Assignment 4 - Research Proposal
Assignment 4 - Research Proposal
Writing a clear and convincing proposal for your research project is an important skill. Most
projects (in academia and in the workplace) require a detailed proposal before being allowed
to proceed (or even receive funding and resources!). Practising this genre will also help you
clarify in your own mind your research project scope and direction, and the contribution that
you plan to make to the field.
Here are some helpful steps to keep in mind, discuss with peers/your supervisor, and to
WRITE about.
Step 1: Identify a general area to research.
Step 2: Formulate a research question or questions.
Step 3: Identify the key constructs and/or concepts underlying the research area [theory,
practice, state of the art].
Step 4: Provide a justification for the research.
Step 5: Identify the subjects from whom or which you will collect data. Identify how you will
collect data.
Step 6: outline the procedure and methods you will use.
Step 7: Identify the type of data you will end up with.
Step 8: State what type of analysis or testing you will carry out on the data. Include how you
will validate your future results.
Step 9: Set out your research project outcomes.
Step 10: Identify the problems you anticipate.
Step 11: Set out possible solutions, alternatives or contingencies.
Step 12: Identify the resources required.
Title Page -
Include the institution and school name, the course code, the title of your research project,
your name and ID, supervisors' names (If any), date submitted, relevant image (Optional)
Table of Contents
Include the headings and subheadings of the report and page numbers.
Abstract
Length 150-250 words
Abstracts are essentially a summary of the whole text and provide an overview for the reader
to identify the key information that your text contains. Abstracts can be a very important tool
for advertising your work as they may be placed in journal databases, and they are often
placed in conference programs so attendees can decide which talks to attend. Your abstract
may be the first contact that readers have with your work.
Written as a single paragraph which usually has the following information;
• Background Information: Some writers present the big picture with a short statement that
places their work in context of the field.
• Purpose and scope of the work: State the problem/gap/potential and research project aim/s
• Method of investigation: Briefly explain your proposed approach (you haven't done the
research yet!)
• Most important results: Not relevant for a proposal abstract- but you may like to hypothesise
about the results.
• Main conclusions/outcomes: What you hope to contribute to the field and/or the novelty in
your proposed research.
Introduction
Explain the need for the research - include a problem statement and the research aims. [½ to
1 page]
Literature Review
Give a critical review of the developments/progress and the current state of the art in the field
related to your research topic. [4-5 pages including visuals]
Methodology/Approach
An overview that describes the major stages of your research - include objectives, a flow
diagram, summary descriptions of your subject/sample and your proposed approach [1 +
pages]
Research Plan
Include thoughtful insights into potential problems and your contingencies, plus any training,
possible publications, approvals, travel, or liaison/collaboration required. Also include a
realistic and detailed timeline of important milestones. [1 + pages]- Remember, it is a just
plan; not a blueprint!
Conclusion
Restate your justification and aims and finish with the predicted contribution or outcome of
the proposed research. [½ to 1 page]- Sell your project!
References
Include a list of all sources used in the report. Follow the style of a leading journal in your
field.
Bio Statement
A bio statement is a very short summary of your academic and related work history. Editors
of conferences and journals may request a short bio-statement to include with your
conference abstract or your journal article.
This is usually 50 to 150 words.
Include your academic name, current research/employment, past achievements (education,
research, employment) and major areas of research interest.
Example of Bio statement
Y.J. Lee is currently a research student in the Department of mechanical Engineering and is currently
working on the mechanical behaviours of spot welding. He received his BS in mechanics from
Beijing University and MS from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His major research interests are
solid mechanics and spot welding.
Length
3000 - 4500 words OR between 8 - 12 pages–(NB* word/page count does not include your
references, figures/tables, or appendices)
Submission Instructions
Go to the topic "RM-898 Research Methodology’'
1. Upload your article review file into Turn-it-in “Assignment - 4’.
2. The passing criteria of this assignment is to secure more than 50% marks and to have a similarity of
index of less than 15% (Never copy paste the sentences from the literature).