What is a Dissertation Proposal?
A dissertation proposal is similar to a research proposal. It is written to comprehend a statement on the nature of the student’s research interest. This proposed idea must be submitted to the dissertation advisor, who can either approve or reject it.
Moreover, a dissertation proposal presentation includes the methods for data collection and describes hypothetical outcomes. It is mainly used to convince the experts that your research is worthy enough to make a difference in the field. Therefore, make sure to write an impressive and well-structured proposal.
A dissertation proposal is a major step in your master’s or doctoral degree. It provides an outline of the future work you will do to complete that degree.
The length of a dissertation proposal varies from field to field. However, a lengthy proposal usually takes up to 20 pages, while the shorter one is around 9 to 10 pages.
What is the Purpose of a Dissertation Proposal?
A proposal is a document that explains what your research project is and how you plan to do it. You will submit your proposal to your committee for review. After you have presented your proposal, the committee will ask you questions about it.
The committee wants to know that your research questions are important and you have chosen the right methods to answer them.
Why is a Dissertation Proposal Important?
The proposal will provide you with a strong foundation for your work. It also helps to set expectations about what is expected from it.
The dissertation is very important for your success in getting a postgraduate degree. Writing the dissertation will help you develop research and communication skills that will be very useful in your future career.
For a great dissertation, you need to stay up-to-date on the latest research related to your topic. Make sure to keep track of all the sources you use for your dissertation. This will help you write an excellent proposal.
Dissertation Proposal Outline
Below is a detailed dissertation proposal outline for you to follow while writing your own:
Chapter 1 - Introduction
- Significance of Problem
- Theoretical Framework
- Problem Statement
- Research Questions
- Hypothesis
Chapter 2 - Literature Review
- Historical Background
- Relevant Theoretical Models
Chapter 3 - Research Methodology
- Participants
- Measures
- Research Design
- Procedures
- Data Analysis
Chapter 4 - Results
- Descriptive Statistics
- Numerical Statistics
- Tables And Figures
Chapter 5 - Discussion
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Limitations
- Recommendations for Future Research
Chapter 6 - References
Chapter 7 - Appendices
Check out the following document to understand the dissertation proposal format.
How to Write a Dissertation Proposal?
How do you write a dissertation proposal?
A dissertation proposal describes what you want to do, what the study is about, and how you will conduct it. It includes the steps given below.
1. Come Up With an Idea
Before starting to write a proposal, you should come up with a strong dissertation topic or idea. It is better to find an area of your field that may interest you. Also, conduct thorough research work before utilizing the idea and consider the following questions.
- What are the major concerns of other research experts?
- How do they suggest the areas for future research?
- Why has a literature gap grabbed your attention?
After you finalize the idea, narrow it down. Never work on a vague theme and be as specific as possible.
For Example
Russian literature - 19th-century Russian literature - The novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
2. Present the Idea in the Introduction
Like other academic assignments, a dissertation proposal also starts with an introduction. A dissertation introduction introduces the topic, provides background information, and presents objectives and research questions.
Consider writing a hook statement related to your chosen topic. Present more background and area context to understand the proposed questions. Also, discuss the existing research on the topic idea and what your dissertation will contribute to the field area.
Remember, if you are planning to include a literature review, avoid adding too much detail at this point. Instead, just provide a brief overview of the research study.
Furthermore, the research aims and objectives must be identifiable and specific. Avoid too broad and too many questions.
3. Explore Research in the Literature Review
In this section, explore existing research work and identify what is missing from the literature. Ensure that you are not working on something that has already been discussed.
When working on the literature review, thoroughly analyze the relevant sources in your review. Also, summarize other researchers' findings and highlight the limitations in the previous work.
4. Describe the Methodology
Describe the proposed methods to collect and analyze data. Make sure to convince the reader that your dissertation methodology is realistic to carry out. However, this section will vary in length depending on the field of your study.
A writer can use the following research types to collect the data.
- Empirical Research
This type involves collecting data and analyzing it to answer a specific question. It can be quantitative, qualitative, or a combination of both.
You will collect data via surveys, lab experiments, and interviews. Nevertheless, consider the variable that you will measure and the sample size before conducting empirical research.
- Theoretical Research
Theoretical research does not involve collecting original data. Instead, the method focuses on the theory you have planned to work with. You can also refer to the same theorists that you have discussed in the review. But here, the emphasis must be placed on how you will use their contributions in your study.
5. Outline the Implications of Your Research
Conclude the proposal by discussing what you expect the research work to achieve. If you are unsure about the final results, consider your dissertation's possible implications, including;
- Develop or test a theory.
- Providing new data to the organizations.
- Challenge a common belief.
- Suggest a future recommendation.
6. Create a Referencing List
Lastly; you must reference all sources that you have used in your dissertation proposal. For this, include a properly formatted reference list at the end.
Different educational institutions have different referencing styles, including Harvard, APA, MLA, and Chicago. If the professor does not specify the requirements, choose a style yourself, and apply it. But before doing it, you must know how to cite a dissertation in a proper format.
Dissertation Proposal Examples
Refer to the following dissertation proposal examples to write your own.
Writing the Dissertation Proposal - Do’s and Don’ts
Here are the dos and don’ts of writing a dissertation proposal.
- The structure of the dissertation is very important. Always present your idea in a hierarchic order with the most important opinions placed first.
- Identify the topic at the beginning of the proposal and state the central argument.
- Make sure to distinguish between the central questions and the subsidiary ones.
- Identify the main interest of the reader to find out how the writer will address the topic.
- Do not present the topic in multiple versions. Instead, state it clearly and concisely at the start.
- Always identify what is missing in the existing literature and how your research will contribute to the field.
- State a clear connection between the how and what of the presented topic.
- Give enough historical background of the topic for the readers to understand.
- Limit the scope of the research work because too many goals will not be easy to accomplish in the future.
- Never forget to write a dissertation abstract that will relate the opening paragraph to the final outcomes.
Now you must have understood the structure and the writing process of a dissertation proposal. We understand that drafting a perfect dissertation is a daunting task for many students.
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