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How to Create an Expert Research Proposal (+Templates)

Written by: Idorenyin Uko

Beyond serving as a blueprint for the entire study, it lays the groundwork for a smooth and efficient research process.

Research proposals detail what you’ll cover in a larger research project. Whether you're a graduate student or a seasoned professor seeking to expand your current project, you’re going to need one to secure approvals from relevant committees and request funding for the project.

With a solid proposal in place, your research project can proceed with confidence, clarity and focus.

However, writing a research proposal is daunting and can overwhelm even the most seasoned researchers. In this comprehensive guide, we'll share expert research proposal templates to spotlight your project.

We'll also share tips and best practices to help you create a proposal that will impress reviewers and secure funding for your project.

Let’s get to it.

Table of Contents

What should a research proposal include, research proposal examples, how to create a research proposal with visme, best practices when writing a research proposal.

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the strategy and justification for a research project. It is usually submitted to gain approval and funding for conducting the research.
• This document provides a detailed description of the research question, the methodology, the expected outcomes and the potential contributions of the research.
• A research proposal aims to persuade the reader, usually a funding agency or a research committee, that the proposed research is worthwhile and deserves support.
• To create a research proposal in Visme, use premade templates, write the content, visualize important data, customize your research proposal, download it and share it with relevant stakeholders
• Here are tips and best practices for creating a research proposal: understand the requirements, get feedback from peers and mentors, revise and edit your proposal and incorporate relevant visual aids.
• Visme has a wide range of proposal template s, tools and features to help you create winning research proposals.

First of all, what is a research proposal? A research proposal is a structured document that outlines the plan and rationale for a research project. It is typically submitted to gain approval and funding for conducting the research.

The specific requirements might vary depending on the institution, field of study and purpose of the research.

However, a comprehensive research proposal generally includes the following components:

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

The title page is the first thing readers see when they open your research proposal. It should contain the following details:

• The proposed title of your research proposal
• The institution and department
• Contact details
• Your supervisor's or advisor’s name Date of submission

If an external organization is sponsoring your research, provide client or funder details.

When crafting the title of your research proposal, keep it concise yet informative. Also, make sure it accurately reflects the focus of your research project.

Abstract and Table of Contents

If your proposal is lengthy, consider adding an abstract and table of contents.

A table of contents provides readers (such as reviewers, advisors, or funding committee members) with an organized overview of the proposal's structure. They can easily navigate and find specific information without flipping through the entire document.

• List all the major sections and subsections of your proposal
• Use clear and concise headings that represent the content of each section
• Provide page numbers for each section so that readers can easily locate them
• Keep the table of contents updated if you change the document's structure or page numbers

Introduction

The introduction is a critical part of your research proposal. It sets the tone for the rest of the document and provides a framework for understanding the research. Make sure it piques your audience's interest and briefly explains what you want to achieve and why.

Here are some details you should include in your introduction:

• Background information on the topic
• Relevant literature, theories and existing research in the field
• The objectives of the study and motivations
• Problem statement or research questions
• The significance of the research
• Previous research or studies that have been conducted in the area
• A brief summary of the research methodology being used and how the data will be analyzed

When building your introduction, here are some ideas or questions to guide your thoughts:

• Why is the research necessary?
• How much work has already been done on the topic?
• How does it contribute to the existing body of knowledge?
• What is the gap in knowledge or the specific problem that your research aims to address?
• Who might be interested in this topic? (e.g., Industries and corporations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks and academia?)

Literature Review

The literature is where you demonstrate your understanding of the existing knowledge in the field. In addition, a well-written literature review achieves these things:

• Justifies the need for your research
• Summarize the key findings and arguments of relevant studies
• Identify gaps in current knowledge and explain how your research will address these gaps

To write a compelling literature review, conducting thorough research beyond a narrow focus on just a few studies is essential. Instead, aim to investigate a broad range of theories, methods and debates within your field.

Not only will this help you identify the similarities and differences between various approaches, but it will also enable you to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. You'll also be able to demonstrate how your own research builds upon, challenges, or synthesizes prior studies.

This approach will enrich your understanding of the subject matter and lend credibility and depth to your review. To provide a comprehensive overview of the subject matter, tap into different information sources, such as:

• Scholarly articles
• Conference papers and proceedings
• Journal publications
• Government statistics and data
• Industry reports and whitepapers
• Surveys and peer group sessions
• Textbooks, monographs and edited volumes
• Online search engines
• News articles
• ​​Social media and online communities
• Professional associations and networks and much more.

Research Design and Methodology

The research methodology is the backbone of any research project. Whether you’re preparing a research proposal or research presentation , it not only shapes the entire research process but also determines the quality, reliability and credibility of the study's outcomes.

The section should outline the specific methods and practical steps you plan to use to conduct your research. Describe the overall approach, including the research design, methods, data collection and analysis techniques and procedures for data interpretation.

Specifically, this section should capture these details:

Research Approach

• Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods?
• Data sources—primary, secondary and tertiary sources, archival data, unpublished data
• Chosen research designs—experimental, non-experimental, descriptive, correlational, retrospective, prospective, cross-sectional, etc.?

Population and Sample

• Who or what will you study? (individuals, groups, objects, phenomena, or concepts)
• How will you select your subjects, items, or data points from a larger population? Sampling strategy examples include random, non-random, systematic, probability, non-probability, cluster sampling, etc.
• What will the size of the sample be?
• When, where and how will you collect your data?

Research Methods

• What data collection procedures and tools will you use (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations and experiments)?
• Why are you using this design and data collection method?

Data Analysis

• How you will analyze the collected data (e.g., statistical techniques, content analysis, thematic analysis)?
• What data analysis tools are you using?

Ethical Considerations

• How will you get informed consent from participants?
• What approach will you take to protect vulnerable populations, like minors, seniors, or those lacking autonomy?
• How will you respect participants' privacy and prevent unauthorized access to their information?
• What steps will you take to manage and disclose any potential conflicts of interest?

Practicalities

• What is the anticipated timeframe for data collection, analysis and reporting?
• How do you plan to secure access to the target population for your research?
• How will you facilitate effective communication channels among team members, collaborators and stakeholders involved in the research?
• How will you address logistical considerations such as travel, fieldwork arrangements and scheduling interviews or surveys?
• What strategies will you employ to overcome any challenges or barriers?

Contribution to Knowledge

This section should explain how your research addresses the identified gap and its potential contributions and impact on the field of study, policy or society.

To make a compelling case for your research, identify practical applications and policy implications of your study. Also, describe how your research will advance knowledge or understanding in the field.

For example, your research has the potential to make a significant impact in various ways, such as:

• Enhancing best practices in the field
• Informing policy decisions with evidence-based insights
• Contributing to the development or refinement of theoretical models
• Challenging prevailing beliefs or assumptions in the scientific community
• Laying the groundwork for future research initiatives

Reference List

List all the sources cited in your research proposal. Your references must be formatted according to the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago). In the reference list, make sure to include a mix of primary and secondary sources and recent and classic works.

Properly reference your sources to avoid plagiarism and credit the original authors. This will show your commitment to academic integrity and ensure that your research is built on a solid foundation of existing knowledge.

Research Schedule and Timeline

When writing your research proposal, provide a detailed timeline for completing each stage of the research process. Create a table with activities on one side and estimated completion dates on the other. Allow for flexibility in case unexpected issues arise during the research process.

Here’s an example of a research schedule:

When applying for research funding, a detailed budget is typically required. This document outlines your estimated costs and resources needed to complete each aspect of your project,

Before drafting your budget, verify the types of expenses that the funding body will cover. Then, for each item, include the following information:

• Cost: Specify the exact amount of funds requested.
• Justification: Explain why this cost is essential to the research's success.
• Source: Describe how you calculated the amount.

To determine your budget, consider the following categories:

• Travel costs: Will you need to travel to gather data? If so, factor in transportation, accommodation and subsistence expenses. Also, account for the time spent traveling and the specific activities you plan to conduct at each location (e.g., interviews, archival research).
• Materials: Are there any tools or technologies you need access to? Include costs for equipment, software, or other materials essential to your research.
• Assistance: Will you require research assistants for tasks such as data collection, analysis, or transcription? Specify the number of assistants needed, their roles and the compensation they will receive.

Remember to include contingencies and unexpected expenses that may arise during the research process.

Attach any additional materials that support your proposal, such as survey questionnaires, informed consent forms, or supplementary information.

The appendices should be well organized, labeled and easy to navigate. Make sure to only include supplementary materials or documents that:

• Provide additional information to support your proposal
• Enhance the understanding of your research proposal
• Serve as a valuable reference for future use

Wondering what great research proposals look like. Here are a few research proposal examples and templates to help you start on the right foot.

1. Research Proposal Presentation Template

Are you tired of boring research proposals that put your audience to sleep? Look no further! This research proposal sample is just what you need to create a presentation that stands out from the crowd. Not only does our template feature a stylish blend of blue and white color themes, but it also incorporates eye-catching red bars in each slide to grab your audience's attention.

The subtle background images add a touch of elegance. The circular images and icons drive visual interest, while the table helps you visualize the proposed research timeline easily.

But that's not all—the template is also fully customizable, so you can easily tailor it to fit your specific research project.

You can edit content, swap image(s), apply custom colors, use your own fonts and logo and more. Plus, it's easy to follow and navigate, ensuring your audience stays engaged and interested throughout your presentation.

And don't forget about the content! Our template includes sections to help you articulate your research background, questions, objectives, literature review, methods and plan in a concise manner.

2. Research Grant Proposal Template

Unlock the door to funding success with our cutting-edge research proposal template. This template features a bold and modern design with vibrant colors, compelling images, and dynamic graphics.

With a professional layout and engaging visual elements, this template is the perfect tool to help you showcase your ideas and make a lasting impression on funding agencies.

Feel free to change colors or fonts and stand out from the crowd. Take advantage of customizable charts and widgets to help you visualize key data. Download this template and increase your chances of securing the grants you need to drive your research forward.

3. Health Care Research Proposal Template

Get ready to take your research to the next level with the help of our innovative one-page proposal template.

This template distills your ideas into a concise summary. But despite its brevity, this template captures the essence of a research project, conveying the key elements in a concise and compelling way.

Another key feature of this template is its clean and elegant layout. The structure is organized into clear and logical sections, each building on the previous one to create a coherent narrative.

​​These visuals are well-designed and easy to interpret. But you can spice it up further with Visme's interactive elements . You have the option of adding hover effects or pop-ups to reveal additional information. Or just add hotspots that link to the full research proposal, website or landing page

Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting out, this template will inspire your proposals and help you secure funding for your next research project.

4. Sales Research Proposal Template

Confidently present your request for research funding focused on sales-based topics or survey proposals by using this research proposal template.

Its minimalist layout with monochromatic tones allows you to eloquently lay out background information, objectives, methodology, budget, as well as the expected impact, key performance indicators (KPIs), and your research expectations.

You can also change the color palette of the template to a much brighter tone or to match your brand colors with ease. Visme provides a wide range of color palette options you can instantly change your template to or allow you to customize manually.

In addition to customizing it to your brand, you can also add dynamic fields. Dynamic fields enable you to instantly update information, data, dates, and more across multiple projects with just one click. You can use dynamic fields for your company details, results, or modify the proposal's recipient should you plan on sending multiple proposals to prospective funders or clients.

5. General Funding Research Proposal Template

Maybe you're looking for a template that comes with a striking design, one that is sure to create a great first impression with your potential sponsors. This general funding research proposal aligns with all these requirements.

This contemporary design features a soft pink color scheme with black accents and fonts, complemented by warm and brown-toned images. It also incorporates ample empty space, ensuring a clutter-free and straightforward layout to enhance readability while directing the reader's attention to key aspects of the provided text.

This template is not only customizable but can also be effortlessly adapted for any topic, regardless of the type of research request you have in mind. Edit, add, or remove pages as needed until you have completed your research proposal to complete satisfaction.

