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How to Write a Research Design – Guide with Examples

Published by Alaxendra Bets at August 14th, 2021 , Revised On October 3, 2023

A research design is a structure that combines different components of research. It involves the use of different data collection and data analysis techniques logically to answer the research questions .

It would be best to make some decisions about addressing the research questions adequately before starting the research process, which is achieved with the help of the research design.

Below are the key aspects of the decision-making process:

Data type required for research
Research resources
Participants required for research
Hypothesis based upon research question(s)
Data analysis methodologies
Variables (Independent, dependent, and confounding)
The location and timescale for conducting the data
The time period required for research

The research design provides the strategy of investigation for your project. Furthermore, it defines the parameters and criteria to compile the data to evaluate results and conclude.

Your project’s validity depends on the data collection and interpretation techniques. A strong research design reflects a strong dissertation , scientific paper, or research proposal .

Step 1: Establish Priorities for Research Design

Before conducting any research study, you must address an important question: “how to create a research design.”

The research design depends on the researcher’s priorities and choices because every research has different priorities. For a complex research study involving multiple methods, you may choose to have more than one research design.

Multimethodology or multimethod research includes using more than one data collection method or research in a research study or set of related studies.

If one research design is weak in one area, then another research design can cover that weakness. For instance, a dissertation analyzing different situations or cases will have more than one research design.

For example:

Experimental research involves experimental investigation and laboratory experience, but it does not accurately investigate the real world.
Quantitative research is good for the statistical part of the project, but it may not provide an in-depth understanding of the topic .
Also, correlational research will not provide experimental results because it is a technique that assesses the statistical relationship between two variables.

While scientific considerations are a fundamental aspect of the research design, It is equally important that the researcher think practically before deciding on its structure. Here are some questions that you should think of;

Do you have enough time to gather data and complete the write-up?
Will you be able to collect the necessary data by interviewing a specific person or visiting a specific location?
Do you have in-depth knowledge about the different statistical analysis and data collection techniques to address the research questions or test the hypothesis ?

If you think that the chosen research design cannot answer the research questions properly, you can refine your research questions to gain better insight.

Step 2: Data Type you Need for Research

Decide on the type of data you need for your research. The type of data you need to collect depends on your research questions or research hypothesis. Two types of research data can be used to answer the research questions:

Primary Data Vs. Secondary Data

Qualitative vs. quantitative data.

Also, see; Research methods, design, and analysis .

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Step 3: Data Collection Techniques

Once you have selected the type of research to answer your research question, you need to decide where and how to collect the data.

It is time to determine your research method to address the research problem . Research methods involve procedures, techniques, materials, and tools used for the study.

For instance, a dissertation research design includes the different resources and data collection techniques and helps establish your dissertation’s structure .

The following table shows the characteristics of the most popularly employed research methods.

Research Methods

Step 4: Procedure of Data Analysis

Use of the correct data and statistical analysis technique is necessary for the validity of your research. Therefore, you need to be certain about the data type that would best address the research problem. Choosing an appropriate analysis method is the final step for the research design. It can be split into two main categories;

Quantitative Data Analysis

The quantitative data analysis technique involves analyzing the numerical data with the help of different applications such as; SPSS, STATA, Excel, origin lab, etc.

This data analysis strategy tests different variables such as spectrum, frequencies, averages, and more. The research question and the hypothesis must be established to identify the variables for testing.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative data analysis of figures, themes, and words allows for flexibility and the researcher’s subjective opinions. This means that the researcher’s primary focus will be interpreting patterns, tendencies, and accounts and understanding the implications and social framework.

You should be clear about your research objectives before starting to analyze the data. For example, you should ask yourself whether you need to explain respondents’ experiences and insights or do you also need to evaluate their responses with reference to a certain social framework.

Step 5: Write your Research Proposal

The research design is an important component of a research proposal because it plans the project’s execution. You can share it with the supervisor, who would evaluate the feasibility and capacity of the results and conclusion .

Read our guidelines to write a research proposal if you have already formulated your research design. The research proposal is written in the future tense because you are writing your proposal before conducting research.

The research methodology or research design, on the other hand, is generally written in the past tense.

How to Write a Research Design – Conclusion

A research design is the plan, structure, strategy of investigation conceived to answer the research question and test the hypothesis. The dissertation research design can be classified based on the type of data and the type of analysis.

Above mentioned five steps are the answer to how to write a research design. So, follow these steps to formulate the perfect research design for your dissertation .

ResearchProspect writers have years of experience creating research designs that align with the dissertation’s aim and objectives. If you are struggling with your dissertation methodology chapter, you might want to look at our dissertation part-writing service.

Our dissertation writers can also help you with the full dissertation paper . No matter how urgent or complex your need may be, ResearchProspect can help. We also offer PhD level research paper writing services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is research design.

Research design is a systematic plan that guides the research process, outlining the methodology and procedures for collecting and analysing data. It determines the structure of the study, ensuring the research question is answered effectively, reliably, and validly. It serves as the blueprint for the entire research project.

How to write a research design?

To write a research design, define your research question, identify the research method (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed), choose data collection techniques (e.g., surveys, interviews), determine the sample size and sampling method, outline data analysis procedures, and highlight potential limitations and ethical considerations for the study.

How to write the design section of a research paper?

In the design section of a research paper, describe the research methodology chosen and justify its selection. Outline the data collection methods, participants or samples, instruments used, and procedures followed. Detail any experimental controls, if applicable. Ensure clarity and precision to enable replication of the study by other researchers.

How to write a research design in methodology?

To write a research design in methodology, clearly outline the research strategy (e.g., experimental, survey, case study). Describe the sampling technique, participants, and data collection methods. Detail the procedures for data collection and analysis. Justify choices by linking them to research objectives, addressing reliability and validity.

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How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on 30 October 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on 13 June 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organised and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, frequently asked questions.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

Example research proposal #1: ‘A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management’
Example research proposal #2: ‘ Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use’

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

The proposed title of your project
Your supervisor’s name
Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

Introduce your topic
Give necessary background and context
Outline your problem statement and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
How much is already known about the topic
What is missing from this current knowledge
What new insights your research will contribute
Why you believe this research is worth doing

As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesise prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasise again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

Improving best practices
Informing policymaking decisions
Strengthening a theory or model
Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement.

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, June 13). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved 22 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/research-proposal-explained/

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Home » Research Design – Types, Methods and Examples

Research Design – Types, Methods and Examples

Table of Contents

Research Design

Definition:

Research design refers to the overall strategy or plan for conducting a research study. It outlines the methods and procedures that will be used to collect and analyze data, as well as the goals and objectives of the study. Research design is important because it guides the entire research process and ensures that the study is conducted in a systematic and rigorous manner.

Types of Research Design

Types of Research Design are as follows:

Descriptive Research Design

This type of research design is used to describe a phenomenon or situation. It involves collecting data through surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The aim of descriptive research is to provide an accurate and detailed portrayal of a particular group, event, or situation. It can be useful in identifying patterns, trends, and relationships in the data.

Correlational Research Design

Correlational research design is used to determine if there is a relationship between two or more variables. This type of research design involves collecting data from participants and analyzing the relationship between the variables using statistical methods. The aim of correlational research is to identify the strength and direction of the relationship between the variables.

Experimental Research Design

Experimental research design is used to investigate cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This type of research design involves manipulating one variable and measuring the effect on another variable. It usually involves randomly assigning participants to groups and manipulating an independent variable to determine its effect on a dependent variable. The aim of experimental research is to establish causality.

Quasi-experimental Research Design

Quasi-experimental research design is similar to experimental research design, but it lacks one or more of the features of a true experiment. For example, there may not be random assignment to groups or a control group. This type of research design is used when it is not feasible or ethical to conduct a true experiment.

Case Study Research Design

Case study research design is used to investigate a single case or a small number of cases in depth. It involves collecting data through various methods, such as interviews, observations, and document analysis. The aim of case study research is to provide an in-depth understanding of a particular case or situation.

Longitudinal Research Design

Longitudinal research design is used to study changes in a particular phenomenon over time. It involves collecting data at multiple time points and analyzing the changes that occur. The aim of longitudinal research is to provide insights into the development, growth, or decline of a particular phenomenon over time.

Structure of Research Design

The format of a research design typically includes the following sections:

Introduction : This section provides an overview of the research problem, the research questions, and the importance of the study. It also includes a brief literature review that summarizes previous research on the topic and identifies gaps in the existing knowledge.
Research Questions or Hypotheses: This section identifies the specific research questions or hypotheses that the study will address. These questions should be clear, specific, and testable.
Research Methods : This section describes the methods that will be used to collect and analyze data. It includes details about the study design, the sampling strategy, the data collection instruments, and the data analysis techniques.
Data Collection: This section describes how the data will be collected, including the sample size, data collection procedures, and any ethical considerations.
Data Analysis: This section describes how the data will be analyzed, including the statistical techniques that will be used to test the research questions or hypotheses.
Results : This section presents the findings of the study, including descriptive statistics and statistical tests.
Discussion and Conclusion : This section summarizes the key findings of the study, interprets the results, and discusses the implications of the findings. It also includes recommendations for future research.
References : This section lists the sources cited in the research design.

Example of Research Design

An Example of Research Design could be:

Research question: Does the use of social media affect the academic performance of high school students?

