how to prepare thesis proposal hku

Faculties' Requirement Regarding Submission of Research Proposal and Statement of Research Interest from PhD/MPhil Applicants

Research Proposal Download

For PhD applicants: Research Proposal (no standardized template)

Length: 4 to 5 pages Format: Double-spaced Instruction: It should outline a clearly-considered and defined research topic, with an account of research questions and methodology proposed, an explanation of the value and originality of the research, and a bibliography. Applicants are advised to visit the individual departmental websites for the respective departments' guidelines on the format of research proposal required.

For MPhil applicants: Research Proposal (no standardized template)

Length: 3 to 4 pages Format: Double-spaced Instruction: It should include a brief account of the applicant's academic history (including what he/she studied and what in particular has interested him/her; also, where relevant, the reason why he/she wants to undertake research at HKU). The proposal should set out the area of study he/she proposes to work in, and the research he/she intends to do in it. The Faculty understands that the proposal at this stage will be provisional, but it should show that the applicant knows something about the field, has started on the relevant reading, and has a sense of the interesting research questions and problems likely to be faced, of the methodology proposed and, if relevant, the resources required. The applicant should append a preliminary bibliography. Applicants are advised to visit the individual departmental websites for the respective departments' guidelines on the format of research proposal required.

For PhD applicants: Research Proposal Download

For PhD applicants: Research Proposal No standardized form

Length: Not more than 20 pages (Including a 1-page abstract, and excluding references) Format: Font size 12; Double-spaced Instruction: It should give a clear description of the particular aspect of the field in which you are interested and explain the particular approach which you propose to take in studying the subject matter.

Important notes: All PhD theses should be written in English. For applicants whose research topic is in Chinese Language Education, approval may be granted for their thesis to be written in Chinese. Applications for such approval should be submitted at the time of application for admission. If an applicant intends to write the thesis in Chinese, the 1-page abstract should still be written in English but the Research Proposal may be written in Chinese. Applicants have to include a declaration in their research proposal to confirm whether (i) the proposal is all his/her own work; names of persons who have provided contribution and the nature and extent of their contribution should be specified if otherwise; and (ii) whether the proposal, in parts or in whole, has not been published or submitted to any institution; the extent and the details of the publication and/or submission to the institution(s) should be specified if otherwise.

For MPhil applicants: Research Proposal Summary Download

Important notes: All MPhil theses should be written in English. For applicants whose research topic is in Chinese Language Education, special approval may be granted for their thesis to be written in Chinese. Applications for such special approval should be submitted at the time of application for admission. If an applicant intends to write the thesis in Chinese, the 6-page research proposal summary should still be written in English. Applicants are required to declare (i) whether the research proposal submitted is all his/her own work; names of persons who have provided contribution and the nature and extent of their contribution should be specified if otherwise; and (ii) whether the proposal, in parts or in whole, has not been published or submitted to any institution; the extent and the details of the publication and/or submission to the institution(s) should be specified if otherwise

For MPhil applicants: Research Proposal Download Length: 4 pages

For MPhil applicants: Statement of Research Interest No standardized template

For all applicants (except for the Department of Sociology and Hong Kong Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences) Research Proposal Download

For applicants to Department of Sociology: Research Proposal Download

For applicants to Hong Kong Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences: Research Proposal Download Length: max. 8 pages Format: Double-spaced

• Current Students
• Thesis Submission

Guidelines on Thesis Submission

Regulations governing the format, binding and presentation of theses for higher degrees by research, preparation, submission and examination of theses (from the graduate school handbook), preparing and submitting your thesis: a guide for mphil and phd students , the library's subject guides on writing theses and dissertations, s ubmission of dataset of research (if applicable ), editing of abstracts of research postgraduate theses , electronic thesis submission (final thesis), printing of final bound thesis .

Faculties' Requirement Regarding Submission of Statement of Research Interest & Research Proposal from MPhil/PhD Applicants

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RPg Application

Check admission and application details.

Once you have chosen the institution for your research studies, read the admission website and/or attend information session to find out the admission criteria, required documents and application procedure. Jot down the type of supporting documents you need to submit, work backwards from the application deadline to compile your to-do list which may include statement of research or research proposal.

Are admission tests required?

In some cases, admission tests are required. For instance, GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) for business management-related RPg, or subject-based GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) for applicants who do not have a first degree in the discipline. Check Educational Testing Service ( https://www.ets.org/ ) and Graduate Management Admission Council ( https://www.gmac.com/ ) for test dates and you could find online video courses/practice tests for practicing. The common advice is to devote 2 to 3 months for the preparation.

English proficiency test score is also required by some universities for candidates whose first language is not English. To prepare for your TOEFL and IELTS examinations, you can refer to their websites on Educational Testing Service ( https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register/ ) and British Council ( https://ielts.britishcouncil.org.hk/iorps/html/registration/showExamSessionListServlet.do ). In HKU, you can make use of the learning materials in the Library and the test materials in the Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES).

Enrich your research/publication experience

RPg requires candidates to demonstrate keen interests and strong abilities to conduct academic research. Start compiling your research profile such as research work and/or publications that you have involved in, especially in your interested area. Continue to engage yourself in related research work and work closely with professors who may provide an academic reference at a later stage.

Identify a research idea

While some universities/programmes accept graduate students to submit research proposals in the later part of their first year, some require a statement of research or research proposal with the application. To explore research ideas, you may find it valuable to discuss with your professors and current RPg students in research laboratories, spot questions unanswered in previous research studies, or browse the research projects of professors with whom you share similar interest. Visit the university’s website on the details/formats expected of the research statement or proposal (see “Documents to prepare” for more information).

Search and contact potential supervisors

Once the research area is chosen, you may start by browsing relevant resources (e.g. the University’s scholars’ hub/research staff profile or conference speakers), reach out to the professors to explore the possibility of supervision. Alternatively, you could also search for professors who have received external research grants in areas which match your interest. Remember, your teachers are important resource persons, do seek their advice.

This process of communication, discussion and modification to your proposal would take months and so allow sufficient time for that. During the process, you may also assess the “fit” between you and your supervisor in other aspects such as expectation, supervision arrangement and work style.

Actually this process could begin in your undergraduate years. Build your academic network proactively through various available channels such as assisting professors in research work, attending seminars/conferences and overseas exchange.

Timeline for application preparation

For MPhil and PhD admissions, some universities do not have formal closing dates and students can apply any time. These universities usually have rolling start dates throughout the year, depending on the schedules of individual departments. However, if you are going to apply for funding or financial assistance, you might need to apply within the appropriate funding round. Also, early application (usually a year ahead) is strongly suggested for international students.

