Writing a Master's Thesis or Dissertation Proposal Part 3 of 3

Remember that it's often necessary to refine the first proposal, most likely by narrowing the scope of your study. But this is all part of the essential process of formulating a working plan for a dissertation that will yield a successful result. If you think of your proposal in this light, you're more apt to remain patient as you, work your way to the final draft.

A checklist for self-appraisal, from Davis & Parker:

1. Does the proposal have imagination?

2. Is the problem stated clearly?

(a) hypothesis clear? testable?

(b) if no hypothesis, are objectives clearly stated? Can they be accomplished?

(c) problem perhaps too large?

3. Is the methodology feasible?

(a) can data be collected?

(b) how will data be analyzed?

(c) will the analysis allow the acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis?

(d) is the sample population overused?

4. What might the results of the analysis look like? (tables, graphs, etc.)

5. What are the consequences if

(a) the experiment fails;

(b) data cannot be obtained;

(c) analysis is inconclusive;

(d) hypothesis is rejected or accepted?

6. Can major research activities be listed?

7. Can a time estimate be made for each activity?

8. Again, are the dimensions of the project manageable?

Taken from this