R es ea r c h P ro po sa l o r P ro sp ec tu s

Key Components of a Research Prospectus

Key Components of a Theory Prospectus

A research proposal or prospectus serves two general purposes. One, it is a signal to others of your research plans. It
is an opportunity for those who must approve of your research, or of funding your research, to consider your plans.
The second general purpose is that it is a great opportunity for you to clarify for yourself what your research plans will
be and the steps that you need to take to complete the project.

Key C o m p o n e n t s o f a R e s e a r c h P r o s p e c t u s
The following is not the only way to structure a research prospectus. As with all aspects of the research process, it is
a good idea to be in contact with our advisors/instructors to be clear about their expectations.

Component

Description

Example

It is a good idea to lead with this.

Academic writing is not like writing a
mystery novel. Readers want to know
what they are reading right away.

Why is there full

democracy in Ghana but
not in the rest of West
Africa?

2. Explain why the

question is
important;
relevance to
scholarly literature

Why do we care? What theoretical,

empirical and/or policy contributions
will the project make?

American policy-makers
want to spread democracy.
Democracies are more
peaceful. Democracy is a
good thing

3. Core Concepts

What is the core outcome of interest?

How do you define, conceptualize and
measure the object of your study.

What is full democracy?

How do you define and
measure democracy?

4. Working
Hypotheses

These are possible answers to your

proposed research question, which you
plan to evaluate for your research
project.

Full democracy evolves

out of the practice of
democratic participation.

1. State
yourresearch
question.

5. Methods

How will you be collecting information

and how will you be evaluating your
research hypotheses?
What are some of the strengths and
weaknesses of your approach?

In-depth interviews.
Surveys.

6. Next Steps

What are your specific research plans. It

can be useful to include in this section a
proposed outline for the final project, a
detailed timeline for completing the
project, and a discussion of the
feasibility of carrying out research on
this project given existing constraints
(time, budget, etc.).

Outline. Project Timeline.

7. Bibliography

Always include a list of sources and try

to include a variety of sources (academic
journals, books, primary source
material), as appropriate to your topic.

Boafo-Arthur, Kwame.
(Ed). 2006. Voting for
Democracy in
Ghana.Freedom
Publications: Ghana.

Key C o m p o n e n t s o f a T h e o r y P r o s p e c t u s
Many of the key components of a theory prospectus are structurally similar to a research prospectus.
1. State your question.
2. Explain why it is important and its relation to scholarly literature
3. Discussion of how you plan to answer the question, including likely arguments and approach(es).
4. Next Steps: tentative outline and timeline
5. Bibliography