Developing Research Proposals
- Pam Denicolo - Consultant on Doctoral Education and Training
- Lucinda Becker - Reading University, UK
Success in Research
Writing a research proposal is one of the most important tasks facing academics, researchers and graduate students. Yet there is a good deal of misinformation and a great lack of guidance about what constitutes a good research proposal and what can be done to maximize one's chances of writing a successful research proposal.
Pam Denicolo and Lucinda Becker recognize the importance of developing an effective research proposal for gaining either a place on a research degree program or funding to support research projects and set out to explore the main factors that that proposal writers need to attend to in developing successful proposals of their own.
Developing Research Proposals will help readers to understand the context within which their proposal will be read, what the reviewers are looking for and will be influenced by, while also supporting the development of relevant skills through advice and practical activities.
This book:
- Explores the nature and purpose of different kinds of proposals
- Focuses on the actual research proposed
- Discusses how best to carry out and structure the literature review
- Examines the posing and phrasing of research questions and hypotheses
- Looks at how methods and methodology should be handled in a proposal
- Discusses the crucial issues of planning, strategy and timing in developing targeted proposals
The authors draw together the key elements in the process of preparing and submitting a proposal and concludes with advice on responding to the results, successful or not, and their relevance to future proposals.
An excellent text that provides useful practical elements to develop research skills. Recommended to students.
An excellent book to support students in developing their research proposal, something which many can struggle with. Clearly laid out and explained and particularly useful Appendix of funding organisations to consider.
This is a fabulous text that is pitched at the right level, yet accessible to all undergraduate and postgraduate level students. The information is clear and well laid out and the book is easy to navigate.
I liked this text as it was user-friendly and I'm sure it will help students to plan their research projects effectively.
A good author and a clear text to read.
Although this excellent book is written with PG students in mind I have decided that there are enough sections that will be relevant to UG Dissertation students that will give them a ‘taste’ of the skill of proposal writing, improve the proposals made for UG dissertations and help set a standard should any wish to continue their studies at a higher level. The book is readable, direct and friendly in style.
I will recommend this for my Masters Students as for some of them it has been a long time since they developed formal research proposals.
Denicolo and Becker demonstrate how to do a ‘polished’ research proposal including detailed illustration on preparation and finally writing it. Suitable for master’s and doctoral degree studies including a range of practical advice and reflection points. This book will help a great deal to become a successful researcher.
I really like this book. It is well structured and presents what can be quite a daunting topic for student researchers in a helpful step-by-step approach. The content is thorough but written in an accessible style.
Accessible & useful for part time Level 7 students writing proposals in an unfamiliar discipline
