Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelorâs 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 proposalâs structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
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.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
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:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example
As you get started, itâs important to demonstrate that youâre 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:
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.
? or ? , , or research design? | |
, )? ? | |
, , , )? | |
? |
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:
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
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
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:
To determine your budget, think about:
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
 Statistics
Research bias
Once youâve 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 âŠ
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 youâll 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 3â5 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 masterâs is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All masterâs 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 masterâs 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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A research proposal is a type of text which maps out a proposed central research problem or question and a suggestedâŻapproach to its investigation.
In many universities, including RMIT, the research proposal is a formal requirement. It is central to achieving your first milestone: your Confirmation of Candidature. The research proposal is useful for both you and the University: it gives you the opportunity to get valuable feedback about your intended research aims, objectives and design. It also confirms that your proposed research is worth doing, which puts you on track for a successful candidature supported by your School and the University.
Although there may be specific School or disciplinary requirements that you need to be aware of, all research proposals address the following central themes:
Before venturing into writing a research purposal, it is important to think about the purpose and audience of this type of text. Spend a moment or two to reflect on what these might be.
What do you think is the purpose of your research proposal and who is your audience?
TheâŻpurposeâŻof your research proposal is:
1. To allow experienced researchers (your supervisors and their peers) to assess whether
2. To helpâŻyouâŻclarify and focus on what you want to do, why you want to do it, and how youâll do it. The research proposal helps you position yourself as a researcher in your field. It will also allow you to:
The mainâŻaudienceâŻfor your research proposal is your reviewers. Universities usually assign a panel of reviewers to which you need to submit your research proposal. Often this is within the first year ofâŻstudy for PhD candidates, and within the first six months for Masters by Research candidates.
Your reviewers may have a strong disciplinary understanding of the area of your proposed research, but depending on your specialisation, they may not. It is therefore important to create a clear context, rationale and framework for your proposed research.âŻLimit jargon and specialist terminology so that non-specialists can comprehend it. You need to convinceâŻthe reviewers that your proposed research is worth doing and that you will be able toâŻeffectively âinterrogateââŻyour research questions orâŻaddress theâŻresearch problems through your chosen research design.
Your review panel will expect you to demonstrate:
Research and Writing Skills for Academic and Graduate Researchers Copyright © 2022 by RMIT University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Advice and guidance on writing a proposal for a student research project.
A research proposal should describe what you will investigate, why it is important to the discipline and how you will conduct your research.
Simply put, it is your plan for the research you intend to conduct. All research proposals are designed to persuade someone about how and why your intended project is worthwhile.
In your proposal you will need to explain and defend your choices. Always think about the exact reasons why you are making specific choices and why they are the best options available to you and your project.
Your research proposal aims should be centred on:
301 Recommends:
Our Research Writing workshop will look at some of the main writing challenges associated with writing a large-scale research project and look at strategies to manage your writing on a day-to-day basis. It will identify ways to plan, organise and map out the structure of your writing to allow you to develop an effective writing schedule and make continuous progress on your dissertation project.
The format of a research proposal varies between fields and levels of study but most proposals should contain at least these elements: introduction, literature review, research design and reference list.
Generally, research proposals can range from 500-1500 words or one to a few pages long. Typically, proposals for larger projects such as a PhD dissertation or funding requests, are longer and much more detailed.
Remember, the goal of your research proposal is to outline clearly and concisely exactly what your research will entail and accomplish, how it will do so and why it is important. If you are writing to a strictly enforced word count, a research proposal can be a great test of your ability to express yourself concisely!
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why. In other words, this is where you answer the readerâs âso what?â It should typically include: introducing the topic , outlining your problem statement and research question(s) and giving background and context. Some important questions to shape your introduction include:
If your proposal is very long, you might include separate sections with more detailed information on the background and context, problem statement, aims and objectives, and importance of the research.
Itâs important to show that youâre familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory (i.e. how it relates to established research in the field).
Your literature review will also show that youâre not simply repeating what other people have already done or said. This is also where you explain why your research is necessary. You might want to consider some of the following prompts:
Following the literature review, it is a good idea to restate your main objectives, bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design/ methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. You also need to demonstrate the feasibility of the project keeping in mind time and other constraints.
You should definitely include:
Make sure you are not simply compiling a list of methods. Instead, aim to make an argument for why this is the most appropriate, valid and reliable way to approach answering your question. Remember you should always be defending your choices!
To ensure you finish your proposal on a strong note, it is a good idea to explore and/or emphasise the potential implications of the research. This means: what do you intend to contribute to existing knowledge on the topic?
Although you cannot know the results of your research until you have actually done the work, you should be going into the project with a clear idea of how your work will contribute to your field. This section might even be considered the most critical to your research proposalâs argument because it expresses exactly why your research is necessary.
You should consider covering at least some of the following topics:
This part is not about stating the specific results that you expect to obtain but rather, this is the section where you explicitly state how your findings will be valuable.
This section is where you want to wrap it all up in a nice pretty bow. It is just like the concluding paragraph that you would structure and craft for a typical essay, see our essay planning template for guidance. You should briefly summarise your research proposal and reinforce your research purpose.
Your research proposal MUST include proper citations for every source you have used and full references. Please consult your departmental referencing styles to ensure you are citing and referencing in an appropriate way.
Try and avoid these common pitfalls when you are writing your research proposal:
You might also need to include a schedule and/or a budget depending on your requirements. Some tools to help include:
For guidance regarding specific research proposals (including templates), please check with your specific departments.
Dissertation planning
Writing a literature review
Research methods
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In academia, especially in social and behavioral sciences, writing a research proposal is an essential first step while planning a new research project. A research proposal is an initial pitch, or theoretical framework that serves to introduce the topic and anticipated results of a project, provide an overview of the methods to be used, and convince the reader that the proposed research can be conducted successfully. It is very essential to know how to write a research proposal, whether you are a student trying to fulfill course requirements or a researcher looking for funding for scholarly research. But writing a well-structured proposal is easier said than done.
To make things simpler for you, In this article, I explained the fundamentals of a research proposal, its structure, the steps involved in writing a research proposal, and common mistakes to avoid. Continue reading to gain a thorough understanding of the concept and purpose of a research proposal. This blog will also enable you to write the research proposal quickly, reducing the likelihood of rejection.
In simpler terms, Â A research proposal is a document written to explain and justify your chosen research topic and the necessity to carry out that particular research by addressing the research problem. Likewise, a good research proposal should carry the proposed research's results and benefits, backed by convincing evidence.
Always keep your audience in mind while writing your research proposal. Your audience expects a concise summary and a detailed research methodology from you in the research proposal.
To begin, you must understand the purpose of a research proposal in order to effectively write a research proposal and also to receive swift approvals.
A research proposal's purpose is to provide a detailed outline of the process that will be used to answer a specific research problem. Whereas the goal of the research proposal varies from person to person. In some cases, it may be to secure funding, while in others, it may be to obtain a meager approval from the committee or the supervisor to proceed with the research project. Regardless of your research proposal's end goal, you are supposed to write a research proposal that fulfills its intended purpose of presenting the best plan for your research.
While writing a research proposal, you should demonstrate how and why your proposed research is crucial for the domain, especially if it is social and behavioral sciences. It would help if you showed how your work is necessary by addressing some key points like:
Furthermore, your research proposal must demonstrate that you, as an author, are capable of conducting the research and that the results will significantly contribute to the field of knowledge. To do so, include and explain your academic background and significance along with your previous accolades to demonstrate that you and your idea have academic merit.
There are no hard and fast rules about how long a research proposal should be, and it varies dramatically from different institutions and publishers. However, as a standard domain practice, a research proposal is generally between 3000- 4000 words. A majority of globally reputed institutions follow the 3000- 3500 word limit.
Since the research proposal is written well before the research is conducted, you need to outline all the necessary elements your research will entail and accomplish. Once completed, your research proposal must resemble a concise version of a thesis or dissertation without results and a discussion section.
When you recognize a gap in the existing books of knowledge, you will address it by developing a research problem. A research problem is a question that researchers want to answer. It is the starting point for any research project, and it can be broad or narrow, depending on your objectives. Once you have a problem, it is followed by articulating a research question. After that, you can embark on the process of writing a research proposal.
Whether your goal is to secure funding or just approval, nevertheless, your research proposal needs to follow the basic outline of a research paper, containing all the necessary sections. Therefore, the structure of a research proposal closely resembles and follows a thesis or dissertation or any research paper. It should contain the following sections:
As is well known, the first thing that catches the reader's attention is a catchy title. Therefore, you should try to come up with a catchy yet informative title for your research proposal. Additionally, it should be concise and clear to reflect enough information about your research question.
To create a good research proposal, try writing the title to induce interest and information in your readers. Pro-Tip: Avoid using phrases such as âAn investigation of âŠâ or âA review of âŠâ etc. . These have been overused for ages and may reflect your research title as a regular entry. On the other hand, concise and well-defined titles are always something readers like and stand higher chances for a proposal approval.
