How to Write a Dissertation Proposal

A good dissertation proposal sets you up for success in the journey of completing a dissertation. It is an extensive roadmap that will show what you are planning to research and how. It does not need to be exact, and it is expected that you might change certain parts of your research project as you go along; however, your proposal should provide you direction. Even if submitting a research proposal is not a requirement of your particular program, it is still worth doing as it will help you develop an outline of your dissertation.  See it as an investment that, if properly done, will likely save you some time in the long run.

What to include in a dissertation proposal

Dissertation proposal requirements vary among different universities, so you need to check with your institution. Proposals are usually between 20 and 30 pages long, concise and written in the future tense, for example: “I will conduct focus group interviews until the point of saturation is reached.” You can consult with your supervisor to get a better idea of the tone and style of your proposal. Make sure your proposal demonstrates you have given the research problem some thought, and that you have considered different options of going about it.

These are the essential parts of your proposal:

1. Title – See this as your working title; you can perfect your title later on. A good title should tell the reader about your topic and the type of study you are planning to conduct. For example:
   – The Experience of Aging Among Women with Disabilities
   – High vs. Low Electrical Stimulation Frequencies for Motor Recovery in Hemiplegia

2. Aims and Objectives – This section should include your research question, or your hypothesis. You probably should not have more than three objectives or your topic is likely to be too broad. More than three objectives could potentially be difficult to cover within a single dissertation. This is an example of an objective:
   – This research will address the question of creativity in the occupational therapy process to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. It will explore different factors that can contribute to creativity in either a positive or a negative way. It will aim to answer the following research questions: Which factors and circumstances trigger and facilitate creativity in the process of occupational therapy?
   – You can read more about how to form a research question here.

3. Literature/Background/Context – This section needs to provide a general scope of your research and give theoretical foundations for your study. You need to show there is a knowledge gap that your dissertation will address and position your research within the existing theory (more on research gaps here). Your literature review can sometimes form a separate section of your proposal.

4. Methodology – Describe your proposed methodology (quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods) and explain why you are choosing this type of research design. Your methodology should fit well with your objectives and research question(s). Provide information on your overall research design, method of data collection, and how you are planning to interpret and analyze data (read more about the differences between quantitative and qualitative research here).

5. Potential outcomes – This is not the time to be too specific about your potential results; assertions at this stage might seem biased and/or pointless. In this section, you can suggest what sort of findings you are hoping to generate and their relevance to your field of study.

6. Timeline – It might be a good idea to provide a timeline for your research to show your plans are realistic.

7. Bibliography – This can be included at the end or be a part of your literature section. You need to include all the literature that was referenced in your proposal. Sometimes you also need to include literature you are planning to use for the dissertation itself. Make sure you use the citation style that is required at your department/university.

Some general advice for writing dissertation proposals:

• Your dissertation is not meant to limit your ideas. It’s an opportunity to verbalize your research interests and substantiate them with theory.
• Consult with your advisor and be prepared to draft and redraft your proposal.
• Look at other proposals, preferably those that were submitted at your department and are seen as successful examples.
• Make sure your proposal does not include typos and grammatical mistakes when you submit it for review.

For more detail on how to write a good dissertation proposal, visit this online resource.