McNair Scholars
Format for Research Proposal

The following is a list of items which are typically included in a research report. Realize that not all categories are appropriate for all studies and the order of items within each chapter may vary. These items are intended to serve as a guide.

Chapter I: Purpose of the Study (One solid page, but not more than two pages)

A. Introduction (The purpose of this study is to __________________) No more than one paragraph

B. What completed previous study is your study most directly based on? (Briefly describe in two or three paragraphs and provide a citation)

C. Indicate the significance or importance of your chosen research proposal

D. How will your study contribute to knowledge about your field?

 

Chapter II: Literature Review (Ten to twenty pages)

A. List the keywords and preliminary sources (computer search engines) used initially in your literature search (one paragraph)

B. Historical background leading to your current study. (Acquaint the reader with existing studies relative to what has been found, who has done the work, when and where have the latest research studies been completed, what approaches involving methodology were followed, etc.)

C. Summary of Literature Review (one paragraph)

Throughout this chapter you should be citing your primary and secondary sources in the proper citation format for your specific academic field. The good student will probably have at least twelve primary sources and a similar number of secondary ones.

In most qualitative studies this chapter will precede your Chapter I, thus reversing the two, so that the theoretical framework is established first.

 

Chapter III: Methodology (One to two pages)

A. Describe the research design you selected for your study (In all probability, one of the designs that we are studying in this class)

B. What are the specific hypotheses, objectives, or questions that are guiding your research? (List these clearly)

C. Define the terms and variables that you are using in the study

D. What are the threats to your methods?

E. What are the limitations to the generalizability of your findings?

F. What will you do to minimize these threats and limitations?

G. How will you collect and analyze your data?

I. Summary of your research methods and design.

 

Timeline

Your proposal timeline must illustrate the schedule by which you plan to conduct and complete your research. It needs to include dates and amounts of time that are logical, including time to write and revise your research study. It should start with the things you are working on in this spring class and continue through this summer when the research project is totally completed.

Selected Bibliography

This should consist of those sources that reflect other scholars' work. Include items that directly relate to your topic as well as standard sources that relate to your field more generally. There should be al least 24 sources listed alphabetically according to your given citation format.

Cover Sheet

A sample cover sheet will be given to you in this class and discussed.

 

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