Examining EFL Undergraduate Students’ Constraints in Research Proposal Writing: A CLA Perspectives

Students often struggle with organizing proposal sections, understanding research concepts, and managing time. These obstacles interfere with their academic development and emphasize the importance of a deep understanding of the underlying constraints. This research aims to investigate how individual, task, and environmental constraints interact and contribute to such challenges. This research utilizes a survey study with a quantitative framework. A quantitative survey was conducted on 91 seventh-semester students from the English Education study program. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire that measured students' level of confidence, experience, and understanding in writing a research proposal. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to identify the dominant problems in each CLA dimension. The results showed that more than 60% of the students experienced difficulties in conducting a literature review, while 50% felt afraid of making mistakes, which highlighted significant cognitive and psychological barriers. In addition, 43.33% faced task-related difficulties, such as balancing proposal sections, and 42.22% reported time management issues. These interrelated obstacles indicate the need for holistic interventions, such as workshops on task management, literature review strategies, and peer support to improve students' research skills.