Research design:

Research approach : The research approach will be quantitative as it involves collecting numerical data to test the hypothesis.
Research design : The research design will be a quasi-experimental design, with a pretest-posttest control group design.
Sample : The sample will be 200 high school students from two schools, with 100 students in the experimental group and 100 students in the control group.
Data collection : The data will be collected through surveys administered to the students at the beginning and end of the academic year. The surveys will include questions about their social media usage and academic performance.
Data analysis : The data collected will be analyzed using statistical software. The mean scores of the experimental and control groups will be compared to determine whether there is a significant difference in academic performance between the two groups.
Limitations : The limitations of the study will be acknowledged, including the fact that social media usage can vary greatly among individuals, and the study only focuses on two schools, which may not be representative of the entire population.
Ethical considerations: Ethical considerations will be taken into account, such as obtaining informed consent from the participants and ensuring their anonymity and confidentiality.

How to Write Research Design

Writing a research design involves planning and outlining the methodology and approach that will be used to answer a research question or hypothesis. Here are some steps to help you write a research design:

Define the research question or hypothesis : Before beginning your research design, you should clearly define your research question or hypothesis. This will guide your research design and help you select appropriate methods.
Select a research design: There are many different research designs to choose from, including experimental, survey, case study, and qualitative designs. Choose a design that best fits your research question and objectives.
Develop a sampling plan : If your research involves collecting data from a sample, you will need to develop a sampling plan. This should outline how you will select participants and how many participants you will include.
Define variables: Clearly define the variables you will be measuring or manipulating in your study. This will help ensure that your results are meaningful and relevant to your research question.
Choose data collection methods : Decide on the data collection methods you will use to gather information. This may include surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, or secondary data sources.
Create a data analysis plan: Develop a plan for analyzing your data, including the statistical or qualitative techniques you will use.
Consider ethical concerns : Finally, be sure to consider any ethical concerns related to your research, such as participant confidentiality or potential harm.

When to Write Research Design

Research design should be written before conducting any research study. It is an important planning phase that outlines the research methodology, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques that will be used to investigate a research question or problem. The research design helps to ensure that the research is conducted in a systematic and logical manner, and that the data collected is relevant and reliable.

Ideally, the research design should be developed as early as possible in the research process, before any data is collected. This allows the researcher to carefully consider the research question, identify the most appropriate research methodology, and plan the data collection and analysis procedures in advance. By doing so, the research can be conducted in a more efficient and effective manner, and the results are more likely to be valid and reliable.

Purpose of Research Design

The purpose of research design is to plan and structure a research study in a way that enables the researcher to achieve the desired research goals with accuracy, validity, and reliability. Research design is the blueprint or the framework for conducting a study that outlines the methods, procedures, techniques, and tools for data collection and analysis.

Some of the key purposes of research design include:

Providing a clear and concise plan of action for the research study.
Ensuring that the research is conducted ethically and with rigor.
Maximizing the accuracy and reliability of the research findings.
Minimizing the possibility of errors, biases, or confounding variables.
Ensuring that the research is feasible, practical, and cost-effective.
Determining the appropriate research methodology to answer the research question(s).
Identifying the sample size, sampling method, and data collection techniques.
Determining the data analysis method and statistical tests to be used.
Facilitating the replication of the study by other researchers.
Enhancing the validity and generalizability of the research findings.

Applications of Research Design

There are numerous applications of research design in various fields, some of which are:

Social sciences: In fields such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology, research design is used to investigate human behavior and social phenomena. Researchers use various research designs, such as experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational designs, to study different aspects of social behavior.
Education : Research design is essential in the field of education to investigate the effectiveness of different teaching methods and learning strategies. Researchers use various designs such as experimental, quasi-experimental, and case study designs to understand how students learn and how to improve teaching practices.
Health sciences : In the health sciences, research design is used to investigate the causes, prevention, and treatment of diseases. Researchers use various designs, such as randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies, to study different aspects of health and healthcare.
Business : Research design is used in the field of business to investigate consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and the impact of different business practices. Researchers use various designs, such as survey research, experimental research, and case studies, to study different aspects of the business world.
Engineering : In the field of engineering, research design is used to investigate the development and implementation of new technologies. Researchers use various designs, such as experimental research and case studies, to study the effectiveness of new technologies and to identify areas for improvement.

Advantages of Research Design

Here are some advantages of research design:

Systematic and organized approach : A well-designed research plan ensures that the research is conducted in a systematic and organized manner, which makes it easier to manage and analyze the data.
Clear objectives: The research design helps to clarify the objectives of the study, which makes it easier to identify the variables that need to be measured, and the methods that need to be used to collect and analyze data.
Minimizes bias: A well-designed research plan minimizes the chances of bias, by ensuring that the data is collected and analyzed objectively, and that the results are not influenced by the researcher’s personal biases or preferences.
Efficient use of resources: A well-designed research plan helps to ensure that the resources (time, money, and personnel) are used efficiently and effectively, by focusing on the most important variables and methods.
Replicability: A well-designed research plan makes it easier for other researchers to replicate the study, which enhances the credibility and reliability of the findings.
Validity: A well-designed research plan helps to ensure that the findings are valid, by ensuring that the methods used to collect and analyze data are appropriate for the research question.
Generalizability : A well-designed research plan helps to ensure that the findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, or situations, which increases the external validity of the study.

Research Design Vs Research Methodology

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Acknowledgments

The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
Improve your general research and writing skills;
Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

What do I want to study?
Why is the topic important?
How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
What problems will it help solve?
How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

Most proposals should include the following sections:

I. Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

What is the central research problem?
What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II. Background and Significance

This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.

To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:

State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.

III. Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV. Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!

V. Preliminary Suppositions and Implications

Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance. When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:

What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
Will the results influence policy decisions?
In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?

NOTE: This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.

ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.

VI. Conclusion

The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.

Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:

Why the study should be done;
The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.

VII. Citations

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.

In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.

Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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How to prepare a Research Proposal

Health research, medical education and clinical practice form the three pillars of modern day medical practice. As one authority rightly put it: ‘Health research is not a luxury, but an essential need that no nation can afford to ignore’. Health research can and should be pursued by a broad range of people. Even if they do not conduct research themselves, they need to grasp the principles of the scientific method to understand the value and limitations of science and to be able to assess and evaluate results of research before applying them. This review paper aims to highlight the essential concepts to the students and beginning researchers and sensitize and motivate the readers to access the vast literature available on research methodologies.

Most students and beginning researchers do not fully understand what a research proposal means, nor do they understand its importance. 1 A research proposal is a detailed description of a proposed study designed to investigate a given problem. 2

A research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work-plan to complete it. Broadly the research proposal must address the following questions regardless of your research area and the methodology you choose: What you plan to accomplish, why do you want to do it and how are you going to do it. 1 The aim of this article is to highlight the essential concepts and not to provide extensive details about this topic.

The elements of a research proposal are highlighted below:

1. Title: It should be concise and descriptive. It must be informative and catchy. An effective title not only prick’s the readers interest, but also predisposes him/her favorably towards the proposal. Often titles are stated in terms of a functional relationship, because such titles clearly indicate the independent and dependent variables. 1 The title may need to be revised after completion of writing of the protocol to reflect more closely the sense of the study. 3

2. Abstract: It is a brief summary of approximately 300 words. It should include the main research question, the rationale for the study, the hypothesis (if any) and the method. Descriptions of the method may include the design, procedures, the sample and any instruments that will be used. 1 It should stand on its own, and not refer the reader to points in the project description. 3

3. Introduction: The introduction provides the readers with the background information. Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers can understand how it relates to other research. 4 It should answer the question of why the research needs to be done and what will be its relevance. It puts the proposal in context. 3

The introduction typically begins with a statement of the research problem in precise and clear terms. 1

The importance of the statement of the research problem 5 : The statement of the problem is the essential basis for the construction of a research proposal (research objectives, hypotheses, methodology, work plan and budget etc). It is an integral part of selecting a research topic. It will guide and put into sharper focus the research design being considered for solving the problem. It allows the investigator to describe the problem systematically, to reflect on its importance, its priority in the country and region and to point out why the proposed research on the problem should be undertaken. It also facilitates peer review of the research proposal by the funding agencies.

Then it is necessary to provide the context and set the stage for the research question in such a way as to show its necessity and importance. 1 This step is necessary for the investigators to familiarize themselves with existing knowledge about the research problem and to find out whether or not others have investigated the same or similar problems. This step is accomplished by a thorough and critical review of the literature and by personal communication with experts. 5 It helps further understanding of the problem proposed for research and may lead to refining the statement of the problem, to identify the study variables and conceptualize their relationships, and in formulation and selection of a research hypothesis. 5 It ensures that you are not "re-inventing the wheel" and demonstrates your understanding of the research problem. It gives due credit to those who have laid the groundwork for your proposed research. 1 In a proposal, the literature review is generally brief and to the point. The literature selected should be pertinent and relevant. 6

Against this background, you then present the rationale of the proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing.

4. Objectives: Research objectives are the goals to be achieved by conducting the research. 5 They may be stated as ‘general’ and ‘specific’.

The general objective of the research is what is to be accomplished by the research project, for example, to determine whether or not a new vaccine should be incorporated in a public health program.

The specific objectives relate to the specific research questions the investigator wants to answer through the proposed study and may be presented as primary and secondary objectives, for example, primary: To determine the degree of protection that is attributable to the new vaccine in a study population by comparing the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. 5 Secondary: To study the cost-effectiveness of this programme.

Young investigators are advised to resist the temptation to put too many objectives or over-ambitious objectives that cannot be adequately achieved by the implementation of the protocol. 3

5. Variables: During the planning stage, it is necessary to identify the key variables of the study and their method of measurement and unit of measurement must be clearly indicated. Four types of variables are important in research 5 :

a. Independent variables: variables that are manipulated or treated in a study in order to see what effect differences in them will have on those variables proposed as being dependent on them. The different synonyms for the term ‘independent variable’ which are used in literature are: cause, input, predisposing factor, risk factor, determinant, antecedent, characteristic and attribute.

b. Dependent variables: variables in which changes are results of the level or amount of the independent variable or variables.

