Research Proposal Examples: Templates & Best Practices

What does a good research proposal look like? 

Good research proposals always address the crucial question: “Why is this proposal worth approving?” 

According to the University of Queensland, a strong research proposal should effectively argue for the necessity and importance of the proposed project. 

It’s not just about summarizing existing literature or reiterating theoretical frameworks; it’s about making a compelling case for why your research matters.

You can think of evaluating your proposal according to the following: 

• Is the research proposal’s significance to the field justified? Readers want to understand why your research is important and how it will contribute to the field. For instance, if your research aims to explore new treatment methods for Alzheimer’s disease, explain how current treatments are insufficient and how your approach could improve patient outcomes. 
• Does the literature review provide a comprehensive, inclusive overview of the existing body of knowledge? This is important because it helps establish the context for your study and shows that you are building on a solid foundation. Make sure your literature review covers key studies, theories, and debates in your field. Identify gaps or limitations in the current research that your study will address
• Will this research project lead to significant contributions to the field of study? Significant contributions make it worth investing time, resources, and funding into your project. To show this, you need to clearly outline what you expect to achieve with your research and how it will benefit the field. Share specific examples of how your findings could be applied or the impact they might have.

8 research proposal examples

Now that you an idea about general best practices in research proposal writing, let’s take a look at some actual examples from various fields. 

I rounded up 8 research proposal examples–from an undergraduate academic research proposal to securing a grant funding–to give you a comprehensive look at what successful proposals look like. Let’s take a look at them below: 

Social policy research proposal example

These social policy research proposals examples from The Open University in England include two sample proposals for the Department of Social Policy And Criminology. The first proposal explores the topic of fathering and employment in divorce and co-parenting situations, while the second one explores social policy and police governance. 

Field of study: Social policy, Criminology, Social justice, Civil law 

Type of research proposal: Postgraduate research proposal 

Sections included: 

• Introduction
• Research questions and answers 
• Data analysis
• Theoretical contribution 
• Methodology
• Opportunity 
• Ethical issues
• Thematic categories 
• Timetable

Cultural anthropology research proposal example

Here is an example of an accepted anthropology research proposal for a 26-month ethnographic study including on the Amazonian population.This proposal was submitted to the National Science Foundation’s Cultural Anthropology Program and received funding. 

Field of study: Anthropology, Ethnography, Ethnic groups 

Type of research proposal: Research funding 

Sections included: 

• Overview
• Theoretical background 
• Motivation for the proposed study 
• Objectives and hypotheses
• Methodology
• Work schedule / research schedule 
• Significance of the research 
• References

Medical research proposal example

This is a medical research proposal example submitted to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The research proposal was submitted under the R21 grant, which provides support for exploratory or groundbreaking biomedical research. It’s a great example for experienced researchers looking for examples of more high-level proposals. 

Field of study:  Immunology, Neonatology, Vaccine research

Type of research proposal: Research funding 

Sections included: 

• Project summary
• Project narrative 
• Facilities and other resources 
• Research plan 
• Specific aim 
• Interpretation of results 
• Potential problems and alternative approaches 
• Ethical considerations (protection of human subjects) 
• References

Business and logistics research proposal example

This business and logistics research proposal example from the University of Houston includes some comments on how to flesh out each section of the research proposal. It’s a great reference for undergraduate students or novice researchers writing an official proposal for the first time. 

Field of study:  Operations research, Project management, Industrial engineering

Type of research proposal: Undergraduate research proposal 

Sections included: 

• Introduction 
• Problems statement 
• Objectives 
• Preliminary literature review 
• Methodology 
• References 

Educational research proposal example

This educational research proposal example is a great guide for writing your own. It explores restorative justice practices among middle school teachers using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Field of study: Education, Educational psychology, Restorative justice 

Type of research proposal: Postgraduate (PhD) research proposal 

Sections included: 

• Executive summary
• Problem statement 
• Rationale
• Theoretical framework 
• Research questions 
• Research design
• References 

Psychology research proposal example

This psychology research proposal example from the University of the Free State is an excellent PhD-level example focusing on disordered eating across various international cultures. It’s a fantastic reference for understanding how to write a comprehensive PhD dissertation research proposal. The proposal goes into the cultural nuances influencing eating disorders, demonstrating how to frame research questions, conduct a thorough literature review, and outline a robust methodology.

Field of study: Clinical psychology, Disordered eating 

Type of research proposal: Postgraduate research proposal 

Sections included: 

• Background rationale 
• Research problem and objectives 
• Research design and research methodology 
• Research participants 
• Measuring instruments
• Statistical analysis 
• Ethical considerations
• Value of the research 

Nursing research proposal example 

This nursing research proposal example from King Saud University is a great example for undergraduates. It offers a detailed guide on conducting a qualitative study about perceptions of patient care quality. You’ll find it helpful for framing research questions, conducting a thorough literature review, and outlining a solid methodology. 

Field of study: Patient care, nursing, emergency care 

Type of research proposal: Undergraduate research proposal 

Sections included: 

• Abstract 
• Identifying the research issue 
• Literature review 
• Research question
• Aims and objectives 
• Research methodology 
• Research design / proposed method 
• Proposed outcome
• Limitations
• Dissemination 

Engineering and technology research proposal example

This engineering and technology research proposal example was submitted to the Mellon Foundation. The researchers were granted $131,125 USD for a 15-month exploration on the hidden costs of open infrastructure.  

It dives into the often-overlooked expenses of maintaining and operating open systems, covering aspects like long-term maintenance, security, and scalability. This example shows how to clearly communicate the significance and potential impact of your research to secure funding.

Field of study: Information systems, Infrastructure management, Data engineering 

Type of research proposal: Grant proposal 

Sections included: 

• Proposal activities and rationale
• Previous and related work
• What needs to be done
• What we need to accomplish these tasks
• Means by which we’ll make the findings available to the community
• Description of the researchers
• Technology used
• Expected outcomes
• Long-term sustainability of project results

Free downloadable research proposal templates

General research proposal template

This research proposal template from Venngage is a fantastic starting point for any research project, whether you’re submitting to an academic committee or proposing an R&D initiative with your team. 

Having the problem statement and key questions upfront means you can immediately grab attention and clearly show what your research is all about. For example, if you’re investigating how remote work affects productivity, you can clearly present the problem (“How does remote work influence employee productivity?”) and the key questions you plan to explore.

Sales or marketing research proposal template

If you’re working on a market or sales research proposal, this research proposal template from Qwilr is a good launching pad. It comes pre-loaded with all the essentials like objectives, hypotheses, research methods, and reporting sections. Plus, it includes tables for the timeline and quotes, making it super easy for stakeholders to get a clear overview of the project.

Add your branding, include charts or graphs to visualize data, and even embed videos if necessary. You could add a chart to illustrate preliminary survey results or a video explaining your research approach.

Academic research proposal template

This research proposal template is great for students and researchers looking for a quick-start template for their academic proposal. Each section is customizable so you can keep and delete sections depending on what you need. 

When customizing your proposal, it’s super important to stick to the formatting guidelines set by your institution or funding body. If you’re submitting a dissertation or a grant proposal, make sure you check the institution’s formatting requirements to avoid getting rejected just because of a formatting issue.

What are the contents of a research proposal? 

A research proposal typically includes several key sections. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll usually find in a research proposal:

1. Title Page: This is the first page of your proposal and should include the title of your research, your name, your institution, and the date. Think of it as the cover of a book—it sets the stage for what’s inside.
2. Abstract: The abstract is a brief summary of your research proposal, usually about 150-250 words. It gives a snapshot of your research question, methods, and expected outcomes.
3. Introduction: In the introduction, you’ll present the background of your study, the research problem, and why it’s important. This is where you hook your readers by explaining the significance of your research. Why should anyone care about this topic? What’s the big picture?
4. Literature Review: This section involves a review of existing research relevant to your topic. It shows that you’re knowledgeable about what’s already out there and how your research will build on or differ from existing studies.
5. Research Design and Methodology: This includes your research methods (e.g., surveys, experiments, interviews), data collection techniques, and analysis plan. Think of it as your step-by-step game plan—how you’re going to tackle your research question.
6. Expected Outcomes and Research Impact: In this section, outline what you expect to find and the potential impact of your research. How will your findings contribute to the field? What difference will they make?
7. References List: A list of all the sources you’ve cited in your proposal. This shows that your research is grounded in existing knowledge and gives credit to previous work.
8. Appendix: Any additional material that supports your proposal but doesn’t fit neatly into the main sections. This could include questionnaires, detailed tables, or technical notes.

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