Write the introduction to your academic research proposal. Explain the problem that serves as the foundation for the research you are doing, and describe why your audience should be interested in the topic. State the problem clearly so that your readers can recognize it easily. Emphasize why the research must be done.
Expand on the central concepts and ideas of your research study. Then, explain the results of other studies that are closely linked with your research study, which will serve as your comprehensive literature review. Explain how your research study will add to previous studies on the topic by filling in gaps, revising, refining or extending them. Also, describe the procedures you used to gather the sources you read to put together your literature review, such as consulting field experts, test banks or databases.
Identify your research question or state a declarative hypothesis. When mentioning a hypothesis, write about the theories you researched that helped you to form your hypothesis. Use the same pattern of wording and terms in all statements if you write multiple hypotheses.
Describe the procedures you will use to answer your question or to prove or disprove your hypotheses. Mention whether you plan to use interview protocols or surveys to collect data as part of your research project and how you chose your sample population. Outline characteristics of your sample group such as age, ethnicity or gender, and explain how you will ensure confidentiality or anonymity. Explain why you chose your particular research design.
Point out any weaknesses in your research study. Then, describe how your academic research can affect areas such as curricula or scholarly research. Create a list of references at the end of your research proposal in which you mention all of the sources you cited in the text. Include a title on your proposal as well.