How to Write a Master/Doctoral Thesis Research Proposal with Example

Many students find it challenging to write a research proposal for a thesis or dissertation, whether at the master’s or PhD level, because it requires not only advanced academic writing skills but also critical thinking, clarity of purpose, and a deep understanding of the research problem.

The process involves narrowing a broad interest into a specific, researchable question while ensuring the topic is original, relevant, and manageable within the given time frame and resources.

A thesis research proposal is typically about 2–3 pages long, not including the title page and reference list. Your research proposal topic itself should be clear, specific, and concise — usually no longer than one sentence or a short phrase.

Before selecting a research proposal topic, students must consider factors such as the availability of credible sources, gaps in existing literature, the feasibility of data collection, the significance of the research in their field, and alignment with their career goals or academic interests.

To select a strong thesis research proposal topic, whether for nursing, economics, psychology, management, education or health sciences, students should start by exploring current issues or debates in their discipline, review recent research articles, consult with professors or mentors, and assess the potential for meaningful contribution to knowledge. A well-chosen topic lays the foundation for a successful proposal and, ultimately, a solid thesis or dissertation.

Thesis Research Proposal Template

Section	What to Include
Title Page	– Proposed working title (clear and meaningful) – Student name, course, instructor, date
Problem Statement & Thesis	– Clear problem statement (What is being investigated?) – Research question – Hypothesis or assumption (if applicable) – Short background context (Why is this problem important?)
Scope of the Project	– Define the boundaries of your research (What will you cover and what will you exclude?) – Describe your research approach (How will you study the problem?) – Identify data sources (Where will you get information?)
Possible Solution	– Suggest a possible solution or intervention – Provide rationale (Why is this solution appropriate?) – Discuss consequences of not solving the problem
Reference List	– 3–5 reliable and recent sources (published within the last 10 years) – Proper formatting using Turabian 9th ed., author-date style – In-text citations match the reference list

How to Write a Research Proposal for Your Thesis Paper — A Step-by-Step Guide

A research proposal is more than just an early draft — it sets the direction for your entire paper. The stronger your proposal, the smoother your capstone writing will be. Below is a section-by-section breakdown of how to structure and write it, along with guiding questions for each part.

1️⃣ Title Page

Purpose:
To present a professional, clear, and meaningful working title for your research paper.

What to Include:

• Your full name
• Course name
• Instructor’s name
• Date of submission
• Proposed Title of Capstone
  Your title should:
  • Be clear and focused (avoid overly broad terms).
  • Suggest the direction of your research (e.g., “The Impact of Social Determinants on Emergency Room Recidivism” rather than “Health Inequities”).

💡 Tip: Think of your title like a book cover — it’s the first thing your reader sees, so make it relevant and engaging.

2️⃣ Problem Statement & Thesis

Purpose:
This is the foundation of your entire paper. It tells your reader what problem you are studying, why it matters, and how you plan to explore or solve it.

Length: One paragraph (~150 words)

What to Include:

• A clear and specific problem statement (the central issue or gap you are addressing).
• A research question that guides your investigation.
• A hypothesis or early assumption (optional, if applicable).
• Short background/context:
  • Why is this problem significant?
  • Who is affected and how?
  • What has or hasn’t been done about it?

Questions to Answer:

• What problem or issue am I investigating?
• Why is it important (socially, academically, or professionally)?
• What specific question will my research attempt to answer?
• What is my working thesis or assumption about this issue?

3️⃣ Scope of the Project

Purpose:
To clarify the boundaries of your research so the topic remains focused, realistic, and manageable for a 10-week timeframe.

Length: One paragraph

What to Include:

• A clear definition of what’s included and what’s excluded in your research.
• A short description of your research approach (literature review, qualitative interviews, case study, survey, policy analysis, etc.).
• Data sources you plan to use (academic journals, reports, government data, primary data collection, etc.).

Questions to Answer:

• How am I going to approach this problem?
• What type of data will I collect or examine?
• Where will I find reliable sources of information?
• How will I know when I’ve “answered” the research question?

💡 Tip: Be realistic. You only have 10 weeks — choose depth over breadth.

4️⃣ Possible Solution

Purpose:
To show that you are not just studying the problem but thinking critically about ways to address it.

Length: One paragraph

What to Include:

• A potential solution or intervention (even if it’s early-stage or hypothetical).
• A rationale — why you believe this solution is viable.
• The consequences of not addressing the problem.

Questions to Answer:

• What could fix or improve this problem?
• Why is this solution promising or necessary?
• What will happen if no action is taken?

💡 Tip: Even if your real capstone later proves the solution won’t work, suggesting one now shows critical thinking.

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5️⃣ Reference List

Purpose:
To demonstrate you are grounding your proposal in credible, up-to-date research.

Requirements:

• 3–5 reliable academic or professional sources (must be published within the last 10 years).
• Follow Turabian 9th edition, author-date citation style.
• Sources must be cited both in-text and in your reference list.

Questions to Answer:

• Are my sources credible, recent, and directly relevant to my research question?
• Did I apply the correct citation format?

💡 Tip: Use peer-reviewed journals, government reports, and reputable books rather than websites or blogs.

Thesis Research Proposal Sample

💡 FAQ: Thesis Research Proposal Writing Help