short – 100-300 words – text fragment that summarizes your research proposal. It can be a tricky task because of such a limited volume – at the same time, you need to fit a significant amount of data there. In brief, the abstract part should explain everything about your research proposal. Every reader should understand what the project is about without referring to additional sources.
To compose the abstract, define the following obligatory features:
- The central problem that you are going to research, and its value;
- The benefits that the investigation can offer;
- The research methods;
- The expected results and their relevancy.
When you decide these criteria for yourself, you will be able to bring a summary of your research. It will serve as a “teaser” of the full document, where you expose all the features in more detail.
Introduction
Like it all academic papers that you compose, the Introduction part is essential. Dealing with the research proposal, you need to introduce three more features in this section:
- The research background is a brief overview of the scientific opinions about the problem. Other authoritative “voices” should support your statement that the problem is actual and relevant. You don’t have to name all authors and their views, but mention the most prominent scientists and their opinions.
- The research questions you mention have the same goal: they have to convince your audience in the research value. You need to define which exactly aspects of the topic you plan to examine and why. Also, you have to explain the expected reactions, whether you want the audience to think about the problem or make their own conclusions.
- The research approach defines how you are going to examine your topic. There are two main approaches: the empirical method and the interpretative approach. The first one bases on experiments or observations. It is traditional for studies in Sciences. The interpretative approach is applicable for studies in literature and Arts. Note that you need to identify your strategy and ground why it is suitable for your investigation.
Methodology
This part of the research proposal concerns methods you’ve chosen to explore the chosen topic. In all standard projects, you have to work with the documentation. There must be other works describing and exploring the problem. However, a good part must be your independent researches to bring your own conclusions.
Besides naming your methods, you need to persuade the committee that you master them. Speaking of the documents and archives’ investigation, you need to prove that you have access to those sources. When it comes to experiments, polls, and so on – describe which audience you can cover and the volume of the data you can collect.
Results
At this stage, you don’t have to provide the final conclusions – you can’t have them. However, you can describe what results you expect to receive. Also, you need to underline the practical benefits for your field that the research will bring. It is vital to present this part effectively, as it lets the committee to evaluate your planned effort and the expected results.
Discussion
In this part, can address the committee with your main troubles for the research. Naturally, you might need help. It can be some financial support, or the need to get in touch with certain established people to interview them. In any case, you describe these obstacles in the proposal as well. The committee will evaluate them, and it can assist you.
Ethical considerations
You need to mention potential ethical issues if you face them during the research. In most cases, it concerns experiments with people. Make sure that they won’t contradict the moral regulations.
References
Even though your research proposal is not the research paper itself, you have to provide the list of works cited for it. Obviously, you do the literature overview when you examine the background of the topic. Also, you might refer to some studies in other parts of the proposal paper. It means you need the proper bibliography list, as you do for any other college paper. List all your sources and format them according to the required style (APA or MLA).
Appendices
In this part, you add all thematic data that you used to make a case for your research. These data can be any supporting evidence. For instance, you can include calculations, graphs, copies of some documents, preliminary analyses’ results, and so on.
List of research proposal topics for productive researches
As a rule, research proposals deal with significant studies demanding many months or even several years of work. To choose the right one from many research proposal topics, you need to consider several criteria:
- Your personal interest. If you dedicate so much time to the study, you need motivation. There isn’t a better motivation than your genuine interest.
- The topic should be relevant – it must have its value for the current social and scientific fields.
- It must be feasible academically – there should be enough reliable sources to examine.
- And it must be achievable for you – make sure that you can do the planned tasks. You need access to the necessary data and knowledge to process and interpret them.
Below, you’ll find the list of research proposal topics that we’ve collected for different subjects. Choose one that inspires you or develop a new idea grounded on those suggestions.
Political Science
- The hybrid wars grounds.
- The new religious extremism grounds.
- The role of the global pandemic in the democracy crises.
- European revolutions of the XXI century.
- The new socialism understanding of the UK and the USA.
- Ethnic conflicts of the XXI century.
- The modern Russian ideology.
- The modern tendencies to absolutism in democratic states.
- The role of propaganda in the political establishment.
- Syria’s conflict grounds.
Business
- The most efficient advertising strategies.
- The main challenges of business planning.
- Personal motivation as a critical performance factor.
- The corporate cultures’ influence on employees’ performance.
- The most efficient risk evaluation methods.
- Digitalization in traditional businesses.
- Prediction of disasters in business plans.
- Environment-friendly successful businesses.
- The difference in entrepreneurship approaches in the USA and EU.
- Corporate ethics and representation.
History
- Karl Marx’s works and their influence on European history.
- The Christian church’s schisms.
- The grounds of the gladiators’ sport in Ancient Rome.
- The creation of Israel.
- Racism in the USA of the XXI century.
- The French Revolution and its influence on European history.
- The Age of Discovery in the context of European history.
- The colonization crises of the XX century.
- The Russian revolution stages.
- The “witch hunt” in the USA.
Literature
- The “lost generation” impact on American and European literature.
- The problem of slavery in the US and Russian literature.
- Ethical issues in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novels.
- The science fiction genre in the XX and XXI centuries.
- The latest social trends in modern fiction literature.
- Distinguishing features of the Scandinavian novels of the XXI century.
- Ancient Greek plots in contemporary European literature.
- The evolution of the detective genre.
- Reminiscences of Shakespeare’s works in modern literature.
- The literature mass phenomena of the 2000s.
Psychology
- The impact of self-isolation on mental health.
- The primary socialization challenges that students on remote education
- face
- The effect of immigrants’ communities on teenagers.
- The most frequent untreated psychological traumas in families.
- The subjective grounds of employee motivation.
- The causes of work conflicts.
- The impact of rituals on employees’ performance.
- The cyberbullying phenomena and its distinctive features.
- The role of empathy in personal development.
- The xenophobia phenomenon in modern US society.
Social sciences
- Representation of social movements in Twitter communities.
- The interrelations between social and economic development.
- The grounds of conflicts in immigrants’ communities.
- The problem of equity in college education.
- Human rights vs. cultural specificities – when it is time to interfere.
- Women leaders in the XXI century.
- The social discrimination problems.
- Personal identity issues of the XXI century.
- The impact of social networks on the latest social trends.
- The social role of diasporas in the USA.
IT Research
- Virtual reality prospects for the remote work.
- Desktop-based apps vs. mobile apps.
- The main scopes of machine learning in college education.
- The most efficient methods of online training.
- The user’s personality in social networks.
- The prospects of gamification for education and work.
- The role of distant communication for the pandemic circumstances.
- The most demanded trends in mobile apps’ development.
- The most efficient technologies for higher education.
- The social networks’ characteristic features and how they appeal to different users.
And if you feel like getting more support – contact us. We can help you to select the correct research proposal topic, consult you on the further tasks, or even develop the proposal paper based on your ideas.
Leave any of your tasks to our professionals! Submit your instructions and forget about looming deadlines - you will receive your neatly written work just in time.
Let our professionals do your tasks!

