A guide to writing a research proposal

How to write a research proposal that gets approved

Written by : Adiba Tasnim

“What is a research proposal ?” 

A research proposal is something like a formal document that outlines a planned study. It describes the research problem, objectives, methods, and the significance of the study.It provides a detailed plan for how the researcher intends to conduct the study, including what will be studied, how data will be collected, and how the results will be analyzed. A well-written research proposal shows that the researcher has thought carefully about the topic, reviewed relevant literature, and developed a clear, realistic plan for the investigation.

Let me tell you how to write a dynamic and perfect research proposal that gets approved 

To write a research proposal that gets approved firstly we need to follow some certain steps. At first pick your desired topic, then follow the steps below -

1. Title Page

Your first impression — keep it clear and informative.  

What to include:

Title of your research project

Your name and institutional affiliation

Supervisor’s name (if any)

Date of submission

Tip: Your title should summarize your topic in 12–15 words.

 📌 Example: “The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance Among University Students”

2. Introduction / Background

This is where you hook the reader and explain your research idea.

What to include:

A short background of the topic

Define the problem statement

Why is this topic important now? (Relevance)

Your research question(s)

Your research objectives or hypotheses

Tip: Use clear and specific language. Don’t make the reader guess what your study is about.

3. Literature Review

This shows you’ve done your homework.

What to include:

Summary of key studies and findings in your area

Identify gaps in the existing research

Explain how your research fills a gap or builds on past work

Tip: Don’t list papers randomly. Group them by theme or argument.

4. Research Objectives or Hypothesis

This makes your research measurable and focused.

What to include:

Main goal of your study

Sub-objectives (if needed)

If applicable, write a hypothesis to be tested

📌 Example Objective:

 “To investigate how the number of hours spent on Instagram affects university students’ GPA.”

5. Methodology

This is the heart of your proposal — explain how you will do your research.

What to include:

Research design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods)

Sample: Who are your participants? How will you select them?

Data collection methods: Surveys? Interviews? Observations?

Data analysis: How will you interpret the data?

Tools or software (e.g., SPSS, Excel, NVivo)

Tip: Be realistic. Reviewers want to see that you can actually carry this out.

6. Expected Outcomes

This is a prediction, not your final result.

What to include:

What kind of results do you expect?

How could they contribute to your field?

Who might benefit from your findings?

7. Timeline / Work Plan

Shows you have a plan to finish on time.

What to include:

A breakdown of activities (research, data collection, writing, etc.)

Dates or months for each activity

Use a Gantt chart if possible (a timeline bar chart)

8. Budget (if required)

For funded research proposals.

What to include:

Itemized list of costs: materials, travel, software, printing, etc.

Justification for each item

9. References / Bibliography

What to include:

List all the sources you cited

Use the required citation style (APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.)

Tip: Make sure every source you cite is included and properly formatted.

Most important things to notice: 

1. Follow the format required by your institution or funding agency.

2. Use simple, formal, and precise language.

3. Make your goals and methods realistic and focused.

4. Proofread for grammar, spelling, and clarity.

5. Show that your topic is original, meaningful, and doable.

I have already discussed how to write a research proposal. Now let’s look at an example , so we can understand thoroughly 

🧪 Sample Research Proposal (Biochemistry)

Title:

 The Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity: A Study on Catalase from Potato

1. Introduction

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. Each enzyme has an optimal temperature at which it functions best. Catalase is an enzyme found in many living tissues, including potatoes, and it breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. This study aims to investigate how temperature affects catalase activity.

Research Question:

 How does changing the temperature affect the activity of catalase extracted from potato tissue?

Objectives:

To extract catalase from potato samples

To measure enzyme activity at different temperatures (e.g., 0°C, 25°C, 37°C, 50°C, 70°C)

To determine the optimum temperature for catalase activity

2. Literature Review

Enzymes are temperature-sensitive. According to Nelson and Cox (2017), enzymatic activity increases with temperature up to a point, beyond which the enzyme denatures and activity decreases. Catalase is commonly used in laboratory experiments due to its fast reaction and easy availability. Previous studies have shown its activity peaks around 35–40°C, but results can vary depending on the source (e.g., plant vs. animal).

3. Methodology

Research Design:

 Experimental laboratory study using controlled conditions.

Materials:

Fresh potato samples (source of catalase)

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution

Test tubes, beakers, thermometer

Water baths set to different temperatures

Measuring cylinder or oxygen collection setup (e.g., foam or bubbles)

Procedure:

Prepare potato extract by blending and filtering it.

Add a fixed amount of H₂O₂ to test tubes at various temperatures.

Add equal amounts of potato extract to each and measure the reaction (amount of bubbles or time taken).

Repeat for reliability.

Data Collection & Analysis:

 Record the volume of oxygen released (or height of foam) in a set time. Plot temperature vs. enzyme activity to find the optimum point.

4. Expected Outcomes

It is expected that catalase activity will increase with temperature up to around 35–40°C, after which activity will decline due to enzyme denaturation. This will confirm the temperature sensitivity of enzymes and their importance in metabolic processes.

5. Timeline

Activity

Timeframe

Background research

Week 1

Preparation for materials

Week 2

Conducting experiments

Week 3

Data analysis

Week 4

Writing final report

Week 5

6. References

Nelson, D.L., & Cox, M.M. (2017). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (7th ed.).

Campbell, M.K., & Farrell, S.O. (2016). Biochemistry (9th ed.).