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Your Guide to Conducting Independent Research Projects

For me, asking questions is the best way to stay curious and inspire others.

I am currently earning my undergraduate degree in Dance and minor in Modern Languages – French at Point Park University . I am a part of their honors program in which I have been given various opportunities to do research that has been published and presented at national conferences.

I want to note that you do not have to do research through an organization. The project I’m currently working on is for a conference and will not receive any academic credit for it.

You probably have already done a research project and did not even realize it. I was first introduced to how to do research in high school, so after finding what worked best for me, I wanted to share my process to make the project less daunting and more fun. 

Step 1: Define the project 

What is your subject?

Normally the subject is related to your major, but if you are interested in a subject, your project can be based on something you have no previous knowledge about.

When applying to conferences, my research typically fit under a certain category and theme. When choosing a subject, look at the requirements closely to determine if the subject will work. 

What is its purpose? 

Answer the question: Why do I want to do this research project?  Is it to forward your academic goals, spread awareness, inform or persuade a group of people, or to learn more about a subject you are passionate about?

Having a purpose behind your work can fuel your passion and help with motivation. Whatever your research entails will make an impact, so recognizing this could also help you feel more fulfilled after it is finished. 

If you have to do it as a requirement, try to reframe your mindset to a more positive one where you can find something positive to gain from your research. This could be a new skill acquired or improved upon.

What format will it be in?  

Some examples of different formats could be an essay, poster, speech, or an artistic piece.

Depending on the format, there could be different requirements for the information or an element incorporated that is not included in the other formats. 

If you have a choice of format, be sure to assess your strengths and weaknesses. I pride myself on being a good public speaker and performer, so I prefer giving a speech rather than writing an essay. 

However, if you want to improve a certain skill, you could choose a format that challenges a skill you want to work on.

What question is being answered? 

I have been taught that good research answers a complex but specific question. Therefore, create a question that requires critical thinking and is focused enough to be answered by a comprehensive thesis statement.

Step 2: Gather information

This may be self-explanatory, but it’s time to research! H ave a variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.

• Examples: Journals/Diaries, Speeches, Photographs, Raw Data 
• Examples: Journal Articles, Biographies, Textbooks / Encyclopedias / Dictionaries 
• Examples: Manuals, Textbooks / Encyclopedias / Dictionaries, Bibliographies

Good places to find sources are your local library, school databases, or Google Scholar .  Since not everything on the internet is true, vetting your source is crucial.  Some things to keep in mind before using a source are the author, time period, peer-review status, publisher, and intended audience.  

Step 3: Compile findings and provide a takeaway

Using the data you have collected to support your thesis, answer your initial question. This article explains how different kinds of theses are used in different research contexts. 

The thesis is generally at the end of the first introductory paragraph. Coming up with a thesis is easier said than done, but finally reaching an answer should be gratifying.

Make sure all the points in your paper answer the initial question and support the amazing thesis you just created.  You may need to write a proposal or abstract for your research. 

Try to focus on the main ideas in your work and provide a bit of context that would make the reader or listener more interested to learn additional information.

Be sure to proofread your work, double check it meets all the requirements, and verify your citations are in the correct citation style.

A service I find useful to check my grammar is Grammarly . You can also get your friends to look over it and get their thoughts. 

Step 4: *Optional* Peer / Advisor Review

On my research projects, I have had the privilege of having an advisor to give me advice who is an expert in the field of research I am interested in. This advisor offered great advice when I got stuck or needed a push in the right direction.

Some tips on finding an advisor are to:

• See if their past research aligns with what you are interested in
• Investigate how other’s experiences were if they have been an advisor in the past
• Reach out through email or attend their office hours to see if they would be interested in helping you
• Keep your options open because you never know who you could have the potential to connect to

Starting an independent research project can be scary. Whether your research is formal or informal, I encourage you to keep learning and asking questions.

In the words of author, anthropologist, and filmmaker Zora Neale Hurston, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”

Good luck! You got this. We would love to hear your experiences and how you found where you belong , so direct message us on Instagram for a chance to be featured.

Author: Rosalie Anthony

Rosalie is currently attending Point Park University earning her Dance- B.F.A degree with a minor in French. Previously, she attended and graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in dance. She is passionate about learning, teaching and mentoring. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, chatting with friends, and discovering new places to go in Pittsburgh.

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17 Research Proposal Examples

A research proposal systematically and transparently outlines a proposed research project.

The purpose of a research proposal is to demonstrate a project’s viability and the researcher’s preparedness to conduct an academic study. It serves as a roadmap for the researcher.

The process holds value both externally (for accountability purposes and often as a requirement for a grant application) and intrinsic value (for helping the researcher to clarify the mechanics, purpose, and potential signficance of the study).

Key sections of a research proposal include: the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, research design and methods, timeline, budget, outcomes and implications, references, and appendix. Each is briefly explained below.

Watch my Guide: How to Write a Research Proposal

Get your Template for Writing your Research Proposal Here (With AI Prompts!)

Research Proposal Sample Structure

Title: The title should present a concise and descriptive statement that clearly conveys the core idea of the research projects. Make it as specific as possible. The reader should immediately be able to grasp the core idea of the intended research project. Often, the title is left too vague and does not help give an understanding of what exactly the study looks at.

Abstract: Abstracts are usually around 250-300 words and provide an overview of what is to follow – including the research problem , objectives, methods, expected outcomes, and significance of the study. Use it as a roadmap and ensure that, if the abstract is the only thing someone reads, they’ll get a good fly-by of what will be discussed in the peice.

Introduction: Introductions are all about contextualization. They often set the background information with a statement of the problem. At the end of the introduction, the reader should understand what the rationale for the study truly is. I like to see the research questions or hypotheses included in the introduction and I like to get a good understanding of what the significance of the research will be. It’s often easiest to write the introduction last

Literature Review: The literature review dives deep into the existing literature on the topic, demosntrating your thorough understanding of the existing literature including themes, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the literature. It serves both to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and, to demonstrate how the proposed study will fit alongside the literature on the topic. A good literature review concludes by clearly demonstrating how your research will contribute something new and innovative to the conversation in the literature.

Research Design and Methods: This section needs to clearly demonstrate how the data will be gathered and analyzed in a systematic and academically sound manner. Here, you need to demonstrate that the conclusions of your research will be both valid and reliable. Common points discussed in the research design and methods section include highlighting the research paradigm, methodologies, intended population or sample to be studied, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures . Toward the end of this section, you are encouraged to also address ethical considerations and limitations of the research process , but also to explain why you chose your research design and how you are mitigating the identified risks and limitations.

Timeline: Provide an outline of the anticipated timeline for the study. Break it down into its various stages (including data collection, data analysis, and report writing). The goal of this section is firstly to establish a reasonable breakdown of steps for you to follow and secondly to demonstrate to the assessors that your project is practicable and feasible.

Budget: Estimate the costs associated with the research project and include evidence for your estimations. Typical costs include staffing costs, equipment, travel, and data collection tools. When applying for a scholarship, the budget should demonstrate that you are being responsible with your expensive and that your funding application is reasonable.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: A discussion of the anticipated findings or results of the research, as well as the potential contributions to the existing knowledge, theory, or practice in the field. This section should also address the potential impact of the research on relevant stakeholders and any broader implications for policy or practice.

References: A complete list of all the sources cited in the research proposal, formatted according to the required citation style. This demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the relevant literature and ensures proper attribution of ideas and information.

Appendices (if applicable): Any additional materials, such as questionnaires, interview guides, or consent forms, that provide further information or support for the research proposal. These materials should be included as appendices at the end of the document.

Research Proposal Examples

Research proposals often extend anywhere between 2,000 and 15,000 words in length. The following snippets are samples designed to briefly demonstrate what might be discussed in each section.

