Guide to Preparing a PTS Project
Table of contents
- What is a PTS project synopsis
- Why a good synopsis matters
- Typical word length and structure
- Before you start: choose the right topic
- Step 1 — Title: make it precise and searchable
- Step 2 — Background and rationale: explain the need
- Step 3 — Aim and objectives: clear, measurable goals
- Step 4 — Research questions or hypotheses
- Step 5 — Literature review snapshot (brief)
- Step 6 — Research methodology: design, methods, sample, tools
- Step 7 — Data analysis plan
- Step 8 — Ethical considerations and permissions
- Step 9 — Timeline and work plan (Gantt-style)
- Step 10 — Expected outcomes and limitations
- Step 11 — References and citation style
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Checklist: final pre-submission review
- Ready-to-use synopsis template (editable)
- Example synopsis (complete)
- FAQs about PTS project synopsis
- Last tips for success
1. What is a PTS project synopsis?
A synopsis for a PTS project is a brief document (usually 800–1,500 words, subject to university regulations) outlining your intended project. It is a concise statement of your research proposal: what you will do, why it is worth doing, how you will gather and analyze data, and when you will finish each phase. Your synopsis assists your supervisor or board in determining whether your project is viable and worthy of academic study.
2. Why a good synopsis is important
Approval: A precise synopsis accelerates approval. Examiners tend to reject imprecise or incomplete proposals.
Focus: Synopsizing compels you to polish your research question and methods.
Planning: It will become your project plan — save time down the road by planning now.
Confidence: A well-polished synopsis demonstrates you have research basics down.
3. Typical word length and form
Various institutions have varying limits. Typically:
Short synopsis: 800–1,000 words
Standard synopsis: 1,200–1,500 words
Extended synopsis (if required): up to 2,000 words
Structure (standard):
- Title
- Background and rationale (150–300 words)
- Aim and objectives (50–100 words)
- Research questions/hypotheses (50–100 words)
- Brief literature review (150–300 words)
- Methodology (300–600 words)
- Data analysis (100–200 words)
- Timeline (table or bullet list)
- Expected outcomes and limitations (100–200 words)
- References (concise list)
4. Before you start: choose the right topic
Good topics are:
Specific (not too general)
Manageable in terms of time and resources
Relevant to your course and most recent research trends
Engaging to you (you will spend weeks or months on it!)
Question yourself:
Am I able to find data or respondents?
Is the topic aligned with course learning outcomes?
Has it recently been researched? If so, can you capture a new twist?
If you are stuck, brainstorm through: problem → causes → potential interventions → sources of data.
5. Step 1 — Title: make it precise and searchable
A good title should be concise, informative, and contain key words your examiner would anticipate. Go for:
8–15 words
Mention subject, location (if relevant), and primary variable/method
Good title: “Assessing Community Awareness and Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting in Ranchi: A Mixed-Methods Study”
Avoid: “A Study on Rainwater Harvesting” (too general)
6. Step 2 — Background and rationale: explain the need
This is where you describe why the project is important. Provide context (local and/or global), recognize gaps in existing knowledge, and declare how your work fills those gaps. Use 2–3 brief paragraphs.
Use:
A brief overview of the problem
One or two citations to previous literature (author, year)
The precise gap or issue you will be solving
Example: “In spite of increasing policy concern with urban drought resilience, little research examines household-level adoption barriers to roof rainwater harvesting in mid-scale Indian cities.”
7. Step 3 — Aim and objectives: clear, measurable goals
Aim (one sentence): the general purpose.
Objectives (3–5 bullet points): specific actions or steps that result in the aim. Use measurable verbs: “identify,” “measure,” “compare,” “assess.”
Example:
Objective: To analyze drivers and hindrances to adoption of household rooftop rainwater harvesting in Ranchi.
Goals:
- Determine socio-economic determinants of adoption.
- Assess adopters’ and non-adopters’ household water-saving behavior.
- Record perceived incentives and barriers from interviews.
- Propose policy interventions to enhance uptake.
8. Step 4 — Research questions or hypotheses
Formulate 2–4 research questions or hypotheses. Questions are acceptable for exploratory research; hypotheses for quantitative testing.
Examples:
RQ1: What socio-economic influences household adoption of rooftop rainwater harvesting?
RQ2: Do adopters and non-adopters differ in monthly water consumption?
H1: Individuals with greater educational levels are more likely to adopt rainwater harvesting.
9. Step 5 — Literature review snapshot (brief)
Include 4–6 short citations that show you’ve read recent and relevant work. This section should:
Situate your project within scholarship
Highlight the gap your work fills
Use concise synthesis — not long summaries
Tip: Use recent review articles and one local study to frame the gap.