Synonyms: effect, outcome, consequence, result, condition, disease.

c. Confounding or intervening variables: variables that should be studied because they may influence or ‘mix’ the effect of the independent variables. For instance, in a study of the effect of measles (independent variable) on child mortality (dependent variable), the nutritional status of the child may play an intervening (confounding) role.

d. Background variables: variables that are so often of relevance in investigations of groups or populations that they should be considered for possible inclusion in the study. For example sex, age, ethnic origin, education, marital status, social status etc.

The objective of research is usually to determine the effect of changes in one or more independent variables on one or more dependent variables. For example, a study may ask "Will alcohol intake (independent variable) have an effect on development of gastric ulcer (dependent variable)?"

Certain variables may not be easy to identify. The characteristics that define these variables must be clearly identified for the purpose of the study.

6. Questions and/ or hypotheses: If you as a researcher know enough to make prediction concerning what you are studying, then the hypothesis may be formulated. A hypothesis can be defined as a tentative prediction or explanation of the relationship between two or more variables. In other words, the hypothesis translates the problem statement into a precise, unambiguous prediction of expected outcomes. Hypotheses are not meant to be haphazard guesses, but should reflect the depth of knowledge, imagination and experience of the investigator. 5 In the process of formulating the hypotheses, all variables relevant to the study must be identified. For example: "Health education involving active participation by mothers will produce more positive changes in child feeding than health education based on lectures". Here the independent variable is types of health education and the dependent variable is changes in child feeding.

A research question poses a relationship between two or more variables but phrases the relationship as a question; a hypothesis represents a declarative statement of the relations between two or more variables. 7

For exploratory or phenomenological research, you may not have any hypothesis (please do not confuse the hypothesis with the statistical null hypothesis). 1 Questions are relevant to normative or census type research (How many of them are there? Is there a relationship between them?). Deciding whether to use questions or hypotheses depends on factors such as the purpose of the study, the nature of the design and methodology, and the audience of the research (at times even the outlook and preference of the committee members, particularly the Chair). 6

7. Methodology: The method section is very important because it tells your research Committee how you plan to tackle your research problem. The guiding principle for writing the Methods section is that it should contain sufficient information for the reader to determine whether the methodology is sound. Some even argue that a good proposal should contain sufficient details for another qualified researcher to implement the study. 1 Indicate the methodological steps you will take to answer every question or to test every hypothesis illustrated in the Questions/hypotheses section. 6 It is vital that you consult a biostatistician during the planning stage of your study, 8 to resolve the methodological issues before submitting the proposal.

This section should include:

Research design: The selection of the research strategy is the core of research design and is probably the single most important decision the investigator has to make. The choice of the strategy, whether descriptive, analytical, experimental, operational or a combination of these depend on a number of considerations, 5 but this choice must be explained in relation to the study objectives. 3

Research subjects or participants: Depending on the type of your study, the following questions should be answered 3 , 5

- What are the criteria for inclusion or selection?
- What are the criteria for exclusion?
- What is the sampling procedure you will use so as to ensure representativeness and reliability of the sample and to minimize sampling errors? The key reason for being concerned with sampling is the issue of validity-both internal and external of the study results. 9
- Will there be use of controls in your study? Controls or comparison groups are used in scientific research in order to increase the validity of the conclusions. Control groups are necessary in all analytical epidemiological studies, in experimental studies of drug trials, in research on effects of intervention programmes and disease control measures and in many other investigations. Some descriptive studies (studies of existing data, surveys) may not require control groups.
- What are the criteria for discontinuation?

Sample size: The proposal should provide information and justification (basis on which the sample size is calculated) about sample size in the methodology section. 3 A larger sample size than needed to test the research hypothesis increases the cost and duration of the study and will be unethical if it exposes human subjects to any potential unnecessary risk without additional benefit. A smaller sample size than needed can also be unethical as it exposes human subjects to risk with no benefit to scientific knowledge. Calculation of sample size has been made easy by computer software programmes, but the principles underlying the estimation should be well understood.

Interventions: If an intervention is introduced, a description must be given of the drugs or devices (proprietary names, manufacturer, chemical composition, dose, frequency of administration) if they are already commercially available. If they are in phases of experimentation or are already commercially available but used for other indications, information must be provided on available pre-clinical investigations in animals and/or results of studies already conducted in humans (in such cases, approval of the drug regulatory agency in the country is needed before the study). 3

Ethical issues 3 : Ethical considerations apply to all types of health research. Before the proposal is submitted to the Ethics Committee for approval, two important documents mentioned below (where appropriate) must be appended to the proposal. In additions, there is another vital issue of Conflict of Interest, wherein the researchers should furnish a statement regarding the same.

The Informed consent form (informed decision-making): A consent form, where appropriate, must be developed and attached to the proposal. It should be written in the prospective subjects’ mother tongue and in simple language which can be easily understood by the subject. The use of medical terminology should be avoided as far as possible. Special care is needed when subjects are illiterate. It should explain why the study is being done and why the subject has been asked to participate. It should describe, in sequence, what will happen in the course of the study, giving enough detail for the subject to gain a clear idea of what to expect. It should clarify whether or not the study procedures offer any benefits to the subject or to others, and explain the nature, likelihood and treatment of anticipated discomfort or adverse effects, including psychological and social risks, if any. Where relevant, a comparison with risks posed by standard drugs or treatment must be included. If the risks are unknown or a comparative risk cannot be given it should be so stated. It should indicate that the subject has the right to withdraw from the study at any time without, in any way, affecting his/her further medical care. It should assure the participant of confidentiality of the findings.

Ethics checklist: The proposal must describe the measures that will be undertaken to ensure that the proposed research is carried out in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical research involving Human Subjects. 10 It must answer the following questions:

• Is the research design adequate to provide answers to the research question? It is unethical to expose subjects to research that will have no value.
• Is the method of selection of research subjects justified? The use of vulnerable subjects as research participants needs special justification. Vulnerable subjects include those in prison, minors and persons with mental disability. In international research it is important to mention that the population in which the study is conducted will benefit from any potential outcome of the research and the research is not being conducted solely for the benefit of some other population. Justification is needed for any inducement, financial or otherwise, for the participants to be enrolled in the study.
• Are the interventions justified, in terms of risk/benefit ratio? Risks are not limited to physical harm. Psychological and social risks must also be considered.
• For observations made, have measures been taken to ensure confidentiality?

Research setting 5 : The research setting includes all the pertinent facets of the study, such as the population to be studied (sampling frame), the place and time of study.

Study instruments 3 , 5 : Instruments are the tools by which the data are collected. For validated questionnaires/interview schedules, reference to published work should be given and the instrument appended to the proposal. For new a questionnaire which is being designed specifically for your study the details about preparing, precoding and pretesting of questionnaire should be furnished and the document appended to the proposal. Descriptions of other methods of observations like medical examination, laboratory tests and screening procedures is necessary- for established procedures, reference of published work cited but for new or modified procedure, an adequate description is necessary with justification for the same.

Collection of data: A short description of the protocol of data collection. For example, in a study on blood pressure measurement: time of participant arrival, rest for 5p. 10 minutes, which apparatus (standard calibrated) to be used, in which room to take measurement, measurement in sitting or lying down position, how many measurements, measurement in which arm first (whether this is going to be randomized), details of cuff and its placement, who will take the measurement. This minimizes the possibility of confusion, delays and errors.

Data analysis: The description should include the design of the analysis form, plans for processing and coding the data and the choice of the statistical method to be applied to each data. What will be the procedures for accounting for missing, unused or spurious data?

Monitoring, supervision and quality control: Detailed statement about the all logistical issues to satisfy the requirements of Good Clinical Practices (GCP), protocol procedures, responsibilities of each member of the research team, training of study investigators, steps taken to assure quality control (laboratory procedures, equipment calibration etc)

Gantt chart: A Gantt chart is an overview of tasks/proposed activities and a time frame for the same. You put weeks, days or months at one side, and the tasks at the other. You draw fat lines to indicate the period the task will be performed to give a timeline for your research study (take help of tutorial on youtube). 11

Significance of the study: Indicate how your research will refine, revise or extend existing knowledge in the area under investigation. How will it benefit the concerned stakeholders? What could be the larger implications of your research study?

Dissemination of the study results: How do you propose to share the findings of your study with professional peers, practitioners, participants and the funding agency?

Budget: A proposal budget with item wise/activity wise breakdown and justification for the same. Indicate how will the study be financed.

References: The proposal should end with relevant references on the subject. For web based search include the date of access for the cited website, for example: add the sentence "accessed on June 10, 2008".

Appendixes: Include the appropriate appendixes in the proposal. For example: Interview protocols, sample of informed consent forms, cover letters sent to appropriate stakeholders, official letters for permission to conduct research. Regarding original scales or questionnaires, if the instrument is copyrighted then permission in writing to reproduce the instrument from the copyright holder or proof of purchase of the instrument must be submitted.

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How to write a research proposal

Advice and guidance on writing a proposal for a student research project.

Purpose of a Research Proposal

A research proposal should describe what you will investigate, why it is important to the discipline and how you will conduct your research.

Simply put, it is your plan for the research you intend to conduct. All research proposals are designed to persuade someone about how and why your intended project is worthwhile.

In your proposal you will need to explain and defend your choices. Always think about the exact reasons why you are making specific choices and why they are the best options available to you and your project.

