how to write a research idea

How To Write A Research Proposal

A Straightforward How-To Guide (With Examples)

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr. Eunice Rautenbach | August 2019 (Updated April 2023)

Writing up a strong research proposal for a dissertation or thesis is much like a marriage proposal. It’s a task that calls on you to win somebody over and persuade them that what you’re planning is a great idea. An idea they’re happy to say ‘yes’ to. This means that your dissertation proposal needs to be   persuasive ,   attractive   and well-planned. In this post, I’ll show you how to write a winning dissertation proposal, from scratch.

Before you start:

– Understand exactly what a research proposal is – Ask yourself these 4 questions

The 5 essential ingredients:

• The title/topic
• The introduction chapter
• The scope/delimitations
• Preliminary literature review
• Design/ methodology
• Practical considerations and risks 

What Is A Research Proposal?

The research proposal is literally that: a written document that communicates what you propose to research, in a concise format. It’s where you put all that stuff that’s spinning around in your head down on to paper, in a logical, convincing fashion.

Convincing   is the keyword here, as your research proposal needs to convince the assessor that your research is   clearly articulated   (i.e., a clear research question) ,   worth doing   (i.e., is unique and valuable enough to justify the effort), and   doable   within the restrictions you’ll face (time limits, budget, skill limits, etc.). If your proposal does not address these three criteria, your research won’t be approved, no matter how “exciting” the research idea might be.

PS – if you’re completely new to proposal writing, we’ve got a detailed walkthrough video covering two successful research proposals here . 

How do I know I’m ready?

Before starting the writing process, you need to   ask yourself 4 important questions .  If you can’t answer them succinctly and confidently, you’re not ready – you need to go back and think more deeply about your dissertation topic .

You should be able to answer the following 4 questions before starting your dissertation or thesis research proposal:

• WHAT is my main research question? (the topic)
• WHO cares and why is this important? (the justification)
• WHAT data would I need to answer this question, and how will I analyse it? (the research design)
• HOW will I manage the completion of this research, within the given timelines? (project and risk management)

If you can’t answer these questions clearly and concisely,   you’re not yet ready   to write your research proposal – revisit our   post on choosing a topic .

If you can, that’s great – it’s time to start writing up your dissertation proposal. Next, I’ll discuss what needs to go into your research proposal, and how to structure it all into an intuitive, convincing document with a linear narrative.

The 5 Essential Ingredients

Research proposals can vary in style between institutions and disciplines, but here I’ll share with you a   handy 5-section structure   you can use. These 5 sections directly address the core questions we spoke about earlier, ensuring that you present a convincing proposal. If your institution already provides a proposal template, there will likely be substantial overlap with this, so you’ll still get value from reading on.

For each section discussed below, make sure you use headers and sub-headers (ideally, numbered headers) to help the reader navigate through your document, and to support them when they need to revisit a previous section. Don’t just present an endless wall of text, paragraph after paragraph after paragraph…

Top Tip:   Use MS Word Styles to format headings. This will allow you to be clear about whether a sub-heading is level 2, 3, or 4. Additionally, you can view your document in ‘outline view’ which will show you only your headings. This makes it much easier to check your structure, shift things around and make decisions about where a section needs to sit. You can also generate a 100% accurate table of contents using Word’s automatic functionality.

Ingredient #1 – Topic/Title Header

Your research proposal’s title should be your main research question in its simplest form, possibly with a sub-heading providing basic details on the specifics of the study. For example:

“Compliance with equality legislation in the charity sector: a study of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ made in three London care homes”

As you can see, this title provides a clear indication of what the research is about, in broad terms. It paints a high-level picture for the first-time reader, which gives them a taste of what to expect.   Always aim for a clear, concise title . Don’t feel the need to capture every detail of your research in your title – your proposal will fill in the gaps.

Need a helping hand?

Ingredient #2 – Introduction

In this section of your research proposal, you’ll expand on what you’ve communicated in the title, by providing a few paragraphs which offer more detail about your research topic. Importantly, the focus here is the   topic   – what will you research and why is that worth researching? This is not the place to discuss methodology, practicalities, etc. – you’ll do that later.

You should cover the following:

• An overview of the   broad area   you’ll be researching – introduce the reader to key concepts and language
• An explanation of the   specific (narrower) area   you’ll be focusing, and why you’ll be focusing there
• Your research   aims   and   objectives
• Your   research question (s) and sub-questions (if applicable)

Importantly, you should aim to use short sentences and plain language – don’t babble on with extensive jargon, acronyms and complex language. Assume that the reader is an intelligent layman – not a subject area specialist (even if they are). Remember that the   best writing is writing that can be easily understood   and digested. Keep it simple.

Note that some universities may want some extra bits and pieces in your introduction section. For example, personal development objectives, a structural outline, etc. Check your brief to see if there are any other details they expect in your proposal, and make sure you find a place for these.

Ingredient #3 – Scope

Next, you’ll need to specify what the scope of your research will be – this is also known as the delimitations . In other words, you need to make it clear what you will be covering and, more importantly, what you won’t be covering in your research. Simply put, this is about ring fencing your research topic so that you have a laser-sharp focus.

All too often, students feel the need to go broad and try to address as many issues as possible, in the interest of producing comprehensive research. Whilst this is admirable, it’s a mistake. By tightly refining your scope, you’ll enable yourself to   go deep   with your research, which is what you need to earn good marks. If your scope is too broad, you’re likely going to land up with superficial research (which won’t earn marks), so don’t be afraid to narrow things down.

Ingredient #4 – Literature Review

In this section of your research proposal, you need to provide a (relatively) brief discussion of the existing literature. Naturally, this will not be as comprehensive as the literature review in your actual dissertation, but it will lay the foundation for that. In fact, if you put in the effort at this stage, you’ll make your life a lot easier when it’s time to write your actual literature review chapter.

There are a few things you need to achieve in this section:

• Demonstrate that you’ve done your reading and are   familiar with the current state of the research   in your topic area.
• Show that   there’s a clear gap   for your specific research – i.e., show that your topic is sufficiently unique and will add value to the existing research.
• Show how the existing research has shaped your thinking regarding   research design . For example, you might use scales or questionnaires from previous studies.

When you write up your literature review, keep these three objectives front of mind, especially number two (revealing the gap in the literature), so that your literature review has a   clear purpose and direction . Everything you write should be contributing towards one (or more) of these objectives in some way. If it doesn’t, you need to ask yourself whether it’s truly needed.

Top Tip:  Don’t fall into the trap of just describing the main pieces of literature, for example, “A says this, B says that, C also says that…” and so on. Merely describing the literature provides no value. Instead, you need to   synthesise   it, and use it to address the three objectives above.

Ingredient #5 – Research Methodology

Now that you’ve clearly explained both your intended research topic (in the introduction) and the existing research it will draw on (in the literature review section), it’s time to get practical and explain exactly how you’ll be carrying out your own research. In other words, your research methodology.

In this section, you’ll need to   answer two critical questions :

• How   will you design your research? I.e., what research methodology will you adopt, what will your sample be, how will you collect data, etc.
• Why   have you chosen this design? I.e., why does this approach suit your specific research aims, objectives and questions?

In other words, this is not just about explaining WHAT you’ll be doing, it’s also about explaining WHY. In fact, the   justification is the most important part , because that justification is how you demonstrate a good understanding of research design (which is what assessors want to see).

Some essential design choices you need to cover in your research proposal include:

• Your intended research philosophy (e.g., positivism, interpretivism or pragmatism )
• What methodological approach you’ll be taking (e.g., qualitative , quantitative or mixed )
• The details of your sample (e.g., sample size, who they are, who they represent, etc.)
• What data you plan to collect (i.e. data about what, in what form?)
• How you plan to collect it (e.g., surveys , interviews , focus groups, etc.)
• How you plan to analyse it (e.g., regression analysis, thematic analysis , etc.)
• Ethical adherence (i.e., does this research satisfy all ethical requirements of your institution, or does it need further approval?)

This list is not exhaustive – these are just some core attributes of research design. Check with your institution what level of detail they expect. The “ research onion ” by Saunders et al (2009) provides a good summary of the various design choices you ultimately need to make – you can   read more about that here .

Don’t forget the practicalities…

In addition to the technical aspects, you will need to address the   practical   side of the project. In other words, you need to explain   what resources you’ll need   (e.g., time, money, access to equipment or software, etc.) and how you intend to secure these resources. You need to show that your project is feasible, so any “make or break” type resources need to already be secured. The success or failure of your project cannot depend on some resource which you’re not yet sure you have access to.

Another part of the practicalities discussion is   project and risk management . In other words, you need to show that you have a clear project plan to tackle your research with. Some key questions to address:

• What are the timelines for each phase of your project?
• Are the time allocations reasonable?
• What happens if something takes longer than anticipated (risk management)?
• What happens if you don’t get the response rate you expect?

A good way to demonstrate that you’ve thought this through is to include a Gantt chart and a risk register (in the appendix if word count is a problem). With these two tools, you can show that you’ve got a clear, feasible plan, and you’ve thought about and accounted for the potential risks.

Tip – Be honest about the potential difficulties – but show that you are anticipating solutions and workarounds. This is much more impressive to an assessor than an unrealistically optimistic proposal which does not anticipate any challenges whatsoever.

Final Touches: Read And Simplify

The final step is to edit and proofread your proposal – very carefully. It sounds obvious, but all too often poor editing and proofreading ruin a good proposal. Nothing is more off-putting for an assessor than a poorly edited, typo-strewn document. It sends the message that you either do not pay attention to detail, or just don’t care. Neither of these are good messages. Put the effort into editing and proofreading your proposal (or pay someone to do it for you) – it will pay dividends.

When you’re editing, watch out for ‘academese’. Many students can speak simply, passionately and clearly about their dissertation topic – but become incomprehensible the moment they turn the laptop on. You are not required to write in any kind of special, formal, complex language when you write academic work. Sure, there may be technical terms, jargon specific to your discipline, shorthand terms and so on. But, apart from those,   keep your written language very close to natural spoken language   – just as you would speak in the classroom. Imagine that you are explaining your project plans to your classmates or a family member. Remember, write for the intelligent layman, not the subject matter experts. Plain-language, concise writing is what wins hearts and minds – and marks!

Let’s Recap: Research Proposal 101

And there you have it – how to write your dissertation or thesis research proposal, from the title page to the final proof. Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways:

• The purpose of the research proposal is to   convince   – therefore, you need to make a clear, concise argument of why your research is both worth doing and doable.
• Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research   before   you put pen to paper.
• Title – provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms
• Introduction – explains what you’ll be researching in more detail
• Scope – explains the boundaries of your research
• Literature review – explains how your research fits into the existing research and why it’s unique and valuable
• Research methodology – explains and justifies how you will carry out your own research

Hopefully, this post has helped you better understand how to write up a winning research proposal. If you enjoyed it, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog . If your university doesn’t provide any template for your proposal, you might want to try out our free research proposal template .

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling Udemy Course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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29 Comments

Thank you so much for the valuable insight that you have given, especially on the research proposal. That is what I have managed to cover. I still need to go back to the other parts as I got disturbed while still listening to Derek’s audio on you-tube. I am inspired. I will definitely continue with Grad-coach guidance on You-tube.

Thanks for the kind words :). All the best with your proposal.

First of all, thanks a lot for making such a wonderful presentation. The video was really useful and gave me a very clear insight of how a research proposal has to be written. I shall try implementing these ideas in my RP.

Once again, I thank you for this content.

I found reading your outline on writing research proposal very beneficial. I wish there was a way of submitting my draft proposal to you guys for critiquing before I submit to the institution.

Hi Bonginkosi

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, we do provide a review service. The best starting point is to have a chat with one of our coaches here: https://gradcoach.com/book/new/ .

Hello team GRADCOACH, may God bless you so much. I was totally green in research. Am so happy for your free superb tutorials and resources. Once again thank you so much Derek and his team.

You’re welcome, Erick. Good luck with your research proposal 🙂

thank you for the information. its precise and on point.

Really a remarkable piece of writing and great source of guidance for the researchers. GOD BLESS YOU for your guidance. Regards

Thanks so much for your guidance. It is easy and comprehensive the way you explain the steps for a winning research proposal.

Thank you guys so much for the rich post. I enjoyed and learn from every word in it. My problem now is how to get into your platform wherein I can always seek help on things related to my research work ? Secondly, I wish to find out if there is a way I can send my tentative proposal to you guys for examination before I take to my supervisor Once again thanks very much for the insights

Thanks for your kind words, Desire.

If you are based in a country where Grad Coach’s paid services are available, you can book a consultation by clicking the “Book” button in the top right.

Best of luck with your studies.

May God bless you team for the wonderful work you are doing,

If I have a topic, Can I submit it to you so that you can draft a proposal for me?? As I am expecting to go for masters degree in the near future.

Thanks for your comment. We definitely cannot draft a proposal for you, as that would constitute academic misconduct. The proposal needs to be your own work. We can coach you through the process, but it needs to be your own work and your own writing.

Best of luck with your research!

I found a lot of many essential concepts from your material. it is real a road map to write a research proposal. so thanks a lot. If there is any update material on your hand on MBA please forward to me.

GradCoach is a professional website that presents support and helps for MBA student like me through the useful online information on the page and with my 1-on-1 online coaching with the amazing and professional PhD Kerryen.

Thank you Kerryen so much for the support and help 🙂

I really recommend dealing with such a reliable services provider like Gradcoah and a coach like Kerryen.

Hi, Am happy for your service and effort to help students and researchers, Please, i have been given an assignment on research for strategic development, the task one is to formulate a research proposal to support the strategic development of a business area, my issue here is how to go about it, especially the topic or title and introduction. Please, i would like to know if you could help me and how much is the charge.

This content is practical, valuable, and just great!

