Difference Between Research Proposal and Research Report

Research Proposal is the medium through which a researcher can introduce the research problem and convey the need for research. It plays a significant role in the application process. It gives a snapshot of the questions that the researcher wants to answer, with the help of the research. Moreover, it also states the methodology which the researcher is going to use during the research process.

On the other hand, a research report is the culmination of the research endeavour. It is a great way to explain the research work and its outcome to a group of people. It is the outcome of the study conducted at the time of the research process.

This article will help you understand the difference between research proposal and research report.

Content: Research Proposal Vs Research Report

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Research Proposal	Research Report
Meaning	Research proposal refers to a brief and cogent synopsis of the proposed research in a written form.	Research Report refers to a document that systematically, coherently and methodically presents the research work in a written form.
Written in	Future Tense	Past Tense
Preparation	At the beginning of the project	After the completion of the project
Length	Short	Comparatively long
Deals with	Problem or topic to be investigated.	Results of the completed research work.
Determines	What will be researched, why the research is important and how the researched will be conducted?	What is researched, what sources are used to collect data, how the data is collected, what are the findings, what are the recommendations for future research?
Chapters	Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology	Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results, Interpretation and Analysis, Conclusion and Recommendation

Definition of Research Proposal

Research Proposal can be defined as the document prepared by the researcher so as to give a description of the research program in detail. It is typically a request for research funding, for the subject under study. In other words, a research proposal is a summary of the research process, with which the reader can get quick information regarding the research project.

The research proposal seeks final approval, for which it is submitted to the relevant authority. After the research proposal is submitted, it is being evaluated, considering a number of factors like the cost involved, potential impact, soundness of the plan to undertake the project.

It aims at presenting and justifying the need and importance to carry out the study, as well as to present the practical ways, of conducting the research. And for this, persuasive evidence should be provided in the research proposal, to highlight the necessity of the research.

Further, it must discuss the main issues and questions, which the researcher will address in the study. Along with that, it must highlight the fundamental area of the research study.

A research proposal can be prepared in a number of formats, which differs on the basis of their length. It contains an introduction, problem hypothesis, objectives, assumptions, methodology, justification and implication of the research project.

Definition of Research Report

Research Report can be defined as the document in which the researched and analysed data is organized and presented by the researcher in a systematic manner. It is a publication, comprising of the purpose, scope, hypothesis, methodology, findings, limitations, recommendations and conclusion of the research project.

Simply put, a research report is the record of the research process. It is one of the most important segments of the research, as the research work is said to be incomplete if the report is not prepared.

A research report is a document containing collected and considered facts, taken to provide succinct and comprehensible information to people.

Once the research process is over, the entire work is produced in a written material, which is called a research report. It covers the description of the research activities, in an elaborated manner. It contains Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Discussion of Results and Findings, Bibliography and Appendices.

A research report acts as a method to record the research work and its outcome, for future reference.

Conclusion

Basically, a research proposal defines the planning stage of the research work, which is prepared in written format, to know its worth. On the other hand, the research report signifies the concluding stage of the research work.