6. Product Research Proposal Template

As a product manager or expert, you want to ensure that your product research is positioned in a way that stands out against the competition. Here's a product research proposal template that not only neatly packages your request but also leverages the power of storytelling and dynamic graphics and designs to persuade readers to support your proposal.

This template is designed with black tones and fun accents of yellow and white. Each element is balanced to provide a futuristic yet vibrant look and feel.

The pages feature tech-forward and focused layouts, enabling you to present key objectives, use structured flowcharts or diagrams to illustrate your methodology, and include a timeline tree that outlines the entire execution process from start to finish.

7. Tech Research Proposal Template

Most people are visual learners and are more likely to remember your proposals and their content through the visuals you use. If you’re looking for a proposal that smartly uses visuals to make your content more memorable, then this tech research proposal template takes a brilliant approach to balancing text and the heavy use of imagery.

The theme features strong tones of purple, complemented by white and yellow accents. Each page is presented with beautiful visuals that match the content presented. It is also accompanied by simple icons, charts, and graphs that align with the overall theme.

You can easily replace the current images by uploading your own. Maybe the images you have look great but need a bit of editing. Use Visme's AI Touch-Up Tools to quickly unblur, sharpen, remove backgrounds, or erase and replace items until your image is perfect and ready to be used in your template.

8. Marketing Research Proposal Template

For marketers who need a tech-focused design approach to impress potential clients and attract sponsors for funding, this template is tailor-made for you. It was designed with marketers in mind, offering sections for the scope of work, budget overview, research timeline. It includes placeholders for you to add your website, company logo, or brand colors.

Visme allows you to elevate your presentation game, whether you're presenting your research proposal in person or virtually. With Visme, you can:

• Publish your proposals as a live webpage that reflects real-time updates.
• Use Visme's presenter studio to record your proposal presentation and send it to prospective clients or sponsors as an MP4.
• Download it as a PDF for online or print, giving your readers the flexibility to review it as they prefer.
• And so much more.

9. Environmental Research Proposal Template

This environmental research proposal template is an excellent choice for nonprofits and environmentalists who want to create effective proposals without resorting to overused, boring, or rigid designs.

The template features a white background with green tones and imagery. Its composition is separate, spacious, and filled with clean empty spaces, making it easy to read. It also conveys a calm and peaceful tone that complements any environmental or non-profit topic you intend to use it for.

If you're working on this environmental research proposal with a team, utilize Visme's Workflow feature . This feature helps you eliminate endless email chains and Slack messages, allowing you to manage roles, tasks, progress, and deadlines all in one place. You can set deadlines, add and reply to comments, and even work on your proposal simultaneously without conflicts.

10. General Approval Research Proposal Template

If you are a professional in the medical field seeking to craft a research proposal for approval, this template offers a compelling design layout tailored to the aesthetics of your industry. It has been meticulously designed with a minimalist approach, enabling you to present your request in a polished layout while incorporating vivid and stunning imagery.

Not to mention, for any section of your research proposal where you need to showcase previous data or results, you can seamlessly import your data from sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, or other tools directly into your charts and graphs.

Watch the video below to see how the feature works.

Once your data sources are linked, your charts and graphs will automatically update to reflect any changes made in the external data sources, ensuring that your information remains organized and up-to-date. This functionality enhances the professional presentation of your research proposal while streamlining data management.

A research proposal doesn’t have to be a long, boring document.

With the wide variety of features and templates available in Visme, you can whip up a visually appealing and professional-looking research proposal.

Here’s how to write a research proposal using Visme.

Step 1: Register or Log in to your Visme Account

Sign up for a new Visme account or log into your account (if you’re an existing user). Fill in your login details in the form and you’ll be redirected to the dashboard.

Either way, you'll be able to start exploring all the amazing features and tools that Visme has to offer!

Step 2: Use Premade Templates or Start from Scratch

The next step is to create your proposal. You have the option of starting from scratch or using premade templates.

But why start from scratch when you can build on research proposal examples?

Take advantage of Visme's customizable research proposal templates to streamline your workflow and easily create a professional-looking proposal.

By using a pre-designed research project proposal template, you'll save time and effort while ensuring that your proposal adheres to the standard guidelines and best practices of the research community.

With a wide range of templates available in Visme’s library, you're sure to find a research proposal sample that fits your needs

In the Visme dashboard, click Create New>Project and scroll to the category–Proposal . Browse through the collection of templates until you find one that best fits your industry or company.

Step 3: Write the Content

Once you’ve selected your template, the next move is to write the content.

We’ve already broken down the key elements in a professional research proposal. But stick to the sections recommended by the funding agency or academic institution.

All you need to do is swap out the template’s placeholder content with yours. Visme’s intuitive editor makes it easy for you to add, edit or remove content or move design elements around the canvas.

You can modify your text, including adding, removing and adjusting the font size, style and color. The editor also includes options for changing text alignment and arrangement and animating your text.

When it comes to writing content, the Visme AI writer ensures you never run out of ideas. Simply input your prompt and the tool will generate a high-quality copy for you in minutes. You can even prompt the tool to improve your grammar or help flesh out your ideas.

Step 4: Visualize Data

Data visualization is a powerful tool for your research proposal. With Visme’s data visualization software , you can communicate complex ideas and provide context. To access data visualization features in Visme, click “Data” on the left tab. You’ll find options for

• Charts and Graphs
• Data Widgets

In the methodology section, use diagrams , flowcharts , or infographics to illustrate complex concepts and methods.

Incorporate charts , graphs , or tables to display data and visualize your findings or expected outcomes.

Create a section for the timeline and milestones. Use a Gantt chart or calendar to show the start and end dates for each task and milestone. Include key events such as data collection, data analysis and report submission.

Step 5: Customize Your Research Proposal

Enhance the visual appeal of your proposal with the customization features in Visme.

Keep your proposal's branding consistent with Visme’s Brand Design Tool .

Just input your website URL and the wizard will pull up your logo, colors, fonts and other design elements. With your brand assets saved in your brand kit , you can apply your branding to your proposal in one click.

Incorporate high-quality images and graphics to make your proposal captivating. You can reach into Visme’s library of stock photos, icons, graphics and more. Or better yet, generate unique and high-quality ​​photos, paintings, pencil drawings, 3D graphics, icons and abstract art using Visme’s AI image generator .

Engage readers and keep them interested in the proposal with Visme’s interactive elements, including pop ups, hover effects, clickable menus, hotspots and the flipbook effect. You can even embed videos and incorporate animated icons, illustrations and special effects.

To customize this proposal for multiple agencies without breaking a sweat, use dynamic fields to change key details. Set it up so it's easy for you to change information in seconds.

Step 6: Download and Share Your Proposal

Once you’re sold on your design, you can share it with your stakeholders by generating an online link. This option enables you to retain all the interactive elements in your design.

Also, you can download it as a high-resolution JPEG, PNG, PDF or HTML5 file and share it offline.

With Visme’s analytics tool , you can track how many people have viewed, engaged, or taken other actions.

Writing a successful research proposal requires careful planning, attention to detail and a clear and compelling argument for the importance of your research. Here are some best practices to help you write a strong research proposal:

1. Understand the Requirements

Before you start work on your research proposal, review and understand the specific requirements and guidelines set forth by your university or funding agency.

Although we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations.

Pay close attention to the requested format, structure and content expectations. Find out about the citation style, page length, word count limit, font size and type, etc.

Find out about their review process. What do they look for? How will they judge your work?

Understanding these details will help you write a better proposal. You can tailor your proposal to meet the needs of the reviewers and maximize your chances of getting funding or support for your research.

2. Get Feedback from Peers and Mentors

Before you send out your reports, share them with colleagues, advisors, or peers. Ask them to review your proposal and provide feedback. Use their suggestions to improve your proposal and make it more competitive.

The best part is that Visme’s collaboration tool makes this process seamless. You can add multiple people to your workspace and set permissions. Depending on their access level, your team members can edit your proposal, leave feedback, reply to comments, draw annotations and much more.

3. Revise and Edit Your Proposal

Academic writing often requires multiple drafts and research proposals are no exception. To ensure that your proposal is clear, coherent and persuasive, revise it multiple times. And if necessary, rewrite sections to make them even better.

Don't be afraid to make significant changes to the proposal. For example, this may entail reorganizing sections, revising the methodology, or even adjusting the research question entirely.

Thoroughly edit your proposal to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and syntax errors. Also, ensure that your proposal maintains consistent formatting, styling and terminology. This can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your proposal.

4. Incorporate Visual Aids

When writing a proposal , incorporate visual aids like tables, graphs and figures. They enhance the clarity and impact of your proposal. Visual aids simplify complex data and ideas, making it easier for reviewers to understand key findings, trends and patterns.

However, you want to use them sparingly for data storytelling as well. The rule of thumb is to use relevant types of visual aids. Also, visualize the most critical data and concepts that require illustration.

For instance, tables are useful for comparing data, while graphs and charts are ideal for showing trends and patterns. Diagrams and flowcharts can help explain complex processes or systems. Images and photographs are perfect for illustrating specific phenomena or contexts.

Remember, visual aids should supplement and reinforce your argument, not replace it. Embed them seamlessly into the text, providing context and explanation where necessary. This helps the reviewer connect the dots between your arguments and the supporting evidence.

RELATED: 5 Data Storytelling Tips for Creating More Persuasive Charts and Graphs

Easily Create Professional Documents & Proposals with Visme

Whether you're just starting your thesis, seeking research grants, or a professional aiming to make a difference in your field, knowing how to write a compelling research proposal is crucial.

A great research proposal provides a clear sense of purpose and direction. It also increases your chances of obtaining grants, scholarships, or sponsorship.

Ready to create a compelling and effective research proposal? Visme has a wide variety of tools, features and resources to help you create one quickly.

Leverage Visme's proposal templates, intuitive editor and interactive features to make your proposal shine.

Sign up for your own Visme account and start designing your next compelling research proposal!

Easily put together expert research proposals with Visme

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• Research Poposal Templates

40 Best Research Proposal Templates & Format Examples

If you are doing academic research or any research for the company you work for, you will need to present the material in a professional fashion. A research proposal will help explain the intention behind the research you plan to conduct. It will also highlight the research techniques you plan to use. Making clear your intentions and methods is imperative if you want your proposal to impress those who must approve the project. This is where a research proposal template serves as a valuable and helpful resource.

Table of Contents

• 1 Research Proposal Templates
• 2 Who should use a research proposal?
• 3 What are the research proposal template requirements?
• 4 Research Proposal Examples
• 5.1 Research Paper Title
• 5.2 Table of Contents
• 5.3 Abstract
• 5.4 Background and Rationale
• 5.5 Research Questions or Introduction
• 5.6 Literary Review
• 6 Research Proposal Samples
• 7 Final Thoughts
• 8 Research Proposal Format

A research paper proposal template breaks down all the necessary sections of the proposal into segments. You can use a research proposal example to help in designing your own template. But, you also have the choice of using a ready-made research paper outline template to make things easier for you.

When filling out the research proposal template you will still need to take considerable care in developing the proposal’s presentation. The proposal needs to be exact, easy to understand, and concise. Academic or business-oriented writing and language are essential. You will need to fill the template in such a way that your ideas still be in linear order. The most basic of formats must be the final shape of the presentation. In other words, your writing is fluid and move from the introduction to the body of the proposal. It must then continue with a fluid presentation into the conclusion of the document.

Research Proposal Templates

Who should use a research proposal?

If you are writing a paper for an independent study or you are writing a dissertation in college, you will need to write a research proposal. The document must express the subject of your research. It must also include how you plan to go forth with the research. This document is of tremendous importance since it is the precursor to a larger body of work. The research paper proposal template is ideal for the following people:

• Students conducting independent studies.
• Students preparing for a dissertation.
• Students practice writing for future research papers.
• Employees looking to write a research paper for their employer.
• Faculty members at universities looking to write research papers.
• People writing a proposal to get a grant for research.