Write your abstract in a brief yet very informative way. It should summarize the research you intend to conduct. Put an emphasis on the research question, research hypothesis , research design and methods, and the key findings of your proposed research.
If you wish to create a detailed proposal, try including a table of contents. It will help readers navigate easily and catch a glance at your entire proposal writing. Check out this guide if you want to learn more about how to write a research abstract for your scholarly research.
All papers need a striking introduction to set the context of the research question. While framing your research proposal, ensure that the introduction provides rich background and relevant information about the research question.
Your entire research proposal hinges upon your research question. Thus, fit should come out clearly in the intro. Provide a general introduction without clear explanations, and it might render your research proposal insignificant.
Start your research proposal with the research problem, engage your audience with elements that relate to the problem, and then shed some light on the research question. Then, proceed with your study's evidence-based justification, and you'll find that the audience is sticking with your proposal narrative.
While writing your research proposal, ensure that you have covered the following:
Writing a literature review is an important part of the research process. It provides the researcher with a summary of previous studies that have been conducted on a subject, and it helps the researcher determine what areas might need additional investigation in the existing research. Guidelines for the literature review vary for different institutions.
To effectively conduct and write a literature review check this guide . You can also use tools like SciSpace Copilot , our AI research assistant that makes reading academic papers a much easier task. You can use it to get simple explanations for complex text, maths, or tables. Copilot can be particularly helpful when youâre sifting through papers as you can quickly understand the abstract, get some context around the study, and identify if the paper is relevant to your project or not.
The literature review can either be kept as a separate section or incorporated into the introduction section. A separate section is always favorable and vital in gaining the research proposal approval. Additionally, a separate section for a literature review offers in-depth background data and demonstrates the relevance of your research question by emphasizing the gaps that have remained since the previous study.
Your research proposalâs literature review must contain and serve the following:
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Research design and methods is the section where you explain how you will be conducting the proposed research. Ensure that you provide and include a sufficient explanation for the chosen methods. Additionally, include some points explaining how your chosen methods will help you get the desired or expected results.
Provide ample information to the readers about your research procedures so that they can easily comprehend the methodology and its expected results. Through your research methodology, you can easily show your audience whether the results you are promising can be achieved or not.
Most importantly, make sure the methodology you chooseâwhether qualitative or quantitativeâis the best fit for your research. You should also be able to justify your choice.
Additionally, you should properly explain both the quantitative and qualitative components of your research if they are both used. For a qualitative approach, you must offer more elaborate and in-depth theoretical-based evidence. On the other hand, for the quantitative approach, you must describe the survey or lab setup, sample size, tools, and data collection methods.
Make sure you have plenty of explanations for the research methodology to support how you approached the research problem.
The expected research results section is where the researcher states what they expect to find in their research. The purpose of this section is to provide a summary of the study's goals, as well as give an overview of what the researcher expects will be found out. These results must orient the reader in sync with the methodology section and provide the answers to the research questions.
The limitations section of an academic research paper is a section in which the writers of the paper discuss the weaknesses of their study. They do this by identifying problems with their methods, design, and implementation. This section should also discuss any other factors that may have affected the results or accuracy of the study. This section allows readers to understand how much confidence they can place in the findings, and how applicable they are to other contexts.
Furthermore, it will also showcase your honesty and complete understanding of the topic. Your research proposalâs limitations can include:
If you donât want your efforts to be tagged as plagiarized, ensure that you include the reference section at the end of the research proposal and follow the appropriate citation guidelines while citing different scholarly sources and various other researchersâ work.
For references, use both the in-text and footnote citations. List all the literature you have used to gather the information. However, in the bibliography, apart from including the references you have cited, you should include the sources that you didn't cite.
Research proposals often get rejected due to the smallest of mistakes. To keep the chances of getting your research proposal rejection at bay or a minimum, you should be aware of what grounds committees or supervisors often decide on rejection.
Follow through to understand the common reasons why research papers get rejected:
You must stay aware of the research proposal guidelines and best writing manners. To maximize the approval chances of your research proposal, you should try to avoid some common pitfalls like:
Try explaining the various sections of the research proposal economically. Ideally, you should strive to keep your writing as a concise, brief, and to the point as possible. The more concisely you explain the purpose and goal of your research proposal, the better.
While writing the research proposal, you may feel every issue is important, and you should provide an explanatory note for that. However, stay wiser while selecting the importance of issues. Avoid falling into the trap of trivial issues, as it may distract your readers from the core issues.
The easiest way your readers can undermine your research proposal is by stating it is far more subjective and sounds unrealistic. A potent research argument describing the gaps in the current field, its importance, significance, and contributions to your research is the foremost requirement of a good research proposal.
Remember, even though you are proposing the objective, academic way, the goal is to persuade the audience to provide you with the required research approval.
Understand that when you are going for some research, its outcome will contribute to the existing pool of knowledge. Therefore, always cite some landmark works of your chosen research domain and connect your proposed work with it.
Providing such intricate details will establish your research's importance, relevance, and familiarity with the domain knowledge.
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Pitchai balakumar.
Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Semeling, 08100 Bedong. Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia
1 Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, USA
An interactive workshop on ‘The Critical Steps for Successful Research: The Research Proposal and Scientific Writing’ was conducted in conjunction with the 64 th Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress-2012 at Chennai, India. In essence, research is performed to enlighten our understanding of a contemporary issue relevant to the needs of society. To accomplish this, a researcher begins search for a novel topic based on purpose, creativity, critical thinking, and logic. This leads to the fundamental pieces of the research endeavor: Question, objective, hypothesis, experimental tools to test the hypothesis, methodology, and data analysis. When correctly performed, research should produce new knowledge. The four cornerstones of good research are the well-formulated protocol or proposal that is well executed, analyzed, discussed and concluded. This recent workshop educated researchers in the critical steps involved in the development of a scientific idea to its successful execution and eventual publication.
Creativity and critical thinking are of particular importance in scientific research. Basically, research is original investigation undertaken to gain knowledge and understand concepts in major subject areas of specialization, and includes the generation of ideas and information leading to new or substantially improved scientific insights with relevance to the needs of society. Hence, the primary objective of research is to produce new knowledge. Research is both theoretical and empirical. It is theoretical because the starting point of scientific research is the conceptualization of a research topic and development of a research question and hypothesis. Research is empirical (practical) because all of the planned studies involve a series of observations, measurements, and analyses of data that are all based on proper experimental design.[ 1 – 9 ]
The subject of this report is to inform readers of the proceedings from a recent workshop organized by the 64 th Annual conference of the ‘ Indian Pharmaceutical Congress ’ at SRM University, Chennai, India, from 05 to 06 December 2012. The objectives of the workshop titled ‘The Critical Steps for Successful Research: The Research Proposal and Scientific Writing,’ were to assist participants in developing a strong fundamental understanding of how best to develop a research or study protocol, and communicate those research findings in a conference setting or scientific journal. Completing any research project requires meticulous planning, experimental design and execution, and compilation and publication of findings in the form of a research paper. All of these are often unfamiliar to naïve researchers; thus, the purpose of this workshop was to teach participants to master the critical steps involved in the development of an idea to its execution and eventual publication of the results (See the last section for a list of learning objectives).
The two-day workshop was formatted to include key lectures and interactive breakout sessions that focused on protocol development in six subject areas of the pharmaceutical sciences. This was followed by sessions on scientific writing. DAY 1 taught the basic concepts of scientific research, including: (1) how to formulate a topic for research and to describe the what, why , and how of the protocol, (2) biomedical literature search and review, (3) study designs, statistical concepts, and result analyses, and (4) publication ethics. DAY 2 educated the attendees on the basic elements and logistics of writing a scientific paper and thesis, and preparation of poster as well as oral presentations.
The final phase of the workshop was the ‘Panel Discussion,’ including ‘Feedback/Comments’ by participants. There were thirteen distinguished speakers from India and abroad. Approximately 120 post-graduate and pre-doctoral students, young faculty members, and scientists representing industries attended the workshop from different parts of the country. All participants received a printed copy of the workshop manual and supporting materials on statistical analyses of data.
A research project generally comprises four key components: (1) writing a protocol, (2) performing experiments, (3) tabulating and analyzing data, and (4) writing a thesis or manuscript for publication.
A protocol, whether experimental or clinical, serves as a navigator that evolves from a basic outline of the study plan to become a qualified research or grant proposal. It provides the structural support for the research. Dr. G. Jagadeesh (US FDA), the first speaker of the session, spoke on ‘ Fundamentals in research process and cornerstones of a research project .’ He discussed at length the developmental and structural processes in preparing a research protocol. A systematic and step-by-step approach is necessary in planning a study. Without a well-designed protocol, there would be a little chance for successful completion of a research project or an experiment.
