Approximately 10 -12 pages
This summary should include the following:
1. Abstract:
This should briefly summarise your purpose, questions, methods and possible implications.
2. Background to the area/programme of inquiry/research:
Often it is useful to identify the context within which your area of inquiry/research resides in order to set the scene for justifying the proposed thesis.
3. Purpose of inquiry/research:
A requirement of a PhD thesis is that it make an original contribution to knowledge. Thus, you need to show how the proposed research is sufficiently important to justify your efforts (and the efforts of those you involve in your research). This would naturally overlap with the context described under #1.
4. Theoretical Background and Review of Literature:
This should demonstrate that you are aware of the major relevant sources of information. You need to show the relationship between the purpose (as identified in #2), the relevant theory and research, and the questions included in the next section #4.
5. Potential Questions to guide Inquiry/Research:
This states what the research project will deal with. If hypotheses are appropriate they should be stated, along with the rationale. If the problem is not one in which a hypothesis is appropriate, then the problem or question should be clearly stated and amplified.
6. Methodology:
This section describes how you intend to answer your question. The notion of methodology incorporates a wide range of possible approaches to the collection and analysis of information, from the experimental method in psychological research to the development of an argument of the analysis of concepts in philosophical research.
7. Analysis of Data (where appropriate):
Within each of the methods (described in # 5) particular techniques of data collection and analysis should be described. It is desirable that you demonstrate at this early stage that you have given some thought to the practicalities of the conduct of your research.
8. Possible Implications:
This should include a statement of how the solution to the problem, or answer to the question, can influence educational theory or practice.
9. Timeframe:
Include a timeline with activities and outputs related to thesis.
10. References or Bibliography:
Major readings cited in the proposal or which serve to indicate the context of the proposed research should be listed at the end.