For some universities, “application deadlines” still apply. Take HKU as an example: the main round of RPg application is usually from September to early December. Clearing round applications may be invited after the main round if there are study places left, and the closing dates for these rounds will be April and August respectively in the following year.

As for timeline, every application is unique but the chart below might serve as a reference:

Documents to prepare

For most universities, the application documents for MPhil/PhD admissions are highly similar, just that PhD applications might require documents of greater depth and length in view of its high demand on originality and uniqueness. Although the application documents might somehow vary depending on your research area or the university you are applying, here are some essential ones:

Research proposal Research proposal plays a vital part in your RPg application. It is to demonstrate your research is going to be significant and can make an original contribution. Some key elements in your research proposal are:

• Research questions and aims : Provide an overview of your research questions and explain why these questions are significant to the field; also outline the main objectives, that is, what you wish to find out/prove in your studies
• Literature review : Include a succinct review of the significant literature in the past and at present so to place your own proposed research in context, thus demonstrating the potential contribution of your studies
• Methodology : Briefly describe the rationale and contents of your proposed research methods, such as the theoretical approaches preferred, the type of information and sources to be used, data collection procedures (e.g. interviews, case studies, modelling etc.) and any possible difficulties or ethical/safety issues identified
• Chapter outline : Include a tentative chapter outline and working timeline if available. This will show that you are a well-planned researcher
• References/bibliography : List out all cited articles and publications by using a suitable academic referencing system, e.g. MLA, APA and Chicago

Since different academic departments or supervisors might look for different things as far as a research proposal is concerned, don’t forget to check with the relevant parties before submitting your proposal. It is also not uncommon for the universities to conduct plagiarism checks. Always remember, research proposal is only a starting point. Your proposed research might change as your ideas evolve over time.

Further Reference : HKU: How to prepare thesis proposal University of Sydney: How to write a research proposal University of Oxford: Writing your research proposal

Personal statement While research proposal demonstrates the potentials and values of your research, personal statement is a short essay to illustrate your uniqueness and suitability for your particular research project. In general, a personal statement covers the followings:

• Background and motivation : Reflect on what led you to apply for a research programme and what makes you feel so immensely interested in your research topic. An encounter with a particular professor? An inspiring course? Share some of these experiences which your resume might not be able to cover
• Academic experience : Instead of listing out all your qualifications (as you have done in your resume), focus on how these qualifications contribute to your readiness for conducting your research, for instance, how your capstone/final year project/other dissertation projects taught you about research
• Broader goals and extra-curricular experience : Demonstrate how your research project fits into your wider goals in life, e.g. for those research studies which might bear charitable focus or humanistic concerns; also include some relevant life experiences, achievements, personal qualities or transferable skills, such as organization, self-motivation, that can support your suitability.

In a nutshell, a personal statement is to make a convincing case for why you are a compelling candidate for the research project you propose. Relevance is key so please always write with concrete examples and evidence (for more practical Dos and Don’ts, please refer to Section 5.1.3).

Further Reference: PROSPECT, UK: Personal statements for postgraduate applications Columbia University: How to write a personal statement for a PhD programme application

Academic References Almost all universities request 2 to 3 academic reference reports. Although the submission formats might look different, the rationale is pretty much the same: you have to demonstrate that your application is well supported by teachers. These teachers should be familiar with your academic achievement and be able to comment on your academic ability, potentials and research expertise. When you identify your academic references, think about these questions:

• How well did you perform in their course(s) or research projects?
• How well do they know you?
• Will your referee’s reputation carry weight in your research field?

Last but not least, don’t forget to give your referees adequate time to prepare for your references. Please also support them by providing the essential information such as your resume and personal statement.

Further Reference: UTM Career Centre: Academic references—tip sheet

Other documents Some other common documents that research degree applications require include: an up-to-date resume, academic transcripts of your university studies to date, evidence of your English language proficiency such as IELTS/TOEFL, official score report of GRE or GMAT, etc.

Further Reference: HKU: Documents to support an application University of Sydney: Apply for postgraduate research

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Thesis Proposal How to Prepare - The University of Hong Kong

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To many students, it may be the fi rst time that they write a research proposal. This booklet<br />

serves as a reference guide <strong>to</strong> highlight the process in preparing a research proposal and<br />

basic elements that should be included. Students should bear in mind that this booklet<br />

is in no way an exhaustive list <strong>of</strong> <strong>to</strong>pics that need <strong>to</strong> be considered in preparing a thesis<br />

proposal. Different disciplines may have different expectations and requirements on the<br />

substance, format and length <strong>of</strong> a proposal. In this regard, students are strongly advised<br />

<strong>to</strong> consult their supervisor(s) and the department beforehand.<br />

Graduate School<br />

March 2006<br />

Reprinted 2012<br />

Contents<br />

I. Introduction<br />

II. Preparation for a <strong><strong>The</strong>sis</strong> <strong>Proposal</strong><br />

III. Basic Elements <strong>of</strong> a <strong><strong>The</strong>sis</strong> <strong>Proposal</strong><br />

IV. Presentation and Language<br />

V. Further Readings<br />

Appendices<br />

1<br />

2<br />

4<br />

9<br />

14<br />

15<br />

All MPhil and PhD students in HKU are required <strong>to</strong> have their candidature confi rmed by<br />

the end <strong>of</strong> the probationary period. By the end <strong>of</strong> the probationary period, every student<br />

is required <strong>to</strong> submit a thesis proposal for consideration by the Departmental Research<br />

Postgraduate Committee (DRPC) and the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC).<br />

<strong>The</strong> thesis proposal is one <strong>of</strong> the most important documents that the <strong>University</strong> will<br />

consider in determining whether the candidature <strong>of</strong> a student should be confi rmed or<br />

be terminated. It is also important <strong>to</strong> students as a plan for how the research should be<br />

implemented and <strong>to</strong> set a time schedule so that the thesis could be completed within the<br />

specifi ed time frame.<br />

Full-time Part-time<br />

Degree Probationary<br />

period<br />

Study period Probationary<br />

Study period<br />

MPhil 12 months 24 months 18 months 36 months<br />

3-year PhD 12 months 36 months 18 months 54 months<br />

4-year PhD 18 months 48 months 24 months 72 months<br />

Before writing the thesis proposal, a student should have already taken most <strong>of</strong> coursework<br />

and done an extensive literature review. He/she should have a solid understanding on the<br />

background materials and previous research done by other researchers in the same fi eld.<br />

Most importantly, he/she should have identifi ed a research <strong>to</strong>pic with his/her supervisor.<br />

