sample research proposal pdf qualitative

Research Proposal Example/Sample

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

If you’re getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

• Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
• Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
• Proposal template (Fully editable) 

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

• Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
• 1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

FAQ: Research Proposal Example

Research proposal example: frequently asked questions, are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling Udemy Course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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The qualitative research proposal

2008, Curationis

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Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

This seminar covers on qualitative methods in the social sciences. It is structured as a survey course, exposing students to a range of issues, rather than intensive training in a single approach. The purpose of the seminar is twofold: First, to provide participants with a broad sense of qualitative research methods, a better understanding of how to design and carry out research, an awareness of the different logics and trade-offs that distinguish methodologies and methods, and an improved capacity to read and evaluate diverse qualitative social science research. Second, to write a dissertation proposal that will be competitive for various external dissertation fellowship funders—such as NSF, Fulbright, SSRC, etc.—and defensible before one’s dissertation committee.

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Qualitative research has been used for centuries in the discipline of social sciences to examine the experiences, perspectives, and perceptions of individuals and communities. Recently, qualitative research has also emerged as a reputable paradigm of research inquiry within the field of health sciences. Qualitative research may be considered a research approach complementary to quantitative research, which is most commonly utilized in medical disciplines through the use of randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses of treatment effectiveness. It aims to elaborate, explain, and describe social phenomena such as the relation- ship between patients and healthcare providers, how medical interventions may affect long-term care and quality of life, and how to contextualize the findings of randomized controlled trials to the complex lives of patients by considering the multitude of factors that influence treatment effectiveness. Qualitative research seeks to answer the “why” and “how” of phenomena as opposed to the “what” and “how much.” The majority of novice investigators will use the quantitative research paradigm for an independent study course or their thesis dissertation. When these investigators encounter the qualitative research paradigm, they are struck with the lack of simple and useful resources available that identify, clarify, and explicate the qualitative research process. This article aims to serve as an introductory guide for novice investigators who wish to integrate the tradition of qualitative research into their practices. The authors introduce the purpose, components, and process of qualitative research including common methodologies, data collection methods, sampling strategies, and data analysis approaches.

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Questions Motivating this Essay: The questions we were asked to consider as we Qualitative Methods Workshop Participants wrote our essays are: (1) What exactly do we want the NSF to advance? (2) How can NSF help strengthen the scientific basis of qualitative research? (3) What might be considered " best practices " in qualitative research, and what are promising new directions and developments? It may be true that we need to strengthen the scientific basis of qualitative research – a problem for which the solution lays with qualitative researchers ourselves. However, rather than being inherently unscientific, qualitative methods may instead have a reputation for being insufficiently " scientific. " Given that the qualitative research plan neither lists a set of " variables " to be catalogued and examined, nor proposes a " model " that will be tested, nor declares the " algorithms " through which the data will be fed, it may often be quite difficult for researchers in other methodological traditions to " see " the elements in the qualitative proposal that give an indication of what the researcher will actually do. This disconnect has important consequences for principal investigators (PIs) of qualitative research, especially if I'm correct in my assessment that non-qualitative methodologists largely outnumber qualitative ones, and occupy a large share of the important gatekeeping positions on grant and funding boards, and on the Institutional Review Boards concerned with research involved with human subjects. The solution to the problem of finding sufficient scientific merit in qualitative work, then, rests both with the investigators who rely on these methods, and the non-qualitative scholars who evaluate proposals for qualitative research. Researchers can and should plan and propose their projects in clearer terms, and " translate " their work so that the uninitiated researcher may understand the " language " of qualitative methods. And evaluators may learn to more positively value qualitative research, which is conducted in a manner quite different from the ways they may execute other methods. As I reflected on these two distinct audiences, and my experience serving on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advisory Panel for Sociology, I began to reformulate the questions posed to me and thought of answering the following questions instead:

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Qualitative Health research procedures that are not always applied, mainly in the analysis phase. Our objective is to present a systematized technique of step-by-step procedures for qualitative content analysis in the health field: Clinical-Qualitative Content Analysis. Our proposal consider that the qualitative research applied to the field of health, can acquire a perspective analogous to clinical practice and aims to interpret meanings expressed in reports through individual interviews or statements. This analysis takes part of the Clinical-Qualitative Method. The literature review was realized through: a book chapter, eight original articles and three methodological articles. The Clinical-qualitative Content Analysis technique comprises seven steps: 1) Editing material for analysis; 2) Floating reading; 3) Construction of the units of analysis; 4) Construction of codes of meaning; 5) General refining of the codes and the Construction of categories; 6) Discussion; 7) Validity. Th...

