GUIDANCE ON DEVELOPING A RESEARCH DEGREE PROPOSAL FOR APPLICATION TO CARDIFF

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) specify that doctoral degrees are awarded for the creation and
interpretation, construction and/or exposition of knowledge which extends the forefront of a
discipline, usually through original research (QAA, 2014). Furthermore, the QAA expects holders of
doctoral degrees to be able to conceptualise, design and implement projects for the generation of
significant new knowledge and/or understanding. Therefore, individuals require both the ability to
make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields and an innovative approach to
tackling and solving problems. These QAA expectations determine how we, as a School, consider
research degree proposals and their potential contribution.
Why do we ask for a Research Proposal?
There are a number of reasons why we want you to submit a research proposal as part of the doctoral
degree application process. Firstly, you need to provide a rationale for us that demonstrates that your
proposed research is worthwhile in that there are demonstrable benefits to be gained from
undertaking the research, i.e. the need for the research. Secondly, you need to convince us that your
proposed research is feasible and realistic in terms of achieving the demonstrable benefits in an
ethical, legal, safe and timely fashion. Thirdly, your research proposal needs to sell your idea by
effectively communicating the purpose of the research and persuading us about the value of the
proposed research (Denscombe, 2012).
Although at the outset, you might find it difficult to identify what the value and contribution of your
work might be, doctoral research must exhibit a significant contribution to the field and should be
publishable in academic journals (Trowler, 2014); therefore, it is important that you are able to
articulate the potential of your work to make a contribution. The requirement to make a contribution
applies to all doctoral research, whether a PhD or a Professional Doctorate or a Taught Doctorate, as
all need to demonstrate knowledge, expertise and intellectual rigour. If you are considering a PhD,
the intention should be to create knowledge and expertise that will better inform and underpin new
theory. If you are considering a Professional Doctorate, the intention should be to create knowledge
and expertise that will better inform and underpin professional practice (Smith, 2009). If you are
considering a Taught Doctorate (DMan), the intention should be to create knowledge and expertise
that will better inform and underpin new management applications.
‘The doctorate degree exists to create and extend knowledge through purposeful research’ (Trafford
and Leshem, 2008:35) – it is your responsibility to convince us of this through your research proposal.
What is a Research Proposal?
Punch (2016:2) suggests that research proposal should be viewed in the context of the ‘four Ps’:
 The research proposal is a phase of the overall research process – the phase which launches
the project, and therefore a very important first phase.
 Developing a research proposal is a process of planning, designing and setting up the research,
including placing it in context and connecting it to relevant literature.
 The finished proposal is a product, where the proposal is formally presented as a document.
 That document contains the proposed plan for the execution of the research.
In developing your research proposal you should have undertaken a considerable amount of preempirical research (Punch, 2016), that is to say, you will have done a lot of reading in relation to your
research area in order to identify your research question and then to establish what data is required
to answer that research question. This is an essential activity, as the work you do at this stage will
have a significant influence on how your research proposal is developed.
A research proposal for a PhD should articulate the creation and interpretation of new knowledge
through original research (Trafford and Lesham, 2008) on a particular topic that will therefore make a
contribution to management theory. A research proposal for a Professional Doctorate should
articulate the investigation of a professional practice issue and the generation of new knowledge and
expertise which is integrated and applied within the professional practice setting (Smith, 2009) and
therefore make a contribution to management practice. A research proposal for a Taught Doctorate
(DMan) should articulate a systematic understanding of a substantial body of knowledge to design or
develop new applications for a situation and therefore make a contribution to knowledge and
expertise that will better inform and underpin new management applications or practice.
Your research proposal is critical to your application to study for a research degree at the Cardiff
School of Management as it provides us with information upon which we will base an academic
judgement about the quality of the research that you are proposing. In reviewing your application to
study for a research degree within the Cardiff School of Management, we will be seeking evidence of
your ability to:
 Produce new knowledge through original research or other advanced scholarship of a quality
to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline and merit publication. For a
Professional Doctorate, this is also interpreted as a contribution to (or impact upon)
professional practice. For a Taught Doctorate, this is also interpreted as the development of
new management applications or practice.
 Appreciate the importance and relevance of theoretically-informed research, or in the case of
a Professional Doctorate, relevant professional policy and practice, or in the case of a Taught
PhD
New Management
Theory
DMan
New Management
Applications
DBA
New Management
Practice
Doctorate, a systematic understanding and critical awareness of a substantial body of
knowledge.
 Demonstrate a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge
which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice or
management applications.
 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methodology, research design and
appropriate utilisation.
 Apply sound judgement and ethical principles.
 Source, evaluate and appropriately reference information from a range of sources.
In addition, we will consider this evidence in relation to our supervisory capacity within the School.
Research Proposal: Requirements
Your research proposal should be 2,000 words long and include the following:

1. A working title
2. An introduction to the topic, stating clearly what you expect the project to accomplish.
3. Research question (i.e. what is the issue/challenge/problem/research gap? What are you
   trying to find out?). You should locate the problem within existing theoretical,
   professional and empirical research.
4. Research aim and objectives
5. A critical review of current and relevant literature that you have read, which supports your
   project aim and objectives and a discussion of the viability of your topic as being suitable
   for a research project (either as a PhD or Professional Doctorate or Taught Doctorate).
   You should provide a clear rationale/justification for the viability and significance of your
   proposed research, i.e. the contribution to the current body of knowledge or professional
   practice or management application.
6. A discussion of whatever research methods seem most appropriate for the achievement
   of your project objectives. You should evidence your engagement with relevant
   methodological and theoretical concepts and theories. You should specify and justify your
   proposed research methods in some detail and indicate their relationship to the research
   objectives stated in 4 (above). Regardless of whether you opt for qualitative or
   quantitative methods, you should include details of the design of the research, sampling
   strategy, sample size, access, ethical considerations and how you will analyse the data.
7. A project planning instrument, such as a Gantt chart, which outlines your research
   timetable.
8. A complete reference list which must conform to the Harvard System of Referencing.
   Useful References:
   Brett Davies, M. (2007) Doing a successful research project using qualitative or quantitative methods,
   Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
   Denscombe, M. (2012) Research Proposals: A Practical Guide, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
   Fulton, J., Kuit, J., Sanders, G. and Smith, P. (2013) The Professional Doctorate, Basingstoke: Palgrave
   Macmillan
   Phillips, E. M. and Pugh, D. S. (2015) How to get a PhD: A handbook for students and their supervisors,
   6
   th edition, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
   Punch, K. F. (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals, 2nd edition, London: Sage.
   Punch, K. F. (2016) Developing Effective Research Proposals, 3rd edition, London: Sage.
   Quality Assurance Agency (2014) UK Quality Code for Higher Education. Part A: Setting and
   Maintaining Academic Standards. The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK DegreeAwarding Bodies, Gloucester, QAA.
   Roberts, B. (2007) Getting the most out of the research experience: what every researcher needs to
   know, London: Sage.
   Smith, N-J. (2009) Achieving your Professional Doctorate, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
   Trafford, V. and Leshem, S (2008) Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate, Maidenhead: Open
   University Press.
   Trowler, P. (2014) Writing Doctoral Project Proposals, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
   Trowler, P. (2015) Writing Doctoral Project Proposals, 2nd edition, CreateSpace Independent Publishing
   Platform.
   Wisker, G. (2008) The Postgraduate Research Handbook, 2nd edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.