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Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report
Last updated on September 26, 2020 by Surbhi S

On the other hand, a research report is the culmination of the research endeavour. It is a great way to explain the research work and its outcome to a group of people. It is the outcome of the study conducted at the time of the research process.
This article will help you understand the difference between research proposal and research report.
Content: Research Proposal Vs Research Report
Comparison chart, definition of research proposal.
Research Proposal can be defined as the document prepared by the researcher so as to give a description of the research program in detail. It is typically a request for research funding, for the subject under study. In other words, a research proposal is a summary of the research process, with which the reader can get quick information regarding the research project.
The research proposal seeks final approval, for which it is submitted to the relevant authority. After the research proposal is submitted, it is being evaluated, considering a number of factors like the cost involved, potential impact, soundness of the plan to undertake the project.
It aims at presenting and justifying the need and importance to carry out the study, as well as to present the practical ways, of conducting the research. And for this, persuasive evidence should be provided in the research proposal, to highlight the necessity of the research.
Further, it must discuss the main issues and questions, which the researcher will address in the study. Along with that, it must highlight the fundamental area of the research study.
A research proposal can be prepared in a number of formats, which differs on the basis of their length. It contains an introduction, problem hypothesis, objectives, assumptions, methodology, justification and implication of the research project.
Definition of Research Report
Research Report can be defined as the document in which the researched and analysed data is organized and presented by the researcher in a systematic manner. It is a publication, comprising of the purpose, scope, hypothesis, methodology, findings, limitations, recommendations and conclusion of the research project.
Simply put, a research report is the record of the research process. It is one of the most important segments of the research, as the research work is said to be incomplete if the report is not prepared.
A research report is a document containing collected and considered facts, taken to provide succinct and comprehensible information to people.
Once the research process is over, the entire work is produced in a written material, which is called a research report . It covers the description of the research activities, in an elaborated manner. It contains Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Discussion of Results and Findings, Bibliography and Appendices.
A research report acts as a method to record the research work and its outcome, for future reference.
Key Differences Between Research Proposal and Research Report
The difference between research proposal and research report is discussed as under:
- A research proposal signifies a theoretical framework within which the research is carried out. In finer terms, a research proposal is a sketch for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. A research report implies a scientific write-up on the research findings, which is prepared in a specific format.
- While the preparation of a research proposal is considered as the first step to research work, preparation of a research report is the final step to the research work.
- A research proposal is prepared at the beginning of the project. In contrast, the research report is prepared after the completion of the project
- A research proposal is written in the future tense, whereas the tense used in the research report is past tense, as well as it is written in the third person
- The length of a research proposal is about 4-10 pages. On the contrary, the length of the research report is about 100 to 300 pages.
- The research proposal is concerned with the problem or topic to be investigated. Conversely, the research report focuses on the results of the completed research work.
- The research proposal determines what will be researched, the relevance of the research and the ways to conduct the researched. As against, the research report determines what is researched, sources of data collection, ways of data collection (i.e. survey, interview, or questionnaire), result and findings, recommendations for future research, etc.
- Research Proposal includes three chapters i.e. Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology. Contrastingly, Research Report covers the following chapters – Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results, Interpretation and Analysis, Conclusion and Recommendation.
Basically, a research proposal defines the planning stage of the research work, which is prepared in written format, to know its worth. On the other hand, the research report signifies the concluding stage of the research work.
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getachew says
December 24, 2020 at 6:48 pm
tha’s good
Agyei Yaw says
July 27, 2021 at 3:25 am
Good.it help students nurses in Ghana
Ijaz hussain says
December 27, 2021 at 12:08 am
March 15, 2022 at 10:19 pm
well explained in a summarized way.
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPOSAL, RESEACH & REPORT