Thank you very much!

Hi Derek, Thank you for the valuable presentation. It is very helpful especially for beginners like me. I am just starting my PhD.

This is quite instructive and research proposal made simple. Can I have a research proposal template?

Great! Thanks for rescuing me, because I had no former knowledge in this topic. But with this piece of information, I am now secured. Thank you once more.

I enjoyed listening to your video on how to write a proposal. I think I will be able to write a winning proposal with your advice. I wish you were to be my supervisor.

Dear Derek Jansen,

Thank you for your great content. I couldn’t learn these topics in MBA, but now I learned from GradCoach. Really appreciate your efforts….

From Afghanistan!

I have got very essential inputs for startup of my dissertation proposal. Well organized properly communicated with video presentation. Thank you for the presentation.

Wow, this is absolutely amazing guys. Thank you so much for the fruitful presentation, you’ve made my research much easier.

this helps me a lot. thank you all so much for impacting in us. may god richly bless you all

How I wish I’d learn about Grad Coach earlier. I’ve been stumbling around writing and rewriting! Now I have concise clear directions on how to put this thing together. Thank you!

Fantastic!! Thank You for this very concise yet comprehensive guidance.

Even if I am poor in English I would like to thank you very much.

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The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

• Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
• Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
• Improve your general research and writing skills;
• Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
• Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
• Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

• What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
• Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
• How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
• Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal.  The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• Why is the topic important?
• How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
• What problems will it help solve?
• How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
• What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

Most proposals should include the following sections:

I.  Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

• What is the central research problem?
• What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
• What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
• Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II.  Background and Significance

This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.

To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:

• State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
• Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
• Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
• Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
• Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
• If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.

III.  Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

• Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
• Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
• Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV.  Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

• Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
• Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
• Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!

V.  Preliminary Suppositions and Implications

Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance.   When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:

• What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
• What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
• What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
• Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
• How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
• Will the results influence policy decisions?
• In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
• How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?

NOTE:   This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.

ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.

VI.  Conclusion

The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.

Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:

• Why the study should be done;
• The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
• The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
• The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
• A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.

VII.  Citations

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

• References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
• Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.

In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.

Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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How to Write a Research Proposal: A Step-by-Step

By Danesh Ramuthi , Nov 29, 2023

A research proposal is a structured outline for a planned study on a specific topic. It serves as a roadmap, guiding researchers through the process of converting their research idea into a feasible project. 

The aim of a research proposal is multifold: it articulates the research problem, establishes a theoretical framework, outlines the research methodology and highlights the potential significance of the study. Importantly, it’s a critical tool for scholars seeking grant funding or approval for their research projects.

Crafting a good research proposal requires not only understanding your research topic and methodological approaches but also the ability to present your ideas clearly and persuasively. Explore Venngage’s Proposal Maker and Research Proposals Templates to begin your journey in writing a compelling research proposal.

What to include in a research proposal?

In a research proposal, include a clear statement of your research question or problem, along with an explanation of its significance. This should be followed by a literature review that situates your proposed study within the context of existing research. 

Your proposal should also outline the research methodology, detailing how you plan to conduct your study, including data collection and analysis methods.

Additionally, include a theoretical framework that guides your research approach, a timeline or research schedule, and a budget if applicable. It’s important to also address the anticipated outcomes and potential implications of your study. A well-structured research proposal will clearly communicate your research objectives, methods and significance to the readers.

How to format a research proposal?

Formatting a research proposal involves adhering to a structured outline to ensure clarity and coherence. While specific requirements may vary, a standard research proposal typically includes the following elements:

• Title Page: Must include the title of your research proposal, your name and affiliations. The title should be concise and descriptive of your proposed research.
• Abstract: A brief summary of your proposal, usually not exceeding 250 words. It should highlight the research question, methodology and the potential impact of the study.
• Introduction: Introduces your research question or problem, explains its significance, and states the objectives of your study.
• Literature review: Here, you contextualize your research within existing scholarship, demonstrating your knowledge of the field and how your research will contribute to it.
• Methodology: Outline your research methods, including how you will collect and analyze data. This section should be detailed enough to show the feasibility and thoughtfulness of your approach.
• Timeline: Provide an estimated schedule for your research, breaking down the process into stages with a realistic timeline for each.
• Budget (if applicable): If your research requires funding, include a detailed budget outlining expected cost.
• References/Bibliography: List all sources referenced in your proposal in a consistent citation style.

How to write a research proposal in 11 steps?

Writing a research proposal in structured steps ensures a comprehensive and coherent presentation of your research project. Let’s look at the explanation for each of the steps here:  

Step 1: Title and Abstract Step 2: Introduction Step 3: Research objectives Step 4: Literature review Step 5: Methodology Step 6: Timeline Step 7: Resources Step 8: Ethical considerations Step 9: Expected outcomes and significance Step 10: References Step 11: Appendices

Step 1: title and abstract.

Select a concise, descriptive title and write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology and expected outcomes​​. The abstract should include your research question, the objectives you aim to achieve, the methodology you plan to employ and the anticipated outcomes. 

Step 2: Introduction

In this section, introduce the topic of your research, emphasizing its significance and relevance to the field. Articulate the research problem or question in clear terms and provide background context, which should include an overview of previous research in the field.

Step 3: Research objectives

Here, you’ll need to outline specific, clear and achievable objectives that align with your research problem. These objectives should be well-defined, focused and measurable, serving as the guiding pillars for your study. They help in establishing what you intend to accomplish through your research and provide a clear direction for your investigation.

Step 4: Literature review

In this part, conduct a thorough review of existing literature related to your research topic. This involves a detailed summary of key findings and major contributions from previous research. Identify existing gaps in the literature and articulate how your research aims to fill these gaps. The literature review not only shows your grasp of the subject matter but also how your research will contribute new insights or perspectives to the field.

Step 5: Methodology

Describe the design of your research and the methodologies you will employ. This should include detailed information on data collection methods, instruments to be used and analysis techniques. Justify the appropriateness of these methods for your research​​.

Step 6: Timeline

Construct a detailed timeline that maps out the major milestones and activities of your research project. Break the entire research process into smaller, manageable tasks and assign realistic time frames to each. This timeline should cover everything from the initial research phase to the final submission, including periods for data collection, analysis and report writing. 

It helps in ensuring your project stays on track and demonstrates to reviewers that you have a well-thought-out plan for completing your research efficiently.

Step 7: Resources

Identify all the resources that will be required for your research, such as specific databases, laboratory equipment, software or funding. Provide details on how these resources will be accessed or acquired. 

If your research requires funding, explain how it will be utilized effectively to support various aspects of the project. 

Step 8: Ethical considerations

Address any ethical issues that may arise during your research. This is particularly important for research involving human subjects. Describe the measures you will take to ensure ethical standards are maintained, such as obtaining informed consent, ensuring participant privacy, and adhering to data protection regulations. 

Here, in this section you should reassure reviewers that you are committed to conducting your research responsibly and ethically.

Step 9: Expected outcomes and significance

Articulate the expected outcomes or results of your research. Explain the potential impact and significance of these outcomes, whether in advancing academic knowledge, influencing policy or addressing specific societal or practical issues. 

Step 10: References

Compile a comprehensive list of all the references cited in your proposal. Adhere to a consistent citation style (like APA or MLA) throughout your document. The reference section not only gives credit to the original authors of your sourced information but also strengthens the credibility of your proposal.

Step 11: Appendices

Include additional supporting materials that are pertinent to your research proposal. This can be survey questionnaires, interview guides, detailed data analysis plans or any supplementary information that supports the main text. 

Appendices provide further depth to your proposal, showcasing the thoroughness of your preparation.

Research proposal FAQs

1. how long should a research proposal be.

The length of a research proposal can vary depending on the requirements of the academic institution, funding body or specific guidelines provided. Generally, research proposals range from 500 to 1500 words or about one to a few pages long. It’s important to provide enough detail to clearly convey your research idea, objectives and methodology, while being concise. Always check

2. Why is the research plan pivotal to a research project?

The research plan is pivotal to a research project because it acts as a blueprint, guiding every phase of the study. It outlines the objectives, methodology, timeline and expected outcomes, providing a structured approach and ensuring that the research is systematically conducted. 

A well-crafted plan helps in identifying potential challenges, allocating resources efficiently and maintaining focus on the research goals. It is also essential for communicating the project’s feasibility and importance to stakeholders, such as funding bodies or academic supervisors.

Mastering how to write a research proposal is an essential skill for any scholar, whether in social and behavioral sciences, academic writing or any field requiring scholarly research. From this article, you have learned key components, from the literature review to the research design, helping you develop a persuasive and well-structured proposal.

Remember, a good research proposal not only highlights your proposed research and methodology but also demonstrates its relevance and potential impact.

For additional support, consider utilizing Venngage’s Proposal Maker and Research Proposals Templates , valuable tools in crafting a compelling proposal that stands out.

Whether it’s for grant funding, a research paper or a dissertation proposal, these resources can assist in transforming your research idea into a successful submission.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

11.1 The Purpose of Research Writing

Learning objectives.

• Identify reasons to research writing projects.
• Outline the steps of the research writing process.

Why was the Great Wall of China built? What have scientists learned about the possibility of life on Mars? What roles did women play in the American Revolution? How does the human brain create, store, and retrieve memories? Who invented the game of football, and how has it changed over the years?

You may know the answers to these questions off the top of your head. If you are like most people, however, you find answers to tough questions like these by searching the Internet, visiting the library, or asking others for information. To put it simply, you perform research.

Whether you are a scientist, an artist, a paralegal, or a parent, you probably perform research in your everyday life. When your boss, your instructor, or a family member asks you a question that you do not know the answer to, you locate relevant information, analyze your findings, and share your results. Locating, analyzing, and sharing information are key steps in the research process, and in this chapter, you will learn more about each step. By developing your research writing skills, you will prepare yourself to answer any question no matter how challenging.

Reasons for Research

When you perform research, you are essentially trying to solve a mystery—you want to know how something works or why something happened. In other words, you want to answer a question that you (and other people) have about the world. This is one of the most basic reasons for performing research.

But the research process does not end when you have solved your mystery. Imagine what would happen if a detective collected enough evidence to solve a criminal case, but she never shared her solution with the authorities. Presenting what you have learned from research can be just as important as performing the research. Research results can be presented in a variety of ways, but one of the most popular—and effective—presentation forms is the research paper . A research paper presents an original thesis, or purpose statement, about a topic and develops that thesis with information gathered from a variety of sources.

If you are curious about the possibility of life on Mars, for example, you might choose to research the topic. What will you do, though, when your research is complete? You will need a way to put your thoughts together in a logical, coherent manner. You may want to use the facts you have learned to create a narrative or to support an argument. And you may want to show the results of your research to your friends, your teachers, or even the editors of magazines and journals. Writing a research paper is an ideal way to organize thoughts, craft narratives or make arguments based on research, and share your newfound knowledge with the world.

Write a paragraph about a time when you used research in your everyday life. Did you look for the cheapest way to travel from Houston to Denver? Did you search for a way to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe? In your paragraph, explain what you wanted to research, how you performed the research, and what you learned as a result.

Research Writing and the Academic Paper

No matter what field of study you are interested in, you will most likely be asked to write a research paper during your academic career. For example, a student in an art history course might write a research paper about an artist’s work. Similarly, a student in a psychology course might write a research paper about current findings in childhood development.

Having to write a research paper may feel intimidating at first. After all, researching and writing a long paper requires a lot of time, effort, and organization. However, writing a research paper can also be a great opportunity to explore a topic that is particularly interesting to you. The research process allows you to gain expertise on a topic of your choice, and the writing process helps you remember what you have learned and understand it on a deeper level.

Research Writing at Work

Knowing how to write a good research paper is a valuable skill that will serve you well throughout your career. Whether you are developing a new product, studying the best way to perform a procedure, or learning about challenges and opportunities in your field of employment, you will use research techniques to guide your exploration. You may even need to create a written report of your findings. And because effective communication is essential to any company, employers seek to hire people who can write clearly and professionally.

Writing at Work

Take a few minutes to think about each of the following careers. How might each of these professionals use researching and research writing skills on the job?

• Medical laboratory technician
• Small business owner
• Information technology professional
• Freelance magazine writer

A medical laboratory technician or information technology professional might do research to learn about the latest technological developments in either of these fields. A small business owner might conduct research to learn about the latest trends in his or her industry. A freelance magazine writer may need to research a given topic to write an informed, up-to-date article.

Think about the job of your dreams. How might you use research writing skills to perform that job? Create a list of ways in which strong researching, organizing, writing, and critical thinking skills could help you succeed at your dream job. How might these skills help you obtain that job?

Steps of the Research Writing Process

How does a research paper grow from a folder of brainstormed notes to a polished final draft? No two projects are identical, but most projects follow a series of six basic steps.

These are the steps in the research writing process:

• Choose a topic.
• Plan and schedule time to research and write.
• Conduct research.
• Organize research and ideas.
• Draft your paper.
• Revise and edit your paper.

Each of these steps will be discussed in more detail later in this chapter. For now, though, we will take a brief look at what each step involves.

Step 1: Choosing a Topic

As you may recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , to narrow the focus of your topic, you may try freewriting exercises, such as brainstorming. You may also need to ask a specific research question —a broad, open-ended question that will guide your research—as well as propose a possible answer, or a working thesis . You may use your research question and your working thesis to create a research proposal . In a research proposal, you present your main research question, any related subquestions you plan to explore, and your working thesis.

Step 2: Planning and Scheduling

Before you start researching your topic, take time to plan your researching and writing schedule. Research projects can take days, weeks, or even months to complete. Creating a schedule is a good way to ensure that you do not end up being overwhelmed by all the work you have to do as the deadline approaches.