In developing a research <strong>to</strong>pic, it is advisable <strong>to</strong> develop two <strong>to</strong> three <strong>to</strong>pics fi rst and then<br />

fi nally focus on a <strong>to</strong>pic <strong>to</strong> develop further. You may like <strong>to</strong> ask the following questions in<br />

deciding on a research <strong>to</strong>pic:<br />

- What is the contribution <strong>to</strong> knowledge in your fi eld <strong>of</strong> study?<br />

- Has it been done by others before?<br />

- What is the theoretical framework for the study?<br />

- What are the research hypotheses or questions?<br />

- Are data, if needed, available?<br />

- <strong>How</strong> <strong>to</strong> collect data?<br />

- What are the appropriate methods in analyzing the data?<br />

- What are the expected end results?<br />

- Can the thesis be done within the time period <strong>of</strong> study?<br />

Writing a thesis is the beginning <strong>of</strong> a scholarly work. You should write a thesis that<br />

you can manage within your present resource and time frame.<br />

Developing a research <strong>to</strong>pic and writing a proposal cannot be done within a week.<br />

You must allow yourself enough time <strong>to</strong> develop your research <strong>to</strong>pic and proposal<br />

well before the deadline. You need time for your library research and <strong>to</strong> make sure that<br />

you understand all the issues involved in your proposed research. You may also need<br />

time <strong>to</strong> learn about the particular research methodologies that you propose <strong>to</strong> use. You<br />

should consult your supervisor in the process and be open <strong>to</strong> any advice that he/she<br />

may be willing <strong>to</strong> give. It is helpful <strong>to</strong> look at some sample products, i.e. theses in your<br />

fi eld, before writing your proposal because at the end <strong>of</strong> the day, the fi nal product <strong>of</strong><br />

your thesis proposal is the thesis. You need <strong>to</strong> know what it roughly looks like before<br />

you can propose what <strong>to</strong> do in order <strong>to</strong> produce it. If possible, ask for copies <strong>of</strong> past<br />

theses that your supervisor has approved. Having a sample <strong>of</strong> a successful thesis can<br />

make the preparation <strong>of</strong> your own much easier.<br />

As your proposal will probably go through several drafts before you are ready <strong>to</strong> submit<br />

it, you should set aside each draft for a few days, or even a week, before attempting<br />

<strong>to</strong> revise it. This will give you some distance from the draft, enabling you <strong>to</strong> spot<br />

mistakes or gaps in logic that you simply could not see before. It also allows you time<br />

<strong>to</strong> show it <strong>to</strong> your supervisor <strong>to</strong> get his comments and advice. If you start preparing<br />

your proposal a few days before the deadline, the proposal will be rushed, and more<br />

likely will be fl awed.<br />

Do not take the thesis proposal lightly. A good thesis proposal is half-way <strong>to</strong> a good<br />

thesis. It will help you <strong>to</strong> focus on what you would like <strong>to</strong> do and plan <strong>to</strong> do in your<br />

research. It is also a refl ection <strong>of</strong> your knowledge <strong>of</strong> your fi eld <strong>of</strong> study and research<br />

methodology and how serious you are in doing research. A sloppy thesis proposal will<br />

not impress people who are examining it that you are ready for your research.<br />

In writing the research proposal, you should:<br />

- State the objectives and signifi cance <strong>of</strong> your research clearly<br />

- Show the contribution <strong>of</strong> your research in advancing the knowledge <strong>of</strong> your<br />

fi eld <strong>of</strong> study<br />

- Be focused on your research questions<br />

- Provide a sound theoretical framework <strong>of</strong> your study based on comprehensive<br />

literature review (after you have fi nished your thesis, you should be the<br />

expert and pioneer in your fi eld)<br />

- Make sure that you have cited the most important seminal work related <strong>to</strong><br />

your study<br />

- Avoid providing a long reference list which contains a lot <strong>of</strong> work which is<br />

marginal <strong>to</strong> your research<br />

- Provide a persuasive argument and justifi cation <strong>of</strong> your research<br />

- Provide a time schedule <strong>of</strong> your research and completion <strong>of</strong> the thesis<br />

- Indicate the likely end results <strong>of</strong> your research<br />

- Write clearly in good English<br />

<strong>The</strong> following <strong>to</strong>pics/chapters are the most commonly suggested elements <strong>of</strong> a thesis<br />

proposal. It is highly recommended that students should consult the supervisor(s) and<br />

the Department for the specifi c requirements in their own fi eld <strong>of</strong> study.<br />

1. Title Page<br />

(i) Tentative thesis title<br />

(ii) Your full-name<br />

(iii) Name <strong>of</strong> your supervisor<br />

(iv) Degree sought<br />

(v) Department <strong>of</strong> study<br />

(vi) Date <strong>of</strong> submission<br />

<strong>The</strong> thesis title should be concise, descriptive and fairly self-explana<strong>to</strong>ry. Choose a title<br />

that is easy <strong>to</strong> understand and represent the main theme <strong>of</strong> your thesis. For example, the<br />

phrase “An investigation <strong>of</strong> …” should be omitted and students could consider stating<br />

the title in terms <strong>of</strong> a functional relationship so as <strong>to</strong> clearly indicate the independent and<br />

dependent variables.<br />

A sample title page is given at Appendix II.<br />

2. Abstract <strong>of</strong> <strong><strong>The</strong>sis</strong> <strong>Proposal</strong><br />

<strong>The</strong> abstract is a summary <strong>of</strong> your thesis proposal. It is usually not more than 1 or 2<br />

pages containing the problem statement, the rationale <strong>of</strong> the study, the hypothesis, the<br />

methodology that you are proposing <strong>to</strong> use, the expected result and the signifi cance <strong>of</strong><br />

your study. This section gives the reader an overview <strong>of</strong> your thesis proposal. Don’t<br />

try <strong>to</strong> explain the technical details or methodology <strong>of</strong> your study here, as these should<br />

be included in the latter sections. Try <strong>to</strong> present your idea in layman language so that<br />

even readers who are not in your fi eld could understand. This section should not contain<br />

references.<br />

3. Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />

You should list all headings and subheadings with page numbers. Subheadings should<br />

be indented.<br />

4. Introduction<br />

This section sets the context for your proposed project and must capture the reader’s<br />

interest. You should explain the background <strong>of</strong> your study starting from a broad picture<br />

narrowing in on your research questions, listing the relevant references, as appropriate.<br />

