research proposal guide pdf

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What Is a Research Proposal?

Reference books.

• Writing the Research Paper
• Presenting the Research Paper

When applying for a research grant or scholarship, or, just before you start a major research project, you may be asked to write a preliminary document that includes basic information about your future research. This is the information that is usually needed in your proposal:

• The topic and goal of the research project.
• The kind of result expected from the research.
• The theory or framework in which the research will be done and presented.
• What kind of methods will be used (statistical, empirical, etc.).
• Short reference on the preliminary scholarship and why your research project is needed; how will it continue/justify/disprove the previous scholarship.
• How much will the research project cost; how will it be budgeted (what for the money will be spent).
• Why is it you who can do this research and not somebody else.

Most agencies that offer scholarships or grants provide information about the required format of the proposal. It may include filling out templates, types of information they need, suggested/maximum length of the proposal, etc.

Research proposal formats vary depending on the size of the planned research, the number of participants, the discipline, the characteristics of the research, etc. The following outline assumes an individual researcher. This is just a SAMPLE; several other ways are equally good and can be successful. If possible, discuss your research proposal with an expert in writing, a professor, your colleague, another student who already wrote successful proposals, etc.

• Author, author's affiliation
• Explain the topic and why you chose it. If possible explain your goal/outcome of the research . How much time you need to complete the research?
• Give a brief summary of previous scholarship and explain why your topic and goals are important.
• Relate your planned research to previous scholarship. What will your research add to our knowledge of the topic.
• Break down the main topic into smaller research questions. List them one by one and explain why these questions need to be investigated. Relate them to previous scholarship.
• Include your hypothesis into the descriptions of the detailed research issues if you have one. Explain why it is important to justify your hypothesis.
• This part depends of the methods conducted in the research process. List the methods; explain how the results will be presented; how they will be assessed.
• Explain what kind of results will justify or  disprove your hypothesis. 
• Explain how much money you need.
• Explain the details of the budget (how much you want to spend for what).
• Describe why your research is important.
• List the sources you have used for writing the research proposal, including a few main citations of the preliminary scholarship.

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Research Proposals: a practical guide

This book uniquely draws a parallel between a research proposal and a sales pitch. The book provides guidance on what to include and what to omit from your proposal and demonstrates how to `sell' your research idea.

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FPG Sponsored Proposal Pipeline

Research on autism spectrum disorders (r03 clinical trial optional).

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage research grant applications to support research designed to elucidate the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and optimal means of service delivery in relation to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). An R03 grant supports small, discrete, well-defined projects that can be completed in two years and that require limited resources. R03 applications may include development of new research methodologies or technology, secondary analysis of existing data, and pilot or feasibility studies. Preliminary data are not required, particularly in applications proposing pilot or feasibility studies. Applicants pursuing exploratory/developmental research to support early and conceptual stages of project development should consider the companion R21 FOA,  PA-21-200 . Applicants pursuing larger studies in established scientific areas where preliminary data are expected should consider the companion R01 FOA,  PA-21-201 .

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NSF Updates – Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)

The NSF PAPPG was recently updated and the new guidelines go into effect on May 20, 2024 for all proposals due on or after this date. Below is a summary of the significant changes. If you have any questions regarding how this may affect your proposal, please reach out to OSP Pre-Award at [email protected] . If you have questions on how this may affect your current NSF award, please reach out to OSP Post-Award at [email protected] . 

Senior/Key Personnel Documents

• Common Forms (biosketch and current & pending (other) support documents) in SciENcv will be mandatory for all proposals with due dates on or after May 20, 2024. 
• Biosketches no longer have a page limit
• Document limit: 1 page (to include 5 distinct examples that show the broader impacts of the Senior/Key person’s scholarly and professional activities)

Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP)

• Any person found to be party to a MFTRP is ineligible to be a Senior or Key person on an NSF proposal or award made on or after May 20, 2024. 
• Each Senior or Key person must certify that they are not a party to an MFTRP on the new common forms (biosketch and current and pending (other support)), found in SciENcv, at the proposal stage and annually thereafter in research.gov for awards after May 20, 2024. False representations may be subject to prosecution and liability. 

Mentoring Plan

• The mentoring plan has been expanded to include graduate students and postdoctoral researchers supported on the project. 
• The mentoring plan remains limited to one page. 
• If funds are rebudgeted to support a postdoc or graduate student and the original proposal did not include a mentoring plan, then the recipient must send the cognizant NSF Program Officer the requisite mentoring plan.

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

• Required for all postdoc and graduate students substantially supported (equal to or greater than one month of support) on the project 
• The IDP is not required to be submitted to NSF, but it can be requested at any time.
• The IDP must be updated and certified annually by PI or Co-PI when they complete their annual report.

Foreign Consultants and/or Subawards

• If foreign organizations are included in the proposal, additional justification should be provided in the Project Narrative . 
• why support from U.S. resources is not feasible;
• why the foreign organization or foreign individual can carry out the activity more effectively than a U.S. organization or U.S. individual
• what unique expertise, organizational capability, facilities, data resources, and/or access to a geographic location not generally available to U.S. investigators the foreign organization or foreign individual brings to the project; and
• what significant science and engineering education, training, or research opportunities the foreign organization or foreign individual offers to the U.S.

Tribal Nations Approval 

• Required on all projects that may have a potential impact on tribal resources or interests. 
• The box “Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations” on the cover sheet must be checked by the lead organization.
• Copy of written request to relevant Tribe(s)
• Written confirmation from relevant Tribe(s) that a review and approval is unnecessary
• Copy of document from relevant Tribe(s) that a review and approval have been completed and work is approved. 

Postaward Additions of Off-Site or Off-Campus Research

• Requires that a Plan for Safe and Inclusive Working Environments be developed and maintained as part of the project records if off-site work is added during the award period.

Resources and Additional Information

Summary of Changes to the PAPPG (NSF 24-1)

NSF Webinar: NSF Proposal & Award Policy Updates (March 12, 2024)

NSF Webinar: NSF Implementation of the Common Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support (April 25, 2024)