During this step of the process, it is also a good idea to plan the resources and organizational tools you will use to keep yourself on track throughout the project. Flowcharts, calendars, and checklists can all help you stick to your schedule. See Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” , Section 11.2 “Steps in Developing a Research Proposal” for an example of a research schedule.

Step 3: Conducting Research

When going about your research, you will likely use a variety of sources—anything from books and periodicals to video presentations and in-person interviews.

Your sources will include both primary sources and secondary sources . Primary sources provide firsthand information or raw data. For example, surveys, in-person interviews, and historical documents are primary sources. Secondary sources, such as biographies, literary reviews, or magazine articles, include some analysis or interpretation of the information presented. As you conduct research, you will take detailed, careful notes about your discoveries. You will also evaluate the reliability of each source you find.

Step 4: Organizing Research and the Writer’s Ideas

When your research is complete, you will organize your findings and decide which sources to cite in your paper. You will also have an opportunity to evaluate the evidence you have collected and determine whether it supports your thesis, or the focus of your paper. You may decide to adjust your thesis or conduct additional research to ensure that your thesis is well supported.

Remember, your working thesis is not set in stone. You can and should change your working thesis throughout the research writing process if the evidence you find does not support your original thesis. Never try to force evidence to fit your argument. For example, your working thesis is “Mars cannot support life-forms.” Yet, a week into researching your topic, you find an article in the New York Times detailing new findings of bacteria under the Martian surface. Instead of trying to argue that bacteria are not life forms, you might instead alter your thesis to “Mars cannot support complex life-forms.”

Step 5: Drafting Your Paper

Now you are ready to combine your research findings with your critical analysis of the results in a rough draft. You will incorporate source materials into your paper and discuss each source thoughtfully in relation to your thesis or purpose statement.

When you cite your reference sources, it is important to pay close attention to standard conventions for citing sources in order to avoid plagiarism , or the practice of using someone else’s words without acknowledging the source. Later in this chapter, you will learn how to incorporate sources in your paper and avoid some of the most common pitfalls of attributing information.

Step 6: Revising and Editing Your Paper

In the final step of the research writing process, you will revise and polish your paper. You might reorganize your paper’s structure or revise for unity and cohesion, ensuring that each element in your paper flows into the next logically and naturally. You will also make sure that your paper uses an appropriate and consistent tone.

Once you feel confident in the strength of your writing, you will edit your paper for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and formatting. When you complete this final step, you will have transformed a simple idea or question into a thoroughly researched and well-written paper you can be proud of!

Review the steps of the research writing process. Then answer the questions on your own sheet of paper.

• In which steps of the research writing process are you allowed to change your thesis?
• In step 2, which types of information should you include in your project schedule?
• What might happen if you eliminated step 4 from the research writing process?

Key Takeaways

• People undertake research projects throughout their academic and professional careers in order to answer specific questions, share their findings with others, increase their understanding of challenging topics, and strengthen their researching, writing, and analytical skills.
• The research writing process generally comprises six steps: choosing a topic, scheduling and planning time for research and writing, conducting research, organizing research and ideas, drafting a paper, and revising and editing the paper.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Home » How To Write A Proposal – Step By Step Guide [With Template]

How To Write A Proposal – Step By Step Guide [With Template]

Table of Contents

How To Write A Proposal

Writing a Proposal involves several key steps to effectively communicate your ideas and intentions to a target audience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each step:

Identify the Purpose and Audience

• Clearly define the purpose of your proposal: What problem are you addressing, what solution are you proposing, or what goal are you aiming to achieve?
• Identify your target audience: Who will be reading your proposal? Consider their background, interests, and any specific requirements they may have.

Conduct Research

• Gather relevant information: Conduct thorough research to support your proposal. This may involve studying existing literature, analyzing data, or conducting surveys/interviews to gather necessary facts and evidence.
• Understand the context: Familiarize yourself with the current situation or problem you’re addressing. Identify any relevant trends, challenges, or opportunities that may impact your proposal.

Develop an Outline

• Create a clear and logical structure: Divide your proposal into sections or headings that will guide your readers through the content.
• Introduction: Provide a concise overview of the problem, its significance, and the proposed solution.
• Background/Context: Offer relevant background information and context to help the readers understand the situation.
• Objectives/Goals: Clearly state the objectives or goals of your proposal.
• Methodology/Approach: Describe the approach or methodology you will use to address the problem.
• Timeline/Schedule: Present a detailed timeline or schedule outlining the key milestones or activities.
• Budget/Resources: Specify the financial and other resources required to implement your proposal.
• Evaluation/Success Metrics: Explain how you will measure the success or effectiveness of your proposal.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main points and restate the benefits of your proposal.

Write the Proposal

• Grab attention: Start with a compelling opening statement or a brief story that hooks the reader.
• Clearly state the problem: Clearly define the problem or issue you are addressing and explain its significance.
• Present your proposal: Introduce your proposed solution, project, or idea and explain why it is the best approach.
• State the objectives/goals: Clearly articulate the specific objectives or goals your proposal aims to achieve.
• Provide supporting information: Present evidence, data, or examples to support your claims and justify your proposal.
• Explain the methodology: Describe in detail the approach, methods, or strategies you will use to implement your proposal.
• Address potential concerns: Anticipate and address any potential objections or challenges the readers may have and provide counterarguments or mitigation strategies.
• Recap the main points: Summarize the key points you’ve discussed in the proposal.
• Reinforce the benefits: Emphasize the positive outcomes, benefits, or impact your proposal will have.
• Call to action: Clearly state what action you want the readers to take, such as approving the proposal, providing funding, or collaborating with you.

Review and Revise

• Proofread for clarity and coherence: Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
• Ensure a logical flow: Read through your proposal to ensure the ideas are presented in a logical order and are easy to follow.
• Revise and refine: Fine-tune your proposal to make it concise, persuasive, and compelling.

Add Supplementary Materials

• Attach relevant documents: Include any supporting materials that strengthen your proposal, such as research findings, charts, graphs, or testimonials.
• Appendices: Add any additional information that might be useful but not essential to the main body of the proposal.

Formatting and Presentation

• Follow the guidelines: Adhere to any specific formatting guidelines provided by the organization or institution to which you are submitting the proposal.
• Use a professional tone and language: Ensure that your proposal is written in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
• Use headings and subheadings: Organize your proposal with clear headings and subheadings to improve readability.
• Pay attention to design: Use appropriate fonts, font sizes, and formatting styles to make your proposal visually appealing.
• Include a cover page: Create a cover page that includes the title of your proposal, your name or organization, the date, and any other required information.

Seek Feedback

• Share your proposal with trusted colleagues or mentors and ask for their feedback. Consider their suggestions for improvement and incorporate them into your proposal if necessary.

Finalize and Submit

• Make any final revisions based on the feedback received.
• Ensure that all required sections, attachments, and documentation are included.
• Double-check for any formatting, grammar, or spelling errors.
• Submit your proposal within the designated deadline and according to the submission guidelines provided.

Proposal Format

The format of a proposal can vary depending on the specific requirements of the organization or institution you are submitting it to. However, here is a general proposal format that you can follow:

1. Title Page:

• Include the title of your proposal, your name or organization’s name, the date, and any other relevant information specified by the guidelines.

2. Executive Summary:

•  Provide a concise overview of your proposal, highlighting the key points and objectives.
• Summarize the problem, proposed solution, and anticipated benefits.
• Keep it brief and engaging, as this section is often read first and should capture the reader’s attention.

3. Introduction:

• State the problem or issue you are addressing and its significance.
• Provide background information to help the reader understand the context and importance of the problem.
• Clearly state the purpose and objectives of your proposal.

4. Problem Statement:

• Describe the problem in detail, highlighting its impact and consequences.
• Use data, statistics, or examples to support your claims and demonstrate the need for a solution.

5. Proposed Solution or Project Description:

• Explain your proposed solution or project in a clear and detailed manner.
• Describe how your solution addresses the problem and why it is the most effective approach.
• Include information on the methods, strategies, or activities you will undertake to implement your solution.
• Highlight any unique features, innovations, or advantages of your proposal.

6. Methodology:

• Provide a step-by-step explanation of the methodology or approach you will use to implement your proposal.
• Include a timeline or schedule that outlines the key milestones, tasks, and deliverables.
• Clearly describe the resources, personnel, or expertise required for each phase of the project.

7. Evaluation and Success Metrics:

• Explain how you will measure the success or effectiveness of your proposal.
• Identify specific metrics, indicators, or evaluation methods that will be used.
• Describe how you will track progress, gather feedback, and make adjustments as needed.
• Present a detailed budget that outlines the financial resources required for your proposal.
• Include all relevant costs, such as personnel, materials, equipment, and any other expenses.
• Provide a justification for each item in the budget.

9. Conclusion:

•  Summarize the main points of your proposal.
•  Reiterate the benefits and positive outcomes of implementing your proposal.
• Emphasize the value and impact it will have on the organization or community.

10. Appendices:

• Include any additional supporting materials, such as research findings, charts, graphs, or testimonials.
•  Attach any relevant documents that provide further information but are not essential to the main body of the proposal.

Proposal Template

Here’s a basic proposal template that you can use as a starting point for creating your own proposal:

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to submit a proposal for [briefly state the purpose of the proposal and its significance]. This proposal outlines a comprehensive solution to address [describe the problem or issue] and presents an actionable plan to achieve the desired objectives.

Thank you for considering this proposal. I believe that implementing this solution will significantly contribute to [organization’s or community’s goals]. I am available to discuss the proposal in more detail at your convenience. Please feel free to contact me at [your email address or phone number].

Yours sincerely,

Note: This template is a starting point and should be customized to meet the specific requirements and guidelines provided by the organization or institution to which you are submitting the proposal.

Proposal Sample

Here’s a sample proposal to give you an idea of how it could be structured and written:

Subject : Proposal for Implementation of Environmental Education Program

I am pleased to submit this proposal for your consideration, outlining a comprehensive plan for the implementation of an Environmental Education Program. This program aims to address the critical need for environmental awareness and education among the community, with the objective of fostering a sense of responsibility and sustainability.

Executive Summary: Our proposed Environmental Education Program is designed to provide engaging and interactive educational opportunities for individuals of all ages. By combining classroom learning, hands-on activities, and community engagement, we aim to create a long-lasting impact on environmental conservation practices and attitudes.

Introduction: The state of our environment is facing significant challenges, including climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. It is essential to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to understand these issues and take action. This proposal seeks to bridge the gap in environmental education and inspire a sense of environmental stewardship among the community.

Problem Statement: The lack of environmental education programs has resulted in limited awareness and understanding of environmental issues. As a result, individuals are less likely to adopt sustainable practices or actively contribute to conservation efforts. Our program aims to address this gap and empower individuals to become environmentally conscious and responsible citizens.

Proposed Solution or Project Description: Our Environmental Education Program will comprise a range of activities, including workshops, field trips, and community initiatives. We will collaborate with local schools, community centers, and environmental organizations to ensure broad participation and maximum impact. By incorporating interactive learning experiences, such as nature walks, recycling drives, and eco-craft sessions, we aim to make environmental education engaging and enjoyable.

Methodology: Our program will be structured into modules that cover key environmental themes, such as biodiversity, climate change, waste management, and sustainable living. Each module will include a mix of classroom sessions, hands-on activities, and practical field experiences. We will also leverage technology, such as educational apps and online resources, to enhance learning outcomes.

Evaluation and Success Metrics: We will employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Pre- and post-assessments will gauge knowledge gain, while surveys and feedback forms will assess participant satisfaction and behavior change. We will also track the number of community engagement activities and the adoption of sustainable practices as indicators of success.

Budget: Please find attached a detailed budget breakdown for the implementation of the Environmental Education Program. The budget covers personnel costs, materials and supplies, transportation, and outreach expenses. We have ensured cost-effectiveness while maintaining the quality and impact of the program.

Conclusion: By implementing this Environmental Education Program, we have the opportunity to make a significant difference in our community’s environmental consciousness and practices. We are confident that this program will foster a generation of individuals who are passionate about protecting our environment and taking sustainable actions. We look forward to discussing the proposal further and working together to make a positive impact.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at [your email address or phone number].

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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How to choose an Appropriate Method for Research?

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• v.68(6); Nov-Dec 2015

Turning Your Research Idea into a Proposal Worth Funding

Introduction.

Great ideas for clinical research often originate at the bedside when clinicians are forced to make a decision about a patient’s care, but an absence of published evidence complicates the decision-making process. This is typically how gaps in the literature are identified and translated into opportunities for clinical research. This scenario happens on a daily basis, possibly many times per day, in every clinical discipline. Most of these ideas will not be worthy of the time and effort required to develop and conduct a research project, but a few will come up often enough to warrant further consideration. This consideration requires self-assessment of your level of interest in the topic; assessment of the clinical need for new data and the feasibility and logistics of actually conducting the study; and assessment of local resources available to do the research. It is highly unusual to identify meaningful projects for which all the necessary resources are readily available, but the need to obtain external funding may be seen as a roadblock for novice researchers. A study that requires funding should be viewed not as a closed door to researchers new to the world of grantsmanship but rather as a necessary step that will increase the chances of research success and validate the importance of the project.

FOCUS YOUR RESEARCH IDEA

Preparing and planning for a research project can be more time-consuming than conducting the actual project itself. This process will test your resolve and dedication to the project. Novice researchers should understand that the time from inception to randomization of the first patient is typically many months, and while some waning of interest in a project is expected, so too is progress, especially when limited resources and other people are involved.

Become Familiar with the Current Evidence

Before you begin designing the definitive trial to answer your question, take as much time as is necessary for a thorough literature review. Assistance from a research librarian or information specialist is usually helpful. This type of scoping exercise is important to confirm that your question has not already been answered and that it is relevant to others. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the state of the evidence will provide context for your research question and likely will help to identify other gaps in the literature that might be worth addressing. This early effort will pay off when it comes time to actually write the grant application and provide context and rationale for your proposal.

