Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning
Environment, Behaviour & Society Research Group
RESEARCH PRE-PROPOSALS & PROPOSALS
FOR HONS, MPHIL, PHD & POST-DOC PROPOSALS
The structure and content of a preliminary or final research proposal should be appropriate to your research
domain and topic. Below is a recommended outline for an Hons, MPhil, PhD or Post-doc research proposal
in this Faculty, updated to be specific for proposals researching aspects of Environment, Behaviour and
Society. This outline or proforma is applicable to all EBS research proposals – basic or applied, quantitative
and/or qualitative, field, simulation or laboratory.

Title Page
Title of the Research Proposal
Name
Submitted in partial completion of ….
Environment, Behaviour and Society Research Group
Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning
The University of Sydney
Supervisor: ….
Associate Supervisor(s): ….
Date: ….

Abstract
(One paragraph of 100-200 words)
A brief summary of the aims and objectives of the research, overview of what is known from the research
literature, research question(s) to be addressed and overview of research methodology being proposed,
ending with the expected significance of the research. Do not include references.

Introduction: Purpose and Significance
(The purpose and significance of the study)
The aims, objectives and/or claims of the research. How the research is expected to contribute to
knowledge and will be significant, ie, how the outcomes will contribute to and advance the knowledge
base of the discipline including advancing theory, and if appropriate, how it will contribute to practical
applications, importance to the country, etc.

Critical Integrative Review of Background Research Literature
(The why of the research – demonstrating you know the existing research literature and showing how
your research questions emerge from the existing research literature in the discipline and on your topic)
An integrative and critical review of previous research in the domain leading to identification of gaps in
existing knowledge. This section should be reasonably comprehensive for research pre-proposals and
complete and comprehensive for full research proposals. It should be subdivided into several sections,
each dealing with a different body of relevant prior research literature. The review should be integrative
and analytical/critical. The review should also include discussion of the theory or theories in the domain
and a critique of the major research methods previously used in this domain. In total, it should critically
tell your reader what is known, and what is not known, in the domain of your research topic.

Research Questions
(The what of the research – the research questions, claims or hypotheses you propose to study)
Flowing from the above review, indicate the specific research questions (and/or hypotheses if
appropriate) to be investigated, ie, the gaps in current knowledge turned into researchable questions
and/or hypotheses. Include subquestions, but avoid pseudo- or methodological questions.
Environment, Behaviour & Society Research Group

2
Research Methodology and Plan
(The how of the research – how you propose to answer the above research questions – this section
should be approximately half of the proposal, and needs to be comprehensive)
o
Research plan and design
Discuss the general mode of inquiry that is most appropriate for this research. Describe the overall
plan for the research. Describe and justify the research design/overall methodology that is most
appropriate to answer the research questions. An important part of this section is the internal validity
part of quality assurance – how you propose to assure the various forms of trustworthiness in all
aspects of the research and most importantly how the research design will insure internal
validity/credibility.
o
Methods of data/information/evidence collection
What type of information, evidence or data is needed to answer the research questions? How do you
propose to gather the evidence, ie, detailed procedures including information collection methods?
Include in this section at least the following, divided into labelled subsections: population and
sample/participants; settings; constructs and variables; data collection instruments; other apparatus or
materials if needed; procedure; and other sub-topics as appropriate. Include discussion of how you
will assure neutrality, consistency, “truth” value and generalisability (as those terms are understood
in the different modes of inquiry) of your research?
o
Methods of information/data/evidence analysis, evaluation and interpretation
What specific qualitative and/or quantitative methods do you propose to use to analyse or evaluate
the information (eg, interpretative, qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis methods to be
employed – be specific)?
o
Timetable
Include a spreadsheet of tasks (organised by research questions) by months, showing what will be
done when. Include when you plan to submit conference and journal papers. Include any special
locations, libraries, etc needed, and budget if relevant.

References (and Bibliography if appropriate, eg, for text-based research)
Include a list, in standard format for your discipline, of all published work directly cited in the proposal
(references) and, if you wish, a second list of other works to be consulted in the future course of the
research (bibliography). Make sure to include and cite the top ten research works in your field. Do not
confuse references with bibliography.

Appendix(es)
(eg, draft research protocols, instruments, consent forms, etc. – optional, as required)
Recommended Length
If this is a Preliminary Research Proposal for Modes of Inquiry: 2,500-3,000 words, ie, 12 to a maximum of
15 pages including cover page, illustrations and references.
If this is a Research Proposal at the end of your first year of PhD candidacy in satisfaction of probationary
requirements, 5,000-10,000 words, ie, somewhere around 25-30 pages including illustrations and references
is appropriate. All of the above topics need to be covered fully.
d:\wpfiles\teaching\courses\resmeth\sydney\modes.sub
Rev: 28 March 2008