What are the research proposal template requirements?

Every research paper differs and is dependent upon the subject matter. You should talk with the supervisor of your project to find out about project expectations and deadlines. You can verify proposal deadlines and if the research you are interested in pursuing is acceptable.

The academic level and the purpose of the paper, whether a dissertation or some other type of assignment, plays a role in what goes into the initial proposal. However, there are some general elements one can expect to find in a proposal.

A quality research proposal example will reveal a document offering a clear, well-written outline describing your project’s undertaking. The plans you have for completing the research is something to include in the proposal. The goal of the proposal is so you can sway project funders to provide you with the monies needed to complete the necessary research. Or, it might be that your goal is to impress your professor by proving the knowledge you’ve accumulated will contribute to a successful research project.

No matter what you decide to research, the proposal will have some basic requirements to meet. The proposal must include the following:

• Your name and course name (if applicable).
• Your student identification number (if applicable).
• The Governing Education Department and the Supervisor/Professor.
• The Course Code (if applicable).
• The date of the paper’s submission.
• Paper Title.
• An introduction to the longer body of work. This introduction needs to present your argument and what you are setting out to prove with your research.
• An explanation of your planned research methods.
• A timetable revealing the length of time for the completion of research (if applicable).
• A mention of any ethical considerations.
• A paragraph or more describing anything that might limit the scope of the research you plan to conduct.
• A bibliography and citations with the correct citation format (Of works you plan to work with; the list is something you can expand upon and edit as you conduct your research).

Research Proposal Examples

What is the proper length for a research proposal?

It’s imperative that the abstract stays brief. The expectation is about 250 to 300 words in length. That’s about 10 percent of the total length of the research proposal. Longer than that, and it might deter the reader’s interest. It will also give you less room to discuss the goals and aims of the research project.

The length of the research proposal template is not long. You’ll find most writing requirements demand a word count of 2500 to 3000 words. Depending on spacing requirements, this might be three to five pages of information. This ensures concise writing. Of course, the study supervisor makes the final call on proposal length and necessary inclusions.

Research Paper Title

The research proposal template will have an area where you can put the title of the document. This title needs to be short, concise, and to the point. It should not take up more space than necessary. You’ll need to have a title that is absent of acronyms or abbreviations. The title needs to have a hook or stimulating words that will stir up the reader’s interest in what the research paper is about; you can use a research proposal example to get an idea about excellent title writing.

Within the title, if it is possible for you to do so, you need to give reference to the independent and dependent variables. If it is possible, the title needs to still be under 15 words. It should not be shorter than five words. There will be room for the catchy title on a research paper proposal template; it is here you will win the attentions of that all-important reader.

The title should be on a separate page and set apart from the rest of the template. Here, the author’s name, the class or course name, and the date of the work is necessary. The page numbers begin on the next page, but do not appear on the first page of the template.

Part of presenting a well-documented and researched paper is to make it available with ease of access. The table of contents follows the title page. The main chapters or sections of the paper must appear neat and orderly. Sub-headings are something you can add to make it easy to find the detailed portions of each section or chapter as well. If you can create a mock table of contents, it can serve as an outline for the paper’s structure. You can always edit the table later as you develop your research and expand on the subject matter.

The abstract is the next section you will see on a well-constructed research proposal template. This area has information about what the paper holds. The abstract is a summary so the reader gets an immediate understanding about the arguments or discoveries in the paper.  The abstract should be in active voice if it is possible to do so.

The proper use of grammar and sentence style is also necessary when you are writing the abstract. You might benefit from writing the abstract portion of the paper last. This gives you an opportunity to work your way through the rest of the research paper outline template.  It allows for the opportunity to develop a clear description of all the essential information the paper holds.

The abstract of the research proposal template needs to be short. You do not mention your references or research material at this point. All sentences should be complete and you should not use ellipses. Terms, jargon, and related abbreviations should appear the body of the paper. Do not reference your images at this point either. It is a clear and unambiguous explanation of the paper’s purpose only.

Background and Rationale

Depending on the research proposal template and assignment specifications, you might see a section where you must present some background information and the rationale for the paper. This is a section allowing you to describe how you decided to examine the subject of the paper.

You can help draw the interest of the reader if you explain how you became interested in what the paper explores. The answer needs to be brief, but by explaining the development of your interests, it will help the reader understand the point of you view you take when examining your subject matter. Here, a bit of your background and experience can also prove both beneficial and revealing.

In this section, you can touch on some of the supporting literature you will use to back your arguments. Your familiarity with the subject matter will become clear as you make mention of the types of work you’ve explored during the process of your planned research. The information of most value, however, will be the reason the project is a worthwhile expedition or endeavor; it’s your job to tell the reader the knowledge you expect to gain through the study.

Research Questions or Introduction

As you examine one research proposal example after another, you will see the style of the paper differs on the type of coursework relating to the paper in question. You’ll also see differences in a research proposal template design when you are proposing diverse types of research. Some papers need an area where explore one or more research questions. Others might want a cut and dry introduction revealing the questions you plan to explore. The subject of your investigation and the questions you plan to answer need to have a clear definition. You need to know in advance what you plan to focus on with the work you are developing. Here you need to convince the reader you have a solid understanding of the subject and how you will approach it.

Literary Review

Some research paper proposal template selections will include an area where you can include a literary review. This section allows you to make a list of the literature you have explored to support your research. It can also list the literature you plan to examine to find evidence supporting your theories or position. The literature review is a place to give the reader with a summary of existing literature, and your interpretation of that literature. Emphasis is on your interpretation here; you don’t want to regurgitate someone else’s work. You want to interpret what you’ve found and enhance it by adding your own opinion to it. In this section, you’ll also need to find any gaps that might be in existing research. If your theory or presentation plans to address this gap in knowledge, you can identify that fact in this section by explaining how it will supply the missing knowledge.

The Framework or Methodology of the Proposal

This is the part of the research proposal template that needs information in relation to the methods you plan to use to research and support your argument. Are there special methods or procedures you must use? Here, you’ll have to source your information and data. The reader can internalize the information and consider whether it is valid or not. Your means of analysis will also undergo the reader’s scrutiny. The inclusion of the method section of is imperative. No matter what subject you are covering, if the information you are using is outdated, outmoded, spurious, or if your focus is too rigid, you can end up with a research project featuring weak or refutable arguments.

Since there are many methods for conducting research, you’ll need to clarify your research techniques. This section of the research template proposal gives you the chance to reveal the reasons why you choose one method of research over others. For example, did you use an observational method when you conducted your research ? Did you interact with any subjects in the study? If so, how did you interact? Did you offer a questionnaire for students to answer? What size was the representative sample for the questionnaire? Clarifying your method will allow the reader to understand how you approached the research.

Research Proposal Samples

Final Thoughts

A research proposal template can help simplify the task of proposing research for a dissertation, job, or research grant approval. While the template helps in designing a proposal that helps a supervisor or governing body understand your theories and methods, it is also a paper that helps you in developing an understanding of how to continue with writing the longer dissertation. It will serve as a documented outline of the literary pieces you’ll need to review for project completion. The proposal also defines your theory in concrete terms, so you can compare your findings with the initial assertions you set forth in the proposal. You may find your argument and findings evolve during the course of the research.

Research Proposal Format

More Templates

Collaboration Agreements

Industry Analysis Examples

Literature Review Templates

Research Proposal Example/Sample

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

If you’re getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

• Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
• Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
• Proposal template (Fully editable) 

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

• Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
• 1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

PS – If you’re working on a dissertation, be sure to also check out our collection of dissertation and thesis examples here .

FAQ: Research Proposal Example

Research proposal example: frequently asked questions, are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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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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Methodology

• What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

Published on June 7, 2021 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023 by Pritha Bhandari.

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question  using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about:

• Your overall research objectives and approach
• Whether you’ll rely on primary research or secondary research
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods
• The procedures you’ll follow to collect data
• Your data analysis methods

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research objectives and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data.

Table of contents

Step 1: consider your aims and approach, step 2: choose a type of research design, step 3: identify your population and sampling method, step 4: choose your data collection methods, step 5: plan your data collection procedures, step 6: decide on your data analysis strategies, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research design.

• Introduction

Before you can start designing your research, you should already have a clear idea of the research question you want to investigate.

There are many different ways you could go about answering this question. Your research design choices should be driven by your aims and priorities—start by thinking carefully about what you want to achieve.

The first choice you need to make is whether you’ll take a qualitative or quantitative approach.

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible and inductive , allowing you to adjust your approach based on what you find throughout the research process.

Quantitative research designs tend to be more fixed and deductive , with variables and hypotheses clearly defined in advance of data collection.

It’s also possible to use a mixed-methods design that integrates aspects of both approaches. By combining qualitative and quantitative insights, you can gain a more complete picture of the problem you’re studying and strengthen the credibility of your conclusions.

Practical and ethical considerations when designing research

As well as scientific considerations, you need to think practically when designing your research. If your research involves people or animals, you also need to consider research ethics .

• How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
• Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g., by travelling to a specific location or contacting specific people)?
• Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g., statistical analysis or interview techniques)?
• Will you need ethical approval ?

At each stage of the research design process, make sure that your choices are practically feasible.

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Within both qualitative and quantitative approaches, there are several types of research design to choose from. Each type provides a framework for the overall shape of your research.

Types of quantitative research designs

Quantitative designs can be split into four main types.

• Experimental and   quasi-experimental designs allow you to test cause-and-effect relationships
• Descriptive and correlational designs allow you to measure variables and describe relationships between them.

With descriptive and correlational designs, you can get a clear picture of characteristics, trends and relationships as they exist in the real world. However, you can’t draw conclusions about cause and effect (because correlation doesn’t imply causation ).

Experiments are the strongest way to test cause-and-effect relationships without the risk of other variables influencing the results. However, their controlled conditions may not always reflect how things work in the real world. They’re often also more difficult and expensive to implement.

Types of qualitative research designs

Qualitative designs are less strictly defined. This approach is about gaining a rich, detailed understanding of a specific context or phenomenon, and you can often be more creative and flexible in designing your research.

The table below shows some common types of qualitative design. They often have similar approaches in terms of data collection, but focus on different aspects when analyzing the data.

Your research design should clearly define who or what your research will focus on, and how you’ll go about choosing your participants or subjects.

In research, a population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about, while a sample is the smaller group of individuals you’ll actually collect data from.

Defining the population

A population can be made up of anything you want to study—plants, animals, organizations, texts, countries, etc. In the social sciences, it most often refers to a group of people.

For example, will you focus on people from a specific demographic, region or background? Are you interested in people with a certain job or medical condition, or users of a particular product?

The more precisely you define your population, the easier it will be to gather a representative sample.

• Sampling methods

Even with a narrowly defined population, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every individual. Instead, you’ll collect data from a sample.

To select a sample, there are two main approaches: probability sampling and non-probability sampling . The sampling method you use affects how confidently you can generalize your results to the population as a whole.

Probability sampling is the most statistically valid option, but it’s often difficult to achieve unless you’re dealing with a very small and accessible population.

For practical reasons, many studies use non-probability sampling, but it’s important to be aware of the limitations and carefully consider potential biases. You should always make an effort to gather a sample that’s as representative as possible of the population.

Case selection in qualitative research

In some types of qualitative designs, sampling may not be relevant.

For example, in an ethnography or a case study , your aim is to deeply understand a specific context, not to generalize to a population. Instead of sampling, you may simply aim to collect as much data as possible about the context you are studying.

In these types of design, you still have to carefully consider your choice of case or community. You should have a clear rationale for why this particular case is suitable for answering your research question .

For example, you might choose a case study that reveals an unusual or neglected aspect of your research problem, or you might choose several very similar or very different cases in order to compare them.

Data collection methods are ways of directly measuring variables and gathering information. They allow you to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.

You can choose just one data collection method, or use several methods in the same study.