<strong>The</strong> introduction should be at a level that makes it easy <strong>to</strong> understand for readers with a<br />

general background in your fi eld.<br />

5. Literature Review<br />

<strong>The</strong> section demonstrates that you are knowledgeable <strong>of</strong> the primary texts and secondary<br />

research studies done by other researchers and ensure that you are not “reinventing the<br />

wheel”. It is important <strong>to</strong> note that this section is not merely a summary <strong>of</strong> the relevant<br />

literature you have read but instead, you have <strong>to</strong> provide a critical review on it and be able<br />

<strong>to</strong> relate the literature <strong>to</strong> your proposed research. You should point <strong>to</strong> areas overlooked<br />

or inadequately addressed by previous studies and discuss how your proposed research<br />

could contribute <strong>to</strong> the knowledge advancement in the area. This shows your ability <strong>to</strong><br />

integrate and synthesize the literature and <strong>to</strong> develop new ideas and innovations. Proper<br />

referencing in this section is very important.<br />

<strong>The</strong> followings are the most common defi ciencies <strong>of</strong> a literature review and you should<br />

try <strong>to</strong> avoid all <strong>of</strong> them:<br />

- lack <strong>of</strong> organization and structure<br />

- lack <strong>of</strong> focus and coherence<br />

- being repetitive<br />

- failing <strong>to</strong> cite infl uential papers or studies<br />

- citing irrelevant and trivial references<br />

- failing <strong>to</strong> cite the current papers or studies<br />

- failing <strong>to</strong> critically evaluate cited papers<br />

6. Research Questions and Hypotheses<br />

This section tells reader what you would like <strong>to</strong> fi nd out in your research. State your<br />

research questions and hypotheses explicitly in this section. In most cases, the primary<br />

research question should be broad enough <strong>to</strong> cover your whole proposed research and the<br />

subsidiary research questions and hypotheses are more specifi c and each <strong>of</strong> them should<br />

focus on a certain aspect <strong>of</strong> your research. <strong>The</strong>se hypotheses usually form chapters or<br />

sub-sections <strong>of</strong> your fi nal thesis. You should explain how these research questions and<br />

hypotheses are formulated.<br />

7. Methodology<br />

This section explains “how” you are going <strong>to</strong> conduct your research. You should<br />

demonstrate that you are fully aware <strong>of</strong> the alternative research methods and explain<br />

how your proposed methodology is more advantageous than the others in attaining your<br />

stated objectives.<br />

For quantitative research, you should include:<br />

(i) the research design, e.g. a questionnaire study or a labora<strong>to</strong>ry experiment<br />

(ii) the subjects or data source, e.g. who will participate in the data collection, the<br />

sample size and sampling methodology<br />

(iii) the instruments, e.g. the kind <strong>of</strong> measuring instruments or questionnaires and<br />

the reason for choosing these instruments<br />

(iv) procedure, e.g. how you are going <strong>to</strong> carry out your study, what activities are<br />

involved and how long does it take<br />

(v) the methods <strong>of</strong> analysis, e.g. modeling techniques or statistical methods<br />

You should also discuss the limitations <strong>of</strong> the proposed methodology, the assumption and<br />

the range <strong>of</strong> validity in data collection.<br />

Where the thesis research involves human subjects, you must also obtain the approval<br />

from the appropriate ethics committee. A copy <strong>of</strong> the approval, if available, should be<br />

attached <strong>to</strong> the proposal.<br />

If you have conducted a pilot study, please also provide the details here and discuss how<br />

the methodology will be improved in view <strong>of</strong> the previous experience.<br />

For qualitative research, as there are no well-established and widely accepted general<br />

rules or principles, you need <strong>to</strong> elaborate more on the data collection process and how<br />

you will analyze the results.<br />

<strong>The</strong> methodology carries great weight <strong>to</strong> affect the success <strong>of</strong> a piece <strong>of</strong> research. You<br />

can have a very good research <strong>to</strong>pic but a poor research methodology could easily ruin<br />

the outcome! In order <strong>to</strong> prepare yourself for your research and <strong>to</strong> enable the reviewer<br />

<strong>to</strong> understand your proposed study better, you should be more detail in your research<br />

methodology. For example, how <strong>to</strong> collect your data, how many samples <strong>to</strong> take, what<br />

specifi c methods will you used in analyzing your data.<br />

8. Work Schedule<br />

Every student is supposed <strong>to</strong> submit the thesis for examination by the end <strong>of</strong> the study<br />

period, i.e. 2 years (full-time)/3 years (part-time) for MPhil; 3 years (full-time)/4.5 years<br />

(part-time) for 3-year PhD and 4 years (full-time)/6 years (part-time) for 4-year PhD.<br />

Hence, you should not start a research that could not be possibly completed within your<br />

study period.<br />

In this section, you need <strong>to</strong> identify the tasks and make realistic estimates <strong>of</strong> the time<br />

required for each task. This could be easily done in a table or chart format. Setting<br />

important miles<strong>to</strong>nes could defi nitely help <strong>to</strong> moni<strong>to</strong>r the research progress.<br />

9. Expected Results and Implication <strong>of</strong> Results<br />

Obviously you do not have results at the proposal stage. <strong>How</strong>ever, you need <strong>to</strong> have<br />

some idea about what kind <strong>of</strong> data you will be collecting, and what methods will be used<br />

in order <strong>to</strong> answer your research question or test your hypothesis. You should also state<br />

the contribution expected from your research efforts.<br />

66<br />

10. Tentative <strong><strong>The</strong>sis</strong> Chapter Outline<br />

You should check with your supervisor if this is a required section <strong>of</strong> the thesis proposal.<br />

Present the chapter outline as a draft contents page with brief annotations <strong>of</strong> expected<br />

content or stages will help you in thinking through the process and outcome <strong>of</strong> your<br />

research. Follow the standard sections relevant <strong>to</strong> your type <strong>of</strong> research. Look at past<br />

theses in your area and discuss your ideas with your supervisor.<br />

11. List <strong>of</strong> References<br />

This list is desirable only if the proposal contains six or more references. Otherwise, the<br />

references can be inserted in the text within parentheses, i.e.<br />

(Morita, Y [1996], Spring <strong>to</strong>rrents: <strong>The</strong> catastrophic effects <strong>of</strong> corn snow meltdown.<br />

European Ski Journal, 5, 141-162). (Note that brackets, not parentheses, are used within<br />

parentheses.)<br />

<strong>The</strong> style and format <strong>of</strong> the references depend on the disciplinary fi eld. <strong>The</strong> main<br />

consideration is consistency; whatever style is chosen should be followed scrupulously<br />

throughout. (Please see IV(1)(v) below.)<br />

1. Presentation<br />

8<br />

(i) Fonts<br />

Even with access <strong>to</strong> all the power and variety that the combination <strong>of</strong> modern s<strong>of</strong>tware<br />

and hardware <strong>of</strong>fers, resist the temptation <strong>to</strong> use fancy or decorative fonts in the main<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the proposal. Look at any textbook, or a newspaper, and note that their body<br />

text is almost invariably printed in a serif font (a serif is a small cross stroke at the <strong>to</strong>ps<br />

and bot<strong>to</strong>ms <strong>of</strong> the main strokes <strong>of</strong> the letters, such as Roman, Times, Times Roman or<br />

