Research Planning Download PDF
This guide supports students at the earliest stage of research design. It helps them move from a broad subject area to a clear working topic, define the purpose of the study, and prepare for proposal writing with realistic expectations.
What students should establish first
- A focused area of inquiry with a clear academic purpose
- A topic that is practical in scope, access, and timeline
- A draft research question and an initial working title
Expected planning outputs
By the end of this stage, students should have a draft concept note, a preliminary reading list, a likely methodological direction, and a short milestone plan that can support proposal development.