1. Education Studies Research Proposals

See some real sample pieces:

• Assessment of the perceptions of teachers towards a new grading system
• Does ICT use in secondary classrooms help or hinder student learning?
• Digital technologies in focus project
• Urban Middle School Teachers’ Experiences of the Implementation of
• Restorative Justice Practices
• Experiences of students of color in service learning

Consider this hypothetical education research proposal:

The Impact of Game-Based Learning on Student Engagement and Academic Performance in Middle School Mathematics

Abstract: The proposed study will explore multiplayer game-based learning techniques in middle school mathematics curricula and their effects on student engagement. The study aims to contribute to the current literature on game-based learning by examining the effects of multiplayer gaming in learning.

Introduction: Digital game-based learning has long been shunned within mathematics education for fears that it may distract students or lower the academic integrity of the classrooms. However, there is emerging evidence that digital games in math have emerging benefits not only for engagement but also academic skill development. Contributing to this discourse, this study seeks to explore the potential benefits of multiplayer digital game-based learning by examining its impact on middle school students’ engagement and academic performance in a mathematics class.

Literature Review: The literature review has identified gaps in the current knowledge, namely, while game-based learning has been extensively explored, the role of multiplayer games in supporting learning has not been studied.

Research Design and Methods: This study will employ a mixed-methods research design based upon action research in the classroom. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design will first be used to compare the academic performance and engagement of middle school students exposed to game-based learning techniques with those in a control group receiving instruction without the aid of technology. Students will also be observed and interviewed in regard to the effect of communication and collaboration during gameplay on their learning.

Timeline: The study will take place across the second term of the school year with a pre-test taking place on the first day of the term and the post-test taking place on Wednesday in Week 10.

Budget: The key budgetary requirements will be the technologies required, including the subscription cost for the identified games and computers.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: It is expected that the findings will contribute to the current literature on game-based learning and inform educational practices, providing educators and policymakers with insights into how to better support student achievement in mathematics.

2. Psychology Research Proposals

See some real examples:

• A situational analysis of shared leadership in a self-managing team
• The effect of musical preference on running performance
• Relationship between self-esteem and disordered eating amongst adolescent females

Consider this hypothetical psychology research proposal:

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress Reduction in College Students

Abstract: This research proposal examines the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on stress reduction among college students, using a pre-test/post-test experimental design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods .

Introduction: College students face heightened stress levels during exam weeks. This can affect both mental health and test performance. This study explores the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions such as meditation as a way to mediate stress levels in the weeks leading up to exam time.

Literature Review: Existing research on mindfulness-based meditation has shown the ability for mindfulness to increase metacognition, decrease anxiety levels, and decrease stress. Existing literature has looked at workplace, high school and general college-level applications. This study will contribute to the corpus of literature by exploring the effects of mindfulness directly in the context of exam weeks.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n= 234 ) will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, receiving 5 days per week of 10-minute mindfulness-based interventions, or a control group, receiving no intervention. Data will be collected through self-report questionnaires, measuring stress levels, semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences, and students’ test scores.

Timeline: The study will begin three weeks before the students’ exam week and conclude after each student’s final exam. Data collection will occur at the beginning (pre-test of self-reported stress levels) and end (post-test) of the three weeks.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: The study aims to provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress among college students in the lead up to exams, with potential implications for mental health support and stress management programs on college campuses.

3. Sociology Research Proposals

• Understanding emerging social movements: A case study of ‘Jersey in Transition’
• The interaction of health, education and employment in Western China
• Can we preserve lower-income affordable neighbourhoods in the face of rising costs?

Consider this hypothetical sociology research proposal:

The Impact of Social Media Usage on Interpersonal Relationships among Young Adults

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effects of social media usage on interpersonal relationships among young adults, using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach with ongoing semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data.

Introduction: Social media platforms have become a key medium for the development of interpersonal relationships, particularly for young adults. This study examines the potential positive and negative effects of social media usage on young adults’ relationships and development over time.

Literature Review: A preliminary review of relevant literature has demonstrated that social media usage is central to development of a personal identity and relationships with others with similar subcultural interests. However, it has also been accompanied by data on mental health deline and deteriorating off-screen relationships. The literature is to-date lacking important longitudinal data on these topics.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n = 454 ) will be young adults aged 18-24. Ongoing self-report surveys will assess participants’ social media usage, relationship satisfaction, and communication patterns. A subset of participants will be selected for longitudinal in-depth interviews starting at age 18 and continuing for 5 years.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of five years, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between social media usage and interpersonal relationships among young adults, potentially informing social policies and mental health support related to social media use.

4. Nursing Research Proposals

• Does Orthopaedic Pre-assessment clinic prepare the patient for admission to hospital?
• Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of providing psychological care to burns patients
• Registered psychiatric nurse’s practice with mentally ill parents and their children

Consider this hypothetical nursing research proposal:

The Influence of Nurse-Patient Communication on Patient Satisfaction and Health Outcomes following Emergency Cesarians

Abstract: This research will examines the impact of effective nurse-patient communication on patient satisfaction and health outcomes for women following c-sections, utilizing a mixed-methods approach with patient surveys and semi-structured interviews.

Introduction: It has long been known that effective communication between nurses and patients is crucial for quality care. However, additional complications arise following emergency c-sections due to the interaction between new mother’s changing roles and recovery from surgery.

Literature Review: A review of the literature demonstrates the importance of nurse-patient communication, its impact on patient satisfaction, and potential links to health outcomes. However, communication between nurses and new mothers is less examined, and the specific experiences of those who have given birth via emergency c-section are to date unexamined.

Research Design and Methods: Participants will be patients in a hospital setting who have recently had an emergency c-section. A self-report survey will assess their satisfaction with nurse-patient communication and perceived health outcomes. A subset of participants will be selected for in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and perceptions of the communication with their nurses.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including rolling recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing within the hospital.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the significance of nurse-patient communication in supporting new mothers who have had an emergency c-section. Recommendations will be presented for supporting nurses and midwives in improving outcomes for new mothers who had complications during birth.

5. Social Work Research Proposals

• Experiences of negotiating employment and caring responsibilities of fathers post-divorce
• Exploring kinship care in the north region of British Columbia

Consider this hypothetical social work research proposal:

The Role of a Family-Centered Intervention in Preventing Homelessness Among At-Risk Youthin a working-class town in Northern England

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effectiveness of a family-centered intervention provided by a local council area in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth. This case study will use a mixed-methods approach with program evaluation data and semi-structured interviews to collect quantitative and qualitative data .

Introduction: Homelessness among youth remains a significant social issue. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in addressing this problem and identify factors that contribute to successful prevention strategies.

Literature Review: A review of the literature has demonstrated several key factors contributing to youth homelessness including lack of parental support, lack of social support, and low levels of family involvement. It also demonstrates the important role of family-centered interventions in addressing this issue. Drawing on current evidence, this study explores the effectiveness of one such intervention in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth in a working-class town in Northern England.

Research Design and Methods: The study will evaluate a new family-centered intervention program targeting at-risk youth and their families. Quantitative data on program outcomes, including housing stability and family functioning, will be collected through program records and evaluation reports. Semi-structured interviews with program staff, participants, and relevant stakeholders will provide qualitative insights into the factors contributing to program success or failure.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Budget: Expenses include access to program evaluation data, interview materials, data analysis software, and any related travel costs for in-person interviews.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in preventing youth homelessness, potentially informing the expansion of or necessary changes to social work practices in Northern England.

Research Proposal Template

Get your Detailed Template for Writing your Research Proposal Here (With AI Prompts!)

This is a template for a 2500-word research proposal. You may find it difficult to squeeze everything into this wordcount, but it’s a common wordcount for Honors and MA-level dissertations.

Your research proposal is where you really get going with your study. I’d strongly recommend working closely with your teacher in developing a research proposal that’s consistent with the requirements and culture of your institution, as in my experience it varies considerably. The above template is from my own courses that walk students through research proposals in a British School of Education.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

8 thoughts on “17 Research Proposal Examples”

Very excellent research proposals

very helpful

Very helpful

Dear Sir, I need some help to write an educational research proposal. Thank you.

Hi Levi, use the site search bar to ask a question and I’ll likely have a guide already written for your specific question. Thanks for reading!

very good research proposal

Thank you so much sir! ❤️

Very helpful 👌

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Build your independent project

Main navigation.

