Research Proposal: Instructions
Project Overview
In my technical communication class, I was tasked with creating a research proposal that outlines a comprehensive academic project structure including objectives, methodology, literature review, and budgeting within a $1,500 limit, requiring detailed planning across multiple sections.
Below is an explanation of the requirements for this writing exercise:
Requirements
Project Title The title for my undergraduate research proposal had specific requirements: a catchy first part, a colon, and a second part detailing the project using at least four keywords. I chose autonomous vehicle security as my topic.
Project Objective or Aim I needed to present my research question(s) and a brief study description (75-150 words), making sure to define my focus and pinpoint the knowledge gap I was addressing.
Project Background and Significance This section required me to justify my research project’s significance within 350-400 words. I had to explain why it mattered academically and practically, and also outline the theoretical or critical frameworks guiding my approach.
Research Methods This 300-400 word section required me to outline my research steps (methods), explain the reason for each, and create a timeline for finishing the project in a single UCF semester.
Expected Outcome I needed to write 300-400 words detailing my project’s expected impact. This included identifying the research deliverables, explaining my plan for sharing them, and describing the new understanding it would bring to my field and the UCF community.
Literature Review I had to cite 5-8 peer-reviewed scholarly sources on my topic to show my grasp of the existing literature and how my research would build on it.
Preliminary Work and Experience In 150-200 words, I had to outline my qualifications by summarizing preliminary work and highlighting relevant background experience (coursework, etc.) to show I could complete the project.
IRB/IACUC Statement For this section, I had to briefly state (under 50 words) if my project needed IRB or IACUC approval, or explicitly say if it required neither.
Budget I needed to create a detailed research budget, keeping the total expenses at or below the $1,500 limit, which required a lot of trade off analysis.
Figures and Tables Including figures/tables was optional. If used, a maximum of 3 were allowed, embedded in the text, and they didn’t count against the word limit.