Your Research Proposal should include each of the following sections:
Project Title
Project Summary: a brief overview of the research design, goals, and merit
Biographical Sketch: your biography and relevant experience
Project Description: a clear statement of the work and its merit
Relevant Literature and Theoretical Frameworks: Bring together theories and results from a number of studies to describe the "big picture" of your area of research and provide the context for your study. This should be a compelling narrative about the research trails you followed, how they build up to your study, and why your research study is original and important.
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts:
Research Methods: includes a Research Timeline with deliverables and respective dates. Depending on your project, it may also include information about populations and sites, participant recruitment, secondary analysis of datasets, protocol for protecting participants, survey/interview protocol, or an informed consent document.
Data Management Plan: includes protocol covering data collection, storage, and sharing.
Proposal Budget: project costs and justification for each of your project costs
Research Timeline: include deliverables and their expected dates
References Cited: Go to Cite & Write in ASA Style to format your References Cited list in American Sociological Association (ASA) format.
Appendices (if applicable): if applicable, include additional study components like survey instruments, interview instruments, and/or informed consent documents
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