Each and every year, thousands of students graduate from different colleges and universities, but before they graduate they had to present their graduation projects, so Good Proposal writing, submitting and presenting has always been the concern for many students in academic arena, especially for final year students, because students can't graduate without submitting their graduation project. However, this paper highlights very briefly what a proposal is all about, meaning and definition, steps to following when writing proposal, what is a research, characteristics of research, difference between research and proposal, different between research and report, the steps to follow when writing report as well as proposal, finally the paper presents practical guide for writing project proposal.
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After more than a decade of teaching the course of research skills, I believe that the need for reference works on proposal writing for students and researchers is an essential handout. Not only to acquire the ability to write successful researched proposals but also to share my experience with them. The purpose of this review is to screen research skills literature to identify how and why proposals are written. Ultimately, to provide a document that guides students and researchers to write an effective proposal for their research projects. I found following accredited proposal guidelines will help to produce an effective successful document. However, there is no one single format but general template. Every institution, journal or funding agency has its own format. But all have this sequence: introduction, objectives, methodology, workplan, budget, references and annexes. 1) Background: There is no single formula for a strong effective proposal. There are a number of precepts that are consistently found in successful proposals. The sooner one learns them, the better. (1) When a social scientist desires to conduct an experiment, he first develops a proposal. The proposal introduces the problem, the significance of a study as well as the experimenter's research question and hypothesis. It also gives a brief explanation of the theory guiding the study, a review of relevant literature pertaining to the theory, and the procedure for the experiment. (2) The goal of a research proposal is to present and justify the need to study a research problem. As well as, to show design elements and procedures for conducting the research. It goes without saying the proposal must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. (3)
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This study examines the potential effect of mind mapping strategy on developing Jordanian students' writing performance. The researchers claim that mind mapping strategy has the potential to improve Jordanian students' writing performance. The study follows a quasi-experimental design in which an experimental group and a control group were purposefully chosen from eleventh grade students at Al Hashymiah School for Boys, Zarqa in Jordan during the second semester of the academic year 2016/2017. In the experimental group, 20 students were taught by mind mapping strategy and 20 students of control group were taught by the conventional teaching method as outlined in the Teacher's Book. To collect the data, a pre-test and a post-test was utilized. ANCOVA was used to measure statistical differences in the mean scores of the participants of the study. The findings reveal statistically significant differences (at α≤0.05) between the two mean scores of experimental and control groups in the post-test in favor of experimental group. The study recommends an integration of the mind mapping strategy into the English as a foreign Language (EFL) curriculum in Jordan as it facilitates developing students' writing skill. The study also recommends to examine the effect of using mind mapping strategy on EFL students' achievements in other language skills and sub skills. Teachers are also advised to use the mind mapping strategy to increase students' interest and motivation to write more often.
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- How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates
Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on January 3, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.
The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:
Introduction
Literature review.
- Research design
Reference list
While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.
Table of contents
Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, frequently asked questions about research proposals.
Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .
In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.
Research proposal length
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
- Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
- Example research proposal #2: “Making Healthy Connections: Mentoring, Monitoring and Measurement”
- Example research proposal #3: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”
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Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
- The proposed title of your project
- Your supervisor’s name
- Your institution and department
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
- Introduce your topic
- Give necessary background and context
- Outline your problem statement and research questions
To guide your introduction , include information about:
- Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
- How much is already known about the topic
- What is missing from this current knowledge
- What new insights your research will contribute
- Why you believe this research is worth doing
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
- Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
- Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
- Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
- Improving best practices
- Informing policymaking decisions
- Strengthening a theory or model
- Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
- Creating a basis for future research
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
- Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
- Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
- Source : how did you calculate the amount?
To determine your budget, think about:
- Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
- Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
- Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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What is the Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report?

