81 Fifteen-Step Approach to Writing a Research Proposal

Caroline Martin and Valerie Fleming (2010) provide the following a fifteen-step model for writing a research proposal:

• Step 1: Give the research proposal a title.
• Step 2: Provide relevant personal and professional details (Below title).
• Step 3: Provide a short abstract or summary of around 300 words. (Some proposals do not include an abstract. Ask if unsure.)
• Step 4: Supply five keywords to describe the research proposal.
• Step 5: Construct an introduction that contains the rationale and overview of relevant literature review.
• Step 6: State the aim, research question, sub-questions and hypotheses/null hypotheses (if applicable) of the proposed research study.
• Step 7: Outline the research methods.
• Step 8: Select setting, participants, sampling method, inclusion/exclusion criteria and method of recruitment.
• Step 9: Describe data collection instruments.
• Step 10: Detail intended data processing and analysis.
• Step 11. Declare any ethical considerations and outline data protection procedures
• Step 12: Produce a timetable. Consider potential problems that may occur and describe the limitations of the study.
• Step 13: Estimate resources that may be required.
• Step 14: Create reference list or bibliography
• Step 15: Append relevant additional material.