Start with Honest Introspection

The first and most important question the researcher should ask, even before considering how to answer the research question, is “How interested am I in this topic?” This soul-searching exercise is important, given how challenging it can be to maintain the level of effort required to see a project through to completion. After a preliminary research plan is deemed feasible, based on an assessment of the work required, the researcher should ask the same question again. If the answer both times is “very interested”, then the research program should absolutely move forward. But even if the answer is “not really”, this is not a reason to be discouraged. Honest introspection is still a valuable process that may inform future research efforts.

Clarify Your Research Question

It is essential that you be able to convey your research question and project plan with as much clarity as possible. It is worth spending as much time as necessary to translate your clinical problem into a cogent research question, to ensure the reader of the grant application can easily identify the “who”, “what”, “where”, and “how” of your research idea. The PICOT framework is useful for formulating most research questions. It will force you to clarify the patient, population, or problem (P); the intervention (I); the comparator or control (C); the outcome (O); and the timeframe in which the outcomes are to be assessed (T). 1 , 2 It is important to be aware that although the PICOT framework can be used for many types of research questions, it is not a universal framework suitable for all research questions. Readers should refer to previous articles in this series for guidance about specific study designs and strategies for developing a research question. 3 , 4 Once the research question has been fine-tuned, the most appropriate study design to answer the question can be determined. A randomized controlled trial is often the best design to minimize bias, but there are many scenarios where other study designs are more ethically or logistically feasible or simply better suited to answer the question. 5 For example, a retrospective study may be the most appropriate study design to describe the frequency and outcomes of drug-related adverse events, whereas a prospective cohort study may be more appropriate for questions related to prognosis or diagnostic accuracy.

The “why” of your research project is of equal importance to a well-articulated research question. The researcher who is developing a research program is often compared to a salesman, since the greatest task can be “selling” the research idea to potential collaborators, co-investigators, administrators, ethics boards, and ultimately funding agencies. A successful grant application conveys the clinical importance of the study that is being proposed, as well as the reasons why the applicant should be the one to do it and why the funding agency should fund it. This process always begins with a thorough review of existing evidence and a comprehensive understanding of the clinical landscape. In as little as a paragraph or two, the applicant must be able to describe the magnitude of the problem that he or she proposes to address, the current state of the literature pertaining to this problem, how the proposed study will fill one of the identified gaps in knowledge of the problem, and finally how the study results may affect patient outcomes or improve the care that patients receive. It is important to speak or write in tangible terms and to avoid vague statements, to convince people not only that the project can be done, but that it should be done. This section of the grant application can often be a deciding factor in whether or not the project is funded: if the reviewer is not convinced that this is an important study to do, it won’t matter how well designed the study is.

Assess Your Expertise and Resources

One characteristic of a successful researcher is the ability to recognize his or her own limitations. No researcher is an expert in every facet of a research project, but it takes some foresight to identify the skill sets required to conduct all the tasks involved. It is imperative that the researcher consider the roles that he or she is able and willing to play and those that will have to be filled by potential co-investigators, consultants, and service providers. This is the time to start soliciting advice from local experts, colleagues, and mentors. There is no need for the novice researcher to have all the answers to logistic, feasibility, and ethical questions, but potential collaborators must be engaged to fill these roles. Many larger institutions will have research infrastructure in place, where consultations and advice can be sought. Institutions have a vested interest in methodologically and ethically sound research and can advise novice researchers, as well as identify local experts with the necessary expertise. For example, it would not be out of the ordinary to solicit advice from methodologists, statisticians, administrators, colleagues, database technicians, and laboratory personnel in the process of assessing the feasibility of a new research project. Involving others at this stage also serves to reassure the researcher that he or she does not have to take on the entire burden of conducting the project alone. Seasoned researchers recognize the multitude of tasks that make up a research project, many of which are best delegated to and shared among collaborators with the appropriate expertise. This is how active researchers balance multiple research programs simultaneously.

The composition of the research team is of particular interest to granting agencies. Grant reviewers must be confident that the project will be completed if it is funded. The expertise and roles of each team member will be described in detail within the application. Having the complementary expertise to conduct the tasks assigned to each team member conveys foresight, planning, and confidence to the reviewer.

Develop a Synopsis of Your Study

At this stage it is useful to expand on the research question by writing a 1- or 2-page summary of what is being proposed. List the team members and include as much detail as has been generated by this time. An organized summary can be used when you start drafting the eventual study protocol, so it is helpful to organize thoughts and ideas as you would in a structured abstract, with subheadings similar to the following: Research Question, Background/Rationale, Objectives, Methods (in PICOT format), and Clinical Impact. Ensure that the summary includes a clear statement of the study aims and hypotheses to be tested. During this process, logistical questions should be considered to assess the feasibility of the proposed study. An incomplete assessment of feasibility is one of the most common reasons why studies fail to reach completion. Feasibility questions often are directed toward (but are not limited to) patient recruitment (e.g., Where are the patients? What groups of patients will be included or excluded? How many patients are needed? How many recruiting sites will be required? What kind of consent model is most appropriate?), the intervention and comparator (e.g., What exactly will be the intervention and comparator? Can/should they be blinded? Who will provide them? When should they be administered?), and data capture (e.g., What data will be collected and when? Where are the data? Who will collect them and how? How will the data be secured?). There may also be other feasibility questions to answer related to safety monitoring, analytical plans, maintenance of confidentiality, and resource utilization. All of these questions must be well thought out and described in the grant application, so getting them down on paper early can be very helpful. Some preliminary pilot work can also be valuable at this point, to address potential recruitment challenges, the feasibility of data capture, and the development of study tools (e.g., surveys, case report forms).

These questions of feasibility are often difficult to answer, and doing so can be a daunting task for the novice researcher; however, early consultation with experts and building a team with complementary skills can alleviate some of the burden on the primary researcher. The other advantage to completing all this preliminary work is being able to identify insurmountable obstacles before a significant amount of time, effort, and other resources are wasted. The researcher will have to describe this process in the application, as the grant reviewer will most certainly be asking the same feasibility questions to ensure that the agency’s dollars are not wasted on a project that cannot be completed as planned. If the project idea has survived to this point, it is time to consider the funding required to complete the project.

IDENTIFY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

There are literally hundreds of public and private agencies that offer funding opportunities in health care in Canada and thousands worldwide. These opportunities come from federal agencies (e.g., Canadian Institutes of Health Research), private or charitable foundations (e.g., Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy, Kidney Foundation of Canada), and industry partners (e.g., pharmaceutical industry, medical technology companies). Many Canadian institutions also offer local opportunities for research funding at the institution level or even the department level. The greatest challenge for researchers is finding out what opportunities are available. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is a federal agency that provides funding opportunities for biomedical, clinical, health systems, and health-related research. To apply to one of the many funding opportunities available through this agency, researchers must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution or organization. Private or charitable foundations (e.g., Kidney Foundation of Canada, Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation) that provide relevant funding opportunities are sometimes more difficult to identify. However, the search for these opportunities can be well worth the effort, as there may be less competition, and many of these granting agencies have specific opportunities for allied health professionals.

Finding out what opportunities are available is sometimes the most difficult part of applying for funding. Given the competitive nature of grant funding, it is a great advantage to be aware of funding opportunities beyond the more common (and highly competitive) federal and local funding streams. Two web-based searchable databases can be particularly helpful in keeping up with funding opportunities. The Community of Science funding opportunities database ( http://pivot.cos.com/ ) is a comprehensive source that tracks over 400 000 funding opportunities from private foundations, public agencies, national and provincial governments, and corporations. Membership is required to access the database, but most Canadian institutions or their affiliated universities have memberships available for faculty and staff. The Community of Science also maintains a database of researcher profiles and their expertise, which can be filtered geographically and institutionally to identify potential collaborators according to skill set. Imagine Canada ( www.imaginecanada.ca ) is another organization that maintains a searchable web-based database of funding opportunities for Canadians. The Imagine Canada database is subscription based. Funding agencies typically put out a call for applications only once or twice per year, so a general awareness of funding agencies that align with your research interests and their deadlines is useful when planning a research project.

Large corporations, including pharmaceutical companies, are for-profit entities that will occasionally consider funding small studies or providing contributions in-kind for studies partially funded by other means. Contributions in-kind may include the provision of a drug for a clinical trial or laboratory work such as the determination of drug concentrations from tissue samples for a study. These opportunities may be made known only through network ties with the company, and a common interest in the research question is typically required. The websites of some pharmaceutical companies state whether they support investigator-initiated trials and, if so, the application process. Before funds are accepted from any source, care should be exercised in relation to ownership of the data, study conduct, knowledge dissemination, and conflict of interest.

Align Study Objectives with Those of the Granting Agency

Almost all granting agencies are motivated by the vision of the organization they represent. It is the applicant’s responsibility to choose a funding opportunity that aligns with his or her own research goals. Furthermore, it is in the researcher’s best interest to describe, within the grant application, how the research objectives align with the foundation’s or agency’s goals. Quite often, researchers must reshape their research question to “fit” the agency’s call for proposals. The funding body’s objectives are usually listed in the call for applications or on its website.

Funding agencies consider many logistic variables when they are awarding grants. These may include the type of project proposed (e.g., clinical trials versus quality assurance projects), the research subject area (e.g., specific disease states or populations), the geographic area (the province or country where the research will take place), the investigator’s level of experience (e.g., grants for young investigators), and the investigator’s affiliation with a professional society (for example, only members of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists [CSHP] are eligible to apply for CSHP Foundation grants). Eligibility criteria will be listed in the call for applications or on the agency’s website and are typically fully enforced.

Once a researcher has identified a potential funding opportunity, the time has come to contact the grant officer, an important step that is often overlooked. Typically, a grant officer is assigned to each funding opportunity within an agency. The role of the grant officer is to discuss research ideas with potential applicants and advise them about the application process. Quite often, a discussion with the grant officer will provide insight with respect to the agency’s enthusiasm toward the topic of the proposed research. Soliciting advice about how to frame the research project to highlight alignment of common goals can sometimes help in gauging the agency’s interest in funding a particular project.

WRITE THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Once the funding opportunity has been identified, researchers must review the guidance for applicants, which can usually be found on the agency’s website. These instructions for completing the application usually reiterate the eligibility requirements and the vision of the granting agency, detailing exactly what is required at each stage of the application. Most granting agencies will not entertain applications that do not follow the instructions for applicants, so it is imperative that applicants be familiar with what is expected of them. This is also an opportunity for applicants to budget their time for the application. Most applications require signatures from co-investigators and administrators, a curriculum vitae for each co-investigator, and perhaps even letters of support from department heads or supporting entities. Some agencies will ask for a letter of intent to be submitted before the full application. Curricula vitae may have to be reformatted to conform with the agency’s expectations, and letters of support may need to be solicited from program directors and key stakeholders. Both of these activities will take time, so it is better to plan for them at the outset. It is difficult to predict how much time should be budgeted for writing the grant application itself. The complexity of the project and the application process are major variables. For novice researchers with other professional responsibilities, 1 to 6 months is likely an appropriate range to budget for grant preparation.

A grant application is an exercise in communication. Even though the applications of private funding agencies and foundations are typically shorter than those of government granting agencies, it can be more challenging to communicate ideas clearly when there is less room to do so. Examples of successful grant applications should be reviewed, if possible. Many funding agencies post such examples on their websites. Most applications follow the same basic template: a cover letter, an abstract, a list of project-specific aims, the background and context for the research, the research plan (including the methods and analytical plan), the significance of the work, and a financial budget with justification and timeline. Other required components may include a section on ethical considerations, a biographical sketch and role delineation for each investigator, letters of support from collaborators, letters of ethics approval from local research ethics boards, and references. Typically, the first sections to be read by reviewers are the abstract and background. As a result, before the reviewer reads the actual study protocol, first impressions have already been formed, on the basis of the research question, alignment between the applicant’s and the agency’s aims, the significance of the project in the context of the literature review, and the work done by the investigators to support the application. Therefore, it is incumbent on the applicant to clearly communicate the importance and value of the proposal in these sections.

The research plan is a more detailed and complete description of each specific study aim. Sufficient detail is required for the reviewer to see not only what will be done, but also how it will be done. This principle pertains to patient selection, intervention preparation and delivery, data management, and the analytical plan. The reviewer may interpret vague plans and intentions that are not spelled out in detail as incomplete and a sign of insufficient planning. Assumptions made (e.g., in relation to sample size calculations, anticipated recruitment rates, or availability of data to be collected) must be justified to show foresight. If preliminary work has been done, it should be described. Such preliminary work might include local audits to describe the current state of care or the magnitude of the problem, informal surveys to describe clinical equipoise among care providers, systematic literature searches, and scoping exercises. These tasks may be undertaken during vetting of the research idea, and describing these activities to the reviewer shows your level of interest in the topic and your dedication to the project. Key features of a strong grant application are listed in Box 1 . 6 – 8

Key Considerations for a Successful Grant Application

Research question.

• The research question, specific aims, and hypothesis to be tested are clearly stated.
• The research question is valid, innovative, and worthwhile.
• The research question addresses an identified gap in the literature and builds on the existing knowledge base.

Project summary

• The project summary is clear, concise, and complete.
• The review of the literature summarizes the current knowledge base on the topic and identifies a gap that can be addressed by the study.
• The goals of the study proposed are clearly aligned with those listed in the call for applications and the vision of the funding agency.

Study methodology and research plan

• The research plan will definitively answer the research question.
• The methodology is sound, not overly ambitious, and feasible.
• The sample size and assumptions made are justified.
• The analytical plan is feasible and appropriate.