The first and the foremost difficult task in research is to identify a topic for investigation. The research topic is the keystone of the entire scientific enterprise. It begins the project, drives the entire study, and is crucial for moving the project forward. It dictates the remaining elements of the study [ Table 1 ] and thus, it should not be too narrow or too broad or unfocused. Because of these potential pitfalls, it is essential that a good or novel scientific idea be based on a sound concept. Creativity, critical thinking, and logic are required to generate new concepts and ideas in solving a research problem. Creativity involves critical thinking and is associated with generating many ideas. Critical thinking is analytical, judgmental, and involves evaluating choices before making a decision.[ 4 ] Thus, critical thinking is convergent type thinking that narrows and refines those divergent ideas and finally settles to one idea for an in-depth study. The idea on which a research project is built should be novel, appropriate to achieve within the existing conditions, and useful to the society at large. Therefore, creativity and critical thinking assist biomedical scientists in research that results in funding support, novel discovery, and publication.[ 1 , 4 ]
Elements of a study protocol
The next most crucial aspect of a study protocol is identifying a research question. It should be a thought-provoking question. The question sets the framework. It emerges from the title, findings/results, and problems observed in previous studies. Thus, mastering the literature, attendance at conferences, and discussion in journal clubs/seminars are sources for developing research questions. Consider the following example in developing related research questions from the research topic.
Hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia arjuna and Apium graveolens on paracetamol-induced liver damage in albino rats.
How is paracetamol metabolized in the body? Does it involve P450 enzymes? How does paracetamol cause liver injury? What are the mechanisms by which drugs can alleviate liver damage? What biochemical parameters are indicative of liver injury? What major endogenous inflammatory molecules are involved in paracetamol-induced liver damage?
A research question is broken down into more precise objectives. The objectives lead to more precise methods and definition of key terms. The objectives should be SMART-Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-framed,[ 10 ] and should cover the entire breadth of the project. The objectives are sometimes organized into hierarchies: Primary, secondary, and exploratory; or simply general and specific. Study the following example:
To evaluate the safety and tolerability of single oral doses of compound X in normal volunteers.
To assess the pharmacokinetic profile of compound X following single oral doses.
To evaluate the incidence of peripheral edema reported as an adverse event.
The objectives and research questions are then formulated into a workable or testable hypothesis. The latter forces us to think carefully about what comparisons will be needed to answer the research question, and establishes the format for applying statistical tests to interpret the results. The hypothesis should link a process to an existing or postulated biologic pathway. A hypothesis is written in a form that can yield measurable results. Studies that utilize statistics to compare groups of data should have a hypothesis. Consider the following example:
All biological research, including discovery science, is hypothesis-driven. However, not all studies need be conducted with a hypothesis. For example, descriptive studies (e.g., describing characteristics of a plant, or a chemical compound) do not need a hypothesis.[ 1 ]
Another important section to be included in the protocol is ‘significance of the study.’ Its purpose is to justify the need for the research that is being proposed (e.g., development of a vaccine for a disease). In summary, the proposed study should demonstrate that it represents an advancement in understanding and that the eventual results will be meaningful, contribute to the field, and possibly even impact society.
A literature search may be defined as the process of examining published sources of information on a research or review topic, thesis, grant application, chemical, drug, disease, or clinical trial, etc. The quantity of information available in print or electronically (e.g., the internet) is immense and growing with time. A researcher should be familiar with the right kinds of databases and search engines to extract the needed information.[ 3 , 6 ]
Dr. P. Balakumar (Institute of Pharmacy, Rajendra Institute of Technology and Sciences, Sirsa, Haryana; currently, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Malaysia) spoke on ‘ Biomedical literature: Searching, reviewing and referencing .’ He schematically explained the basis of scientific literature, designing a literature review, and searching literature. After an introduction to the genesis and diverse sources of scientific literature searches, the use of PubMed, one of the premier databases used for biomedical literature searches world-wide, was illustrated with examples and screenshots. Several companion databases and search engines are also used for finding information related to health sciences, and they include Embase, Web of Science, SciFinder, The Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, and Google Scholar.[ 3 ] Literature searches using alternative interfaces for PubMed such as GoPubMed, Quertle, PubFocus, Pubget, and BibliMed were discussed. The participants were additionally informed of databases on chemistry, drugs and drug targets, clinical trials, toxicology, and laboratory animals (reviewed in ref[ 3 ]).
Referencing and bibliography are essential in scientific writing and publication.[ 7 ] Referencing systems are broadly classified into two major types, such as Parenthetical and Notation systems. Parenthetical referencing is also known as Harvard style of referencing, while Vancouver referencing style and ‘Footnote’ or ‘Endnote’ are placed under Notation referencing systems. The participants were educated on each referencing system with examples.
Dr. Raj Rajasekaran (University of California at San Diego, CA, USA) enlightened the audience on ‘ bibliography management ’ using reference management software programs such as Reference Manager ® , Endnote ® , and Zotero ® for creating and formatting bibliographies while writing a manuscript for publication. The discussion focused on the use of bibliography management software in avoiding common mistakes such as incomplete references. Important steps in bibliography management, such as creating reference libraries/databases, searching for references using PubMed/Google scholar, selecting and transferring selected references into a library, inserting citations into a research article and formatting bibliographies, were presented. A demonstration of Zotero®, a freely available reference management program, included the salient features of the software, adding references from PubMed using PubMed ID, inserting citations and formatting using different styles.
The workshop systematically instructed the participants in writing ‘ experimental protocols ’ in six disciplines of Pharmaceutical Sciences.: (1) Pharmaceutical Chemistry (presented by Dr. P. V. Bharatam, NIPER, Mohali, Punjab); (2) Pharmacology (presented by Dr. G. Jagadeesh and Dr. P. Balakumar); (3) Pharmaceutics (presented by Dr. Jayant Khandare, Piramal Life Sciences, Mumbai); (4) Pharmacy Practice (presented by Dr. Shobha Hiremath, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru); (5) Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry (presented by Dr. Salma Khanam, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru); and (6) Pharmaceutical Analysis (presented by Dr. Saranjit Singh, NIPER, Mohali, Punjab). The purpose of the research plan is to describe the what (Specific Aims/Objectives), why (Background and Significance), and how (Design and Methods) of the proposal.
The research plan should answer the following questions: (a) what do you intend to do; (b) what has already been done in general, and what have other researchers done in the field; (c) why is this worth doing; (d) how is it innovative; (e) what will this new work add to existing knowledge; and (f) how will the research be accomplished?
In general, the format used by the faculty in all subjects is shown in Table 2 .
Elements of a research protocol
Biostatistics is a key component of biomedical research. Highly reputed journals like The Lancet, BMJ, Journal of the American Medical Association, and many other biomedical journals include biostatisticians on their editorial board or reviewers list. This indicates that a great importance is given for learning and correctly employing appropriate statistical methods in biomedical research. The post-lunch session on day 1 of the workshop was largely committed to discussion on ‘ Basic biostatistics .’ Dr. R. Raveendran (JIPMER, Puducherry) and Dr. Avijit Hazra (PGIMER, Kolkata) reviewed, in parallel sessions, descriptive statistics, probability concepts, sample size calculation, choosing a statistical test, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and ‘ P ’ values, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, including analysis of variance (ANOVA), t tests, Chi-square test, type I and type II errors, correlation and regression, and summary statistics. This was followed by a practice and demonstration session. Statistics CD, compiled by Dr. Raveendran, was distributed to the participants before the session began and was demonstrated live. Both speakers worked on a variety of problems that involved both clinical and experimental data. They discussed through examples the experimental designs encountered in a variety of studies and statistical analyses performed for different types of data. For the benefit of readers, we have summarized statistical tests applied frequently for different experimental designs and post-hoc tests [ Figure 1 ].
Conceptual framework for statistical analyses of data. Of the two kinds of variables, qualitative (categorical) and quantitative (numerical), qualitative variables (nominal or ordinal) are not normally distributed. Numerical data that come from normal distributions are analyzed using parametric tests, if not; the data are analyzed using non-parametric tests. The most popularly used Student's t -test compares the means of two populations, data for this test could be paired or unpaired. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to compare the means of three or more independent populations that are normally distributed. Applying t test repeatedly in pair (multiple comparison), to compare the means of more than two populations, will increase the probability of type I error (false positive). In this case, for proper interpretation, we need to adjust the P values. Repeated measures ANOVA is used to compare the population means if more than two observations coming from same subject over time. The null hypothesis is rejected with a ‘ P ’ value of less than 0.05, and the difference in population means is considered to be statistically significant. Subsequently, appropriate post-hoc tests are used for pairwise comparisons of population means. Two-way or three-way ANOVA are considered if two (diet, dose) or three (diet, dose, strain) independent factors, respectively, are analyzed in an experiment (not described in the Figure). Categorical nominal unmatched variables (counts or frequencies) are analyzed by Chi-square test (not shown in the Figure)
The legitimate pursuit of scientific creativity is unfortunately being marred by a simultaneous increase in scientific misconduct. A disproportionate share of allegations involves scientists of many countries, and even from respected laboratories. Misconduct destroys faith in science and scientists and creates a hierarchy of fraudsters. Investigating misconduct also steals valuable time and resources. In spite of these facts, most researchers are not aware of publication ethics.