When it comes to academic or scientific, quantified research, there are several steps writers need to be aware about before diving head-first into the hypothesis. There is a rhyme and a reason for these steps, and they are mostly to make the student aware of the process and to gather and organize ideas, thoughts, and examples in an efficient manner. One common mistake students make when writing research projects is mixing up their research proposal and research report. Of course, both of them are closely related to the research itself.
What is a research proposal?
The proposal step of research precedes the actual research itself. This is the stage where a student should outline in detail what questions they will explore and analyze. As a preparation stage, the research proposal is presented at the beginning of the research project with the aim of justifying the need for a deeper analysis and probing into the question or hypothesis. The proposal outlines the methods that will be used to carry out the research and the design of the research to ensure that the results are reliable and efficient.
What is a research report?
Similar to the proposal, the research report is a crucial role in the entirety of a research project. The research report is presented after the research has been conducted already. This can be seen as a post-report stage, as it analyses the information and results of the research and summarizes the student’s findings. The aim of a research report is to critically analyze the proposed hypothesis or questions as well as the results of said research. In some cases, this will be called a thesis or dissertation – a major assignment for college and university students trying to achieve their degree.
So, how can I write them?
The aims of the research proposal and report are relatively different, so the content of each one will also vary to a certain degree. What’s most important is that the research is supported and recognized.
Inside of a Research Proposal
The proposal lays out many steps and ideas before conducting the research – so it is essential to have a structure or outline that matches with the results you will be looking for. Typically, a good research proposal is five to seven pages long, or 2,000 words or more.
The proposal outline will include:
- Title – a title should be straightforward and clear at first glance
- Background Information – this includes issues related to your proposed research, as well as the rationale behind the research. It should also include literary sources that will be used to reference from, or maybe where the proposed question or hypothesis derived from. If the topic is widely discussed, there can also be a summary of the topics discussed and the ongoing developments happening at the moment.
- Research Questions – the main part of the research project, the question is what you will be doing research on. It serves as a starting point from where students can branch off into other problems and issues that may arise during the research step. This segment can change based on the information you gather pre-research.
- Methodology – this outlines the process of the research and the resources students will need to conduct the research. It should include the theoretical framework – or how the research will be approached and if they are appropriate for the proposed questions. Theoretically, it should include possible limits of the research and the advantages of the predicted outcome.
- Plan of work – This segment details the amount of time needed to conduct the research and a detailed outline of the schedule to complete the research. Its essential to understand the scope of the project and to set a date to have the research completed in order to analyze the information at the appropriate time.
- Bibliography – just like any academic writing, a bibliography lists the references students will use for the research and a handful of resources at their disposal during the research process.
Inside of a Research Report
The research report is the golden egg of the research – it provides the results and information students will be searching for. The report comes post-research and serves as the dissertation or thesis that is a deeper analysis of the information.
The research report will include:
- A Cover Sheet – this provides the reader all the information about the writer and the proposed topic.
- An abstract – a basic summary of the report itself, the abstract includes the sample size of research, the treatment of the research, the design of the research, and the implications of the research. This is not meant to be longer than a page – just a briefing on the proposed research before diving into the deep analysis.
- Introduction – this stretched beyond the information in the abstract and should include supportive statistics and the purpose and the significance of the research in the scope of a community or the globally. This prepares the reader with the information needed to follow the research steps and the reasons why these steps were taken.
- Research questions – the hypothesis should be presented in this segment, outlining a broader idea and moving towards specific and detailed questions. There should be a large distinction between the quantitative-based questions, and the qualitative-based questions here, to make things more clear for the reader to follow. Students should have more than one hypothesis to be considered a well-conducted research project, as it widens the scope and the purpose of the research.
- Review of literature – the resources used to conduct the research should be present here. This qualifies the research done and supports it with evidence from literature related to the topic itself. It should be able to refute evidence and support the main ideas. The sources should be linked together so as to provide synthesis.
- Method and Results – The methods used during the research period should be detailed at this segment – mentioning the samples, the setting, the treatment, and the data analysis. The results should also be described in details, again differentiating between quantitative and qualitative results.
- Discussion – the final aspect of the research project includes an open discussion about the work done. It should restate the hypothesis and check to see if it was correct or incorrect and see why. It should also include the limitations of the study – and maybe reasons why it turned out to be correct or incorrect. The discussion should be wrapped up with a conclusion and a closing summary of the entire research project.
If students are about to embark on the journey of a research project, it’s essential to know and understand the stages involved so that the process will move along much smoother.
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Research Proposal vs Research Report: Main Differences
September 3, 2019 by studymumbai Leave a Comment

Research Proposal and Research Report are two terms that often confuse student researchers. Even though they might sound similar, there is a difference between the two, and the main difference is the period when it has to be produced during the course of the research work.
Main difference between the two:
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- A research proposal describes the proposed research and research design. What and how is the student planning to do? It describes what the researcher intends to do in his/her research study.
- A research report describes the completed research, including the findings, conclusion, and recommendations. It basically describes the whole research study
When is it to be submitted?
- A research proposal is written before the collection and analysis of data (basically before the main body of work begins).
- A research report is submitted after the competition of the whole research project (after most of the work is completed).
Main Sections A research proposal usually contains the following segments/sections:
- Introduction (provide the context/background)
- Literature Review (what literature already exists in that area)
- Research Methods and Methodology (how are you going to collect the data)
- Research question (What question are you trying to answer)
- Aims and Objectives (various objectives of the research)
- List of Reference
A research report will have all the sections listed above, but it will also include additional sections such as:
- Findings (of the research)
- Analysis (of the research)
- Conclusions (of the research)
- Shortcomings (observed)
- Recommendations (suggested)
Because of the additional sections, Research reports tend to be longer than research proposals .
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Home » Education » Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report
Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report
Main difference – research proposal vs research report.
Research proposal and research report are two terms that often confuse many student researchers. A research proposal describes what the researcher intends to do in his research study and is written before the collection and analysis of data. A research report describes the whole research study and is submitted after the competition of the whole research project. Thus, the main difference between research proposal and research report is that a research proposal describes the proposed research and research design whereas a research report describes the completed research, including the findings, conclusion, and recommendations.
This article explains,
1. What is a Research Proposal? – Definition, Purpose, Content, and Characteristics
2. What is a Research Report? – Definition, Purpose, Content, and Characteristics

What is a Research Proposal
A research proposal is a brief and coherent summary of the proposed research study, which is prepared at the beginning of a research project. The aim of a research proposal is to justify the need for a specific research proposal and present the practical methods and ways to conduct the proposed research. In other words, a research proposal presents the proposed design of the study and justifies the necessity of the specific research. Thus, a research proposal describes what you intend to do and why you intend to do it.
A research proposal generally contains the following segments:
- Introduction / Context/ Background
- Literature Review
- Research Methods and Methodology
- Research question
- Aims and Objectives
- List of Reference
Each of these segments is indispensable to a research proposal. For example, it’s impossible to write a research proposal without reading related work and writing a literature review. Similarly, it’s not possible to decide a methodology without determining specific research questions.