Example paragraph:
“Research indicates technology adoption in water management is promoted by awareness, affordability, and policy incentives (Kumar et al., 2020; Singh, 2022). Most research is on large metros; mid-sized cities are underresearched (Patel, 2023). This research fills that gap by considering household-level determinants in Ranchi.”
10. Step 6 — Research methodology: design, methods, sample, tools
This is the most important part. Be clear and realistic.
Research design
Indicate whether your design is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods. Provide a rationale.
Example: “Mixed-methods design to triangulate statistical patterns and lived experiences.”
Study area and population
Indicate location, population, and why they were chosen.
Example: “Ranchi city; focus on residential colonies in two zones that differ by income.”
Sample size & sampling method
Describe how you will choose participants and how many.
For quantitative surveys: indicate sample size and method of calculation (if relevant). e.g., “n = 200 families; random sampling from colonies chosen.”
For qualitative interviews: indicate number of interviews or focus groups. e.g., “20 in-depth interviews with adopters and non-adopters.”
Data collection methods
Describe tools and timeline:
Questionnaire (provide sample items or annex)
Interviews (semi-structured interview guide)
Observation checklist
Secondary data sources (government reports, NGO data)
List the instruments you will employ (e.g., structured household survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, water meter readings).
Data collection procedure
Describe how data will be gathered and by whom. Include any training, pilot testing, or translation measures.
Example: “The questionnaire will be piloted with 10 households. Two field assistants will be trained in ethical consent and survey methods.”
11. Step 7 — Data analysis plan
Describe how you will be conducting both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Quantitative analysis
Software (e.g., SPSS, Excel, R)
Tests (descriptive stats, t-tests, chi-square, regression)
Variables and how they are going to be measured (e.g., monthly water usage in liters)
Qualitative analysis
Software (e.g., NVivo, manual coding)
Approach (thematic analysis, content analysis)
Coding steps and validation (inter-coder checks)
Give a brief example: “Survey data will be analysed for descriptive trends and tested with logistic regression to determine predictors of adoption. Interview transcripts will be coded thematically to elicit perceived drivers and barriers.”
12. Step 8 — Ethical concerns and approvals
Always have:
Procedures for informed consent
Confidentiality/anonymity provisions (how you’ll store data)
Approvals from local authorities or institution ethics committee (if necessary)
Special precautions if involving minors or vulnerable groups
Example: “Participants will provide informed consent. Data will be anonymized and password-protected. Ethical approval will be provided by the research ethics committee of the university.”
13. Step 9 — Timeline and work plan (Gantt-style)
Give a realistic timeline in months or weeks. A plain table or list in bullet form is fine.
Example timeline (6 months):
Month 1: Literature review and instrument finalization
Month 2: Finalization of pilot testing and sampling frame
Month 3–4: Field data collection (surveys + interviews)
Month 5: Data cleaning and analysis
Month 6: Writing and submission of the report
If necessary, add a one-line Gantt chart or a small figure; but a bullet timeline is generally adequate in a synopsis.
14. Step 10 — Expected outcomes and limitations
Be realistic. Say what you hope to be able to contribute and what your research cannot do.
Example:
Expected outcomes:
Determination of principal social and economic predictors of adoption.
Policy implications to promote household take-up.
Limitations:
Restricted generalizability to Ranchi.
Self-report data may have recall bias.
15. Step 11 — References and citation style
Provide a brief list (APA, MLA, Chicago — use your university style). Mention only the most appropriate 8–12 references in the synopsis. Be consistent with formatting.
Example (APA style short list):
Kumar, A., & Rao, P. (2020). Urban water conservation practices in India. Journal of Water Management, 12(3), 145–162.
Patel, S. (2023). Rooftop rainwater harvesting adoption in tier-2 cities. Environmental Studies Review, 8(1), 34–50.
16. Avoid common errors
Too general topic: Refine it to a particular population, location, or time period.
Methodology too vague: Specify sample size, tools, and analysis.
No schedule: Examiners would like to note feasibility.
Not mentioning ethics: Always mention consent and handling of data.
Overhyping: Avoid implying generalizable nationwide conclusions from a small sample.
17. Checklist: last look before submission
Before submitting, check that:
Title is accurate and includes keywords.
Aim and objectives are clear and quantifiable.
Methods and sample are practicable.
Timeline accommodates the academic calendar.
Ethical protection is mentioned.
References are in prescribed style.
Word count accommodates institutional restrictions.
18. Editable synopsis template ready to use
Employ this template and fill content in brackets.
Title: [Provide brief title with important terms]
Student name / Roll no.: [Your name / roll number]
Course: [Name of course]
Supervisor: [Name of supervisor]
Department / University: [Department, University]
Date: [DD Month YYYY]
1. Background and rationale (approx. 150–250 words)
[Brief context → existing gap → why the study is needed.]
