Step 1: Before you write A research proposal is a document that informs others of a research project that you intend to conduct. Before you write, you will need to: Choose your topic from thislist of...

A research proposal is a document that informs others of a research project that you intend to conduct. Before you write, you will need to:

1. Choose your topic from thislist of research proposal topics.


2. Review the relevant literature on your topic.


3. Write a draft of your research question.

Possible topics

• Explore the psychology of online dating.


• Loneliness among older adults living in residential care.


• Examining the effect ofcyberbullying on young adults.


• The effectiveness of student support services on health and wellbeing for university students.


• Understanding the impact of misinformation on beliefs and/or behaviour.


• Attitudes towards climate change.


• Attitudes towards vocational education and higher education from the perspectives of school leavers and/or adult learners.

Step 2: Writing your proposal

When you are ready to start writing your proposal, follow the general structure shown below.

• 
  Title Page(not included in word count)–
  Criterion 1
  
  
  
  • Title Page should be in APA format and include an informative title that makes sense and includes relevant information about the variables/topic.
  
  
  
  


• 
  Introduction (suggested word count: 200)–
  Criterion 2
  
  
  
  • Present the relevant background information for the research project. Introduce the general field of research, definitions of key terms, then narrow to the specific area of your research project. This section should lead logically to either a gap in the existing research or the research problem that you believe needs to be addressed.
  
  
  
  

• 
  Aims (suggested word count: 100) – Criterion 3
  
  
  
  • Present the research question/and or hypothesis you will investigate and answer in order to fill the gap in research. Hypothesis must reflect the gap identified in the introduction/literature review.
  
  
  
  

• 
  Literature review (suggested word count: 400)–
  Criterion 4
  
  
  
  • Provide relevant past research studies that you found in your review of the literature. Highlight the major issues, gaps in the research and the need for your particular research (i.e., 'Here is what wecaninfer, and here is what wecannot yetinfer—or cannot yet infer with confidence—and why'). You will also need to highlight where your research overlaps and differs from existing research.
  
  
  
  


• 
  Significance of the research (suggested word count: 200) – Criterion 5
  
  Outline how your research will make a change to an area of research or respond to a particular problem. In particular, highlight the:
  
  
  • theoretical contributions, and
  
  
  • practical outcomes.
  
  
  
  


• 
  Proposed research methodology (suggested word count: 400) – Criterion 6
  
  Describe and justify the research methodology. (Use the future tense to describe what you will do.) Address the following:
  
  
  • participants
  
  
  • sampling method (e.g. random, non-random)
  
  
  • methodology (e.g. quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods)
  
  
  • design framework (e.g. experimental, non-experimental)
  
  
  • data collection method(s) (e.g. tests, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observations, existing data), and
  
  
  • ethical considerations.
  
  
  
  


• 
  Scope and problems (suggested word count: 200) – Criterion 7
  
  Define the breadth of the research topic. In this section, you will also identify any limitations or potential problems that may occur throughout the project.


• 
  Writing Style – Criterion 8
  
  
  
  • Please consider general spelling, grammar and paragraph structure. Must include relevant sub headings and use appropriate topic/linking sentences. All headings and formatting must conform to APA format.
  
  
  
  


• 
  Referencing (not included in word count) – Criterion 9
  
  Include a reference list in APA style. It should be presented on its own page with a separate heading. You may find theAPA quick guide(Links to an external site.)helpful.

The word counts are given are guidelines only; you may need to alter these slightly depending on your chosen topic.