Day 1 of the workshop ended with a presentation on ‘ research and publication ethics ’ by Dr. M. K. Unnikrishnan (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal). He spoke on the essentials of publication ethics that included plagiarism (attempting to take credit of the work of others), self-plagiarism (multiple publications by an author on the same content of work with slightly different wordings), falsification (manipulation of research data and processes and omitting critical data or results), gift authorship (guest authorship), ghostwriting (someone other than the named author (s) makes a major contribution), salami publishing (publishing many papers, with minor differences, from the same study), and sabotage (distracting the research works of others to halt their research completion). Additionally, Dr. Unnikrishnan pointed out the ‘ Ingelfinger rule ’ of stipulating that a scientist must not submit the same original research in two different journals. He also advised the audience that authorship is not just credit for the work but also responsibility for scientific contents of a paper. Although some Indian Universities are instituting preventive measures (e.g., use of plagiarism detecting software, Shodhganga digital archiving of doctoral theses), Dr. Unnikrishnan argued for a great need to sensitize young researchers on the nature and implications of scientific misconduct. Finally, he discussed methods on how editors and peer reviewers should ethically conduct themselves while managing a manuscript for publication.
Research outcomes are measured through quality publications. Scientists must not only ‘do’ science but must ‘write’ science. The story of the project must be told in a clear, simple language weaving in previous work done in the field, answering the research question, and addressing the hypothesis set forth at the beginning of the study. Scientific publication is an organic process of planning, researching, drafting, revising, and updating the current knowledge for future perspectives. Writing a research paper is no easier than the research itself. The lectures of Day 2 of the workshop dealt with the basic elements and logistics of writing a scientific paper.
Dr. Amitabh Prakash (Adis, Auckland, New Zealand) spoke on ‘ Learning how to write a good scientific paper .’ His presentation described the essential components of an original research paper and thesis (e.g., introduction, methods, results, and discussion [IMRaD]) and provided guidance on the correct order, in which data should appear within these sections. The characteristics of a good abstract and title and the creation of appropriate key words were discussed. Dr. Prakash suggested that the ‘title of a paper’ might perhaps have a chance to make a good impression, and the title might be either indicative (title that gives the purpose of the study) or declarative (title that gives the study conclusion). He also suggested that an abstract is a succinct summary of a research paper, and it should be specific, clear, and concise, and should have IMRaD structure in brief, followed by key words. Selection of appropriate papers to be cited in the reference list was also discussed. Various unethical authorships were enumerated, and ‘The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship’ was explained ( http://www.icmje.org/ethical_1author.html ; also see Table 1 in reference #9). The session highlighted the need for transparency in medical publication and provided a clear description of items that needed to be included in the ‘Disclosures’ section (e.g., sources of funding for the study and potential conflicts of interest of all authors, etc.) and ‘Acknowledgements’ section (e.g., writing assistance and input from all individuals who did not meet the authorship criteria). The final part of the presentation was devoted to thesis writing, and Dr. Prakash provided the audience with a list of common mistakes that are frequently encountered when writing a manuscript.
The backbone of a study is description of results through Text, Tables, and Figures. Dr. S. B. Deshpande (Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India) spoke on ‘ Effective Presentation of Results .’ The Results section deals with the observations made by the authors and thus, is not hypothetical. This section is subdivided into three segments, that is, descriptive form of the Text, providing numerical data in Tables, and visualizing the observations in Graphs or Figures. All these are arranged in a sequential order to address the question hypothesized in the Introduction. The description in Text provides clear content of the findings highlighting the observations. It should not be the repetition of facts in tables or graphs. Tables are used to summarize or emphasize descriptive content in the text or to present the numerical data that are unrelated. Illustrations should be used when the evidence bearing on the conclusions of a paper cannot be adequately presented in a written description or in a Table. Tables or Figures should relate to each other logically in sequence and should be clear by themselves. Furthermore, the discussion is based entirely on these observations. Additionally, how the results are applied to further research in the field to advance our understanding of research questions was discussed.
Dr. Peush Sahni (All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) spoke on effectively ‘ structuring the Discussion ’ for a research paper. The Discussion section deals with a systematic interpretation of study results within the available knowledge. He said the section should begin with the most important point relating to the subject studied, focusing on key issues, providing link sentences between paragraphs, and ensuring the flow of text. Points were made to avoid history, not repeat all the results, and provide limitations of the study. The strengths and novel findings of the study should be provided in the discussion, and it should open avenues for future research and new questions. The Discussion section should end with a conclusion stating the summary of key findings. Dr. Sahni gave an example from a published paper for writing a Discussion. In another presentation titled ‘ Writing an effective title and the abstract ,’ Dr. Sahni described the important components of a good title, such as, it should be simple, concise, informative, interesting and eye-catching, accurate and specific about the paper's content, and should state the subject in full indicating study design and animal species. Dr. Sahni explained structured (IMRaD) and unstructured abstracts and discussed a few selected examples with the audience.
The next lecture of Dr. Amitabh Prakash on ‘ Language and style in scientific writing: Importance of terseness, shortness and clarity in writing ’ focused on the actual sentence construction, language, grammar and punctuation in scientific manuscripts. His presentation emphasized the importance of brevity and clarity in the writing of manuscripts describing biomedical research. Starting with a guide to the appropriate construction of sentences and paragraphs, attendees were given a brief overview of the correct use of punctuation with interactive examples. Dr. Prakash discussed common errors in grammar and proactively sought audience participation in correcting some examples. Additional discussion was centered on discouraging the use of redundant and expendable words, jargon, and the use of adjectives with incomparable words. The session ended with a discussion of words and phrases that are commonly misused (e.g., data vs . datum, affect vs . effect, among vs . between, dose vs . dosage, and efficacy/efficacious vs . effective/effectiveness) in biomedical research manuscripts.
The appropriateness in selecting the journal for submission and acceptance of the manuscript should be determined by the experience of an author. The corresponding author must have a rationale in choosing the appropriate journal, and this depends upon the scope of the study and the quality of work performed. Dr. Amitabh Prakash spoke on ‘ Working with journals: Selecting a journal, cover letter, peer review process and impact factor ’ by instructing the audience in assessing the true value of a journal, understanding principles involved in the peer review processes, providing tips on making an initial approach to the editorial office, and drafting an appropriate cover letter to accompany the submission. His presentation defined the metrics that are most commonly used to measure journal quality (e.g., impact factor™, Eigenfactor™ score, Article Influence™ score, SCOPUS 2-year citation data, SCImago Journal Rank, h-Index, etc.) and guided attendees on the relative advantages and disadvantages of using each metric. Factors to consider when assessing journal quality were discussed, and the audience was educated on the ‘green’ and ‘gold’ open access publication models. Various peer review models (e.g., double-blind, single-blind, non-blind) were described together with the role of the journal editor in assessing manuscripts and selecting suitable reviewers. A typical checklist sent to referees was shared with the attendees, and clear guidance was provided on the best way to address referee feedback. The session concluded with a discussion of the potential drawbacks of the current peer review system.
Posters have become an increasingly popular mode of presentation at conferences, as it can accommodate more papers per meeting, has no time constraint, provides a better presenter-audience interaction, and allows one to select and attend papers of interest. In Figure 2 , we provide instructions, design, and layout in preparing a scientific poster. In the final presentation, Dr. Sahni provided the audience with step-by-step instructions on how to write and format posters for layout, content, font size, color, and graphics. Attendees were given specific guidance on the format of text on slides, the use of color, font type and size, and the use of illustrations and multimedia effects. Moreover, the importance of practical tips while delivering oral or poster presentation was provided to the audience, such as speak slowly and clearly, be informative, maintain eye contact, and listen to the questions from judges/audience carefully before coming up with an answer.
Guidelines and design to scientific poster presentation. The objective of scientific posters is to present laboratory work in scientific meetings. A poster is an excellent means of communicating scientific work, because it is a graphic representation of data. Posters should have focus points, and the intended message should be clearly conveyed through simple sections: Text, Tables, and Graphs. Posters should be clear, succinct, striking, and eye-catching. Colors should be used only where necessary. Use one font (Arial or Times New Roman) throughout. Fancy fonts should be avoided. All headings should have font size of 44, and be in bold capital letters. Size of Title may be a bit larger; subheading: Font size of 36, bold and caps. References and Acknowledgments, if any, should have font size of 24. Text should have font size between 24 and 30, in order to be legible from a distance of 3 to 6 feet. Do not use lengthy notes
After all the presentations were made, Dr. Jagadeesh began a panel discussion that included all speakers. The discussion was aimed at what we do currently and could do in the future with respect to ‘developing a research question and then writing an effective thesis proposal/protocol followed by publication.’ Dr. Jagadeesh asked the following questions to the panelists, while receiving questions/suggestions from the participants and panelists.
The panelists and audience expressed a variety of views, but were unable to arrive at a decisive conclusion.
At the end of this fast-moving two-day workshop, the participants had opportunities in learning the following topics:
Overall, the workshop was deemed very helpful to participants. The participants rated the quality of workshop from “ satisfied ” to “ very satisfied .” A significant number of participants were of the opinion that the time allotted for each presentation was short and thus, be extended from the present two days to four days with adequate time to ask questions. In addition, a ‘hands-on’ session should be introduced for writing a proposal and manuscript. A large number of attendees expressed their desire to attend a similar workshop, if conducted, in the near future.