Study time frame

• The study timeline is feasible.
• The applicant has supplied some data showing that the study can be completed within the timeframe allowed (e.g., patient recruitment rates, letters of support from service providers).

Infrastructure and resources

• Local resources required for study conduct but not accounted for in the budget are available (e.g., personnel, equipment, supplies).
• If the application is successful, the institution will be able to administer the funds.
• Investigators are able to make the time commitment to complete the study.

Pilot testing and preliminary work conducted

• Evidence to support the feasibility aspects of the research is provided.
• Efforts to confirm the availability of patients to recruit and the ability to recruit them are documented.
• The intervention, case report forms, and study tools have been pilot-tested, and the pilot results reinforce the feasibility of the study.

Support of key stakeholders

• Applicants have considered who are the key stakeholders and knowledge users for their project. These may be professional societies, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Letters stating their support for the project, including how they would use the new knowledge generated by the project, are valuable in convincing reviewers of the importance and relevance of the project.

Study budget

• The budget is realistic and comprehensive.
• Each item in the budget has been justified.

Dissemination plan

• Dissemination of results has been planned in advance.
• Publication and conference presentations will be complemented by engagement of key stakeholders and knowledge users.
• Public involvement is typically sought by granting agencies.

Applicant and team

• Roles are appropriately delineated.
• The applicant and the team have the appropriate skill set and expertise to conduct the project.
• Novice investigators have recruited a team with the necessary experience and expertise to ensure the project can be completed.

Prepare the Budget

The best advice to novice researchers preparing the budget for their first grant application is to be honest and practical. Reviewing budgets from colleagues’ applications can be helpful. It is more common for studies to be stopped early or scaled back because of insufficient funding than for studies to be completed with excess funds remaining. The problem of a lack of funds can be avoided by resisting the urge to cut corners before the study even begins. Provided that the funding you are requesting is not greater than what the agency allows in the call for applications, you are more likely to be successful trying to justify the expected expense than downplaying it. Justification of the budget is paramount. Typically, the budget is broken down into specific line items related to salaries for personnel, equipment, services, supplies, travel, and institutional overhead. An itemized document that justifies each line item eliminates guesswork for the reviewer. Quotes for laboratory, transportation, storage, translation, statistical, and other services can typically be added here or in an appendix. Reviewers are usually researchers themselves and have prepared budgets before. They will notice if the cost of a research assistant is substantially different from what such a position might cost at their own institution. The budget justification allows you to answer the questions before they are asked. Always familiarize yourself with the guidance for applicants. Some agencies will not allow funding to be used for certain expenses (e.g., travel to conferences to present your results). Ensure that the budget conforms to the constraints imposed by the funding agency. Most granting agencies will also ask that the applicant identify the institution that will administer the funds. Typically this is the institution where the applicant is employed (a hospital, research institute, or university). If the applicant’s employer is not capable of administering the funds, it may be necessary to seek an appointment or affiliation with an institution that can.

Creating an annotated timeline is useful for 2 reasons. First, it describes the sequence of events for the reviewer, reinforcing what appears in the study methods, and forces the applicant to assign deadlines and targets for each task in the protocol. Second, it shows the reviewer that the project is expected to be completed during the timeframe delineated in the guidance to applicants. Most funding opportunities are intended for projects that can be completed within a finite period of time. For studies that are anticipated to continue beyond 1 year, a separate budget may be required for each year, whereas many funding opportunities solicit projects that can be done within 1 year. The question of study duration is therefore an important consideration for applicants.

Dissemination Plans and Public Involvement

Most grant applications now ask for a knowledge translation or dissemination plan, which increasingly includes a request to involve the public and other stakeholders. This is another area of the grant application that is underappreciated by many applicants. The granting agency definitely wants to see how the study it is funding will inform or change practice. Publication of study results is not enough to change practice. 9 Understanding your key stakeholders and knowledge users is important when deciding how and where to concentrate your efforts. Dissemination plans should be considered on a local, national, and international level when appropriate. Abstract submissions and poster presentations at national or international meetings can increase awareness of your study results, but granting agencies are looking for novel ways to increase awareness of your research and their support. Public dissemination of study findings can be done via a web-based clinical trial registry, such as www.clinicaltrials.gov . Engagement with professional associations, local institutions, and patient support groups that have common interests can be planned in advance. Such engagement may lead to opportunities to post or publish study results on the websites or in the newsletters of relevant associations or institutions and to reach patients through webinars and community outreach programs. Identifying these collaborators as knowledge users and describing their role in knowledge dissemination can be done via letters of support within the grant application. [Editor’s note: For more information about dissemination of research results, please see the Research Primer by David Edwards, starting on page 465 of this issue.]

Grant Review

Granting agencies that request a letter of intent (usually a 1- page summary of the project) in advance of the full application usually do so to allow time to assemble a panel of reviewers whose expertise is aligned with the proposals submitted. Reviewers will evaluate proposals according to predefined criteria that are typically disclosed in the instructions to applicants. Reviewers usually focus on the following areas in their review: significance and potential impact of the proposal, originality of the research question and methods, scope of the project, background work supporting the proposal, validity of research methods, feasibility of the project, expertise and experience of the primary applicant and his or her team, and availability of resources (including the budget) to complete the project.

The review may take up to 6 months, and this valuable time should not be wasted. During this period, the applicant should prepare for both success and rejection. If the proposal is accepted, the investigators are expected to “hit the ground running”. This requires preparation in terms of creating and pilot-testing study documents, ensuring that approvals to conduct the study are obtained from institutional administrators, and obtaining ethics approval if not already in place. Conversely, preparing for rejection is the best way to deal with it. Unfortunately, rejection of a first application is common but should not be a source of discouragement for applicants. The reviewers’ comments that are revealed by the agency will identify areas where improvements in clarity, design, and planning may improve the chances of funding in subsequent competitions. When suggested changes are feasible, applicants are encouraged to address them and reapply during the next competition. Reapplication is looked upon favourably by reviewers and funding agencies, as it reinforces the applicant’s interest in the topic, dedication to the project, and willingness to consider feedback. Success rates for second and third applications are significantly higher than those for first-time applications.

Turning a good idea into a funded research project takes significant preparation. Investigators must have a strong interest in the research topic if they are to be successful at grantsmanship and project completion. The preparation and planning done before actually filling out the grant application and efforts to align the project goals with those of the funding agency are among the most important predictors of successful grant applications.

This article is the 14th in the CJHP Research Primer Series, an initiative of the CJHP Editorial Board and the CSHP Research Committee. The planned 2-year series is intended to appeal to relatively inexperienced researchers, with the goal of building research capacity among practising pharmacists. The articles, presenting simple but rigorous guidance to encourage and support novice researchers, are being solicited from authors with appropriate expertise.

Previous articles in this series:

Bond CM. The research jigsaw: how to get started. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(1):28–30.

Tully MP. Research: articulating questions, generating hypotheses, and choosing study designs. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(1):31–4.

Loewen P. Ethical issues in pharmacy practice research: an introductory guide. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2014;67(2):133–7.

Tsuyuki RT. Designing pharmacy practice research trials. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(3):226–9.

Bresee LC. An introduction to developing surveys for pharmacy practice research. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(4):286–91.

Gamble JM. An introduction to the fundamentals of cohort and case–control studies. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(5):366–72.

Austin Z, Sutton J. Qualitative research: getting started. C an J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(6):436–40.

Houle S. An introduction to the fundamentals of randomized controlled trials in pharmacy research. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2015; 68(1):28–32.

Charrois TL. Systematic reviews: What do you need to know to get started? Can J Hosp Pharm . 2015;68(2):144–8.

Sutton J, Austin Z. Qualitative research: data collection, analysis, and management. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2015;68(3):226–31.

Cadarette SM, Wong L. An introduction to health care administrative data. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2015;68(3):232–7.

Simpson SH. Creating a data analysis plan: what to consider when choosing statistics for a study. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2015;68(4):311–7.

Dolovich L. Playing in the sandbox: considerations when leading or participating on a multidisciplinary research team. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2015;68(5):401–5.

Competing interests: At the time of publication, Salmaan Kanji had an active grant from the Kidney Foundation of Canada and has previously received peer-reviewed grant funding from other agencies, including the CSHP Research and Education Foundation (now the CSHP Foundation).

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
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• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

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How to Write a Research Paper: A Classical Guide

Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of a lengthy research paper looming on the horizon? You’re not alone! This guide is here to equip you with the tools and strategies to not just survive but thrive during this project. Whether you’re a Classical Conversations student, parent, or Director, or simply someone looking for a little help, we’ll break down the process into manageable steps, ensuring a successful and enriching research paper experience.

This guide goes beyond just “how-to.” We’ll expound upon the classical perspective, showing how this assignment fosters valuable skills like critical thinking, research, and communication. Plus, we’ll share tips for overcoming common challenges like finding reliable sources and avoiding plagiarism.

Ready to transform that research paper anxiety into research paper confidence? Let’s dive in!

(But first, a quick note on terminology: Classical Conversations is a classical, Christian homeschool program. The Challenge levels are equivalent to the high school years in traditional schools. This article was written by a Challenge graduate.)

  Table of Contents

I. How to Write a Research Paper

Ii. the fundamentals of writing a research paper, iii. the steps to writing a research paper, iv. the value of writing a research paper.

  “Wait, what? I have to write a 10–15-page formal research paper?”

This was the question that went through my mind during Challenge I orientation. The assignment was both exciting and terrifying to me, but mostly, I just felt unprepared for it.

Something I wish I’d realized when I began my research paper was that no one expected me to already know how to accomplish this task. I was going to learn a lot about researching and writing through this project and Classical Conversations (CC) was not going to turn me loose to figure it out on my own. The same is true for you.

Whether you are a student, parent, or Director, there are many resources, tools, and tips that are available to help you through this assignment. However, sometimes it’s difficult to decipher which ones will help, and which ones are just unnecessary.

Why do CC students write research papers? What is classical about this assignment? How does this assignment benefit students? Questions like these—and many others—are likely going through your mind as you approach this monumental task. Because it is important to have clarity in every assignment, CC has provided answers to these questions.

1. Why write research papers?

“Students naturally have lots of questions. In the Research strand, we train students how to find the answers to their questions and to record their findings” (Classical Conversations Challenge I Guide, 18). By Challenge I, students have transitioned into the Dialectic stage of the Trivium . This naturally results in the development of many questions about the world around them, and about the things they have learned. Whether a student has questions about the American Revolution or meteorology, a research paper will give them the opportunity to ask and explore their important questions and will teach them how to find true answers.

2. What is classical about this assignment?

Research papers are inherently classical because they require students to use the 15 Tools of Learning as they work through the three stages of the Trivium.

Students use the Five Core Habits of Grammar , which are naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling, as they learn about the topic they choose to research and write about.

A knowledge of grammar will naturally lead students to apply the Five Common Topics of Dialectic as they ask questions about the grammar they have learned. The skill of inquiry is the bedrock of classical education. Made popular by the philosopher Socrates, questioning in order to challenge assumptions, test ideas, and arrive at truth is known today as Socratic questioning. This is the process that takes place during the invention stage of a research paper. Students will consider definitions, comparisons, circumstances, relationships, and testimonies concerning their topic of research to gain a deeper understanding and mastery of their subject.

Once students have found the answers to their research questions, they will use the Five Canons of Rhetoric to compose a paper that explains and analyzes their topic to an audience. The canons of invention, arrangement, elocution, memory, and delivery will equip them to communicate clearly and accurately.

3. How does this assignment benefit students?

The skills that students gain and practice throughout the process of researching and writing their paper are invaluable. This assignment “[Allows] students to present research in an orderly, logical manner that prepares them for writing in college” (Guide, 19). The intention of this assignment is not to finish with the perfect paper. It is to practice the classical skills of learning, to prepare for future education, and to develop the character of Challenge students.

  Let’s be honest. Writing a ten-to-fifteen-page paper is a daunting task. Because of this, it is essential that students have a good step-by-step process for researching and writing. CC believes that the 5 Canons of Rhetoric provides students with the best tools to use as they work to craft their lengthy paper. The canons give students direction as they invent their ideas; clarity as they arrange an outline; and style as they communicate to others through writing. Though there are five canons, for our purposes, we will make use of the first three. These are:

Arrangement

The invention stage begins with brainstorming a topic. From the Cold War to veganism, the possibilities for a topic are endless. Students should be encouraged to choose a topic that they are already interested in. They are going to spend a lot of time thinking, researching, and writing about their topic. So, to make that process enjoyable, it’s best to choose something that excites them. They should also select something that they have not previously researched. For example, if a student is interested in the history of automobile manufacturing, encourage them to research a car make that they have not previously studied.

It is during this stage of invention that the Five Common Topics are essential. By defining the terms involved; comparing their topic to similar concepts; researching the circumstances surrounding their subject; recognizing relationships in their research; and listening to testimonies about their topic, students will gain a deeper understanding of what they are interested in researching. This will ensure that students pick a reliable and exciting topic.

However, while the topic of their paper is important, students should not be anxious about which one they choose. It’s importance should be secondary to learning the skills of research and practicing the invention, arrangement, and elocution of their paper.

After a student has chosen a topic, they must write their topic in the form of a research question. A research question is a self-explanatory term, and can be defined as the question which you seek to answer through research. An example of this is “Is there value in assigning research papers to students in high school?” A research paper would then present evidence to prove a calculated answer to the question. Remember, the answer to the question in a research paper is completely dependent upon the evidence found and not on the writers opinion.  

How to Find Research

CC requires students to have at least five sources for their research paper. At first, this may seem like a simple task–five google searches. But the amount of research required to write a reliable paper will likely lead to many more. Remember, five is the minimum, not the encouraged maximum. It is not uncommon to have ten to fifteen sources by the time students have completed compiling all their facts and information. And this is a good thing! More sources lead to more evidence which means more credibility for their work.

