Ross Woods, 2020, '22, '24 (Previous version entitled The prospectus
)
A proposal for a project, thesis, or dissertation has four purposes:
Even journal articles might require a proposal to get ethical approval.
Use the template provided. The font and spacing will be automatic if you type into the document without making modifications. If you wish to copy from another document and paste it into the template, select the option for "Paste unformatted text."
Check your alignment (also called construct validity). The problem, the question, the central hypothesis (if you use one), the working title, the proposed methodology, and the data need to line up perfectly. (For example, you will be in trouble if the proposed research method won't give you the data to help answer your research question.) Some of these elements are easy to check. The statements of the specific research problem and the research question, the purpose statement, and the proposed title should be all brief, and mostly in one sentence. They should closely resemble each other.
Keep to the strict word limit (e.g. 3,000, ten pages), and make sure that your typing and presentation are faultless and follow the institutional style guide. Proposals that do not meet these requirements can be rejected before they are even read.
You should presume that your readers have expertise in your field, but not necessarily in your particular topic.
The following section headings are helpful, although the exact outlines of proposals may differ, for example, in topics like resources and financial approvals.
| Working title | The working title can change as your research progresses. Keep it short and to the point. (Maximum 15 words) |
|---|---|
| Kind of project | What kind of project is it? Is it research or a professional project? If it is research, is it a regular thesis-dissertation or is it a Thesis as a Series of Papers? |
| Degree | What degree will you submit this project for? |
| Project question | What is the question you are answering? Every part of your project will refer to this question. Is the question clear, focused, concise, complex, and arguable? If you wish, you may include sub-questions that related to the main question but it is not required. (Maximum 20 words for each question.) |
| Significance | How does your project contribute to current knowledge of the topic and/or to the practice of the profession? Why is this project important? (This is the question of "So what?") |
| Background | How has your interest in answering this research question developed? What literature has informed your choice of topic? What work has already been done in this area by other researchers? Where is the gap where your research fits? You might also give a brief historical perspective how the problem started and how it has evolved over time. You also need to relate your research to a body of theory, for at least two reasons: • You need to work within the assumptions of a particular body of theory. • An aspect of your research is to contribute to a body of theory. |
| Literature review | Give a brief literature review of the current state of research knowledge and/or professional practice in your topic and demonstrates the need for your project. Use no more that ten primary or secondary sources. They should have been published in the last five years unless you have compelling reasons otherwise. (You will do a full literature review later if your topic is approved.) |
| Proposed methodology | How do you intend to answer your project question? What is the process you will use? Who will be the participants in the project and how will you recruit these people? Provide enough detail for your readers to understand what you will do. Include a proposed timeline for your research project. |
| Ethics | What risks attach to your research? How will you mitigate them? |
| Resources | What resources and/or support will you need to complete this research? This may include specific training, funding, particular equipment, or people with specific expertise. |
| Bibliography | Include a bibliography of sources. These will mainly relate to the literature review, but some might relate to other sections where you have used external information sources. |
First edit your proposal very carefully. When it is ready, email it to your supervisor to get feedback. It is unlikely to be approved on first submission.
Your program coordinator will evaluate your proposal.