Survey methods

Surveys allow you to collect data about opinions, behaviors, experiences, and characteristics by asking people directly. There are two main survey methods to choose from: questionnaires and interviews .

Observation methods

Observational studies allow you to collect data unobtrusively, observing characteristics, behaviors or social interactions without relying on self-reporting.

Observations may be conducted in real time, taking notes as you observe, or you might make audiovisual recordings for later analysis. They can be qualitative or quantitative.

Other methods of data collection

There are many other ways you might collect data depending on your field and topic.

If you’re not sure which methods will work best for your research design, try reading some papers in your field to see what kinds of data collection methods they used.

Secondary data

If you don’t have the time or resources to collect data from the population you’re interested in, you can also choose to use secondary data that other researchers already collected—for example, datasets from government surveys or previous studies on your topic.

With this raw data, you can do your own analysis to answer new research questions that weren’t addressed by the original study.

Using secondary data can expand the scope of your research, as you may be able to access much larger and more varied samples than you could collect yourself.

However, it also means you don’t have any control over which variables to measure or how to measure them, so the conclusions you can draw may be limited.

As well as deciding on your methods, you need to plan exactly how you’ll use these methods to collect data that’s consistent, accurate, and unbiased.

Planning systematic procedures is especially important in quantitative research, where you need to precisely define your variables and ensure your measurements are high in reliability and validity.

Operationalization

Some variables, like height or age, are easily measured. But often you’ll be dealing with more abstract concepts, like satisfaction, anxiety, or competence. Operationalization means turning these fuzzy ideas into measurable indicators.

If you’re using observations , which events or actions will you count?

If you’re using surveys , which questions will you ask and what range of responses will be offered?

You may also choose to use or adapt existing materials designed to measure the concept you’re interested in—for example, questionnaires or inventories whose reliability and validity has already been established.

Reliability and validity

Reliability means your results can be consistently reproduced, while validity means that you’re actually measuring the concept you’re interested in.

For valid and reliable results, your measurement materials should be thoroughly researched and carefully designed. Plan your procedures to make sure you carry out the same steps in the same way for each participant.

If you’re developing a new questionnaire or other instrument to measure a specific concept, running a pilot study allows you to check its validity and reliability in advance.

Sampling procedures

As well as choosing an appropriate sampling method , you need a concrete plan for how you’ll actually contact and recruit your selected sample.

That means making decisions about things like:

• How many participants do you need for an adequate sample size?
• What inclusion and exclusion criteria will you use to identify eligible participants?
• How will you contact your sample—by mail, online, by phone, or in person?

If you’re using a probability sampling method , it’s important that everyone who is randomly selected actually participates in the study. How will you ensure a high response rate?

If you’re using a non-probability method , how will you avoid research bias and ensure a representative sample?

Data management

It’s also important to create a data management plan for organizing and storing your data.

Will you need to transcribe interviews or perform data entry for observations? You should anonymize and safeguard any sensitive data, and make sure it’s backed up regularly.

Keeping your data well-organized will save time when it comes to analyzing it. It can also help other researchers validate and add to your findings (high replicability ).

On its own, raw data can’t answer your research question. The last step of designing your research is planning how you’ll analyze the data.

Quantitative data analysis

In quantitative research, you’ll most likely use some form of statistical analysis . With statistics, you can summarize your sample data, make estimates, and test hypotheses.

Using descriptive statistics , you can summarize your sample data in terms of:

• The distribution of the data (e.g., the frequency of each score on a test)
• The central tendency of the data (e.g., the mean to describe the average score)
• The variability of the data (e.g., the standard deviation to describe how spread out the scores are)

The specific calculations you can do depend on the level of measurement of your variables.

Using inferential statistics , you can:

• Make estimates about the population based on your sample data.
• Test hypotheses about a relationship between variables.

Regression and correlation tests look for associations between two or more variables, while comparison tests (such as t tests and ANOVAs ) look for differences in the outcomes of different groups.

Your choice of statistical test depends on various aspects of your research design, including the types of variables you’re dealing with and the distribution of your data.

Qualitative data analysis

In qualitative research, your data will usually be very dense with information and ideas. Instead of summing it up in numbers, you’ll need to comb through the data in detail, interpret its meanings, identify patterns, and extract the parts that are most relevant to your research question.

Two of the most common approaches to doing this are thematic analysis and discourse analysis .

There are many other ways of analyzing qualitative data depending on the aims of your research. To get a sense of potential approaches, try reading some qualitative research papers in your field.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question . It defines your overall approach and determines how you will collect and analyze data.

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

Quantitative research designs can be divided into two main categories:

• Correlational and descriptive designs are used to investigate characteristics, averages, trends, and associations between variables.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental designs are used to test causal relationships .

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible. Common types of qualitative design include case study , ethnography , and grounded theory designs.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population . Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your research. For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students.

In statistics, sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a population.

Operationalization means turning abstract conceptual ideas into measurable observations.

For example, the concept of social anxiety isn’t directly observable, but it can be operationally defined in terms of self-rating scores, behavioral avoidance of crowded places, or physical anxiety symptoms in social situations.

Before collecting data , it’s important to consider how you will operationalize the variables that you want to measure.

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

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WTO / Business / Proposals / 9 Free Research Proposal Templates (with Examples)

9 Free Research Proposal Templates (with Examples)

Research activities are often too complicated and costly to carry out single handedly from your own pocket. You need external funding and endorsement to be able to execute them. For that to happen, you have to draft a letter and present it to the various funders.

This letter is a research proposal. It proposes the project you intend to engage in while at the same time requests for sponsorship to that particular research. Knowing how to draft it is hence critical to your success. We offer more explanations to this letter in our subsequent discussions hereunder to help you in drafting one successfully.

Free Templates

Purpose of the Proposal

Upon receiving this letter, the funders and potential sponsors will evaluate its merit and potential impact before committing to fund it. This letter basically persuades the reader to adopt the solutions that are proposed therein too! It does this by spelling out the potential value that the reader stands to gain.

How to Write a Proposal

Even though these proposals differ markedly from one another, they are drafted using more or less similar steps.

Below are those steps highlighted and explained in detail:

Step I: Determine the project to research

First, determine the exact project. This is the problem which your research basically aims at solving. The problem, needless to say, has to be relevant to the community or humanity as a whole to be able to stand a chance of receiving the necessary funding.

Step II: Spell out the scope

Proceed now to spell out the scope of the research. ‘Scope’ here means the extent to which the project shall be valid and relevant. It also indicates the timelines that may have to be adhered to for the best outcomes to be attainable. Your funder will scrutinize these details to determine whether they merit funding.

Step III: Create an outline

Each proposal has to be carried out within a predefined framework. You have to spell out the precise framework within which yours is to happen. Come out with the relevant topics and steps that may have to be followed to attain the necessary end. This also will help in understanding the project altogether.

Step IV: Fill in the blanks

This is the core of the proposal altogether. Here, you basically fill the blank spaces which are left after outlining the scope of the project. To do this, write the details under each topic or step you have already delineated above. Be detailed and thorough in warding off any likely ambiguities.

Step V: Proof-read and edit

Needless to say, you have to proofread and edit the proposal before finally submitting the same to the prospective funder. Use grammar and spell checking tools to achieve this end. Documents that are devoid of any errors stand a higher chance of getting the funding. They are also deemed serious.

What to Include in It

A typical proposal has to comprise the following items:

• Purpose – This is a summary of the need which your research endeavors to solve.
• Title page – It is the first page of the proposal that displays the name of the author, the title of the research, its publisher, edition (if any), and the subtitle.
• Introduction – The introduction summarizes its nature, its scope, objectives, and the timelines within which it is to happen.
• Literature review – A literature review digs into some of the writings and studies that have already been conducted on the area of interest. It aims at identifying gaps that may be worked to solve the problem at hand.
• Design and methods – These are the strategies which you the researcher aims at adopting to be able to solve the problem or meet the particular need at hand.
• Implications and contribution to knowledge – In what ways will the research you have at hand contribute to knowledge and the advancement of humanity?
• Reference list or bibliography – These are the lists of sources from which you derive your basis.
• Schedule – It is a breakdown of the timeline within which you are to carry out the research and submit the final outcomes.
• Budget – Each research has to be funded by money. In this section, you basically state how much money you need plus how you plan to use the amounts to tackle specific segments.

Proposal Format

This is the basic format for all kinds of proposals. All you have to do is fill in the blanks with the relevant pieces of information:

• Purpose of a research proposal
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Research design and methods
• Implications and contribution to knowledge
• Reference list or bibliography

Templates & Examples

Proposal example.

Research Proposal Sample Template

Things to Keep in Mind

To be able to draft a quality research proposal, there are a number of things you have to bear in mind.

In this segment, we delineate and explain to them for you to note:

Employ simpler language

Though this is an academic paper, the funder or financier may never have a background in matters of academics. You hence want to avoid technical languages that are likely to confuse the reader. Such an approach will also help the reader to interpret the proposal and make meaning easily.

Highlight the potential benefits

One sure way of having your proposal receiving immediate acceptance is to highlight the potential benefits and explain. Let the reader know what he or the entire humanity stands to gain from that research if and when it eventually materializes. It would help if it impacted multiple disciplines at a time.

Emphasize practicality

As part of the benefits that the proposal may bring about, it is also necessary that you emphasize the practicality of the research work. This simply means that you have to prove to the prospective financier the practical viability of the project. Many projects are turned down mainly because they fail on this.

Incorporate lots of facts

Your proposal ought to incorporate lots of facts to stand a chance of getting understood well. The facts have to be plain and not forced, squeezed or justified unnecessarily. Break the data down in forms that are easily understood. In this way, the readers will also get enlightened and educated considerably.

Things to Avoid when Writing a Research Proposal

Other than bearing some facts in mind, it is also important that you stay away from some otherwise common mistakes as you draft your proposal.

In this segment of our discussions, we explain these things you should avoid:

Forgetting to mention citations

Many people forget to mention the citations. This is not right as those citations are necessary to allow for independent corroborations of the facts contained in the proposal. Many readers will simply revert the proposal to you for completion.

Being overly descriptive

Though it is necessary to describe the project in-depth, you are cautioned against doing that excessively. You may confuse your reader with too many facts which he may not be in the position to digest and make meaning of. Instead, keep everything short and precise.

Writing out of topic

There has to be a perfect match between the topic and the contents that come thereafter. Some have had this tendency to write out of topic i.e., incorporate details that are way unrelated to the topic or the major subject of the research.

Too long or too short

The length of the proposal also matters. You want to cover all the essentials but, at the same time, refrain from making it too long for the reader to comb through easily while attempting to make meaning of the same. Thus, you have to keep the length moderate.

The tone of the research proposal

Given that this is an academic-cum official publication, it has to have a formal tone. Avoid using slang or unofficial languages to pass your concepts through. That is a recipe for immediate rejection. Take care though, that you do not use too hard vocabulary for the sake of those who may not be too learned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many mysteries abound regarding this subject matter of the research proposal. Let us now take a look at some of these questions and what their answers are:

Around 2,500 words would suffice. Any longer would be too long for a reader. A shorter proposal, on the other hand, would definitely leave out some crucial details, a fact that potentially renders the proposal of no effect.

Generally, a good proposal has to address the question at hand in totality. It ought not to leave any gaps untouched as this might make the same incoherent and probably turned down by a would-be financier. The language in use also has to be simple and match the levels of literacy of the targeted reader.

There are five main types. These are: Solicited proposals – submitted in response to a specific matter. Unsolicited proposals – Drafted without any prior consultation and used to call for funding. Pre-proposals – An executive summary of a planner research work that spells out the budget estimates, targeted audience, planned methodology, and projective objectives. Continuation or non-competing proposals – Drafted to seek funding for ongoing work or project. Renewal or competing proposals – Written to compete for limited funding. In many cases, it pits multiple candidates and research writers. Renewal or competing proposals – Written to compete for limited funding. In many cases, it pits multiple candidates and research writers.

