how to write an effective research proposal
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How to write an effective research proposal. salah adlatTRANSCRIPT
WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL WRITING A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The first step for being a researcherThe first step for being a researcher
Continuing Education Learning ProgramContinuing Education Learning Program
UST Hospital LaboratoryUST Hospital Laboratory
Salah AdlatSalah Adlat
Research proposalResearch proposal
RFP ( Request for proposal )
Investigator initiate proposal
Overall Quality of the Study Overall Quality of the Study
∗ Good research question ∗ Appropriate research design ∗ Feasible methods ∗ Qualified research team
Quality of the Proposal Quality of the Proposal
Informative title Clear research questions Scholarly and pertinent background and
rationale Relevant previous work Appropriate population and sample
Quality of the Proposal Quality of the Proposal Appropriate measurement and intervention
methods Adequate sample size Sound analysis plan Ethical issues well addressed Tight budget Realistic timetable Identify strengths and limitations
Before we startBefore we start Identifying a research question to be
answered.
Research protocol.
(Carefully read over the guidelines of whatever agency you are submitting it to).
Research proposal…Research proposal…WhyWhy?? Purpose of a proposal: Help you to focus and define your
research plans. An indication to your direction and
discipline as a researcher. Help you to prepare your application
to the Ethics Committee.
Why?Why? Research proposals must address
the following questions:
- - WhatWhat you plan to accomplish? you plan to accomplish?
- - WhyWhy you want to do it? you want to do it?
- - How How you are going to do it?you are going to do it?
Research proposal “contents”
Introduction and literature review
Research Question
Objectives
Hypothesis statement
Study Design &Setting
ResearchInstruments
Sampling Design and size
Data processing
ProposedChaptersof report
FINER
Variables definition OutcomePredictor
Literaturereview
Research design:functions
Theoretical and conceptual frame
SimpleSpecificIn advance
Validity and reliability of the research tools
Sampling theory and designs
Problems and limitations
Methods of dataProcessing: computers and statistics
Principles of Scientific writing
Budget
Title/Topic
Ethical issues
Time frame
I-TitleI-Title
Concise. Informative Succinct Interesting
Example
1. Preoperative Anxiety (too brief).
2. The effects of a counseling program by nurses on preoperative anxiety in children undergoing tonsillectomy.
(concise but gives sufficient information).
II- Introduction II- Introduction ( ( Background and SignificanceBackground and Significance) )
A. What’s knownB. What’s unknown C. limitations and gaps in previous
studies
II- Introduction II- Introduction ( Background and Significance) ( Background and Significance)
The introduction typically begins with A. a general statement of the problem
area, withB. a focus on a specific research problem,
to be followed by C. the rationale or justification for the
proposed study.
Local
Global
Focal
Why this topic is important from the global contextWhat is known about in terms of:Burden, morbidity, mortality, costs and preventability
On the country level what is the situation and what attributes are there Findings of the previous research and their limitations
You approach how will be different, overcoming the previous flawsYour findings will serve in decreasing morbidity, mortality, costs, provide baseline data etc.,
Significance of your researchThe problem statementRationale
The introduction generally The introduction generally covers the following elements:covers the following elements:
A good introduction has the following elements: (a) A general description and the background of the
problem to be researched; (b) Relevant factors influencing the research
problem;(c) Present the rationale of study and clearly
indicate why it is worth doing. State your hypothesis, if any.
III- Research question: III- Research question: Characteristics of a good research question ““FINERFINER Criteria”.Criteria”.
FeasibleFeasible
InterestingInteresting
Novel Novel
EthicalEthical
Relevant Relevant
Adequate number of subjects.Adequate technical expertiseAffordable in time and money
Manageable in scope
To the investigator
Confirms or refuses previous findingsExtends previous findings
Provides new findings
To scientific knowledgeTo clinical and health policyTo future research directions
Sometimes the literature review is incorporated into the introduction section.
IV-Literature IV-Literature Review:Review:
Literature reviewLiterature review
Thorough, complete and up to date Logical Original research Primary sources Focus on original research and systematic reviews
Identify any gaps in existing knowledge
Organize your literature review
Subheadings to bring order and coherence.
Keep in mind that you are telling a story.
Objectives
Sub-objectivesSub-objectives: Tackling only one concept and could be numbered.
o Main and subobjectives should formulated using ACTION words (to assess, to measure, to ascertain, to explore etc., )
o Wording determine your research design o Objectives should be clear, complete, no place
for ambiguity, difficulty in communication or reflecting the research idea.