We gratefully express our gratitude to the Organizing Committee, especially Professors K. Chinnasamy, B. G. Shivananda, N. Udupa, Jerad Suresh, Padma Parekh, A. P. Basavarajappa, Mr. S. V. Veerramani, Mr. J. Jayaseelan, and all volunteers of the SRM University. We thank Dr. Thomas Papoian (US FDA) for helpful comments on the manuscript.
The opinions expressed herein are those of Gowraganahalli Jagadeesh and do not necessarily reflect those of the US Food and Drug Administration
Source of Support: Nil
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
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Table of Contents
A research proposal is a document that outlines the plan and rationale for conducting a research study. It serves as a blueprint for the entire research process and helps researchers communicate their objectives, methods, and expected outcomes effectively.
The key components of a research proposal include:
Also learn about Action Proposal
Research proposals can vary depending on the field of study and the intended audience. Different types of research proposals can help you determine which format is most appropriate for your specific needs.
Whether responding to a solicitation, submitting an unsolicited proposal, or seeking continuation or renewal funding, each proposal type requires careful consideration and alignment with the sponsor’s objectives and guidelines.
Here are some common types of research proposals:
Solicited proposals are submitted in response to a specific call or request issued by a sponsor. These calls, often referred to as Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Quotations (RFQ), outline the sponsor’s specific requirements, objectives, and evaluation criteria.
Solicited proposals must adhere to the provided guidelines and may include technical specifications and terms and conditions set by the sponsor. Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) are similar but are not considered formal solicitations.
Unsolicited proposals are submitted to a sponsor without a specific request or solicitation. In these cases, the investigator believes that the sponsor has an interest in the subject matter. Unsolicited proposals require the researcher to present a compelling case for the significance and relevance of their research, convincing the sponsor of the value and potential impact of the proposed study.
Preproposals are typically requested by sponsors who want to streamline the application process and minimize the effort required by applicants. Preproposals are in the form of a letter of intent or a brief abstract that outlines the main objectives and approach of the research.
After reviewing the preproposal, the sponsor informs the investigator if a full proposal is warranted. This process allows both the investigator and the sponsor to determine if it is worthwhile to proceed with a complete proposal submission.
Continuation or non-competing proposals are submitted for multi-year projects that have already received funding from the sponsor for an initial period, typically one year. These proposals confirm the original proposal’s scope, objectives, and funding requirements for the subsequent period.
The sponsor’s decision to continue funding is contingent upon satisfactory work progress and the availability of funds.
Renewal or competing proposals are submitted when an existing project is nearing its end, and the investigator requests continued support for the research. From the sponsor’s perspective, these proposals are treated similarly to unsolicited proposals, requiring a thorough presentation of the project’s achievements, impact, and future plans.
Renewal proposals must demonstrate the ongoing relevance and value of the research, highlighting the need for further funding to continue the project’s objectives.
Grant proposals are submitted to funding agencies, such as government bodies, foundations, or organizations, to secure financial support for research projects.
These proposals typically require a detailed description of the research project, including the objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, budget, and timeline. Grant proposals often follow specific guidelines provided by the funding agency.
Dissertation proposals are submitted by doctoral students as part of their research journey. These proposals outline the research topic, objectives, theoretical framework, methodology, and anticipated contributions to the field.
Dissertation proposals also typically include a literature review to establish the context and significance of the proposed research.
Project proposals are common in academic and professional settings where research projects are undertaken. These proposals outline the objectives, scope, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes of the project.
Project proposals often include details about the project team, resources required, and the potential impact of the project on stakeholders.
Similar to dissertation proposals, thesis proposals are submitted by students pursuing a master’s degree. These proposals present the research topic, objectives, methodology, and expected contributions to the field.
Thesis proposals also include a literature review that highlights the existing knowledge and research gaps in the chosen area of study.
Research funding proposals are typically submitted by researchers or research teams within academic institutions or research organizations. These proposals aim to secure funding for ongoing or new research projects.
Research funding proposals often include a detailed description of the research objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, budget, and timeline. They may also require a justification for the need for funding and a demonstration of the potential impact of the research.
Feasibility study proposals are used to assess the practicality and viability of a research project before its full implementation. These proposals outline the research objectives, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes, with a particular focus on evaluating the feasibility of conducting the research.
Feasibility study proposals often involve preliminary data collection or analysis to inform the decision-making process.
Program evaluation proposals are designed to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of a specific program, intervention, or policy. These proposals typically outline the evaluation objectives, methodology, data collection methods, analysis techniques, and expected outcomes.
Program evaluation proposals often require collaboration with relevant stakeholders and may involve both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Following steps are involved in Developing a Research Proposal:
Selecting a suitable research topic is important for the success of your research proposal. Consider the following tips when choosing your research topic:
Crafting a well-structured and compelling research proposal is essential for several reasons:
Research proposals serve as essential tools for planning and initiating research projects across various fields. They play a crucial role in academic, scientific, and professional settings. Here are some key applications of research proposals:
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Your research proposal may be a part of your dissertation, submitted in advance, or submitted as a separate piece of work. You may also be required to write a research proposal as part of a grant application.
Whether or not you are required to submit a research proposal before your dissertation, it is good practice to summarise what you plan to do, and why, before you start as it will help to keep your research on track.
A research proposal is a document in which you outline the case for undertaking the research project, your dissertation or thesis, and present your plans for carrying out the work.Â
It is needed to persuade supervisors, funders and other stakeholders of the value of the research and the likelihood that it will successfully be able to answer the research question(s).Â
A typical research proposal contains:
An introduction outlining the topic and questions for investigation, as well as a brief literature review and theoretical framework.
A detailed strategy explaining what the research methods are, what data will be collected and how access to data sources will be obtained.
A realistic timetable for completion, showing key milestones and when they will be accomplished. You will be working to deadlines.
Discussion of logistical and ethical considerations.
Limitations of the proposed research.
An indicative bibliography of references consulted to date on the topic.
In addition, when a research proposal is made to a funding body or when plans for communication are not implicit in the project (e.g., when the research is undertaken for a dissertation), then it is usual to include a detailed budget and a description of the communication plans in the proposal.
The first step in any research is to identify the topic of interest. Think about which areas have most interested you in your studies to date, and what you would most like to explore.
Then start to read around those subjects to narrow down the field of interest. Now is a good time to identify a possible supervisor and talk to them about whether they would be prepared to supervise you and help you narrow down your research topic.
As a general principle, it is better to research a narrow topic in more detail than a broad one in very little detail.
Start to write up your research proposal as you read around your subject.
Summarise the texts that you read and group ideas into themes as you go, not forgetting to reference very carefully. It is much easier to take irrelevant text and references out later than to add them in and remember where the ideas came from.
See our page: Academic Referencing for more on effective referencing.
Once you have identified your field of interest, you can then start to identify one or more research questions to answer. Again, a narrow question that you can research in detail is better than a broad one that you will not be able to cover in full.
Your research question(s) should be ones that have not been fully answered in previous research so that you are adding to the literature. However, you want your literature review to have at least something to report, so an area where there is already plenty of research is better than a completely new topic. You can always find a sector, study group, or other unique element that will make the research worthwhile, even if others have done similar studies before.
Thinking about your research topic, ask yourself it is that you actually want to find out? Frame it as a question that you could ask somebody: good research questions often begin with asking words like who, what, when, where, why, how, and how much. Once you have brainstormed several questions related to your topic, look at each one individually against the following checklist of considerations.Â
Is the question interesting?
Is there a social or practical value in knowing the answer to this question?
Is the scope of the question specific enough that you would realistically be able to answer it within the limits (time and cost) of the project you are going to undertake? If not, you may need to narrow down the focus even further.
Does the question suggest the kind of information you would need to answer it, and how you would go about getting that information?
Would it be feasible to get the information necessary to answer the question?
By the time you have finished developing your research question(s), they should be tight and carefully defined, including a clear idea of the sector or area of study, study population, and what someone will know after reading your research.
Once you have a topic, and research question(s), then you can decide on a title, which should broadly cover your research question(s) and summarise what you are going to do.
Working Title
It’s fine to change your title later on, or at least to tweak it, so consider this a working title for now.
You can and should use your dissertation supervisor as a sounding board as you develop your thinking, although beware of bombarding them with enthusiastic and/or panicky emails.
It’s usually better to ask for a meeting to discuss your ideas, rather than trying to have a discussion by email.
Keep a note of ideas and questions, and then send a single email to your supervisor requesting an appointment, and setting out your broad thinking, preferably with your outline research questions.
Your supervisor will soon make clear whether they think your ideas are too broad for study and will hopefully help you to narrow them down.
Once you have defined your research questions, you need to set out broadly what you plan to do to answer them, and why.
Everything that you do should have a clear reason ‘I thought it might be fun’ is not considered good enough.