Building on your course work or earlier research experiences, you may have an idea for an independent project in your field. It is important to consider the time scale and resources you will have to work on such a project. Begin by meeting with  faculty mentors  who have expertise on the topic. It may take time and several meetings to create a plan for success.

How to plan a successful project

Every project is unique, but successful projects have one thing in common: they are developed with the help of a faculty mentor. As you begin to plan your project, here are some things you might discuss with your mentor.

• How your idea fits within the larger framework of your faculty mentor’s research or artistic expertise
• How to focus your project idea into a well-defined topic
• What steps you will take to investigate the research question or to create your art
• What additional preparation you will need before starting the work
• How your topic relates to existing works in the field, and what additional works you should examine
• How to create a feasible timeline for the project

Build your project

• Learn about past work on your topic and build a foundation for your project.
• Develop a central idea.
• Meet with your faculty mentors to seek feedback on your ideas and guidance for next steps. (You will need to do this more than once as you develop your ideas and plan further.)
• Create a project plan and evaluate your ideas. 
• Use all this preparation to develop a grant proposal if your project requires funding. 

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The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project

Student resources.

Examples of Student Research Projects

This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by IREX.

• Fulbright DA Research Project Examples

Research Project Examples

During their three to six-month exchange program, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research (Fulbright DA) Program participants pursue individual Research Projects relevant to their own educational practice. This page includes highlights of recent Fulbrighters' work.

The categories of Inquiry Projects on this page are not exhaustive. Applicants may identify a topic or subject area relevant to their own educational practice.

Global Competence

The Share Chair Podcast: Connections Across Borders

David Theune, Fulbright DA Program to The Netherlands, 2018-2019

Singapore's Approaches to Global Competence Development

Jennifer Wu-Pope, Fulbright DA Program to Singapore, 2019-2020

The Mathematics of Human Exploration

Bryan Dickinson, Fulbright DA Program to New Zealand, 2018-2019

Breaking Through the Math Ceiling

Kelly Day, Fulbright DA Program to Finland, 2014-2015

Art and Music

Same Difference, the Mural

Sarah Cornette, Fulbright DA Program to Greece, 2018-2019

Musical Futures and El Sistema: Bridging Two Global Music Education Models to Effect Social Change

Lorrie Heagy, Fulbright DA Program to the United Kingdom, 2018-2019

Pedagogical Approaches & Learning Management

Tracking Down Equity: Finland as a Model for Detracking in American Schools

Amy Sampson, Fulbright DA Program to Finland, 2018-2019

Participatory Action Research: Examining School and Community Collaboration in India

Brinda Tahiliani, Fulbright DA Program to India, 2018-2019

Break Time and Nature in Finnish Schools

Martha Infante, Fulbright DA Program to Finland, 2017-2018

Mapping Classroom Culture

Sherri Fisher, Fulbright DA Program to Finland, 2014-2015

Language Education

Spontaneous Natural Conversation in a Second Language: Teaching and Assessing for Oral Fluency

Marcie Stutzman, Fulbright DA Program to Morocco, 2016-2017

Social Studies

Botswana: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend to Achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

Sara Damon, Fulbright DA Program to Botswana, 2018-2019

Program Resources

Explore research projects completed by alumni of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program.

Learn more by visiting the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website .

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] .

Because of the program, I collaborate with teachers all over the world.

Cristi Marchetti, English Teacher, New York

Education During Coronavirus

A Smithsonian magazine special report

Science | June 15, 2020

Seventy-Five Scientific Research Projects You Can Contribute to Online

From astrophysicists to entomologists, many researchers need the help of citizen scientists to sift through immense data collections

Rachael Lallensack

Former Assistant Editor, Science and Innovation

If you find yourself tired of streaming services, reading the news or video-chatting with friends, maybe you should consider becoming a citizen scientist. Though it’s true that many field research projects are paused , hundreds of scientists need your help sifting through wildlife camera footage and images of galaxies far, far away, or reading through diaries and field notes from the past.

Plenty of these tools are free and easy enough for children to use. You can look around for projects yourself on Smithsonian Institution’s citizen science volunteer page , National Geographic ’s list of projects and CitizenScience.gov ’s catalog of options. Zooniverse is a platform for online-exclusive projects , and Scistarter allows you to restrict your search with parameters, including projects you can do “on a walk,” “at night” or “on a lunch break.”

To save you some time, Smithsonian magazine has compiled a collection of dozens of projects you can take part in from home.

American Wildlife

If being home has given you more time to look at wildlife in your own backyard, whether you live in the city or the country, consider expanding your view, by helping scientists identify creatures photographed by camera traps. Improved battery life, motion sensors, high-resolution and small lenses have made camera traps indispensable tools for conservation.These cameras capture thousands of images that provide researchers with more data about ecosystems than ever before.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s eMammal platform , for example, asks users to identify animals for conservation projects around the country. Currently, eMammal is being used by the Woodland Park Zoo ’s Seattle Urban Carnivore Project, which studies how coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats and other animals coexist with people, and the Washington Wolverine Project, an effort to monitor wolverines in the face of climate change. Identify urban wildlife for the Chicago Wildlife Watch , or contribute to wilderness projects documenting North American biodiversity with The Wilds' Wildlife Watch in Ohio , Cedar Creek: Eyes on the Wild in Minnesota , Michigan ZoomIN , Western Montana Wildlife and Snapshot Wisconsin .

"Spend your time at home virtually exploring the Minnesota backwoods,” writes the lead researcher of the Cedar Creek: Eyes on the Wild project. “Help us understand deer dynamics, possum populations, bear behavior, and keep your eyes peeled for elusive wolves!"

If being cooped up at home has you daydreaming about traveling, Snapshot Safari has six active animal identification projects. Try eyeing lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, elephants, giraffes, baobab trees and over 400 bird species from camera trap photos taken in South African nature reserves, including De Hoop Nature Reserve and Madikwe Game Reserve .

With South Sudan DiversityCam , researchers are using camera traps to study biodiversity in the dense tropical forests of southwestern South Sudan. Part of the Serenegeti Lion Project, Snapshot Serengeti needs the help of citizen scientists to classify millions of camera trap images of species traveling with the wildebeest migration.

Classify all kinds of monkeys with Chimp&See . Count, identify and track giraffes in northern Kenya . Watering holes host all kinds of wildlife, but that makes the locales hotspots for parasite transmission; Parasite Safari needs volunteers to help figure out which animals come in contact with each other and during what time of year.

Mount Taranaki in New Zealand is a volcanic peak rich in native vegetation, but native wildlife, like the North Island brown kiwi, whio/blue duck and seabirds, are now rare—driven out by introduced predators like wild goats, weasels, stoats, possums and rats. Estimate predator species compared to native wildlife with Taranaki Mounga by spotting species on camera trap images.

The Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Instant Wild app has a dozen projects showcasing live images and videos of wildlife around the world. Look for bears, wolves and lynx in Croatia ; wildcats in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula ; otters in Hampshire, England ; and both black and white rhinos in the Lewa-Borana landscape in Kenya.

Under the Sea

Researchers use a variety of technologies to learn about marine life and inform conservation efforts. Take, for example, Beluga Bits , a research project focused on determining the sex, age and pod size of beluga whales visiting the Churchill River in northern Manitoba, Canada. With a bit of training, volunteers can learn how to differentiate between a calf, a subadult (grey) or an adult (white)—and even identify individuals using scars or unique pigmentation—in underwater videos and images. Beluga Bits uses a “ beluga boat ,” which travels around the Churchill River estuary with a camera underneath it, to capture the footage and collect GPS data about the whales’ locations.

Many of these online projects are visual, but Manatee Chat needs citizen scientists who can train their ear to decipher manatee vocalizations. Researchers are hoping to learn what calls the marine mammals make and when—with enough practice you might even be able to recognize the distinct calls of individual animals.

