What is the Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report?

The main differences between a research proposal and a research report are their purpose, structure, and tense. Here is a summary of the key differences:

Research Proposal:

Purpose: It serves as a blueprint for a research project and is usually written when funding is involved or approval is necessary for conducting research with human subjects.
Structure: It typically consists of three main parts – Introduction, Literature Review, and Methodology.
Tense: A research proposal is written in the present or future tense, as it describes the research that will be conducted.

Research Report:

Purpose: It is a document that accurately records the completed research project.
Structure: A research report covers several chapters, including Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results, Interpretation and Analysis, Conclusion, and Recommendation.
Tense: It is written in the past tense, as it describes the research that has already been conducted.

In summary, a research proposal is a plan for conducting research, while a research report is a documentation of the completed research project. The research proposal is written in the present or future tense, whereas the research report is written in the past tense.

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What is the Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report?

Comparative Table: Research Proposal vs Research Report

Here is a table comparing the differences between a research proposal and a research report:

Feature	Research Proposal	Research Report
Meaning	A brief and coherent synopsis of the proposed research in a written form.	A document that systematically describes the complete research work, including the introduction, methodology, findings, and recommendations.
Purpose	To introduce the research problem, justify its relevance, and outline the methodology to be used during the research process.	To present the results of the completed research work, including the findings, conclusions, and recommendations for future research.
Contents	Introduction, Literature Review, and Research Methodology.	Introduction, methodology, findings, sources of data collection, ways of data collection (e.g., survey, interview, or questionnaire), and recommendations for future research.
Order	Prepared at the beginning of a research project.	Prepared at the end of the research study.
Length	Usually shorter, as it only outlines the research plan.	Comparatively lengthier, as it contains detailed information about the research process and its outcomes.

A research proposal is a written plan of the research one wants to conduct, while a research report is a document that describes the entire research work, including the findings and recommendations. The research proposal is the first step towards conducting research, and it is used to get approval to start the research process. On the other hand, a research report is prepared after the research work is complete and provides a comprehensive account of the research study.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.