Preparing a Research Proposal 2025 (new)

THE INSPIRE RESEARCH PROJECT Inspire 12 & 13

PREPARING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

About the Inspire Research Project The Inspire Research Project is an independent piece of research, carried out during Year 12, and is your chance to submit a piece of work to us. You will decide on your research question based on a topic of interest to you, and carry out a project to address this question.

Previous include: 'Should CCTV be legal?'

'Why is History important for the future?'

‘How to reduce gender bias in the design of artificial intelligence?’

Those that wish to complete a Research Project must first submit a research proposal to us. Accepted proposals will be given a Research Award and will be invited to turn their work into an academic poster.

An Inspire Research Project Award includes book vouchers to buy research materials, an invite to a St John's research skills day, and further online materials.

For further information, including how to apply, read the information on the following pages...

FAQs How to apply and more...

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?

HOW DO I APPLY?

Completing an independent research project helps you to develop high-level critical thinking skills which your current courses may not have time to include.

Once you have considered what you would like to research, you need to write a research proposal, using the guidance on the next pages. Pay close attention to the formatting guidelines, and remember to include references!

Choosing your own research title also allows you to explore a topic that interests you personally, even if you haven't studied this before (for example, marine biology, classical literature, or engineering).

Submit your proposal via email to: inspire@sjc.ox.ac.uk Remember to include your full name in the email.

Pupils offered an Inspire Research Project Award will be invited to a research skills day, and awarded book vouchers to buy resources that will support their research.

The application deadline is Monday, 28th April 2025.

Successful proposals will be informed shortly after this deadline.

WHAT IS THE AWARD?

CAN THIS SUPPORT MY EPQ?

If you are offered an Inspire Research Project Award, you will receive: Book vouchers for Blackwell's, to purchase resources to support your research A place on the St John's Research Skills day (Saturday 26th June 2025) A certificate of your award

Yes! We are more than happy for you to use the research you’re doing with us to support your EPQ or other competitions and opportunities.

Pupils will be expected to conduct their research over the Summer of Year 12. and will be invited to submit a poster showcasing their research in January of Year 13.

To celebrate the Inspire Research Project, pupils who submit a poster will be invited to an Inspire Research Awards Day at St John's College, that showcases all of the submissions.

Inspire Research Projects are submitted as posters, and are not assessed. Therefore you are able to freely use your research and ideas from this project to support your EPQ essay.

What is a research proposal?

Research is a systematic investigation, which allows you to establish facts and find new conclusions.

A research proposal is a summary of research that you intend to carry out to establish these facts/conclusions. It should be written to show others why the research that you want to do is useful, and describe how you plan to go about your research.

Steps to writing your proposal Choose your topic - This could be something you enjoyed

1 learning about and want to take further, or a new topic that you come across whilst reading. It might be relevant to your A-level subjects, or linked to a university course that interests you.

2 Choose your research question - The first step of any research project is to find out about what is already known about your

topic. Look online, read blogs, watch TED talks or listen to blogs in your chosen subject.

Based on this preliminary research, choose a question that your research will focus on. This is your research question/title.

What makes a good research question?

Has a complex answer - not a 'yes' or 'no' answer, or something you can google Possible to answer (with your resources) - doesn't require guesswork Based on fact - you should based your answer on evidence, not opinion Specific - include details Focussed - focus on one topic, or closely related ideas Original - lots of people haven't already addressed this question Not yet known - there isn't a known or agreed answer to this question Some examples are shown below: Should children exercise more?

Is a hyena a cat?

Is there a higher power?

Which type of hot drink is the best?

Which type of exercise helps children stay healthiest?

How is a hyena similar to a cat or a dog?

What factors contribute to belief in a higher power?

Does drinking a hot drink contribute to a person relaxing?

- In your introduction, you outline why your research 3 Introduction question is important. What will be learnt from studying this question? Why might people want to know the answer?

4 you have done, in order to choose this question. What other

Background - In the background, you summarise the research research have people done in this area? Is there any existing controversy? Why have people not been able to study this before/not tried to study this before?

- In the method section, you describe how you plan to carry 5 Method out your research. It is likely that you will do research using online sources, books and other printed media. How will you make sure your information is accurate, and how will you try to answer your research question? Will you need to learn any new skills?

References - When you are doing your research, you will need

6 to keep a good record of the sources (books, websites,

newspapers...) that you use to find out information. You should refer to your sources in the text using numbers, and then list the sources in full at the end of your proposal, using a numbered list.

Visit the url below for a detailed guide on using the Numbered referencing system.

Title

Introduction

A brief explaination of what you will research, and why this is important

Background

A literature review - examine current knowledge relating to your research proposal.

Format Your proposal should be:

Your research question

Written in size 12 font, in an easy-to-read typeface

Explain how you will go about your research. This should include:

Double spaced 500 - 700 words (1-2 sides of A4) Saved as a PDF or Microsoft Word

Method

document Include headings for each section (see table) Include 5 - 10 references, cited in numbered style (see above, or example)

References

Research question(s) Methods to collect data/resources An approximate timeline A record of the sources you used when doing your literature review.

Example Research Proposal How is a hyena similar to a cat or a dog?

