Research degrees
Resources for Research Degree Graduate Qualities

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Research proposal

The first generic quality of the Research Degree Graduate Qualities refers to the higher degree by research student's comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the literature of the research area, detailed knowledge of appropriate research methodologies, ability to perform critical analysis and, most importantly, ability to produce original knowledge. See also Thesis

• Introduction
• UniSA resources
• Other resources

 

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Introduction

How the first generic quality will be elaborated and achieved is foreshadowed in the research student's research proposal. The supervisor's input into the development of the research proposal is crucial. The research proposal is designed to provide a structure and timeframe for a research student’s research program and must be developed (and subsequently maintained) prior to completing the first six months of full-time study. It is an action plan for your candidature. In consultation with your supervisor, your proposal may be modified as your research progresses.
 

UniSA resources

On campus workshops

Research Education Support Activities (RESA) offers on campus workshops on the research proposal as part of the commencing core series (all disciplines). Check the calendar for details of when these workshops are offered.

Online workshops, courses and resources

Writing the proposal index (RESA) provides links to online workshops, courses and resources.

Online guides

Policies and guidelines:

• Academic regulations for Higher Degrees by Research
• Guidelines for the preparation of research proposals
• Research proposal (Research degrees website) outlines the research proposal review process and guidelines for the preparation of research proposals.

Refining the research topic (Learning and Teaching Unit) covers the following:

• Finding a topic
• Components of a topic
• Focusing questions
• Link to literature
• Next steps

Other

English language development (Learning and Teaching Unit) offers both on campus and online resources

• sessions aimed at developing research students' English language skills for studying at university
• language resources to help develop language skills in an independent way

Report writing style guide for engineering students, 4th edition (Winckel & Hart 2002) (PDF file, 259kb) provides formatting guidelines (including information on equations, tables etc), referencing, planning and writing (including information on sentence structure, grammar and vocabulary).

Research Candidates Proposals Collection (Library)
You can deposit your research proposal via the Research Proposal Deposit form (Library) (student username and password required). Research proposals deposited here will be included in a searchable collection accessible to staff and students at UniSA from within the Library catalogue. The purpose of the database is to help higher degree by research (HDR) students to identify other research students within the University with research interests that are relevant to their own, and also to access models of research proposals.

To search for a research proposal
Currently there are only a few research proposals, but this will change as more research students deposit their proposals. There are two ways of searching the catalogue for research proposals

To search for a title list of submitted proposals

1. go to the Library catalogue Quick search screen
2. do a Title Search for 'research degree candidate proposal'

To search the eResearch Degree Candidate Proposal Collection

1. go to the Library catalogue Quick Search screen
2. select eResearch Proposals from the Quick Limits drop down menu
3. type your keywords in the Search for: box

Note: to access the full text of a proposal you will need to login to the Library catalogue using your UniSA Student ID and surname.
 

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Other resources

Writing a proposal (PhD Stages, University of Queensland) looks at the evolving research proposal and writing issues such as style, tense, active/passive voice and revising and editing.

Dissertation Proposal Workshop (Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley) looks at writing research and grant proposals in the Social Sciences and provides examples of proposals as pdf files. Some aspects examined are  the process and parameters and style. There is also an online Resources section.

 

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