5 Easy Steps to Write an Excellent Dissertation Proposal

The fall semester is in full swing and many students who are planning to take up research courses in next semester are likely worried about preparing and submitting their dissertation proposals early so that they can start working on their research.

Academic research is quite tedious job and lot depends upon how a candidate prepare her dissertation proposal. The overall rigor of research is defined how effectively the proposal is prepared and presented.

There are two things which you need to understand before writing your dissertation proposal. A dissertation proposal is not an essay and it is also not a mini dissertation. Making this distinction will enable you to write a better and professionally relevant proposal.

So, to make your life easier, here are some simple tips on making dissertation proposal with ease.

1. Speak to your supervisor first

Supervisors are often hard to reach for a student but before you start writing your dissertation proposal and identify your research prospect, you need to speak to your supervisor first.

Few things which should be discussed including the topic you want to choose and the overall research methodology to be adapted. This is important because it will help your supervisor to provide you guidance in timely and appropriate manner.

2. Define your research objectives

Your meeting with your supervisor will give you sufficient understanding of what research objectives you need to choose. Finding your research prospect and converting it into a well-defined research objective will do most of the job for you.

Correctly and wisely choosing the research objective or aims is critical to the success of your research project.

3. Find research samples online

Instead of following the book advice, you can always find some research proposals online and download them.

One of the key benefits of first reviewing an already approved research proposal is the fact that it offers you a great insight on how to structure the document.

Though there are set patterns and structures for writing a dissertation proposal, if you can read an already approved proposal, you can understand the kind of flexibility you can have while writing your own.

4. Identify the research methodology

Following a sound research methodology will enable you to perform your research in easy manner. If you opt for a methodology that is hard to digest or understand, it is better to avoid it.

The reason being is that if you are not clear on how to use various research methods, your research will not yield the desired results.

5. Know your software

The findings of your research results are often assimilated with the help of any statistical software. If your research is complex and requires special coding of results or use of other sophisticated statistical models, it is better if you understand or know the software capable of doing this.

Some of the key software used for result interpretation include SPSS, Minitab, Matlab, SAS and E-Views. Though the individual preferences can change but make sure you know stuff.

If you are not aware of how to use the software, your overall research quality will be compromised and you will not be able to write better research proposal.

6. Follow the ethics

Every university has its own code of conduct for research and dissertation writing. Always know what is your code of conduct and follow it before you start writing your dissertation proposal.

Above is a list of simple of steps that are easy to follow. It’s important to know these before you actually start working on your dissertation proposal. Always be open to new suggestions and make sure you follow the ethical guidelines for conducting research in your university.

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