Introduction

Background

There are four living species classified as

Humans have been classifying animals as

hyenas. Distinct from both cats and dogs,

far back as the 18th century, when

hyenas belong to a 'family' of their own,

Carlous Linnaeus introduced what we now

known as Hyaenidae. However, all four

call the 'taxonomic system' (1). The need

species of hyena share traits in common

to classify animals is driven by a desire to

with both cats and dogs, which has

understand them further, and to be able

previously raised the question: are hyenas

to apply relevant ecological and medical

more similar to cats or dogs?

knowledge from a known animal to one that is less well know.

The answer to this question depends on what you infer the word 'similar' to mean.

Evolutionarily speaking, hyenas are more

Similarity can refer to how genetically

closely related to the cat family (Felidae),

related something is, or other similarities

than the dog family (Canidae) (2).

such as appearance.

However, hyenas have often been mistaken for being more closely related

This research will examine various types

to dogs, due to their similarities in

of similarity, using literary research and

appearance and lifestyle. When two

personal observations. Being able to

animals occupy similar roles in an

describe how similar an animal is to other

ecosystem (a niche), they can evolve

animals is important, as it has implications

similar traits independantly of one

for understanding the health, behavioural

another. This is convergent evolution (3).

patterns and habitats of that animal. This

For example, both sharks and dolphins

is especially important with hyenas, as

have streamlined bodies because they

hyena populations are declining, and two

live underwater, although sharks are fish

species of hyena are considered 'near

and dolphins are mammals.

threatened'.

How is a hyena similar to a cat or a dog?

Physically, hyenas resemble dogs more

where a group of related females, raise

than cats, which indicates that hyenas

young in a creche (9).

and dogs may be an example of convergent evolution. For example, hyenas have skulls which are able to withstand the force needed to crack bones in their prey, alike dogs. In order to achieve this, the skulls of hyenas and dogs have both evolved to have a large bite force, and also a skull which can withstand a large strain energy (4). It has been shown by computer simulation that both hyena and dog species have evolved this in a similar fashion, by converging on optimum skull shapes to maximise these parameters (4).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the similar skull shapes, the teeth of hyenas are also more similar to the teeth of dogs than the teeth of cats (5). Additionally, hyenas have claws which do not retract, which is similar to dogs but distinct from cats; 'big' cats such as tigers, lion, leopards, jaguars, as well as domestic cats, all have retractable claws (6).

The social organisation of hyenas, however, is unique (7). They exist in matriarchies, led by females, where the highest rank female and all her offspring outrank the second highest rank female and all her offspring, etc. (7). Male hyenas typically leave the clan at adulthood, and roam to join another clan - unrelated males rank lower than all females and their offspring.

This is distinct from both wild dogs, where typically only the breeding pair produce offspring (8), and lion prides,

Method Information on the similarities between hyenas and cats and dogs will be carried out in two main ways. First, a detailed literature review will be carried out, to research how closely related hyenas and cats are, in evolutionary terms. This will involve online research, as well as the use of textbooks. To ensure that data is accurate, books that have been published in the last 10 years will be used.

Second, the physical and behavioural similarities of hyenas to dogs and cats will be assessed, using a combination of the literature methods described above, and personal observations. Personal observations will include watching documentaries, and visiting the local natural history museum, to see hyena, big cat and dog skulls.

(663 words)*

How is a hyena similar to a cat or a dog?

References* (1) The Linnean Society of London (2022)

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/do

Who was Linnaeus? [date accessed:

-big-cats-have-retractable-claws/

25/01/2022] https://www.linnean.org/learning/who-

(7) Lyon (2019) Hyenas Probably Have

was-linnaeus

More Friends Than You: Spotted hyena social hierarchies [date accessed:

(2) Hyena Project Ngorongoro crater

17/12/2021]

(2016) Spotted Hyenas [date accessed:

https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/h

21/12/2021] https://hyena-

yenas-probably-have-more-friends-than-

project.com/hyenas/

you-spotted-hyena-social-hierarchies/

(3) Live Science (2019) What is

(8) Chen (2019) Social Behavior and

Convergent Evolution? [date accessed:

Structure in Wild and Captive Groups

03/02/2022]

of the African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus

https://www.livescience.com/convergent-

(Temminck, 1820) (Carnivora: Canidae)

evolution.html

[date accessed: 23/01/2022] https://blaypublishers.files.wordpress.co

(4) Tseng (2013) Testing Adaptive

m/2019/05/chen-leb-64-may-

Hypotheses of Convergence with

30_lebfinalcopy.pdf

Functional Landscapes: A Case Study of Bone-Cracking Hypercarnivores [date

(9) University of Minnesota, Driven to

accessed: 13/02/2022]

Discover (2022) Evolution of group living

https://www.researchgate.net/publication

[date accessed: 11/02/2022]

/237018346_Testing_Adaptive_Hypothese

https://cbs.umn.edu/research/labs/packe

s_of_Convergence_with_Functional_Lands

r/research/evolution-group-living

capes_A_Case_Study_of_BoneCracking_Hypercarnivores (5) AZ Animals Staff (2021) Are Hyenas Dogs (Canines) or Cats (Felines) or Something Else Entirely? [date accessed: 15/01/2022] https://a-zanimals.com/blog/are-hyenas-dogscanines-or-cats-felines-or-somethingelse-entirely/ (6) Corney (2022) Do Big Cats have Retractable Claws? [date accessed: 13/12/2021]

*your reference list is not included in your word count