Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s 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 proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Discover proofreading & editing
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:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re 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.
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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 you’ve 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 …
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 you’ll 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 3–5 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 master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s 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 master’s 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.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
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A Straightforward How-To Guide (With Examples)
By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr. Eunice Rautenbach | August 2019 (Updated April 2023)
Writing up a strong research proposal for a dissertation or thesis is much like a marriage proposal. It’s a task that calls on you to win somebody over and persuade them that what you’re planning is a great idea. An idea they’re happy to say ‘yes’ to. This means that your dissertation proposal needs to be persuasive , attractive and well-planned. In this post, I’ll show you how to write a winning dissertation proposal, from scratch.
Before you start:
– Understand exactly what a research proposal is – Ask yourself these 4 questions
The 5 essential ingredients:
The research proposal is literally that: a written document that communicates what you propose to research, in a concise format. It’s where you put all that stuff that’s spinning around in your head down on to paper, in a logical, convincing fashion.
Convincing is the keyword here, as your research proposal needs to convince the assessor that your research is clearly articulated (i.e., a clear research question) , worth doing (i.e., is unique and valuable enough to justify the effort), and doable within the restrictions you’ll face (time limits, budget, skill limits, etc.). If your proposal does not address these three criteria, your research won’t be approved, no matter how “exciting” the research idea might be.
PS – if you’re completely new to proposal writing, we’ve got a detailed walkthrough video covering two successful research proposals here .
Before starting the writing process, you need to ask yourself 4 important questions . If you can’t answer them succinctly and confidently, you’re not ready – you need to go back and think more deeply about your dissertation topic .
You should be able to answer the following 4 questions before starting your dissertation or thesis research proposal:
If you can’t answer these questions clearly and concisely, you’re not yet ready to write your research proposal – revisit our post on choosing a topic .
If you can, that’s great – it’s time to start writing up your dissertation proposal. Next, I’ll discuss what needs to go into your research proposal, and how to structure it all into an intuitive, convincing document with a linear narrative.
Research proposals can vary in style between institutions and disciplines, but here I’ll share with you a handy 5-section structure you can use. These 5 sections directly address the core questions we spoke about earlier, ensuring that you present a convincing proposal. If your institution already provides a proposal template, there will likely be substantial overlap with this, so you’ll still get value from reading on.
For each section discussed below, make sure you use headers and sub-headers (ideally, numbered headers) to help the reader navigate through your document, and to support them when they need to revisit a previous section. Don’t just present an endless wall of text, paragraph after paragraph after paragraph…
Top Tip: Use MS Word Styles to format headings. This will allow you to be clear about whether a sub-heading is level 2, 3, or 4. Additionally, you can view your document in ‘outline view’ which will show you only your headings. This makes it much easier to check your structure, shift things around and make decisions about where a section needs to sit. You can also generate a 100% accurate table of contents using Word’s automatic functionality.
Your research proposal’s title should be your main research question in its simplest form, possibly with a sub-heading providing basic details on the specifics of the study. For example:
“Compliance with equality legislation in the charity sector: a study of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ made in three London care homes”
As you can see, this title provides a clear indication of what the research is about, in broad terms. It paints a high-level picture for the first-time reader, which gives them a taste of what to expect. Always aim for a clear, concise title . Don’t feel the need to capture every detail of your research in your title – your proposal will fill in the gaps.
In this section of your research proposal, you’ll expand on what you’ve communicated in the title, by providing a few paragraphs which offer more detail about your research topic. Importantly, the focus here is the topic – what will you research and why is that worth researching? This is not the place to discuss methodology, practicalities, etc. – you’ll do that later.
You should cover the following:
Importantly, you should aim to use short sentences and plain language – don’t babble on with extensive jargon, acronyms and complex language. Assume that the reader is an intelligent layman – not a subject area specialist (even if they are). Remember that the best writing is writing that can be easily understood and digested. Keep it simple.
Note that some universities may want some extra bits and pieces in your introduction section. For example, personal development objectives, a structural outline, etc. Check your brief to see if there are any other details they expect in your proposal, and make sure you find a place for these.
Next, you’ll need to specify what the scope of your research will be – this is also known as the delimitations . In other words, you need to make it clear what you will be covering and, more importantly, what you won’t be covering in your research. Simply put, this is about ring fencing your research topic so that you have a laser-sharp focus.
All too often, students feel the need to go broad and try to address as many issues as possible, in the interest of producing comprehensive research. Whilst this is admirable, it’s a mistake. By tightly refining your scope, you’ll enable yourself to go deep with your research, which is what you need to earn good marks. If your scope is too broad, you’re likely going to land up with superficial research (which won’t earn marks), so don’t be afraid to narrow things down.
In this section of your research proposal, you need to provide a (relatively) brief discussion of the existing literature. Naturally, this will not be as comprehensive as the literature review in your actual dissertation, but it will lay the foundation for that. In fact, if you put in the effort at this stage, you’ll make your life a lot easier when it’s time to write your actual literature review chapter.
There are a few things you need to achieve in this section:
When you write up your literature review, keep these three objectives front of mind, especially number two (revealing the gap in the literature), so that your literature review has a clear purpose and direction . Everything you write should be contributing towards one (or more) of these objectives in some way. If it doesn’t, you need to ask yourself whether it’s truly needed.