Your outline methodology should explain:
The broad approach that you plan to take and why, whether qualitative, quantitative, or a mixture of both (and if a mixture, use of the phrase ‘triangulation of results’ is useful to show that you understand that gaining the same results from different sources makes them more powerful);
Some idea of what exactly you plan to do within that approach: your study population, the experimental techniques that you’ll use, such as questionnaires, interviews, or both, again with good academic reasons for your choice;
Any weaknesses in your planned approach, and how you plan to overcome them;
How what you plan to do links back to your research questions and will help you to answer them;
How you will analyse the results, with good academic reasons for your selections.
This section is designed to show that you know what you’re going to do, and why. It will also serve to show whether you’re trying to do too much/too little, which your supervisor should point out to you at an early stage.
See our section on Research Methods for more about how you may go about conducting your research.
Any study involving human or animal subjects will need ethical approval, which will usually be from the university’s ethics committee.
There is likely to be a standard form to complete, which you may need to submit as part of your research proposal. Check the university’s requirements, and if necessary consult your supervisor about what to include.
An example ethical committee approval form may include questions such as:
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If you are submitting a grant application, or research proposal to a university, you will probably have a maximum word count or be given an acceptable word count range.
It’s important to stick to the word count. If the maximum is 2000 words, and you’ve written 500, you probably haven’t provided enough detail. On the other hand, if you’ve written twice as much as expected, then you’ll need to cut it down considerably.
Always check your university or grant-awarding body’s guidelines to make sure that you’ve included all the necessary information, and that this is in the required format.
It is extremely annoying to have something rejected, or have to rewrite it because of a formality like the font size.
See our study skills page: Assignment Finishing Touches for some general ideas about presentation and formatting your work.
Continue to: Writing a Methodology Research Methods
See Also: Writing a Literature Review Dissertation Results and Discussion Dissertation Conclusions and Extra Sections
Home » Research Proposal – Types, Template and Example
Table of Contents
Research proposal is a document that outlines a proposed research project . It is typically written by researchers, scholars, or students who intend to conduct research to address a specific research question or problem.
Research proposals can vary depending on the nature of the research project and the specific requirements of the funding agency, academic institution, or research program. Here are some common types of research proposals:
This is the most common type of research proposal, which is prepared by students, scholars, or researchers to seek approval and funding for an academic research project. It includes all the essential components mentioned earlier, such as the introduction, literature review , methodology , and expected outcomes.
A grant proposal is specifically designed to secure funding from external sources, such as government agencies, foundations, or private organizations. It typically includes additional sections, such as a detailed budget, project timeline, evaluation plan, and a description of the project’s alignment with the funding agency’s priorities and objectives.
Students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree often need to submit a proposal outlining their intended research for their dissertation or thesis. These proposals are usually more extensive and comprehensive, including an in-depth literature review, theoretical framework, research questions or hypotheses, and a detailed methodology.
This type of proposal is often prepared by researchers or research teams within an organization or institution. It outlines a specific research project that aims to address a particular problem, explore a specific area of interest, or provide insights for decision-making. Research project proposals may include sections on project management, collaboration, and dissemination of results.
Researchers or scholars applying for research fellowships may be required to submit a proposal outlining their proposed research project. These proposals often emphasize the novelty and significance of the research and its alignment with the goals and objectives of the fellowship program.
In cases where researchers from multiple institutions or disciplines collaborate on a research project, a collaborative research proposal is prepared. This proposal highlights the objectives, responsibilities, and contributions of each collaborator, as well as the overall research plan and coordination mechanisms.
A research proposal typically follows a standard outline that helps structure the document and ensure all essential components are included. While the specific headings and subheadings may vary slightly depending on the requirements of your institution or funding agency, the following outline provides a general structure for a research proposal:
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Here’s an example of a research proposal to give you an idea of how it can be structured:
Title: The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Well-being: A Mixed-Methods Study
This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of social media on the well-being of adolescents. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive data. The research objectives include examining the relationship between social media use and mental health, exploring the role of peer influence in shaping online behaviors, and identifying strategies for promoting healthy social media use among adolescents. The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding of the effects of social media on adolescent well-being and inform the development of targeted interventions.
1. Introduction
1.1 Background and Context:
Adolescents today are immersed in social media platforms, which have become integral to their daily lives. However, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact of social media on their well-being, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction. It is crucial to investigate this phenomenon further and understand the underlying mechanisms to develop effective strategies for promoting healthy social media use among adolescents.
1.2 Research Objectives:
The main objectives of this study are:
2. Literature Review
Extensive research has been conducted on the impact of social media on adolescents. Existing literature suggests that excessive social media use can contribute to negative outcomes, such as low self-esteem, cyberbullying, and addictive behaviors. However, some studies have also highlighted the positive aspects of social media, such as providing opportunities for self-expression and social support. This study will build upon this literature by incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gain a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between social media and adolescent well-being.
3. Methodology
3.1 Research Design:
This study will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The quantitative phase will involve administering standardized questionnaires to a representative sample of adolescents to assess their social media use, mental health indicators, and perceived social support. The qualitative phase will include in-depth interviews with a subset of participants to explore their experiences, motivations, and perceptions related to social media use.
3.2 Data Collection Methods:
Quantitative data will be collected through an online survey distributed to schools in the target region. The survey will include validated scales to measure social media use, mental health outcomes, and perceived social support. Qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of participants. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.
3.3 Data Analysis:
Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to examine the relationships between variables. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to identify common themes and patterns within participants’ narratives. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of the research questions.
4. Timeline
The research project will be conducted over a period of 12 months, divided into specific phases, including literature review, study design, data collection, analysis, and report writing. A detailed timeline outlining the key milestones and activities is provided in Appendix A.
5. Expected Outcomes and Significance
This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on the impact of social media on adolescent well-being by employing a mixed-methods approach. The findings will inform the development of evidence-based interventions and guidelines to promote healthy social media use among adolescents. This research has the potential to benefit adolescents, parents, educators, and policymakers by providing insights into the complex relationship between social media and well-being and offering strategies for fostering positive online experiences.
6. Resources
The resources required for this research include access to a representative sample of adolescents, research assistants for data collection, statistical software for data analysis, and funding to cover survey administration and participant incentives. Ethical considerations will be taken into account, ensuring participant confidentiality and obtaining informed consent.
7. References
Writing a research proposal can be a complex task, but with proper guidance and organization, you can create a compelling and well-structured proposal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
The length of a research proposal can vary depending on the specific guidelines provided by your institution or funding agency. However, research proposals typically range from 1,500 to 3,000 words, excluding references and any additional supporting documents.
The purpose of a research proposal is to outline and communicate your research project to others, such as academic institutions, funding agencies, or potential collaborators. It serves several important purposes:
The research proposal holds significant importance in the research process. Here are some key reasons why research proposals are important:
The timing of when to write a research proposal can vary depending on the specific requirements and circumstances. However, here are a few common situations when it is appropriate to write a research proposal:
Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer
Few students fully get the meaning and the importance of a research proposal. If you have a good research proposal, it means that you are going to carry out adequate research. A low-quality research proposal may be the reason your research will never start.
The main purpose of a research proposal is to convince the reader of your project’s value . You will have to prove that you have a plan for your work and that your project will be successful. Your reader has to be sure that it is not another useless piece of writing, but a profound research work that will be extremely important for science.
Want to learn more about the reasons why it is important to have a research plan? Continue reading this article by Custom-writing.org experts!
đ€ what is research proposal.
A research proposal is a document that proposes a particular research project, usually in academia or sciences, intending to get funding from an institution. A typical research proposal addresses a range of points:
Research proposals are usually required when one plans to write a thesis, dissertation, or research paper. The format is similar to that of a research paper, with an introduction, a literature review, a methods section, and a conclusion.
The primary goal of any research proposal is to convince a sponsoring institution that a particular research project is worthwhile. The document usually aims to cover the aspects below.
Convince the reader that your project is original, interesting, and essential for a research field you’re working in. | ||
Demonstrate your familiarity with the research field. Show that you know its current state and have a deep understanding of the literature. | ||
Explain your methodology. Show that your data and methods are thought about well. | ||
Talk about the practical side of your project. Confirm that youâre able to complete the research within the limits of the program or the institution youâre applying to. |
In other words, the purpose of a research proposal is to answer the following questions about your research project:
A research proposal is important for several reasons:
The first and probably the easiest thing to do is to identify a general or subject area to investigate. | |
On the second stage, you need to read as much on the general topic as possible. Make and summarize each study’s purpose and findings. | |
The purpose of the previous step is to determine what studies have already been done on the subject of your research proposal and then identify any obvious gaps in the literature. Find where you can add to the existing body of knowledge. | |
The purpose of the research proposal is to sell your idea to the funding agency. On this stage, the task is to explain why you are investigating this topic, what you propose to do, and why others should be interested in your research. This is called a purpose statement. | |
Next, you should craft a & hypotheses for your study. Research hypotheses determine what you will investigate and what you expect to find in your study. They are your supposed answers to the research question. | |
The should include the components that you created on the previous stages: a problem statement, a summary of the literature (you can use a for that), a concise description of the gap in the literature, a purpose statement, & a research question. | |
In your methods section, you should the procedures you plan to follow to complete the proposed study. The section generally includes: an explanation of the research design and some information on the data collection process. | |
Outline the research design of your academic . You should describe two or three possible alternatives for each part of the design. | |
In this section, describe how you are going to collect your data. Explain the scheme of analyzing the collected data and reporting the results. | |
On the final stage, you need to give some information on the estimated budget and schedule of your research. |
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Sup guys! I need definitions about research defined by scholars and year of publication plzđ
Very informative, as for social science student. đ
Thanks a lot dear!! Many information gained
Thanks it’s so much easier and helpful who are work first time in research proposal like me It’s interesting but I can’t decided what topic I researching for my collage project or which topic is better đ so I need a guide line or instructions for choosing a good topic
thank you for our explanation about research proposal but i want to know the aims or purpose of research proposal
This is informative and inspiring paper for međđ
very good concept on research proposal. thank you
useful data
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A research proposal is a comprehensive plan for a research project. It is a written description of a research plan that has to be undertaken. It determines the specific areas of research, states the purpose, scope, methodology, overall organization and limitations of the study. It also estimates its requirements for equipment (if necessary), finance and possible personnel.
