Prior to writing a PhD research proposal, it’s critical to gain a thorough understanding of the question or issue at hand by reading all relevant academic literature, including previously published dissertations. The PhD research proposal should include a logical, clear, and refined argument that demonstrates to the reader that the dissertation’s approach will be unique, and that the project will contribute new ideas to the relevant academic field. In a successful proposal, doctoral candidates must also define academic terms, establish a conceptual framework, and describe the project’s methodology.
A PhD research proposal typically summarizes all previous research on a particular academic topic before highlighting a novel approach and demonstrating how it will benefit the field. The introduction usually begins with a brief and direct summary of existing academic literature, followed by a statement of the main research question or problem. The purpose of presenting the project’s main question is to demonstrate the need for more research as well as the uniqueness of the researcher’s approach.
The project’s theoretical framework can be established once the main problem statement of the PhD research proposal has been presented and contextualized. Any relevant academic terms and key constructs that the researcher will use may need to be defined. A model or illustrative example of the problem, as well as how the researcher’s theoretical framework will be applied, can be included in this section of the proposal.
The theoretical or conceptual framework’s description and definition can then be linked to a presentation of the researcher’s methodology. This section should explain what the researcher intends to do and why the method chosen will be successful. A description of how each dissertation chapter will contribute to the project’s overall conclusion can be included.
The majority of proposals include a working bibliography that will grow and change as new information becomes available during the research process. The members of the dissertation committee can expect the researcher to be familiar with the contents of a work if it is cited in the project’s bibliography. PhD research proposals may also include any relevant appendices, pilot data, or a project timeline with a provisional submission date in addition to a bibliography in progress.
There is no minimum or maximum length for a PhD research proposal unless it is specified in department or university policy, though most are around 20 pages. Before the proposal is accepted, it will almost certainly require several drafts over several months. In some cases, the PhD research proposal can later be expanded into the dissertation’s introductory chapter.