Our long and in-depth look into the subject of the research proposal comes to an end there. We now urge you to make good use of the provisions therein. That can only happen if you read the explanations carefully before setting out to write such a letter. It also pays to spread love abroad. Share the contents freely!

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Research Proposal Template

Visually map out the plan for your next proposal

This proposal template is the perfect way to start your next research project. To begin, you should start by documenting the most important objectives. You can also add information around research scope, key publications, and anything else that might be useful to the project.

• Set the vision & strategy
• Organize requirements
• Share with your colleagues
• Gather feedback
• The perfect start for every proposal

Collect everything in one place

Milanote is the visual way to collect everything that powers your creative work. Simple text editing & task management helps you organize your thoughts and plans. Upload images, video, files and more.

Organize visually

Milanote's flexible drag and drop interface lets you arrange things in whatever way makes sense to you. Break out of linear documents and see your research, ideas and plans side-by-side.

Collaborate with your team

Milanote boards can be a private place to think, or a shared workspace for collaboration—you're in total control of who sees what. Instantly see your team's changes, leave comments, and never miss a thing with smart notifications and alerts.

Plan all aspects of your project in one place.

Set the visual direction for your next creative project.

Set the project goals & deliverables.

Run an online brainstorming session with your team.

Organize your class notes in one place.

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Research Plan Templates

Our research plan templates provide a structured framework for organizing and conducting research projects. Define objectives, outline methodologies, and visualize data collection techniques effortlessly to ensure successful research outcomes.

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Research Project Plan Template

What is a Research Project Plan?

A research project plan outlines the processes and activities that need to be completed to achieve the desired results of a research project. The plan should provide a timeline for the research activities and identify any potential risks. It should also specify the resources and personnel needed, as well as the budget and timeline for the project. The plan should be both comprehensive and flexible, so that it can be modified as needed throughout the project.

What's included in this Research Project Plan template?

• 3 focus areas
• 6 objectives

Each focus area has its own objectives, projects, and KPIs to ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and effective.

Who is the Research Project Plan template for?

The research project plan template is designed for research teams in academic, corporate, or non-profit sectors who need to plan and execute their research projects. The template provides a structure for outlining the processes and activities that must be completed in order to achieve the desired results of the research project. The template is designed to be comprehensive and flexible, allowing for modifications as needed throughout the project.

1. Define clear examples of your focus areas

A focus area is a specific area or topic that a research team is investigating. The focus area should be clearly defined and specific, so that the research team can develop objectives, projects, and KPIs that are relevant to the research project. Examples of focus areas could include developing new technologies, understanding customer behavior, or studying the effects of a particular policy.

2. Think about the objectives that could fall under that focus area

Objectives are the goals that a research team hopes to achieve by completing the research project. Objectives should be specific and measurable, and should be attainable within the timeline and budget of the research project. Examples of objectives could include developing a new technology, understanding customer behaviors, or studying the effects of a particular policy.

3. Set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle the objective

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are measurable targets that are used to evaluate the progress of a research project. KPIs should be specific and measurable, and should be established in order to track progress towards the objectives of the research project. Examples of KPIs could include product development timelines, customer satisfaction surveys, or policy implementation reviews.

4. Implement related projects to achieve the KPIs

Projects are the activities that need to be completed in order to achieve the objectives of the research project. Projects should be specific and achievable, and should be completed within the timeline and budget of the research project. Examples of projects could include running customer surveys, conducting interviews, or collecting data.

5. Utilize Cascade Strategy Execution Platform to see faster results from your strategy

The Cascade Strategy Execution Platform is a comprehensive software that helps research teams plan, manage, and track their research projects. The platform provides tools for project management, tracking KPIs, and monitoring progress. It also helps teams visualize their data and collaborate on initiatives. With Cascade, teams can save time and resources, and get faster results from their strategies.

Research Project Template

Crafting the perfect research project proposal doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. With Beautiful.ai’s research project template, your vision can come to life in just minutes. 

Fully customizable and professionally designed, this project template can help you create an impressive research presentation that’s succinct and sleek. Whether you’re presenting a research project for academic or professional purposes, you can use these pre-built slides to showcase findings in a number of ways – pie charts, bar graphs, area charts, analyses, and more. All you have to do is input your data! 

Our research project template can also help you:

• Summarize your research project proposal in an easy-to-read, digestible format
• Provide status updates or quarterly results from research projects 
• Create a POV or proposal to win new work

Use this research project proposal template to create an effective presentation

Developing a research project proposal can require the use of several slides – each crucial to the story you’re telling. If your research project presentation requires more data or content, you can simply add them from our entire library of customizable slides to fit your needs. This template includes 12 designed research project slides to help you create a presentation that’s unique to your work.

Pro tips to create a strong research project template

Ready to bring your research project to life with this template? Here are some tips to consider.

Although research projects involve a lot of in-depth data and content, the presentation should be kept simple, clear, and easy to read.

Don’t overwhelm your audience with data. Try to break it up with more content-driven slides like key takeaways, executive summaries, and high-level overviews.

Using different types of charts is a great way to present findings in a non-repetitive way. However, if you’re showing the same types of data, ensure the assigned colors for each category are consistent throughout.

Looking at and reading multiple charts can potentially wear your audience out. Mix additional imagery throughout your presentation, like photos, graphics, and icons.

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Sample Project Proposals

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Check out a few sample grant proposals below. Read ones annotated with reviewer notes (even if the topic is outside your area of interest) to learn what reviewers look for. You can also see also how resubmitted proposals respond to reviewer comments.

Please note that these proposals serve as exemplars for students applying for VPUE Student Grants. They may not be copied, retained, or distributed, and their use is subject to the Stanford Honor Code.

**To view the following samples, Stanford affiliates will be required to login with their SUNET ID. Individuals external to Stanford will not be granted access to these proposals and any requests for access will be automatically declined/deleted. **

• Arts, Creative Project, Visual Arts, Major Grant ( S. Bedford )
• Arts, Creative Writing, Chappell Lougee Scholarship ( J. Kim )
• Arts, Creative Writing, Chappell Lougee Scholarship, annotated (w/ remote plan) ( L. Laniyan )
• Arts, Music, Theater, Small Grant, annotated ( T. Pauly )
• Humanities, English, Major Grant ( J. Schaffer )
• Humanities, History, Chappell Lougee Scholarship, annotated (w/ remote plan) ( A. Kassam )
• Humanities, History, Major Grant, annotated ( J. Sonnenberg )
• Humanities, Religious Studies, Small Grant, annotated ( L. Funk )
• Humanities, Classics, Chappell Lougee Scholarship ( S. Beller )
• STEM, Biology, Major Grant, annotated ( J. Bui )
• STEM, Biology, Major Grant, annotated (w/ remote plan) ( S. Kong )
• STEM, Biology, Small Grant ( J. McGregor )
• STEM, Chemical Engineering, Major Grant ( J. O'Leary )
• STEM, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Major Grant, annotated ( V. Rosen )
• STEM, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Small Grant, annotated ( C. Kremer )
• STEM, Mathematics, Major Grant, annotated (w/ remote plan) ( M. Stevens )
• STEM, Physics, Major Grant ( J. Chaves )
• Senior Synthesis Project, Small Grant, annotated ( J. O'Leary )
• Social Science, Anthropology, Chappell Lougee Scholarship ( N. Follmann )
• Social Science, CDDRL, Small Grant ( A. Schickele )
• Social Science, Psychology, Major Grant, annotated ( C. Eggleston )
• Social Science, Sociology, Chappell Lougee Scholarship, annotated (w/ remote plan) ( A. Gomez )
• Social Science, Urban Studies, Major Grant, annotated ( K. Parish )

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Top 5 Research Project Plan Templates with Samples and Examples

Samradni Pradhan

Research projects are essential to any business or organization's growth and success. Whether you're planning a market research study, conducting a scientific experiment, or developing a new product, a well-designed research project plan is vital to ensure that your project stays on track and achieves its objectives. With so many types of research projects, it can take some time to figure out where to start, when developing a project plan. That's where our PPT Templates come in. Using a pre-designed research project plan template can save time, reduce errors, and ensure that your project stays on track. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to the Top 5 Research Project Plan Templates with samples and examples, to help you choose the right template for your project. 

Additionally, if you want to explore some research plan templates, you can check them out  here !

Template 1: 30-60-90-Days Plan for Proposing and Designing Business Research Project Proposal

Here’s a comprehensive solution for anyone who wants to create a winning research proposal for their business project. This PPT Template contains all information, from the first initial planning stages to the final presentation of the proposal. The template is organized into three sections, each representing a different phase of the research project: the initial 30 days, the next 60 days, and the final 90 days. Each section includes an area that outlines the key tasks and deliverables for that phase of the project initiation . This PPT Layout acts as an essential tool for anyone who wants to create a compelling and effective research proposal. With its comprehensive structure, customizable slides, and engaging visuals, this template will help you win support for your project and take your business to the next level. Go ahead and download it right away!

Download Now!

Template 2: Plan Of Action for Designing and Proposing Business Research Project Services PPT Slideshow

Introducing a comprehensive and customizable solution for businesses and organizations looking to design and propose a research project. The template is divided into four stages: project initiation, research, analytics , and presentation. You can focus on your tasks and stay on track by comprehending information for each of these four stages. The PPT Slide also includes a range of graphics, charts, and diagrams that can be used to illustrate key points in the proposal visually. These graphics are designed to be easy to understand and visually appealing, making communicating complex ideas to stakeholders and decision-makers easier. This template will help you effectively plan, research , analyze, and present your research project, ensuring its success and a positive impact on your business or organization. Go ahead and grab this template today!

Template 3: Project Management Research Phases with Planning

Introducing an essential tool for businesses and organizations, looking to manage their research projects effectively. This comprehensive PPT Set is designed to guide users through each phase of the research project, from initiation to closing, ensuring that every aspect of the project is planned and executed efficiently. The template comprises five phases: initiation, planning, execution, controlling/monitoring, and closing. The initiation phase focuses on project plan creation and stakeholders' recognition. The planning phase comprises plan creation, resource identification, and cost projection. The execution phase includes information on task completion and resource acquisition. In the controlling/monitoring phase, reliability and expense estimates are tracked. Finally, stakeholder and resource management are included in the closing stage of project completion. This ensures that your work is correctly divided and also ensures that you focus on specific stages at the right time.

Template 4: Planning Process of Research Project Dissertation Timeline

Here is an all-in-one solution for anyone planning, organizing, and presenting a research project or dissertation. This PPT Template is designed to guide users through the four key stages of a research project: preparation, proposition, research, and drafting. The first stage, preparation, involves defining the research question or problem and developing a plan to tackle it. This stage includes creating a timeline, identifying key stakeholders and resources, and setting goals and objectives for the project. The proposition stage involves developing a proposal that outlines the research question, methods, and expected outcomes. The research stage involves conducting the research according to the methods and timeline established in the preparation and proposition stages. The drafting stage involves writing and presenting the final report, thesis, or dissertation. This stage includes organizing and structuring the report, developing key arguments and insights, and presenting the research findings clearly and engagingly. This template is a must-have for anyone!

Template 5: Six Months Plan Timeline for a Marketing Research Project

Next up, we have a comprehensive template that is designed to guide users through the six key stages of a marketing research project: planning, research design, data collection, data analysis, report writing, and presentation . Each stage contains a set of customizable blocks that outline the key tasks and deliverables for that phase of the project. This allows users to plan and execute each stage of the project efficiently, ensuring that the project ensures to stay on track and meets its objectives. Overall, this template outlines a bird's eye view of the entire project. Go ahead and explore this template today!

EXPLORE THESE PROJECT RESEARCH PLAN TEMPLATES TODAY!

A research project is a time-consuming task, and it requires that you to stay on track every step of the way. While each department in a business organization may have its own ideas, ensuring to have a comprehensive template works wonders. This is where the professionally designed templates work the best. Download these premium PPT Slides through our monthly, semi-annual, annual, annual + custom design subscriptions  here .

