A research proposal is a comprehensive but succinct overview of the study you want to conduct. In it, you lay out the primary concerns or research questions that will guide your work. It describes the broad academic field into which your research fits and discusses state of the art and any recent controversies in that field. It also shows that the study you suggest is novel.
When applying for a job, the research proposal is the most crucial piece of paperwork you will submit. It’s a great chance to show that you’ve got what it takes to conduct advanced academic research by proving that you can articulate complicated concepts in a way that’s easy to understand and critically appraise. This article will teach you how to write a proposal that will better match your research preferences with the right advisor.
How Should The Research Proposal Be Structured?
The following elements should often be included in a research proposal for any of the three-degree programmes (MJur, MPhil, or PhD):
- Title
You should consider this a working title for your study. If admitted, you will have the option to change your working title as you go through your research.
- Abstract
A 100-word maximum is recommended for the research statement in the proposal. It might be as little as a couple of phrases outlining the issue you’ll be looking into or the primary question you’ll be answering.
- Research Context
Give some context for the study you want to do. In this section, you should provide a high-level summary of the field within which your planned research fits, outlining state of the art and discussing any new developments in the field. This is a great way to show that you understand the material and can present it simply and succinctly.
- Research Questions
Your research questions and objectives should be spelt out in the proposal. Before you start writing a research question, take some time to think about the most important questions you want your proposal to address. Reflecting on your primary research questions is a valuable method to reduce your focus and ensure that your project is manageable since many research ideas are expansive. Consider focusing on only one or two overarching topics from which to generate a list of subsidiary inquiries. Whether you want to use empirical, doctrinal, or theoretical methods, you should specify them in the proposal.
- Research Methods
In the proposal, you should detail your intended study methodology. Some possible research techniques include going to libraries and archives, doing fieldwork, or conducting interviews. The academic inquiry depends mainly on library resources. Suppose the bulk of your research will be at a library, such as the law school’s library or an online database like Westlaw. In that case, you should specify where you expect to find your primary sources. Fieldwork and empirical data collection strategies should be described in depth (for example, if interviews are part of your strategy, who will you be interviewing?). Is there a certain number of interviews you plan to do? The question is whether or not there will be any issues with getting there. In this area, you should also discuss the methodology you will use to analyse the results of your study.
- Significance of Research
In the proposal, you must show that your research idea is novel. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to defend the relevance of your study. You may do this in many ways, such as by outlining how your study contributes to the growing body of literature on the subject or by providing an overview of why your suggested topic is particularly topical for academic investigation.
- Bibliography
A brief bibliography of the critical books on your subject should be included in the proposal.
What Is The Ideal Length For The Research Proposal?
The average length of a proposal is 2,500 words. It is vital to remember that certain funding agencies could have various word restrictions.
Can The Institution Give The Research Proposal Feedback?
Yes, we do understand that you are probably still refining your studies. Therefore, we encourage you to get in touch with a knowledgeable team member to discuss the details of your intended study. Suppose your planned study aligns well with their research interests. In that case, they will provide feedback on your preliminary research proposal draft before you formally apply.
