Research Proposal

LO 1: Identity a field of interest and formulate suitable research questions
LO 2: Carry out a comprehensive review of literature relevant to the research topic
LO 3: Compare different research methodologies and their application in an educational context, while devising and planning a research proposal which takes into account ethical and practical considerations

Assessment Brief
You are to submit a formal written proposal which forms the basis for your final year dissertation.

A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research. It sets out the central issues or questions that you intend to address. It outlines the general area of study within which your research falls, referring to the current state of knowledge and any recent debates on the topic.

There is no single format for research proposals. This is because every research project is different. Different academic institutions all have different formats and requirements. There are, however, several key components which must be included in every research proposal. The specific research problem will dictate what other sections are required.

Key components are:

• A description of the research problem.
• An argument as to why that problem is important.
• A review of literature relevant to the research problem.
• A description of the proposed research methodology.
• A description of how the research findings will be used and / or disseminated.