Top Tip: Don’t fall into the trap of just describing the main pieces of literature, for example, “A says this, B says that, C also says that…” and so on. Merely describing the literature provides no value. Instead, you need to synthesise it, and use it to address the three objectives above.
Now that you’ve clearly explained both your intended research topic (in the introduction) and the existing research it will draw on (in the literature review section), it’s time to get practical and explain exactly how you’ll be carrying out your own research. In other words, your research methodology.
In this section, you’ll need to answer two critical questions :
In other words, this is not just about explaining WHAT you’ll be doing, it’s also about explaining WHY. In fact, the justification is the most important part , because that justification is how you demonstrate a good understanding of research design (which is what assessors want to see).
Some essential design choices you need to cover in your research proposal include:
This list is not exhaustive – these are just some core attributes of research design. Check with your institution what level of detail they expect. The “ research onion ” by Saunders et al (2009) provides a good summary of the various design choices you ultimately need to make – you can read more about that here .
In addition to the technical aspects, you will need to address the practical side of the project. In other words, you need to explain what resources you’ll need (e.g., time, money, access to equipment or software, etc.) and how you intend to secure these resources. You need to show that your project is feasible, so any “make or break” type resources need to already be secured. The success or failure of your project cannot depend on some resource which you’re not yet sure you have access to.
Another part of the practicalities discussion is project and risk management . In other words, you need to show that you have a clear project plan to tackle your research with. Some key questions to address:
A good way to demonstrate that you’ve thought this through is to include a Gantt chart and a risk register (in the appendix if word count is a problem). With these two tools, you can show that you’ve got a clear, feasible plan, and you’ve thought about and accounted for the potential risks.
Tip – Be honest about the potential difficulties – but show that you are anticipating solutions and workarounds. This is much more impressive to an assessor than an unrealistically optimistic proposal which does not anticipate any challenges whatsoever.
The final step is to edit and proofread your proposal – very carefully. It sounds obvious, but all too often poor editing and proofreading ruin a good proposal. Nothing is more off-putting for an assessor than a poorly edited, typo-strewn document. It sends the message that you either do not pay attention to detail, or just don’t care. Neither of these are good messages. Put the effort into editing and proofreading your proposal (or pay someone to do it for you) – it will pay dividends.
When you’re editing, watch out for ‘academese’. Many students can speak simply, passionately and clearly about their dissertation topic – but become incomprehensible the moment they turn the laptop on. You are not required to write in any kind of special, formal, complex language when you write academic work. Sure, there may be technical terms, jargon specific to your discipline, shorthand terms and so on. But, apart from those, keep your written language very close to natural spoken language – just as you would speak in the classroom. Imagine that you are explaining your project plans to your classmates or a family member. Remember, write for the intelligent layman, not the subject matter experts. Plain-language, concise writing is what wins hearts and minds – and marks!
And there you have it – how to write your dissertation or thesis research proposal, from the title page to the final proof. Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways:
Hopefully, this post has helped you better understand how to write up a winning research proposal. If you enjoyed it, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog . If your university doesn’t provide any template for your proposal, you might want to try out our free research proposal template .
This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .
Thank you so much for the valuable insight that you have given, especially on the research proposal. That is what I have managed to cover. I still need to go back to the other parts as I got disturbed while still listening to Derek’s audio on you-tube. I am inspired. I will definitely continue with Grad-coach guidance on You-tube.
Thanks for the kind words :). All the best with your proposal.
First of all, thanks a lot for making such a wonderful presentation. The video was really useful and gave me a very clear insight of how a research proposal has to be written. I shall try implementing these ideas in my RP.
Once again, I thank you for this content.
I found reading your outline on writing research proposal very beneficial. I wish there was a way of submitting my draft proposal to you guys for critiquing before I submit to the institution.
Hi Bonginkosi
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, we do provide a review service. The best starting point is to have a chat with one of our coaches here: https://gradcoach.com/book/new/ .
Hello team GRADCOACH, may God bless you so much. I was totally green in research. Am so happy for your free superb tutorials and resources. Once again thank you so much Derek and his team.
You’re welcome, Erick. Good luck with your research proposal 🙂
thank you for the information. its precise and on point.
Really a remarkable piece of writing and great source of guidance for the researchers. GOD BLESS YOU for your guidance. Regards
Thanks so much for your guidance. It is easy and comprehensive the way you explain the steps for a winning research proposal.
Thank you guys so much for the rich post. I enjoyed and learn from every word in it. My problem now is how to get into your platform wherein I can always seek help on things related to my research work ? Secondly, I wish to find out if there is a way I can send my tentative proposal to you guys for examination before I take to my supervisor Once again thanks very much for the insights
Thanks for your kind words, Desire.
If you are based in a country where Grad Coach’s paid services are available, you can book a consultation by clicking the “Book” button in the top right.
Best of luck with your studies.
May God bless you team for the wonderful work you are doing,
If I have a topic, Can I submit it to you so that you can draft a proposal for me?? As I am expecting to go for masters degree in the near future.
Thanks for your comment. We definitely cannot draft a proposal for you, as that would constitute academic misconduct. The proposal needs to be your own work. We can coach you through the process, but it needs to be your own work and your own writing.
Best of luck with your research!
I found a lot of many essential concepts from your material. it is real a road map to write a research proposal. so thanks a lot. If there is any update material on your hand on MBA please forward to me.
