Table Of ContentResearch Proposals Open UP Study Skills
A practical guide
R
“This indispensable guide to writing research proposals takes the reader on e
a carefully planned journey, which is clearly sign-posted from the outset to s
the destination of the final proposal … Denscombe demystifies the academic e
jargon inherent in proposal writing, instilling confidence in all those writing a
proposals, from undergraduate to doctoral level.” r
Dr Kate Adams, Reader in Education, Bishop Grosseteste University College, c Research Proposals
h
Lincoln, UK
“This how-to guide is ‘a candle in the dark’ for many who want to start writing P
research proposals. It is … brimming with straightforward strategies which r
anyone can use to overcome the key fears associated with ‘keeping on track’ o A practical guide
and ‘selling’ your research to convince funders and even your professors!” p
Hosea Handoyo, Boehringer - Ingelheim Fonds Research Fellow, Germany o
s
a
Whether you are an undergraduate student doing your final year project, a masters
l
student writing your dissertation, or a PhD student applying for acceptance onto a s
doctoral programme, this practical book will help you to produce a successful and
persuasive research proposal.
Written by an experienced and best-selling author, this handbook uniquely draws
a parallel between a research proposal and a sales pitch. The book provides
guidance on what to include and what to omit from your proposal and demonstrates
how to ‘sell’ your research idea. Denscombe ably guides you through each stage of
the process: M
a
l Choosing a research topic r
t
l Reviewing the literature y
n
l Formulating the research question
D
ll EExsptimlaaintiinngg tthhee rceossetsa racnhd m pelathnondinsg the time involved en l Essential help for
l Obtaining research ethics approval sc students and
o
With top tips throughout, this book provides an insight to the logic behind research m
researchers
proposals and the way that good proposals address 7 basic questions that readers b
will ask when they evaluate any proposal. e
l Basic principles
Martyn Denscombe is Professor of Social Research at De Montfort University, explained
UK. He is the author of the bestselling book The Good Research Guide (Open
University Press, 2010) and Ground Rules for Social Research (Open University l Clear guidance on
Press, 2009).
what to include
l Key ideas for success
Cover design by Naomi Mitchell Martyn Denscombe
Research Proposals
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Research
Proposals
A practical guide
Martyn Denscombe
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Open University Press
McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill House
Shoppenhangers Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
England
SL6 2QL
email: [email protected]
world wide web: www.openup.co.uk
First published 2012
Copyright © Martyn Denscombe, 2012
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the
purposes of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or a
licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Details of such
licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the
Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street,
London EC1N 8TS.
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978-0-33-524406-5 (pb)
ISBN-10: 0-33-524406-8 (pb)
eISBN: 978-0-33-524407-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CIP data applied for
Typesetting and e-book compilations by
Refi neCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk
Printed by Bell and Bain Ltd, Glasgow
Fictitious names of companies, products, people, characters and/or
data that may be used herein (in case studies or in examples) are not
intended to represent any real individual, company, product or event.
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“This indispensable guide to writing research proposals takes the reader on
a carefully planned journey, which is clearly sign-posted from the outset to
the destination of the fi nal proposal . . . Denscombe demystifi es the academic
jargon inherent in proposal writing, instilling confi dence in all those writing
proposals, from undergraduate to doctoral level.”
Dr Kate Adams, Reader in Education,
Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln, UK
“This how-to guide is ‘a candle in the dark’ for many who want to start
writing research proposals. It is . . . brimming with straightforward strategies
which anyone can use to overcome the key fears associated with ‘keeping on
track’ and ‘selling your’ research to convince funders and even your
professors!”
Hosea Handoyo, Boehringer - Ingelheim Fonds Research Fellow, Germany
“This much-needed handbook provides a guide for any researcher to turn a
research idea into a successful research proposal . . . Denscombe offers both
a clear framework for organising the research thought process and plentiful
hints for crafting a persuasive case for why a research proposal deserves
fi nancial support for getting it done.”
Dr Alberto Asquer, Lecturer of Business Strategy and Policy,
Faculty of Economics, University of Cagliari, Italy
“This is a clear and unambiguous guide covering all the essentials needed to
build strong research proposals. It will prove to be invaluable not only to
those new to writing research proposals but as a fast reference point for
those already familiar with the requirements.”
Jennifer Grant, PhD researcher, University of Sunderland, UK
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Overview
Introduction 1
PART 1 WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH PROPOSAL? 3
1 Logic and structure of research proposals 5
2 Successful research proposals: two basic criteria 16
3 Selling an idea 32
PART 2 HOW DO I PRODUCE A GOOD RESEARCH PROPOSAL? 43
4 Aims of the research: What is it all about? 45
5 Literature review: What do we already know? 56
6 Research questions: What do we need to fi nd out? 72
7 Research methods: How will we get the necessary information? 91
8 Planning and resources: How long will it take and
how much will it cost? 109
9 Research ethics: Is the research socially acceptable? 121
10 Research outcomes: What will be the benefi ts? 137
Appendix 1: Checklist for the submission of a research proposal 144
Appendix 2: Specimen research proposal 146
Appendix 3: Headings and sections in a research proposal 158
Appendix 4: Choosing a research topic 164
References 173
Index 176
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Contents
List of fi gures and tables xiii
Introduction 1
PART I WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH PROPOSAL? 3
1 THE LOGIC AND STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS 5
What is a research proposal? 5
Seven basic questions 6
The structure of research proposals 9
The evaluation of research proposals 10
Who approves research proposals? 11
What happens to a research proposal once it is submitted? 12
Summary of key points 14
Further reading 15
2 SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH PROPOSALS 16
Worthwhile research 16
Feasible research 19
The essential elements of a research proposal 22
Why do some research proposals get rejected? 24
Distinctive proposals – what will make a proposal stand
out from the rest? 25
Summary of key points 30
Further reading 31
3 SELLING AN IDEA 32
Advertising a product 32
Providing information 33
Target audience 35
Value of good timing 36
Art of persuasion 36
Telling the truth 38
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