These project research plan templates can help you plan better, and with better planning comes better outcomes. These templates also help in creating a lasting impression in front of your audiences. There is nothing more you need to ask for; download these templates today!

FAQs on Research Plan

What is a research project plan.

A research project plan is a preemptive stage where you document the goals of your research project along with the objective of your project, what methods you are going to use, and the legitimate resources.

The whole idea of having a plan for a research project is to sketch down the mind map step-by-step, which you could refer to further progress with the project. A research plan also asks for a time period and budget to be set before proceeding, which is an efficient way of getting on a research project.

How do you write a research plan?

A research plan needs to be written systematically and sufficiently. Your research plan should be self-explanatory to whosoever is reading, the plan should be in the exact order you want to proceed in, and only enough should be written.

A well-written research plan should start with articulating the research question and, from there, proceed to mention the purpose, how your project is going to work, what resources you will require, grand of special permissions from organizations ( if needed), setting the deadline for each part to ending with the finance limitations for that project. 

What are the four significant parts of the research plan?

Even though a research plan varies from one project type to another, there are four significant parts that you must structure your plan around for getting optimal ease and clarity:

• Attach a background of your research question where you highlight the purpose and the gaps in the existing field to be fulfilled via this research project.
• Evaluating the research structure, methods you will use, equipment needed, working procedure, and how you will present your research project.
•  Time format: This part is where you assign a dedicated time period for finishing each goal in your research project. Here, you can set deadlines for minute tasks to end tasks.
• Counting in the resources, this is one of the most significant parts of the research plan where you point out the funding, equipment, references, permissions, or any data and artifacts needed for your research project.

What are the seven steps for creating a research plan?

Creating a research plan can get tricky, especially when you are at a very initial stage with your idea for the project. Hence, to make that process more approachable for generating a research plan:

• First, you must briefly introduce your research question.
• Thoroughly conduct research on the study area to identify the gaps and gain the needed knowledge.
• Apply for the grants and permissions you will require to conduct your research project securely.
• Finalize the resources important for your project, from funding, finding mentors, types of equipment, and so on.
• The next step is to plan out the experiments you will be conducting in the process.
• Filtering through all the collected data to come up with the most authentic ones.
• Citing the used resources in a standard format that is accepted. Examples- APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.

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Proposal Templates

8+ research project proposal templates – pdf, word.

Some centuries ago, organizations focusing on scientific discoveries such as the Royal Society (1660) were formed, especially around Western Europe, making it possible for a person with enough knowledge and education about the field of research to understand the full scope of a scientific discovery. Today, breakthroughs in science and technology, as well as medicine, no longer seem to shock even people outside the academic community as it becomes harder to keep up with the pace of research advances even in your own discipline. You may also see proposal samples .

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Research Proposal Sample

Sample Research Proposal

What is Research?

Sample of research proposal.

Research Project Proposal Guidelines

Proposal for International Research Projects

Research and Its Application

Importance of research, reasons why you would be asked to write a research proposal.

• Enhance your skills on design conceptualization of a comprehensive study.
• Learn how to perform a comprehensive literature review to make sure that a research problem has either not been answered yet or that it has been answered quite ineffectively, which then helps you become better at locating scholarly articles related to the subject you want to tackle. You may also see training project proposals .
• Improve your skills in not only research but also writing.
• Lets you practice determining logical steps you need to take in order to accomplish the goal of your research.
• Review, check, examine and consider the use of different methods for data gathering and analyzing the research problem. You may also see construction project proposals .
• Exercise a sense of doubt, inquisitiveness, and curiosity within yourself to help view yourself as an active participant in the scholarly way of doing research and the process involved. You may also see education project proposals .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise; being “all over the place” without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite sources in your literature review.
• Failure to define the limitations of your research.
• Failure to come up with a coherent and convincing argument for the proposed research.
• Failure to stay focused on the actual research problem; for example, going off the mark or off tangent time and time again. You may also see IT project proposal sample .
• Sloppy writing and poor grammar.
• Too much detail written on minor issues, but not enough points on major issues.

Example of a Research Proposal

Research Project Proposal Example

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Research Project Report Template

Cost estimate for a research project template, project research template, research project plan template, research project communication plan template, research project mind map template, research project budget template, research project annotated bibliography template.

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• PowerPoint Templates

15 Free Research Proposal PowerPoint Templates for Scientific Project, Thesis Defence

Are you a scientist who wishes to create a research proposal presentation in the best manner? If you do, then this excellent list of Research Proposal PowerPoint Templates is truly a demand!

The research proposal is a document that a researcher needs to write, It outlines the details of a research project and gives team members or readers a summary of the information in a project.

In order to allow readers to understand the project information more clearly, a research proposal presentation will be a better way to present the information of a research project.

A research proposal PPT should include the following:

• Research title or topic: make sure your title can clearly describe the research project, or supplement your research project with a short statement.
• Research background: why do this research project
• literature review: describe research progress on your research topic, and the gap or remaining questions need to research.
• Research aim, objective, and hypothesis
• Research method: explain how to conduct your research, how data is collected and analyzed.
• Results: the results you expect.
• Question: provides an overview of the problems encountered during the research process, and how to solve them.
• Summary: make sure the reader has a complete understanding of your research project.

Note: this PDF file made by Australian National University provides more information about the research proposal presentation.

In this collection, you’ll find numerous and diverse styles of research proposals ppt templates that you can pick as part of your inspiration.

Table of Contents

Free research proposal powerpoint templates, premium research proposal powerpoint templates, 1. rea thesis presentation template.

You can create a professional research proposal with Rea in a matter of minutes. Why? Because you don’t need any design knowledge or sophisticated design software like Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, the Rea ppt template gives you everything you need to create a research proposal, it provides a complete pre-built slide set. What you need to do is focus on your study.

To assist you in presenting your research proposal in a structured way, the Rea template divides your research proposal into seven sections: introduction, literature review, research, results, discussion, conclusion, reference list. The majority of research proposals can follow this structure.

The Rea ppt template features a modern, creative design, the alternation of light slides and dark slides will attract the viewer’s attention well.

Unique slides: 33

2. Master Thesis Defense PowerPoint Template

The Master Thesis Defense PowerPoint Template is a thesis PowerPoint presentation for students. It features a clean, sophisticated design, the unified layout allows you to easily adjust or add slides in your presentation. This template is perfect for a master’s thesis.

Unique slides: 21

3. Blue Graduation & Thesis Defense Presentation

This PPT template is made for thesis defense presentations, such as bachelors thesis, PhD thesis, masters thesis, or doctoral thesis. It comes with a blue background cover slide and a lot of useful infographic slides.

4. Red Dissertation proposal defense powerpoint presentation

This research proposal PowerPoint template uses a striking red as the main color, features 21 editable slides. The table of contents slide and break slide will help you organize your content.

5. Green Dissertation defense presentation template

Green Dissertation defense presentation template comes with 21 unique slides and a clean layout, suited for chemistry thesis or biology thesis.

6. PhD Dissertation Defense Presentation Template

PhD Dissertation Defense Presentation Template features a clean, minimal design. It’s well organized and easy to use. The only thing you need to focus on is your research.

7. Blue Medical research proposal powerpoint template

Blue Medical is a free multipurpose PowerPoint template for medical presentations. This template is also perfect for medical research proposals, chemical project research proposals.

Unique slides: 41

8. Master’s Thesis Defense PowerPoint Template

Master’s Thesis Defense Free PowerPoint Template is one of the best research proposal templates. You don’t need to build anything from scratch, it’s more or less just a matter of dragging and dropping, editing text and charts.

Unique slides: 28

9. Research presentation Template

This PPT template is a simple alternative that helps you create a research slide. It includes 5 steps to guide you through the research process. If you want a simplest PowerPoint template, this will be the right one.

Unique slides: 9

10. Minerva Master Thesis Defense PowerPoint Template

Minerva is a free minimalist master’s thesis defense presentation template. It has 34 comprehensive and unique slides. Use this template to present your research now!

Unique slides: 34

11. Professional Thesis Project Proposal PowerPoint Template

Professional Thesis Project Proposal PowerPoint Template is a free research paper ppt template. It comes with 21 easy-to-use slides that include every aspect of your thesis, from the purpose of your study to method, data analysis, results, and discussion.

12. Thesis Presentation Powerpoint & Google Slides Template

This presentation template is one of the best free research proposal ppt templates that help you stand out. It features 20 pre-built research slides with modern, minimal layouts.

13. The effects of technology learning Research Presentation Template

This cool presentation template is designed for students to present their school projects. It includes many illustrations and graphs.

14. Free Thesis Defense Presentation Template

This beautiful PPT template is for anyone who needs a quick but professional thesis defense template. Utilize professionally designed slides for your introduction, methodology, results, and conclusion. The template includes 22 animated slides.

15. Black and white Research Proposal Presentation Free download

A free research proposal presentation template for PowerPoint and Google Slides, contains 29 unique slides.

Thesis Science Powerpoint Template

Thesis Science Powerpoint Template offers 20 unique slides. All slides have been organized and categorized to adhere to the guidelines stipulated by the thesis defense format.

SOLOZ – Dark Background Science Thesis Defense Powerpoint Template

SOLOZ PPT template contains 30 unique slides with a dark background. The unified color scheme and master slides make it easy to customize and quickly build an impressive presentation.

Thesis Defense – Design Powerpoint Template

This thesis defense PowerPoint template uses a design interior theme as a preview. It comes with 30 unique slides, dark and light backgrounds, and widescreen & standard ratio.

Research Proposal PPT Template

The Research Proposal PowerPoint Template offers over 50 slide designs with a modern and professional look. This template is available in three various formats: PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote.

Thank you for visiting Just Free Slide and reading this article! We hope this article helped you find the best research proposal PowerPoint template.  We highly appreciate it! Now you might want to get more free PowerPoint templates . Below you’ll find more PowerPoint templates related to the research proposal:

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Student Research Journal

Physics student research journal.

UNO physics majors create innovations before graduation. Every major completes a capstone project before graduation and produces a paper on their project.

Every UNO physics major completes a capstone project before graduation and produces a paper on their project in the style of an American Physical Society journal article. These papers are published here. This page contains student reports by academic year and information for student authors (style, templates, etc.).

Sequential double ionization of Ar to Ar2+ over intense laser field pulses Kate Chain

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Using Gd-DOTA and NP attached to DNA at Different Distances Keegan Duhon

For Student Authors

To write and submit your Senior Project written report, you will use the free, online LaTeX editor Overleaf. LaTeX allows for readable reports with rich mathematics. It is also a standard used by most physics scientific journals, so LaTeX is a skill that is useful on its own. Once you get the hang of writing math in LaTeX, it is also significantly faster than mouse-click WYSIWYG equation editors. You will use a template to format your article, which is discussed below.

Register for a Free Account

First, go to the Overleaf homepage and click on the giant "Register" button, or choose to register using a Goggle account.

Using the Course Overleaf Article Template

Once you have an account, you can open and view the template using the following link:

https://www.overleaf.com/read/kqhtwmkmxynt

This template is set to READ-ONLY, which means you cannot edit it. To create a new article based on this template you will need to create a copy.

Click where it says "Menu" in the top left corner.

Next, click "Copy Project."

A text box will pop up, there you should enter the name of the new project, then click Copy .

A new project will open in the editor with a copy of the files of the template that you just cloned.

Learn LaTeX in 30 Minutes

Finally, read through Overleaf's great resource " Learn LaTeX in 30 Minutes ." The template has lots of comments to help you and lots of equations to give you a good sense of how they are written. You can refer back to this quick guide, as well as the through LaTeX documentation on the linked website. When stuck on how to do something in LaTeX, you can always use Google. There is a MOUNTAIN of information on using LaTeX online.