Your research proposal aims should be centred on:

Relevance - You want to convince the reader how and why your research is relevant and significant to your field and how it is original. This is typically done in parts of the introduction and the literature review.
Context - You should demonstrate that you are familiar with the field, you understand the current state of research on the topic and your ideas have a strong academic basis (i.e., not simply based on your instincts or personal views). This will be the focus of your introduction and literature review.
Approach - You need to make a case for your methodology, showing that you have carefully thought about the data, tools and procedures you will need to conduct the research. You need to explicitly defend all of your choices. This will be presented in the research design section.
Feasibility - You need to demonstrate clearly that your project is both reasonable and feasible within the practical constraints of the course, timescales, institution or funding. You need to make sure you have the time and access to resources to complete the project in a reasonable period.

301 Recommends:

Our Research Writing workshop will look at some of the main writing challenges associated with writing a large-scale research project and look at strategies to manage your writing on a day-to-day basis. It will identify ways to plan, organise and map out the structure of your writing to allow you to develop an effective writing schedule and make continuous progress on your dissertation project.

Proposal format

The format of a research proposal varies between fields and levels of study but most proposals should contain at least these elements: introduction, literature review, research design and reference list.

Generally, research proposals can range from 500-1500 words or one to a few pages long. Typically, proposals for larger projects such as a PhD dissertation or funding requests, are longer and much more detailed.

Remember, the goal of your research proposal is to outline clearly and concisely exactly what your research will entail and accomplish, how it will do so and why it is important. If you are writing to a strictly enforced word count, a research proposal can be a great test of your ability to express yourself concisely!

Introduction

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why. In other words, this is where you answer the reader’s “so what?” It should typically include: introducing the topic , outlining your problem statement and research question(s) and giving background and context. Some important questions to shape your introduction include:

Who has an interest in the topic (e.g. scientists, practitioners, policymakers, particular members of society)?
How much is already known about the problem and why is it important?
What is missing from current knowledge and why?
What new insights will your research contribute?
Why is this research worth doing?

If your proposal is very long, you might include separate sections with more detailed information on the background and context, problem statement, aims and objectives, and importance of the research.

Literature Review

It’s important to show that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory (i.e. how it relates to established research in the field).

Your literature review will also show that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said. This is also where you explain why your research is necessary. You might want to consider some of the following prompts:

Comparing and contrasting: what are the main theories, methods, debates and controversies?
Being critical: what are the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches?
Showing how your research fits in: how will you build on, challenge or synthesise the work of others?
Filling a gap in the existing body of research: why is your idea innovative?

Research design and methods

Following the literature review, it is a good idea to restate your main objectives, bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design/ methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. You also need to demonstrate the feasibility of the project keeping in mind time and other constraints.

You should definitely include:

Qualitative vs quantitative research? Combination?
Will you collect original data or work with primary/secondary sources?
Is your research design descriptive, correlational or experimental? Something completely different?
If you are undertaking your own study, when and where will you collect the data? How will you select subjects or sources? Ethics review? Exactly what or who will you study?
What tools and procedures will you use (e.g. systematic reviews, surveys, interviews, observation, experiments, bibliographic data) to collect your data?
What tools/methods will you use to analyse your data?
Why are these the best methods to answer your research question(s)? This is where you should justify your choices.
How much time will you need to collect the data?
How will you gain access to participants and sources?
Do you foresee any potential obstacles and if so, how will you address them?

Make sure you are not simply compiling a list of methods. Instead, aim to make an argument for why this is the most appropriate, valid and reliable way to approach answering your question. Remember you should always be defending your choices!

Implications and Contributions to Knowledge

To ensure you finish your proposal on a strong note, it is a good idea to explore and/or emphasise the potential implications of the research. This means: what do you intend to contribute to existing knowledge on the topic?

Although you cannot know the results of your research until you have actually done the work, you should be going into the project with a clear idea of how your work will contribute to your field. This section might even be considered the most critical to your research proposal’s argument because it expresses exactly why your research is necessary.

You should consider covering at least some of the following topics:

Ways in which your work can challenge existing theories and assumptions in your field.
How your work will create the foundation for future research and theory.
The practical value your findings will provide to practitioners, educators and other academics in your field.
The problems or issues your work can potentially help to resolve.
Policies that could be impacted by your findings.
How your findings can be implemented in academia or other settings and how this will improve or otherwise transform these settings.

This part is not about stating the specific results that you expect to obtain but rather, this is the section where you explicitly state how your findings will be valuable.

This section is where you want to wrap it all up in a nice pretty bow. It is just like the concluding paragraph that you would structure and craft for a typical essay. You should briefly summarise your research proposal and reinforce your research purpose.

Reference List or Bibliography

Your research proposal MUST include proper citations for every source you have used and full references. Please consult your departmental referencing styles to ensure you are citing and referencing in an appropriate way.

Common mistakes to avoid

Try and avoid these common pitfalls when you are writing your research proposal:

Being too wordy: Remember formal does not mean flowery or pretentious. In fact, you should really aim to keep your writing as concise and accessible as possible. The more economically you can express your goals and ideas, the better.
Failing to cite relevant information/sources: You are adding to the existing body of knowledge on the subject you are covering. Therefore, your research proposal should reference the main research pieces in your field (while referencing them correctly!) and connect your proposal to these works in some way. This does not mean just communicating the relevance of your work, it should explicitly demonstrate your familiarity with the field.
Focusing too much on minor issues: Your research is most likely important for so many great reasons. However, they do not all need to be listed in your research proposal. Generally, including too many questions and issues in your research proposal can serve as a red flag and detract from your main purpose(s). This will in turn weaken your proposal. Only involve the main/key issues you plan to address.
Failing to make a strong argument for your research: This is the simplest way to undermine your proposal. Your proposal is a piece of persuasive and critical writing . This means that, although you are presenting your proposal in an academic and hopefully objective manner, the goal is to get the reader to say ‘yes’ to your work.
Not polishing your writing : If your proposal has spelling or grammatical errors, an inconsistent or inappropriate tone or even just awkward phrasing it can undermine your credibility. Check out some of these resources to help guide you in the right direction: Manchester Academic Phrasebank , Proofreading Guide , Essay Checklist and Grammar Guide . Remember to double and triple check your work.

Links and Resources

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Designing a Research Proposal in Qualitative Research

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Md. Ismail Hossain 4 ,
Nafiul Mehedi 4 &
Iftakhar Ahmad 4

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The chapter discusses designing a research proposal in qualitative research. The main objective is to outline the major components of a qualitative research proposal with example(s) so that the students and novice scholars easily get an understanding of a qualitative proposal. The chapter highlights the major components of a qualitative research proposal and discusses the steps involved in designing a proposal. In each step, an example is given with some essential tips. Following these steps and tips, a novice researcher can easily prepare a qualitative research proposal. Readers, especially undergraduate and master’s students, might use this as a guideline while preparing a thesis proposal. After reading this chapter, they can easily prepare a qualitative proposal.

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Hossain, M.I., Mehedi, N., Ahmad, I. (2022). Designing a Research Proposal in Qualitative Research. In: Islam, M.R., Khan, N.A., Baikady, R. (eds) Principles of Social Research Methodology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5441-2_18

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Frequently asked questions

Design Proposals

What are design proposals.

User experience (UX) design proposals are documents that outline a potential design project for prospective clients. They serve as a comprehensive plan and typically include a project’s approach, process, deliverables, timeline and commercial terms. They are platforms for designers to demonstrate their expertise, vision and proposed solutions to clients’ problems.

Much like any other design deliverable, the design proposal also begins with a careful understanding of the user—in this case, the potential client. Designers must understand what the client expects from a proposal and create one that matches their expectations.

Author, speaker and executive leadership coach Todd Zaki Warfel explains how to approach clients with design work.

Why Are Design Proposals Indispensable?

Design proposals are the lifeblood of any UX design project. These proposals help provide a roadmap for the entire design process. They act as a reference for everyone involved and set clear expectations for the design solution.

A well-constructed UX design proposal can help designers:

Gain clarity and understanding about the project’s purpose and what they need to achieve.

Establish legal and contractual clarity, protecting the interests of both parties involved via clear terms and conditions, deliverables, timelines and budgets.

Accurately estimate costs, letting clients understand the financial aspect of the project.

Showcase creative vision and approaches to brand-relevant fineries. These include an appreciation for real-world user behaviors and compelling visual elements.

Streamline project management via well-defined project timelines and milestones.

Establish credibility and start to build solid and lasting trust with their client.

When Do Designers Create Proposals?

Designers create design proposals both when they are seeking new clients prospectively and when they are working on existing project discussions. In both scenarios, the key is for the designer to communicate clearly , present a compelling case for their design vision , and show an understanding of the client's needs and goals . A well-crafted design proposal can go a long way to winning business and ensuring project success for both clients and designers.

Since understanding the client means understanding users of the client’s brand too, designers should declare the full range of their skill sets in their proposals—and much more. A vital ingredient is to show how they’ll go about understanding users in a new contract. This includes leveraging UX research methods and approaches, such as quantitative research and qualitative research. For example, for prospective contracts, a designer might show how they made the best of card sorting, focus groups, user interviews and user journeys for previous clients in their UX portfolio. A vital point, of course, is to safely do so—that is, without violating non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

The key point is for a designer to be ready to prove that they can well exceed a client’s expectations with solid experience and a keen, fresh eye for innovative solutions in the marketplace. This is essential in a fickle market, where mobile device users are used to discarding apps after just one use and many clients can’t afford to place their trust unless a convincing, compelling proposal helps them start to believe in the solution provider they have been hoping for. Designers have only seconds—and just one chance—to make a first impression and leap out from a thick pile of proposals. Consequently, they need to ensure they come across as the best UX brand to handle the problem at hand.