The research proposal is of great significance both to the researcher and the readers. 1. It makes known oneâs intentions of getting involved with research work and this is done through the researcher spelling out the objectives of his/her study. 2. The process of writing a proposal allows the researcher to plan and review the steps that will be undertaken in the project. It gives the researcher an opportunity to spot flows in the logic, errors in assumptions and even problems that are not adequately addressed by the objectives and design of the study. 3. In general, it provides justification for funding, if one is out in the business/consultancy world. One has to justify the use of resources. If one is in an academic setting, the proposal must provide justification for acceptance as contributing to either existing knowledge or adding to it (that is either extending the current field of work or providing additional knowledge to the existing field). 4. After the proposal is done and approved, the document serves as guide for the researcher throughout the investigations, ie, progress can be monitored. 5. The proposal provides a basis for the evaluation of the document; it gives the research advisor a basis for assisting the researcher . 6. A well-designed research proposal helps the researcher to avoid the tiring and time consuming alterations once the research project takes off. 7. The proposal forces time management and budget estimate. These estimates allow researchers to plan the project in such a way that the work progresses steadily towards the deadline. Since many people tend to follow the work, having a schedule helps researchers work towards the completion of the project. 8. A proposal also provides an opportunity for the researcher to discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on related areas. 9. A proposal is also able to suggest the data necessary for solving the problem and how the data will be gathered, treated, and interpreted. 10. In addition, the proposal of a contact researcher must present its plan, services and credentials in the best possible way to encourage its selection over competitors. In contract research, the survival of companies depends on their ability to develop wining proposals.
A note on Sponsor Uses All research has a sponsor in one form or another. The student researcher is responsible to the class instructor. In a corporate setting, whether the research is being done in-house by a research department or under contract to an external research firm, management sponsors the research. University, government, or corporate sponsored (grant) research uses grant committees to evaluate the work.
âą A research proposal allows the sponsor to assess the sincerity of your purpose, the clarity of your design, the extent of your background material , and your fitness for undertaking the project. âą The proposal displays your discipline, organisation, and logic. A poorly planned, poorly written, or poorly organised proposal damages your reputation more than the decision not to submit one. âą Depending on the type of research and sponsor you have, various aspects of a standard proposal design are emphasised. âą The proposal, then, provides a document the sponsor can evaluate based on current organisational, scholastic, or scientific needs. It allows the research sponsor to assess both the researcher and the proposed design, to compare them against competing proposals, and to make the best selection for the project. âą Comparison of the results with the proposal is the first step in the evaluation process. It provides a basis for the sponsor to evaluate the results of a project. By comparing the final product with the stated objectives, it is easy for the sponsor to decide if the research goals have been achieved. âą Another benefit of the proposal is the discipline it brings to the sponsor. Many managers, requesting an in-house, departmental research project, do not adequately define the problem they are addressing. The research proposal acts as a catalyst for discussion between the person conducting the research and the manager. The researcher translates the management question, as described by the manager, into the research questions and outlines the objectives of the study. Upon review, the manager may discover that the interpretation of the problem does not encompass all the original symptoms. The proposal, then, serves as the basis for additional discussion between the manager and the researcher untill all aspects of the management question are understood
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Table of Contents
Research proposals are essential to the academic world, providing a roadmap for research and experimentation. They enable academics to hone their ideas and articulate them in a way that peers and potential collaborators can understand. In addition, they serve as a means of demonstrating oneâs expertise in a subject area and can also have important benefits beyond academia. Proposals can help secure funding. This article will discuss the purpose of a proposal in academia.
A research proposal is a document that outlines the proposed research project and its aims, objectives, methods, results, and conclusion . It serves as an essential tool to get approval from potential sponsors or funding agencies to proceed with the research. A well-drafted research proposal should demonstrate the authorâs expertise in the field of study and convey their intentions clearly to readers. Here are the specific purposes a research proposal serves.
The primary purpose of a research proposal is to provide sufficient information about the intended research study. It helps readers to evaluate its value and make a decision on whether to fund it or not. The proposal must also convince reviewers that the investigator has the appropriate knowledge and skills to conduct the study successfully. Therefore, it is important to present the research plan in a concise, accurate, logical, and understandable manner. The proposal should include all necessary details such as background information, objectives, methodology, data collection plans, timeline, budget, and expected outcomes.
A secondary purpose of a research proposal is to offer practical guidance for conducting the planned investigation. In other words, it provides step-by-step instructions for designing and carrying out the research work. This includes identifying suitable research participants, specifying which variables will be measured, and determining how data will be collected. It also includes analyzing data accurately and drawing valid conclusions from it. Furthermore, a research proposal helps to define the scope of a particular project. It identifies any methodological challenges associated with it, develops strategies to address them, and assesses any risks posed by external factors.
A third purpose of a research proposal is to show the feasibility of your study. Through your research proposalâs methodology, you can convince evaluators that your research goal is attainable. Not every study is feasible or can be done, but research proposals serve as proof of its feasibility.
A research proposal is an important document that outlines the relevance of a proposed study. It helps to demonstrate how the project will contribute to existing knowledge and understanding in the field. It also explains its potential impact on society. The proposal should explain why the topic is worth researching and what new insights it could bring. This includes outlining gaps in current knowledge that the research aims to fill and demonstrating how it relates to other studies in the area. The proposal should also provide evidence of the practical applications of the research, such as how it might benefit individuals or organizations.
Finally, writing a research proposal requires intense preparation in terms of time and effort. The purpose of a proposal cannot be narrowed down to a single purpose. It serves multiple purposes. Through the proposal, researchers can analyze problems more thoroughly. It helps clarify their thoughts and helps them get a deeper understanding of their topic area before commencing their projects.
Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.
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This piece contains information about the research proposal sample, which is mostly the basics you need to know about the same. If you are a college student or a scholar, you can learn what needs to be included in your research proposal sample to make it more appealing and even win a sponsorship.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Before going deeper into the key objective of this piece, let us take a look at the definition of a research proposal sample . First of all, a research proposal sample is a document that is created by college students and scholars to propose a research project. Most of the time, this document is used to request for sponsorship for the research mentioned. Usually, before sponsorship is issued, the possible impact of that research is evaluated by the administrators of the relevant field.
College and university students are usually asked to write research proposals towards the end of their courses. A research proposal sample speak volumes about the intended research activity. Sadly, most students find themselves struggling to create top-quality research proposals to earn them high grades. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about research proposal samples and how you can create one.
The research proposal sample forms an integral part of your application, and there is a guide that you have to follow, regardless of what you intend to achieve with your research proposal sample. If youâd like some examples and more indepth tips, head over to â Importance of Research Proposals in Academic Writing â.
Tip: Your research proposal sample should be around 2,000 â 3,500 words in length (this translates to 3-5 pages).
These are handled the same way that you would handle any other research proposal sample. What is always looked at is the quality and relevance of your research proposal sample. If youâre running a bit low on motivation for writing your thesis, visit our blog article âThe Guide to Writing a Good Thesisâ . Regardless of the education level, you are focusing on; you need to keep your research proposal within the guidelines mentioned on this page.
Yes! Visit our blog article  â Research Proposal Example â or alternatively, simply scroll down! However, when looking at examples, be sure not to copy their phrasing or ideas. Simply take a look at the structure and the âtypeâ of phrasing that is used.
First of all, youâll need an eye-catching title. Then youâll need the background information that is nescessary for the reader to understand what your proposal is about. Then you need the research methods, research questions, your hypothesis and many more details. If youâre having trouble getting started, you can find some tips about overcoming writerâs block simply by following the link.
First, make sure that youâve carried out enough research. You donât want to get half way through your research topic proposal and then realise that thereâs not enough material for you to work with. Make sure that you clearly state the problem that youâre going to address with your research and give any nescessary background information that the reader may need. Your hypothesis also needs to be clear and consistent throughout. Once youâre finished, itâll be time to submit your research proposal. Decide how you want to format it and then print it at home, or in a print shop.
