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Developing Effective Research Proposals
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Developing Effective Research Proposals

Third Edition


April 2016 | 192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This is your step-by-step guide to success with your research proposal. The new Third Edition covers every section of the proposal, telling you all you need to know on how to structure it, bring rigor to your methods section, impress your readers, and get your proposal accepted.

Developing Effective Research Proposals provides an authoritative and accessible guide for anyone tackling a research proposal. It is perfect for students in education, nursing, health, and across the social sciences.

 
Introduction: Reading this Book
 
Understanding Readers, Expectations and Functions
 
Including Ethics in Social Science Research Alis Oancea
 
Developing a General Framework for Proposals
 
Using Theory and Dealing with the Literature
 
Presenting Methods and Methodologies
 
Writing the Proposal
 
Getting Tactics Right
 
Examples of Proposals

This book is incredibly useful for graduate students attempting to work out the ‘rules of the game’ of research proposal writing. Especially helpful are the exercises that can support students with tricky aspects such as developing research questions. 

Barbara Read
Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change, University of Glasgow

This third edition is a 'must have' for demystifying the proposal writing process. It includes mixed-method approaches and provides additional insights, tips, strategies, and examples that are indispensable. Just wish I had this book when I was struggling with my first proposal!

Julia Jahansoozi
School of Communication and Culture, Royal Roads University

It provides a clear and easy-to-follow guide to putting together a proposal with detailed discussion of the topics that need to be included. The structure of the book reflects the proposal development process, from developing the general framework to writing different elements of the proposal. It begins with a helpful discussion of the reviewer, their expectations and the functions that the proposal needs to fulfill, which has relevance across all types of research proposal.

Sarah Kitchen
NatCen Social Research
SRA Researcg Matters 2018

A very useful book for students undertaking the independent study particularly for MA.

Mrs Toni Benaton
Health and Social Care at Derby, Derby University
January 26, 2022

Keith Punch hits home with his concise account of the art and practice of proposal writing. In setting a research proposal assignment, it was essential that students develop an understanding of the reasons why a proposal is an essential part of the research process and what comprises an effective research proposal. Keith Punch's text offers this and more. If I'd just read Keith's book before submitting my last proposal to the ESRC I wouldn't be where I am now!

Allan Blake
School of Education, Strathclyde University
June 12, 2019

A very good book with practical step by step guide for anyone starting out on a research proposal. All elements covered comprehensively.

Mrs Ajitha Denny Abraham
Faculty of Health & Social Care, Hull University
February 12, 2018
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • Comprehensive explanation of method and methodology, and how to maximize this crucial section of your proposal
  • A new section on mixed methods: an increasingly common approach in research
  • A new chapter on how to get it right with ethics
  • Fresh exercises and activities, now for each key chapter