Palatino). Sans serif (sans = without) fonts lack embellishments and are usually used<br />

only in titles, headings or other blocks <strong>of</strong> text, such as quotations, which need <strong>to</strong> be set<br />

apart from the main text.<br />

Use a standard font size (12 cpi). Small fonts are uncomfortable <strong>to</strong> read, while large ones<br />

are extremely distracting. Don’t try <strong>to</strong> use a small font in order <strong>to</strong> cram everything that<br />

you want <strong>to</strong> say in<strong>to</strong> specifi ed page limits.<br />

(ii) Sections and Headings<br />

To improve the layout <strong>of</strong> your proposal and make it easier <strong>to</strong> read, you can divide it in<strong>to</strong><br />

sections and sub-sections, each with a relevant heading. Use line spaces <strong>to</strong> separate the<br />

sections from one another, and bold, capitals or italics <strong>to</strong> highlight the headings.<br />

(iii) Point Form<br />

If you have <strong>to</strong> write a list <strong>of</strong> points/items, it may be a good idea <strong>to</strong> use point form. If your<br />

list consists <strong>of</strong> three items or fewer, you may as well write it sequentially, but for more<br />

than three, or if each point is quite long, point form is neater and easier <strong>to</strong> read. You can<br />

use bullets, asterisks, dashes, numbers or letters <strong>to</strong> introduce the points.

(iv) In-text Citations<br />

In a document as short as a research proposal, it is advisable <strong>to</strong> use a name-year (Smith,<br />

1994)* system and <strong>to</strong> structure the corresponding reference list alphabetically. This has<br />

at least two advantages. First, the reader may actually be familiar with the text(s) that<br />

you cite and will instantly know what you are referring <strong>to</strong> rather than having <strong>to</strong> take the<br />

time <strong>to</strong> fl ick back and forward <strong>to</strong> the reference list. Secondly, it will save you having<br />

<strong>to</strong> re-order numbers, and the numbers in the corresponding reference list, if you add<br />

further citations later. You may, however, prefer <strong>to</strong> use a number system, if that is what<br />

you are familiar with. <strong>The</strong>re are various different styles within both systems, and there is<br />

probably a preferred one in your fi eld. In the long run, it is immaterial which you use, as<br />

long as you are consistent.<br />

* Where there is more than one author, the citation should read (Smith & Jones, 1994),<br />

or (Smith et al., 1994), in the case <strong>of</strong> multiple authors.<br />

(v) Reference Lists<br />

Again, you will probably adopt the layout style that your department, faculty or discipline<br />

recommends, and, as before, consistency is important. For easier reading, it is helpful if<br />

you can leave a one-line space between each entry, highlight book/journal titles in some<br />

way, and bold your own name and those <strong>of</strong> your co-investiga<strong>to</strong>rs wherever they appear.<br />

For both references and citations, make sure that you read the relevant style manual<br />

thoroughly, double-checking all <strong>of</strong> your entries against it so that inconsistencies do not<br />

arise. Using reference list s<strong>of</strong>tware (such as Reference Manager) is also useful.<br />

Appendix II contains some examples <strong>of</strong> the issues that we have just covered on<br />

presentation.<br />

2. Language<br />

(i) Sentences<br />

In general, try <strong>to</strong> keep your sentences simple and short. It is not necessary for a piece <strong>of</strong><br />

writing <strong>to</strong> be “diffi cult” in order <strong>to</strong> be properly “academic”. To help keep your reader’s<br />

interest, it is certainly a good idea <strong>to</strong> vary sentence lengths throughout any piece <strong>of</strong><br />

writing, but overlong sentences invariably confuse the reader; they have <strong>to</strong> be read more<br />

than once, sometimes over and over, until they no longer make any sense. It never hurts<br />

<strong>to</strong> make your meaning quite clear: not everyone has the time <strong>to</strong> unravel long, unwieldy,<br />

jargon-fi lled sentences.<br />

(ii) Linking Devices<br />

Some conjunctions used <strong>to</strong> link ideas within and between sentences have become<br />

rather overused, particularly in an academic context. <strong>The</strong> most obvious are moreover,<br />

furthermore, hence and thus. It should almost always be possible <strong>to</strong> link sentences using<br />

a logical fl ow <strong>of</strong> ideas rather than conjunctions, but on the rare occasions that internal<br />

logic is not enough, the words ‘and’, ‘also’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and the occasional ‘therefore’,<br />

‘however’ or ‘although’ should be enough. Use others sparingly, if at all.<br />

(iii) Other Overused Words<br />

aforementioned paradigm notwithstanding<br />

above-mentioned parameter interpersonal<br />

(the) above ___ etc impact (used as a verb)<br />

(the) said ___ signifi cantly very<br />

viz prior <strong>to</strong> besides<br />

correlate indeed utilise<br />

respectively interrelated inherent<br />

Spend some time thinking <strong>of</strong> alternatives <strong>to</strong> these so that your writing does not become<br />

clichéd - and don’t use a thesaurus. <strong>The</strong>sauri usually list equally exotic alternatives,<br />

which will in their turn become overused. Stick <strong>to</strong> simple language.<br />

10<br />

(iv) Jargon<br />

Jargon is generally best kept <strong>to</strong> a minimum. If it becomes necessary <strong>to</strong> use a word that you<br />

think the reader might not understand, then you should give a brief explanation, either by<br />

supplying clues about the meaning <strong>of</strong> a word throughout the sentence, or by placing the<br />

defi nition in brackets or between commas or dashes after the word. It is easier <strong>to</strong> cut out<br />

unnecessary jargon if you avoid importing work from elsewhere - for example, from a<br />

lecture or journal article that you have written. Not only will it be obvious that you have<br />

done so (the style will differ from other parts <strong>of</strong> your proposal), but it will usually require<br />

substantial rewriting before it is suitable for your new audience - much more bother than<br />

writing it fresh in the fi rst place.<br />

(v) Variation and the Use <strong>of</strong> Pronouns<br />

A common problem in academic writing is a lack <strong>of</strong> variation, with writers using the same<br />

nouns over and over throughout a paragraph. This quickly becomes very mono<strong>to</strong>nous.<br />