What is a Research Report
A research report is a document that is submitted at the end of a research project. This describes the completed research project. It describes the data collection, analysis, and the results as well. Thus, in addition to the sections mentioned above, this also includes sections such as,
- Conclusions
- Shortcomings
- Recommendations
A research report is also known as a thesis or dissertation. A research report is not research plan or a proposed design. It describes what was actually done during the research project and what was learned from it. Research reports are usually longer than research proposals since they contain step-by-step processes of the research.

Research Proposal: Research Proposal describes what the researcher intends to do and why he intends to do it.
Research Report: Research report describes what the researcher has done, why he has done it, and the results he has achieved.
Research Proposal: Research proposals are written at the beginning of a research proposal before the research project actually begins.
Research Report: Research reports are completed after the completion of the whole research project.
Research Proposal: Research proposals contain sections such as introduction/background, literature review, research questions, methodology, aims and objective.
Research Report: Research reports contain sections such as introduction/background, literature review, research questions, methodology, aims and objective, findings, analysis, results, conclusion, recommendations, citation.
Research Proposal: Research proposals are shorter in length.
Research Report: Research reports are longer than research proposals.
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research activities and the readeris encouraged to review all three. Tosupplementthesearticles the following guidelines are offered to assist the occupational therapist to document either a research proposal or a research report. Often both are necessary in the process of conducting research. The research proposal is the
The literature review: Its structure and function. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1980, 43 (6), 206-208. Leedy P. D. Practical Research (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1980. Malcolm M. L. Training in Research at Salford School of Occupational Therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1980, 43 (11), 361-362.
A proposal is writing that hopes to achieve a certain goal — you want a job, or you want a program to be developed, or you are approaching a company with a solution to a problem they have. A research report is something you write when you have looked into a subject — gotten informatio... 1 Sponsored by Foursquare
The research proposal is concerned with the problem or topic to be investigated. Conversely, the research report focuses on the results of the completed research work. The research proposal determines what will be researched, the relevance of the research and the ways to conduct the researched.
What's the difference between a research proposal and research protocol- -By Madison Hedrick October 2020 Authors: Madison Hedrick Artivion Inc Abstract "Many, perhaps most, research...
A comparative approach uses analysis of issues in order to find a point of difference as well as similarity to help the researcher prove perspective exposes past research and/or regulation ...
What are the similarities between a research proposal and a research topic? A research proposal is an outline of a research project. This outline is usually presented as a written document that includes: an introduction, a review of the relevant literature, objectives, research design, ethical points, timeline, budget, references and appendices.
Difference between Proposal, Research & Report fwe study the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his research problem along with the logic behind them (Kothari, 1990). 2.2 IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH The importance of the research relates to the relevance of the investigation interns of academic contribution and …
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A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it's important, and how you will conduct your research. The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements: Title page Introduction Literature review Research design Reference list
research proposals (both of which are common types of "term paper assignments") and the introductions of research reports. While this assignment is somewhat rudimentary, it does have the major elements of this type of writing: 1) the ability to read and critique a research article, 2) the ability to integrate the information from two articles ...
The proposal outlines the methods that will be used to carry out the research and the design of the research to ensure that the results are reliable and efficient. What is a research report? Similar to the proposal, the research report is a crucial role in the entirety of a research project.
The outline presented here is for use in the preparation of a research project or report, i.e., the research proposal, a culminating report of completed research, a thesis, or a dissertation. Exceptions to this format may be necessary in special circumstances, and the emphasis may vary depending on the nature of the research involved.
Research Proposal and Research Report are two terms that often confuse student researchers. Even though they might sound similar, there is a difference between the two, and the main difference is the period when it has to be produced during the course of the research work. Main difference between the two: GET INSTANT HELP FROM EXPERTS!
Research Report: Research reports contain sections such as introduction/background, literature review, research questions, methodology, aims and objective, findings, analysis, results, conclusion, recommendations, citation. Length Research Proposal: Research proposals are shorter in length.
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