The aim of a proposal, or research plan, is to describe and justify a subject a researcher wants to study according to specific values and norms of the social science research community. This article aims to outline the major considerations in preparing a research proposal to enable a departmental committee, a funding agency, and/or other reviewers, to judge whether the envisaged study is worthwhile and valid. In this article the relationship between the proposal and research design is described. In particular the role theory plays as lens in shaping one’s thinking and viewpoints and important issues during research proposal writing are highlighted.