Here, Principal and owner of Lebsontech LLC, Cory Lebson explains what goes into branding as a UX professional:

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What Does a Design Proposal Look Like?

Proposals are essential for all kinds of designers. They could be product designers like app or web designers, service designers or other professionals in UX or user interface (UI) design. Proposals can vary in form, with different nomenclature for the introductory part (termed “executive summary”). However, these key parts provide essential information about the project's scope, objectives, requirements and more:

1. Title Page

The title page includes the project's title, the designer's name or company name, the date of submission and possibly a logo or visual representation of the design proposal.

2. Introduction

The introduction provides an overview of the design project, introduces the client's needs and sets the stage for the proposal. This can act as a cover letter.

3. Table of Contents

This is to facilitate fast finding. The proposal is a design and should offer maximum convenience.

4. Client's Needs and Objectives

This section outlines the client’s specific requirements, goals and objectives. It contains a problem statement and helps show an understanding of the client's needs and how the proposed design will fulfill them.

5. Scope of Work

The scope of work defines the specific tasks, deliverables and services that the designer will provide. It outlines what the design project will include and—particularly importantly—any limitations or exclusions.

6. Proposed Design Solution

This section details the designer's approach to addressing the client's needs and objectives. It may include design concepts, sketches or other visual representations to illustrate the proposed design solution.

7. Timeline

The timeline section outlines the proposed schedule for the design project. It includes key milestones and deadlines.

8. Deliverables

Within the timeline, this is the expected delivery of design elements. Designers name UX deliverables associated with the project and where they feature (e.g., user research insights followed by proposed user flows and usability testing of low-fidelity prototypes). Both deliverables and timeline need to reflect how the design process will work for the project.

Watch Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) expert Professor Alan Dix explain the steps involved in a design process.

9. Qualifications and Experience

Here, the designer (or design team) highlights their relevant qualifications, experience and past projects that demonstrate their capability to successfully execute the proposed design project. When they include their UX portfolios, designers can showcase their skills in interaction design and other relevant areas.

10. Cost Estimate and Payment Terms

This part includes the proposed cost of the design project, broken down into specific elements. It also outlines the payment terms, such as deposit requirements and invoicing details.

11. Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions section specifies the legal and operational aspects of the design project. This includes ownership of work, revisions, cancellation policy and any other relevant contractual details.

12. Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes the key points of the proposal and reiterates the benefits of the proposed design solution. Most importantly, it should encourage the client to take the next steps and present the designer’s contact information as clearly as a call to action.

An illustration showing the 10 listed parts of a design proposal according to Userlytics.

Userlytics include 10 essential elements of a design proposal.

How to Craft an Effective UX Design Proposal

Designers can use a recommended step-by-step guide to frame a persuasive proposal:

Step 1: Understand the Client's Brand

Before a designer starts drafting a proposal, they need to understand the client's brand thoroughly. They also must comprehend the needs, expectations, behavior, pain points, and more about the users the brand serves. For example, is it a niche startup, or a long-established client that has just had a brand makeover to appeal to a wider market? In an external context, it could be a B2B (brand-to-brand) or a B2C (brand-to-consumer) scenario. Or it could be a case where a company is working on an internal project for its employees, such as an intranet. In any case, this understanding ensures that their design proposal aligns with the existing brand identity, values and messaging. If a designer understands the brand well, they can tailor their design proposal to meet these objectives effectively and show great value in design decisions.

Step 2: Write a Stellar Problem Statement

The problem statement is crucial. It should be specific, concise and directly related to the client’s needs and the client's business objectives. The most difficult part is to define the problem accurately and clearly—which many designers often overlook. A well-defined problem statement will guide the designer’s efforts properly. It will also help set the right expectations with the client and stakeholders.

The primary problem is that of the client. Then the designer can move on to examine the specific problems that the client’s users face, the causes of these and perhaps potential consequences of not resolving them. When they clearly articulate the problem, a UX designer demonstrates their understanding of the client's pain points. This sets the stage for proposing effective solutions. It also raises the chances of a successful pitch if the client sees their problem clearly articulated in the proposal. A Point of View (POV) is a meaningful and actionable problem statement that designers can leverage to access many such insights. They can use a Point of View Madlib to pinpoint their focus with the most clarity.

A Point of View Madlib helps designers clearly articulate a problem statement: “(The user) needs to (word or words reflecting the user’s need) because (the insight explaining the need).”

Step 3: Define the Scope in Detail

A designer now outlines the work they will do. This could include website design, user interface and experience design, or other forms of content creation. It’s important to set out the tasks, deliverables, services and anything else that relates to the limitations of the design work.

Designers must understand the full nature of the proposed work ahead of time—what they must do (e.g., usability testing) and what their services do not include. This helps prevent scope creep and surprises from miscommunication.

Step 4: Comprehensively Outline the Solution

Once a designer has clearly stated the problem, it's time to tie in the solution and explain why it solves the client’s or customer's pain points. A well-articulated solution gives the client a clear, detailed plan for how the design work will address their specific problem. It also ensures they understand the proposed approach and what they can expect from the project.

Designers should outline the specific goals they aim to achieve through their proposed solution. These objectives should be measurable, realistic and directly linked to addressing identified problems. If the designer clearly defines the objectives, the client gains a clear understanding of what the project aims to achieve and how to measure success.

It’s crucial to allow for some fluidity. Design solutions typically evolve as more user insights arise and as the project progresses. Therefore, while the solution should be detailed and well-thought-out, it should also be flexible enough to accommodate changes and improvements. Meanwhile, the client should feel it starting to address their unique situation from the outset. They should sense the designer has empathy both for the users and themselves as the client.

Details are important here because they provide a clear roadmap of how designers plan to achieve the project goals. This includes the tools and techniques they will use, the stages of the design process, and how they will incorporate user feedback. This section should also explain how the design strategy aligns with the business objectives and user needs.

This video explains the need for empathy in design and how it guides decision-making:

Step 5: Establish a Realistic Timeline and Firm Deliverables

The timeline section of the UX design proposal is essential for managing expectations and ensuring a smooth project flow. It outlines the projected timeline for each phase of the project, including key milestones and deliverable dates.

A designer’s timeline should consider the complexity of the project, the availability of resources, and potential dependencies. It’s crucial to be realistic and allow for flexibility in case of unforeseen circumstances. A well-planned and communicated timeline helps the client understand the project's progress and ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding deadlines and expectations. As delays can have a ripple effect on the entire project, it's essential to factor in some buffer time for unforeseen circumstances or changes in the project scope.

Deliverables

The deliverables section of the UX design proposal specifies the tangible outputs the designer will provide to the client throughout the project. It should include a comprehensive list of deliverables such as user research reports, wireframes, prototypes, usability test results and any other relevant documentation.

The designer should clearly outline the format, frequency and expected quality of these deliverables. For example, mockups may look like the finished project but can appear far sooner in the project. This section ensures that the client understands what they will receive at each stage of the project and helps manage their expectations.

Diagram showing the iterative process of design.

A proposal should reflect a solid understanding that UX design involves important elements: to iterate to validate ideas and to iterate to design around constraints.

Step 6: Include a Strong Portfolio

In this section the designer showcases relevant work to account for the “why me?” dimension. They highlight projects that are like the one they’re proposing for the client. This will give a sense of the individual’s design style and capabilities.

To highlight their experience, designers should showcase their past work, case studies and client testimonials that demonstrate their capabilities. Their UX portfolio should corroborate their claims and act as a design with its own superior UX as well. Designers should explain why they are the best choice for the project and how they can add value to the client's business. UX design is a burgeoning industry, and competition can be fierce. So, standing out from the crowd is crucial with a proposal that not only is professional and comprehensive but also uniquely fits the client's specific needs and goals.

Design lead for the AdWords Display & Apps Team at Google, Stephen Gay gives advice on how to craft a UX portfolio.

Step 7: Estimate Costs and Decide on Payment Terms

A designer needs to show a client how much they will charge for the work, how they will calculate fees and what expenses or contingencies are included. It’s important to be transparent and fair about costs, and justify value and quality. It’s also vital to break estimated costs down into specific deliverables or phases. When it’s itemized this way and transparent, clients can understand what they are paying for, foster trust in the designer and make informed decisions.

It's better to overestimate (by a little) than underestimate. Include costs for research, design, testing and implementation, as well as any additional costs that may arise. A designer should be clear about pricing structure, whether it's hourly or project-based, and explain all costs. Designers include their fees, any additional expenses for resources or tools, and potential costs for changes or additions to the project scope. They should also describe acceptable payment options for the client.

Step 8: Set out the Terms and Conditions

It's crucial to specify clear terms and conditions for several reasons:

Clarity: They provide clear guidelines about the rules and requirements for both parties involved in a transaction or agreement.

Legal Protection: Terms and conditions can serve as a legal contract that may protect the rights of all parties.

Dispute Resolution: In case of disagreements, they are references to help resolve disputes.

Limitation of Liability: They can limit the liability of a service provider (the designer), clearly outlining what they are and aren’t responsible for.

Enforceability: Clearly stated terms and conditions are more likely to be enforceable in a court of law.

Image of two people having a discussion.

Disagreements can arise over any number of factors in a contract. A good terms and conditions section can account for contingencies.

Step 9: Summarize The Proposal

The final step is to summarize the proposal and restate the value proposition. A designer needs to show the client why they should choose them for their UX project, what benefits and results that designer will deliver, and how they will exceed the client’s expectations.

It’s important to make a compelling last section here. A client needs to feel that urge to engage from a well-written conclusion that encapsulates why a particular designer is the way forward with the right solution and more.