Make good use <strong>of</strong> variants and pronouns <strong>to</strong> ensure that your writing is more interesting.<br />

Along the same lines, you may fi nd that there is some overlap in your answers <strong>to</strong> various<br />

questions. If this happens, refer the reader back/forwards <strong>to</strong> the relevant section rather<br />

than repeating the same sentences or paragraphs all over again. Even if you do have <strong>to</strong><br />

repeat information - in the abstract, for example - don’t use exactly the same words as<br />

before. It bores the reader and gives the impression that the writer is unimaginative.<br />

Paraphrase them instead.<br />

(vi) Spoken vs. Written Language<br />

Spoken, informal language is <strong>of</strong>ten inappropriately used in proposals, which should<br />

contain more formal writing. <strong>The</strong> most common examples <strong>of</strong> this are the words ‘get’,<br />

‘like’ (for making comparisons), and<br />

‘all’ (as in “all (<strong>of</strong>) the books”). Some Some synonyms<br />

for ‘get’, depending on the context, are: ‘obtain’, ‘gain’, ‘acquire’, ‘fi nd’. ‘For example’<br />

can <strong>of</strong>ten be used in place <strong>of</strong> ‘like’.<br />

(vii) Grammar<br />

Almost all <strong>of</strong> us, whether native English speakers or not, have problems with grammar at<br />

some time or another. In our haste <strong>to</strong> get our ideas down on paper, we are more concerned<br />

with content than form, and so we <strong>of</strong>ten make mistakes. Some mistakes are easily<br />

discovered during pro<strong>of</strong>reading, while others, particularly if you are not literary-minded,<br />

are not so easy either <strong>to</strong> spot or <strong>to</strong> remedy. If grammar is a problem for you - and you will<br />

usually know if this is the case - then you should be honest and try <strong>to</strong> do something about<br />

it rather than submitting a sub-standard piece <strong>of</strong> work. <strong>The</strong>re are some simple things you<br />

can do <strong>to</strong> help yourself:<br />

• Write short sentences, as recommended in Sentences, above. <strong>The</strong> longer a sentence<br />

is, the more complicated the grammar becomes, and the more likely it is that you<br />

will make mistakes.<br />

• Ask colleagues or friends <strong>to</strong> pro<strong>of</strong>read your work. This will help with grammar<br />

problems as well as any gaps in logic or unclearly-explained points. You know what<br />

you meant when you wrote something down, but part <strong>of</strong> the explanation may still<br />

be in your head and not on the paper! A good pro<strong>of</strong>reader will help sort this out.<br />

Alternatively, consult a pr<strong>of</strong>essional edi<strong>to</strong>r or pro<strong>of</strong>reader if you feel that you need<br />

more help than your colleagues can provide.<br />

(viii) Spelling<br />

Probably more than anything else, bad spelling irritates a literate reader. Often it is your<br />

typing rather than your spelling that is at fault, but whichever it is, if you do not correct<br />

mistakes, it looks as though you rushed your proposal, can’t be bothered <strong>to</strong> use a spellchecker<br />

or dictionary, and are therefore a sloppy worker - not a very good impression <strong>to</strong><br />

make on someone who is going <strong>to</strong> decide whether or not <strong>to</strong> confi rm your candidature.<br />

A word on American vs. British spelling: BE CONSISTENT in your use <strong>of</strong> the one that<br />

you choose. As it is likely, if you are not a native speaker <strong>of</strong> the one that you choose, that<br />

you will not be aware <strong>of</strong> the many differences between the two, it is crucial that you use<br />

the relevant spellchecker <strong>to</strong> help iron out any inconsistencies in your proposal.<br />

Please see Appendix III<br />

Appendix III for more detailed examples and further discussion <strong>of</strong> language<br />

matters.<br />

12<br />

Cooley, Linda and Lewkowicz, Jo (2003), Dissertation Writing in Practice: Turning<br />

Ideas in<strong>to</strong> Text, <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> : <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> <strong>University</strong> Press.<br />

Cryer, Pat (2000), <strong>The</strong> Research Student’s Guide <strong>to</strong> Success, Buckingham: Open<br />

<strong>University</strong> Press.<br />

Day, Robert A. (1995), Scientifi c English, Westport: Oryx Press.<br />

Strunk, William, Jr. (2000), <strong>The</strong> Elements <strong>of</strong> Style, Bos<strong>to</strong>n: Allyn and Bacon.<br />

APPENDIX I - TITLE PAGE (SAMPLE)<br />

Your Tentative <strong><strong>The</strong>sis</strong> Title Here<br />

by<br />

Your Full-name<br />

Degree Sought<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Study<br />

Name <strong>of</strong> your Supervisor<br />

Date <strong>of</strong> Submission

APPENDIX II - PRESENTATION (EXAMPLES)<br />

Use <strong>of</strong> Point Form<br />

<strong>The</strong> following sentence:<br />

Our objectives are <strong>to</strong> fi nd 1) a suitable format, 2) suffi cient transmission speed, and 3)<br />

minimum corruption <strong>of</strong> data.<br />

might have been more effectively presented as either:<br />

Our objectives are <strong>to</strong> fi nd:<br />

- a suitable format;<br />

- suffi cient transmission speed; and<br />

- minimum corruption <strong>of</strong> data.<br />

or:<br />

Our objectives are <strong>to</strong> fi nd a suitable format, suffi cient transmission speed, and minimum<br />

corruption <strong>of</strong> data.<br />

Reference List Layout<br />

Compare the following two extracts from reference lists, both roughly following the APA<br />

style:<br />

Bloggs, J and Hartley, J R (1995, December). <strong>How</strong> <strong>to</strong> write a better résumé. Job Hunting<br />

Quarterly Quarterly, Quarterly Quarterly, Quarterly 5 - 24.<br />

Geront, K R and Wong, Y L (1995). Résum ésum é é Basics (3rd ed). London: Little, Brown.<br />

Lemain, F (1992). Basic résumé construction. Eastern European RRésum<br />

ésum é é Journal, Journal , 64 64,<br />

157 - 206.<br />

This is much easier <strong>to</strong> read than:<br />

Quarterly, 5 - 24.<br />

Geront, K R and Wong, Y L (1995). Résumé Basics (3rd ed). London: Little, Brown.<br />

Lemain, F (1992). Basic résumé construction. Eastern European Résumé Journal, 64,<br />