Your proposal should include the following:
Your title should give a clear indication of your proposed research approach or key question.
You should include:
Make sure to formulate these clearly, giving an explanation as to what problems and issues you explored and why they are worth exploring.
Provide an outline of:
The research proposal sample should demonstrate the originality of your intended research. Therefore, you should explain why your research is important.
The research proposal sample should include a short bibliography identifying the most relevant works for your topic. You should include:
How important is a Research Proposal Sample for academic writing ? A research proposal is a document often to fifteen pages that contains information on the proposed piece of research.
â It can save students a great deal of time in the long run.
â They are informative and persuasive and can be used to convince the reader to act.
â It can also be used to convince the reader that the issue at hand is impactful and that a solution is appropriate.
â The proposed area of research
â The adequate amount of resources required for the project
â The most appropriate supervisor for the project
â It also displays the studentâs ability to research and communicate professionally about the real issues impacting the community and environment.
Here is a Research Proposal Sample:
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There are some assignments within the academic structure which require a lengthy process of writing, thinking and dedication. They take time and demand from students, proper understanding of the concepts they have as well as a proper writing mechanism developed to attempt such a lengthy assignment. One of those academic assignments includes research work. Research project, assignment or work, whatever you call it is an important term assignment, especially for the students enrolled in a university program and they have to definitely go through it in order to clear their research course.
Working on a research assignment is in itself a different and challenging task, but we will not be focusing on that today. Prior to finalizing your research assignment there is a research proposal assigned to you by your professors to be completed. This proposal is given just before your research work is finalized and you are assigned a brief along with the topic to attempt your term assignment. The importance of a research proposal and why it is given will be discussed in the following sections of the article, so that students understand its use, and design it in such a way that it actually helps them get their research assignment done easily.
Since the research assignment is a lengthy task which requires a lot of effort and time, so teachers do not want students to let it go in vain only to realize that the way they attempted this work was not the right one. So a proposal in which defining different sections of your assignments will allow your teachers and professors to know of your thinking and understanding of the assignment and they might be able to guide you further if something they find is wrong or useless in regards to the assignment. Proposal writing will also help you in clarifying different sections of the assignment and you can see if you are having trouble with something for which your professors can guide you.
By working on a proposal for research work, you decide on things like a filtered narrowed down topic, your sources and references to be used, your methodology and analysis section as well as the coverage of the topic. So at a brief level, most of your work is aligned and after the proposal is approved, you have to start working on those details rather than finding those details first. So in that way research writing proposals can save you a lot of time and narrow down your research work.Students often complain and say-Make my assignment because they are unable to cope with the pressure, so for this purpose, multiple platforms are available, which can assist the students with their academic work.
When you work on your research work proposal, it sets a skeleton or a sketch of research assignment for you and all you have to do is to work along those lines.This means after you carefully design your proposal your focus and attention is already set on the things required and you do not have to make an extra effort to find new things.
A weakness or something wrong in the proposal will allow your professors to understand and find what is wrong with your thinking in terms of assignments and they can specifically guide you to the right path before you waste your time and score average marks.
Author Bio: Melody Wilson is nothing short of a miracle worker. Any writing assignment that she takes on is guaranteed to be not only completed in record time, but is also guaranteed to get an A. Currently employed by the writing organization BestAssignmentService.com, she also likes to write about career choices that the students should consider.
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Saturday, April 12, 2025
About this Event
Bowen-Thompson Student Union 1001 E Wooster St , Bowling Green, OH 43402
Join us to celebrate the impressive and wide-ranging undergraduate research, scholarly and creative projects conducted by our undergraduate students.
This event is sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (CURS).
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Submissions accepted starting March 10, 2025 Deadline for submissions: March 30, 2025
Any undergraduate student who has conducted a research, scholarly or creative project with a faculty mentor in any discipline is invited to present their findings. Individual and group presentations will be accepted.
How to submit your proposal
EVENT DETAILS
No registration is necessary to attend this event. Light refreshments will be served.
9 a.m. Keynote speaker Alice Smith, âWhy research is so importantâ
10 a.m. to noon Poster presentations
Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m Award ceremony
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Crowdstrike reveals what happened, whyâand whatâs changed.
CrowdStrikeâs Root Cause Analysis report elaborates on the information previously shared in its ... [+] preliminary Post Incident Review.
Nearly three weeks after a botched CrowdStrike update caused one of the biggest IT outages in history, the firm has published its in-depth investigation into what happened and why. CrowdStrikeâs Root Cause Analysis report elaborates on the information previously shared in its preliminary Post Incident Review .
In its new post mortem report, CrowdStrike delves deeper into the root causes of the error that led Windows machines to display blue screen of deathâand admits its testing process left a lot to be desired.
The firm has certainly faced a tough time in the weeks since the outage, after it was sued by investors last week. CrowdStrike and the CEO of Delta are also exchanging words after the airline blamed the security company for $500 million of losses.
In its RCA, the firm describes how its CrowdStrike Falcon sensor âdelivers AI and machine learning to protect customer systems by identifying and remediating the latest advanced threats.â
The problem that led to the outage stems from a new feature that was added to its sensor in February, âto enable visibility into possible novel attack techniques that may abuse certain Windows mechanisms.â
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This capability, which used a pre-defined a set of fields for Rapid Response Content to gather data, was developed and tested according to the firmâs âstandard software development processes.â
But these do not appear to have been good enough to catch the issue.
âOn March 5, 2024, following a successful stress test, the first Rapid Response Content for Channel File 291 was released to production as part of a content configuration update, with three additional Rapid Response updates deployed between April 8, 2024 and April 24, 2024,â CrowdStrike said. These âperformed as expectedâ in production.
However, on July 19, 2024, a Rapid Response Content update was delivered to certain Windows hosts, âevolving the new capability first released in February 2024.â
The sensor expected 20 input fields, but the update provided 21 input fields. âIn this instance, the mismatch resulted in an out-of-bounds memory read, causing a system crash,â CrowdStrike wrote.
This scenario with Channel File 291 is now âincapable of recurring,â CrowdStrike said, adding that what happened is now informing how it tests things going forward.
Based on the findings in the RCA, CrowdStrike said it will update content configuration system test procedures, including upgraded tests for template type development, with âautomated tests for all existing template types.â
Itâs also adding deployment layers and acceptance checks for the content configuration system.
A lot of people have complained about not having the ability to control updates. From now, CrowdStrike will provide customers additional control over the deployment of Rapid Response Content updates.
Meanwhile, it will prevent the creation of problematic Channel 291 files by implementing validation for the number of input fields.
CrowdStrike will also implement additional checks in the content validator and enhance bounds checking in the content interpreter for Rapid Response Content in Channel File 291.
Finally, it will engage âtwo independent third-party software security vendorsâ to conduct further review of the Falcon sensor code and quality control and release processes.
âLooking ahead, CrowdStrike is focused on using the lessons learned from this incident to better serve our customers,â the firm said in an emailed statement. âCrowdStrike remains steadfast in our mission to protect customers and stop breaches.â
The RCA is a long documentâ12 pages to be preciseâbut experts have praised CrowdStrike for being transparent about what happened on July 19. âIt is positive they have been transparent and that they are taking this seriously,â says cybersecurity consultant Daniel Card.
Yet point six of the RCA, âtemplate instances should have a staged deploymentâ seems to have garnered the attention of cybersecurity experts.
As a result of its RCA investigation, CrowdStrike says its content configuration system has been updated âwith additional deployment layers and acceptance checks.â In other words, it will now deploy canary testing and roll things back if issues are found. At the same time, customers can now choose where and when Rapid Response Content updates like the one that caused the crash are deployed.
However, Card points out a company deploying globally to military, critical national infrastructure and governments should have had a robust test process in place in the first instance. âI'm happy to see they are going to change the design to be what it should have had in the first place.â
He points out the critical balance CrowdStrike needed to manage. âWhen you run this type of software, you can't be taking risks. Releasing globally without adequate testing is not a risk you want to be taking lightly as a company, but that seems to have been the design.â
The report shows that the problem wasnât that the update was malformedâor that that the validator didnât catch the error before it was deployed, Florian Roth , head of research at Nextron Systems, a competitor of CrowdStrike, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. âThe real problem is that they didnât have any canary system to which they deployed the update before rolling it out to millions of endpoints all at once.â
CrowdStrike has hit back at Rothâs claims. âSince our founding, we have always put customer protection at the forefront, and that continues to be our singular focus,â a CrowdStrike spokesperson wrote on an email.
âAs we describe in the RCA, the parameter count mismatch evaded the multiple layers of build validation and testing in our process. The RCA also describes the process improvements and mitigation steps that CrowdStrike is deploying to ensure further enhanced resilience.â
The changes to its processes come better late than never, but the general feeling seems to be that CrowdStrike shouldnât have been in this situation in the first place.
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CrowdStrike has published its Root Cause Analysis report, an investigation into what caused the IT outage in July. Here's what it says.