Learning

Write a Research Proposal (High School)

5 weeks · 0 milestones

Pick an answerable question, review 8+ real sources, and write a dated plan with hypothesis, method, analysis and ethics.

Part of: Social Sciences, Law & Humanities · Proves for: School, College Applications

Milestone map

3 milestones

Pick a question you can answer

1 week

Choose a research question small enough to answer with the time, tools and data you actually have. A narrow question you can finish beats a big one you can't.

Proof required

Submit your question, why it matters, and what data or experiment could answer it (150+ words).

What gets checked

Question can be answered with data you can get
Says what you will measure
Not already fully answered in one search

Common mistakes

A question too big to finish
An opinion question with no data
A question already answered

Powstik Guide

One answerable research question.

Steps

List 3 questions you care about.
For each, write what you would measure.
Drop any you cannot measure.
Search to check it is not already answered.
Pick one and write why it matters.

Template

Question:
What I will measure:
Data or experiment:
Why it matters:

What gets sent back

No measurable variable.
A yes/no opinion question.
No reason given.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Ask what data answers it
Check it is narrow enough

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Review what is already known

2–3 weeks

Find and read at least 8 real sources on your question. Write a short review of what they found and the gap your study fills.

Proof required

Submit a literature review (600+ words) citing 8+ sources, with a reference list made in a citation manager.

What gets checked

8+ real, findable sources
Summarises findings, not just topics
Names a clear gap

Common mistakes

Made-up or unfindable citations
Only websites, no studies
A list of summaries with no gap

Powstik Guide

A short review that ends in a gap.

Steps

Search Google Scholar with 3 keyword sets.
Save sources in Zotero.
Note each source's finding.
Group findings by theme.
Write the gap your study fills.

Template

Theme 1: findings…
Theme 2: findings…
Gap:
References (8+):

What gets sent back

Citations that cannot be found.
No gap.
Fewer than 8 sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Spot-check 2 citations exist
Ask what the gap is in one sentence

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Write and defend the plan

1–2 weeks

Write a dated research plan: hypothesis, method, sample, analysis and ethics. If people are involved, get consent and the approval your school requires. Defend it to a reviewer.

Proof required

Submit the dated plan (preregistered or date-stamped), any consent/approval record needed, and the review session log.

What gets checked

Hypothesis and analysis set before data
Ethics handled for any human participants
Reviewer challenges answered

Common mistakes

Plan written after data
Surveying people with no consent
No planned analysis

Powstik Guide

A dated plan you can defend.

Steps

State the hypothesis.
Describe method and sample size.
Name the statistical test.
Get consent/approval if people are involved.
Date-stamp the plan and review it with a verifier.

Template

Review session log
Date:            Duration:
Reviewer name:
Reviewer role and experience:

Challenge 1 (research plan and ethics):
  What they asked:
  My answer:
Challenge 2:
  What they asked:
  My answer:

Change I made after the session:

What gets sent back

Undated plan.
Human data with no consent.
No analysis plan.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Check the date is before data collection
Ask how bias is controlled

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

High-School Research Publication →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Pick a question you can answer

1 week

Choose a research question small enough to answer with the time, tools and data you actually have. A narrow question you can finish beats a big one you can't.

Proof required

Submit your question, why it matters, and what data or experiment could answer it (150+ words).

What gets checked

Question can be answered with data you can get
Says what you will measure
Not already fully answered in one search

Common mistakes

A question too big to finish
An opinion question with no data
A question already answered

Powstik Guide

One answerable research question.

Steps

List 3 questions you care about.
For each, write what you would measure.
Drop any you cannot measure.
Search to check it is not already answered.
Pick one and write why it matters.

Template

Question:
What I will measure:
Data or experiment:
Why it matters:

What gets sent back

No measurable variable.
A yes/no opinion question.
No reason given.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Ask what data answers it
Check it is narrow enough

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Review what is already known

2–3 weeks

Find and read at least 8 real sources on your question. Write a short review of what they found and the gap your study fills.

Proof required

Submit a literature review (600+ words) citing 8+ sources, with a reference list made in a citation manager.

What gets checked

8+ real, findable sources
Summarises findings, not just topics
Names a clear gap

Common mistakes

Made-up or unfindable citations
Only websites, no studies
A list of summaries with no gap

Powstik Guide

A short review that ends in a gap.

Steps

Search Google Scholar with 3 keyword sets.
Save sources in Zotero.
Note each source's finding.
Group findings by theme.
Write the gap your study fills.

Template

Theme 1: findings…
Theme 2: findings…
Gap:
References (8+):

What gets sent back

Citations that cannot be found.
No gap.
Fewer than 8 sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Spot-check 2 citations exist
Ask what the gap is in one sentence

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Write and defend the plan

1–2 weeks

Write a dated research plan: hypothesis, method, sample, analysis and ethics. If people are involved, get consent and the approval your school requires. Defend it to a reviewer.

Proof required

Submit the dated plan (preregistered or date-stamped), any consent/approval record needed, and the review session log.

What gets checked

Hypothesis and analysis set before data
Ethics handled for any human participants
Reviewer challenges answered

Common mistakes

Plan written after data
Surveying people with no consent
No planned analysis

Powstik Guide

A dated plan you can defend.

Steps

State the hypothesis.
Describe method and sample size.
Name the statistical test.
Get consent/approval if people are involved.
Date-stamp the plan and review it with a verifier.

Template

Review session log
Date:            Duration:
Reviewer name:
Reviewer role and experience:

Challenge 1 (research plan and ethics):
  What they asked:
  My answer:
Challenge 2:
  What they asked:
  My answer:

Change I made after the session:

What gets sent back

Undated plan.
Human data with no consent.
No analysis plan.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Checked by the verifiers you invite to your panel (up to 3). Pick people who can judge the work, not friends.
Check the date is before data collection
Ask how bias is controlled

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.