Sentences<br />

APPENDIX III - LANGUAGE (EXAMPLES)<br />

Overlong sentences cause confusion. <strong>The</strong>y usually become <strong>to</strong>o long for one <strong>of</strong> two<br />

reasons:<br />

(i) using ten words where one will do, or<br />

(ii) trying <strong>to</strong> include <strong>to</strong>o many ideas.<br />

1. Here is an example <strong>of</strong> a sentence that uses <strong>to</strong>o many words:<br />

Since there is such a large variety <strong>of</strong> potential applications with industrial contributions<br />

that can be made, we need <strong>to</strong> identify a particular application that is both original,<br />

cost-effective and has a high potential for achievability within the time frame <strong>of</strong> this<br />

proposed project.<br />

(45 words)<br />

Looking at the highlighted phrases in order:<br />

(i) such a large variety : the word ‘large’ is essentially redundant;<br />

(ii) that can be made : <strong>to</strong>o many words;<br />

(iii) both : 3 things follow, so ‘both’ is incorrect. It is usually<br />

redundant anyway;<br />

(iv) cost-effective : a trendy buzz-word that usually simply means<br />

‘cheap’;<br />

(v) has a high potential... : ‘achievability’ has been invented by the author,<br />

and the whole phrase simply contains <strong>to</strong>o many<br />

words.<br />

It can be signifi cantly cut down, as follows:<br />

Given the range <strong>of</strong> potential industrial applications, we must identify one in particular<br />

that is original, cheap, and can be achieved by the end <strong>of</strong> the project.<br />

(27 words)<br />

16<br />

2. Now here is a sentence with <strong>to</strong>o many ideas in it:<br />

A selected group <strong>of</strong> girders is subjected <strong>to</strong> a simple correction process <strong>to</strong> expand the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> rust-eating agents assigned <strong>to</strong> individual girders <strong>to</strong> improve the suppression<br />

rate <strong>of</strong> the rust that forms on the structure as a whole.<br />

You probably can’t understand this straight away. <strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> and and <strong>to</strong>s confuses<br />

us, until we are not sure what process is being carried out with what kind <strong>of</strong> effect on<br />

which thing. <strong>The</strong> sentence would be much better slightly rewritten and divided in<strong>to</strong> two,<br />

like this:<br />

A selected group <strong>of</strong> girders is subjected <strong>to</strong> a simple correction process which expands<br />

the number <strong>of</strong> rust-eating agents assigned <strong>to</strong> individual girders. This improves the<br />

suppression rate <strong>of</strong> the rust that forms on the structure as a whole.<br />

It could even have been left as one sentence, if it had been slightly better organized:<br />

A selected group <strong>of</strong> girders is subjected <strong>to</strong> a simple correction process which expands the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> rust-eating agents assigned <strong>to</strong> individual girders, which in turn improves the<br />

3. An example <strong>of</strong> an overly complicated sentence:<br />

<strong>The</strong> proposed method does not require the user <strong>to</strong> manipulate a keyboard when responding<br />

<strong>to</strong> screen prompts, but instead employs an interactive <strong>to</strong>uch-screen device.<br />

(25 words)<br />

With simpler vocabulary, it could be much clearer:<br />

With this method, the user does not need <strong>to</strong> type his/her answers <strong>to</strong> the computer’s<br />

questions, but can simply <strong>to</strong>uch reply-boxes on the screen instead.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is very little difference in length, but the second sentence is much easier <strong>to</strong><br />

understand, as it does not use unnecessarily diffi cult words.<br />

Linking Devices<br />

<strong>The</strong> following paragraph uses a lot <strong>of</strong> linking words (marked in bold), most <strong>of</strong> them<br />

unnecessary. <strong>The</strong>y are very intrusive, tending <strong>to</strong> draw the reader’s attention away from<br />

what is actually being said:<br />

Problems <strong>of</strong>ten occur at the time <strong>of</strong> transmission, and the resultant crystal loss<br />

is usually due <strong>to</strong> congestion in the tubes. <strong>How</strong>ever, the FRG6 routine, which<br />

has a built-in error detection scheme, will abort transmission if an error is<br />

found. Nevertheless, if FRG6 aborted every time errors were detected, many<br />

more crystals would ultimately be lost. Furthermore, this would pre-empt the<br />

machine’s ability <strong>to</strong> carry out error management and loss recovery. <strong>The</strong>refore,<br />

passing damaged crystals <strong>to</strong> the decoder for correct treatment without aborting<br />

the entire transmission process is defi nitely something that we must concentrate<br />

on in the future. Hence, developing an effi cient error management and loss<br />

recovery system must take priority over all other issues involved in the various<br />

methods <strong>of</strong> transmission.<br />

<strong>The</strong> passage can be easily rewritten, using internal logic <strong>to</strong> join the various ideas <strong>to</strong>gether<br />

instead:<br />

is usually due <strong>to</strong> congestion in the tubes. <strong>The</strong> FRG6 routine, with its built-in<br />

error-detection scheme, will abort the transmission if an error is found; although<br />

if it aborted every time, many more crystals would ultimately be lost, and the<br />

machine’s ability <strong>to</strong> carry out error management and loss recovery would be<br />

pre-empted. Passing damaged crystals <strong>to</strong> the decoder for treatment without<br />

aborting the entire transmission process is defi nitely something that we must<br />

concentrate on in the future. <strong>The</strong> development <strong>of</strong> an effi cient error management<br />

and loss recovery mechanism should take priority over all other issues involved<br />

in the various methods <strong>of</strong> transmission.<br />

<strong>The</strong> ideas in the passage now fl ow much more easily, leading us effortlessly from one<br />

sentence <strong>to</strong> the next.<br />

18<br />

Jargon<br />

<strong>The</strong> following examples show some ways <strong>of</strong> explaining technical terms, whenever their<br />

use is unavoidable:<br />

In some plants, the honey guides (petal markings indicating the position <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nectaries) appear <strong>to</strong> the insect as orange dots.<br />

<strong>The</strong> people native <strong>to</strong> this area used <strong>to</strong> play a little-known musical instrument<br />

called an ocarina - an elongated egg-shaped wind instrument - until the early<br />

years <strong>of</strong> this century.<br />

Formerly, the standard treatment for hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, was a<br />

low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.<br />

Variation and the Use <strong>of</strong> Pronouns<br />

<strong>The</strong> following paragraph shows the kind <strong>of</strong> deadly, dull repetitiousness <strong>of</strong> certain words<br />

that occurs all <strong>to</strong>o <strong>of</strong>ten in research proposals:<br />

<strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> doesn’t get very much snow. In fact, most people who live in <strong>Hong</strong><br />

<strong>Kong</strong> have never seen snow. <strong>The</strong> proposed snow machine can create snow<br />

whenever we want snow, and will make sure that everybody in <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> has<br />

a truly White Christmas every year.<br />

Fortunately, the remedy is simple. First, let’s deal with the word snow:<br />

<strong>Kong</strong> have never seen any. <strong>The</strong> proposed machine can create snow whenever<br />

we want it, and will make sure that everybody in <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> has a truly White<br />

