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PhD Research Proposal Development

Research Proposal Writing

The effective research proposal will contain the following:

1.Introduction

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The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why. It should:

  • Introduce the topic

  • Give background and context

  • Outline your problem statement and research question(s)

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2.Literature Review

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It’s important to show that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said.

The literature review should be conducted only by taking into account the recent year reference papers from reputed journals. Selection and number of reference papers depends on one’s own decision.

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3. Objectives of the study

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The motive and the intention of the study is mentioned in the ‘objectives’ section. You must state the problem clearly that you seek to solve, along with some clue about the possible solution.

 

 

4.Research Methodology:

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In this section, Following the literature review, it’s a good idea to restate your main objectives, bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design or methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

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5.Outcomes of the research study

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The expected results of the research study will be concluded in this section.

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6.Reference’s list or Bibliography

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Your research proposal must include proper citations for every source you have used, and full publication details should always be included in the reference list. 

The research proposal is considered to be the heart of the research study. It describes what you need to investigate, why it’s important, and how you will do the research. It also demonstrates the originality of your proposed research. One need to put an outstanding research proposal infront of the supervisor as well as the committee members and based on their approval, you will be allowed to carryout the rest part of your research work. At earlier stage, the proposal may appear concise and however the study advances, you need to include more stuff to this document. The length of a research proposal varies dramatically and it is somewhere around 3-5 pages and, in some cases, it is around 10-15 pages. The next significant factor to be considered for the proposal development is the plagiarism percentage and it is safer to maintain the level below 10%, which further increase the chances of acceptance.

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