Please, enter your name.
Please, enter correct email address.
Give us your phone number
and we will get back to you soon!
We will contact you
as soon as possible!
The best AI tools to power your academic research

The future of academia is likely to be transformed by AI language models such as ChatGPT. Here are some other tools worth knowing about.
"ChatGPT will redefine the future of academic research. But most academics don't know how to use it intelligently," Mushtaq Bilal, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, recently tweeted.
Academia and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly intertwined, and as AI continues to advance, it is likely that academics will continue to either embrace its potential or voice concerns about its risks.
"There are two camps in academia. The first is the early adopters of artificial intelligence, and the second is the professors and academics who think AI corrupts academic integrity," Bilal told Euronews Next.
- AI prompt engineering: How talking to ChatGPT became the hottest tech job with a six-figure salary
He places himself firmly in the first camp.
The Pakistani-born and Denmark-based professor believes that if used thoughtfully, AI language models could help democratise education and even give way to more knowledge.
Many experts have pointed out that the accuracy and quality of the output produced by language models such as ChatGPT are not trustworthy. The generated text can sometimes be biased, limited or inaccurate.
But Bilal says that understanding those limitations, paired with the right approach, can make language models “do a lot of quality labour for you,” notably for academia.
Incremental prompting to create a 'structure'
To create an academia-worthy structure, Bilal says it is fundamental to master incremental prompting, a technique traditionally used in behavioural therapy and special education.
It involves breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and providing prompts or cues to help the individual complete each one successfully. The prompts then gradually become more complicated.
In behavioural therapy, incremental prompting allows individuals to build their sense of confidence. In language models, it allows for “way more sophisticated answers”.
- Google’s Bard vs OpenAI’s ChatGPT: Which of the rival AI chatbots is better?
In a Twitter thread, Bilal showed how he managed to get ChatGPT to provide a “brilliant outline” for a journal article using incremental prompting.
In his demonstration, Bilal started by asking ChatGPT about specific concepts relevant to his work, then about authors and their ideas, guiding the AI-driven chatbot through the contextual knowledge pertinent to his essay.
“Now that ChatGPT has a fair idea about my project, I ask it to create an outline for a journal article,” he explained, before declaring the results he obtained would likely save him “20 hours of labour”.
“If I just wrote a paragraph for every point in the outline, I'd have a decent first draft of my article”.
Incremental prompting also allows ChatGPT and other AI models to help when it comes to "making education more democratic," Bilal said.
Some people have the luxury of discussing with Harvard or Oxford professors potential academic outlines or angles for scientific papers, "but not everyone does," he explained.
"If I were in Pakistan, I would not have access to Harvard professors but I would still need to brainstorm ideas. So instead, I could use AI apps to have an intelligent conversation and help me formulate my research".
Bilal recently made ChatGPT think and talk like a Stanford professor. Then, to fact-check how authentic the output was, he asked the same questions to a real-life Stanford professor. The results were astonishing.
ChatGPT is only one of the many AI-powered apps you can use for academic writing, or to mimic conversations with renowned academics.
Here are other AI-driven software to help your academic efforts, handpicked by Bilal.
1. Consensus
In Bilal’s own words: "If ChatGPT and Google Scholar got married, their child would be Consensus — an AI-powered search engine".
Consensus looks like most search engines but what sets it apart is that you ask Yes/No questions, to which it provides answers with the consensus of the academic community.
Users can also ask Consensus about the relationship between concepts and about something’s cause and effect. For example: Does immigration improve the economy?
Consensus would reply to that question by stating that most studies have found that immigration generally improves the economy, providing a list of the academic papers it used to arrive at the consensus, and ultimately sharing the summaries of the top articles it analysed.
The AI-powered search engine is only equipped to respond to six topics: economics, sleep, social policy, medicine, and mental health and health supplements.
2. Elicit.org
Elicit, "the AI research assistant" according to its founders, also uses language models to answer questions. Still, its knowledge is solely based on research, enabling "intelligent conversations" and brainstorming with a very knowledgeable and verified source.
The software can also find relevant papers without perfect keyword matches, summarise them and extract key information.
3. Scite.ai
Although language models like ChatGPT are not designed to intentionally deceive, it has been proven they can generate text that is not based on factual information, and include fake citations to papers that don't exist.
But there is an AI-powered app that gives you real citations to actually published papers - Scite.
"This is one of my favourite ones to improve workflows," said Bilal.
Similar to Elicit, upon being asked a question, Scite delivers answers with a detailed list of all the papers cited in the response.
"Also, if I make a claim and that claim has been refuted or corroborated by various people or various journals, Scite gives me the exact number. So this is really very, very powerful".
"If I were to teach any seminar on writing, I would teach how to use this app".
4. Research Rabbit
"Research Rabbit is an incredible tool that FAST-TRACKS your research. Best part: it's FREE. But most academics don't know about it," tweeted Bilal.
Called by its founders "the Spotify of research," Research Rabbit allows adding academic papers to "collections".
These collections allow the software to learn about the user’s interests, prompting new relevant recommendations.
Research Rabbit also allows visualising the scholarly network of papers and co-authorships in graphs, so that users can follow the work of a single topic or author and dive deeper into their research.
ChatPDF is an AI-powered app that makes reading and analysing journal articles easier and faster.
"It's like ChatGPT, but for research papers," said Bilal.
Users start by uploading the research paper PDF into the AI software and then start asking it questions.
The app then prepares a short summary of the paper and provides the user with examples of questions that it could answer based on the full article.
What promise does AI hold for the future of research?
The development of AI will be as fundamental "as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone," wrote Bill Gates in the latest post on his personal blog, titled ‘The Age of AI Has Begun’.
"Computers haven’t had the effect on education that many of us in the industry have hoped," he wrote.
"But I think in the next five to 10 years, AI-driven software will finally deliver on the promise of revolutionising the way people teach and learn".
You might also like

