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Psychology research proposal – a problematic piece of writing but very easy to craft. Do you not have an idea how to craft this academic requirement? THEN READ & CRAFT.
Are you a psychology student and about to start working on your dissertation? If yes, you must have already known that writing a research proposal is compulsory before you begin the dissertation. What? You do not know about it? Ohh, it is a serious issue then. So, let’s talk about how you can craft a good psychology research proposal. In today’s article, I will describe all the parts of a good proposal. But before that, let’s give a brief touch to the research proposal.
What Is A Psychology Research Proposal, And Why Submitting It Is Necessary?
The definition of the psychology dissertation proposal is simple. It is a piece of paper that tells about the research you want to do. Along with this, it also outlines what it is about and how you will do the research. It means you must discuss the background information to create awareness about the topic. Talking about the methodology is also important. The parts of a dissertation proposal are as follows:
- An introduction to the research problem
- A literature review of the current and the past knowledge related to the problem
- Description of the methodology you intend to use
- Discussion on the possible implications of the research
- Referencing section to mention the sources of your data
Importance Of A Research Proposal
Many students ask about the importance of a research proposal. They question why we need to submit a proposal when we can work on a dissertation immediately. The answer to this question is simple. According to the top UK research writers, writing a proposal is important because it convinces your teachers. Sometimes, you need funding to continue with your project idea. So, in this case, writing a psychology research proposal is important.
What is a good psychology dissertation proposal?
From the discussion above, you come to know what a dissertation proposal is. You have also got an idea about its importance. One thing that you still do not know is how to craft it. What points do you need to consider to craft a good research proposal? Do not worry; this section is completely dedicated to those points. A brief description of the important points you must consider is as follows:
Coming with a strong research idea
The first and the most important point in proposal writing is to have a research idea. All the successful dissertations have an idea that is worth researching. So, you must also come up with the idea that piques your interest. Now, to find such an area that is of your interest, do some reading. Go and explore the class notes and search the semester modules to find that one topic and area. These techniques are tested and have helped many students before.
Explain your idea in the introduction
The introduction section is the most important one. You have to explain the importance of your idea while being concise and brief. It is a difficult job to do. Therefore, start by creating a hook to explain your research idea effectively. Try diving straight into the topic by asking a question or using a quote from someone. After this, jump directly into explaining the research context and aims. All these things make up a good introduction. Hence, you must take care of these in your research proposal.
Explore the literature to better explain it
A psychology proposal is all about explaining why your topic is worth researching. To assist yourself in this explanation, you must ensure the exploration of the related literature. You should explore the existing psychological theories related to your topic and explain them in the context of your research topic. This section is also called the literature review section. In this section, you describe what has been done in your research area and what further needs to be done. Hence, it also explains the research gaps and justifies your proposed topic.
Describe the research methods you are going to use
All the good research proposals have one thing in common. That thing is a good description of the research methodology. It is the backbone of any research proposal. In this section, you must describe the proposed research methods and the reasons for choosing them as potential methods. If you fail to do so, your topic will not get approved. So, you must describe your research methodology in detail. Describe it thoroughly, whether it is a qualitative, mixed-method, or quantitative research methodology.
Outline the importance of the research
Psychology is a field that has not been explored in much detail until now. There is a lot of room in this field available. Considering this, it does not mean that you should choose a topic that is neither important nor impacts society. You must outline the possible implications of the research study on society or individuals. Also, you should finish your proposal by briefly stating the contribution it will make to the existing knowledge. It is necessary because no one will fund your research if it is not important.
Provide the references at the end of the proposal
Like any academic text, it is important to provide references to all the sources you have used in your psychology research proposal. Teachers want to see where you have taken the data to compose your research proposal. Therefore, you must include a properly formatted reference list. The formatting means you should follow the exact style your teacher requires. Some common styles are Harvard, Chicago, and APA.
Conclusion
Writing a psychology research proposal is not difficult at all. All you need to do is pay attention to the guidelines mentioned above. Hook your reader at the start by asking a question or using a quote from a famous person. Also, read the previous literature carefully to properly discuss your study’s implications. All in all, follow the above instructions because they are the elements of a good research proposal.