Tips and Best Practice for Creating a Design Proposal

It’s important to consider various factors that will influence both the creation and reception of a proposal. Key considerations are for designers to:

Understand the Client’s Needs, and Prove It

Research Thoroughly : Before drafting a proposal, a designer needs to deeply research the client’s business, industry and competitors—and, of course, the users who make up their market. It’s imperative to prove an understanding of the client's challenges and clearly articulate how the solution will address them.

Be Accessible and Approachable : Designers should show they are eager to start a dialogue and be open to discussions for gathering requirements and insights as they begin the design project.

Appreciate the Technical Aspects

Feasibility : Consider the practicality of the design in terms of budget, resources and time constraints.

Functionality : Ensure the design works well and serves its intended purpose.

Present the Proposal Well

Clearly and concisely articulate ideas and how they align with the client's goals. Avoid jargon and complex language . Ensure the client can easily understand the proposed solution, deliverables and costs. Remember that design is a conversation in itself; the proposal must reflect appreciation for a great user experience. Aim to answer potential questions within the proposal.

Deliver a professional format and tone throughout the proposal. Ensure perfect grammar and spelling, and a clean and clear layout.

Include detailed sketches, mockups or prototypes when possible.

Maximize the Visual Appeal Wisely

Ensure a visually attractive design that aligns with the brand’s image. Use visuals such as images, diagrams and infographics to illustrate points and make the proposal more engaging. A strong proposal also needs to reflect a designer's grasp of great visual design. Balance the text with relevant visuals that effectively communicate ideas.

Diagram showing statistics about aesthetics and credibility on websites.

According to the Stanford University’s research, (published in the Stanford Credibility Project), nearly half of 2500+ participants assessed the credibility of websites based on their visual appeal. Remember the importance of visual appeal, both in design solutions and the proposal itself.

Understand the Client's Budget

Discuss the budget openly with the client. This understanding guides the scope and scale of the project, and gives insights into the company culture behind the product or service.

Anticipate The Economic Factors As Far as Possible

Costing : Provide a clear breakdown of costs including design, production and any other associated fees.

Return on Investment (ROI) : Explain how the design solution will benefit the client financially or in terms of brand value.

Assumptions : Identify and communicate any assumptions, like the availability of resources, access to user groups or the client’s active participation. This will help align expectations with the client and address potential risks or challenges upfront.

Clearly Define The Offer

Scope of Work : Clearly define what is included to avoid scope creep.

Deliverables : List all deliverables, including file formats and any other specifics.

Sell the Expertise

Portfolio : Include relevant examples of past work that demonstrate competence and style to answer the client’s “Why hire this designer?” in seconds.

Testimonials : Share testimonials from past clients to build trust.

Develop a Compelling Narrative

Storytelling : Use a narrative to connect the client’s problem to the proposed solution.

Benefits : Focus on the benefits of the design, not just the features.

Include User Research

Show commitment to UX Research : Impress the client with an obvious commitment to conduct user research to understand the target audience's needs, behaviors, pain points, expectations, motivations, and more about their world.

Show commitment to User Testing : Plan for user testing as a necessity. This will validate the proposed solution and provide valuable feedback for refinement. When designers test with real users, they can reveal unforeseen issues and gain insights to significantly improve the design.

Consider Proposal-Generating Software

Effective UX design proposal tools and templates are widely available. Use them to help streamline the proposal creation process and enhance the quality and professionalism of proposals. They can also provide a platform for collaborative work. Good programs can save time, provide more insights, and help the client choose a designer or company faster. Designers should find ones that help them customize the look, feel and professionalism they want to cast to clients—for example, as freelance UX or UI designers.

Illustration showing a design proposal template.

PandaDoc is one of many solutions to generate a design proposal.

Follow-Up Plan : Have a plan for following up after sending the proposal.

Be Flexible and Open to Revisions

Design is a collaborative process, and a proposal should reflect this. Be open to feedback from the client and be willing to revise the proposal based on their inputs. Designers who are feedback-oriented and -driven can show this commitment to evidence, flexibility and listening.

Image showing the Zengenti Team in a discussion room.

UX design agency Zengenti has used usability testing data in their design proposals to win projects. They find that including user testing data in their proposals provides a strong foundation for their design process and helps to reassure clients that their designs are evidence-backed.

Potential Pitfalls around a Design Proposal

Some potential issues that can arise in a project relating to the proposal include:

Lack of Research

Inadequate Market Analysis : This can result in a design that does not resonate with the target audience.

Misunderstanding the Brief : Not asking questions for clarity can cause a proposal to miss the mark.

Communication Issues

Overpromising : Designers who make promises on deliverables or timelines that are unrealistic can damage trust. Also be clear about the job description. Many potential clients might have a vague idea of what’s involved in product design, and expect UI-UX designers to deliver in unrealistic timelines.

Vague Descriptions : Lack of specificity in the scope of work can lead to misunderstandings. For example, a proposal aimed at service design needs to consider every angle of the service design process.

Watch CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers explain the service design process.

Financial Missteps

Underquoting : Underestimating the costs can lead to financial loss or a decrease in quality to meet budgets.

Overquoting : Overestimating costs can make a proposal less competitive.

Including Design Ideas without Considering Consequences

Designers do not typically include design ideas in a proposal , unless the client has agreed to sign an NDA, and offers compensation for drafting the proposal. These are usually called RFPs (request for proposal). Also, if the client and designer already know what's to be designed, then a solution overview will make sense. That is, it merely documents what the client has shared or what the client and the designer have mutually discussed before.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Ethical Design : Be mindful of ethical considerations in a design. Avoid anything that could appear offensive or inappropriate.

Remember, a great design proposal is not just about the aesthetics. It's also about how well it communicates the value of a design solution to the client. It should be clear, concise and compelling. It should also show extensive attention to detail in research, planning, foresight, empathy and vision. Overall, it travels ahead of the designer who relies on it. It’s often the first point of contact with a client, and so needs to portray the ultimate in professionalism, credibility, and much more.

“People hire who they know, who they like, and who they trust."

— Chris Do, CEO and Founder of The Futur

Learn More about Design Proposals

Take our How to Become a Freelance Designer course.

Watch our masterclass Win Clients, Pitches and Approval: Present Your Designs Effectively with Author, speaker and executive leadership coach Todd Zaki Warfel .

Read our piece How to Get Meaningful Design Feedback From Your Clients for more insights.

Read Jami Oetting’s article 15 Proposal Software Tools for Proposal Creation and Management for an array of proposal software to choose from.

See how prospective clients think in this insightful piece by Karthika G L: 7 Points To Consider When Choosing UI/UX Design Proposals For Your Business .

Find helpful points in this article from Simon Dumont: How to create a winning design proposal with user research .

Read Job M’s A UX Writer’s Guide To Writing A Content Design Proposal for additional insights.

Questions about Design Proposals

The specific deliverables are different across different fields of design. Also, designers can continue to work on a product after launch and help to constantly improve or iterate on the design from testing and feedback . They can do this in an annual maintenance contract (AMC), for instance.

Also, UX designers are more service-oriented, despite the point that they may have tangible deliverables. Meanwhile, other types of designers tend to be oriented around one-time deliverables, handing off their designs before moving on.

Lastly, UX design proposals must leave scope for some flexibility, unlike other designers who have a more concrete scope of work. This is especially relevant for UX designers, as they will need to watch for scope creep in particular in some cases.

To ensure design proposals align with the client's budget constraints, designers should adopt a strategic approach:

Prioritize Needs over Wants: Differentiate between the essential features required for functionality and the additional features that are nice to have. Focus on delivering the core requirements within the budget.

Allocate Resources Wisely: Pick cost-effective solutions without compromising the quality of the design. This might include using open-source tools or modular design elements.

Design with Flexibility in Mind: Propose scalable solutions that allow for future expansion or enhancement when more funds become available.

Use Clear Communication: Maintain transparent communication throughout the project. Regularly update the client about the progress and any potential adjustments to stay within budget. Communicate effectively and be open and honest to build trust and simulate a face-to-face business environment virtually.

Use an Iterative Approach and Iterative Design Process : Good design iteration is about testing and refining ideas in stages, like prototype testing and incorporating user feedback. This prevents time-consuming and costly changes later in the project. On that subject, the proposal must clearly communicate this – address the iterative nature of the service, additional costs (if any) and the responsibilities of each party (say sign-offs or testing) for each iteration.

User research plays a critical role in a UX design proposal. It gives valuable insights into user needs, behaviors and preferences. It serves as the foundation for creating user-centered designs in the form of products and services that effectively meet the target audience's requirements.

Also, research helps inform the designer about the scope of work for the proposed solution.

Moreover, by knowing what the competition is, they can propose ideas on how to beat the competition for the design solution.

Watch this video for valuable insights into the timing and importance of user research in the design process.

Copyright holder: Unsplash. Copyright terms and license: CCO Public Domain. Link: https://pixabay.com/en/clay-hands-sculpting-art-69...
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Visual design is especially important in a UX design proposal. It's not just about aesthetics in digital products like websites or apps. Visual design plays a crucial role in user experience as it influences usability, user interaction, user perception and the overall effectiveness of the design. The fundamental reason behind this fact is:

First Impressions: Visual design is often the first aspect of a product that users notice. For example, the first few seconds a user spends on a web design sets the tone for the user experience and can greatly impact user engagement. A designer’s UX portfolio should likewise impress clients.

Cultural factors greatly influence how designers create proposals. When designers understand and integrate these factors, they can create more inclusive, accessible, and effective designs for users from all cultural backgrounds.

