Research Proposal Checklist

What This Checklist Covers

A run through everything a proposal needs to convince a reviewer of, grouped into ten sections:

• Title and introduction — a real problem, and a visible gap.
• Research questions and objectives — specific and connected.
• Literature review — brief, but showing the gap and your fit.
• Research methodology — design, sampling, collection, analysis.
• Theoretical framework — why it fits, and how it shapes your method.
• Ethical considerations — the issues, and how you’ll handle them.
• Timeline and budget — if required, whether yours is realistic.
• Significance and impact — why the study is worth approving.
• Compliance and quality control — word count, formatting, citations.
• Final review — the last pass before submission.

The checklist can be copied to your Google Drive or downloaded as a fully editable document, so you can tick items off as you go.