# How to write a research proposal: structure and methods

Decision workbook and teaching example · 2026-10-06

The completed case is fictional. Its values and decisions are not actual findings; complete your project using relevant permissions, methods and requirements.

- Project: ____________________
- Researcher and role: ____________________
- Date and version: ____________________
- Data seen before the decision: ____________________
- Aim and scope: ____________________

## Completed example

| Stage/decision | Example | Check or action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Question | Support–participation association in one semester | Are population, timing and variables explicit? |
| Measure | Permitted instrument with relevant evidence | Are definitions and measurement quality documented? |
| Design | Observational, without a causal-effect claim | Do title and aim match the design? |
| Analysis | Model suited to score and class structure | Have assumptions, missingness and clustering been assessed? |
| Feasibility | Permissions, access and fallback | Is the project executable before collection? |

## Complete your own record

| Topic | Actual decision and reason | Evidence link and status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Question | __________ | __________ |
| Measure | __________ | __________ |
| Design | __________ | __________ |
| Analysis | __________ | __________ |
| Feasibility | __________ | __________ |

## Completion checks

- [ ] Prepare a one-page design rationale, operational matrix and risk log for supervisor review.

## Changes and limitations

| Date | Change | Data known at decision time | Reason | Consequence for claim | Reviewer |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |

## Sources and further reading

- [MIT Libraries — Write a data management plan](https://libraries.mit.edu/data-management/plan/write/)
- [CASP — Critical appraisal checklists](https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/)
- [Center for Open Science — Preregistration](https://www.cos.io/initiatives/prereg)

Related guide: https://didgar-research-site1.vercel.app/en/guides/research-proposal/