How to Write a Research Proposal

The title is the first thing people will see. It should be short, clear, and describe what your research is about.

Example Title:

"How Social Media Affects Academic Writing Among College Students"

The introduction explains what your research is about and why it's important. You’ll want to introduce the topic and explain why it’s worth studying.

In Your Introduction:

• Briefly explain the problem you are researching.

• Mention why this problem matters in your field (like academic writing or literature review).

• Explain how your research will add to the existing knowledge.

Clearly list what you hope to achieve with your research. These goals will guide your research design and how you collect information.

Example Goals:

• To study how academic tools like grammar checkers improve student writing.

• To understand how citation generators affect the quality of research papers.

Your research question is the main question your study will answer. This question will shape your research methods.

Example Research Question:

"Does using plagiarism checkers improve students' writing quality?"

A literature review is where you discuss other research that has been done on your topic. Summarize key findings from scholarly articles and books that relate to your research.

Helpful Resources for Literature Review:

• Citation guides like APA citation or IEEE for formatting your sources.

• Online research databases like Credo Reference or Gale Virtual Library.

In this section, explain how you will carry out your research. Include details on your research design, tools, and data collection methods.

Things to Include:

• Research design (e.g., will your research be qualitative, quantitative, or both?).

• Data collection methods (e.g., will you use surveys, interviews, or experiments?).

• Analysis methods (how will you analyze the information you collect?).

If needed, outline a schedule for your research project. Break your work into stages (like data collection, analysis, and writing). If applying for funding, include a budget that covers any costs, such as research tools or materials.

In this section, explain how your research will make a difference in your field. What impact will it have? Why is it important?

Example:

"This research will help us better understand how online tools improve academic writing among students."

Before submitting your proposal, proofread it carefully. Use tools like AI Proofreader or Plagiarism Checker to improve your writing and ensure it's free from errors.

Once your research proposal is polished and complete, it’s ready to submit. Make sure to follow the correct format and citation style, such as APA or IEEE, as required by your institution.