How do you create a research proposal for social work?

1 Identify a gap

The first step is to identify a gap in the existing literature or practice that your research aims to fill. You should conduct a systematic and comprehensive review of the relevant sources and critically evaluate their strengths and limitations. You should also consult with stakeholders, such as service users, practitioners, or policy makers, to understand their needs and perspectives. Based on your review and consultation, you should formulate a clear and focused research question that addresses the gap and contributes to the advancement of social work knowledge or practice.

2 Choose a method

The next step is to choose a method that is appropriate for answering your research question and aligns with your epistemological and ontological assumptions. You should consider the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, such as quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, and justify your choice based on the research purpose, design, and context. You should also describe how you will collect, analyze, and interpret your data, and what tools or techniques you will use. You should also explain how you will ensure the validity, reliability, and rigor of your method and data.

3 Plan for ethics

The third step is to plan for the ethical issues that may arise in your research and how you will address them. You should follow the ethical principles and guidelines of your institution, discipline, and profession, and seek approval from the relevant authorities or committees. You should also identify the potential risks and benefits of your research for yourself, your participants, and the society, and how you will minimize the risks and maximize the benefits. You should also describe how you will obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality and anonymity, and respect diversity and dignity.

4 Consider the feasibility

The fourth step is to consider the feasibility of your research and how you will manage the practical aspects of conducting it. You should estimate the time, resources, and budget that you will need for your research and how you will secure them. You should also identify the possible challenges or limitations that you may encounter and how you will overcome them. You should also outline the expected outcomes and outputs of your research and how you will disseminate them to the relevant audiences or stakeholders.

5 Write the proposal

The final step is to write the proposal in a clear, concise, and coherent manner, following the format and style of your institution, discipline, or profession. You should structure your proposal into sections that cover the main elements of your research plan, such as introduction, literature review, research question, methodology, ethics, feasibility, and conclusion. You should also include a title page, an abstract, a table of contents, a reference list, and any appendices that support your proposal. You should proofread and edit your proposal before submitting it to your intended readers or reviewers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?