Abstract:
This study aims to investigate the pitfalls of graduate students to present essential ingredients of
research proposals. This case study examined twelve student research proposals. The collected
data of the proposal ingredients were analyzed by organizing, comparing and interpreting the
data. The findings indicate that students have problems to provide essential background information in the introduction, to present critical evaluation, to undertake a rigorous review, to
include relevant research findings, to identify a research gap, and to describe a research design
along with an adequate justification. In conclusion, the students have serious pitfalls in presenting certain ingredients of research proposal.