GradCoach is a professional website that presents support and helps for MBA student like me through the useful online information on the page and with my 1-on-1 online coaching with the amazing and professional PhD Kerryen.
Thank you Kerryen so much for the support and help 🙂
I really recommend dealing with such a reliable services provider like Gradcoah and a coach like Kerryen.
Hi, Am happy for your service and effort to help students and researchers, Please, i have been given an assignment on research for strategic development, the task one is to formulate a research proposal to support the strategic development of a business area, my issue here is how to go about it, especially the topic or title and introduction. Please, i would like to know if you could help me and how much is the charge.
This content is practical, valuable, and just great!
Thank you very much!
Hi Derek, Thank you for the valuable presentation. It is very helpful especially for beginners like me. I am just starting my PhD.
This is quite instructive and research proposal made simple. Can I have a research proposal template?
Great! Thanks for rescuing me, because I had no former knowledge in this topic. But with this piece of information, I am now secured. Thank you once more.
I enjoyed listening to your video on how to write a proposal. I think I will be able to write a winning proposal with your advice. I wish you were to be my supervisor.
Dear Derek Jansen,
Thank you for your great content. I couldn’t learn these topics in MBA, but now I learned from GradCoach. Really appreciate your efforts….
From Afghanistan!
I have got very essential inputs for startup of my dissertation proposal. Well organized properly communicated with video presentation. Thank you for the presentation.
Wow, this is absolutely amazing guys. Thank you so much for the fruitful presentation, you’ve made my research much easier.
this helps me a lot. thank you all so much for impacting in us. may god richly bless you all
How I wish I’d learn about Grad Coach earlier. I’ve been stumbling around writing and rewriting! Now I have concise clear directions on how to put this thing together. Thank you!
Fantastic!! Thank You for this very concise yet comprehensive guidance.
Even if I am poor in English I would like to thank you very much.
Thank you very much, this is very insightful.
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The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.
Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.
Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:
A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.
Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Beginning the Proposal Process
As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.
A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:
In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"
Most proposals should include the following sections:
I. Introduction
In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.
Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :
II. Background and Significance
This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.
To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:
III. Literature Review
Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.
Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.
NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .
To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:
IV. Research Design and Methods
This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.
Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].
When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:
V. Preliminary Suppositions and Implications
Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance. When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:
NOTE: This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.
ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.
VI. Conclusion
The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.
Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:
VII. Citations
As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.
In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.
Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.
Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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A concept paper is a short document written by a researcher before starting their research project, with the purpose of explaining what the study is about, why it is important and the methods that will be used.
The concept paper will include your proposed research title, a brief introduction to the subject, the aim of the study, the research questions you intend to answer, the type of data you will collect and how you will collect it. A concept paper can also be referred to as a research proposal.
The primary aim of a research concept paper is to convince the reader that the proposed research project is worth doing. This means that the reader should first agree that the research study is novel and interesting. They should be convinced that there is a need for this research and that the research aims and questions are appropriate.
Finally, they should be satisfied that the methods for data collection proposed are feasible, are likely to work and can be performed within the specific time period allocated for this project.
The three main scenarios in which you may need to write a concept paper are if you are:
The concept paper format is usually between 2 and 3 pages in length for students writing proposals for undergraduate, master’s or PhD projects. Concept papers written as part of funding applications may be over 20 pages in length.
There are 6 important aspects to consider when writing a concept paper or research proposal:
You may need to include a short summary of the timeline for completing the research project. Defining milestones of the time points at which you intend to complete certain tasks can help to show that you’ve considered the practicalities of running this study. It also shows that what you have proposed is feasible in order to achieve your research goal.
If you’re pitching your proposed project to a funder, they may allocate a proportion of the money based on the satisfactory outcome of each milestone. These stakeholders may also be motivated by knowing that you intend to convert your dissertation into an article for journal publication; this level of dissemination is of high importance to them.
Additionally, you may be asked to provide a brief summary of the projected costs of running the study. For a PhD project this could be the bench fees associated with consumables and the cost of any travel if required.
Make sure to include references and cite all other literature and previous research that you discuss in your concept paper.
This guide gave you an overview of the key elements you need to know about when writing concept papers. The purpose of these are first to convey to the reader what your project’s purpose is and why your research topic is important; this is based on the development of a problem statement using evidence from your literature review.
Explain how it may positively impact your research field and if your proposed research design is appropriate and your planned research method achievable.
Is it really possible to do a PhD while working? The answer is ‘yes’, but it comes with several ‘buts’. Read our post to find out if it’s for you.
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Nick is a first year PhD student at Queen Mary University of London. The long-term goal of his research is to help game designers make games that support healthy engagement and well-being.
Kat is in the second year of her PhD at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth, Western Australia (WA). Her research involves studying supermassive black holes at the centres of distant galaxies.
Table of Contents
The importance of a well-written research proposal cannot be underestimated. Your research really is only as good as your proposal. A poorly written, or poorly conceived research proposal will doom even an otherwise worthy project. On the other hand, a well-written, high-quality proposal will increase your chances for success.
In this article, we’ll outline the basics of writing an effective scientific research proposal, including the differences between research proposals, grants and cover letters. We’ll also touch on common mistakes made when submitting research proposals, as well as a simple example or template that you can follow.
The main purpose of a scientific research proposal is to convince your audience that your project is worthwhile, and that you have the expertise and wherewithal to complete it. The elements of an effective research proposal mirror those of the research process itself, which we’ll outline below. Essentially, the research proposal should include enough information for the reader to determine if your proposed study is worth pursuing.