User Behavior and Preferences: Different cultures have unique behavioral patterns and preferences. For example, color symbolism varies greatly across cultures. It affects how users perceive and interact with designs. Red in China, for instance, generally grabs users in different ways than it does users in the United States.

Language and Communication: Language is not just about translation but also involves understanding cultural nuances, idioms and context. Effective communication and communication styles in UX design consider these aspects to ensure clarity and relevance in visual design and beyond.

Navigation and Layout: Cultural differences in scanning patterns (like left-to-right or right-to-left reading) impact how users navigate and consume content. Designers must consider these variations to create intuitive and user-friendly layouts for different cultural groups.

Values and Norms: Cultural values, such as individualism versus collectivism, influence user expectations and interactions with technology across many groups of people. Designs for products or services that resonate with the target audience’s values will be more effective there.

Accessibility and Inclusion: Recognizing cultural diversity contributes to greater accessibility and inclusivity, long term. It ensures that products are usable and appealing to a broader audience and that they address at a high level the many pain points users face in problem solving.

Finally, with remote collaboration, it is extremely important to understand how people work in different cultures. What's acceptable in one region may be considered rude elsewhere. This will depend on what aspects of a proposal would have such cultural differences, though.

Do Detailed Requirement Analysis: Begin with a thorough analysis of the project requirements. Understanding the scope and complexity helps to make a more accurate estimation for all individual tasks combined.

Review Historical Data: Look at past successful projects with similar scopes. Historical data can provide insights into the time and resources needed for the project life cycle this time.

Break Down the Project: Divide the project into smaller, manageable parts from the early stages onwards. Estimate the cost for each project task and then sum up for the total project cost.

Include Contingency Plans: Always include a contingency budget for unforeseen circumstances or changes in project scope. This will ramp up the total cost but may make the difference between whether the project gets completed comfortably or not.

Consider All Factors: Include all aspects of the project in the cost estimate, such as design, development, testing, and any third-party service costs or time-consuming extras.

Regularly Communicate with Stakeholders: Engage with all stakeholders to ensure that they consider all needs during the project schedule and that the estimate is realistic for long-term project progress.

Use Project Management Tools: Leverage project management and estimation tools to help automate and standardize the estimation process.

Review and Adjust Regularly: Treat the estimate as a living document that’s adjustable as more information becomes available.

Designers can communicate complex design concepts to potential clients and clients effectively by using a few key strategies when they write a design proposal:

Simplify the Language: Use simple, jargon-free language. Avoid technical terms that may not be familiar to the client. This makes the proposal more accessible and easier to understand for a wide range of stakeholders.

Use Visual Aids: Include diagrams, sketches, wireframes, or prototypes for product or service design work. Visual representations can convey complex ideas more effectively than text alone. They help clients visualize the end-product of the design project and understand the design process.

Leverage Storytelling : Frame the design concept within a narrative. Explain how the design solves a problem or improves the user experience. Stories can make abstract concepts more tangible and relatable.

Use Modular Explanation: Break down the concept into smaller, manageable parts. Explain each part individually before showing how they integrate into the whole. This step-by-step approach prevents information overload.

Make Analogies and Metaphors: Analogies and metaphors can bridge the gap between unfamiliar design concepts or abstract ideas and the client’s existing knowledge. They make complex ideas more relatable and easier to grasp.

Involve Clients in the Process: Client involvement is a must. Ask for their input and address their concerns. This can increase their understanding and investment in the project.

Establish regular feedback loops: to ensure the client understands and is on board with the proposed design. This also allows for early detection and correction of any misunderstandings long before pain points turn up in user testing.

To effectively handle scope creep in UX design proposals, designers can employ several strategies:

Clearly Define the Project Scope: Start by establishing a clear, concise project scope. This includes outlining specific deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities. Designers who define the scope in a written document help ensure that all stakeholders have a common understanding of the project's boundaries, and what’s involved to complete the project and keep to the project schedule.

Establish a Change Request Process: Implement a formal process for handling changes or additions to the project. This process should include evaluating the impact of the change on resources, timelines, and costs. It should also require formal approval before any changes get made to any part of the project, regardless of whether they’re key elements or not.

Regularly Communicate with Stakeholders: Maintain open lines of communication with all project stakeholders. Regular updates and meetings help manage expectations and address any concerns early on and prevent surprises in project status reports.

Set Realistic Expectations: Designers should be realistic about what they can achieve within the given constraints of project timelines, project budget, and resources for project tasks. Overpromising can lead to scope creep as they try to meet unrealistic expectations for project team members and key stakeholders.

Monitor Project Progress and Consider Project Management Software: Keep a close eye on project progress. Regularly review the project status against the initial plan to identify any deviations early. Depending on the nature and type of project, consider using project management tools to aid in the management process.

Be Flexible, Yet Firm: While some flexibility is necessary, it's important to be firm about the project boundaries defined in the scope. Politely, but assertively, push back on requests that fall outside the agreed-upon scope. Clients may well agree not to assign tasks that go beyond agreed-upon terms, and therefore avoid scope creep and keep the project on track.

Designers can address client feedback or revisions in the design proposal process effectively by following these steps:

Actively Listen and Understand: When designers receive feedback, they should listen actively to understand the client's perspective and the reasons behind their suggestions or concerns. They should ask clarifying questions if necessary to fully comprehend the client as they collect feedback.

Maintain a Positive Attitude: Approach revisions and feedback positively. View them as opportunities for improvement rather than criticisms. That can foster a more productive and collaborative environment, and establish a long-term relationship. With the right mindset, designers can turn the opinions of unhappy customers into constructive feedback and develop good ideas.

Communicate Clearly and Regularly: Keep the lines of communication open. Regular updates on the status of revisions and clear explanations of any changes or challenges are crucial to maintain client trust and satisfaction.

Document Changes: Keep a record of all feedback and the corresponding changes made. This documentation can be useful for future reference and helps to ensure that no important details are overlooked. It also helps ensure more positive feedback when gathering feedback as the proposal manager can cross items off the list.

Set Boundaries and Expectations: Clearly define the scope of revisions and the proposal process. Set boundaries on the number and extent of revisions. It will prevent scope creep and ensure that the project remains on track according to the product roadmap.

Seek Consensus: Designers should work towards finding a solution that aligns with both the client's vision and their own design expertise. Strive for a consensus that satisfies both parties and upholds the quality and integrity of the design.

The following paper is a good resource for design proposal research: Phillips, R., & Maier, A. (2020). How design proposals are evaluated: A pilot study. Proceedings of the Design Society , 1, 2109-2118. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-design-society/article/how-design-proposals-are-evaluated-a-pilot-study/81B4450A35C175D680334D1BF701580B

This academic article, authored by Phillips and Maier in 2020, presents the findings of a pilot study on the evaluation process of design proposals. The study aims to understand how professionals in the field assess and decide on design proposals, focusing on the criteria and decision-making processes involved.

Here are some popular good books on design proposals:

1. Hass, C. (2015). Writing Successful UX Proposals. Morgan Kaufmann. "Writing Successful UX Proposals" by Chris Hass is a pivotal resource for UX professionals and students who aim to master the art of creating effective and persuasive design proposals. This book provides a comprehensive guide on how to write proposals that clearly communicate the value and approach of UX projects. Hass covers critical elements such as understanding client needs, outlining project goals, and detailing methodologies. The book is particularly valuable for its insights into tailoring proposals to different audiences and its focus on winning strategies for securing project approval. This practical guide is essential for anyone looking to elevate their UX proposal writing skills.

2. Greever, T. (2020). Articulating Design Decisions: Communicate with Stakeholders, Keep Your Sanity, and Deliver the Best User Experience . O'Reilly Media.

"Articulating Design Decisions" by Tom Greever is an essential guide for UX designers and professionals involved in design processes. The book delves into the crucial skill of effectively communicating design decisions to stakeholders, colleagues, and clients. Greever addresses common challenges faced by designers, such as defending their decisions, managing feedback, and achieving consensus while ensuring the best user experience. He offers practical advice, strategies, and real-world examples to enhance communication skills in various scenarios. This book is especially valuable for its focus on the often-overlooked soft skills necessary for successful design projects.

Take our Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide course to get behind the client’s point of view for successful design solutions.

Watch our masterclass How to Build A Successful Portfolio with Chris Clark .

Read Write A UX Proposal: How-To Guide by Steven Douglas for further information.

See Offorte’s Proposal example: UX design for more insights.

Literature on Design Proposals

Here’s the entire UX literature on Design Proposals by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

Learn more about Design Proposals

Take a deep dive into Design Proposals with our course How to Create a UX Portfolio .

Did you know the average UX recruiter spends less than 5 minutes skimming through your UX portfolio? If you want to join the growing and well-paid field of UX design, not only do you need a UX portfolio— you’ll need a great UX portfolio that showcases relevant skills and knowledge . Your UX portfolio will help you get your first job interviews and freelance clients, and it will also force you to stay relevant in your UX career. In other words, no matter what point you’re at in your UX career, you’re going to need a UX portfolio that’s in tip-top condition.

So, how do you build an enticing UX portfolio, especially if you’ve got no prior experience in UX design? Well, that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this course! You’ll cover everything so you can start from zero and end up with an incredible UX portfolio . For example, you’ll walk through the various UX job roles, since you can’t begin to create your portfolio without first understanding which job role you want to apply for! You’ll also learn how to create your first case studies for your portfolio even if you have no prior UX design work experience. You’ll even learn how to navigate non-disclosure agreements and create visuals for your UX case studies.

