thesis proposal help

[vallaboop]

Hi all,

I'm about to enter my last year of my clinical psych masters program. I've been working on analyzing data for my thesis for the past year but I have been putting off writing and defending my proposal. I know that seems backwards but I am been more focused on getting the data analyzed so I can write a paper and attempt to get it published so I have totally put my thesis on the back burner. There is no prior research done on the topic I am researching so I am unsure of how to begin. Every time I sit down to start writing I get completely stuck. Any suggestions? 

[Eigen]

My go to for when I have to write a proposal his Heilmeier's Catechism:

• What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
• How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
• What's new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
• Who cares?
• If you're successful, what difference will it make?
• What are the risks and the payoffs?
• How much will it cost?
• How long will it take?
• What are the midterm and final "exams" to check for success?

It comes from a former DARPA director (Heilmeier) and was designed to help both program officers and grant writers think through their proposal. 

Not all questions are applicable to all fields, but I find sitting down and doing a more free-form writing to answer each of the questions helps me get a lot of what I need down for writing a proposal. 

[cowgirlsdontcry]

3 hours ago, cindyboop said:

Hi all,

I'm about to enter my last year of my clinical psych masters program. I've been working on analyzing data for my thesis for the past year but I have been putting off writing and defending my proposal. I know that seems backwards but I am been more focused on getting the data analyzed so I can write a paper and attempt to get it published so I have totally put my thesis on the back burner. There is no prior research done on the topic I am researching so I am unsure of how to begin. Every time I sit down to start writing I get completely stuck. Any suggestions? 

Hello Cindy. I just finished my master's thesis in the Spring 2017 semester. I will be happy to provide you with the guideline to writing a proposal that I was given by my thesis adviser, if you like. Let me know. It's several pages long, so I won't post here.

[vallaboop]

21 minutes ago, cowgirlsdontcry said:

Hello Cindy. I just finished my master's thesis in the Spring 2017 semester. I will be happy to provide you with the guideline to writing a proposal that I was given by my thesis adviser, if you like. Let me know. It's several pages long, so I won't post here.

That would be great, thank you!

[vallaboop]

52 minutes ago, Eigen said:

My go to for when I have to write a proposal his Heilmeier's Catechism:

• What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
• How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
• What's new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
• Who cares?
• If you're successful, what difference will it make?
• What are the risks and the payoffs?
• How much will it cost?
• How long will it take?
• What are the midterm and final "exams" to check for success?

It comes from a former DARPA director (Heilmeier) and was designed to help both program officers and grant writers think through their proposal. 

Not all questions are applicable to all fields, but I find sitting down and doing a more free-form writing to answer each of the questions helps me get a lot of what I need down for writing a proposal. 

Thanks!

[cowgirlsdontcry]

Here you go Cindy and anyone else who wants it.

Guidelines on writing a research proposal.docx

[vallaboop]

17 hours ago, cowgirlsdontcry said:

Here you go Cindy and anyone else who wants it.

Guidelines on writing a research proposal.docx

I can't open this for some reason. I will try again later. If it still doesn't work maybe you can try messaging it to me? Thanks again!