DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED APPROVAL OF OR FUNDING FOR MASTERS OR DOCTORAL LEVEL RESEARCH, THIS GUIDE EXAMINES THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO PLAN RESEARCH AND PRESENT THE PROPOSAL EFFECTIVELY. IT EXAMINES UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING PROPOSALS. METHODS OF PLANNING THE RESEARCH ARE DETAILED POINTING OUT THAT CAREFUL PLANNING AT THE PROPOSAL STAGE SIMPLIFIES THE ACTUAL RESEARCH PHASE. THE PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS FOLLOWED FROM SELECTION OF A TOPIC, THROUGH THE ACTUAL WRITING, TO PRESENTATION TO A COMMITTEE. STYLE, FORM, AND CONTENT ARE CONSIDERED IN A DISCUSSION. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING A PROPOSAL, PROBLEMS RELATED TO CONDUCTING STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, OBTAINING OF INFORMED CONSENT FROM SUBJECTS, THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS AND PROPERLY USING PILOT STUDIES ARE REVIEWED. SPECIMEN PROPOSALS ARE ANALYZED. TABLES AND GRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF PRELIMINARY DATA WHICH SHOULD BE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE SOME GENERAL STANDARDS FOR JUDGING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF A THESIS OR DISSERTATION PROPOSAL, STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF HUMAN SUBJECTS, A SPECIMEN FORM FOR INFORMED CONSENT, AND AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SUPPLEMENTARY REFERENCES. (GLR)