Several groups are using drone footage to monitor seal populations. Seals spend most of their time in the water, but come ashore to breed. One group, Seal Watch , is analyzing time-lapse photography and drone images of seals in the British territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. A team in Antarctica captured images of Weddell seals every ten minutes while the seals were on land in spring to have their pups. The Weddell Seal Count project aims to find out what threats—like fishing and climate change—the seals face by monitoring changes in their population size. Likewise, the Año Nuevo Island - Animal Count asks volunteers to count elephant seals, sea lions, cormorants and more species on a remote research island off the coast of California.

With Floating Forests , you’ll sift through 40 years of satellite images of the ocean surface identifying kelp forests, which are foundational for marine ecosystems, providing shelter for shrimp, fish and sea urchins. A project based in southwest England, Seagrass Explorer , is investigating the decline of seagrass beds. Researchers are using baited cameras to spot commercial fish in these habitats as well as looking out for algae to study the health of these threatened ecosystems. Search for large sponges, starfish and cold-water corals on the deep seafloor in Sweden’s first marine park with the Koster seafloor observatory project.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center needs your help spotting invasive species with Invader ID . Train your eye to spot groups of organisms, known as fouling communities, that live under docks and ship hulls, in an effort to clean up marine ecosystems.

If art history is more your speed, two Dutch art museums need volunteers to start “ fishing in the past ” by analyzing a collection of paintings dating from 1500 to 1700. Each painting features at least one fish, and an interdisciplinary research team of biologists and art historians wants you to identify the species of fish to make a clearer picture of the “role of ichthyology in the past.”

Interesting Insects

Notes from Nature is a digitization effort to make the vast resources in museums’ archives of plants and insects more accessible. Similarly, page through the University of California Berkeley’s butterfly collection on CalBug to help researchers classify these beautiful critters. The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology has already digitized about 300,000 records, but their collection exceeds 4 million bugs. You can hop in now and transcribe their grasshopper archives from the last century . Parasitic arthropods, like mosquitos and ticks, are known disease vectors; to better locate these critters, the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project is working with 22 collections and institutions to digitize over 1.2 million specimens—and they’re 95 percent done . If you can tolerate mosquito buzzing for a prolonged period of time, the HumBug project needs volunteers to train its algorithm and develop real-time mosquito detection using acoustic monitoring devices. It’s for the greater good!

For the Birders

Birdwatching is one of the most common forms of citizen science . Seeing birds in the wilderness is certainly awe-inspiring, but you can birdwatch from your backyard or while walking down the sidewalk in big cities, too. With Cornell University’s eBird app , you can contribute to bird science at any time, anywhere. (Just be sure to remain a safe distance from wildlife—and other humans, while we social distance ). If you have safe access to outdoor space—a backyard, perhaps—Cornell also has a NestWatch program for people to report observations of bird nests. Smithsonian’s Migratory Bird Center has a similar Neighborhood Nest Watch program as well.

Birdwatching is easy enough to do from any window, if you’re sheltering at home, but in case you lack a clear view, consider these online-only projects. Nest Quest currently has a robin database that needs volunteer transcribers to digitize their nest record cards.

You can also pitch in on a variety of efforts to categorize wildlife camera images of burrowing owls , pelicans , penguins (new data coming soon!), and sea birds . Watch nest cam footage of the northern bald ibis or greylag geese on NestCams to help researchers learn about breeding behavior.

Or record the coloration of gorgeous feathers across bird species for researchers at London’s Natural History Museum with Project Plumage .

Pretty Plants

If you’re out on a walk wondering what kind of plants are around you, consider downloading Leafsnap , an electronic field guide app developed by Columbia University, the University of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution. The app has several functions. First, it can be used to identify plants with its visual recognition software. Secondly, scientists can learn about the “ the ebb and flow of flora ” from geotagged images taken by app users.

What is older than the dinosaurs, survived three mass extinctions and still has a living relative today? Ginko trees! Researchers at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History are studying ginko trees and fossils to understand millions of years of plant evolution and climate change with the Fossil Atmospheres project . Using Zooniverse, volunteers will be trained to identify and count stomata, which are holes on a leaf’s surface where carbon dioxide passes through. By counting these holes, or quantifying the stomatal index, scientists can learn how the plants adapted to changing levels of carbon dioxide. These results will inform a field experiment conducted on living trees in which a scientist is adjusting the level of carbon dioxide for different groups.

Help digitize and categorize millions of botanical specimens from natural history museums, research institutions and herbaria across the country with the Notes from Nature Project . Did you know North America is home to a variety of beautiful orchid species? Lend botanists a handby typing handwritten labels on pressed specimens or recording their geographic and historic origins for the New York Botanical Garden’s archives. Likewise, the Southeastern U.S. Biodiversity project needs assistance labeling pressed poppies, sedums, valerians, violets and more. Groups in California , Arkansas , Florida , Texas and Oklahoma all invite citizen scientists to partake in similar tasks.

Historic Women in Astronomy

Become a transcriber for Project PHaEDRA and help researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics preserve the work of Harvard’s women “computers” who revolutionized astronomy in the 20th century. These women contributed more than 130 years of work documenting the night sky, cataloging stars, interpreting stellar spectra, counting galaxies, and measuring distances in space, according to the project description .

More than 2,500 notebooks need transcription on Project PhaEDRA - Star Notes . You could start with Annie Jump Cannon , for example. In 1901, Cannon designed a stellar classification system that astronomers still use today. Cecilia Payne discovered that stars are made primarily of hydrogen and helium and can be categorized by temperature. Two notebooks from Henrietta Swan Leavitt are currently in need of transcription. Leavitt, who was deaf, discovered the link between period and luminosity in Cepheid variables, or pulsating stars, which “led directly to the discovery that the Universe is expanding,” according to her bio on Star Notes .

Volunteers are also needed to transcribe some of these women computers’ notebooks that contain references to photographic glass plates . These plates were used to study space from the 1880s to the 1990s. For example, in 1890, Williamina Flemming discovered the Horsehead Nebula on one of these plates . With Star Notes, you can help bridge the gap between “modern scientific literature and 100 years of astronomical observations,” according to the project description . Star Notes also features the work of Cannon, Leavitt and Dorrit Hoffleit , who authored the fifth edition of the Bright Star Catalog, which features 9,110 of the brightest stars in the sky.

Microscopic Musings

Electron microscopes have super-high resolution and magnification powers—and now, many can process images automatically, allowing teams to collect an immense amount of data. Francis Crick Institute’s Etch A Cell - Powerhouse Hunt project trains volunteers to spot and trace each cell’s mitochondria, a process called manual segmentation. Manual segmentation is a major bottleneck to completing biological research because using computer systems to complete the work is still fraught with errors and, without enough volunteers, doing this work takes a really long time.

For the Monkey Health Explorer project, researchers studying the social behavior of rhesus monkeys on the tiny island Cayo Santiago off the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico need volunteers to analyze the monkeys’ blood samples. Doing so will help the team understand which monkeys are sick and which are healthy, and how the animals’ health influences behavioral changes.

Using the Zooniverse’s app on a phone or tablet, you can become a “ Science Scribbler ” and assist researchers studying how Huntington disease may change a cell’s organelles. The team at the United Kingdom's national synchrotron , which is essentially a giant microscope that harnesses the power of electrons, has taken highly detailed X-ray images of the cells of Huntington’s patients and needs help identifying organelles, in an effort to see how the disease changes their structure.

Oxford University’s Comprehensive Resistance Prediction for Tuberculosis: an International Consortium—or CRyPTIC Project , for short, is seeking the aid of citizen scientists to study over 20,000 TB infection samples from around the world. CRyPTIC’s citizen science platform is called Bash the Bug . On the platform, volunteers will be trained to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics on a given sample. Each evaluation will be checked by a scientist for accuracy and then used to train a computer program, which may one day make this process much faster and less labor intensive.

Out of This World

If you’re interested in contributing to astronomy research from the comfort and safety of your sidewalk or backyard, check out Globe at Night . The project monitors light pollution by asking users to try spotting constellations in the night sky at designated times of the year . (For example, Northern Hemisphere dwellers should look for the Bootes and Hercules constellations from June 13 through June 22 and record the visibility in Globe at Night’s app or desktop report page .)

For the amateur astrophysicists out there, the opportunities to contribute to science are vast. NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission is asking for volunteers to search for new objects at the edges of our solar system with the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project .