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• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 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 organized 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, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

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 synthesize 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. Emphasize 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?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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Qualitative Research Proposal

Writing a qualitative research proposal is just like writing any other research proposals. The only thing is that you are writing specifically designed to provide non-numerical data, concepts and the like. You are more likely to follow a specific format since it is a type of academic writing.

6+ Qualitative Research Proposal Examples

1. qualitative research proposal gantt chart template.

2. Sample Qualitative Research Proposal

Size: 90 KB

3. Proposal in Qualitative Research Template

Size: 15 KB

4. Individual Qualitative Research Proposal

5. Qualitative Research Proposal Format

Size: 517 KB

6. Elements of Research Proposal Qualitative Design

Size: 23 KB

7. Qualitative Research Workshop Proposal

Size: 559 KB

What is a Qualitative Research Proposal?

A qualitative research proposal gives the detailed summary of your research study. It is a type of research proposal that only involves qualitative methods of gathering a certain data such as an interview, observation, questionnaire, or case studies . Qualitative research can be applied in the field of psychology, social sciences and the like.

How to Write a Qualitative Research Proposal?

Think of a unique topic for you to provide a good research title.

Example: A Qualitative Study on Coping up with the Different Levels of Anxiety among Students

Develop Research Questions

Your research questions will be your guide in your research study. It contains the research design, research methodology and the technique you used in collecting data.

Example: What do the architecture and engineering students with anxiety do to cope up with their studies in the university?

For qualitative research, we can use the SPIDER method which stands for Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation and Research type.

Sample refers to your target population that is included in your study.

Example: The population consisted of a community of architecture and engineering students of the oldest university in the city of Manila, Philippines.

Phenomenon of Interest refers to an event or an object. What could be their experience in the university?

Design refers to the methods you used in conducting the study.

•         Interview – refers to the one on one interaction with the participant.
•       Observation – refers to observing the participants whether or not they are fully aware of the thought that you are observing them.
•     Questionnaire – refers to the process of distributing survey questionnaires to gather answers from your participants. It ends with tallying the answers to see what the participants choose the most.
•         Case study – refers to an intensive study about a specific person or group of people.

Ensure That Some Ethical Standards are Met

This refers to protecting the privacy or confidentiality of the data you have gathered and the rights of the participants.

“There were more ethical considerations in almost all aspects for drug trials and clinical studies compared with proposals for epidemiological studies. Clinical research studies usually directly involve human subjects, either with preventive, therapeutic, or non-therapeutic procedures. In general, the study procedures in such study designs put human subjects at higher risks, thus there are more ethical concerns. The primary ethical considerations of clinical studies are competent medical treatment and care, alongside an acceptable risk–benefit balance. However, many laboratory research studies use stored specimens, with less invasive procedures, and epidemiology studies usually employ data collection through medical records, CRFs or questionnaires. Ethical issues for the latter, therefore, mainly concern confidentiality and privacy of the study participants. However, it was found that studies that collect new specimens received more comments on ethical issues. There remains debate among RECs about solutions for issues around sample export, storage, and reuse. However, it is recommended that in order to ensure adequate protection of human research subjects participating in scientific research, RECs bear the responsibility of guaranteeing that participants are provided with sufficient detail to be able to provide informed consent as well as to understand the reality of genetic research as it is practiced.”

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consider writing a plan to be used for the whole duration of your research. this includes the timeline and budget..

Timeline – refers to the target length of time to complete your research.

Budget – refers to the estimation of how much your research would cost. All items that you think might be included in the budgeting must be included.

Don’t Forget to Include Your Reference

This contains the list of the sources that you should cite on the last page of your research. It usually follows the APA format.

How long should a qualitative research proposal be?

Every research proposal should be at least 4 to 7 pages long or depending on the requirement of your professor.

Do we still have to write for the definition of terms in the research proposal?

Yes. You have the option to do so to introduce and define words that are difficult for the readers to understand.

What can be considered as a good topic in writing qualitative research?

Your topic will either be given by your professor or you may look into unique topics into the internet.

Proposal Maker

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a proposal for a new school recycling program

Compose a proposal for a school field trip to a science museum.

Principles of Social Research Methodology pp 263–277 Cite as

Designing a Research Proposal in Qualitative Research

• Md. Ismail Hossain 4 ,
• Nafiul Mehedi 4 &
• Iftakhar Ahmad 4  
• First Online: 27 October 2022

1975 Accesses

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

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

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FREE 5+ Qualitative Research Proposal Samples in PDF | DOC

There is no doubt that research is one of the very important hallmarks of progress. Every milestone humanity has achieved, always began with research. It enhances society by advancing knowledge through the development of scientific theories, ideas , and concepts. Simply put, research is the process of discovering new knowledge, from the development of new ideas to the advancement of already existing ones. Research makes the world progress forward, especially research projects that are aimed for the betterment and convenience of all.