By the end of this practical, how to oriented course, you’ll have the skills needed to create your personal online UX portfolio site and PDF UX portfolio. You’ll receive tips and insights from recruiters and global UX design leads from SAP, Oracle and Google to give you an edge over your fellow candidates. You’ll learn how to craft your UX case studies so they’re compelling and relevant, and you’ll also learn how to engage recruiters through the use of Freytag’s dramatic structure and 8 killer tips to write effectively. What’s more, you’ll get to download and keep more than 10 useful templates and samples that will guide you closely as you craft your UX portfolio. To sum it up, if you want to create a UX portfolio and land your first job in the industry, this is the course for you!

All open-source articles on Design Proposals

The 10 most inspirational ux design portfolio examples in 2024.

How to Make Full Use of Your UX Design Portfolio

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Title: research in teaching and learning sequence design. to what extent do designers theoretical orientations about learning and the nature of science shape design decisions.

Abstract: Over the last three decades, various didactic proposals have been published in an attempt to connect theory and research findings with the design of Teaching-Learning Sequences (TLS) in various contexts. Many studies have analysed the process of designing teaching-learning sequences as a research activity. This line of research aims to increase the impact and transferability of educational practice. However, the information usually provided about the relation between the theory and research findings with the design of the TLS is insufficiently detailed to provide the basis for a critique. Furthermore, not all TLS proposals include evaluation in terms of learning outcomes and very rarely are these learning outcomes specifically related to the design process. This lack of detailed information on the design and evaluation of proposed TLS makes it difficult to properly assess their potential effectiveness or to systematically discuss and improve their design. In this chapter we want to contribute to make the rationale for design decisions explicit. The aim of this paper is to describe in detail how the theoretical orientations of designers of teaching materials towards cognition and learning can shape the structure and pedagogical strategies of the resulting TLS. We will analyse the relationship of two design tools (Epistemological analysis and Learning demands) to theoretical assumptions about learning and the nature of science. We want to highlight the benefits of reflecting on and discussing theoretical elements and their links to design decisions, which makes TLS design more productive on a practical level to broaden the teaching and learning perspectives of TLS. Finally, we will explore the question to what extent the theoretical orientations of curriculum designers towards cognition and learning can influence the structure and pedagogical strategies of the resulting TLS

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What’s Included: Research Proposal Template

Our free dissertation/thesis proposal template covers the core essential ingredients for a strong research proposal. It includes clear explanations of what you need to address in each section, as well as straightforward examples and links to further resources.

The research proposal template covers the following core elements:

Introduction & background (including the research problem)
Literature review
Research design / methodology
Project plan , resource requirements and risk management

The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

PS – if you’d like a high-level template for the entire thesis, you can we’ve got that too .

Research Proposal Template FAQS

What types of research proposals can this template be used for.

The proposal template follows the standard format for academic research projects, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of dissertations and theses (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the introduction chapter/section will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level proposal?

This template can be used for a research project at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the research proposal to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

How long should my research proposal be?

The length of a research proposal varies by institution and subject, but as a ballpark, it’s usually between 1,500 and 3,000 words.

To be safe, it’s best to check with your university if they have any preferences or requirements in terms of minimum and maximum word count for the research propsal.

How detailed should the methodology of the proposal be?

You don’t need to go into the fine details of your methodology, but this section should be detailed enough to demonstrate that your research approach is feasible and will address your research questions effectively. Be sure to include your intended methods for data collection and analysis.

Can I include preliminary data or pilot study results in my proposal?

Generally, yes. This can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating the feasibility of your research. However, make sure that your pilot study is approved by your university before collecting any data.

Can I share this template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, we kindly request that you reference this page as your source.

What format is the template (DOC, PDF, PPT, etc.)?

The research proposal template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

Do you have templates for the other chapters?

Yes, we do. We are constantly developing our collection of free resources to help students complete their dissertations and theses. You can view all of our template resources here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services .

Further Resources: Proposal Writing

The template provides step-by-step guidance for each section of your research proposal, but if you’d like to learn more about how to write up a high-quality research proposal, check out the rest of our free proposal-related resources:

Research Proposal 101
Examples of research proposals
How To Find A Research Topic
How To Find A Research Gap
Developing Your Golden Thread
How To Write A Research Proposal
8 Common Proposal Writing Mistakes

You can also visit the Grad Coach blog for more proposal-related resources.

Free Webinar: How To Write A Research Proposal

If you’d prefer 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, have a look at our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the research process, step by step.

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What Is a Research Design
A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research objectives and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data. You might have to write up a research design as a standalone assignment, or it might be part of a larger research proposal or other project. In either case, you should carefully consider which ...
Research Design
A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data. You might have to write up a research design as a standalone assignment, or it might be part of a larger research proposal or other project. In either case, you should carefully consider which methods ...
PDF Research Proposal Format Example
Research Proposal Format Example. Following is a general outline of the material that should be included in your project proposal. I. Title Page II. Introduction and Literature Review (Chapters 2 and 3) A. Identification of specific problem area (e.g., what is it, why it is important). B. Prevalence, scope of problem.
How To Write A Research Proposal
Here is an explanation of each step: 1. Title and Abstract. Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research. Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal. 2.
How to Write a Research Design
Step 5: Write your Research Proposal. The research design is an important component of a research proposal because it plans the project's execution. You can share it with the supervisor, who would evaluate the feasibility and capacity of the results and conclusion.
What Is Research Design? 8 Types + Examples
Research design refers to the overall plan, structure or strategy that guides a research project, from its conception to the final analysis of data. Research designs for quantitative studies include descriptive, correlational, experimental and quasi-experimenta l designs. Research designs for qualitative studies include phenomenological ...
How to write a research proposal?
Writing the proposal of a research work in the present era is a challenging task due to the constantly evolving trends in the qualitative research design and the need to incorporate medical advances into the methodology. The proposal is a detailed plan or 'blueprint' for the intended study, and once it is completed, the research project ...
How to Write a Research Proposal
Research proposal examples. Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We've included a few for you below. Example research proposal #1: 'A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management'.
How To Write A Research Proposal (With Examples)
Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components : Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
Research Proposal Example (PDF + Template)
Research Proposal Example/Sample. Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template. If you're getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals, you've come to the right place. In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals, one for a Master's-level ...
Research Design
The purpose of research design is to plan and structure a research study in a way that enables the researcher to achieve the desired research goals with accuracy, validity, and reliability. Research design is the blueprint or the framework for conducting a study that outlines the methods, procedures, techniques, and tools for data collection ...
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper
Before beginning your paper, you need to decide how you plan to design the study.. The research design refers to the overall strategy and analytical approach that you have chosen in order to integrate, in a coherent and logical way, the different components of the study, thus ensuring that the research problem will be thoroughly investigated. It constitutes the blueprint for the collection ...
Writing a Research Proposal
The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews.
How to prepare a Research Proposal
It puts the proposal in context. 3. The introduction typically begins with a statement of the research problem in precise and clear terms. 1. The importance of the statement of the research problem 5: The statement of the problem is the essential basis for the construction of a research proposal (research objectives, hypotheses, methodology ...
How to write a research proposal
Proposal format. The format of a research proposal varies between fields and levels of study but most proposals should contain at least these elements: introduction, literature review, research design and reference list. Generally, research proposals can range from 500-1500 words or one to a few pages long.
How to Write a Research Proposal in 2024: Structure, Examples & Common
A research proposal outline's content typically varies in length, from 3 to 35 pages, with references (and appendices, if necessary). But like any academic activity, start the research proposal template writing process by first carefully reading the instructions. ... E. Research Design & Methods. This part should be written properly and ...
What Is A Research Proposal? Examples + Template
The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is suitable (for the requirements of the degree program) and manageable (given the time and resource constraints you will face). The most important word here is "convince" - in other words, your ...
Designing a Research Proposal in Qualitative Research
The chapter discusses designing a research proposal in qualitative research. The main objective is to outline the major components of a qualitative research proposal with example (s) so that the students and novice scholars easily get an understanding of a qualitative proposal. The chapter highlights the major components of a qualitative ...
What are Design Proposals?
User experience (UX) design proposals are documents that outline a potential design project for prospective clients. They serve as a comprehensive plan and typically include a project's approach, process, deliverables, timeline and commercial terms. They are platforms for designers to demonstrate their expertise, vision and proposed solutions ...
Free research proposal templates to edit and print
32 templates. Create a blank Research Proposal. Black Minimalist Company Project Proposal. Proposal by Novative. VD. Yellow And White Modern Professional Digital Branding And Promotion Proposal. Proposal by Vicky Design. VD. White and Cream Modern Minimalist Global Innovation Proposal.
Research in teaching and learning sequence design. To what extent do
Over the last three decades, various didactic proposals have been published in an attempt to connect theory and research findings with the design of Teaching-Learning Sequences (TLS) in various contexts. Many studies have analysed the process of designing teaching-learning sequences as a research activity. This line of research aims to increase the impact and transferability of educational ...
Free Download: Research Proposal Template (Word Doc
What's Included: Research Proposal Template. Our free dissertation/thesis proposal template covers the core essential ingredients for a strong research proposal. It includes clear explanations of what you need to address in each section, as well as straightforward examples and links to further resources. The research proposal template covers ...
Seattle eyes exempting some center city projects from design review
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's administration on Thursday published a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) report on a legislative proposal to temporarily exempt from design review new center city ...

How to Write a Research Design – Guide with Examples

Step 1: Establish Priorities for Research Design

Step 2: Data Type you Need for Research

Primary Data Vs. Secondary Data

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Step 3: Data Collection Techniques

Step 4: Procedure of Data Analysis

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Qualitative Data Analysis

Step 5: Write your Research Proposal

How to Write a Research Design – Conclusion

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Research Design – Types, Methods and Examples

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Design Proposals

Why Are Design Proposals Indispensable?