21890 Chap.9 Writing the Research Proposal
Writing the Research Proposal
The task
Assessment task 1 is an individual proposal worth 25%, 1,500 words excluding references, due at 11:59pm on 31 August as one Word document.
Four sections
Explain how you arrived at your research objective, set the research in context with your literature and search strings, state and justify one or two research questions, and name the specific secondary data sources for each question.
How it is marked
The rubric gives 15 points to the research question and objectives, 20 to writing and presentation, 20 to research and APA references, and 45 to analysis of the industry issue, which includes Indigenous perspectives.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Proposal task and length
- 02
Section 1: arriving at the objective
- 03
Section 2: research in context
- 04
Section 3: research questions
- 05
Section 4: specific secondary data
- 06
Rubric criteria and bands
Worked example · free
Place a proposal's rubric scores in their bands
- 1Total: 12 + 15 + 15 + 34 = 76 out of 100.
- 1Question criterion: 12 is above 11.1 but not above 12.6, which is the Distinction band.
- 1Analysis criterion: 34 is above 33.3 but not above 37.8, which is also Distinction.
- 1The biggest gain available is in analysis, where moving above 37.8 would reach High Distinction on the heaviest criterion.
Key terms
- Research Objective
- A brief statement of what a researcher wants to achieve through a project.
- Search String
- The combination of keywords and operators entered into a database to find relevant literature.
- APA Referencing
- The citation style, seventh edition, required for in-text citations and reference lists in the assessments.
Writing the Research Proposal FAQ
What are the four sections of the research proposal?
Arriving at your research objective, your research in context, your research questions, and secondary data. Each section has its own questions in the brief, from how you narrowed the topic to the specific sources you will use for each question, so follow that order and answer each prompt.
Which proposal criterion carries the most marks?
Analysis of the industry issue carries 45 of the 100 points. It asks for analysis that integrates advanced knowledge of management concepts, including Indigenous perspectives, so every section should show understanding of the issue rather than only describing the method.
Can I use the sample proposals as a template?
They are useful for seeing the depth of context and referencing expected, but they come from a previous semester, carry no scores or feedback, and at least one uses a layout this semester's brief does not. Follow the current four-section structure instead.
When is the research proposal due and how is it submitted?
It is due at 11:59pm on 31 August as a single Word document uploaded through the Canvas assignment page, which accepts doc and docx files. The schedule lists the due date in the Week 6 row.
What formatting does the proposal brief require?
An academic report style on A4 paper with 1.5 line spacing, 2.5 centimetre margins, 12-point left-aligned text, page numbers in the bottom right corner, and complete references in APA seventh edition style.
What evidence can Section 1 include about narrowing the topic?
The brief suggests print screens of email discussions with your tutor or Masters staff, a reflection on how classmates' feedback in tutorials shaped your thinking, and an explanation of how literature sources, including current industry material, informed your understanding of the issue.
Why was the proposal's weight reduced?
The subject's guidance page records that, in response to student feedback, the proposal was reduced from 35% to 25%, so that students who struggle early in the semester have time to recover in Assessments 2 and 3.
Assessment move
Draft the proposal section by section against the brief's own questions, then reread it against the 45-point analysis criterion alone. Check the formatting list last but carefully, since those points are easy to secure. Keep the email and feedback evidence Section 1 asks for. Start with Section 3, because the questions decide what the other sections must justify, then write Section 4 by naming a source for each question.
Leave time for formatting, the reference list and a final read against the rubric descriptions, and use UTS HELPS if academic writing is a concern before the due date.
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