Galaxy Zoo on Zooniverse and its mobile app has operated online citizen science projects for the past decade. According to the project description, there are roughly one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe. Surprisingly, identifying different types of galaxies by their shape is rather easy. “If you're quick, you may even be the first person to see the galaxies you're asked to classify,” the team writes.

With Radio Galaxy Zoo: LOFAR , volunteers can help identify supermassive blackholes and star-forming galaxies. Galaxy Zoo: Clump Scout asks users to look for young, “clumpy” looking galaxies, which help astronomers understand galaxy evolution.

If current events on Earth have you looking to Mars, perhaps you’d be interested in checking out Planet Four and Planet Four: Terrains —both of which task users with searching and categorizing landscape formations on Mars’ southern hemisphere. You’ll scroll through images of the Martian surface looking for terrain types informally called “spiders,” “baby spiders,” “channel networks” and “swiss cheese.”

Gravitational waves are telltale ripples in spacetime, but they are notoriously difficult to measure. With Gravity Spy , citizen scientists sift through data from Laser Interferometer Gravitational­-Wave Observatory, or LIGO , detectors. When lasers beamed down 2.5-mile-long “arms” at these facilities in Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington are interrupted, a gravitational wave is detected. But the detectors are sensitive to “glitches” that, in models, look similar to the astrophysical signals scientists are looking for. Gravity Spy teaches citizen scientists how to identify fakes so researchers can get a better view of the real deal. This work will, in turn, train computer algorithms to do the same.

Similarly, the project Supernova Hunters needs volunteers to clear out the “bogus detections of supernovae,” allowing researchers to track the progression of actual supernovae. In Hubble Space Telescope images, you can search for asteroid tails with Hubble Asteroid Hunter . And with Planet Hunters TESS , which teaches users to identify planetary formations, you just “might be the first person to discover a planet around a nearby star in the Milky Way,” according to the project description.

Help astronomers refine prediction models for solar storms, which kick up dust that impacts spacecraft orbiting the sun, with Solar Stormwatch II. Thanks to the first iteration of the project, astronomers were able to publish seven papers with their findings.

With Mapping Historic Skies , identify constellations on gorgeous celestial maps of the sky covering a span of 600 years from the Adler Planetarium collection in Chicago. Similarly, help fill in the gaps of historic astronomy with Astronomy Rewind , a project that aims to “make a holistic map of images of the sky.”

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Rachael Lallensack | READ MORE

Rachael Lallensack is the former assistant web editor for science and innovation at Smithsonian .

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MSc individual research project

MSc Individual Research Project

Project aims and deliverables.

The aims of undertaking an individual research project are to give you: 

• an opportunity to carry out research to deepen your knowledge and develop your skills regarding an area in which you have a special interest
• an opportunity to develop your skills regarding report writing and presentations
• experience of managing a project

You should contact your supervisor every week or so, perhaps just by email, to report your progress. It is wise to type up your work as you do it. This will help you when you have to write reports, including your final report. In addition, it gives you something to show your supervisor and will help monitoring your progress and rapid detection of any errors. Bear your deadlines for deliverables in mind throughout the project. If you have any serious problems with your project, please inform the MSc Programme Director.

Deliverables 

• an initial written report covering the background, specification and milestones for your project. This is an unassessed 1-2 page compulsory submission giving the aims and objectives of the project, a literature review and contents page. Its purpose is to ensure all students are engaged with their project work. 
• a high-quality final technical report
• a poster presentation on the project

Project schedule 2023-2024

Main work on Individual Research Project with the following submission deadlines and skills training: between last week of May and first week of September.

• 6th November – all project proposals from staff  posted on lists .
• 13th November – meetings with supervisors to discuss proposals and to be signed off as suitable.
• 7th December 14:00 – deadline for submission of 1st round selection project preference. For those not obtaining 1 st round projects, 2 nd round will be in the following week
• Initial work on the project to take place part-time throughout the Spring Term:
• Submission of Initial Project Report: Monday 11 March 2024 by 4pm
• Full-time work on the project starts after the last exam (usually by late May) and ends mid September. Students must maintain on campus attendance during this period. Remote project work is not allowed. 

Support sessions  available throughout the year:

• Preparing for your MSc Project (run Central Library) - 13:00-14:30 on Wed 17th January '24 and 12:00-13:30 on Wed 22nd May '24. You only need to attend one of the sessions.
• Webinar: Presenting your Research by Poster (run by Graduate school) - 19 June 2024, 10:00-11:30, Read Lecture theater, Sherfield building. Book our spot via  Inkpath by 26th April 2024. 
• Turnitin Library Session: TBA, Room 408

Submission deadlines

• Electronic Version of Poster:  Thur 5th September 2024 by 4pm
• Final Project Report: Thur 12th September 2024 by 4pm

Poster Presentation : Monday 16th September 2024; 11:00-13:00 - 14:00-16:00

Your MSc will be allocated a time slot closer to the presentation date .

Selection and allocation of projects

Project proposals by staff will be issued by mid-November for you to make an  online selection.

A project may consist of, for example, an integrating review, the use of existing theory for some particular application, investigation of design techniques, a detailed extension of existing theory or a deeper investigation into a laboratory experiment. While new concepts are not required from students, originality of presentation and evidence of understanding in depth are required. 

Proposing your own project 

Students wishing to propose their own projects should send an initial draft proposal to their MSc Course Director by the end of October. The Course Director will then attempt to find a supervisor for the proposal who (if necessary) will collaborate with the student to prepare, by the middle of November, an acceptable proposal related to the proposal submitted.

If you are considering a project in industry, so an external project, please read the notes within this page about exernal projects. 

Allocation of projects

The aim is to allocate projects around the first week of December, so that students can start part-time work on the project fairly early in the Spring term.

Any student who has developed (perhaps with the help of a member of staff) a satisfactory self-proposed project will be allocated that project. Students will be allocated a project (if possible their first choice) via a web-based system.

The secenario for students wishing to do an external project is more complicated. Once a student has found an external project that is acceptable to the Programme Director, negotiations regarding the legal agreement sometimes continue until a few days before the project is scheduled to start in the external organisation (normally in late May). In these cases, we shall try to allocate work related to the external project which can be begun at the start of the Spring term and which can form a back-up project in case the negotiations fail.

Ordering Hardware for your project

Please review the  Project Ordering Procedure  for more information on ordering hardware for your project.

‌Orders will need to be placed via the  Stores online Order Form from College’s preferred supplier list.  Watch a video on how to complete the stores ordering form .

‌ Expense Claims

Writing and submitting Initial Project report and Final Project report

Please submit your electronic MSc Initial Project Report in a PDF format by 4:00pm, Monday 11th March 2024.

The maximum length of the report is 2 pages and this should summarise the aims of the project, some background material and relevant references. Submission of the report is compulsory, but the report itself is not assessed and is only used for us to identify potential critical cases and make sure that all students are engaged with their project work.

Final MSc Project reports must be submitted in pdf format by 16:00 BST, Thursday 12 September 2024.

• Initial Project instructions
• MSc Poster Submission Instructions
• Read a comprehensive guide to the layout and content of reports
• MSc Project report template  (latex). Simply click on “Open as Template”. This will open the file in your Overleaf account to be edited. Imperial College provides a Premium overleaf account to anyone with an Imperial email. More information about the Premium account is available here  https://www.overleaf.com/edu/imperial
• MSc Project Submission Instructions

Please see Centre for Academic English webpage to see the various support sessions they offer to help you communicate your research.

Poster presentations

Projects will be partly assessed by poster presentation sessions. During the Poster Sessions you should be prepared to explain your project, and answer any questions, to members of the academic staff . The weighting of this presentation session (and/or interview) will be 15% of the overall project mark. 

• Please submit your FINAL electronic MSc poster as a PDF file by 16:00 (BST), Thursday 5 September 2024.
• MSc Poster Submission Instrcutions (to be updated) via the app
• MSc poster template. Please use the Imperial College A1 portrait research poster template ,  Downloadable template and guidance.
• Poster Presentations will take place  16th September in the College Main Entrance 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00 - your MSc time slot will be assigned closer to the presentation date

Presentation skills

Students will attend a mandatory presentation skills course. The session will not be recorded.

