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.
This is a sound introduction to proposal writing, especially for those unfamiliar with the process. It is clearly presented and written in largely jargon-free language that will appeal to the neophyte... The work is useful as an introduction to the proposal-writing process.
Maryam Nazari
Online Information Review
This book is essential reading for those writing research proposals for a PhD application as well as those writing proposals to funding bodies. It is intended for those who are writing proposals for the first time but also for those who may have written proposals before, but never succeeded in getting funding... For me, this book is perfectly pitched. It is simple, but not simplistic. It offers practical advice, but also interrogates your thinking about the actual research design...This book is an excellent addition to any newer researcher's bookshelf as well as for administrative staff and those in research offices who support academics writing proposals. You get a sense that the authors are true experts and genuinely want to support new and early academics in what is an increasingly competitive part of modern day academia.
Annika Coughlin
SRA News
Developing Research Proposals is a very accessible and authoritative guide, and part of Sage’s informative Success in Research Series... Overall, the authors have written a book providing a wealth of information and advice that would come in handy not only to those interested in maximizing their chances to get a research degree place or funding for project in a complex and demanding environment, but also to those interested in their personal development as researchers.
Andreea Moise
LSE Review of Books
essential reading for part time masters students undertaking research methods module
This textbook covers well the basic elements for tailoring and designing a professional research proposal. However, it should be combined with other textbooks as it is not extensive.
Strongly recommended.
Some parts of the book look more useful than others for my student group.
This book is very much a step-by-step approach to preparing and producing a successful proposal. The book is most engaging though its activities and any aspiring researcher, whether they are using a quantitative or qualitative paradigm, will find this book useful. It nicely complements Keith Punch's book: Developing Effective Research Proposals (Sage); I shall be using both in my guidance to research students.
I am recommending this as supplemental reading to PhD students in the first part of their doctoral research. It is as very helpful tool to aid thinking about exactly how to develop their proposals. I also am recommending it to colleagues seeking to become research active.
A Excellent book, I particularly like the glossary of terms at the back, which will be very useful to the students.
This book touches upon interesting issues in writing a proposal. It is not tailored enough to the requirements my graduate school uses, nor does it give information on methodology.
Good text which our students will find very useful. Simple and straight forward.
This book is well structured and highly informative. Anyone would like to read it over and over. It is a good resources for the entire research project life cycle.
