When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic.

The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

What should your proposal contain?

Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives.

Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.

Your proposal should answer the following questions:

• Why is your research necessary?

• What is already known about your topic?

• Where and when will your research be conducted?

• Who should be studied?

• How can the research best be done?

Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.

Dissertation question examples

Strong research kicks off with a solid research question, and dissertations are no exception to this.

Dissertation research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue

• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources

• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints

• Specific enough to answer thoroughly

• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis

• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

Examples: Strong dissertation questions

• What are the main factors enticing people under 30 in suburban areas to engage in the gig economy?

• Which techniques prove most effective for 1st-grade teachers at local elementary schools in engaging students with special needs?

• Which communication streams are the most effective for getting those aged 18-30 to the polls on Election Day?

What should your proposal look like?

An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section, discussion section, or conclusion, it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.

Be sure to include:

• A succinct introduction to your topic and problem statement

• A brief literature review situating your topic within existing research

• A basic outline of the research methods you think will best answer your research question

• The perceived implications for future research

• A reference list in the citation style of your choice

The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.

Note

Sometimes, a research schedule or detailed budget may be necessary if you are pursuing funding for your work.

Dissertation prospectus examples

Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.

• Example #1: “Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907” by Maria Lane

• Example #2: “Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society” by Dimitri Nakassis

• Example #3: “Manhood Up in the Air: A Study of Male Flight Attendants, Queerness, and Corporate Capitalism during the Cold War Era” by Phil Tiemeyer

George, T. (2023, July 18). How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal. Scribbr. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis-dissertation-proposal/

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