Mastering Presentations: Presenting your Research by Poster - Wednesday 19th June 2024, 11.00-12.30. Book our spot via Inkpath.  

Project Assessment

Your project will be assessed by your supervisor and a further examiner and has the following weighting - 85% report and 15% poster presentation.  The following aspects of your project will be taken into account. 

• Your performance regarding: Project management, Understanding of the background and context, Initiative, Perseverance in dealing with difficulties, Theoretical, computational and practical achievements
• The technical content of your  report
• The size and quality of the part of your project report that could be published in a reputable conference proceedings or journal
• Any special factors contributing to performance on the project
• (in the case of external projects) the  report(s) from the external organisation

 The Programme Director will moderate all the project marks to try to ensure consistency of marking.  An External Examiner (from another university) helps to oversee this process. 

This  MSc project assessment table  gives an indication of the requirements for a report of pass quality, of merit quality and of distinction quality.

Plagiarism and your project

The College's formal position on examination offences is detailed in the Cheating Offences Policy and Procedures, which lists what the College categorises as cheating and thus completely unacceptable.

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's thoughts, words or images and diagrams as though they were your own, and is a form of cheating. This must be avoided, with particular care in coursework, essays, reports and projects written in your own time and also in open and closed book written examinations. 

You must read and understand what constitutes plagiarism when preparing your project report. You should also have completed  Ensusring Integrity I: Plagiarism Awareness (Master's Students) by 31st October.

The procedures can be found at  Plagiarism, Academic Integrity & Exam Offenses section .

Please read the  Department Plagiarism Committee Basic Principles in Assessed Coursework .

Definition and more information can be found on Library's dedicated Plagiarism Awareness for Master's students  webpage. 

Use of conversational AI tools

We would like to share with you our department’s guidance regarding the use of conversational AI tools like ChatGPT. Such tools can provide great opportunities to enhance your learning, but also can lead to undesirable results given misuse or poor understanding of their limitations.  

 The Department sees value on the use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in the preparation of submitted work. It is expected that all primary sources used in the submission must be cited - such primary sources do not include AI tools. You should be aware that you will be thoroughly examined on the understanding of what you have written and that examiners attach great importance to the coherence of your submitted work. 

Please be aware that: 

• ChatGPT provides relatively low-level text where, although the text makes sense, it misses the depth of understanding that is expected to be present in your work, and it is prone to providing wrong information.  
• Presenting work as if it were your own is plagiarism and is a form of cheating. This includes AI-generated content.   

The College has established a working group to explore the opportunities and implications that these tools can offer in your education, and we are waiting to see their findings. Their current guidance can be found on the  conversational AI tools webpage

updated 25 May 2023 to include information on conversational AI tools

Important note on external projects

Students wishing to carry out their project as an intern with a suitable company should contact the Programme Director by the end of October. Such projects will be called external projects. They can only be undertaken with the permission of the Course Director. An academic supervisor from Imperial College will be allocated and the student must keep in contact with the academic supervisor by email throughout the project. The external organisation must sign an agreement with the College and the student.

Undertaking an external project is, in general, more risky than undertaking a project within the department owing to the increased uncertainty of all aspects the project, however it can be useful experience.

Projects as interns in industry

We do not have a system for finding such projects for you, however, students from French Universities can usually use the systems provided by their universities. Sometimes students find projects using the web. Once a student has found a project offered by a company, please submit the details to the Programme Director. If it is acceptable, a legal agreement has to be formulated and signed by the company, Imperial College and the student before the student can start the project. An essential condition of the agreement is that the report on the project must be put in the public domain, by being entered into the College Library, within a maximum of two years of submission of the report. Any delay must be approved by the College before the project is begun.

Not surprisingly, companies might be reluctant to sign such an agreement and negotiations regarding such agreements sometimes continue until a few days before the project is scheduled to start (normally in late May). Students need to inform the company immediately of the need to sign such an agreement and the condition on the project report going into the public domain because it is best to determine as soon as possible whether the company will be able to accept these conditions. An electronic version of the document can be downloaded from the MSc web-page for sending to the company concerned. It is essential to keep the Course Director informed of all activity concerned with trying to find a suitable internship.

Useful links and samples of past projects

• Online project selection and allocation
• Project and Poster submission  (includes Turnitin)
• MSc Project report template  (latex). Simply click on “Open as Template”. This will open the file in your Overleaf account to be edited. Imperial College provides a Premium overleaf account to anyone with an Imperial email. More information about the Premium account is available here https://www.overleaf.com/edu/imperial
• Examples of highly-rated past projects

Library Support

The Library runs practical support sessions to help with the literature review/writing part of your project, covering:

•             Advanced search tools to find research papers

•             Use of reference management software (Refworks)  to collect reference details and automatically generate your reference lists

•             Reference management for LaTeX users using BibTeX 

The above topics will be covered in Preparing for your MSc Project session in Jan & May 2022. See your Calendar.

The above topics will be covered in  Preparing for your MSc Project  sessions

Plagiarism and mandatory course online

All MSc Students must do an online Plagiarism Course (find out more  here ) The deadline for completing the online plagiarism course for MSc students is  31 October . Your results will be withheld if you do not complete this course.

Plagiarism will usually be detected  (we have electronic systems such as Turnitin which can do this) and will normally result in failure of the project and degree. MSc dissertations are assessed in part on your ability critically to appraise the literature. That will normally be exhibited in the background Chapter(s).

A note on using quotations: Where another author has put all that you wish to say in an acceptable manner, it is then appropriate to quote him verbatim, but please see the information on Plagiarism on the main project page. You should indicate that it is a quotation, by using inverted commas ("...") around quoted phrases. A good approach is to indent the quoted passage - this is particularly so when it is a lengthy quote. Remember to give the reference to the original work and the author! Figures taken from other work should also be acknowledged by giving the reference (page numbers to be included whenever possible).

Bibliography/ references

The  bibliography  consists of a list of all the books, articles, manuals etc. used in the project and referred to in the dissertation. You should provide enough information to allow the reader to find the source. You should give the full title and author and should state where it is published, including full issue number and date, and page numbers where necessary. In the case of a text book you should quote the name of the publisher, place of publicationBe consistent in the way that you write them and give all necessary details, so that the references can be easily located e.g.

1) J.E. Carroll, “Technical Writes and Wrongs”, Electronics and Power , vol. 25, no.4 pp.256-258, April 1979, doi:10.1049/ep.1979.0166.

2) J. van Emden and J. Easteal, “Dear Sir or Madam”, Electronics and Power , Vol. 31, no.4, pp. 291-294, April 1985, doi: 10.1049/ep.1985.0187

The bibliography should contain keys to allow specific references where appropriate. Use numeric [1] or AuthorDate [Cla06] keys. RefWorks is a web-based reference management tool that will maintain bibliographic references automatically. It can be integrated with Word and you can edit/export references in BibTeX format to use with LaTeX. Manual references are also fine and may be more appropriate given the time constraints of the project. For more help with referencing, please see the Library webpage and speak to your EEE Librarian.

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Data Science: Guide for Independent Projects

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• Working with Python
• Working with R
• Version control & GitHub

Introduction

Getting started, guided projects, starting projects from scratch, project examples for beginners, more advanced projects, portfolio examples.

• Finding Data This link opens in a new window
• Data Visualization This link opens in a new window
• Other Library Resources This link opens in a new window

Many data science students eventually want to undertake an independent or personal side project. This guide is intended to provide resources for these types of project. This is  not  necessarily intended to provide guidance for course projects, internship deliverables, or other formalized projects. Rather, this is to help you, as a data science student, get a little extra experience working with data. 

The benefits of these types of projects are three-fold: (1) apply what you've learned in your coursework to a new topic, testing your knowledge (2) learn new skills, including new Python or R packages and other platforms/tools, and (3) produce an output you can put on your resume. If you get really into your project, you can also consider turning it into a guest blog post on a data science site, or otherwise sharing your work with a broader audience.