Objectives “characteristics”Objectives “characteristics”
Clear
Complete
Specific
Identify theMain variables to be correlated
Identify the direction of the
relationship+ + + +
Descriptive studies
Correlation studies (experimental and non experimental)
Hypothesis-testing studies
V- Research methods :V- Research methods : Materials and Methods Overview:• Be complete, but minimize complexity!1. Break into smaller sections with subheads
2. Cite a reference for commonly used methods
3. Display in a flow diagram where possible
(Be precise and accurate)(Be precise and accurate)
Elements of the Method Elements of the Method SectionSection
1. Research design:The overall plan for obtaining an answer to
the research question or for testing the research hypothesis.
Did the investigator assign exposure “intervention?”
Experimental study Observational study
Random allocation? Comparison group?
Yes No
Randomized Controlled Trial RCT
Non-RandomizedControlled trial
NoYes
Analytical study
Direction?
Descriptive study
Yes No
Cohort study
Case-controlstudy Cross-sectional
study
Exposure and outcome at the same time
Exposure ←outcomeExposure →outcome
Research designs (II)
Case reportCase series
Ecological
Example:Example: Does the administration of analgesic by
nurses vs. by patients themselves affect pain intensity during postoperative recovery in older adults?
Methods Methods This will be a two-group randomized clinical trial.
2. SUBJECTS2. SUBJECTS
Who will be studied? Who will be studied?
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
Example: All patients undergoing elective orthopedic Example: All patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery of the knee, ankle or shoulder at UST Hospital. surgery of the knee, ankle or shoulder at UST Hospital.
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria: Age > 18 Able to understand instructions Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion Criteria: Allergy to study medications Drug/alcohol dependence Surgery completed after 2000H Refuse to give informed consent
How will they be selected How will they be selected
3. Sampling: 3. Sampling: the process of selecting a portion of the population to represent the entire population of interest (target population). Types of Sampling:Types of Sampling:1. Probability2. Nonprobability
For clinical studies:For clinical studies:
1. Study design
2. Setting
3. Patients/subjects
4. Interventions or predictors (independent variables)
5. Primary outcome (dependent variable)
6. Secondary outcomes
7. Statistical analysis
8. Sample size and power calculations, if available
MethodsMethods
Subsections for a clinical study: Study designStudy design
randomized trial, prospective cohort, case-control, case-series etc. SettingSetting
clinic, hospital, or general population locations ParticipantsParticipants
eligibility criteria (inclusion, exclusion) Independent variables Independent variables
how were predictors measured or interventions assigned and administered? Primary outcomesPrimary outcomes
case definitions/measurement Secondary outcomesSecondary outcomes
MethodsMethods
Methods of data collectionMethods of data collection
Secondary Sources
Primary Sources
Documents
oGovt publicationsoEarlier researchoCensusoPersonal recordsoClient historiesoService records
Observation
Participant
Non-participant
Interviewing
Structured
Unstructured
Questionnaire
Mailed
Collective
Animals/Lab.
Summary: For quantitative studies, the method section typically consists:
Design: What kind of design do you choose? Subjects or participants: Who will take part in your study ? What kind of sampling procedure do you use? Instruments: What kind of measuring instruments do you use? Why do you choose them? Are they valid and reliable? Procedure: How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities are involved? How long will it take?
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VI- Statistical analysisVI- Statistical analysis How sample size was determined
Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 21.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, U.S.A). For categorical data, frequency, proportions and percentage were used for reporting, Chi square were used for comparison.
The data were reported using the mean percentage and the range. For continuous data mean, standard deviation, and median were used to express the results, t-test and Mann Whitney test were used for comparison.
P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
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IX- References
Research questionsSignificance (background)Design time frame epidemiologic approachSubjects selection criteria sampling designVariables predictor variables confounding outcome variablesStatistical issues hypotheses sample size analytic approach
What questions will the study address?Why are these questions important?How is the study structured?
Who are the subjects and how will they be selected?
What measurements will be made?
How large is the study and how will it be analyzed?
Elements of protocol Purpose
Research proposal “contents”
Introduction and literature review
Research Question Objectives
Hypothesis statement
Study Design &Setting
ResearchInstruments
Sampling Design and size
Data processing
ProposedChaptersof report
FINER
Variables definition OutcomePredictor
Literaturereview
Research design:functions
Theoretical and conceptual frame
SimpleSpecificIn advance
Validity and reliability of the research tools
Sampling theory and designs
Problems and limitations
Methods of dataProcessing: computers and statistics
Principles of Scientific writing
Budget
Title/Topic
Ethical issues
Time frame
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