2. Aim (1 sentence)
[Overall goal]
3. Objectives (3–5 bullet points)
[Objective 1]
[Objective 2]
[Objective 3]
4. Research questions / Hypotheses
[RQ1/H1]
[RQ2/H2]
5. Brief literature review (approx. 150–250 words)
[Synthesize 4–6 key sources; show gap]
6. Methodology (approx. 300–600 words)
Design: [Qual / Quant / Mixed]
Study area & sample: [Details]
Data collection: [Instruments & procedure]
Data analysis: [Software & methods]
7. Ethical considerations
[Consent, anonymity, permissions]
8. Timeline
Month 1: [Task]
Month 2: [Task]
etc.
9. Expected outcomes
[List expected outputs and contributions]
10. Limitations
[List key limitations]
References (concise list, follow style)
[Key ref 1]
[Key ref 2]
etc.
19. Example synopsis (complete)
Here is a brief, applicable example you may modify. This is made concise to meet common synopsis length constraints.
Title: Household Factors Driving Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Adoption in Ranchi: A Mixed-Methods Study
Background and rationale:
India’s urban areas are experiencing increasing water stress. Rainwater harvesting is a low-cost way to decrease reliance on municipal supply (Kumar & Rao, 2020). However, rates of adoption are extremely variable across cities and within areas. Literature tends to concentrate on the metros; middle-size cities such as Ranchi are not well-represented (Patel, 2023). This research examines factors that influence adoption at the household level and records perceived barriers to aid local policy.
Aim:
To explore socio-economic determinants and impediments to the adoption of rooftop rainwater harvesting by households in Ranchi.
Objectives:
- Determine socio-demographic predictors of adoption.
- Contrast monthly water consumption between adopters and non-adopters.
- Record qualitative reports of impediments and incentives.
- Suggest policy and practice interventions for local government.
Research questions:
RQ1: What socio-economic determinants are correlated with adoption?
RQ2: What do perceived impediments to adopting rainwater harvesting consist of?
Literature snapshot:
Empirical evidence indicates that awareness, cost, and availability of space determine adoption (Singh, 2022). In small cities, the absence of targeted incentives is a hindrance (Patel, 2023). The current research completes the gap by integrating survey data with interviews in Ranchi.
Methodology:
Design: Mixed-methods.
Sample: 200 households picked through stratified random sampling from two income-based zones.
Data collection: Household survey (structured questionnaire), 20 in-depth interviews with key informants and heads of households, and observations in the field. Questionnaire will be piloted for 10 households.
Analysis: Logistic regression and descriptive statistics for quantitative data (with R). Thematic analysis of interviews will be carried out manually and cross-checked by a second coder.
Ethical considerations:
Informed consent will be taken. Data will be anonymized. Ethical clearance will be applied for from the university committee.
Timeline:
Month 1: Literature review & instrument design.
Month 2: Pilot test & sampling.
Month 3–4: Fieldwork.
Month 5: Data analysis.
Month 6: Report writing.
Expected outcomes:
Household-level predictors and practicable recommendations for city planners to be identified.
Limitations:
The findings will be context-specific to Ranchi and may not be generalizable to other cities.
References:
Kumar, A., & Rao, P. (2020). Urban water conservation practices in India. Journal of Water Management.
Patel, S. (2023). Rooftop rainwater harvesting adoption in tier-2 cities. Environmental Studies Review.
20. FAQs on PTS project synopsis
Q: How long should my synopsis be?
A: Adhere to your university’s instructions. If no instructions are available, go for 1,000–1,500 words.
Q: Can I change the synopsis after approval?
A: Minor changes are usually permitted with supervisor approval. Major changes may need a fresh submission.
Q: Should I include detailed questionnaires?
A: Include them as annexures if allowed. In the synopsis, summarize key instruments and sample items.
Q: Do I need ethical approval before starting fieldwork?
A: Most universities require ethical clearance before data collection. Mention in your timeline when you’ll seek approval.
Q: What citation style should I use?
A: Use your department’s preferred style. If unspecified, APA is commonly accepted.
21. Final tips for success
- Be specific and realistic. Examiners check feasibility first.
- Use plain language. Avoid jargon; keep sentences short.
- Show you’ve read the literature. A brief but targeted literature snapshot goes a long way.
- Include measurable objectives. Verbs like “measure,” “compare,” and “assess” help.
- Proofread and format. Use consistent fonts, spacing, and headings.
- Attach materials if necessary. Instruments, pilot statements, or charts may be attached as annexures.
- Request feedback from your supervisor early. Early feedback avoids rework.