ASSESSMENT BRIEF - WRITTEN RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The word count is to exclude the Cover Page, the Table of Contents, in-text references, text associated with tables and graphs...etc.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Your Research Proposal must include all the following sections in the given order:

1. Abstract (approximately 100 words)
• Together with the Title, should convey the essence of the research, stated in a clear, precise, accurate and appealing way, capturing the attention and interest from the reader.

2. Introduction (approximately 400 words)
• What is it all about? Or stating clearly the direction of the research.
• Central idea of the topic of investigation, purpose and aims of the research;
• Background to the study (contextual information, which may include a summary on how the idea came up and the circumstances within which the research will occur);
• Why is it important to run this research?
• Structure of the present proposal

3. Literature Review (approximately 1200 words)
• What is already known about this topic?
• Demonstrating the necessary intellectual familiarity with the research field
• Relevant topics and key ideas, themes and terms in the area of study
• Theoretical framework
• Relevant research in the field of study
• Where the proposed research fits in?
• What is new about it?
• Providing rationale for research questions and methodological options - drawing your conceptual framework

4. Methodology (approximately 1350 words)
• What do we want to find out, and how to get there?
• Research questions (and/or hypothesis), Aims and Objectives
• Philosophical assumptions, research approach to theory development, type of research and justification for methodological choices
• Research design and strategies
• Sampling, if applicable, or people selection procedures
• Data collection and data analysis methods
• Resources and time planning (project management)
• Personal skills, travel, permissions, copies, software, translations, etc.
• Action plan, and timeline (identifying milestones and pre-requisites)

5. Ethical considerations (approximately 150 words)
• Assuring that the research is socially acceptable: What precautions and specific actions will be taken to respect participant's dignity, safety, freedom, privacy, confidentiality, and scientific integrity?

6. Limitations and Outcomes (approximately 300 words)
• Possible benefits of the study (how useful can it be?)
• Limitations of the research (what the study cannot achieve)

7. References:
List all references you used in your preparation of the Research Proposal including the preliminary literature review. All references must follow the RGU Harvard referencing system.

Word Limit 3,500 words.