It is not an uncommon misunderstanding to think that a research proposal and a cover letter are the same things. However, they are different. The main difference between a research proposal vs cover letter content is distinct. Whereas the research proposal summarizes the proposal for future research, the cover letter connects you to the research, and how you are the right person to complete the proposed research.
There is also sometimes confusion around a research proposal vs grant application. Whereas a research proposal is a statement of intent, related to answering a research question, a grant application is a specific request for funding to complete the research proposed. Of course, there are elements of overlap between the two documents; it’s the purpose of the document that defines one or the other.
Although there is no one way to write a scientific research proposal, there are specific guidelines. A lot depends on which journal you’re submitting your research proposal to, so you may need to follow their scientific research proposal template.
In general, however, there are fairly universal sections to every scientific research proposal. These include:
Remember, the best research proposal can be rejected if it’s not well written or is ill-conceived. The most common mistakes made include:
There are countless examples that you can find for successful research proposals. In addition, you can also find examples of unsuccessful research proposals. Search for successful research proposals in your field, and even for your target journal, to get a good idea on what specifically your audience may be looking for.
While there’s no one example that will show you everything you need to know, looking at a few will give you a good idea of what you need to include in your own research proposal. Talk, also, to colleagues in your field, especially if you are a student or a new researcher. We can often learn from the mistakes of others. The more prepared and knowledgeable you are prior to writing your research proposal, the more likely you are to succeed.
One of the top reasons scientific research proposals are rejected is due to poor logic and flow. Check out our Language Editing Services to ensure a great proposal , that’s clear and concise, and properly referenced. Check our video for more information, and get started today.
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"Everything Begins with an Idea", is a quote famously said by - Earl Nightingale who was also known as the “Dean of Personal Development". For a nonprofit organization to even take shape, it is necessary for an individual(s) to identify a problem and try to solve it through innovation and developmental ideas. Visualizing what you would like your organization to be doing, its future, and using that script as the starting point for focusing your time, energies, and resources on creating it are how most projects are created and plans are drawn to work on them. But ideas and projects only take shape when they are communicated well and to the right people. This is where we come across procedures such as concept note-writing.
Nonprofit organizations , most of the time, find themselves knee-deep in organizational matters or on the field, catering to the needs of their beneficiaries. This can leave them with little to no room for drafting a winning project proposal or spending the right amount of time introducing their ideas through writing. In this blog, we aim at explaining what a concept note is, its importance, and how your nonprofit organization can leverage a good concept note to secure grants for your projects.
Before we go any further, let us look at what constitutes a concept note.
A concept note is a synopsis of a proposal that gives a brief explanation of the project's concept and the goals that will be pursued. In order to determine whether the proposed project is in alignment with the program's aims and to weed out concepts that are unlikely to be financed, funding agencies may request a concept note before a full proposal is submitted. Concept Notes are also given to Donors who wish to understand a project through a concise summary rather than a whole proposal paper.
To put it simply, it is the first document where you can introduce your idea for a project to your potential funders and donors in the shortest manner possible, yet capturing the essence of your idea. This way you will be saving your readers and potential funders from any unnecessary details while also helping them understand your intentions and how your idea/project can make a difference.
A project proposal is a 5 to 20 page document that aims to answer important concerns about a specific project. A project proposal succinctly outlines the objectives of your project, their significance, and your plans for achieving them.
The proposal details the project's implementation strategy, providing in-depth details on the project's goals, methods of implementation, methods of management, and expected outcomes.
An NGO and a donor agency can establish an early professional interaction regarding a project to be carried out with the aid of a Concept Note, which is a crucial marketing document. It presents a case for what you intend to do in a broader sense.
Concept notes can be extremely crucial because of how much time they can save, both for the NGOs applying and the donors. They don't require as much time to write as a comprehensive proposal because they are significantly shorter. They are also much less comprehensive, allowing NGOs to modify the proposed project even after filing. Concept notes are also popular with donors since they are simpler to read, and share the essence of the project through a concise summary.
NGOs frequently mistake concept notes for brief proposals. However, a concept note does not specifically request funds, unlike a proposal. Instead, its objective is to capture a donor's interest and ignite a conversation. Ideally, this conversation will subsequently assist the applying group in creating a strong proposal that has a higher chance of being financed.
Some donors may also want a letter of inquiry in place of a concept note. Though they resemble each other greatly, concept notes seldom employ letter formatting.
When organizing thoughts on paper, concept notes effectively provide a framework, which has several benefits for securing funding. Additionally, it serves as the project's initial statement and provides the organization with the freedom to refine an idea before presenting it to a donor. Before submitting a formal proposal, concept papers allow donors to make an assessment of whether the proposed project is in line with their financing priorities and to make ideas to the applicant. A full project proposal can be prepared in less time and with fewer resources because a concept note is substantially shorter than a full project proposal.
While a concept note is usually asked for by most funding organizations and donors before laying eyes on the actual project proposal and plans, having a project proposal handy in case your concept note is approved can help tremendously. Even though there is no set rule on whether the concept note should be prepared before or after the project proposal is ready, having both documents on hand when submitting your concept note is advised.