Nowadays, it is very easy to find an abundance of information on almost any topic through the internet. This poses both advantages and disadvantages to the researcher. An advantage is that research has been made accessible to the average individual. No longer do we have to comb through shelves and shelves of library books to hopefully find information on a topic. Now, research can be done by typing a few words into the google search bar–easy, efficient, effective.

However, we must also keep in mind the significant disadvantages that this results in. Quality in research is hard to maintain when many sources that can be found with the click of a button are entirely unreliable and sometimes, just downright false. I am sure we are all familiar with Wikipedia. But despite the abundance of unreliable research, it is still possible to find authoritative and accurate information, if we know where and how to look.

CC encourages students not to forsake the practice of turning to books and journals for their information. Though these books and journals can be intimidating at times, they often contain the best research because they go through a much more rigorous process of editing and fact checking than the average google search result. Despite this, it is not wrong for students to use the internet to their advantage. There are good digital articles that provide valuable information. Students just need to be taught the steps to evaluate the articles they read.

How to Evaluate Research

CC provides four questions in the Challenge I Guide (190) to use when vetting sources:

• What are the authors credentials? Does he or she have a doctorate or other advanced degree in the field?
• What are the organizations credentials? Is it a national organization? Is it accredited? What are its political affiliations? (Check the “About Us” page if there is one.)
• Do other sources confirm the information?
• How recently was the website updated?

Inexperienced authors, unreliable or politically charged websites, fringe evidence, or outdated posts are all indicators that an article contains unreliable research and should be discarded. By asking these questions, students will have the ability to recognize false information when they come across it. This is perhaps the most important step in the research phase, because without it you are likely to be relying on false facts which will discredit your work and render it worthless.

How to Organize Research

The question then becomes—what should they do with all this research once they find it? There have been many times during writing where I have frantically asked myself the question “Where did that source go?” Sources can easily get lost in pages and pages of notes or in a search history. That is why it is very important for students to have a system to organize their research.

There are many available methods to utilize when organizing research. Annotation can be used to highlight information in printed sources in order to keep track of key quotes and statistics.

Students can create digital lists with links and source summaries as an easy and efficient way to keep all of their digital research in one place, Or they can summarize and group research together on notecards to have quick access to source evidence and summaries. CC encourages students to use notecards because they are the simplest and most concise method out of the three. Notecards are also the preferred system because students can create both bibliography cards and research cards for their sources. Below is an example of a bibliography card and a research card.

The bibliography card contains all the information that will need to be cited in the students paper. This practice greatly benefits students later on when they go to complete their bibliography. Because they have already cited their sources on cards, they will not need to go back through to hunt down all necessary information. It will already be prepared for them to simply transfer into their paper. More instructions on how to rightly cite sources can be found in the following section of this article.

A research card contains all the information students have gleaned from their sources. This includes all quotes, statistics, polls, data charts, and facts. It is important that students limit each notecard to one piece of evidence. Every quote or fact should have its own notecard, this will make the process of topical organization even simpler later on in the arrangement stage.

How to Cite Research

Plagiarism is quite possibly the greatest offense in the research realm. CC defines plagiarism as “the failure to give proper credit [for information].” (192) Keep in mind that it is possible, and even likely, that those who commit this offense do it unintentionally and in complete ignorance. That is why it is important that students are taught to guard against plagiarism by citing their work well.

The first step to good citation is determining which citing style you must use. Citation style will fluctuate from assignment to assignment and from teacher to teacher. So, in order to know which to use, make sure to direct students to the proper authorities.

Citation Styles: MLA vs. APA

There are many citing methods they may come across, however, the two most prevalent are the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

While citing style is dependent upon the specific assignment or teacher, there are definitions of these styles that give us clues as to which may be used depending on the purpose or topic of a paper. MLA is broadly defined by Purdue University as the citation “used to cite sources within the language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines.” Purdue also defines APA as the style “most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences.” So, for example, if students are researching the history of art during the Renaissance Period, they will most likely use MLA. If they are researching the functions of the brain, APA will commonly be the style used.

Both MLA and APA are extremely specific and require students to set up their paper with certain margin sizes, font choices, paragraph indentations, and so on. It is important that they understand the requirements pertaining to each style and become familiar with using them. More information on formatting requirements can be found here .

The Dreaded Bibliography

While citing is very important within a paper, the stakes are raised when students begin their bibliography.

Personally, the bibliography is the section of a paper that I dread working on. For years, I lacked a method for composing this seemingly dry and redundant piece of my work. I did not take the time to learn and master it and so, it mastered me. It wasn’t until I stepped back and began to learn the grammar of a bibliography that it became much simpler and less stressful. I encourage students, if they are like me, to review this article by Purdue University on the basics of bibliographies. Another resource that is helpful to use when writing a bibliography is a citation generator . This tool allows students to put in all relevant information from their sources, choose the citation style, and generate a bibliography with the click of a button.

Rather than waiting till the end of the assignment to create the entire bibliography, students may find it helpful to distribute the task as they find articles that they plan on incorporating in their paper. This will lighten the load and prevent it from becoming a last-minute burden.

Once they have compiled a minimum of five sources, it is time to begin arranging the information into an outline. CC instructs its students to have three to five main proofs (or main points) with at least three sub proofs under each main proof. Below is an example of an outline format commonly used in CC.

• Sub-Proof 1
• Sub-Proof 2
• Sub-Proof 3

Each main point is an answer to the research question and each sub proof is the support or evidence of the answer. For example, the research question is, “Is there value in assigning research papers to students in high school?” and the evidence points to the fact that there is value in high school research papers. So, Proof I could be “It develops research skills.” Each sub proof under that would then be either a quote or statistic supporting the fact that research papers develop students research skills.

It is very important that students arrange their outline so that the paper will make sense to someone who knows nothing about their topic. If there is information or background that needs to be explained before the research question can be understood, students should be sure to include it in their introduction. If there are terms not commonly used or understood, include the definitions when they are used. This allows the audience to read and enjoy the final paper with ease.

Arrangement is a tedious process of configuration, but it is vital if students want to end up with a paper that makes any sense to an outside reader.

If you or your student want more information on how to create an outline, I encourage you to review the Lost Tools of Learning curriculum. If you do not have this curriculum, you can purchase it at the Classical Conversations Bookstore here .

The last canon to use when assembling a research paper is elocution. This canon focuses on the process of writing the paper. For some, this is the most difficult stage (I know it was for me). While writing my research paper, I was overwhelmed with reaching perfection on my first draft. I learned the hard way that writing is a process that is made up of many drafts, and that is okay. However, we do not want to end up with a poorly written paper. And so, CC has provided its students with five steps to go through as they edit and improve their work:

1. Check the content.

Does their paper answer it’s research question? It is clear, compelling, and constructive? At this point in the process, all the information should check out as accurate and true, but it is never too late to triple check. Students must ensure that they are providing good and credible research to the audience.

2. Check the organization.

Now that their paper is written, does the outline make sense? Could someone who had never heard of the topic before read through their paper and understand it? It is helpful to have a peer or parent, who has not previously been invested in their assignment, to read the paper. If they understand it, students have successfully done their job!

3. Check the transitions between proofs and paragraphs.

Are they abruptly jumping from one idea to the next or are there gentle transitions throughout? Smooth transitions will help the reader follow the writers train of thought as they read.

4. Check for clarity.

Does what the student is saying make sense? At this point in the process, they will be somewhat of an expert on their topic and paper. This is good because it shows that they have done their work well. However, it also means that they may overlook parts of their paper that do not make sense to an outside reader. Once more, this is when it is helpful to have someone unfamiliar with the topic read through the paper. Students should be encouraged to take head of any suggestions and critics their reader may have to offer because they are looking at the paper with fresh eyes and will probably notice errors that the student may have missed. This will help to ensure that the final paper provides clarity to the audience.

5. Check the grammar.

Spelling, word choices, and grammar must all be taken into account at this final stage of editing. Did students select the best words to explain their thoughts? Are they using the right “there” (or should it be “their” …)? This final process is the most tedious, but it is absolutely essential if students want to present a professional paper to their audience.

Through all of their writing and editing, remind students that they are writing a long paper. It is easy to get burnt out while writing, much more so when reading. Because of this, it is their job, as the writer, to engage their audience so that they are encouraged to continue reading. This means that it is important to take advantage of stylistic devices. When I first learned about grammar dress ups in CC’s Essentials program, I thought they were boring and unhelpful. But I have learned that that couldn’t be farther from the truth! The structure of a sentence has the ability to make it dull or delightful. Therefore, it is important that students use dress ups to make their paper an enjoyable read!

If they are unfamiliar with these tools of elocution, consider reviewing CC’s Essentials curriculum, which will give them step by step instructions on how to apply a wide variety of grammatical devices. If you are interested in purchasing the curriculum, you can visit the Classical Conversations Bookstore here .

After students have gone through this canon of Rhetoric, they will have completed their research paper!

It is clear that the Challenge I research paper requires a lot of work from students. Once they are done, an honest question to ask is “What now?” They have done all this work for a paper that, years later, will probably not be read. This is when we remember that CC’s aim is not for student to check off assignments in their guide, it is for their character and capabilities to grow and develop through their education. Because education is the means to an end, not the end itself. So, the value of the research assignment far surpasses the assignment itself.

Believe me, the Challenge I research paper will be a milestone in your child’s education. It was in mine. It is a very valuable assignment that will foster in your student perseverance, responsibility, and discipline. Additionally, this task will equip your student with the skills they will need to accomplish future assignments as they continue their classical education.

What life skills did I cultivate through this assignment?

1. i learned how to research..

This has proved to be an essential skill through the rest of my CC education. It was especially relevant during the Challenge IV Senior Thesis project. Along with learning how to research, the methods or organization (specifically the note card method), taught me how to keep track of all my research. Once more, this was very helpful later on in my education, specifically during the Challenge I and Challenge II formal debates . If your student hoped they would never have to make another notecard after their research paper, I am sorry to disappoint them.

2. I grew significantly in my writing capabilities.

Writing did not come naturally to me in my early Challenge years. Every time I had to write an essay, speech, or 1AC, I struggled. But through the rigorous process of writing my research paper, I learned how to maintain my audiences focus through pages and pages of information.

4. Most importantly, I grew in discipline.

The theme of Challenge I is “Discipline is the cornerstone of freedom.”

There is no better assignment to build discipline than writing a research paper. The discipline to go through the right steps that result in a rewarding final paper is hard to maintain through the entire assignment but is worth it in the end. By practicing the virtue of discipline in researching, writing, and responsibility, I achieved the freedom that rests on the other side of the hard work.

Now, I am free to face a world where facts are often flawed because I know how to discover the truth of any topic. Additionally, I now have the freedom to communicate true facts to others through writing. And the need for these skills do not end after high school.

So, if you’re like me and you’ve exclaimed “Wait, what? I have to write a 10–15-page formal research paper?” —take heart. You can do it, because I did.

Written by:

Elise DeYoung

Challenge Graduate and PR and Communications Intern

Elise DeYoung is an eighteen-year-old CC graduate who has applied CC’s maxim to know God and make Him known in all aspects of her life. She went through two years of CC’s Foundations and Essentials programs and completed all six Challenge levels. She is an accomplished pianist, avid reader of great literature, professional nap-taker, debater at heart, and music enthusiast (especially when it comes to her favorite artist, John Mayer). She is determined to gain wisdom and understanding wherever it can be found as she walks through life as a lifelong learner. Soli Deo gloria!

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• Developing a Research Question

by acburton | Mar 22, 2024 | Resources for Students , Writing Resources

Selecting your research question and creating a clear goal and structure for your writing can be challenging – whether you are doing it for the first time or if you’ve done it many times before. It can be especially difficult when your research question starts to look and feel a little different somewhere between your first and final draft. Don’t panic! It’s normal for your research question to change a little (or even quite a bit) as you move through and engage with the writing process. Anticipating this can remind you to stay on track while you work and that it’ll be okay even if the literature takes you in a different direction.

What Makes an Effective Research Question?

The most effective research question will usually be a critical thinking question and should use “how” or “why” to ensure it can move beyond a yes/no or one-word type of answer. Consider how your research question can aim to reveal something new, fill in a gap, even if small, and contribute to the field in a meaningful way; How might the proposed project move knowledge forward about a particular place or process? This should be specific and achievable!

The CEWC’s Grad Writing Consultant Tariq says, “I definitely concentrated on those aspects of what I saw in the field where I believed there was an opportunity to move the discipline forward.”

General Tips

Do your research.

Utilize the librarians at your university and take the time to research your topic first. Try looking at very general sources to get an idea of what could be interesting to you before you move to more academic articles that support your rough idea of the topic. It is important that research is grounded in what you see or experience regarding the topic you have chosen and what is already known in the literature. Spend time researching articles, books, etc. that supports your thesis. Once you have a number of sources that you know support what you want to write about, formulate a research question that serves as the interrogative form of your thesis statement.

Grad Writing Consultant Deni advises, “Delineate your intervention in the literature (i.e., be strategic about the literature you discuss and clear about your contributions to it).”

Start Broadly…. then Narrow Your Topic Down to Something Manageable

When brainstorming your research question, let your mind veer toward connections or associations that you might have already considered or that seem to make sense and consider if new research terms, language or concepts come to mind that may be interesting or exciting for you as a researcher. Sometimes testing out a research question while doing some preliminary researching is also useful to see if the language you are using or the direction you are heading toward is fruitful when trying to search strategically in academic databases. Be prepared to focus on a specific area of a broad topic.

