Writing a dissertation is undeniably one of the most complicated as well as rewarding experiences that you will come across in your academic life. However, before you get to the actual dissertation such as Oedipus the King, you need to get the proposal approved. A dissertation proposal is more than just a statement of what you intend to do; it is an outline for your research processes. This is the opportunity you get to outline the research idea, why the research is being conducted, how the research will be executed and the outcomes anticipated.
In this article, we will demonstrate each stage of the process leading to the creation of a winning dissertation proposal that will serve as the building block to your research.
What is a Dissertation Proposal?
A dissertation proposal is a short statement that summarizes the research project you are going to carry out. It is most often written after you have decided on a particular area that you will conduct research and done some primary reading. In a proposal, the committee or advisor gets a sense of your research goals, importance of this study, methods you are going to apply in the research, and what you are going to add into knowledge.
Structure of a Dissertation Proposal
This is mainly because the size and content of a proposal are different from one field to another as well as from one institution to another, yet there are some common sections in almost all the dissertation proposals which are outlined below:
Title
A working title that reflects the essence of your research. It does not have to be final yet, but it shows the general issue of your dissertation.
Introduction
The introduction explains the attempt or the direction of the research. This is where you state the issue that you are addressing and why it needs addressing.
Define your research problem clearly and pull a hypothesis and objectives of your work.
Literature Review
This is off course a recommendation and in this case, you are required to speak on what has already been done concerning your topic. Indicate the gaps, inconsistencies, or other domains which can be researched further.
We have mentioned how more knowledge can be obtained in the field than what researchers already know and literature review is one such way of addressing that fact rather than presenting existing knows to the audience.
Research Methodology
This is one of the most critical sections of your proposal. You need to explain how you plan to conduct your research. The methodology includes:
- Research design: Is it going to be qualitative or quantitative or mixed both?
- Methods of data collection – Interviews, surveys, experiments, archival research etc.
- Data Analysis: Which methods will be more applicable in interpreting the data? Will you stick to the use of statistical tools, thematic analysis, etc.?
- Research Tools: Any equipment, software or database that you will require.
Research Significance
In this section, describe the likely consequences of your research. Why is this relevant to the research area? What new promises or understandings might it hold?
Demonstrate how your work will fill gaps in the existing literature or research or how it may resolve practical issues in the world.
Timeline
In most dissertation proposals that are submitted to the academic supervisors, a timeline or schedule for completion of the proposed research is included. Decompose your timeline to pinpoint specific activities from data collection until the last chapters are written.
References
Cite only those sources that you have used in your proposal. Follow a referencing style that is acceptable to your department such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.
Tips for Writing a Strong Dissertation Proposal
Clarity and conciseness in writing and presentation is of paramount importance
Do away with excessive and difficult terms. Your aim is to avoid any complexity in your proposal that overhinders any person that goes through it.
Conduct Extensive Literature Review before Developing the Proposal
It wise to ensure that you have a thorough background reading on your topic before you embark on writing the proposal. It will enable you to spot the gaps in the literature and make your case for the need for your research even stronger.
Stay Focused
Try to stick with your research goals, and do not wander towards unnecessary aspects. It is a good idea to have a well-defined idea or objective, as such an objective will only make your proposal more persuasive.
Get Feedback Early
Do not wait until your proposal is complete; hand over the initial draft of your proposal to your advisor or your colleagues. This torsion is inviting because such change will make your research questions clearer or fonder.
Follow Institutional Guidelines
Every academic institution and their respective departments have a particular format for submitting the dissertation proposals. Kindly comply with the proposed format and submission deadline as specified by your university if any.
Conclusion
Writing a dissertation proposal in the most appropriate manner is the first step towards implementing a successful dissertation. It gives an overview of the dissertation that both the advisor and the committee will be able to accomplish and what methods will be used towards that objective. Because the proposal serves as the foundation of the process, and the essential steps have been properly outlined, the chances of obtaining approval are quite high.
Also, try to remain in control of your thoughts and the flow of the narrative, and do not forget to ask others for their recommendations when needed. Good luck with your course completion!
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