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Animal Adaptations | Science Research Project Template #11 | Biology | Life Sciences

Subject: Biology

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

18 June 2024

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Animals have incredible adaptations to their environment from blubber (fat for winter), to webbed feet for swimming or even behavioural adaptations can be quite an enlightening discovery. So with that in mind, this teaching resource will help and has got you covered.

This research project template provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an project template with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. It gives a rich and supportive framework that can be tweaked as needed for students to support differentiation.

Each research project template includes space for a one paragraph summary (that may or may not link to the 2 page science article also available on this topic). Students should produce a mathematical connection, an engineering / technology connection, 2 interesting facts / stats. Further there are 5 glossary terms they should fill in with their own words and 3 thought provoking questions (ie: critical thinking questions) they must answer. Finally, each template has 3 alternative thought provoking questions for younger students and 3 other alternative harder questions to extend high flying or older students. Giving you a total of 9 possible thought provoking questions that could be used with students to enhance their research and critical thinking.

This template is some of my best work and I am proud to share it with you.

WHY / WHEN TO USE:

• Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
• To extend students
• To increase scientific literacy and research skills in your class
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast and you need a long running task
• To inspire students on a particular topic
• As a scaffold to support students who need support on research skills and can use a framework
• To enhance critical thinking when doing research and making a relevant and interesting output
• Give a selection of these research project templates for students to choose from
• To enhance students ability to express ideas and synthesis knowledge

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• 5 page Word doc teacher version with supporting appendix items
• 3 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 5 page PDF teacher version with supporting appendix items
• 3 page PDF student version with space to fill in answers

More will be coming to cover other subjects and other topics, so please do keep an eye out for more science articles from The Teaching Astrophysicist!

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• Open access
• Published: 19 June 2024

Patient and public involvement and engagement in the development of innovative patient-centric early phase dose-finding trial designs

• Emily Alger 1 ,
• Mary Van Zyl 2 ,
• Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi 3 , 4 ,
• Dave Chuter 5 ,
• Lizzie Dean 5 ,
• Anna Minchom 2 &
• Christina Yap 1  

Research Involvement and Engagement volume  10 , Article number:  63 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

208 Accesses

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In light of the FDA’s Project Optimus initiative, there is fresh interest in leveraging Patient-reported Outcome (PRO) data to enhance the assessment of tolerability for investigational therapies within early phase dose-finding oncology trials. Typically, dose escalation in most trial designs is solely reliant on clinician assessed adverse events. Research has shown a disparity between patients and clinicians when assessing whether an investigational therapy is tolerable, leading to the recommendation of potentially intolerable doses for further investigation in subsequent trials.

It is also increasingly recognized that patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) plays a pivotal role in enriching trial design and conduct. However, to our knowledge, no PPIE has explored the optimal integration of PROs in the development of advanced statistical trial designs within early phase dose-finding oncology trials.

A virtual PPIE session was held with nine participants on 18th October 2023 to discuss the incorporation of PROs within a dose-finding trial design. This cross disciplinary session was developed and led by a team of statisticians, clinical specialists, qualitative experts, and trial methodologists. Following the session, in-depth perspectives were provided by two patient advocates who actively engaged in the PPIE session. We discuss the importance of PPIE in shaping advanced dose-finding trial designs, share insights from patients on integrating PROs to inform treatment tolerability, and present a template for meaningful patient involvement in trial design development.

Participants generally supported the introduction of PROs within dose-finding trials but showed some apprehensiveness as to how PROs may reduce the size of the recommended dose (and potentially efficacious effect). Some participants shared that they may be reluctant to record the real severity of their symptoms via PROs if it would mean that they would have to discontinue treatment. They discussed that PROs could be used to assess tolerability rather than toxicity of a dose.

Conclusions

Amplifying patient voice in the development of patient-centric dose-finding trial designs is now essential. This paper offers an exemplary illustration of how trialists and methodologists can effectively incorporate patient voice in the future development of advanced dose-finding trial designs.

Plain English summary

The aim of dose-finding oncology trials is to make sure a treatment is safe, understand its side effects, and recommend the right dose (or doses) for future clinical trials. Traditionally, a patient’s tolerance to treatment is assessed by doctors who evaluate toxicities (side-effects) using established grading guidelines. Research has shown that doctors might not identify all the side effects that patients actually experience during a trial.

There is growing interest in the introduction of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) within dose-finding trials. PROs are reports of a patient’s health and well-being experiences which come directly from the patient themselves, usually assessed using a questionnaire.

In a dose-finding trial, we start with a low dose of a drug and increase it until too many patients have severe side effects. The highest safe dose is then investigated in a later phase trial.   We are suggesting a new way to do these trials. We want to look at both what doctors see as severe side effects and what patients say. This enables us to recommend a dose that balances both perspectives. We would also like to ask patients what level of risk they are comfortable with regarding severe side effects.

In this paper, we highlight the importance of involving patients in creating advanced dose-finding trial designs, particularly with PROs to help decide whether a dose is tolerable for patients. We also share findings of a patient and public involvement and engagement session and provide a guide for meaningful patient involvement in developing trial designs.

Peer Review reports

Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) ensures that the voice of patients and their advocates inform the conception and development of clinical trial designs [ 1 ], contributing to the collection of an improved quality of data and increased patient adherence to the trial. Research has highlighted that, although uncommon, valuable opportunities for patient engagement exist and should be encouraged within the early phase dose-finding oncology trial setting.

Dose-finding oncology trials

Dose-finding oncology trials (DFOTs) are a crucial step in early clinical development. These trials assess the safety and tolerability of novel anti-cancer therapies across multiple doses. By employing multiple interim analyses, researchers can dynamically test different doses during the trial. Adaptive decision making is based on accumulating preliminary safety and clinical data. This adaptive strategy enhances efficiency and enriches our understanding of an investigational therapy based on emerging patient responses, guiding the selection of optimal doses for potential exploration in subsequent trials. In Phase I cancer trials, various new anticancer therapies, including drugs, radiotherapy, cell therapies and biologics, can be collectively referred to as investigational therapies or novel therapeutic approaches [ 2 ]. Henceforth, within this article we will use the term "investigational therapy" to emphasise the investigational nature of these novel therapies in early phase clinical research.

Patient-reported outcomes

Research has highlighted pitfalls of current practice to tolerability assessment within trials, including clinicians potentially underreporting adverse events compared to a patients’ own assessments of tolerability [ 3 ]. Recommendations from new Methodology for the Development of Innovative Cancer Therapies (MDICT) Taskforce guidelines [ 4 ], encourage investigators to consider the toxicity burden of new oncology drugs on patients. There is growing interest in integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) to enrich our understanding of an investigational therapy’s tolerability profile within early phase trials [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].

A PRO is defined as “any report of the status of a patient’s health condition that comes directly from the patient, without interpretation of the patient’s response by a clinician or anyone else” [ 7 ]. PROs are readily incorporated within later phase trials, with research showing that the integration of PROs within later phase trials has been associated with improved survival [ 8 ]. Within dose-finding trials, the new standardised PRO measure (PROM) PRO-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) has been developed by the National Cancer Institute so that patients can self-report symptomatic toxicities via a questionnaire [ 9 ]. However, a recent review has suggested that only 5.3% of DFOTs included PROs as an outcome in their trial [ 5 ]. Research has shown for those trials that included PROs, they are rarely incorporated to guide dose-escalation decisions in DFOTs (2.9%) [ 10 ].

PPIE for the development of advanced trial designs

The current landscape reveals a notable gap in understanding how to effectively embed PPIE within statistical methodology [ 11 ]. There has been a rise in the adoption of advanced model-based and model-assisted trial designs in DFOTs [ 12 ]. While these designs enhance efficiency, they come at the cost of increased complexity [ 13 ]. Integrating PROs into dose-finding trials requires the creation of smarter yet intricate designs [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Trial designs could incorporate PROs to dynamically inform dose decisions throughout the trial or influence the final recommended dose(s). Effectively communicating the statistical concepts and workings of these complex designs to a lay audience is crucial for facilitating meaningful PPIE. Exploring patient’s unique insights and lived experience of dose-finding trials is particularly crucial as we consider the patient-centred realm of PROs, where we look to encapsulate elements that are important to dose-finding oncology trial patients.

Particular focus has been placed on the importance of PPIE as we look to incorporate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) within dose-finding trials [ 19 ]. Their introduction within the early phase setting is contingent on the support of patients and their advocates. For example, the incorporation of PROs within early phase trials would require patients to record their symptoms, which may increase patient burden [ 20 ]. It also requires an alignment in patient and trialist objectives within the Phase I setting.

Within this article we present a case-study for a PPIE session held to discuss the exemplary integration of PROs within the PRO-CRM trial design and utility extension U-PRO-CRM [ 14 , 21 ]. At the PPIE session, we discussed how to define an intolerable patient toxicity, as identified through PROs, and how we could escalate doses using the rate of patient toxicity in conjunction with clinician assessed toxicities. We expected PPIE discussions to inform future research directions for the field of PRO-integrated trial designs [ 22 , 23 ], triggering the development of new advanced patient-empowered trial designs.

This paper describes how PPIE was successfully embedded within a statistical methodology project. It provides a template for the organisation of the event, consolidation of research outputs and determination of future directions to support statistical methodologists coordinating their own PPIE activities.

Previous published PPIE within early phase trials has focused on discussing preferences of PRO collection strategies and attitudes towards PRO integration [ 24 ]. However, to our knowledge, the session detailed in this paper is the first to discuss a statistical methodology project within the space of early-phase DFOTs.

Patient engagement to inform the development of a new novel trial design

A virtual PPIE session, that lasted an hour and a half, was held with nine participants on 18th October 2023. As well as reflecting on the insights provided by participants at the PPIE session, the aim of the session was to explore how PPIE could be embedded within a statistical methodology project and identify the lessons to be learnt from the session. We anticipated that discussions would inform future research directions in the field of PROs in early phase trials.

Potential participants for the PPIE event were contacted internally via the Institute of Cancer Research’s Drug Development Unit (which runs Phase I trials) and externally, via co-author connections and the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Advocate Forum. Potential participants were eligible to contribute to this PPIE session if they had lived experience within a clinical trial or were experienced patient partners in the Phase I setting. Eleven prospective participants shared an interest in attending the PPIE session and were asked to share their availability via an online form, with the session scheduled for the most popular slot. Nine participants were able to make the scheduled time and two prospective participants were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. At first instance, patients enrolled in a Phase I trial at the Institute of Cancer Research’s Drug Development Unit were invited to participate in the session to ensure patients with lived experience in dose-finding trials were engaged with discussions. To ensure we engaged participants with a diverse range of expertise, we also encouraged the participation of other patient stakeholders, including patient advocates.

A PowerPoint presentation and Zoom polls were created for participants to answer pre-set questions. The presentation was developed and refined following a practice presentation with statisticians and clinicians. Questions were curated and reviewed by the team before the session. Strategies were developed to foster an engaging atmosphere, including allotted time for participant introduction, use of Zoom’s “hands up” feature, and appointing an experienced chair with PPIE activity, MVZ (an advanced nurse practitioner) to lead discussions separate to the presenter. Team members EA, MVZ, AM and CY hosted the PPIE session.

One week before the session, pre-reading materials on dose-finding trials and PROs were distributed to participants for a brief overview of the topic [ 25 , 26 ]. Following the session, minutes detailing the discussions were sent to participants for approval alongside a reimbursement form. A timeline of the organization for this PPIE event is presented in Fig.  1 .

Organisational timeline for PPIE event, from inception to completion

Participants were based in the UK and Canada. The majority of attendees (66.7%) were at least 65 years old and just over half (55.5%) were female. All participants were white. Six participants (66.7%) had participated in a clinical trial, and four (44.4%) had experience of a Phase I trial. Most (66.6%) were a novice or intermediate patient partner, with introductory or moderate experience as a patient partner in Phase I trials. Two discussants identified themselves as an experienced patient advocate. Characteristics for participants who attended the PPIE session are presented in Table  1 .

