What is Expected Outcomes

The purpose of this section is to convince the reader that one has a clear understanding of:

• what one plans to achieve as a result of completing the research
• the significance or value of the study (the theoretical and practical benefits it will bring to the society and the research community)
• any preliminary results (partial results that may already have been obtained at the current stage).

Since no results have been obtained yet, the decision on whether to include this part will depend on the specific requirements for preparing and writing a research proposal at the institution to which it will be submitted. In line with some requirements, a research proposal will end with a Methods section, while other formats may include the Expected Outcomes section as the concluding part for the whole piece. If included, this section will often be quite concise, yet, just like with other sections of a typical research proposal, it has to articulate the author’s thinking and rationale (expectations) with regard to how the study is relevant to the field and what its specific implications will be for the society and the scientific world.

Moves framework in the Expected Outcomes section

The recommended structure for the Expected Outcomes section in research proposals is as follows:

Not all of these moves may be present. Some are optional.