The type and length of a concept note are actually dictated by the donor organization. Donors typically don't have the same format for a concept note as they do for a complete proposal. However, some organizations publish requests for concept notes based on a standard format specified in their funding proposal criteria. In general, it's critical to keep in mind that the project idea should be presented in the lowest amount of language possible. The shorter, the better, then! Most donor organizations require between three and five pages, minimum.
An introduction, a background on the project, project objectives, a financial overview, and anticipated results are often included in a basic version of a Concept Note. Ideally, summaries should be no more than two to three pages long, unless the donor organization specifically wants more. Remember that the note should be brief so as not to saturate the donor with details. You also don't want to come out as confused or evasive regarding the objectives of your NGO. Any more details, such as your organization's profile, might be annexed or supplied at the funding agency's request.
The objective of a Concept Note is to highlight the most important aspects of the project, even if there is no set format to use. In order to help the donor understand the organization and the project, you should give details. The following information is crucial to a good concept note:
The Proposed Project's Title: The title should be concise, catchy, and unique in order to convey the project's or idea's essence.
Description of the Organization: A concise description of the organization's mission and the goals it wishes to accomplish.
Information/Background (in about 300 words): Explain what the underlying issues and bottlenecks are and why the issue should be addressed.
The justification for the Proposed Project: Include the significance of your project, the reasoning for the implementation strategy chosen, and why your organization is the best fit to carry out this project.
Why is this Project Unique: Features of the project that make the donors feel like you need funding. Mention the project's beneficiaries and effects, if any. Highlight what is unique about your project as this will interest the donors.
Although most concept notes may not have this section, if you include it, it will create a positive effect on the donor agency.
The objectives of the project: Mention the clear and precise project goals and objectives that have been established and include them in the action plan.
Expected Outcomes: These may include both tangible outputs, intangible benefits as an outcome and should be closely tied to the project's goals. Also mention the impact these outcomes will lead to.
Budget Estimates: Give a summary of the necessary inputs, as well as the price of employing personnel, purchasing machinery and supplies, paying for trips and accommodations, and more.
Prospective Donor/Benefactor: Take into consideration what the donor organization's objectives are and highlight how your project aligns with their priorities.
Contact information of the nonprofit: This includes the name and phone number of the person who will serve as the donor's primary point of contact.
A Concept Note can be created in a few hours or over the course of a few days, depending on the project type being pursued or the humanitarian initiatives being addressed. Nonprofits can emphasize their objectives, social responsibility, and project ramifications. To cover the project's primary details, nevertheless, appropriate research must be done. In other instances, seasoned planners create in-depth notes and meet with project stakeholders to make notes that are more inclusive.
Before submitting a comprehensive proposal, many private donor agencies request that a concept paper be submitted for assessment. The usage of concept papers as a mechanism for candidates to get informal feedback on their ideas and projects before creating a proposal has recently been encouraged by international and state bodies. We are confident that by using this information on Concept Notes in this post, you will be able to create a strong concept note for your upcoming proposals.
At Chezuba , we understand the heavy lifting and organizational pressures nonprofit organizations face, and thus, we offer an online volunteering platform for nonprofits to avail the services of world-class professionals. With the volunteering being online, you can reach volunteers from across the globe to help you write a great concept note and various other skill-based volunteering projects. Sign up with Chezuba today and post a project with us to further your mission of making a difference.
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By Alta Alonzi
A concept note is perhaps the shortest expression of a project idea given on paper to a donor. It is generally used to first propose a project to a donor before submitting a full application . Concept notes are typically between one and four pages long and summarize the key points of the proposed project.
Oftentimes, NGOs think concept notes are just short proposals. However, unlike a proposal, a concept note does not directly ask for funding. Instead, its goal is to gain a donor’s attention and start a discussion. Ideally, this discussion will later help the applying organization develop a high-quality proposal that is more likely to get funded.
Instead of a concept note, some donors may also request a letter of inquiry . Both are very similar, however, concept notes never use letter formatting.
Concept notes are also important because they save a lot of time. Both for the donors and the applying NGOs. Since they are much shorter than a full proposal, NGOs do not need to spend much time writing them. Additionally, they are much less detailed so NGOs can continue to make changes to the proposed project even after submission. Many donors also like concept notes because they are easier to read, save paper, and take up less space in the filing cabinet.
While there is no standard format, a concept note should cover four main points:
Exact content and organization of the concept note vary. Applicants should pay special attention if donors require answers to specific questions.
The project summary is a fairly straightforward component of the concept note . However, it is important to include the relevant information clearly and succinctly so that donors can easily read and evaluate your project.
Focus on your project, not your organization. At the concept note stage, donors are only looking to see if your project is of interest to them. At a later stage, donors will conduct further due diligence procedures, but that information is not necessary for the concept note. Try to include only one or two short sentences regarding your organizational background . The rest donors can glean from your website or by meeting with you.
Include specific and general location. Geography is very relevant in donor applications, so make sure you provide specifics even if it seems obvious. Always include what country and city/ cities you are working in. If you would regionally, make sure you clearly define those boundaries. It is also important to define if you are working in rural, suburban, or urban areas as well as working locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally.
Copy the language of the donor. Donors have their own goals and priorities in their grant-giving, and you need to make sure they understand how your organization fits in those goals. If a donor publishes their exact evaluation criteria, use those criteria as headings so the donor can easily find what they are looking for in your concept note. When describing your work, make sure to also copy the donor’s exact terminology. For example, if the donor uses the phrase “green initiatives,” use that phrase to replace any references to “environmental programs” or “Eco-activities” or any other synonymous phrases in your concept note. This is a small step, but clearly demonstrates to the donor that you have done your research and paid attention to all the small details.