PPIE insights

At the start of the PPIE session, we defined PROs and current limitations to tolerability assessment. Seven participants (77.8%) agreed or strongly agreed that asking patients to self-identify their symptoms would add useful information to dose-finding clinical trials. Six participants (66.7%) also agreed that PROs should be used together with clinician assessed toxicities to inform dose-escalation decisions.

Assessing patient adverse events

Many participants agreed that it was “essential” to listen to a patient’s viewpoint on symptoms, however some had concerns regarding the frequency of PRO collection and the size of the questionnaire. Some participants suggested that PROs were a useful reminder to “help me remember side effects I may have forgotten during the period between doses” and that frequent PRO collection would prevent patients from forgetting the severity of side effects. Whilst some participants thought we “need to record all side effects”, other participants were concerned by the length of the PRO-CTCAE, suggesting that “there’d be an awful lot of things and boxes to tick – an overwhelming number”.

Patient tolerability levels

Under the conventional dose-efficacy paradigm, it is typically assumed that as dose increases, so too does its efficacy. Nevertheless, this might not necessarily hold true for modern immunotherapies or targeted agents [ 27 ]. For the PRO-CRM and U-PRO-CRM trial designs, PROs are utilised in conjunction with the toxicities assessed by a clinician. Dose-escalation decisions rely upon both the rate of clinician assessed toxicity and rate of patient assessed toxicity. Therefore, for such designs, the incorporation of PROs looks to inform the selection of an admissible set of more tolerable (and potentially lower) doses for investigation in later phase trials.

Participants were mindful about the potential subjectivity of PROs. Whilst some recognised that “[A smaller dose] can be as effective as a higher dose without the side effects”, after discussing the PRO-CRM and U-PRO-CRM design, some participants were concerned that “if individuals are going to report their side effects, and that’s going to influence dose going ahead, what about the fact that everyone reacts differently?”. It was also recognised that “past illnesses, comorbidities will affect how people report”.

Impact of PROs on dose decisions and efficacy

Participants discussed whether patients would be fully transparent about the severity of symptoms if the trial offered the last line of investigational therapy. This was a concern for some participants who reflected that “many patients would be reluctant to drop out of the treatment [investigational therapy], unless the clinicians thought that the side effect itself could be life threatening”. Another participant highlighted that “if you were to lower the dose. I feel that it would be a worry that it might not be as effective”. When discussing the possibility of discontinuing an investigational therapy following severe side effects, one discussant suggested that if they were “on a clinical trial and this is my last chance of treatment that might help me, I’m going to tolerate severe pain and probably downplay a little bit [side effects] to the clinicians”.

Toxicity vs. tolerability

There was also a suggestion to clarify what is meant by a patient toxicity. It was suggested that instead of using PROs to identify toxic doses, it should be used to identify intolerable doses. It was generally thought that “the clinicians should be the ones to define toxicity, but the patient should be the ones to define how tolerable”. Participants discussed at what point an unpleasant side effect would become “unbearable” – to the point where a patient would refuse further investigational therapy. Instead of defining a single unacceptable level of toxicity using the PRO-CTCAE criteria, one participant suggested that instead patients are asked if “this level [dose] of toxicity would stop them taking part in the trial”.

Reflections: Learned experiences of running PPIE sessions within the early phase setting

Coordinating this session with a cross-disciplinary team was incredibly beneficial. The allocation of a chair with a clinical background ensured that discussions were accessible and led by an expert with extensive experience of communicating with patients. The active involvement of additional clinicians, statisticians and PRO methodologists was instrumental in overseeing and guiding discussions and questions pertaining to current clinical practices and model-based dose-finding trial designs. It also ensured that the contents and concepts discussed during the session were presented in a manner that was accessible and easily comprehensible to a broad audience. This was evident in the successful engagement of patient partners, marked by numerous discussions throughout the session.

PPIE: Participants’ perspectives

Figure  2 presents perspective pieces written by two participants who attended the PPIE session.

Participant perspective pieces discussing PROs in early phase trials and the importance of PPIE involvement within the development of novel dose-finding trial designs

PPIE session findings

Participants highlighted concerns that recording their self-assessed side effects accurately may lead to discontinuation of the investigational therapy, potentially reducing their chances of benefiting from the therapy. To promote PRO completion, patients should be informed that individual dosing decisions in Phase I trials are based on protocol-defined adverse events, essential for preventing severe toxicity. Techniques such as intra-patient escalation methods are increasingly advocated to provide additional flexibility to dose escalation trials when implementation is deemed safe [ 4 ]. Such escalation routines may enhance the personalisation of dosing for individual patients and treat more patients at the recommended dosage(s). Implementing trial designs which personalise and identify the optimal tolerable dose for each patient by considering the variability in individual tolerability thresholds [ 28 , 29 ], may encourage patients to diligently complete PROMs. This, in turn, contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the investigational therapy’s tolerability profile.

Participants also shared their hesitancy about PROs potentially lowering the recommended dose for later phase trials, affecting efficacy. The PPIE session discussion highlights the necessity for PRO-integrated dose-finding trial designs, combining an efficacy endpoint alongside tolerability through both PROs and conventional clinician assessed toxicities. This includes creating seamless Phase I/II designs that dynamically test different doses throughout the trial, based on accumulating tolerability and activity data.

Future research directions

Following the input of participants at the PPIE session, team members consolidated future study directions to advance the field of trial designs which incorporate PROs.

These include the exploration of PRO-integrated dose-finding trial designs which,

Incorporate both efficacy and toxicity assessment.

Define intolerable patient toxicities for each patient, allowing for dose-escalation rules to potentially vary among patients.

Employ PROs within the dose-optimisation stage of the trial design.

Utilise PROs within either interim or final analysis dose recommendations.

Discussions at the meeting indicated that some participants were concerned that PROs could potentially reduce the size of dose recommended for later phase trials. Future research could look to assess how a patient’s tolerability to PRO-determined MTDs would compare to traditional early phase DFOTs designs which rely solely on clinician assessed adverse events.

Future research should continue to explore effective strategies for incorporating patient input into complex statistical methodology projects. This involves the development of novel presentation approaches to ensure information is presented accessibly, including the creation of patient information sheets, slides and scripts for the session [ 19 ].

Strengths and limitations of the session

The virtual nature of this PPIE session encouraged international engagement but did prevent face-to-face discussions, potentially missing out on additional insights that such interactions might have provided.

Providing pre-reading material before the PPIE session helped participants, particularly those with novice or intermediate experience, familiarise themselves with new and advanced concepts on PROs in DFOTs. This pre-reading reflected the richness and depth of the material discussed in the session which included an overview of current practice, PROs and the newly proposed trial design. Participants engaged in some topics more than others, and discussions were often extensive. We would have therefore benefitted from a longer session to cover all areas comprehensively. In hindsight, we recognise it may have been beneficial to conduct this engagement across two separate sessions – first introducing current practice in the early phase setting before expanding on this topic to cover PROs at a later session. Though the time commitment required from participants may be prohibitive.

Our participants encompassed a diverse range of age groups and expertise levels, including individuals with lived experience of Phase I trials. However, whilst we looked to encourage a diverse range of participants to take part in this PPIE session, it is noteworthy that all individuals who expressed interest were white. We hope that future PPIE research which looks to shape trial design will make additional attempts to include a more diverse group of participants. Whilst the FDA provides guidance to help increase engagement of participants from underrepresented groups within later phase trials [ 30 ], barriers still remain to engage underserved groups within early phase trials [ 31 ].

The majority of participants within this PPIE session were patients within a clinical trial (6/9). Active engagement of patients with lived trial experience is vital to ensure that the perspectives provided are informed by current trial practice and patient viewpoint.

PPIE sessions have a vital role in ensuring that PROs are not just implemented within early phase trials, but to ensure that the implementation is feasible and in line with patient’s own objectives within the trial. These PPIE discussions support contemporary publications which have previously encouraged the tailoring of the PRO-CTCAE into a subset of core symptoms for patient ease [ 32 ].

PPIE in statistical methodology

The incorporation of meaningful PPI can be unclear due to a lack of resources, including successful case studies demonstrating effective implementation [ 11 ]. As the strategy for the successful incorporation of PPIE within research continues to be developed [ 33 ], case studies such as these can provide recommendations for other researchers looking to introduce PPIE within their research. This project demonstrates the feasibility of PPIE for statistical methodology and the potential of PPIE to originate new research directions within the field of early phase DFOT designs. This research reiterates recommendations of other PPIE in the space of statistical methodology – that engagement is achievable and fruitful if projects are thoroughly considered and organised [ 34 ]. Whilst the use of PPIE within statistical projects remains limited, recommendations have been provided by researchers exploring PPIE in the numerical components of trials [ 35 ]. Goulao et al. suggest the cultivation of a safe environment, ensuring that participants are listened to and adopting a flexible schedule to allow for additional questions and discussions throughout the session. Involving an experienced PPIE chair within our own session cultivated a safe environment for participants to share their thoughts and confidently raise questions.

Even before the development of the trial design, engaging patients has the potential to catalyse the direction of future trial designs toward patient-centric considerations – with the potential to inform outcomes, the integration of information in dose decision making, and the frequency of data collection to be considered within the prospective trial design. Continuing to engage patients during the development of trial designs can support methodologists to simplify their complex design and develop lay summaries. Following the adoption of the trial design in practice, such engagement supports the dissemination of the design among potential patients to be enrolled in the study.

Engaging patients in statistical methodology research for PPIE poses unique challenges, especially when compared to applied clinical research. Participants may be eligible for reimbursement for expenses and time. As such any PPIE activity requires financial considerations and budgeting. What’s more, unravelling the advanced statistical concepts of novel dose-finding trials for a lay audience may require the statistical methodologist to exhibit patience, understanding, and strong communication skills. Scheduling the PPIE meeting may be challenging dependent on the size of participants a session looks to engage, however the opportunity to hold sessions virtually does provide additional flexibility. Recruiting participants from ethnically diverse backgrounds remains a challenge in PPIE and clinical trials within the early phase field [ 31 ]. Engaging participants, particularly from underserved groups, requires on-going effort to build trust and rapport between prospective participants and the research team.

This article details our experience of optimizing PPIE input. Simplifying complex theories enables us to gather insights from patients on how they envision the utilization of PROs in DFOTs. Influential PPIE is essential as we look to incorporate patient voice into the development of new trial designs. Successful integration not only drives innovation, but also ensures that trials align more closely with what matters to patients, culminating in more patient-centred and impactful research.

Availability of data and materials

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Abbreviations

Patient-reported Outcome

Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement

Dose-Finding Oncology Trial

Patient-reported Outcome Measure

Patient-reported Outcome-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events

Methodology for the Development of Innovative Cancer Therapies

National Cancer Research Institute

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all participants who attended the PPIE session.

EA has been supported to undertake this work as part of a PhD studentship from the Institute of Cancer Research within the MRC/NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership.

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EA: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing – review & editing. MVZ: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. OLA: Conceptualization, Supervision, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. DC: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. LD: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. AM: Conceptualization, Supervision, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing.CY: Conceptualization, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing – review & editing.

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Correspondence to Christina Yap .

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OLA receives funding from the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), West Midlands, NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Precision Transplant and Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation, Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation), Gilead Sciences Ltd, Merck, GSK, Anthony Nolan, and Sarcoma UK. He declares personal fees from Gilead Sciences, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline outside the submitted work.

AM is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. She has served on advisory boards for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, MSD Pharmaceuticals and Genmab Pharmaceuticals. Has received honoraria from Chugai Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Merck Pharmaceuticals, GSK, Seagen Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Has received expenses from Amgen Pharmaceuticals and LOXO Oncology. Has received research funding from Merck Pharmaceuticals and MSD.

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Alger, E., Van Zyl, M., Aiyegbusi, O.L. et al. Patient and public involvement and engagement in the development of innovative patient-centric early phase dose-finding trial designs. Res Involv Engagem 10 , 63 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-024-00599-7

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-024-00599-7

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