Surgeons perform transplant of a whole human eye in world first

Which European countries spend the most money on healthcare?

Eating fish and antioxidants could help lung disease sufferers

Site Search
- About ARPA-E
- Team Directory
- ARPA-E History
- Annual Reports
- Budget Requests
- Apply For Funding
- Authorization
- ARPA-E Technologies
- Search Our Programs
- Search Individual Projects
- OPEN Programs
- Exploratory Topics
- Project Guidance
- ARPA-E Technology-to-Market
- Technology Commercialization
- External Engagement Model
- Investor Updates
- ARPA-E News & Media
- Press Releases
- Energy Briefs
- Publications
- ARPA-E Events
- Energy Innovation Summit
- Careers at ARPA-E
- Job Opportunities
- Life at ARPA-E
- ARPA-E FAQs
- General Questions
- Current Funding Opportunities
- Closed Funding Opportunities
Press Release

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $10 Million to Support Next Generation of Energy Innovators
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $10 million in funding for a new program to support early-career innovators seeking to convert disruptive and unconventional ideas into impactful new technologies across the full spectrum of energy applications. In addition to funding research efforts, the Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy 2024 (IGNIITE 2024) program —led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)—will include dedicated events, meetings, and mentorship activities. This new program reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda to enhance our nation’s competitiveness through research and development, promote American-led discovery and innovation, and advance U.S. leadership in the clean energy technologies of the future. “I was once a young engineer, and at ARPA-E we want to support early-career researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers to develop outside the box energy solutions and tackle the challenges they are passionate about,” said ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang. “With IGNIITE 2024, I am optimistic that together, we can support a new generation of energy innovators and create a clean, sustainable energy future.” Early-career scientists and engineers are often the source of disruptive innovations in research and technology. IGNIITE 2024 aims to encourage and empower these innovators to become independent researchers and unleash their creativity to develop disruptive energy technologies that address the urgent energy-related challenges our country is facing. Applicants may propose any energy technology R&D project that addresses one or more of ARPA-E’s goals . Applicants must also explain how the proposed concept represents a transformative approach to more efficiently, economically, and sustainably generate, transport, or utilize energy. Awardees will be required to participate in the ARPA-E IGNIITE Summer Program. The Summer Program will consist of two-week summer sessions held in Washington, D.C with the following activities:
- IGNIITE annual review meeting at ARPA-E headquarters;
- Training at ARPA-E (e.g., proposal writing, project management, public speaking, pitching, technology transfer and outreach);
- Engagement with public and private stakeholders (e.g., federal funding agencies, private sector investors); and
- Interaction with ARPA-E Program Directors, Technology-to-Market Advisors, and Fellows, as well as with other IGNIITE awardees.
You can access more information on ARPA-E eXCHANGE .
Press and General Inquiries: 202-287-5440 [email protected]
- MIC ICT Policy
- Press Release
- Call for Proposals for Information and Communications Technology R&D
April 5, 2023 Call for Proposals for Information and Communications Technology R&D
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) announces call a for proposals for new research and development (R&D) themes of information and communications technologies from Wednesday, April 5 through Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
1. Period of the call for proposals
From Wednesday, April 5 to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 10, 2023
2. R&D themes
MIC invites research proposals for the following R&D themes.
3. Method of application
(1) prepare a written proposal following guidelines for preparing written proposals..
* The published material is in Japanese only
(2) Make an online application by entering application information through the Cross-ministerial Research and Development Management System (called “e-Rad” for short).
(Complete all application operations on the system by 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.)
4. Selection of contractor candidate and future schedule
External experts and specialists will evaluate proposals submitted following MIC’s Guidelines for the Evaluation of Information and Communications Research (6th Edition). Based on the evaluation results, MIC will select the implementing organizations. The implementing organization will conclude a consignment contract with MIC to conduct this R&D.
If no proposals meeting the requirements are submitted, MIC will again invite proposals.
For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html
Global Strategy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920
FAX: +81 3 5253 5924