Writing Consultant Jessie recommends outlining: “I think some rough outlining with a research question in mind can be helpful for me. I’ll have a research question and maybe a working thesis that I feel may be my claim to the research question based on some preliminary materials, brainstorming, etc.” — Jessie, CEWC Writing Consultant

Try an Exercise

In the earliest phase of brainstorming, try an exercise suggested by CEWC Writing Specialist, Percival! While it is normally used in classroom or workshop settings, this exercise can easily be modified for someone working alone. The flow of the activity, if done within a group setting, is 1) someone starts with an idea, 2) three other people share their idea, and 3) the starting person picks two of these new ideas they like best and combines their original idea with those. The activity then begins again with the idea that was not chosen. The solo version of this exercise substitutes a ‘word bank,’ created using words, topics, or ideas similar to your broad, overarching theme. Pick two words or phrases from your word bank, combine it with your original idea or topic, and ‘start again’ with two different words. This serves as a replacement for different people’s suggestions. Ideas for your ‘word bank’ can range from vague prompts about mapping or webbing (e.g., where your topic falls within the discipline and others like it), to more specific concepts that come from tracing the history of an idea (its past, present, future) or mapping the idea’s related ideas, influences, etc. Care for a physics analogy? There is a particle (your topic) that you can describe, a wave that the particle traces, and a field that the particle is mapped on.

Get Feedback and Affirm Your Confidence!

Creating a few different versions of your research question (they may be the same topic/issue/theme or differ slightly) can be useful during this process. Sharing these with trusted friends, colleagues, mentors, (or tutors!) and having conversations about your questions and ideas with other people can help you decide which version you may feel most confident or interested in. Ask colleagues and mentors to share their research questions with you to get a lot of examples. Once you have done the work of developing an effective research question, do not forget to affirm your confidence! Based on your working thesis, think about how you might organize your chapters or paragraphs and what resources you have for supporting this structure and organization. This can help boost your confidence that the research question you have created is effective and fruitful.

Be Open to Change

Remember, your research question may change from your first to final draft. For questions along the way, make an appointment with the Writing Center. We are here to help you develop an effective and engaging research question and build the foundation for a solid research paper!

Example 1: In my field developing a research question involves navigating the relationship between 1) what one sees/experiences at their field site and 2) what is already known in the literature. During my preliminary research, I found that the financial value of land was often a matter of precisely these cultural factors. So, my research question ended up being: How do the social and material qualities of land entangle with processes of financialization in the city of Lahore. Regarding point #1, this question was absolutely informed by what I saw in the field. But regarding point #2, the question was also heavily shaped by the literature. – Tariq

Example 2: A research question should not be a yes/no question like “Is pollution bad?”; but an open-ended question where the answer has to be supported with reasons and explanation. The question also has to be narrowed down to a specific topic—using the same example as before—”Is pollution bad?” can be revised to “How does pollution affect people?” I would encourage students to be more specific then; e.g., what area of pollution do you want to talk about: water, air, plastic, climate change… what type of people or demographic can we focus on? …how does this affect marginalized communities, minorities, or specific areas in California? After researching and deciding on a focus, your question might sound something like: How does government policy affect water pollution and how does it affect the marginalized communities in the state of California? -Janella

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Research idea: How to write your own

The world of European programmes is based on ideas, facts and research on pretty much anything that has...

The world of European programmes is based on ideas, facts and research on pretty much anything that has to do with improving the labor market, the scientific world, current technologies, and society as we know it. If your organization or you as a researcher want to become a part of the programmes then you are going to need to work on a specific idea.

In most cases, the project starts based on the call to action provided by the European Union. And yes, this might be considered one of the easiest ways to do so. The Commission requires specific actions to be taken on a specific matter. If your organisation can form a proposal suggesting solutions to those actions then you just write your proposal, you submit it to your national agency and if approved you start implementing the project.

And yes, this might be a great way for you to start entering the world of European programmes. However, it is not the kind of way that will make you a well-known experienced partner or someone who is making a great impact through European programme implementation.

The solution, in this case, is a research idea. Instead of creating a proposal and by default the project based on a call, you could create a research idea that serves a particular purpose. After you do so, you can match that idea to a specific European commission call and build the entire proposal around it. But why is this such a good way to start?

This is a valid question. In most cases, people will claim that this is quite a complicated process. Why create a research idea when you can just create the proposal based on what the court requires? The answer is quite simple. A research idea and a very specific matter that offers a very specific solution will attract a much better consortium. The entire proposal that will be built around that idea will have a purpose. You will notice that writing that proposal is going to be a lot easier if you have a research idea. Last but not least, you are going to build a reputation. If you do have the ability to create your research ideas, the kind of ideas that people will like them by default more and more partners will want to become a part of your consortium.

Writing the idea

Coming up with a research idea can be quite complicated. There are a lot of different things that will need to be taken into account. First and foremost, you will need to focus on the expertise of your organization to build the idea. For example, if you are an expert in entrepreneurship you cannot hope to build a research idea specified in the health department. Coming up with a product or a machine that will help solve a worldwide health crisis is not something the businessman can do.

However, as a researcher, you can focus on your expertise which could be pretty much any scientific field and start building a specific research idea. You will want to narrow down your options to the one subject matter that you can support the best with valid arguments and provable solutions.

Do your research

Let's assume that you are a researcher on the health field and you are interested in creating a research idea that will help solve a very specific problem. Before you start writing the idea you need to do your research to know exactly what kinds of actions have already been taken regarding the problem you are attempting to solve.

That alone is going to help you create the research idea. You can draw from those actions are perhaps even use them as arguments to suggest your solutions. Moreover, you could use the results of those actions as a way to boost your very own research idea thus giving it a lot more prestige.

Now your limits

As a researcher, whether you are working alone or are employed in a research facility, you will need to know your limits. There are only so many things you can do as an individual or as part of the consortium. Creating a research idea that will require top-quality partners, expertise and technology that is difficult to find is not going to make things easy for you.

On the contrary, if you keep your idea just a tad lower you could find a consortium capable of supporting that idea that's creating an effective proposal. If that proposal gets approved and that research idea is implemented then you can simply take things to the next level. Use the results of the first project to create a new research idea, maybe an improvement of the old one. In other words, built on your ideas one step at a time. A process like that could take years to be completed and as a researcher, you already know that.

Take your time to create the idea

This is a common mistake that a lot of researchers out there might make. They get excited about a project or a concept and they start creating a research idea aiming at completing it very fast. As a result, they will have an inconclusive idea in their hands. More importantly, they will not be able to find a call to match the idea. They are most likely going to apply to a call that does not have complete relevancy resulting in the idea of getting rejected.

By taking the time to create your research idea you will have the opportunity to gather as much information as possible. At the same time, you will study all of the European Commission's calls around your sector and the sector of the research idea, aiming at finding the one call that will suit you the best.

Create drafts

Rome was not built in a day. No research idea can be born and completed in one night. You will need to create drafts upon drafts, built on the idea in multiple different ways and try to combine as many of them as possible until you have a final product in your hands. Those drafts will help you create the final idea which will be the center of your proposal.

Simultaneously, the drafts you will create could provide you with more ideas for the future. Keeping notes and creating drafts is certainly going to give you enough material to build your research idea focusing on the important aspects of it and of course, utilizing all information and possible outcomes the right way.

Create your database

Who's to say that the idea you are currently working on has not already been developed by someone on the other end of the world? By taking your time as suggested above, you will have the opportunity to do a lot of research and find all the valuable information concerning your research idea.

By doing so, you will start creating a massive database of information surrounding a particular subject matter. You need to try and think about this as your library. A library that will contain all the valuable information regarding your research idea and any kind of research you might want to conduct in the future.

Editing is important.

This is a much more technical process but it is most certainly a very important one. A research idea can be quite complicated and by not processing it correctly you could end up with a bad result. You are going to be presenting that idea to your potential partners.

Proper wording will make it easier for you to process and explain your idea as well as others to understand it!

As a researcher, you already know how to conduct proper research to form an idea. As a business owner, our most valuable tip is the following. Do not appoint the task of creating a research idea to someone inexperienced or irrelevant to the field of the idea. Always make sure that your researchers will be up to the task and ready to create the best research idea for project proposal!

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Track current trends, questions, and debates, prioritize your reading.

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Handbooks and companions are typically edited volumes, with chapters written by authorities — or recognized experts. They synthesize current "consensus" thinking around a particular topic or present the most widely accepted perspectives and theories. They usually contain an extensive bibliography which you can mine as well.

Some major collections: 

• Cambridge Companions
• Cambridge Handbooks Online: Psychology and Linguistics
• Cambridge Histories Online
• The John Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism
• Oxford Handbooks Online
• Very Short Introductions

HOLLIS  is also a good place to search for these tools. Try combining a broad keyword search with this format type (e.g.,  genocide AND handbook  |  historiography AND companion ). Other terms to try (for rough equivalents of the handbook) are "guide" and "reader." 

JOURNAL TABLES OF CONTENTS AND LATEST ISSUES

Monitoring the latest issues of key journals in your field can help you catch wind of new ideas, schools of thought, and trending debates that may connect to your academic curiosity. The following tools aid your efforts to keep up to date:

• Browzine This app organizes scholarly journals by topic area and allows you to read them for free in a format optimized for your device.
•   Current Contents Connect A current awareness database that helps busy researchers keep up to date by providing easy online access to complete tables of contents, abstracts, and bibliographic information from the most recently published issues of leading scholarly journals. To connect, select  Current Contents Connect  from the "Search in" drop-down options in the Web of Science database, linked here.  PRO TIP:  Use Table of Contents alerting to be notified when new issues of relevant journals are available. To do so, check out these  instructions .

LITERATURE REVIEWS

Literature reviews are essays that help you understand and contextualize the principal contributions that have been made in your field. They track trends over time in the scholarly discussions of a topic and synthesize and connect related work. They cite the trailblazers and sometimes the outliers, and they even root out errors of fact or concept. Typically, they include a final section that identifies remaining questions or future directions. The following are recommended as starting points among the databases for finding literature reviews:

• Annual Reviews  offers authoritative syntheses of the primary research literature in 46 academic fields, including anthropology, economics, law, political science, and sociology
• Find literature reviews in various databases by using the filters — before or after your keyword search — to limit to literature reviews. You can do this in some of the standard social science research databases you'll be using:  APA PsycInfo ,  Social Science Premium Collection , and  Web of Science , among others.
• While faculty may have different opinions on whether dissertations should be  cited  in your research, they'll often agree that Dissertations can be gold mines for their  bibliographies.  Moreover, by convention, dissertations always have a  literature review section  (normally an entire chapter) in which writers lay the groundwork for their studies by identifying and synthesizing what's come before them. They're often worth a look as you gather a list authorities to track down and read.  And sometimes, they're great places to find primary sources, survey instruments, case studies, and more.
• This slideshow is  a quick primer on conducting research for and writing a literature review .

Often the issue in information-seeking isn't scarcity of material, but is overabundance. Annotated bibliographies that are created and curated by scholars aim to address the common problem of knowing what to read, whom to read, or which voices in the conversation to attend to more fully.

• Oxford Bibliographies Online   Combines the best features of the annotated bibliography with an authoritative subject encyclopedia. Entries identify key contributions to a topic, idea, person, or event and indicate the value of the work.
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100 Interesting ABM Research Topics To Consider

Table of Contents

ABM stands for Accounting, Business, and Management. This strand is one of the K-12 program’s academic tracks, and it attempts to teach important business and finance concepts and abilities. Furthermore, this strand allows future leaders and entrepreneurs to gain important career skills including how to interact with clients, how to build strategies to earn money, and more. As students in many other courses do, ABM students must also produce research papers and dissertations. Mostly, the topic you choose will determine the success of your research paper. In case, you run short of ABM research topics and ideas, explore this blog post.

Here, we have published a list of 100 outstanding quantitative and qualitative research topics related to Accounting, Business, and Management fields. Also, we have shared certain ABM research paper topic selection tips.

Continue reading to get exclusive research topic ideas on ABM.

Tips for Selecting an ABM Research Topic

Topic selection is the first step in the ABM research paper preparation process. Since Accounting, Business, and Management are broad subjects, you can effortlessly generate several research questions and topics related to the ABM strand. Even, you can obtain plenty of ABM quantitative and qualitative research topic ideas from the internet. But, when there are abundant topics, identifying an ideal topic might be challenging.

If you experience any trouble with AMB research topic selection, follow these tips.

• Choose a topic relevant to your interest. Some ABM fields to explore are banking, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, tourism, hospitality management, HRD management, management accounting, and financial accounting.
• Pick a topic that is applicable to perform research within the deadline.
• Give importance to a topic that contains several credible sources to refer to and gather information.
• Go with a topic as per your research methodology, it can be either qualitative or quantitative.
• Select a topic that is relevant to the research guidelines shared by your instructor.

Also Read: 200+ Excellent Research Paper Topics of 2023

List of the Best ABM Research Topics and Ideas

In this section, we have uploaded a list of excellent ABM research topics and ideas. Carefully go through the entire list and select any topic that is convenient for you to conduct research and write about.