Christmas every year.<br />

<strong>The</strong> redundant snow which preceded machine has been deleted, and two other occurrences<br />

have been replaced with pronouns. Now let’s look at <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>:<br />

<strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> doesn’t get very much snow. In fact, most people who live here<br />

have never seen any. <strong>The</strong> proposed machine can create snow whenever we want<br />

it, and will make sure that everybody in the terri<strong>to</strong>ry has a White Christmas<br />

every year.<br />

Spoken vs. Written Language<br />

<strong>The</strong> following sentences show the inappropriate use <strong>of</strong> spoken, colloquial English:<br />

We hope we can get the fi nal results within a year.<br />

This process will be useful in many situations, like playing football, watching<br />

TV or eating in a restaurant.<br />

We need <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong> all the subjects within six months.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y should have been written as:<br />

We hope <strong>to</strong> have the fi nal results within a year.<br />

It will be useful in many situations, such as playing football, watching TV or<br />

eating in a restaurant.<br />

We need <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong> all <strong>of</strong><br />

the subjects within six months.<br />

20<br />

Compound Words<br />

Following is an example <strong>of</strong> a possible ambiguity resulting from a missing hyphen:<br />

22<br />

We will have <strong>to</strong> ensure decisions are made and follow up actions taken.<br />

Does the writer mean that he and his co-researchers will make sure that decisions are<br />

made and follow-up actions taken, or are they going <strong>to</strong> fi rst make sure that decisions<br />

are made, and then follow up the actions taken? This ambiguity will never become<br />

clear without actually consulting the writer. Always check your compound words <strong>to</strong><br />

ensure that there is no possibility <strong>of</strong> misunderstandings arising.

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• Understand Copyright on Published Works
• Deposit Your Work in PIRA This link opens in a new window
• Share Research Data This link opens in a new window
• Manage Author Profiles This link opens in a new window
• Monitor Research Impact This link opens in a new window
• Research Skills Training

Related Books

The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project (4th ed.)

Q180.55.M4 O52 2021

Chapter 5. Crafting a Research Proposal

(Undergraduate friendly)

Research Proposal: Little Quick Fix

LB2369 .O44 2018

Developing Effective Research Proposals (3rd ed.)

H62 .P863 2016

Writing a Proposal for Your Dissertation: Guidelines and Examples

E-Book, 2016

(for PhD dissertation proposal)

Writing Research Proposals in the Health Sciences: A Step-by-step Guide

E-Book, 2018

Conducting Educational Research: Guide to Completing a Major Project

E-Book, 2011

Chapter 8. Creating a Research Proposal

How to Design, Write, and Present a Successful Dissertation Proposal

LB2369 .W39 2014

Writing Successful Grant Proposals from the Top Down and Bottom Up

Print : Q180.55.P7 W75 2014

(for grant proposal)

• Types of Proposals

Writing a Research Proposal

• Resources for PolyU Researchers

What is a Research Proposal

"Research proposals are documents prepared for two primary purposes : to help researchers articulate their plans for research and to convince others (e.g., funders, colleagues, supervisors) that the plan for a research study is sound." (Julien, 2008)

Types of Research Proposal

As a student or researcher, you might have the chance to write a research proposal in one of these circumstances:

• to prepare for your thesis or dissertation - A thesis proposal
• to get admitted to a PhD programme - A PhD research proposal
• to get approval from a funding application - A funding proposal

Here's a quick summary of what each type of research proposal should focus on. You can also take a look at some sample proposals to get an idea of how each type of proposal looks like. 

Components of a Research Proposal

The format of a research proposal varies between fields. In general, a research proposal contains the following elements with the aim to achieve 3 key objectives:

If you are preparing for your thesis project, the first 4 components of your proposal can be parts of your thesis. Refer to respective guides to learn how to develop a research question  and conduct a literature review . 

There are many online guides and tutorials that teach how to write a research proposal. Here we pick a few good ones for you.  

Understand University's Guidelines and Requirements

• Supervisory Arrangement
• Confirmation of Registration
• Research degree proposal templates for RPG students  (under Admission: GSB/1A, GSB/49)
• Handbook for Projects and Grants

Find Collaborators / Supervisors

• SciVal  - a research analytical database that can help you identify top researchers in a chosen subject field (Watch workshop recording to learn how to use SciVal)
• PolyU Scholars Hub - to explore PolyU researchers and their research outputs

Explore Funding Opportunities

• PolyU Funding and Award Opportunities
• UGC Funding Opportunities
• NSFC Funding Opportunities
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• Next: Write Data Management Plan >>
• Last Updated: Apr 2, 2024 4:45 PM
• URL: https://libguides.lb.polyu.edu.hk/researchers_library

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• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

Published on September 21, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic .

The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

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Table of contents

What should your proposal contain, dissertation question examples, what should your proposal look like, dissertation prospectus examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about proposals.

Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives .

Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.

Your proposal should answer the following questions:

• Why is your research necessary?
• What is already known about your topic?
• Where and when will your research be conducted?
• Who should be studied?
• How can the research best be done?

Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.

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Strong research kicks off with a solid research question , and dissertations are no exception to this.

Dissertation research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
• What are the main factors enticing people under 30 in suburban areas to engage in the gig economy?
• Which techniques prove most effective for 1st-grade teachers at local elementary schools in engaging students with special needs?
• Which communication streams are the most effective for getting those aged 18-30 to the polls on Election Day?

An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section , discussion section , or conclusion , it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.

Be sure to include:

• A succinct introduction to your topic and problem statement
• A brief literature review situating your topic within existing research
• A basic outline of the research methods you think will best answer your research question
• The perceived implications for future research
• A reference list in the citation style of your choice

The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.

Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.

• Example #1: “Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907” by Maria Lane
• Example #2: “Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society” by Dimitri Nakassis
• Example #3: “Manhood Up in the Air: A Study of Male Flight Attendants, Queerness, and Corporate Capitalism during the Cold War Era” by Phil Tiemeyer

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Research bias

• Survivorship bias
• Self-serving bias
• Availability heuristic
• Halo effect
• Hindsight bias
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

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The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .

• If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis , use quantitative methods . If you want to explore ideas, thoughts and meanings, use qualitative methods .
• If you want to analyze a large amount of readily-available data, use secondary data. If you want data specific to your purposes with control over how it is generated, collect primary data.
• If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables , use experimental methods. If you want to understand the characteristics of a research subject, use descriptive methods.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

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