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On this page, we give you a handy step-by-step plan and a good structure for your research proposal.
Are you preparing a research proposal, thesis plan, or project proposal? The first step in writing your thesis is drafting a research proposal. In a research proposal, you outline the central theme of your thesis and carefully plan what you will research and how. It helps clarify the purpose of your study, the desired outcomes, and the requirements set by your educational program or organization.
You write a research proposal before you start your graduation process. Firstly, because it is required by your program. Your supervisor wants to see what your plans are and can then adjust where necessary. But it is also important for you to write a good thesis proposal. Your thesis proposal will be the basis and main theme of your graduation.
You can view an example of a research proposal through your program or online. You can find it online through the HBO knowledge base.
Writing a research proposal can be difficult. Where do you start? Use the simple step-by-step plan from Topscriptie! Each step is explained in the following paragraphs. Further on, you will also find a complete and concrete structure for your research proposal. If you still find it difficult, that’s normal. But with the right tips (and 1-on-1 support from Topscriptie) you can handle this task very well!
Explore the task and start with a preliminary research! How to get to a good preliminary research? Collect some basic information about the client and the problem that needs to be solved. If you want to write a plan of action, you have to know what you’re talking about! A good start is a conversation with the client, where you establish what kind of company you are dealing with. What is the problem? When and where does it occur within the organization? What are the developments in the organization and the environment that play a role in this problem? Dare to ask questions and make clear agreements. What is the final product you are working towards?
So always start with a lot of reading and talking to get to a good preliminary research.
Now that you understand the organizations expectations, it’s time to consider the requirements from your HBO program. Universities of applied sciences often have specific rules regarding the structure of a plan of action. What elements must be included? Check the graduation regulations of your institution for detailed guidelines. Additionally, identify the conditions needed to complete your research successfully. Consider the required support in terms of materials, time, and assistance, and determine who can provide it.
Call or WhatsApp a thesis supervisor
Call or WhatsApp a thesis supervisor
Many university students find it difficult to bring structure to their work plan or have it rejected. No need! Topscriptie is happy to help with your work plan. The foundation is a good layout. A work plan is often made up of a number of fixed components. Again, discuss with your client what their expectations are and check the requirements of your specific university program!
Below is an example of what a thesis plan structure might look like:
On the title page you can mention the following:
After the cover, the summary and the table of contents, you start with the actual content of your work plan. You begin with an introduction, in which you introduce the subject and the client of your research to the reader and arouse their interest. You go deeper into the organization or subject, such as the size of the organization, the activities and customers, the current situation and developments within the company and the external environment.
You always start with a situation analysis. In this you describe the client (organization) for which you will conduct the research. When describing the organization, you can for example go into:
Description of the company (type of organization, size of the organization, number of employees, departments, mission and vision, products/services, current situation and developments in the organization and external environment)
A good guide when writing the content of your work plan is to focus on relevant information that makes the problem clear. Many university students make the mistake of going into too much detail about minor details. Don’t do it!
In problem analysis, you explain the reason for your research. You need to formulate this problem into one clear research question and any possible sub-questions. These main and sub-questions must be measurable and answerable. Use neutral (objective) words when formulating your problem statement. A useful tool for outlining the problem statement is the 5W’s: what, why, where, who, when:
What is the problem?
Why is it a problem?
Where is the problem?
Who noticed the problem?
When did the problem arise and when does it occur?
An example of a main question:
What measures must be taken to increase the data quality of all ABC files within the portfolios that can be sold within department X of Organization Y to achieve a data quality of 95%?
What will your research yield? What will you deliver in the end? This could be, for example, an advice, or a strategic marketing plan. What requirements must the result meet from the client? It is important to clearly indicate what the fina
l product will be of your research and thesis/professional product. This also includes the delimitation of your research: what belongs to the problem and what does not? This way, the university (and the company) knows exactly what you will be researching and avoids ambiguity or conflicts.
Sometimes it can help to use the fishbone diagram (the Ishikawa diagram) for problem analysis. This makes it easy to analyze a problem.
No one benefits from vague goals that have no support within the organization and do not lead to a concrete final result. Give your goals a SMART formulation!
Specific: phrase your goal strongly and concretely
Measurable: how much must be achieved?
Acceptable: there must be sufficient support
Realistic: the goal may be challenging, but must still be achievable
Time-bound: indicate when the goal must be achieved
The goal of your research is to collect factual, empirical information and to acquire knowledge and insight (into the problem, the causes of the problem, and possible solutions) that you need to solve the problem.
Finally, summarize your research goal in one sentence, e.g.: “Gain insight into… (what you want to know) …, in order to… (what you want to improve).
Investigate what has already been studied and established regarding your topic. Identify relevant theories, perspectives, models, and discussions that address the problem you are exploring. Summarize these insights using reputable sources to provide a solid theoretical foundation for your research. Clarify which aspects of the theory you will include and which you will exclude. Focus on core concepts derived from your problem analysis, objectives, and research questions. Finally, specify how your research contributes new insights to the existing body of knowledge.
Discuss multiple theories or models that describe, analyze, or explain the topic. Take a critical approach, try to compare and weigh the theory. Refer to the academic and research literature according to APA guidelines.
There are many different research methods. In what way will you perform your research? Do you choose qualitative or quantitative research, or a mix of these types? What technique will you use? Do you choose interviews, surveys, observations or another technique? In this chapter, you not only indicate which research methods you choose, but also how you will do it, why you choose it, how you ensure good reliability and validity and who your research population is. The choice of your research methods must logically match your problem statement and objectives.
Tip: underpin everything you write! On this page you can find a very handy list of what should be included in the methods.
You finish your research proposal with a bibliography (often in APA style), where you list your sources. Then you can show the planning of your research, indicating who will do what and when. This way you and your supervisor can monitor the progress of your research and adjust it if necessary. A plan is an important tool to create an overview for yourself and mentally prepare yourself for what is to come.
After the planning, you can include any annexes in your research proposal. Ensure a logical structure in your story and consider your language use. Have your research proposal checked by a linguist from Topscriptie!
Would you like to get some help with your thesis proposal? Please contact us.
Call or WhatsApp a thesis supervisor
Call or WhatsApp a thesis supervisor
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