Still not sure? Use the choice wheels below to help brainstorm a project topic.

• Pick a topic area For example, maybe you want to do a project related to sports, or social media, or biology. If you're not sure, or don't have a preference, use this spinning wheel to help you pick a topic area.
• Pick a data science task Data science projects often focus on a specific task, for instance classification, regression, clustering, or others.
• Pick a data type One way to pick a project is to think about what kind of data you want practice working with. For instance, do you want to practice working with numeric data, or text data? Or maybe you want to practice your data science skills with image data?
• Pick an additional tool or approach This wheel includes a selection of tools, methods, or approaches often used in data science project, such as: API queries, recommender systems, sentiment analysis, and more.
• Pick a random keyword Spin to get a random keyword to help further brainstorm your topic. For instance, if you want to practice classification (task) using tabular data (type) for transportation (area), and incorporate sentiment analysis (additional tool) could you tie this to your chosen keyword? Consider: is there a way to incorporate, say, political preferences based on vote data, with voter sentiment towards expanded highway infrastructure? Or maybe classifying preferences for electric vehicles by median income by Census block, rates of homeowners insurance, or other of these keywords?

Maybe you're not ready to start a project entirely from scratch. That's fine! These links have examples of more guided projects: they provide a dataset, a general question, and either tutorials or hints about what packages and analyses you'll need to use. Think of these are "training wheels projects": they are a way to build your confidence and help you get comfortable with outside class projects.

• 24 data science projects to boost knowledge and skills These projects are split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, with links to tutorials and where to download the data in question.
• 12 Data Science Projects for Beginners and Experts This site presents data science projects in R and Python with source code and data. Areas of project include text analysis, recommender systems, deep learning, supervised and unsupervised machine learning.
• 8 fun machine learning projects for beginners Machine learning is a popular topic with data science students, and these projects provide a semi-guided way to practice your skills.

Make use of the other resources in this guide!  Check out the " Working with Python " and " Working with R " tabs for information about data analysis and visualization packages. Read through the " Version Control & GitHub " tab for additional information about working with Git and how to properly structure a GitHub repository. The " Finding Data & Statistics " tab redirects to a full guide to help with finding data sources and the " Data Visualization " tab will send you to additional resources about data visualization, including best practices.

• Project inspiration It can be hard to know how to get started with an independent data science project. Fortunately, there are quite a few websites to pursue for examples and inspiration.
• Getting started for beginners Starting with visualization is great advice.
• Options for projects This guide to building a data science portfolio also offers a good overview of different kinds of projects possible: data cleaning, data storytelling, an "end to end" project, and an explanatory project. Picking what kind of project you'd like to undertake is a good start.
• Guide to starting a data science project You won't need to write a formal proposal (since this is your personal project, you can work on whatever you want), but the other steps in this guide are applicable.
• Scoping a project This guide to scoping a data science project is more detailed than necessary for a personal side project, but the takeaways are good (define the goal, determine data needs, determine analysis needed).
• Project style guide Remember: how you put together your project is as important as your project topic! This guide is definitely worth reading.
• Data science project template From Cookiecutter Data Science: "A logical, reasonably standardized, but flexible project structure for doing and sharing data science work."

Sometimes, you want to look at fully formed examples to get an idea of what you can do for your own project. Here are some examples of data science (or at least, data science-ish) projects suitable for lower division data science students: the projects use available data, (mostly) make the underlying code public, produce effective/interesting visuals, and are easy to read through. These examples also span a range of project options, such as making a tutorial for popular/frequently used datasets, learning new techniques, scraping your own data, or digging into a big dataset.

• Kaggle Titanic tutorial One way to approach a data science side project is to write up your workflow/results as a tutorial for other people to use. This has multiple benefits: it helps you organize your thoughts, forces you to be explicit about your data wrangling and modeling, and adds your own personal touch when working with popular, frequently used datasets.
• Visualize Spotify This project visualizes attributes of songs (beats per minute, loudness, length, etc.) from one of this person's Spotify playlists. There is a link in the post to a GitHub repository which includes the data, scripts, notebooks, and figures.
• Text mining The Office This project uses text mining techniques on a dataset of every line from the TV series The Office. Note the cleaning steps to get the data ready for analysis!
• Tracking emerging slang This project uses Google Trends data to track where new slang comes from (spatially and temporally). Could you recreate a similar analysis using Python? What other questions could you ask with Google Trends data?
• Recipe recommendations API This project consists of three parts: scraping recipe data, building recommender models and building an API to be hosted on a web server. How might results change with different recipe data?
• Video game sales This project using video game data relies heavily on data visualization. This example uses R, but consider: could you make similar plots in Python? What about PowerBI or Tableau?
• Movie genre prediction This project uses elements of movie posters to predict movie genres using convolutional neural networks (CNN). The code is already available, making this a good project to practice looking through and understanding code written by someone else. What parts of the code are understandable based on prior coursework? Are there Python libraries used that are new to you?
• Football (soccer) match outcome prediction Projects with this data predict the probability of match outcomes for each target class (home team wins, away (opponent) team wins and draw). This project includes dealing with missing and imbalanced data. A more detailed evaluation of various models can be found in this notebook . Try adapting this workflow to data from other sports of your choice!

Also consider reaching out to your fellow data science students about forming a group to work on an independent project. Group projects are a great way to develop important skills such as code collaboration (particularly using GitHub) and project workflow management. Working with a group also provides a built-in network for brainstorming ideas, troubleshooting code errors, and formalizing your project. Plus, it can be more motivating to work in a group, since you're relying on each other to make progress.

Alternatively, if you prefer to work on your own project, it would still be valuable to reach out to other people for code review . Reviewing someone else's code is a useful learning exercise, and having your own code reviewed by your peers is a good way to make sure you don't have any mistakes in your code. 

• Using Common Crawl data The Common Crawl corpus contains petabytes of data and is available on Amazon S3. It contains raw web page data, extracted metadata and text extractions collected since 2008. The Common Crawl site includes tutorials and example projects using this data. This is a good dataset to use for a project if you want experience working with truly big data, navigating the Amazon web ecosystem, and using data mining techniques at scale.
• Wayback Machine (archived web pages) Historical web page captures of sites are available via the Wayback Machine and can be extracted and analyzed with Python in a multistep process. more... less... The UC San Diego Library maintains a campus web archiving program to capture web sites relevant to the UCSD community. This presentation from UC Love Data Week 2023 demonstrates an example workflow for accessing and analyzing data in one of these web archive collections.
• Papers with Code Papers with Code is free and open resource with Machine Learning papers, code, datasets, methods and evaluation tables. Browse by data type and task/method; most of the datasets and code examples are linked to associated peer reviewed publications. Publications here are beyond the scope of most personal projects, but this site is a good central hub for learning more about cutting edge (and classic) data science methods and models. A potential project would be to try implementing one of the methods/models, which requires learning new packages/functions (reading documentation), benchmarking and assessment, and interpreting technical results.
• Previous DSC capstone projects This page includes links to past DSC capstone (180AB) projects. These represent multi-quarter projects, not personal projects, but they provide a good overview of the types of topics and methods found in many advanced personal projects.

When working on a personal project, you are building your data science portfolio , a public collection of your work you can share with future employers.

Having a well-organized GitHub with each project in its own repository is a great start to building your data science portfolio. You may eventually decide to create your own website. The format of your portfolio may vary; the important thing to keep in mind is that this is a way to showcase your work.

For an in-depth guide to developing your data science portfolio, check out this site from UC Davis DataLab .  

• "Data Projects" section from  Scott Cole's personal website
• Cultureplot , by Oliver Gladfelter 
• Kaylin Pavlik's site
• Sajal Sharma’s site
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Home » How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

Table of Contents

How To Write a Research Proposal

Writing a Research proposal involves several steps to ensure a well-structured and comprehensive document. 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. Introduction:

• Provide an introduction to your research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance.
• Clearly state the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Discuss the background and context of the study, including previous research in the field.

3. Research Objectives

• Outline the specific objectives or aims of your research. These objectives should be clear, achievable, and aligned with the research problem.

4. Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings, identify gaps, and highlight how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge.

5. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to employ to address your research objectives.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques you will use.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate and suitable for your research.

6. Timeline:

• Create a timeline or schedule that outlines the major milestones and activities of your research project.
• Break down the research process into smaller tasks and estimate the time required for each task.

7. Resources:

• Identify the resources needed for your research, such as access to specific databases, equipment, or funding.
• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources to carry out your research effectively.

8. Ethical Considerations:

• Discuss any ethical issues that may arise during your research and explain how you plan to address them.
• If your research involves human subjects, explain how you will ensure their informed consent and privacy.

9. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

• Clearly state the expected outcomes or results of your research.
• Highlight the potential impact and significance of your research in advancing knowledge or addressing practical issues.

10. References:

• Provide a list of all the references cited in your proposal, following a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

11. Appendices:

• Include any additional supporting materials, such as survey questionnaires, interview guides, or data analysis plans.

Research Proposal Format

The format of a research proposal may vary depending on the specific requirements of the institution or funding agency. However, the following is a commonly used format for a research proposal:

1. Title Page:

• Include the title of your research proposal, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the date.

2. Abstract:

• Provide a brief summary of your research proposal, highlighting the research problem, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Introduce the research topic and provide background information.
• State the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Explain the significance and relevance of the research.
• Review relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings and identify gaps in the existing knowledge.
• Explain how your research will contribute to filling those gaps.

5. Research Objectives:

• Clearly state the specific objectives or aims of your research.
• Ensure that the objectives are clear, focused, and aligned with the research problem.

6. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to use.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for your research.

7. Timeline:

8. Resources:

• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources effectively.

9. Ethical Considerations:

• If applicable, explain how you will ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of research participants.

10. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

11. References:

12. Appendices:

Research Proposal Template

Here’s a template for a research proposal:

1. Introduction:

2. Literature Review:

3. Research Objectives:

4. Methodology:

5. Timeline:

6. Resources:

7. Ethical Considerations:

8. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

9. References:

10. Appendices:

Research Proposal Sample

Title: The Impact of Online Education on Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study

1. Introduction

Online education has gained significant prominence in recent years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes by comparing them with traditional face-to-face instruction. The study will explore various aspects of online education, such as instructional methods, student engagement, and academic performance, to provide insights into the effectiveness of online learning.

2. Objectives

The main objectives of this research are as follows:

• To compare student learning outcomes between online and traditional face-to-face education.
• To examine the factors influencing student engagement in online learning environments.
• To assess the effectiveness of different instructional methods employed in online education.
• To identify challenges and opportunities associated with online education and suggest recommendations for improvement.

3. Methodology

3.1 Study Design

This research will utilize a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study will include the following components:

3.2 Participants

The research will involve undergraduate students from two universities, one offering online education and the other providing face-to-face instruction. A total of 500 students (250 from each university) will be selected randomly to participate in the study.

3.3 Data Collection

The research will employ the following data collection methods:

• Quantitative: Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted to measure students’ learning outcomes. Data on student demographics and academic performance will also be collected from university records.
• Qualitative: Focus group discussions and individual interviews will be conducted with students to gather their perceptions and experiences regarding online education.

3.4 Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data will be transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and themes.

4. Ethical Considerations

The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of participants. Informed consent will be obtained, and participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

5. Significance and Expected Outcomes

This research will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of online education on student learning outcomes. The findings will help educational institutions and policymakers make informed decisions about incorporating online learning methods and improving the quality of online education. Moreover, the study will identify potential challenges and opportunities related to online education and offer recommendations for enhancing student engagement and overall learning outcomes.

6. Timeline

The proposed research will be conducted over a period of 12 months, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.

The estimated budget for this research includes expenses related to data collection, software licenses, participant compensation, and research assistance. A detailed budget breakdown will be provided in the final research plan.

8. Conclusion

This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes through a comparative study with traditional face-to-face instruction. By exploring various dimensions of online education, this research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and challenges associated with online learning. The findings will contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational practices and help shape future strategies for maximizing student learning outcomes in online education settings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Individual Projects for University

Free tools and tips that will help you excel in your day-to-day university tasks, a successful assignment.

With all the analysis and research that goes into assignments , being faced with your first individual project at university can be somewhat overwhelming.

The key in producing a successful assignment is taking into consideration the necessary characteristics and requirements for the project.

In this page, we provide you with tips, tools and resources you can use to tackle your individual project and achieve your desired goal.

5 Key Stages

While many might enjoy working alone, the challenging fact about individual assignments is that the responsibility is entirely yours so you have to work extra hard to get the desired result.

To ensure you accomplish this, consider the following:

• Research & Data collection

Organisation

Presentation.

The first thing you should do is define and frame the topic that your lecturer or you set to work . If the topic for the individual assignment was handed to you by the lecturer, be sure to plan the project according to the lecturer’s instructions.

If in turn you have the option to select a topic, do not choose one that is very broad. Reduce it to the scope of your research . This way, you can be sure you are not taking on large amounts of information, allowing a more in-depth analysis of your chosen topic.

Set the sources you will consult and carefully plan the time available .

Tip: Mind Maps are great for planning and organising ideas

Research & Data Collection

After you know exactly the subject of research, the next step is determining the type of information needed to support your work .

• Establish a plan
• Find were you should look for information and the best sources available
• Any alternative methods of retrieving information?

Information can be collected on the internet; specific books; newspapers; media interviews, discussions, conferences, etc. You can also make use of more than 1 million learning resources available to you in the ExamTime public library .

Organise the information collected and arrange them according to your intended objectives.

It is important to carefully read everything and decide which aspects are useful for your work. Extract only the necessary information. Do not cave into the need to include everything in your project. It is not the quantity but the quality that matters .

Tip: Make sure to reference all sources to avoid plagiarism .

Resources created by Other Users:

Advertising Techniques

Flashcard for University

Online Communication

Mind Map for University

This step involves the application of all the information necessary to solve the task defined in the first step. Restructure and reorganise your information. Your work should consist of a clear introduction, development and conclusion.

• Introduction- Clearly pesent the topic to be discussed
• Development – This is the body of your work. Explain the topic and findings that support it.
• Conclusion – Show what was learned, summarise your work and give your opinion based on your findings.

You can make use of our online study tools to edit your project in an efficient way.

Many students don’t give this final stage much importance. However, how you present your assignment can play a great part in the final grade so it is worth making sure your document is visually appealing to the reader while highlighting the key points of your work .

Tip: All types of university assignments must contain a bibliography, even if it is just a PowerPoint presentation to the class. Leave it for the last slide.

Once your work is concluded, reread it making sure that you are pleased with it. It is also a good idea to get someone else’s feedback.

Want to discover more great GCSE learning material? With over 8 million learning resources on GoConqr, we have what you need - browse the library now . If you want to create your own interactive learning content, sign up for free .

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Programmes & Qualifications

Exploring ideas of beauty, building toilets for girls, tackling food waste.

• Gender stereotypes in advertising

Exploring issues of consent

Showcase of student projects.

See how our students explore global issues, critically analyse them and present their findings in an engaging and informative way in this Global Perspectives showcase.

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives students complete individual and group projects, writing extended essays explaining their approach to their research, how they judged information from various sources, and how they reached their conclusion. They also demonstrate what they have learnt through a broad range of outputs, including presentations, short films, websites, and more. Here we feature just a few examples of student projects.

Colombia | Students at Gimnasio Colombo Británico explore modern ideas of beauty in Colombian society.

India | Students in Bangalore identified a lack of private toilets for girls as a barrier to them attending rural schools.

Argentina | Students in Buenos Aires produced a video exploring their own local situation and how it could be improved.

Gender in advertising

Singapore | Students at Global Indian International School examined global approaches to gender in advertising.

India | Students in Gujurat explored issues of sexual abuse with research into unwanted sexual attention.

• Syllabus overview
• Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers
• Published resources

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• Knowledge Base
• Research process
• 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.

Table of contents

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

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

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.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, June 13). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/research-proposal-explained/

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