How to write a research proposal
- 1. How to write a research proposal By Hebatalla Mohamed Aly Lecturer of occupational medicine
- 2. Outlines тАв Definition of research тАв What is research proposal? тАв Why we need a research proposal? тАв What are the elements of a research proposal?
- 3. Definition of research тАв Research is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a problem. тАв It is crucial to follow cascading scientific steps when conducting oneтАЩs research
- 4. Choose research area Choose research topic Crude research question Literature review Answer found Answer not foundRefine your question Research hypothesis, aim and objectives Study design Population and sampling Tools and methodology Study variables No need for the study References Confounding
- 5. Research proposal тАв The research protocol is the detailed plan of the study. тАв Research proposal should include: яГ╝ The broad topic you would like to research, яГ╝ What the research would set out to achieve (aims and objectives), яГ╝ What is your plan for researching it (methodology), яГ╝ How you would undertake it within the time available (time table) and яГ╝ What the results might be in relation to knowledge and understanding in the subject (potential outcomes).
- 6. Why we need a research proposal тАв Forces the investigators to clarify their thoughts and to think about all aspects of the study; тАв Research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work-plan to complete it. тАв A necessary guide if a team (not a single investigator) is working on the research; тАв Is essential if the study involves research on human subjects or is on experimental animals, in order to get the institutionтАЩs ethical approval; тАв Is an essential component of a research proposal submitted for funding.
- 7. Selection of research area тАв Select your broad research area based on: тАУResearcherтАЩs: тАв Specialty тАв Interest тАв Scientific background тАв Experience тАУActual need for research in this area тАУAvailable resources (interest of funding body)
- 8. Selection of research topic Selecting a research topic depends on: тАУ The characteristics of the problem (topic): тАв Impact on health: тАУ Magnitude тАУ Seriousness тАУ Preventability тАУ Curability тАв Available interventions тАв Proposed solutions тАУ The characteristics of the proposed study: тАв Feasibility тАв Cost-effectiveness тАв Applicability of the results
- 9. Research proposal items Title Introduction Aim and objectives Question and hypotheses Subjects and methods Ethical consideration Time table Budget References Appendices
- 10. Title тАв The title should be descriptive and concise. тАв It may need to be revised after completion of the writing of the protocol to reflect more closely the sense of the study.
- 11. Introduction and rationale тАв Introduction should provide the background of the research study. тАв In an introduction, the writer should: яГ╝ Create reader interest in the topic. яГ╝ Explain the fundamental reasons for your research. яГ╝ Justify your work яГ╝ Answer the question of why and what: why the research needs to be done and what will be its relevance.
- 12. Aim and objectives тАв Aim тЙа objectives тАв Aim: It describes the goal of the work in broad terms тАв Objectives: more specific and relate directly to the problem (question). They are classified into 2 types яГ╝Primary objectives (must be achieved) яГ╝Secondary objectives (by the way)
- 13. Aim and objectives тАв Objectives should be SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time bound
- 14. Aim and objectives тАв Objectives should be: яГ╝Closely related to the research question яГ╝Covering all aspects of the problem яГ╝Very specific яГ╝Ordered in a logical sequence яГ╝Stated in action verbs that could be evaluated e.g. to describe, to identify, to measure, to compare, etc. яГ╝Achievable, taking into consideration the available resources and time яГ╝Mutually exclusive, with no repetitions or overlaps
- 15. Question and hypotheses тАв Make sure that яГ╝The question is clear and specific яГ╝It has no answer by common sense яГ╝It has no answer in the LITERATURE яГ╝Finding an answer to the question will solve or at least help in solving the problem to be studied. тАв Research hypothesis is a statement of (answer to) the research question in a measurable form.
- 16. Question and hypotheses тАв Two types of hypotheses are used in research яГ╝Alternative hypothesis (H1): The hypothesis stated by the researcher яГа the objective of the study. яГ╝Null hypothesis (H0): The opposite of the alternative hypothesis яГа is the assumption that the alternative hypothesis is not true.
- 17. Formulation of hypotheses тАв Does a research question has only one hypothesis?? e.g. a prospective cohort study Designed to answer the following question тАЬIs aspirin use reduce the risk of stroke?тАЭ What is the suggested hypothesis??
