What Makes a Good Research Proposal and Why Could it Fail

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROPOSAL?

• Relevance, either to the work of the funding body or to the student’s course.
• The research is unique, or offers new insight or development.
• The title, aims and objectives are all clear and succinct.
• Comprehensive and thorough background research and literature review has been undertaken.
• There is a good match between the issues to be addressed and the approach being adopted.
• The researcher demonstrates relevant background knowledge and/or experience.
• Timetable, resources and budget have all been worked out thoroughly, with most eventualities covered.
• Useful policy and practice implications.

REASONS WHY RESEARCH PROPOSALS FAIL

• Aims and objectives are unclear or vague.
• There is a mismatch between the approach being adopted and the issues to be addressed.
• The overall plan is too ambitious and difficult to achieve in the timescale.
• The researcher does not seem to have conducted enough in-depth background research.
• Problem is of insufficient importance.
• Information about the data collection is insufficiently detailed.
• Information about the data analysis method is insufficiently detailed.
• Timescale is inappropriate or unrealistic.
• Resources and budget have not been carefully thought out.
• This topic has been done too many times before – indicates a lack in background research.