Contents of the concept note: why the project matters.
While the importance of your project may seem obvious to you, this is not always the case for the donor. Proposal writers often get caught up in the details and numbers of their project and forget the overarching reason for the project to exist. Do not make this mistake in your concept note.
Donors receive hundreds if not thousands of proposals , and they want to read applications that are important and clearly show the problem they are solving. Take this time to explain to the donor how you will impact the lives of your beneficiaries , and what the costs will be if the project does not take place. It is useful here to combine personal stories of the community members you hope to help as well as relevant statistics to show the scale of the problem.
This section of the concept note does not have to be long, but it does have to be clear and engaging. Even a single well-written sentence that clearly proves the necessity of your project can place you above your peers in the application process.
This section is often short- perhaps only one or two sentences long. However, a concept note cannot be effective if this section is not properly written out. The Call to Action is what you want your readers to do after reading your concept note. Convincing your reader to complete this call is the entire point of the concept note.
Bad examples of calls to action include:
Typically, the purpose of a concept note is to get the donor interested enough in your project to contact you and ask for the full proposal. The project summary and why the project matters section should motivate the readers, the call to action should convince the readers to contact you, and the contact section should tell your readers how to contact you. This section is fairly straightforward, but some concept notes make the mistake of providing either too few or too many modes of communication.
Including too few contact options makes it difficult for donors to contact you. For example, if you only include a telephone number but the donor needs to mail you a letter, then that is a problem. Similarly, if you accidentally mistyped your telephone number and did not provide an alternate form of contact, then the donor will never be able to reach you.
Conversely, providing too many options can be confusing to the donor and risky for you. For example, if you provide 10 possible contact methods, you will have to check all 10 regularly or risk missing the important message you were waiting for. Including too many sites also risks the donor contacting you in ways you cannot control. If a donor decides to send you a message via an account you do not check regularly or that is entirely run by a volunteer intern that could potentially damage your credibility with the donor.
Most commonly, the contact information of a concept note will contain:
In general, the modes of contact you include should match the ones you check regularly and the modes the donor checks regularly.
We give you a Concept Note template with a purpose to give grassroots NGOs a better idea of what to include in a concept note to convince the donor to get your amazing projects funded.
It is uncommon that donors have a format for a Concept Note as they have for a full proposal. But always keep in mind that few donors might have their own templates and specific guidelines. While this template can give you an idea of how many concept notes look like, it is always imperative to follow the donor’s guidelines!
Read a full concept note.
Want to read a full sample concept note next? Here is a short, one-page sample Concept Note for Human Rights and Agriculture in Nicaragua.
Click here for more sample Concept Notes.
Alta Alonzi is a writer and researcher focusing on international development funding and grassroots NGOs. She works with the fundraising consulting company Philantropia conducting research for clients ranging from small NGOs to UN organizations. She also works closely with FundsforNGOs running training webinars, contributing resource guides, and updating the Premium donor database.
Greetings from Nepal, I would like to to know if you can provide please provide me latest ideas and critical questions while preparing proposal. It would be wonderful if you provide sample proposal. Thank you.
We publish articles on critical questions relating to proposal writing every day! If you have any specific requests for future articles, send us an email with your question through our About Us page and we will look into it.
As for proposals, we offer one free sample proposal to our newsletter subscribers, so sign up! For even more sample proposals, you can purchase our NGOs Guide to Writing Proposals, Nepal Edition .
How to write proposal for child protection programming
Deart Abass: When applying for projects for children, always keep the bigger scheme of things in mind. Check out 5 Tips for Applying for Projects with Children by Eva Wieners. Hope this helps!
can you put the sample of concept note?
You can download a free sample concept note here: http://helpfindschool.com/prop/product/concept-note-for-human-rights-and-agriculture-in-nicaragua-sample/
Hi Alonzi, Kindly allow me to download a sample of the concept note you shared
Dear Mectridah, All the samples are free to download.
I working for a Concept note for my company proposal. Kindly give instructions from step by step?
Dear Raj: If you just start learning about a concept note, maybe these article about contents of a concept note would also be interesting for you. And also don’t forget to check out our selected sample concept notes Hope this helps and best wishes!
Please, I need a sample of concept note on waste management/ collection centre inline with Response Consumption and production pattern (SDG12)?
Yours sincerely Samuel samson
Dear Samuel: We will be publishing all of our expert advice daily to this site. So, subscribe to our newsletter and check back regularly for more free resources!
Good day Alta Alonzi
Please help us to concent note we are interest ed to apply to on human rights as Luthando Ovc Care Centre
Rgds Monica Mnwana
Hello Monica,
we do not offer consultancy services, but I am sure you can find a lot of helpful content on our site. Best of luck.
Hello, how do you judge whether or not it’s appropriate to send a concept note. Can you send without being invited? I would like to send one to a foundation that is very aligned with my organization, but their only contact is a comment window on their website. I have emailed to ask how best to approach them but I got no reply. What do you recommend?
Dear Mary: If approaching a donor directly, then it is a good idea to try and discuss project ideas before submitting a proposal. Try to find a insider, or just send them a simple email asking for a meeting to share ideas. It will be difficult, almost impossible to approach big foundations, but the new generation of donors might give you time. We would recommend you to go through our article on writing cold email to donor. Keep on trying. Best wishes!