Qualitative Research Proposal

5+ qualitative research proposal samples, 1. qualitative research proposal gantt chart template, 2. social work qualitative research proposal, 3. qualitative research proposal, 4. qualitative method research proposal, 5. qualitative research paper proposal, 6. health care qualitative research proposal, what is a qualitative research proposal, how to write a qualitative research proposal, what is the difference between a research proposal and a thesis, what are the elements of a research proposal, what are the five smart objectives.

While it is true that research can be done almost by anyone else in any field, academic and developmental researches are often done to broaden knowledge in a specific field. Physical, biological, and social worlds, often through qualitative processes. It can range from wanting to know why certain components work, to asking people their opinions about a certain political view. So yeah, research is definitely for the curious mind, and if you are brave and curious enough, then why not dive right into it. Before you actually begin the research though,  it is important to remember that you need key partners and investor s on your side so you can ensure the success of your paper. Luckily, a well written qualitative research proposal can easily help you with that. Research proposals let you present the plans for your project to the committee that will review your study and inspect your academic skills. The document also outline several important components of the study that you will be working on such as costs, payments, terms , licenses, academic background, and other important details that the committee might be asking from you. The goal of writing a research proposal is to make them approve your idea so that you can finally begin your research and development. Get the approval of the board, and prepare for your project ahead of time. Make sure that your document is well drafted and well written by checking out these qualitative research proposal samples that we have listed for you down below. After you’ve familiarized yourself with the document, how it works and what it looks like, feel free to use these samples as guides or maybe even as templates for your own qualitative research proposal.

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A research proposal is a document that outlines the topic of your research, define the issues that your paper will aim to address, and explains why the problem that your research is focused on warrants further studies. It essentially identifies that problem and presents a solution to that problem. Research proposals usually contains a brief introduction of the topic and explains its general purpose, a methodology section, and the bibliography or list of references. For other practices, academic and corporate, the structure of a research proposal can also take the form of several chapters that define and specify the multiple concepts of the paper, with a concluding chapter at the end that ties all of the ideas and loose ends together. Generally, the main purpose of the document is to be able to convince key people such as decision makers and investors to approve the study and all of its development. It helps identify if the research is necessary, and if the panelists like the premise of your study, then you might even secure addition funding, partnership, and support.

Try to see research proposals as elaborate marketing documents that promote and present your ideas and topics to a panel or committee so that they can green light your study. We want your readers to be convinced, so it would be best to draft the document specific to the particular topic or research that you have chosen. Speak to your readers through your research proposal. Make them realize that both of your goals are completely aligned with each other. Listed below are the elements that your research proposal should have, following the order that it is listed.

• The title page of your proposal should contain a short, descriptive title of the project, the author, institution, department, the research mentor, and the date of when the document was delivered.
• Your abstract is a brief summary of your proposal with only less than 200 words. It should present a brief introduction of the issue, followed by the statement of your thesis. It should also be able to present a summary of how you plan to address the issues that you have identified.
• Your table of contents should be organized depending on the headings and sub-headings present in your proposal, following a chronological order.
• The introduction of your proposal will present the context of your study and capture the interest of your readers. It has to be able to explain the background of your thesis from a broad point of view closing in to a much more specific and narrow picture. The introduction should be written at a level in which it is easy to understand and comprehend, even by readers of the same educational background as you.
• Write the thesis statement of your research in just a couple sentences. Whilst short, it should be able to capture the essence of your study and its scope and limitations.
• Approach talks about the strategies that you will take to ensure the success of your research. List down the materials, your procedures, the methods that you will put in place, calculations, equipment, etc. Just basically the intricate details of your study.
• Present the preliminary results that you have gathered in your initial research and explain how they fit into the framework of your study.
• List down the stages of your paper in a tabulated format. Highlighting the deadlines that you have set for the completion of your venture, and any work or progress that you have already made.
• Highlight the importance of your research by stating why the research was important and what new knowledge will be uncovered by this study. Why is it worth knowing? What will be its most significant implications?
• Cite the ideas, concepts, texts, and data that you have gathered from related texts and literature following a uniform and assigned citation format.

A thesis is an original research or study that the students chose to work on to be awarded a degree.  While research proposals describe what the author intends to do and why they intend to do it.

• Background and rationale
• Research questions
• Research methodology
• Time & work schedule
• Bibliography

Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. Timed.

The main purpose of a research is to find out more about what is known, what is unknown, and what we can do to make things even just a little bit better. Through a series of academic researches, both professionals and students can develop new theories, ideas, and come up with new products that ultimately shape our everyday lives and our future.

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