Writing a dissertation is like running a marathon; it requires patience, persistence, and preparation. Writing a quality research proposal is an important step, as it outlines the central components needed to plan and execute your study effectively.
In qualitative research, a proposal serves as a roadmap, outlining essential elements that will guide an in-depth exploration of your topic. This document, which must receive approval from your university supervisor, includes all the critical components of the research study. A strong proposal is well-researched and logically structured, covering the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, hypothesis, methodology, timeline, necessary resources, and references.
However, this article will explain the nine crucial elements that help you build a strong foundation for a dissertation proposal based on qualitative research.
What Is Qualitative Research and Its Importance in Dissertation Writing?
Qualitative research offers invaluable assistance with dissertation writing by focusing on in-depth behavioural observation to explore real-life social phenomena. Defined by the University of Texas, it seeks to understand the “why” behind behaviours, rather than just the “what.” This approach provides students with rich insights, capturing complex motivations and contextual factors that help explain their research topics, enhancing the quality and depth of dissertation work.
Let’s proceed with our discussion and examine the essential elements of the dissertation proposal for qualitative research.
How to Structure a Qualitative Research Dissertation Proposal – 9 Key Elements
Crafting a dissertation proposal not only sets the stage for your study but also demonstrates the significance and feasibility of your research. To create a compelling proposal, it’s essential to include specific key elements that provide clarity and direction.
Here we will explain the essential aspect that comes with writing a dissertation proposal using qualitative research. Continue reading for a better understanding.
1. Title
The first step in composing the dissertation proposal is to provide a precise and descriptive title that reflects the focus of your research. Your dissertation title is the first glance to take a positive impression from your audience. It must be definite and self-explanatory. The title of your dissertation or research paper should capture the proposal’s main idea, giving readers an immediate understanding of your research study.
The Sampoerna University shared some crucial points for crafting the best title that must be considered.
- The title must be short, precise and captivating and explain the prediction of your research work.
- It must convey the research approach and writing tone.
- The title of the research topic must contain essential keywords that make it simpler to find for anyone conducting a keyword search.
2. Introduction
This succinct section determines your whole research work. The title and opening paragraph give your audience the best opportunity to engage them.
The introduction is a little more detailed section than the abstract. So, when writing the introduction, its length must be 1-4 paragraphs. Start by writing contextual information about your topic. Then, clearly articulate the background of the problem you intend to explore. It is crucial to highlight the relevance and significance of your research within your field of study.
The introduction section should highlight the research objectives. You must outline a clear direction for what your dissertation proposal aims to achieve. A compelling opening of your introduction will grab the reader’s attention and highlight the significance of your research, laying a solid base for the remainder of your proposal.
3. Writing an Abstract
An abstract is a succinct synopsis rather than an introduction of your researched work, typically a paragraph based on (about 6-7 sentences, 150-250 words).
A well-written overview of your research paper serves multiple goals to achieve:
- An abstract gives readers a quick summary of your research so they can decide whether to read the entire thing,
- This will prepare them to follow the deep insights, arguments, and analyses in the full paper and help them remember important points later.
When writing an abstract, you must follow the supervisor’s specific guidelines, which help you understand what to include and how to organise it.
4. Research Hypothesis
In qualitative research, the hypothesis is a precise declaration about an issue that needs to be examined. A good hypothesis is an important element that helps the researcher structure the dissertation proposal successfully.
The hypothesis develops a firm base of existing knowledge, theories, and research questions. It aims to advance knowledge in the field by empirically testing the suggested relationships between two or more variables.
To compose a qualitative research hypothesis, follow these mentioned steps:
- Identify a knowledge gap in your research field.
- Conduct a thorough literature Assessment.
- Outline your research queries relevant to a chosen topic.
5. Design Your Research Question
For a high academic achievement, the proposed research question regarding the chosen topic is crucial for the dissertation proposal. This qualitative research brightens the precise issue about a subject your writing will focus on. It also determines the tasks that you will need to complete.
There are no universal requirements for what constitutes a good research question. However, one thing must be clear the expectations and priorities of various domains fluctuate. An appropriate research question for a history dissertation proposal differs from a proper research question for a biology paper.
6. Conduct the Literature Review
Understanding the concept of literature is crucial in the research field before writing. According to UMass Amherst’s studies, writing a fruitless literature review is similar to derailing a dissertation. The dissertation as a whole may be regarded as imperfect if its literature review is poor since a researcher cannot do effective research on the topic without initially understanding the relevant literature.
Writing a dissertation proposal starts with a comprehensive review of the literature. In this section, you will learn how important it is to look over sources and analyse data when writing.
Moreover, it also assists you in recognising the gaps in existing knowledge that can be filled by research and the current state of knowledge. A thorough literature review establishes your field knowledge and gives your dissertation a solid base.
Steps to Conduct a Literature Review
According to Concordia University, the literature review is a very essential step that helps in writing your dissertation proposal.
You can follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Define your research question, which helps to determine whether you need to narrow down or broaden your focus.
- Build a checklist of your topic with crucial aspects of the research area, like the existing scholarship covering your topic, peer review or journals.
- Before reading your research work, critically analyse the Publisher’s argumentation and evidence to support your research question.
- Finally, when you’re sure you’ve covered the important author’s reviews and arguments in your subject area, compile all the sources into your literature review.
7. Write Research Methodology
Research methodology is a systematic approach that guides how research is conducted, detailing the techniques, tools, and processes used to gather, analyse, and interpret information. This structured plan ensures that findings are reliable, valid, and replicable by others.
A methodology begins with a research design, which outlines the overall approach, whether it’s qualitative, quantitative, or a combination of both. The design may be descriptive, experimental, or exploratory, setting the foundation for how data will be collected and analysed.
Types of Research Methodologies
There are two main types of research methodologies often utilised by students when writing a dissertation proposal: quantitative research techniques and qualitative research techniques.
- Quantitative Research Technique: Researchers who stick to scientific beliefs tend to use quantitative methodology. This approach quantifies information and derives findings from a target population sample. However, it uses a systematic process for gathering information and presenting the results as numerical values. Moreover, using statistical methods, quantitative research also observes objective analysis.
- Qualitative Research Technique: Qualitative research is not the same as quantitative research. However, it requires the collection and statistical analysis of non-numerical data, including text, audio, and video formats. To craft a new research perspective, qualitative research provides an in-depth understanding of a problem. Nonetheless, qualitative research is common in the social sciences and humanities, like history, sociology, education, and health sciences.
A few questionary examples of qualitative research techniques include the following:
- What are the main factors that influence the adoption of e-SIM technology among users?
- What are the primary cultural practices and values within a coworking space community?
- How do individuals experience the transition from traditional to remote work environments?”
8. Bibliographies
A bibliography refers to a list of all the resources you used in your research work. However, this kind of resource is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the authors or editor. Point to be noted! When there are multiple authors or editors of the same research project, the work should be titled after the first one. A full stop shouldn’t be used to close a bibliographical entry.
Moreover, A bibliography not only indicates ”works cited”. But also demonstrate the relevant information you used to write the research paper the reader holds. Moreover, at least three written sources—books, encyclopaedias, and periodicals—that provide information about your subject must be included in your bibliography.
Books:
The most common bibliography format that you are most likely to be familiar with is books.
Since books follow this formatting:
- Author Last Name and Author first name. Title (Publication Year). Publisher’s City: Publisher. Page numbers.
Periodicals
Periodicals are slightly different from books. Minor changes occur in periodicals. The proposal’s title and issue number were added in place of the publisher’s name and city.
- Author Last and First Name. (Publication Date—it could be more than a year) “Title. “Publication Title, Vol. #. (Issue #), Page numbers.
9. References
As with academic writing, you must cite your original sources in your dissertation proposal. There are two possible approaches to writing a research proposal:
- The first one is a reference list.
- The second one that we have already discussed in the above section is the bibliography.
The information you acknowledged in your research proposal’s body is listed in a reference list. Remember that using the phrase “as cited in…” is inappropriate. You must always visit the source as a researcher to verify it for yourself. Even renowned scholars make mistakes when citing. Thus, it’s crucial to avoid repeating someone else’s mistakes. Although it can take a lot of time, this is the correct literature study method.
Many students find the dissertation proposal process daunting. It’s time-consuming, complex, and often confusing. That’s why so many students turn to UK-based dissertation proposal writing platforms. These services offer clear guidance, making the process easier to understand. They also help ensure that every detail, including citations, is spot-on.
Example of Dissertation Proposal Using Qualitative Research
The dissertation proposal outlines a qualitative research study designed to investigate a specific phenomenon. The research will employ methods such as topic selection, title, introduction, or group discussions to gather in-depth insights from participants. By focusing on their experiences and perspectives, the study aims to increase knowledge of the subject and provide guidance for future procedures or regulations.
Here’s a sample highlight for a dissertation proposal using qualitative research:
Image Source: Studocu
Conclusion
In short, crafting a good dissertation proposal for qualitative research depends on a systematic approach that enhances thorough research and clarity. However, a well-research dissertation proposal serves as a cornerstone, guiding the research process and ensuring alignment with academic requirements.
This research paper illuminates nine essential components essential for developing a good qualitative research proposal: a precise and meaningful title, a descriptive introduction, an abstract overview, a well-defined hypothesis, focused research questions, a comprehensive literature assessment, a detailed methodology, a bibliography, and accurate references.
Moreover, every section is essential to defining the research question, embarking on the context, and demonstrating the study’s importance. In the end, understanding and properly combining these elements can improve a pupil’s ability to carry out significant research and make a contribution to their subject, setting them up for success in the dissertation. Such careful planning shows the researcher’s dedication to academic integrity and clarifies the purpose of the study.
