If you are new to the academic writing world, crafting a research proposal can be a totally hard undertaking for you. But with the assistance you can effortlessly craft the head, body, and end which justifies your research in a clean and crisp way.
Through the structured model, you can add various details like the research question, literature review, methodology, and various elements together in your research proposal. One such structure approach is through the help of a Fish model, which provides a simpler way to structure the format of your research proposal by dividing the head, body, and tail of a fish’s body with respect to the research proposal outline. Let’s delve deeper to guide you through the intensive Fish Model, providing detailing of each component in respective with fish to craft a well-mannered research proposal.
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Understanding the know – how's of the Fish Model
The Fish Model is made to divide each section of the research proposal in accordance with fish body elements (head, body, tail) each representing a part of the fish. With the fish model, you can easily remember the structure of the research proposal with the help of imaging it in a fish’s body. The fish model consists of:
Head (Introduction)
Body (Literature Review and Methodology)
Tail (Expected Outcomes and Timeline)
Let’s understand each element in detailed manner
1. Head (Introduction)
The “head” of your fish provides the basic introduction of the topic of your research proposal and sets the stage for defining the research paper. This should be very engaging and catchy to grab the reader’s attention with a simple and clear understanding of the research topic. The ‘head’ includes various elements like
- Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary explaining the research topic with generally a word count of 150 to 250 words approx. It’s crucial to prepare a crips and clear abstract as it is basically the first part of your research proposal that reviewers will read. It should also provide an overview of the rest of the research paper including objectives, research problem, expected outcomes, and methodology. Hence abstract should be concise and clear.
- Introduction
The introduction of the research proposal consists of background context and background information which clearly defines the research problems and specifies all the research questions and objectives. Basically, the introduction should provide an outline of the main key objectives of your study and provide an overview of the format of the proposal.
- Hypotheses
The hypothesis of the research proposal highly depends upon the research design, state the hypotheses you think of to test.Hypotheses are testable and particular predictions about the relationship between two or more variables. Eventually, the hypothesis converts the problem statement into a precise prediction of expected outcomes.
- Aim
The main aim of your research proposal should be concise and clearly depicted and mentioned in your research proposal. It should portray the focus of your research and be specific enough to give an accurate representation of your study.
2. Body (Literature Review and Methodology)
The body of the research proposal consists of the literature review and methodology sections. This part should give a detailed overview of the research studies and provide a significant brief on how you plan to conduct your study.
- Literature Review
The literature review provides a clear analysis of existing research with respect to your research topic. It should highly bridge the gap identified in the current knowledge and showcase how your research will solve these crucial gaps in an efficient manner. The literature review should also have certain briefs about concepts, relevant theories, and methodologies that will ascertain your study. Organize the literature review thematically or chronologically and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing research.
- Objectives
This section should clearly justify the research questions or hypotheses that your research study aims for. All your study goals must be crisp and surely defined in the study notion. The study’s targets need to be unique, measurable, doable, relevant, and time-sure (SMART). Make certain that your study questions and hypotheses are aligned with your study targets.
- Material and Methods
The methodology section provides a brief outline of the research design and various research methods you will need to use to collect and analyze valuable data. It should also provide a detailed description of your research approach, with the data collection methods, sampling strategy, and data analysis techniques. The methodology should also be brief about various limitations and ethical considerations taken into study.
- In Vitro studies
In vitro studies include numerous experiments conducted outside of a living organism. This should consist of the main Objective and analysis, Experimental Design, and Data Collection. It should be clear from the heading that the research is an in vitro study of any type of basic mechanism study.
- In Silico studies
In silico studies involve computer simulations and modeling to analyze biological systems. This should consist of Objective, Computational Methods, Data Collection, and Analysis.
- In Vivo Studies
In vivo studies consist of experiments conducted in living organisms. This should include Objective, Experimental Design, Data Collection, and Analysis to generate reliable predictions as well as new knowledge on the mode of action of drugs and the mechanisms underlying their side effects, altogether helping to reduce the costing of drug development.
3. Tail (Expected Outcomes and Timeline)
The tail of the fish represents the expected results and conclusion of your research. This section should provide a transparent plan for how you will achieve your research objectives and goals successfully.
- Results and Discussions
In this section, you should provide a clear brief about the key findings of your research and their implications along. While you cannot predict the required results, you can provide brief details based on your research questions and methodology. Discuss how the expected results will contribute to the existing body of knowledge and address the research problem. Discuss the potential impact of your findings on the field. Consider the wider aspect.
- Conclusion
The references segment has to encompass all the sources stated to your study concept. Follow the ideal citation style on your discipline and ensure that every reference is correct and rightly cited. Properly citing your sources demonstrates your engagement with present studies and strengthens the credibility of your idea.
Summing Up
Writing a research proposal can be a complex and hard method, but the Fish Model provides a clear and structured framework to guide you. By following the steps outlined in this model, you can craft a complete and compelling thought that efficiently communicates your research thoughts and plans. Remember to be clear, concise, and centered for your writing, and to offer an in-depth and justified plan for your research. With full-fledged planning and attention to each element, you can create a research proposal that stands out and secures the help you want to perform your observation.