Problem Formulation and Techniques

3.1. Tips for writing a research proposal

Here are some tips to help you write a research proposal that can best follow an institution's standards:

• Ensure your statements are concise and brief. A research proposal often contains between 2,000-3,500 words or four to seven pages. To adhere to this length during the writing process, be mindful to use descriptive language and precise phrasing.
• Focus only on major research issues. Try focussing on only large-scale inquiries and key points in your research proposal. They can help you clarify the purpose of your project and its overall focus to readers, especially if they're unfamiliar with the topic.
• Proofread your document. Identify any spelling or grammatical errors in each component of your research proposal to better ensure you are describing information accurately. Consider using a professional proofreading service or software to detect these errors in a digital file.
• Use a robust vocabulary. Institutions often prefer research proposals to contain formal terms and scholarly language. Review documents published by the institution to learn its writing standards and understand the expectations of your reader base.
• Create a clear title for your research project. It's important that the title of your project contains universal language so readers can understand it immediately. This approach can also help you receive funding from an external organization.
• Acknowledge the authors of referenced publications. To avoid issues of plagiarism, it's important to recognize the authors of all books and articles you include in your project. Depending on the format you use, consider including referenced information in quotation marks or paraphrasing it using your own language choices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Proposal Writing

·       Submitting lengthy proposals. When writing research proposals, be to the point. Your submitted document must be focused and concise. Don not diverge into irrelevant tangents without a clear sense of purpose.

·       Covering too much research ground. It is common for students to fail in delimiting the contextual boundaries of their studies, be it the topic, time, place, etc. As with any research paper, the proposed research must clearly inform the reader how the study will investigate the problem. Look for some research paper thesis examples so you would know how to clearly communicate the scope of your inquiry.

·       Not citing major works in a literature review. While it is advised to keep everything in the proposal at a minimum—a few milestone research studies must already be included. Proposals should be grounded in landmark studies that provide the groundwork for appreciating the growth and scope of the issue.

·       Too much focus on minor issues, yet very few details on major issues. A proposal must focus only a few key study questions to clearly argue why it should be conducted. Mentioning minor issues is acceptable but they should not overpower the major ones, which should control the overall narrative.

·       Inability to frame a persuasive and coherent argument for the proposed study. This is another common yet crucial mistake of students and grant-seekers. In essence, the research proposal must be able to effectively argue why a study should be approved or funded.

·       Poor grammar or careless writing. While a research proposal only represents a small part of a complete study, it is expected to be well-written and observes the writing style and guidelines of good academic writing.