- 18. Formulation of hypotheses тАв H1 (prevalence of stroke is lower among patients who take aspirin regularly compared to patients who donтАЩt). тАв H1 (incidence of stroke is lower among patients who take aspirin regularly compared to patients who donтАЩt). тАв H1 (patients who use aspirin regularly have reduced risk of stroke compared to those who donтАЩt). тАв H1(there is a negative correlation between dose of aspirin used and incidence of stroke). тАв H1 (there is a significant association between aspirin use and stroke)
- 19. Criteria of sound hypotheses тАв Based on plausible scientific background тАв Translating the research question тАв Using study variables тАв Stated in measurable terms тАв Testing only one relationship or phenomenon тАв Directional тАв Reflecting study design
- 20. Subjects and Methods Study design Study setting Study population Sample size and sampling technique Data collection tool
- 21. Subjects and Methods тАв The researcherтАЩs overall plan to obtain an answer to the research question. тАв A fundamental decision is whether : яГ╝To take a passive role in observing the events taking place in the study subjects яГа observational study or яГ╝ To apply an intervention and examine its effects on these events яГа clinical trial. Study design
- 22. Subjects and Methods тАв A typical sequence for studying a topic begins with observational studies of a type that is often called descriptive, тАв Descriptive studies are usually followed or accompanied by analytic studies that evaluate associations to permit inferences about cause and effect relationship. (cohort, case control, cross sectional). тАв The final step is often a clinical trial to establish the effects of an intervention. Study design
- 23. Subjects and Methods тАв Where the study will be carried out? тАв The group in which the study will be carried out and to whom will the results refer. Study setting Study population
- 24. Subjects and Methods тАв The definition of the sampling unit is done by setting: тАУ Inclusion criteria тАУ Exclusion criteria (exclusion criteria are not the opposite of inclusion criteria) Study population
- 25. Subjects and Methods тАв Is the process of selection of a number of units from a defined study population. тАв It involves: 1. Estimation of the sample size 2. Choice of sampling method Sampling
- 26. Subjects and Methods тАв Sample size calculation: to determine the appropriate number of samples that should be studied with justification тАв Calculation of sample size has been made easy by computer software programs. But the principles underlying the estimation should be well understood Sample size
- 27. Subjects and Methods тАв A larger sample size than needed to test the research hypothesis яГ╝ Increases the cost and duration of the study яГ╝ Will be unethical (it exposes human subjects to any potential unnecessary risk without additional benefit). тАв A smaller sample size than needed can also be unethical (it exposes human subjects to risk with no benefit to scientific knowledge). Sample size
- 28. Subjects and Methods Sampling technique Non probability sampling not everyone in the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study Probability sampling There is a known & equal probability of selection for each sampling unit
- 30. Subjects and methods тАв Data are variable: яГ╝ Quantitative (continuous, discrete) яГ╝ Qualitative (nominal, ordinal) тАв Data collection tool/s: яГ╝ Using available information (records) яГ╝ Observation (checklist) яГ╝ Self-administered questionnaire яГ╝ Interviewing (individual/group) яГ╝ Measuring (all lab. tests and other investigations Data collection
- 31. Subjects and methods тАв Data management: dealing with data throughout the study яГ╝Preparation of data entry яГ╝Data entry яГ╝Data analysis яГ╝Data presentation Data collection
- 32. Ethical considerations тАв Specify the ethical issues involved in the study as: яГ╝Benefits of the study procedures, яГ╝Hazards, яГ╝Responsibility of injury, яГ╝Voluntary consent, Confidentiality яГ╝Ethical approval яГ╝Permission to conduct the study , etc.
- 33. Time table тАв Plan for accomplishing each step of the study тАв Present in table format 2019 2020
- 34. Budget тАв A brief outline of the budget requirement showing head wise expenditure for the study.
- 35. References тАв The protocol should end with relevant references on the subject. тАв In this section list of the various references quoted while formulating protocol may be listed in a sequential manner.
- 36. Appendices тАв All the formats/questionnaires that may be used in the study should be placed in a systematic manner. тАв Forms for informed consent