Hi Ms. Alonzi, Greetings to you from Micronesia! I am interested to learn more on drafting a concept note and project proposal for our non-profit organization in Micronesia. We have been chartered by the Government. We are more interested in a certain funding for the protection of our impending coastal erosion. Our association operates a beach park in our area and have experienced during the past four years constant and slow erosion along side the beach area where we are situated. It is our primary challenge and we do not have the funding nor the resources to assist. We would … Read more »
Dear Steve: We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.
Please check out the many resources available on our site .
Dear Steve,
Contact JICA
Hello my name is Janos Sztojka I like to click the Contents all the 4 concept note sam how the link not working I very interesting the sample the Project summary , etc can you give me the feedback whats going on ?
Dear Janos: Kindly check now, we have updated the link. Thank you!
It is very directive idea to accomplish concept note on NGO proposals.
Hi Alta, Thank you for sharing an useful content. This is very helpful to the grass route NGOs and community based organization.
thank you anita..what are you doing in Palau?
My Organization is working on Non Formal Education for Working and Disadvantaged children. Project we have implemented had two components Education and Skill Training. can you please let me know some of potential funding agencies who will be interested to work on this in Pakistan
Dear Samuel: With thousands of donors in the world today, we are not able to contact donors on your behalf. We suggest you check the funding announcement or the donor website for relevant contact information. Best wishes!
This was really helpful
Dear Vincent: Glad you found the article helpful.
[…] a researcher or group submits as a way to qualify for funding. The standard form for submitting concept notes is available below. If your concept notes do not meet the specifications, they should be returned […]
VERY INTERESTING AND HAS GIVEN WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR
I’m glad you found this article helpful! We would love it if you shared this review on our office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/proposalsforngos . Seeing positive reviews from existing readers makes others more comfortable knowing they’ll get the support they need on topics related to fundraising and proposal writing. Thank you!
can you also show me the most used format if any
Dear Lisok: We have selected sample proposals available absolutely free. Click here for further information: https://proposalsforngos.com/sample/
[…] de otros lugares a sus composiciones, pero, como seguiría diciendo el pijerío, no había una concept note que nos ilustrara al […]
Please I am new here I need assistance on how to write a concept note on small arms, smalls arms control among the youth, Border control management of arms across west African borders and public education and awareness raising among the youth in
I need help on concept note on small arms, small arms control, Border control and management, Public education and awareness raising among the youth in West Africa particularly Ghana. Thank you
Dear Aaron: You can reach us at [email protected] for more details.
Explore perspectives, what is a perspective.
Perspectives are different frameworks from which to explore the knowledge around sustainable sanitation and water management. Perspectives are like filters: they compile and structure the information that relate to a given focus theme, region or context. This allows you to quickly navigate to the content of your particular interest while promoting the holistic understanding of sustainable sanitation and water management.
A concept note is a summary of a proposal containing a brief description of the idea of the project and the objectives to be pursued. In some financing programs, funding agencies require a concept note before the submission of a full proposal, in order to decide whether the proposed project is in line with the priorities of the program and to eliminate proposals that are not likely to be funded. Concept notes are also submitted to donors without a formal call for proposals, who prefer to understand a project through a brief summary rather than a full-fledged proposal document. This factsheet contains a set of guidelines on how to write a concept note, offering also a template to help you drafting an eye catching document to ensure the success of your project.
A concept note is a brief outline of your proposed project . “The purpose of a concept paper, from the funding agency’s point of view, is to help applicants develop more competitive proposals and to save time by eliminating proposals that are not likely to be funded. The applicant’s purpose in developing a concept paper is to capture the interest of the funding agency and demonstrate that the idea they are proposing is worthy of further consideration. Therefore, the first sentences of a concept paper are very important. You want the funding agency representatives or board members to continue reading!” (AUB 2010).
“Any proposal needs the involvement of different team members, such as from the technical, financial and administrative side. Input from stakeholders or other specialists with different backgrounds helps bring in the necessary expertise, but also a larger variety of ideas on how to solve a particular issue and achieve the previously agreed objectives. To manage the proposal development in an efficient way it is advisable to assign the lead role to one specific person. This person is then responsible for the coordination of the overall proposal development, for communication with potential funders and for making sure that all different pieces of input are brought together in a consistent and coherent text” (PHILIP et al. 2008).
In order to prepare a successful concept note, you will have to spend time carefully thinking and planning the action. How well you plan the action will largely influence how good the actual results are. The planning is perhaps the most critical stage of a project and this should reduce the risk of you preparing a concept note that is rejected by the donor agencies (REPOA 2007). To ensure that the project will contribute to the implementation of the overall action plan for a sustainable sanitation and water management in your locality, the activities of the concept note to be drafted should aim at meeting at least one of the objectives of the overall strategy and/or community action plan.
The length and the format for writing a concept note actually depend upon the donor agency. Usually donors do not have a format for a concept note as they have for a full proposal. But there are some agencies that issue solicitation for concept notes based upon a basic format given in their guidelines for funding request (FUNDS FOR NGOs 2010). In general, it is important to keep in mind that it should be the shortest possible text for the project idea. So, the shorter the better! Most donor agencies request a minimum of three pages to a maximum of five pages.
(Adapted from PHILIP et al. 2008)
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Many private donor agencies ask for a concept paper to be submitted for review prior to the submission of a full proposal. In recent years international and state’s agencies have begun to encourage the use of concept papers as a way for applicants to obtain informal feedback on their ideas and projects prior to preparing a proposal as well (AUB 2010). Concept notes are especially common in larger projects – such as the construction of an infrastructure – which often cannot be financed solely through the financial resources of a local government’s budget. In such cases, additional funding from external sources will be necessary (PHILIP et al. 2008).
How to write a concept note, local government and integrated water resources management (iwrm) part iii: engaging in iwrm – practical steps and tools for local governments.
The set of materials entitled “Local Government and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)” aims to assist Local Governments with active participation in IWRM. The materials are primarily targeted at local government officials, but are considered equally useful for individuals and organisations that work with local governments in the management of water resources.
This is the third in a series of guidelines prepared by REPOA in order to help researchers prepare improved proposals for research.
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COMMENTS
08 March, 2022. On the surface, concept papers sound like they do the same job as a research proposal - and essentially, they do. Both are designed to communicate the rationale, methodology and outcomes of a proposed piece of work. The difference between the two lies mostly in the level of detail and the potential audience, based on which ...
A concept note is a brief summary of a research idea or project that outlines the main objectives and expected outcomes. It is used to gauge interest and support for the proposed research and can ...
Download Table | Differences between a concept note and a full proposal from publication: Writing convincing research proposals and effective scientific reports: a learning module. | Research ...
Step 1: Research and Preparation. Before you start writing your concept note, it is important to conduct thorough research on the problem you are seeking to address, the target audience, and the available resources. This will help you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the project and its requirements.
What is a concept note and how to write one for funding
The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is suitable (for the requirements of the degree program) and manageable (given the time and resource constraints you will face). The most important word here is "convince" - in other words, your ...
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & ...
Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components: Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS Compiled by Prof. H. Abrahamse One of the most important aspects of the research process is the preparation of a research proposal. It deals with some of the most important questions regarding the research project including what you want to do, why it is important and how you are going to do it.
Concept Notes. A concept paper/note is a brief paper written around a research question before undertaking the research. It can be seen as a pre-proposal document that is about two or three pages in length providing key details about the research, such as the question, purpose, and methods. The paper allows your supervisor or funders to gauge ...
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments
A concept paper is a short document written by a researcher before starting their research project, with the purpose of explaining what the study is about, why it is important and the methods that will be used. The concept paper will include your proposed research title, a brief introduction to the subject, the aim of the study, the research ...
research design process must endeavour to make their research proposals and concept notes persuasive. The research proposals or concept notes are meant to: a) identify and describe the work that requires research attention, b) explain why the work needs attention, and c) persuade the prospective funder(s) that the researchers are qualified and have
Abstract: This is a brief (300-500 words) summary that includes the research question, your rationale for the study, and any applicable hypothesis. You should also include a brief description of your methodology, including procedures, samples, instruments, etc. Introduction: The opening paragraph of your research proposal is, perhaps, the most ...
Here, in this Q&A, we discuss the various elements of a concept note and how to write it successfully. Q1: What is a concept note? Essentially, a concept note is a summarized version of a project proposal and must include a brief description of the project goal/s, objectives and overall approach or strategies to be followed to achieve the stated goal and objectives.
• Note 1: Budget categories are examples only. Applicants can use different budget categories based on their accounting systems. • Note 2: If funds are needed to develop the full proposal. Please note that these funds must be included within the project budget and the maximum amount of these costs is USD 5,000.
A concept note is a synopsis of a proposal that gives a brief explanation of the project's concept and the goals that will be pursued. In order to determine whether the proposed project is in alignment with the program's aims and to weed out concepts that are unlikely to be financed, funding agencies may request a concept note before a full ...
APPENDIX ICONCEPT NOTE: FORMAT AND EVALUATIONCall for Proposals is now in two stages: first, the submission of a Concept Note that briefly describes the research project idea or concept; next, submission of the. ull application form after initial evaluation. These concept notes will be evaluated; and the best concept notes will be selected and ...
10. Organizational Background, including the expertise and experience. 12. Budget Estimate. 13. Complete Contact Information of the NGO along with the name of the Contact Person. Also check out our newest guide: A Quick Guide on How to Write Powerful Concept Notes. Grants and Resources for Sustainability.
The concept paper, sometimes called a prospectus, preliminary proposal, or pre-proposal, is a useful tool for several purposes. It helps clarify and organize ideas in a written form and provides the basis for a funding search. From the concept paper, an individual is able to develop any number of grant applications for the same idea.
Module 3: Project proposal and concept note writing Part 1. General principles 1.1 General principles for writing concept notes and proposals Part 2. Proposal and concept note structure g Part 3. Specific issues to be addressed in a proposal g Part 4. Meeting the deadline g uidelines will elp ou when writing a proposal, if in doubt contact the ...
By Alta Alonzi. A concept note is perhaps the shortest expression of a project idea given on paper to a donor. It is generally used to first propose a project to a donor before submitting a full application. Concept notes are typically between one and four pages long and summarize the key points of the proposed project.
A concept note is a summary of a proposal containing a brief description of the idea of the project and the objectives to be pursued. In some financing programs, funding agencies require a concept note before the submission of a full proposal, in order to decide whether the proposed project is in line with the priorities of the program and to eliminate proposals that are not likely to be funded.