Simple ABM Research Topics for School Students

• Explain the role of globalization on consumer behavior.
• Discuss the relationship between globalization and business behavior.
• Explain how to collect and analyze data about the business environment.
• Examine how to navigate the startup world.
• Explain how monopolies affect the corporate sector.
• Discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing for a business.
• Discuss the guidelines for managing employee retention.
• Explore the nature of insider trading and the punishments for it
• Analyze the pros and cons of a low-cost economy on companies.
• Prepare a research paper on negotiation tactics

Top ABM Research Topics in Accounting

• Explain how blockchain will improve the future of accounting.
• Examine the impact of COVID-19 on global accountancy firms.
• Discuss the role of an efficient accountancy workforce in a company’s success
• Explain the role of interest rates on the success of accounting firms
• Prepare a research paper on general accounting principles.
• Examine how managerial accounting helps an organization make better decisions
• Explain how to implement theoretical concepts in practical accounting.
• Discuss the criteria to make correct accounting decisions.
• Explain how accounting theory is influenced by culture.
• Examine the risks involved in the process of building accounting system designs.
• Analyze the issues with normative theorizing in accounting.
• Discuss the pros, cons, and working of offshore accounting.
• Explain the role of data management for accounting information systems.
• Analyze the major accounting frauds of the last decade.
• Analyze the effects of financial markets on management accounting

Captivating ABM Research Topics Related to Business

• Describe the value of identifying the target market at the conception of a business.
• Explain how to minimize the risks of low-quality products or ones that do not meet industry standards.
• Write about business ethics theories.
• Explain how to build consumer loyalty in a competitive sector.
• Analyze how to manage consumer crises.
• Discuss the importance of language in communicating business goals and reaching the target audience.
• Explain the relevance of human resources in modern business.
• Write about staff training in business organizations.
• Explain how the government manages private businesses in your country.
• Prepare a research paper on leadership and business in the modern world.
• Discuss the pros and cons of running a family business.
• Compare ‘franchise’ and ‘from scratch’ businesses.
• Discuss some of the best business strategies and product promotion.
• Explain how business is done in third-world countries.
• Write about crisis management in business.

Excellent ABM Research Topics on Management

• Discuss the difference between talent and career management.
• Examine the future of telemarketing in the current corporate world.
• Explain the workings of subliminal advertising.
• Discuss the role of organizational leadership in managing a small company.
• Write about consumer management in the current business sector.
• Analyze the impact of business management on worker loyalty and productivity rates.
• Explore the key elements that affect business management, process planning, and project management
• What would happen if businesses did not practice effective brand management?
• Explain how effective management affects the concept of perfect competition.
• Discuss the  best customer risk management practices

Also Read: 185 Best Project Management Research Topics

Qualitative and Quantitative ABM Research Topics

• Discuss the business strategies in the banking sector.
• Analyze the psychology behind consumer decision-making
• Explain how companies can incorporate and encourage eco-friendly policies and practices in their organizations.
• Examine the challenges faced by small enterprises in corporate America.
• Explain how social media and the internet have changed the corporate world.
• Explain how to make a museum exhibition marketable.
• Examine how the Chinese market has earned benefits from globalization
• Discuss the advantages of owning a recognizable and respectable brand.
• Why do certain niche companies gravitate towards hiring youths?
• How has feminism influenced the way women consume products and services

Interesting ABM Research Topics

• Explain the role of corporate lobbyists in America’s future.
• Discuss the role of a franchise agreement for franchise and franchise holders.
• Investigate how the Apple Company has maintained its position in the device market.
• Examine the future of commerce and retail in the current digital era
• Discuss the expectations of global and local businesses on the financial crisis.
• Explain how to create a globally recognizable brand.
• How can companies fight for their copyright and prevent copycat products from entering the market?
• Discuss the role of employee unions in the USA.
• Discuss the elements to take into account when choosing a sector to expand your business
• Explain the role of brainstorming in idea production and business solutions
• Prepare a research paper on corporate rituals that are in practice now.
• Discuss the rise, fall, and policies of Eastman Kodak.
• Examine the consequences of overworking employees in the workplace.
• Suggest effective competing strategies for local businesses.
• Discuss the role of corporate social responsibility in making a company more socially accountable

Awesome ABM Research Questions

• Write about disruptive business innovation.
• Discuss the basic components of intellectual capital.
• Explain how to market baby products.
• Examine the consequences of labor strikes in the general corporate economy.
• Explain how companies should set up the value of ethics.
• Write about the various types of mergers.
• Examine how marketing affects production expenditure.
• Discuss the moral principles and regulations that govern business operations in your country
• Explain how oil price affects consumer behavior in Turkey.
• Discuss how to create an effective digital marketing budget
• Examine how to balance ecology and increase production.
• Write about short-term financing.
• Discuss how to limit compulsive buying behaviors for credit card holders
• Explain how to avoid cultural, religious, and political arguments at work.
• Prepare a research paper on marketing manipulation tactics.

Fascinating ABM Research Paper Topics

• Analyze the outcomes of advertising in a recession.
• Explain how an organization can effectively reduce tax.
• Prepare a research paper on mortgage marketing.
• Explain the role of artificial intelligence in modern marketing.
• Analyze the effect of external factors on cash flow in an organization.
• Explain how Islamic banking is different from the European approach.
• Discuss the concept of change in management.
• Explain the role of packaging in the design and planning process.
• Discuss the financial reporting requirements of non-profit accounting.
• Discuss the strategies to make organizational finances transparent

Also Read: 170 Unique Marketing Research Topics and Ideas

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, the topics and ideas from the above-shared list will help you to come up with a great ABM research paper. In case, you need any other original ABM research questions or if it is tough for you to write an ABM research paper, reach out to us quickly.

At greatassignmenthelp.com, we have several academic writers who are well-experienced in Accounting, Business, Management, and other related ABM fields. So, by using their expertise and knowledge, they will offer you cheap and best ABM research paper help online to satisfy your needs. Especially, by getting ABM assignment help from our subject experts, you can finish your academic work precisely before the deadline. You can also strengthen your subject knowledge with the guidance of our ABM assignment helpers .

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More From Forbes

Top 10 ways to make money online in 2024, from research.

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AI makes it easier to start making money online, whether directly through offering AI services or ... [+] through using it to simplify your content creation and research efforts

There has never been an easier time to make money outside of a regular job, than in 2024. The opportunities and AI-powered tools that are available to freelancers and others seeking to make money online are endless—and you can do it, even with inflation and the rising costs of living.

Regardless of one's skill set, there is literally something to suit every professional. From the comfort of your laptop, you can do work that is highly flexible and can be performed on the go, or in between your regular job. And if you work remotely in your main job, you have even more time which you can dedicate to making money online.

However it's important to remember that there is no such thing as "get rich quick." Any scheme or website that promises you the ability to make money fast as an absolute guarantee, is most likely a scam. To make a considerable amount of money, you need to ensure you put your research and expertise to work, just like with any other job.

When looking for ways to make money online, be cautious and watch out for scammers. Never concede to sharing sensitive or personal financial information, unless of course you are using a legitimate freelance site such as Upwork, for example. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, trust your gut—it most likely is.

With that caveat in mind, below is a list of 10 of the best side hustle opportunities that enable you to make money from home, according to research and analysis of sites including Upwork and Shopify.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, 1. start affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to create a passive income stream, and it works best when you have a solid content marketing strategy. To get started, write or record video content on something you're passionate about, and build a strong audience and following first.

The ideal number of followers and repeat content viewers you need will depend on the platform you're using, and the requirements of the brands you will be acting as an affiliate for. You can incorporate affiliate links across your website, and/or social media accounts.

But you'll need to ensure that the products you are promoting are ones that actually resonate with your audience. Otherwise, you are spamming them and delivering low value, and people will easily be able to read through it, which reduces your credibility because you're wasting their time.

2. Launch A Dropshipping Store

Dropshipping is an excellent way to make money in your free time while working from home, mostly due to its convenience in selling products without ever needing to store inventory. You can set up a store on a platform such as Shopify, for example, and you would merely be responsible for developing the business model so that you can attract and engage customers, and of course, make sales.

Your suppliers would ship the product directly to your customers, so this takes away the need for purchasing storage space or piling up your garage with items. This model is also highly flexible as you can quickly adapt to market changes with minimal loss.

Establish partnerships with brands so you can make money and represent them through affiliate ... [+] marketing, influencer marketing, or both

3. Make Money As A Social Media Influencer

The global influencer marketing market size has more than tripled since 2019, hitting a record estimate of $24 billion in 2024. This can be attributed to the rise of online and social media usage during and after the pandemic.

With more than half of the global population having social media accounts, it only makes sense for avid marketers to collaborate and establish partnerships with social media influencers as part of their brand and product awareness campaigns. This is where you would come in.

To begin with, you need is a strong passion or interest, and your personality. Create a unique personal brand on a platform such as YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, and as your follower count grows, your social media presence and social capital will become more valuable to brands looking to partner with you. You can eventually join influencer platforms where brands are looking for partnerships, such as Aspire.io, or Open Influence.

4. Become An Online Tutor

The online tutoring market is projected to reach $21.8 billion by 2030, so it's clear to see that demand for online tutors is on the incline. As an online tutor, you can teach any in-demand subject using video-conferencing tools, and even join freelance teaching platforms to create a profile and advertize your services.

5. Edit And Proofread AI Content

Not too long ago, content writing, editing, and proofreading was touted as an excellent way to make money online. However, the state of things has changed considerably because of AI, and now there are AI tools which can generate content easily and within seconds, such as Jasper AI or ChatGPT, which means anyone relying on this as a side hustle is at risk of being replaced. However, even these tools do have their limitations and, used on their own, can be factually inaccurate, have grammatical errors, or appear to be unnatural and robotic.

As an AI content proof-reader or editor, you can fact-check content that has been generated by AI, for business clients, and soften the tone so it reflects their brand voice and is free from error.

Below is another five ideas you can explore to make money online:

• Write and self-publish e-books
• Launch a podcast and get sponsorships/sell advertizing space
• Become a virtual assistant
• Sell crafts and handmade items on Etsy
• Deliver consulting services

Selling handmade items and crafts on Etsy can rake up a considerable fortune

Ultimately, boosting your income online isn't at all difficult to achieve. Find a section of your market that is underserved, and make your mark. With your internet and laptop, you can develop new skills, share them with the world, and make more money in the process.

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How to Start Writing a Book of Your Life: A Quick Guide

T hanks to easier and easier avenues of publication, we’re publishing growing numbers of books year over year. According to some estimates, around 4 million new book titles are released each year worldwide, or almost 11,000 every day!

If you’re hoping to write a book of your own, these figures are good news. Whether you want to get your book out through a major publisher or an indie brand, there’s no better time to do it.

However, that doesn’t mean knowing how to start writing a book of your life will be easy! You may know the events of your own life better than anyone else, but structuring them into a coherent and engaging narrative can be tougher than it sounds. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to know as you start your writing journey.

Start Generating Ideas

Before you dive too far into dreams of publication, start creating material for your book!

If you keep diligent journals, coming up with ideas for your life story is a breeze. Comb through them to refresh your memory and pin down the most important events you want to cover.

Don’t worry about coming up with the right words or using your writing skills yet. For now, the important thing is to look for things you’d like to include in your book.

If you don’t keep a journal, one of the easiest ways to come up with thoughts on your life story is a process called free-writing. Through free-writing, you’ll jot down every thought that pops into your mind about your life.

As with other brainstorming approaches, it’s important not to criticize or cull your ideas at this stage. Taking time to judge your thoughts hampers the idea generation process. Later, once you’ve had time to get out all of your thoughts and memories, you’ll have time to pick out the best ideas.

Decide on the Basics

With a better idea of the main events of your memoir, it’s time to consider a few basic traits of your book.

Nonfiction vs Fictionalized

If you’re hoping to create an accurate account of your life, a nonfiction book will be your best bet. Through research and organization, you can nail down the facts as they happened in real life.

However, if you’d like a freer approach, fictionalizing your memoir can make your book more experimental and even playful. It can also help protect your identity or the identities of the people you’ll discuss.

It’s also possible to further narrow down your book by genre. Full autobiographies, for example, focus mostly on the longer story of a person’s life. Memoirs, on the other hand, often focus on memories of a specific time or event in a person’s life.

From there, it’s possible to narrow your focus even further. Culinary biographies, for example, may focus on how foods or cooking impacted the writer’s life. Religious autobiographies might focus on the spiritual experiences of a writer.

Choosing overarching themes can help you streamline your story as you write. Good themes also make a book more appealing and engaging for readers, as they make a narrative easier to follow. In addition, marketing a book can become more effective once you know which themes to showcase in your blurbs.

Supplement With Research

Depending on the type of autobiographical or memoir writing you choose, you may also want to do some extra research. This can be even more crucial if you’re detailing events that happened a long time ago, as memories aren’t always accurate!

Can you find old photos of your settings to include in your book and help you describe your surroundings? Are there hazy memories you can clear up by speaking to a friend or family member? Can a map of a city you once lived in help you refresh your memory and position the events of your story?

Create an Outline

At this stage, it’s time to organize your messy journals, free-writing, and notes into an outline you can write with.

This is often easier said than done! It’s true that the main “plot” of your memoir is clear, as you’re using the events of your life, but that doesn’t always make it easy to decide which details to include and when to add them. Take some time to figure out which events are most important, which ones follow your themes, and which ones you can discard.

Write a First Draft

Now comes the messy and fun part of writing a memoir: the actual writing!

Start creating a first draft of your story. It’s fine for this draft to be a little disorganized and long-winded. The important thing is to create something you can build upon in future drafts.

However, what happens if you don’t trust your writing skills?

Jotting down your first draft may still help, but you can also hire a ghostwriter to create the final story on your behalf. These experts can polish your work into something much easier to publish and market. Do your research on how to hire a ghostwriter , however, as the right partner will make or break your book!

Proofread and Refine

Last, proofread and refine your book. This part can take a while, often much longer than the first draft, so be prepared to spend a while on the details.

In addition, it’s a good idea to get help while you refine your work! Writing coaches, ghostwriters, and beta readers can give you valuable feedback, helping you create a richer and more focused story.

Know How to Start Writing a Book of Your Life

Creating a memoir or autobiography is easier said than done. With so many life events, themes, time periods, and characters to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your story into a focused final piece. Fortunately, the tips above can help you understand how to start writing a book of your life, allowing you to create a final manuscript worth sending to publishers.

If you’re looking for more great tips on writing books and beyond, be sure to check out our other posts for additional insights.

This article is published by NYTech in collaboration with Syndication Cloud.

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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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