Call for Exhibition Proposals
The exhibition will be held 25–26 March 2024 at UC Davis, Department of Design, Maker Space and show work related to the symposium theme. The exhibition proposals should demonstrate wearables design research through artistic experimentations, collaborations and cross/interdisciplinary practice. For example, submissions could include aesthetic, functional and conceptual wearables and e-textiles, other smart material and interface prototypes resulting from collaboration/s, a collection of research samples, and textiles art and other creative expressions challenging the contemporary practice which illuminate the specific theme of the symposium collaboration.
It is expected that the submitted work has not been shown before in its current form. It can be a continuation of a larger body of work, but needs to be a significant contribution beyond previous exhibitions.
The exhibition proposal should include a plan of installation with either sketches, illustrations or photos showing the scale of the exhibition piece(s) and required AV requirements.
It is also expected that at least one exhibitor associated with the work will register and attend the conference in-person.
Deadline for exhibition proposals – January 15th 2024
Notification of acceptance – February 1st 2024
Deadline for the reception of art works – March 1st 2024 if by mail
Dates of installation – March 23rd and 24th-am 2024
Exhibition Proposal Submission
To submit a proposal to the exhibition, please fill in the online form with the following information:
Identify which of the conference track themes the work most aligns with
A 300 word proposal describing and highlighting the significance of the work (accepted format .pdf)
Up to 5 related images of the work to support your exhibition proposal (accepted formats .png, .jpeg., .tiff, .pdf or .mp4 for video, for the videos uploaded on platforms such as Youtube or Vimeo, please include the links into the form.)
A 100 word biography of the researcher/s. (accepted format .pdf)
A visual that illustrates how you intend to exhibit your work, including your technical requirements (accepted formats .png, .jpeg., .tiff, .pdf)

- News & Events
Featured news

Achievements of Indian rice research and IRRI partnership showcased at IRC 2023

State of the science behind scalable MRV technology

World experts convene to improve bacterial blight management and increase farmers’ yields

Request for Proposals to serve as event organizer for the International Rice Congress 2023 (IRC2023)

IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Revised on June 13, 2023. A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it's important, and how you will conduct your research. The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements: Title page Introduction Literature review Research design Reference list
Key takeaways & additional resources What is a research proposal? Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (your research topic), why it's worth researching (your justification), and how you plan to investigate it (your methodology).
An important part of the work completed in academia is sharing our scholarship with others. Such communication takes place when we present at scholarly conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and publish in books. This OWL resource addresses the steps in writing for a variety of academic proposals. For samples of academic proposals ...
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005. How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons: Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
Write with Grammarly What is the goal of a research proposal? In a research proposal, the goal is to present the author's plan for the research they intend to conduct. In some cases, part of this goal is to secure funding for said research.
A quality example of a research proposal shows one's above-average analytical skills, including the ability to coherently synthesize ideas and integrate lateral and vertical thinking. Communication skills. The proposal also demonstrates your proficiency to communicate your thoughts in concise and precise language.
Identifying Potential Topics Sometimes, your instructor may provide a list of suggested topics. If so, you may benefit from identifying several possibilities before committing to one idea. It is important to know how to narrow down your ideas into a concise, manageable thesis.
The cleanly-formatted Word document is fully editable, so you can use it for your proposal, copy over the contents to a fresh document, or convert to LaTeX. Download The Research Proposal Template (FREE) PS - you can also download our dissertation/thesis chapter templates here. Your content goes here.
Methodology A. Design (Chapters 4, 5, and 6) 1. Will this be a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed? What is your rationale? 2. What type of specific design will be used? What is your rationale? 3. What specific research methods will be used (e.g., control group, comparison group, survey, interviews, etc.)? What is your rationale?
A proposal needs to show how your work fits into what is already known about the topic and what new paradigm will it add to the literature, while specifying the question that the research will answer, establishing its significance, and the implications of the answer. [ 2] The proposal must be capable of convincing the evaluation committee about ...
Abstract. 100-200 words. This summarizes the central theme of your research. Use concise, clipped language that is academic without being over-wordy and verbose. The abstract needs to be entirely your own words, as every abstract should be completely different, unique in its approach to your topic.
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 ...
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. Introduction:
A strong research topic comprises three important qualities: originality, value and feasibility.. Originality - a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.; Value - a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.; Feasibility - a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable ...
Updated: May 30th, 2023 A research proposal is a common task for students of different levels and areas of study. Although it is relatively straightforward, it still can be hard to start and choose an engaging topic. In this article, you will find 255 strong suggestions on crime & law, business, finance, politics, sociology, and other subjects.
#1: It's Something You're Interested In A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject.
Skip to start of list. 31 templates. Create a blank Research Proposal. Red And White Simple Modern IT Consulting Proposal. Proposal by Vicky Design. Yellow And White Modern Professional Digital Branding And Promotion Proposal. Proposal by Vicky Design. Orange Modern Creative Research Proposal. Proposal by Irina Trigubova.
Updated: March 23rd, 2023 Print Research Proposal Topics: 503 Ideas, Sample, & Guide [2023] (285 votes) Do you have to write a research proposal and can't choose one from the professor's list? This article may be exactly what you need. Our specialists will write a custom essay on any topic for 13.00 10.40/page 308 certified professionals on site
Key sections of a research proposal include: the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, research design and methods, timeline, budget, outcomes and implications, references, and appendix. Each is briefly explained below. Contents show Research Proposal Sample Structure
The length of the research proposal template is not long. You'll find most writing requirements demand a word count of 2500 to 3000 words. Depending on spacing requirements, this might be three to five pages of information. This ensures concise writing.
Basically, it covers the significant details such as the scope, objectives, and timeline of a project to be submitted. Its ultimate aim is to explain the reasons why a particular topic that you have chosen needs further research. Currently, would you have to prepare a research proposal?
Below, you'll find the list of research proposal topics that we've collected for different subjects. Choose one that inspires you or develop a new idea grounded on those suggestions. The hybrid wars grounds. The new religious extremism grounds. The role of the global pandemic in the democracy crises.
Here are other AI-driven software to help your academic efforts, handpicked by Bilal. 1. Consensus. In Bilal's own words: "If ChatGPT and Google Scholar got married, their child would be ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $10 million in funding for a new program to support early-career innovators seeking to convert disruptive and unconventional ideas into impactful new technologies across the full spectrum of energy applications. In addition to funding research efforts, the Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact ...
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) announces call a for proposals for new research and development (R&D) themes of information and communications technologies from Wednesday, April 5 through Wednesday, May 10, 2023. 1. Period of the call for proposals. From Wednesday, April 5 to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. 2.
Call for Exhibition Proposals. The exhibition will be held 25-26 March 2024 at UC Davis, Department of Design, Maker Space and show work related to the symposium theme. The exhibition proposals should demonstrate wearables design research through artistic experimentations, collaborations and cross/interdisciplinary practice.
News. News. Nov 08, 2023. Achievements of Indian rice research and IRRI partnership showcased at IRC 2023. Nov 08, 2023. State of the science behind scalable MRV technology. Nov 08, 2023. World experts convene to improve bacterial blight management and increase farmers' yields. Search by keyword.
Research Proposal. The objective of writing this research project proposal is to identify open question in robotic manipulation research and to develop an approach towards adressing it. The choice of topic is up to you, but it should be related to the general theme of the course. As part of the project you should: