research proposal writing app

25+ Dissertation & Thesis Writing Apps

Everything You Need To Optimise Your Research Journey

Contributors: Derek J ansen (MBA),   Kerryn Warren (PhD) &  David Phair (PhD) | May 2024

Completing your dissertation   or thesis requires a hearty investment of time, effort and hard work. There’s no shortcut on the road to research success, but as with anything, there are   ways to optimise the process   and work smarter.

Here, we’ll share with you a wide range of apps, software and services that will   make your life a little easier   throughout the research process. While these apps can save you a lot of time, remember that your dissertation or thesis needs to be your own work – no tool should be doing the writing on your behalf. Also, be sure to check your university’s policy regarding AI-based tools and support before using any apps, tools or software. 

Overview: Dissertation & Thesis Apps

• Literature review
• Data collection
• Qualitative data analysis
• Quantitative data analysis
• Writing & Plagiarism
• Project management
• Reference management
• Honourable mentions

Literature Review & Search Apps

The following apps and tools can help you discover, analyse, and synthesise scholarly materials, significantly streamlining the literature review process.

Scite AI – Find & evaluate sources

The Scite AI app uses ‘Smart Citations’ to show how academic papers are discussed—i.e.,  supported, contradicted, or mentioned. This can help you fast-track the literature review process and source highly relevant papers quickly. 

Petal – Chat with your literature

Petal is an AI-driven tool that revolutionises your interaction with documents by enabling direct, context-aware conversations. Upload an article and it will swiftly summarise its contents and allow you to ask questions about the specific study (or studies).

Consensus – ChatGPT for academia

The Consensus app uses a powerful AI engine to connect you to over 200 million scientific papers. It allows precise searches and efficiently summarises key research findings . PS – Get 40% off Consensus Premium by using the coupon code GRADCOACH40.

Litmaps – Visualise related papers

This app is great for quickly identifying relevant research. For any given keyword or resource, it will provide you with a visual citation network, showing how studies are interconnected. This reveals both direct and tangential connections to other research, highlighting gaps and key discussions within your field.

Connected Papers – An alternative

Similar to Litmaps, Connected Papers visually maps academic research, simplifying how you explore related studies. Just input a paper, and it charts connections, helping identify key literature and gaps. It’s ideal for staying updated on emerging research.

Elicit – An “AI research assistant”

Another AI-powered tool, Elicit automates the discovery, screening, and data extraction from academic papers efficiently. This makes it useful for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as it allows you to focus on deeper analysis across various fields​.

Data Collection & Preparation

These apps and tools can assist you in terms of collecting and organising both qualitative and quantitative data for your dissertation or thesis.

SurveyMonkey – Simple surveys

SurveyMonkey is a versatile tool for creating and distributing surveys. It simplifies collecting and analysing data, helping you craft surveys that generate reliable results. Well suited for the vast majority of postgraduate research projects.

Qualtrics – An alternative

Qualtrics is a comprehensive survey tool with advanced creation, distribution, and analysis capabilities. It supports complex survey designs and robust data analysis, making it ideal for gathering detailed insights and conducting high-quality research.

Otter – Easy draft transcription

Otter is an AI-powered transcription tool that converts spoken words into text. It captures and transcribes lectures, interviews, and meetings in real time. Naturally, it’s not 100% accurate (you’ll need to verify), but it can certainly save you some time.

Qualitative Data Analysis

These software packages can help you organise and analyse qualitative data for your dissertation, thesis or research project.

NVivo – All-in-one qual platform

NVivo is a powerful qualitative data analysis software that facilitates data organisation, coding, and analysis. It supports a wide range of data types and methodologies, enabling detailed analysis and helping you extract rich insights from your data.

MaxQDA – QDA simplified

MAXQDA is a robust qualitative data analysis software that helps you systematically organise, evaluate, and interpret complex datasets. A little easier to get started with than NVivo, it’s ideal for first-time dissertation and thesis writers.

ATLAS.ti – For large datasets

ATLAS.ti offers robust tools for organising, coding, and examining diverse materials such as text, graphics, and multimedia. It’s well-suited for researchers aiming to weave detailed, data-driven narratives as it streamlines complex analysis tasks efficiently.

Delve – An intuitive interface

Delve is an intuitive qualitative data analysis tool designed to streamline the qualitative analysis process. Ideal for dissertations, Delve simplifies the process from initial data organisation to in-depth analysis, helping you efficiently manage and interpret complex datasets for clearer insights.

Quantitative (Statistical) Data Analysis

These software packages can help you organise and analyse quantitative (statistical) data for your dissertation, thesis or research project.

Julius – Your “AI data analyst”

Julius is an AI-powered data analysis tool that simplifies the process of analysing and visualising data for academic research. It allows you to “chat” with your data, create graphs, build forecasting models, and generate comprehensive analyses.

IBM SPSS – The “old faithful”

The OG of statistical analysis software, SPSS is ideal for students handling quantitative data in their dissertations and theses. It simplifies complex statistical testing, data management, and graphical representation, helping you derive robust insights.

R Studio – For the data wizards

While admittedly a little intimidating at first, R is a versatile software for statistical computing. It’s well-suited for quantitative dissertations and theses, offering a wide range of packages and robust community support to streamline your work.

STATA – For the data scientists

Stata is yet another comprehensive statistical software widely used for data management, statistical analysis, and graphical representation. It can efficiently handle large datasets and perform advanced statistical analyses.

Writing Improvement & Plagiarism Tools

These apps and tools can help enhance your writing and proactively identify potential plagiarism issues.

Grammarly – Improve your writing

Grammarly is a writing assistant that can help enhance academic writing by checking for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation in real time. It also features a plagiarism detection system , helping you to proactively avoid academic misconduct.

Jenni – An AI “writing assistant”

Jenni AI helps you draft, cite, and edit with ease, streamlining the writing process and tackling writer’s block. Well suited for ESL students and researchers, Jenni helps ensure that your work is both precise, clear and grammatically sound.

Quillbot – Paraphrasing simplified

Quillbot is yet another AI-powered writing tool that can help streamline the writing process. Specifically, it can assist with paraphrasing , correcting grammar, and improving clarity and flow. It also features a citation generator and plagiarism checker .

Quetext – Solid plagiarism checking

Quetext is a plagiarism detection tool that helps ensure the originality of your academic work. It cross-references your documents against extensive online databases to highlight potential plagiarism and generate detailed reports.

Project & Time Management

These apps can help you plan your research project and manage your time, so that you can work as efficiently as possible.

GanttPro – PM simplified

An intuitive project management tool, GanttPro simplifies planning and tracking for dissertations or theses. It offers detailed Gantt charts to visualise task timelines, dependencies, and progress, helping you ensure timely completion of each section.

Trello – Drag-and-drop PM

Trello is a versatile project management tool that helps you organise your dissertation or thesis process effectively. By creating boards for each chapter or section, you can track progress, set deadlines, and coordinate tasks efficiently.

Toggl – Make every minute count

A user-friendly time-tracking app that helps you manage your research project effectively. With Toggl, you can precisely track how much time you spend on specific tasks. This will help you avoid distractions and stay on track throughout your journey.

Reference Management

These apps and tools will help you keep your academic resources well organised and ensure that your citations and references are perfectly formatted, every time.

Mendeley – Your citations, sorted

Mendeley is your go-to reference management tool that simplifies academic writing by keeping your sources neatly organised. Perfect for dissertations and theses, it lets you easily store, search, and cite your resources directly in MS Word.

Zotero – Great for Google Docs

Zotero is a free-to-use reference manager that ensures your sources are well-organised and flawlessly cited. It helps you collect, organise, and cite your research sources seamlessly. A great alternative to Mendeley if you’re using Google Docs.

Endnote – A paid option

Yet another reference management option, Endnote is sometimes specifically required by universities. It efficiently organises and stores research materials, making citation and bibliography creation (largely) effortless.

Honourable Mentions

Now that we’ve covered the more “exciting” dissertation apps and tools, it’s worth quickly making one or two mundane but essential mentions before we wrap up.

You’ll need a reliable word processor.

In terms of word processors, Microsoft Word will likely be your go-to, but it’s not the only option. If you don’t have a license for Word, you can certainly consider using Google Docs, which is completely free. Zotero offers a direct integration with Google Docs, making it easy to manage your citations and references. If you want to go to the other extreme, you can consider LaTeX, a professional typesetting software often used in academic documents.

You’ll need cloud storage.

The number of times we’ve seen students lose hours, days or even weeks’ worth of hard work (and even miss the submission deadline) due to corrupted flash drives or hard drives, coffee-soaked laptops, or stolen computers is truly saddening. If you’re not using cloud storage to save your work, you’re running a major risk. Go sign up for any of the following cloud services (most offer a free version) and save your work there:

• Google Drive
• iCloud Drive

Not only will this ensure your work is always safely stored (remember to hit the Save button, though!), but it will make working on multiple devices easier, as your files will be automatically synchronised. No need to have multiple versions between your desktop, laptop, tablet, etc. Everything stays in one place. Safe, secure, happy files.

Need a helping hand?

Key Takeaways: Dissertation & Thesis Apps

And there you have it – a hearty selection of apps, software and services that will undoubtedly make your life easier come dissertation time.

To recap, we’ve covered tools across a range of categories:

Remember, while these apps can help optimise your dissertation or thesis writing journey, you still need to put in the work . Be sure to carefully review your university’s rules and regulations regarding what apps and tools you can use – especially anything AI-related.

Have a suggestion? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Simply leave a comment below and we’ll consider adding your suggested app to the list.

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14 Comments

It seems some of the apps mentioned are not android capable. It would be nice if you mentioned items that everyone could use.

Thanks for the feedback, Gale!

Yet to explore some of your recommended apps. I am glad to commend on one app that I have started using, Mendeley. When it comes to referencing it really helps a lot.

Great to hear that, Maggie 🙂

I have got Mendeley and it is fantastic. I have equally downloaded Freemind but I am yet to really understand how to navigate through it.

Based on your YouTube lessons,my literature review and the entire research has been simplified and I am enjoying the flow now,more than ever before.

Thank you so much for your recommendations and guide.It’s working a great deal for me.

Remain blessed!

Thank you for all the amazing help and tutorials. I am in the dissertation research proposal stage having already defended the qualifying paper. I am going to implement some of your advice as I revise chapters 1 & 2 and expand chapter 3 for my research proposal. My question is about the writing– or specifically which software would you recommend. I know MS Word can get glitchy with larger documents. Do the “reference” apps you recommend work with other options such as LaTeX? I understand that for some programs the citations won’t be integrated or automated such as cite while you write etc.. I have a paid version of endnote, and free versions of mendeley and zotero. I have really only used endnote with any fidelity but I’m willing to adapt. What would you advise at this point?

Thanks for your comment and for the kind words – glad to hear that the info is useful.

Generally, Word works reasonably well for most research projects and is our first recommendation. As long as one keeps the document clean (i.e. doesn’t paste in loads of different styles, ultra high-res images, etc), it works fine. But I understand that it’s not perfect for absolutely huge projects.

Regarding referencing with Latex, this article covers how to use Mendeley with Latex – https://blog.mendeley.com/2011/10/25/howto-use-mendeley-to-create-citations-using-latex-and-bibtex/ . Perhaps it will be useful. I hesitate to tell you to adopt software X or Y, or to move from Endnote, as each software has its strengths and weaknesses, and performs better in certain contexts. I’m not familiar with your context, so it’s not possible for me to advise responsibly. Mendeley works well for the vast majority of our students, but if there’s a very specific bit of functionality that draws you to Endnote, then it may be best to stick with it. My generic advice would be to give Mendeley a try with some sample references and see if it has the functionality you need.

I hope this helps! Best of luck with your research 🙂

Thank you for your amazing articles and tips. I have MAC laptop, so would Zotero be as good as Mendeley? Thank you

Derek would you share with me your email please, I need to talk to you urgently.

I need a free Turnitin tool for checking plagiarism as for the tools above

I have been going crazy trying to keep my work polished and thesis or dissertation friendly. My mind said there had to be a better way to do literature reviews. Thank God for these applications. Look out world I am on my way.

Wow Thanks for this write-up i find it hard to track down extremely good guidance out there when it comes to this material appreciate for the publish site

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The 8 Best Proposal Apps to Win Projects and Land New Clients

Every new client needs slightly tweaked copies of documents you've sent before. You could make new ones every time, but that takes up so much time. Copy old documents, though, and you run the risk of forgetting to remove a former client's details or to include crucial terms of service or non-disclosure agreements.

Your time would be much better spent on your projects and clients. You need something that will help you put your best foot forward every time you start working with someone new, something that will help you land more projects with less work.

You need a proposal app. Here's why—and the best apps you could use to streamline your proposal process.

What's the Difference Between a Proposal and a Quote or Estimate?

Perhaps the best document in a project is the invoice—followed by the new digits in your bank account when you've wrapped up a new client project.

But not so fast. The project's just started. No time to think about invoices yet.

First you'll need a quote, estimate, bid, or proposal. The former three are focused on the price of your products or service—with the latter focused on the details.

A quote is a simple document with the direct price of a product or service—not too much different from the pricing page on a website or the prices in a menu. If a client wants to know how much you charge to design a website based on one of your default site templates, you want a quote.

Estimates go a bit further. If the customer wants a unique website design with a custom typeface and blog layout, you might not know exactly how long the project will take or the final cost—but you can estimate. So an estimate is a quote that describes what the project will  likely  cost based on current assumptions, and is subject to change.

Bids are quotes for competitive projects. Say three agencies are all trying to land the website design project—you'd submit a quote and try to win the project, competing on cost or your team's unique skills perhaps. You'll include a more specific price—there's less flexibility than with a open-ended proposal, after all—along with more details to sell the potential client on your offering.

Then you have proposals, the most detailed of them all. Proposals take the detail of a bid and the open-ended nature of an estimate then wrap them with a pitch on why your company would be great at this task and your standard terms. Proposals are everything in one place to pitch a potential client on what your team offers them—your best chance to get hired for the job.

Proposals, bids, estimates, and quotes all share similar elements—and unsurprisingly, you can typically make them all in the same apps. The main part is info about your product or service offerings and the price—everything else is details and nuance. We'll focus on proposals here, but if you need to make a quote, estimate, or bid, these same tools can still be great for the job.

What Makes a Great Proposal App?

Speed . The best proposal apps make it faster to create proposals. Instead of a word processor document where you need to find what to fill in, they include form fields to quickly add details—or they fill in the details for you automatically with saved content blocks you can reuse in each new proposal. Then they often help you style your proposal, turn it into a PDF document, and send the finished proposal to clients. They speed up your workflow so you spend less time on the documents and more time on the work.

Accuracy . It's easy to forget important information your proposals need. That's perhaps the best part of the saved content and customized templates in proposal apps. You can add your most important info once, and trust it'll be included in every new proposal without any extra effort.

Automation . Sending a proposal from a word processor takes at least a half-dozen steps. Proposal apps usually only take a couple clicks to send your proposal—and they typically can notify you when clients view and sign the proposal online so you don't have worry about misplacing those signed PDF scan clients used to send you. Some even include integrations to create a proposal automatically, say, when you add a new client to the Interested stage in your CRM.

Those three themes are what we watched for while testing over fifteen proposal apps to find the best tools. Some include other features—say invoice and billing tools tools or web content embeds—but at the very least they nail the core features you'll want from a proposal app.

How we evaluate and test apps

The 8 best proposal apps, .css-yjptlz-link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentcolor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} qwilr.

for saving reusable document sections as you build new proposals

Next time you make a proposal, when you click the  +  button, all of the sections you saved will be a tap away, ready for you to add them to your document and customize them again. And if you want to make a proposal similar to one you've sent before, click the  Clone  button beside any of your existing proposals.

Qwilr includes brand settings where you can customize your company's info and choose a typeface and colors for your brand—and an API to automatically make proposals with its enterprise plans. For the most part, though, it's focused on the documents. You might need to add client info manually most times, but it'll be quicker than ever to add beautifully formatted sections with every other detail you need.

Connect Qwilr with over 1,000 apps and build a proposal workflow with Zapier's Qwilr integrations:

Get Slack notifications when Qwilr projects are first viewed

Send emails from Gmail when new Qwilr projects are first viewed

Add Mailchimp subscribers when new Qwilr projects are accepted

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for writing proposals quickly with keyboard shortcuts

It's almost more of a writing app. Start a new proposal, and you'll get a page that's reminiscent of a blog post editor with a large header image, logo, and proposal name at the top. You can add a client name and tag, both to help organize proposals (though neither let you save extra details to automatically fill in future proposals). Below that, there's blank space for you to type you thoughts—and that's it at first glance.

Press your  return  key to start a new paragraph, though, and you'll notice a small  +  icon on the left. Click that—or type a  / —for a world of extra proposal-focused features. Type to sort through the options, where you can insert a header, image, video embed, price table, signature, list, and more. And at the end is Proppy's best feature:  Import Section . Select that and enter some text you'd used in another proposal, then click the item you want to insert into your new proposal. Instead of needing to think about sections and save them separately, Proppy lets you write proposals like you would in Word and then easily reuse sections from them in the future. It's less automated than many other proposal tools, but can speed you up while still letting you quickly type up new ideas for each client proposal.

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for creating proposals with detailed page layouts

Proposal apps can help you build a new proposal in a few minutes—at least once you've set the apps up and added your default content sections. But for the most part, they make standard looking proposals with a single column of text, perhaps accented with pictures and nice typography but without any of the detail you could add from a word processor.

Your first proposals will take a bit longer to put together. But once you've made a proposal with all the content sections you want, it's far easier to build the next one. Instead of copying and pasting data, select the  Content Library  tab in the sidebar to pull in any section from previous proposals. It makes it as simple to reuse content as Proppy, only here with richly formatted pages that'll sell your brand to clients.

Connect Proposify with over 1,000 apps and build a proposal workflow with Zapier's Proposify integrations:

Share Proposify won proposals in Slack

Save Proposify won proposals to Dropbox

Create Teamwork projects from won proposals in Proposify

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for making customized proposals from document sections

From the Sections tool in Bidsketch, you can add opening and closing sections with details about your services, previous projects, terms of service, team info, and more. Format each with Bidsketch's rich text editor, and include images, variables in curly quotes, detail tables, or even video embeds if you'd like. Tag each section with its category, and give it a name that'll be each to find in the app later. Then open the  Fees  tab and add details about each of your products and services with a similar text editor tool that lets you include a price and fee type. Finally add your contact info to the  Clients  section for everything your proposal need saved in one place.

Want to make full templates for your most common proposals? Bidsketch's main templates are  content  templates where you select the sections and fees you want for each proposal type. Or, just make a new blank proposal for a client, and Bidsketch will have you select the content sections that proposal needs and the client, and turn them into a polished proposal in seconds. It's a bit harder to style your proposals—you'll need HTML and CSS skills to customize fonts and colors in Bidsketch—but Bidsketch's focus on reusable text ensures you won't duplicate effort.

Connect Bidsketch with over 1,000 apps and build a proposal workflow with Zapier's Bidsketch integrations:

Add viewed Bidsketch proposals to Slack as notifications

Add approved Bidsketch proposals to Trello as project boards

Add approved Bidsketch proposals to Slack as notifications

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for tweaking saved document sections into custom proposals

Much like Bidsketch, Nusii works best if you save your most-used document sections first. Add them from the  Sections  tab, with options to save text or price sections with the details and formatting you want. It's easy to make sure things will be automatically customized, too, with Nusii's menu of default client variables including name and email so you don't have to remember the text tag to include.

You can then combine these sections into a new template—here, again, with templates that are simply groups of the sections you want to include. Then when you make a proposal, it'll include the template sections, with buttons to add any other sections you want—and an editor in each section so you can tweak the text for that client. And for a bit of extra design, Nusii also includes a custom header image editor with each proposal where you can add a photo and overlay it with a color and blur for an artistic proposal in seconds.

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for managing proposals, invoices, and clients together

It's a simpler proposal builder in a suite of tools designed around freelance work. Start by listing clients and the projects you're working on (or hoping to work on) with them. Then add proposals, which in Bonsai are simple documents with an overview and timeline of the project, additional text sections that can describe your ideas for the proposal, and file attachments to include your existing contract or portfolio. Finish the proposal with a  Fee Summary  which lets you offer multiple packages to your clients so they can choose the offer that fits them best without having to make a new proposal for every new offering.

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for quickly filling in template proposal document fields

When it's time to make a new proposal, create a new document in PandaDoc, select your template, and it'll tell you how many tokens you need to fill in with a list of the fields in the sidebar. Add the correct text to each one to customize the document, and PandaDoc will update the document preview automatically. Then drag in any extra content blocks you want and send off the document for your client to sign. It's a quick way to fill in document templates for anything you need to send to clients.

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for automatically creating proposals from existing Word and PDF document templates

It's not just a proposal app. WebMerge is a tool to automatically create new documents from your PDF, Word, and Excel document templates—which makes it great for proposals, terms of service, agreements, and more. You'll open your existing document templates, replace any text that you need to change for each new client with variable fields like  {$name}  (changing  name  with a unique name for each variable your documents need). Upload the file to WebMerge, then add a WebMerge form to your document.

When you need to make new documents, you can use WebMerge's HTML rich text editor for a simpler version of Word's standard editing tools to build new template documents. It's not as fancy as the other proposal apps—but it's perhaps even faster to use and can automate your entire document workflow for proposals and more.

You might want to focus on your proposal's design to catch potential clients' eye, or you could prefer to save time on your content and make it easy to mix-and-match sections for detailed proposals. Maybe you want to fill in new proposal details each time, or would rather automate everything with one proposal template that tweaked for every new client. Either way, there's a proposal app for you—one that can speed up your proposal workflow and help you spend more time on the projects you love.

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Matthew Guay

Matthew Guay is an editor and writer in Bangkok. When he's not writing, he's likely reading a new book or exploring random streets in a new city. Follow Matthew at @maguay.

• Proposals & invoices
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• Quote Roller

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Home » How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

Table of Contents

How To Write a Research Proposal

Writing a Research proposal involves several steps to ensure a well-structured and comprehensive document. Here is an explanation of each step:

1. Title and Abstract

• Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research.
• Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal.

2. Introduction:

• Provide an introduction to your research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance.
• Clearly state the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Discuss the background and context of the study, including previous research in the field.

3. Research Objectives

• Outline the specific objectives or aims of your research. These objectives should be clear, achievable, and aligned with the research problem.

4. Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings, identify gaps, and highlight how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge.

5. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to employ to address your research objectives.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques you will use.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate and suitable for your research.

6. Timeline:

• Create a timeline or schedule that outlines the major milestones and activities of your research project.
• Break down the research process into smaller tasks and estimate the time required for each task.

7. Resources:

• Identify the resources needed for your research, such as access to specific databases, equipment, or funding.
• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources to carry out your research effectively.

8. Ethical Considerations:

• Discuss any ethical issues that may arise during your research and explain how you plan to address them.
• If your research involves human subjects, explain how you will ensure their informed consent and privacy.

9. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

• Clearly state the expected outcomes or results of your research.
• Highlight the potential impact and significance of your research in advancing knowledge or addressing practical issues.

10. References:

• Provide a list of all the references cited in your proposal, following a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

11. Appendices:

• Include any additional supporting materials, such as survey questionnaires, interview guides, or data analysis plans.

Research Proposal Format

The format of a research proposal may vary depending on the specific requirements of the institution or funding agency. However, the following is a commonly used format for a research proposal:

1. Title Page:

• Include the title of your research proposal, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the date.

2. Abstract:

• Provide a brief summary of your research proposal, highlighting the research problem, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Introduce the research topic and provide background information.
• State the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Explain the significance and relevance of the research.
• Review relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings and identify gaps in the existing knowledge.
• Explain how your research will contribute to filling those gaps.

5. Research Objectives:

• Clearly state the specific objectives or aims of your research.
• Ensure that the objectives are clear, focused, and aligned with the research problem.

6. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to use.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for your research.

7. Timeline:

8. Resources:

• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources effectively.

9. Ethical Considerations:

• If applicable, explain how you will ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of research participants.

10. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

11. References:

12. Appendices:

Research Proposal Template

Here’s a template for a research proposal:

1. Introduction:

2. Literature Review:

3. Research Objectives:

4. Methodology:

5. Timeline:

6. Resources:

7. Ethical Considerations:

8. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

9. References:

10. Appendices:

Research Proposal Sample

Title: The Impact of Online Education on Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study

1. Introduction

Online education has gained significant prominence in recent years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes by comparing them with traditional face-to-face instruction. The study will explore various aspects of online education, such as instructional methods, student engagement, and academic performance, to provide insights into the effectiveness of online learning.

2. Objectives

The main objectives of this research are as follows:

• To compare student learning outcomes between online and traditional face-to-face education.
• To examine the factors influencing student engagement in online learning environments.
• To assess the effectiveness of different instructional methods employed in online education.
• To identify challenges and opportunities associated with online education and suggest recommendations for improvement.

3. Methodology

3.1 Study Design

This research will utilize a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study will include the following components:

3.2 Participants

The research will involve undergraduate students from two universities, one offering online education and the other providing face-to-face instruction. A total of 500 students (250 from each university) will be selected randomly to participate in the study.

3.3 Data Collection

The research will employ the following data collection methods:

• Quantitative: Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted to measure students’ learning outcomes. Data on student demographics and academic performance will also be collected from university records.
• Qualitative: Focus group discussions and individual interviews will be conducted with students to gather their perceptions and experiences regarding online education.

3.4 Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data will be transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and themes.

4. Ethical Considerations

The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of participants. Informed consent will be obtained, and participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

5. Significance and Expected Outcomes

This research will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of online education on student learning outcomes. The findings will help educational institutions and policymakers make informed decisions about incorporating online learning methods and improving the quality of online education. Moreover, the study will identify potential challenges and opportunities related to online education and offer recommendations for enhancing student engagement and overall learning outcomes.

6. Timeline

The proposed research will be conducted over a period of 12 months, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.

The estimated budget for this research includes expenses related to data collection, software licenses, participant compensation, and research assistance. A detailed budget breakdown will be provided in the final research plan.

8. Conclusion

This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes through a comparative study with traditional face-to-face instruction. By exploring various dimensions of online education, this research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and challenges associated with online learning. The findings will contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational practices and help shape future strategies for maximizing student learning outcomes in online education settings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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How to choose an Appropriate Method for Research?

AI Research Proposal Generator

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Boost Your Research with AI Writing Tools

Efficiency and accuracy.

AI writing tools are designed to enhance efficiency and accuracy in generating research proposals. By utilizing these advanced tools, researchers can expedite the proposal writing process and ensure the accuracy of the content. With the assistance of AI technology, the time-consuming task of crafting a comprehensive research proposal is streamlined, allowing researchers to focus on refining the content.

Moreover, these tools employ natural language processing to ensure that the generated content is coherent and well-structured. This significantly reduces the time spent on revising and editing the proposal, enabling researchers to allocate their time more effectively towards other critical aspects of their research.

Enhanced Creativity and Idea Generation

In addition to expediting the writing process, AI writing tools contribute to enhanced creativity and idea generation. These tools provide valuable suggestions and insights, aiding researchers in developing innovative and compelling research proposals. By leveraging the capabilities of AI technology, researchers can explore diverse perspectives and refine their ideas, ultimately leading to the creation of well-crafted and impactful research proposals.

Seamless Collaboration and Integration

Furthermore, AI tools for writing facilitate seamless collaboration and integration within research teams. These tools enable multiple researchers to collectively contribute to the proposal generation process, fostering a collaborative environment for idea exchange and refinement. The integration of AI writing tools empowers research teams to efficiently harness their collective expertise and produce comprehensive and cohesive research proposals.

Maximizing Research Proposal Creation with AI Writing Tools

Utilize ai writing tools for preliminary research.

When initiating the research proposal creation process, consider using AI writing tools for preliminary research and idea generation. These tools can provide valuable insights and suggestions, aiding in the identification of relevant literature and the development of initial research ideas. By leveraging AI tools for writing at the outset, researchers can streamline the initial stages of proposal creation and lay a strong foundation for their research.

Incorporate AI-Generated Outlines for Structure

Integrate AI-generated outlines to establish a well-structured framework for the research proposal. AI writing tools can assist in outlining the key sections and content flow, providing a comprehensive framework for the proposal. By incorporating these AI-generated outlines, researchers can ensure coherence and logical progression within their proposals, enhancing the overall quality and organization of the content.

Leverage AI Tools for Content Refinement

Utilize AI writing tools for content refinement and enhancement. These tools offer advanced editing and proofreading capabilities, aiding in the refinement of language, grammar, and overall clarity of the proposal content. By leveraging AI tools for writing, researchers can elevate the quality of their proposals, ensuring that the content aligns with scholarly standards and effectively communicates the research objectives.

Collaborative Editing with AI Writing Tools

Embrace collaborative editing features offered by AI writing tools. These tools facilitate seamless collaboration among research team members, allowing for real-time feedback and collective refinement of the proposal content. By engaging in collaborative editing using AI tools for writing, research teams can leverage their collective expertise and insights, leading to the development of comprehensive and well-refined research proposals.

Utilize AI Tools for Citation Management

Streamline citation management by leveraging AI writing tools. These tools offer automated citation generation and management capabilities, simplifying the process of citing references within the research proposal. By incorporating AI tools for writing, researchers can ensure the accuracy and consistency of citations, adhering to scholarly citation standards and enhancing the overall credibility of the proposal.

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Exploring AI-Powered Research Proposal Generation

Discover the seamless integration of AI writing tools in crafting impactful research proposals. Explore the following examples to witness the transformative capabilities of AI technology in enhancing research proposal creation.

Craft a comprehensive literature review for a research proposal on sustainable energy solutions.

Incorporating AI writing tools for crafting a literature review on sustainable energy solutions offers a transformative approach to proposal generation. The AI-powered tools can efficiently analyze a vast array of scholarly articles, extracting key insights and synthesizing relevant information to construct a comprehensive literature review. By leveraging AI technology, the literature review can encompass diverse perspectives, providing a robust foundation for the research proposal. Furthermore, the AI tools facilitate the identification of emerging trends and innovative approaches within sustainable energy research, enriching the literature review with cutting-edge insights and contributing to the development of a compelling research proposal.

Moreover, the integration of AI writing tools enables the exploration of interdisciplinary connections and the synthesis of diverse scholarly viewpoints, fostering a comprehensive and insightful literature review. By harnessing AI technology, researchers can expedite the literature review process, allowing for a more extensive analysis of existing literature and the seamless integration of diverse perspectives. The AI-generated literature review contributes to the establishment of a strong theoretical framework within the research proposal, showcasing the transformative capabilities of AI-powered research proposal generation in the context of sustainable energy solutions.

Develop an innovative research methodology for a proposal addressing mental health challenges in educational settings.

Embarking on the development of an innovative research methodology for a proposal addressing mental health challenges in educational settings with the assistance of AI writing tools presents a paradigm-shifting approach. The utilization of AI-powered tools empowers researchers to explore diverse methodological approaches, leveraging advanced algorithms to analyze existing research methodologies and propose innovative frameworks. By integrating AI technology, researchers can gain valuable insights into emerging research methodologies and refine their approach to address the complexities of mental health challenges in educational settings, ultimately contributing to the development of a pioneering research methodology.

Furthermore, AI writing tools facilitate the synthesis of evidence-based practices and cutting-edge research approaches, enabling the creation of a robust and innovative research methodology. The tools offer comprehensive analysis and synthesis of existing methodologies, empowering researchers to develop a methodology that aligns with the unique context of mental health challenges in educational settings. Leveraging AI technology in crafting the research methodology fosters a forward-thinking and impactful approach, showcasing the transformative potential of AI-powered research proposal generation in addressing critical societal issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Research Process

Writing a Scientific Research Project Proposal

• 5 minute read
• 102.4K views

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.

What is a scientific research proposal?

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.

Scientific Research Proposal Format

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:

• Title: Make sure the title of your proposal is descriptive and concise. Make it catch and informative at the same time, avoiding dry phrases like, “An investigation…” Your title should pique the interest of the reader.
• 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 important. Here you want to introduce the research problem in a creative way, and demonstrate your understanding of the need for the research. You want the reader to think that your proposed research is current, important and relevant.
• Background: Include a brief history of the topic and link it to a contemporary context to show its relevance for today. Identify key researchers and institutions also looking at the problem
• Literature Review: This is the section that may take the longest amount of time to assemble. Here you want to synthesize prior research, and place your proposed research into the larger picture of what’s been studied in the past. You want to show your reader that your work is original, and adds to the current knowledge.
• Research Design and Methodology: This section should be very clearly and logically written and organized. You are letting your reader know that you know what you are going to do, and how. The reader should feel confident that you have the skills and knowledge needed to get the project done.
• Preliminary Implications: Here you’ll be outlining how you anticipate your research will extend current knowledge in your field. You might also want to discuss how your findings will impact future research needs.
• Conclusion: This section reinforces the significance and importance of your proposed research, and summarizes the entire proposal.
• References/Citations: Of course, you need to include a full and accurate list of any and all sources you used to write your research proposal.

Common Mistakes in Writing a Scientific Research Project Proposal

Remember, the best research proposal can be rejected if it’s not well written or is ill-conceived. The most common mistakes made include:

• Not providing the proper context for your research question or the problem
• Failing to reference landmark/key studies
• Losing focus of the research question or problem
• Not accurately presenting contributions by other researchers and institutions
• Incompletely developing a persuasive argument for the research that is being proposed
• Misplaced attention on minor points and/or not enough detail on major issues
• Sloppy, low-quality writing without effective logic and flow
• Incorrect or lapses in references and citations, and/or references not in proper format
• The proposal is too long – or too short

Scientific Research Proposal Example

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.

Language Editing Services

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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Thesis Apps: Best Applications & Software for Graduate Students

The process of writing a thesis requires a lot of time and patience. Custom-writing.org experts are willing to make this task easier for you. We’ve compiled a list of thesis writing apps and software. These tools will help you make plans and self-organize. There are also free apps to improve your productivity, help you carry out the research, boost your vocabulary, and check your work for mistakes.

With the thesis apps on this list, you won’t ever have to wonder how to write a dissertation because you’ll know the answer – it’s easy!

• 📑 Word Processors
• ⏰ Time Managers
• 🚀 Productivity Apps
• 🎓 Dictionaries
• 🔬 Research Tools
• 🔤 Grammar Checkers

1. 📑 Word Processors and Note-Taking Apps

This should be a no-brainer, but writing is one of the essential parts of creating a thesis. So it’s evident that you need to have the best thesis apps to deal with this task effectively.

Here are some apps that you might want to check out.

• Google docs . This is probably the first app that comes to mind when you think of alternative free word processors. It has all the functionality and capabilities you’ll need to write and format your thesis. It also allows users to work together on the same document in real-time. It’s available for Android, iOS, or as a web app.
• WPS Office . This multi-platform solution includes not only a word processor. It’s also a full-fledged office suite that allows you to create and work with spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF documents. What else could you need to create a perfect thesis?
• Office Online . This one is for those who want to get the most out of Microsoft Office for free. This one is as good as it can get — an online version of Office. Enough said.
• Jarte . This is a free word processor based on the WordPad engine. It has all the necessary functions and provides a comfortable way to work with text—and it’s free. This app also can export your documents to PDF and HTML files.
• Evernote , Google Keep , and OneNote . The reason why we put these three together? They’re all note-taking apps. Do we know that there are many other similar apps too? Yes, we do. But there’s a reason why these three are so popular. They all offer the same thing – a way to keep all your notes in one place. The difference between them is how it’s all organized, along with some extra features. All of these thesis writing apps are free, too.

2. ⏰ Time-Managing Thesis Apps

With all the steps you need to complete to write a good thesis, it’s not hard to get lost. You can quickly get stuck in one place without knowing what to do and end up making no progress at all.

Or you can use one of the dissertation apps in this category to build a plan and organize your workflow!

• Pocket . Pocket brings order to the chaos of posts and articles you want to read or use to write your thesis. You can easily save them all in one place and look through them later. Then you can decide whether or not you’ll need a particular piece of information.
• Todoist . This one is a free time manager (though it also has paid plans with extra features). With this app, you can set deadlines for each stage of your thesis creation process, and it will remind you of them beforehand. This app will help you stay on track of what plans are waiting for you next.
• Wunderlist . This to-do list app indeed does wonders. It lets you build short- and long-term plans and keep them all in order. You can set notifications to stay on track and always be sure that you’re performing according to your schedule, whether it’s a particular stage of your thesis writing or some other assignment.

3. 🚀 Thesis Apps to Improve Productivity

We all have days when things don’t work, and everything is a distraction. So how can you deal with this all-too-common problem?

There’s a good selection of productivity apps that can help you out. With one of these, you’ll finish writing your thesis in no time.

• Any.do . This one is a task manager that’ll help you stay on track of whatever your current tasks are. It will help you build a habit of reviewing your tasks and make sure that you know which assignments you need to pay the most attention to at the moment. With this app, you won’t miss deadlines or find yourself wondering what to do next.
• IFTTT . This tool allows you to create short automation sequences without any coding skills. It will remember every little thing that you tend to forget. On the one hand, you’ll get those things done; on the other—you won’t get distracted by those tasks and will be able to concentrate on what’s important right now. The app supports plenty of services and is easy to use.
• RescueTime . This app will track the time you spend completing tasks. It will also report all the websites you visit, the apps you use, and breaks you take during the day. By doing so, it helps you create greater self-awareness. As a result, you’ll immediately see whether something is going wrong and keeping you from following your plan.
• StayFocusd . This Chrome extension helps you stay focused on your current task (which, of course, explains its name). It will block all those distracting sites that tend to get in your way while you’re working. You can set a specific time for blocking or choosing a time limit for a certain time during the day.
• Write or Die . This one is a web-based tool. It is also available for iOS, with an Android version coming soon. The tool helps you eliminate writer’s block. Within the app, you can set a specific period and the word count you need to reach within this time. It also features stimuli and rewarding images.

4. 🎓 Vocabulary Boosters and Dictionaries

At this stage, dictionaries and vocabulary boosters come into play.

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary . This is one of the most well-known dictionaries out there. Apart from listing definitions and offering a thesaurus, it also features word games. These word games aim to increase your vocabulary, which will come in handy when writing a thesis. Apart from having a web-based version, there are also apps available for Android and iOS.
• Cambridge Dictionary . This is another famous dictionary listing almost every aspect and sphere imaginable. In long-term perspective, it’s even more useful than the best thesis statement generator , as it can potentially provide you with knowledge you’ll keep forever. All of the resources are available from the site, widget, or official mobile apps. A wide selection of available dictionaries and thesauruses will surely meet all of your writing needs.
• The Free Dictionary . There are many things to discover under this simple name. This web service provides dictionaries on a variety of topics. It also features a thesaurus, idioms, acronyms, a grammar book, and encyclopedia articles. What else can you ask for?

5. 🔬 Tools for Conducting Research

Another essential part of writing a thesis is research. Without properly researched sources and data , everything that’s written in your thesis will be highly questionable.

To avoid poorly supported arguments , and to be able to conduct outstanding research, consider using one of the following tools.

• Mendeley . Once you try this tool, you won’t believe that you ever researched without it. It will help you complete any type of research, come up with a topic for your paper, organize your literature review , make annotations, and manage your research materials. This multi-platform tool also allows syncing across all your devices.
• Mindmup , Bubbl.us . Both of these apps are great tools for mind mapping. They’ll help you get all of your thoughts and ideas in order. This organization will significantly help your research, as everything will be neatly organized and accessible. Both of these tools have free plans and web versions. They only differ with their extra features.
• WolframAlpha . This is a go-to source of expert knowledge on a wide variety of disciplines. This answer engine is also available on mobile platforms. Instead of just giving a list of documents or web pages that may or may not answer your question, it comes up with results from a curated knowledge base in response to your query.

6. 🔤 Grammar Checkers

Everyone makes mistakes. But it’s not a bad idea to make sure that there’s none in your thesis. The apps described below can help you with that.

• Hemingway Editor . This tool aims to improve your writing style and make it as straightforward as possible. It makes colored highlights to indicate long or very complicated sentences. As a result, you get a clean piece of content that’s understandable and easy to digest.
• Ginger . This multi-platform solution helps you find and correct all types of grammar mistakes. It also makes it easier to edit text, which improves your overall productivity, as you’ll spend less time correcting errors.
• Grammarly . This tool has gained so much popularity that it probably doesn’t even require an introduction. It finds and corrects mistakes that no word processor can spot. The tool has a browser extension, offline software, and a premium version with extra features.

Hopefully, you’ll get some thesis help by using these free tools. With these apps at your disposal, you’ll be able to craft a fantastic thesis easily.

Did we miss something? Are there any free thesis apps that you like to use that aren’t on this list? Tell us about them in the comments!

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Find more proposal templates on our templates page.

Business Proposals

Consulting proposals, marketing proposals.

How to write a Research Proposal: Free Apps for Research

• Components of a research proposal
• Useful videos
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Sage Research Methods LibGuide This link opens in a new window
• Managing sources
• Request a literature search
• Research proposal - examples
• Creating a Gantt chart
• Free Apps for Research
• Academic writing

Useful apps for resaerch

Grammarly   (free plan and monthly/annual premium plan subscriptions available) [you can set up your language preference in the Grammarly extension, e.g. South African English]. It also has a plagiarism checker.

See  How to Use Grammarly – Beginner’s Guide  (YouTube Video), 9 January 2020 (10:37 mins) and  How to Use Grammarly Tutorial  (YouTube Video), 25 June 2018 (11:25 mins) [this one is more critical and offers advice on tech issues]. Many more videos (probably better ones) on YouTube.

Evernote  – useful to students for productivity and time management. Offers working space to store and organise notes, to do lists, ideas, voice memos to self, photos and more, and used to manage tasks, presentations, projects. Basic plan for free and upgraded annual plans for a fee.

How to Use Evernote: Basics for Students  (24 June 2017) (7:44 mins),  10 Evernote Tips for Better Productivity  (2021)  (YouTube Video), 15 June 2021 (4:43 mins) and  How to Use Evernote: Stay Productive & Organised Online with Evernote (Beginners Guide)  (YouTube Video) (19:16 mins).

7 insanely useful academic apps you’ve not heard about!  by Andy Stapleton (YouTube Video) (11:57 mins)

Andy Stapleton mentions the following:

0:00  – introduction  0:24  – paper digest ( https://www.paper-digest.com )  1:43  – writefull ( https://www.writefull.com )  3:10  – Penelope.ai ( https://www.penelope.ai )  4:47  – Litmaps ( https://app.litmaps.co )  6:16  – Biorender ( https://biorender.com )  8:01  – Otlet ( https://otlet.io )  9:31  – Kudos ( https://growkudos.com )  11:17  – Summary

He also did one called  Best PhD apps: 10+ essential apps for every PhD Student  by Andy Stapleton (YouTube Video) (13:18 mins) and it covers:  0:00  Introduction  0:40  Evernote, Google Keep  1:45  Zotero, Mendeley, Endnote  2:55  Asana/Trello  4:35  Grammarly  5:54  MyNoise.net  7:06  SmartTribe.io  8:40  Headspace, Insight Timer  10:00  Gimp, Inkscape  11:30  Interval Timer

5 essential apps for PhD and research students  by Maria B (YouTube Video), 26 May 2020 (8:56 mins)

Very practical tips and evaluations of the five apps she recommends based on personal experience.

Maria B covers:  Evernote /  Zotero /  Microsoft PowerPoint  for inserting diagrams/figures/images etc/ Microsoft Word  … Track Changes/Comments … plugins like Zotero/Mendeley … export options/ Notion  … for planning, time management … etc.

10+ Applications to Feel More on Top of PhD  (YouTube Video) by Vera,  PhDCoffeeTime , 20 October 2020 (10:33 mins)

Vera covers: Introduction  0:00  Note-taking and Cross-referencing  2:02  Time-tracking  2:13  Lab-timer  3:10  Biostatistics  3:37  Adding scale bar  3:51  Don't use PPT for posters  4:04  Write professional emails  4:48  Clearing your mind and write better  5:21  Decluttering your PhD  6:06  Why you need to be on Linkedin NOW!  7:02  Agile Project Management like a Pro  7:55

https://www.xodo.com

Open access research databases

https://core.ac.uk/

https://arxiv.org

Elsevier Open Archive

Elsevier provides free access to archived material in selected Elsevier journals.

SAGE Open is an open access publication from SAGE. It publishes peer-reviewed, original research and review articles in an open access format. Articles may span the full spectrum of the social and behavioral sciences and the humanities.

SpringerOpen

SpringerOpen, launched in June 2010, includes Springer’s portfolio of 200+ peer-reviewed fully open access journals across all areas of science.  The SpringerOpen portfolio has grown tremendously since its launch in 2010, so that they now offer researchers from all areas of science, technology, medicine, the humanities and social sciences a place to publish open access in journals.

BioMed Central

BMC has an evolving portfolio of some 300 peer-reviewed journals, sharing discoveries from research communities in science, technology, engineering and medicine .

JSTOR’s growing collection of Open Access journals cover topical areas in sustainability and security studies, and offer broad coverage in the humanities, social sciences , and sciences .

MDPI Humanities

A pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Based in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI has the mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines . Our 370 diverse, peer-reviewed, open access journals are supported by more than 115,000 academic experts who support our mission, values, and commitment to providing high-quality service for our authors. We serve scholars from around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available and all content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

The DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) was launched in 2003 with 300 open access journals. Today, this independent database contains over 16 500 peer-reviewed open access journals covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, arts and humanities .

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Featured Resource

8 Best Proposal Software To Win New Deals

Why do you need the best proposal software for your business in 2024? Here’s why!

You devote hours to drafting a proposal, ticking off a long list of tasks – collaborating with team members of different departments to gather assets, curate images, define the scope, explain terms and conditions, create timelines, arrive at estimates, etc.‍

Then, you email the proposal to the potential client and await a response.

The wait can be frustrating. Because you do not know if the prospective client went through with the proposal, or worse, if the prospect even opened the email until days later – maybe after many follow-up emails. And with each Request for Proposal (RFP) your company receives, you and the rest of the sales and project management team will have to start the creation process again.

Considering how hurried the proposal course usually is, businesses today understand the need and importance of proposal apps and proposal writing software.

According to a report by Loopio, companies spend a significant amount of time on RFPs. On average, it takes 24 hours to complete an RFP, involving a team of seven people. The writing process itself takes nearly 23.8 hours.

Proposal software helps reduce the non-billable hours you spend creating content for sales proposals. Proposal creators are designed to address the need to effectively develop, hoard, and manage proposals, gain a better understanding of a company’s sales pipeline , business plan, and performance, and ultimately, win more deals.

‍What Makes A Great Proposal Software?

Crafting compelling proposals is essential for securing new clients, projects, or funding.  However, traditional methods of proposal creation are often time-consuming and error-prone.  Best proposal software addresses these challenges head-on, offering a powerful solution to streamline the process and empower you to submit high-quality proposals consistently. Let us explore the three key features that make proposal apps such valuable management tools: Speed, Accuracy, and Automation.

The best proposal apps enable faster creation of proposals. Instead of typing out all the required information in a word processor document, proposal apps typically include form fields to quickly fill in the details, both manually and automatically, with saved content blocks that you can reuse in every formal proposal sample. 

The best proposal apps are designed to make proposal creation a breeze, helping you get formal proposal samples out the door quickly. Here are some key features that contribute to a speedy workflow:

• Lightning-Fast Loading
• Responsive Design on Any Device
• Effortless Editing
• Real-Time Collaboration
• Speedy Previews
• Streamlined Interface
• Optimized File Handling
• Intelligent Caching
• Swift Server Response
• Continuous Performance Tuning

With several other options to make it aesthetically pleasing, sales executives can save the proposal as a presentation, PDF document, or webpage and send it to clients in just a few clicks. The best proposal software speeds up the proposal workflow so sales professionals spend less time on paperwork.

Handling several tasks and RFPs simultaneously can lead to slip-ups and missing out on important information that a proposal might need. Perhaps the vital feature that makes a good proposal app is the ability to save content and provide customized fields in project proposal templates to fill in the saved information. With a good proposal app, sales professionals can create accurate online proposals and need not worry about forgetting important information.

As mentioned earlier, creating a proposal on a word processor document entails at least a half-dozen steps. The best proposal apps usually take just a couple of clicks to finish and send a proposal—and they also provide notifications when clients view and sign proposals online. Many good proposal apps even include integrations with CRM tools, accounting tools, etc., to manage entire sales and business cycles automatically.

8 Best Proposal Software for Streamlining Your Workflow

Now that you understand the benefits of proposal apps, let us explore some of the top proposed solutions available. These innovative tools offer a range of features to cater to different needs. Whether you are crafting grant proposals, proposals for web design projects, or any other product or service, there is a proposal app best suited to streamline your workflow and help you win more business.

#1 - Zomentum

‍Certainly one of the best proposal apps and an intuitive one, Zomentum includes a drag-and-drop feature, Zomentum streamlines the proposal creation process, enabling the use of both external and in-built free business proposal templates. You can start from scratch and this proposal management software will ensure your sales process is streamlined. Zomentum enables the personalization of proposals like adding videos, sending proposals in the form of microsites, and so on, and is one of the best MSP proposal software.

Additional Features Include:

• ‍ Digital signature feature for the fast and convenient signing of proposals
• Document tracking – notifies sales teams when a proposal is opened, commented on, or signed by a prospect
• Set and send automatic reminders to prospects who haven’t signed the proposal
• Built-in MSP proposal templates
• In-built CRM and automation modules make it a complete sales platform
• Cost: Free Forever !

#2 - GetAccept

Beyond crafting compelling proposals, securing client buy-in is crucial for closing deals. GetAccept steps in to bridge this gap, offering a unique solution that streamlines proposals, accelerates deal closure, and fosters stronger client engagement. While it integrates seamlessly with your existing CRM and proposal software, GetAccept focuses on the presentation and client interaction aspects of the sales cycle.

• Presentation templates
• Proposal templates for various industries
• Simple, drag-and-drop editor to customize templates quickly
• Collaboration features allow multiple team members to make changes or comment on the proposal
• Cost: Starts at $25/month with free options available.

#3 - Proposify

Proposify is a sales proposal software that perfectly suits general contractors who want to quickly tweak their business proposal templates for clients in different industries. Once the sections are created and saved, a bidder can simply plug them in and out as required. This proposal app also features a detailed layout editor that helps customize background colors, tables, text boxes, sidebars, etc., in line with a brand’s identity.

‍Branded templates that can be customized to save time

Embed videos from YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Online signature tool for faster sign-offs

Cost: Starts at $49/month

#4 - PandaDoc

The PandaDoc proposal app is available on iOS and Android and helps create customized proposals quickly with smart collaboration and integration with several CRMs. It provides a content library to save different categories of data. The software provides custom notifications when a client opens a proposal.

‍ Additional Features Include:

• ‍ Easy contract renewals
• Simplified recruiting and onboarding
• Customized pricing based on the additional features
• Cost: Starts at $19/month

#5 - Bidsketch

This MSP proposal app simplifies the proposal writing process by following proven methods for landing new business. The Bidsketch proposal app is based on the research of over 25,000 proposals worth over $270 million to determine the best practices for creating proposals. The research data is available in the proposal app to help sales teams create winning proposals.

• Proposal stats, Free samples, and MSP Proposal templates
• Reusable content
• Professional template designs
• Cost: Starts at $29/month

#6 - Formstack (Formerly WebMerge)

‍The Formstack proposal software simplifies the proposal process with document automation. Sales teams can simply take existing files and customize them into smart new documents for quick submission. Formstack also helps create invoices, contract agreements, terms documents, and more.

• ‍ Simplified document generation
• Customizable templates that are compatible with PDF, WordDoc, Excel, etc.
• HTML flexibility
• Integration with popular software such as Salesforce, DocuSign
• Cost: Starts at $50/month

#7 - Better Proposals

Better Proposals offers a user-friendly platform for creating impactful proposals. It includes features like drag-and-drop editing, analytics to track proposal performance, and integrations with popular business tools.

• User-friendly 
• Drag-and-drop editing 
• Starts at $19/month

#8 - Connectwise (Formerly Quosal)

Connectwise Sell is another strong proposal software option. It streamlines the proposal creation process with pre-built templates, automated workflows, and e-signatures. Connectwise integrates with various CRM and accounting software as well.

• Pre-built templates
• Automation 
• E-signatures
• Cost: On request

The Bottom Line

The time it takes to create proposals can significantly impact your sales pipeline. By leveraging proposal software, you can streamline the process, reduce errors, and free up your team to focus on closing deals.

While all the proposal apps mentioned offer valuable features, Zomentum goes a step further for MSPs. In addition to the core functionalities like proposal creation and automation, Zomentum provides features specifically designed to address the needs of Managed Service Providers:

• Built-in MSP Proposal Templates: Get started quickly with pre-built templates tailored to the MSP industry.
• In-built CRM and Automation Modules: Manage your entire sales pipeline and automate repetitive tasks within a single platform.
• Powerful Integrations: Zomentum integrates seamlessly with popular PSA tools used by MSPs, ensuring a smooth workflow.
• Seamless Payment Processing: Zomentum Payments simplifies collecting recurring payments from your clients, eliminating the need for separate invoicing and chasing outstanding balances.

Ready to transform your MSP's proposal process? Book a free demo with Zomentum today and see how our software can help you win more deals sustainably and shorten your sales cycle!

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Research Proposal Analyzer

The Research Proposal Analyzer is an AI tool designed to streamline the research process by evaluating research objectives and methodologies. By leveraging advanced natural language processing techniques, it provides valuable insights and suggestions to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of research proposals. This tool empowers researchers to optimize their objectives and methodologies for a more impactful and rigorous study.

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[NEW] State of Proposals 2023 — Get our closing-critical insights from analyzing 1 million+ proposals in this annual research report.

Untangle your sales document process with the leading proposal software.

Proposify proposal software helps growing teams remove document bottlenecks, and get visibility into the most important stage of your sales cycle: the close.

Trusted by over 8,000 B2B services in over 50 countries

If any of this sounds familiar, you need Proposify proposal software

Give your team back their time, lose the friction, and send out winning documents that close 2x the industry average..

Never send a proposal with mistakes again

Lock down your design and content with templates, snippets, and a central library of content, fees and images.

Free your reps from search, duplicate, find-and-replace

Proposify offers a simple, streamlined workflow using pre-approved content which allows your reps to send out winning proposals with just few clicks.

Get visibility and insights that lead to more closed deals

Know where proposals stands at each stage of the sales cycle, and if they’ve been viewed by prospects. You can even see which pages you prospects viewed and for how long!

Impress prospects and stand out from the competition

No more PDFs attached to emails. Deliver a modern proposal viewing experience for clients with interactive pricing, e-signatures, and videos that get them to say "wow".

Our world-class customer team make it painless to switch

We'll re-create your PDF for you or even design an optimized proposal template from scratch! Our top-rated customer success team has a proven system that gets your team up-and-running in weeks. Our custom templates have helped customers cut down their time-to-send by 37%.

Joseph Barnes

Director of marketing at yellowstone landscape.

“I wish I had known earlier how limiting our previous processes were - that Word documents were handcuffing us... [Proposify] is the best tool that we've rolled out to the sales team.”

Lisa Morgan

Director of marketing at 360clean.

“Knowing I could set up all the pre-approved content and templates for owners meant we were back in control of the brand and franchisees were set up for success.”

Erich Berger

Senior manager, business development & strategy at adt cybersecurity.

“Just having Proposify allows our reps to feel like they're more in control, more productive, and more optimistic about the process and that feels good.”

Proposify proposal software removes the bottle-neck and the black box so your team can grow and thrive

• Centralized content repository so reps know exactly where to go for pre-approved templates
• Advanced permissions allow you to lock down sections and require approval based on certain conditions like deal size
• Sync with your CRM, like Salesforce, Hubspot, Pipedrive, and more
• Our professional onboarding services team will help you get up-and-running in weeks
• Companion mobile-app allows you to approve deals on the go and get notified of client viewing activity
• See which stage every proposal is at with the pipeline, and what's been viewed
• Set automatic follow-up reminders to trigger your prospects to open the proposal
• Our easy-to-use design editor makes customizing proposals a snap
• Let prospects upsell themselves with interactive pricing

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Research Proposal Editing And Proofreading

Secure Funding For Your Research

Preparing A Research Proposal

From postdocs to professors, every academic researcher relies on funding at some point. But to secure it, you need a well-written research proposal. And that’s where our  proofreading experts  come in. We can make sure your proposal is error free and impactful, increasing your chances of impressing the funding board.

We also offer services for  student research  and non-academic  grant proposals . Just let us know how we can help and we’ll do the rest.

Expert Editor

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing

Research Proposal Proofreading

When you submit a research proposal, one of our expert editors will:

• Fix any spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
• Check that the tone and language are academic throughout
• Look for issues related to clarity or consistency
• Make sure all sources are clearly referenced
• Leave helpful feedback on writing style in comments

You’ll then be able to download two copies of your research proposal:

• A ‘Clean’ copy in the original format
• A  Track Changes  copy saved as a Microsoft Word document

In this second copy, every change we make will be highlighted for review, ensuring you are in full control of the final draft. And we can adapt our process to suit your chosen  file format , so let us know if you’re submitting your proposal as a PDF or LaTeX document.

Lightning-Fast Delivery

You’ll never miss a deadline with our speedy services: our Next-Day Guarantee means we’ll return any document up to 10,000 words long within 24 hours

And if you need a faster turnaround, simply select your desired delivery speed when you submit your document. We have three options:

We can also meet custom deadlines! Just let us know what you need.

*For documents up to 8,000 words 

**For documents up to 3,000 words

How We Work With Academics

You’ll never miss a deadline with our speedy services: our Next-Day Guarantee means we’ll return any document up to 8,000 words long within 24 hours.

And if you need a faster turnaround, simply select your desired delivery speed when you submit your document. We have three options

We can also meet custom deadlines! Just let us know what you need. 

* For documents up to 8,000 words

** For documents up to 3,000 words

Great Pricing

Our pricing is affordable and transparent – the cost is based on the exact length of your document. Check out our pricing calculator for an instant quote, and rest assured that you’ll receive the highest quality proofreading and editing for the best value on the market.

Referencing Expertise

Our team includes experts in various referencing styles and systems, including AMA, APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, and IEEE. No matter what style you’re using, though, we can check that your citations and references are correct and let you know if any information is missing. Visit our referencing page to learn more.

Subject-Matter Experts

Our team includes over 750 professional editors with backgrounds in a wide range of disciplines, so we’ll always match you with the best editor for your writing, whether you need help with a sociology dissertation, handouts for a music theory lecture, or a biology research paper.

24-Hour Support

Our support team is available around the clock to address any concerns or questions you have about your order. This means you’ll never be left in the dark, no matter where you are or what time it is.

Instant Quote

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