research proposal outlines rss6 2014

Dr. Fayssal Farahat

Consultant & Assist Professor Public Health

King AbdulAziz Medical City

King Saud bin AbdulAziz University for Health Sciences

RESEARCH PROPOSAL OUTLINES

To outline important items of a scientific research proposal.

Objectives

2nd Advanced Course on Applied Medical Research and Biostatistics 22 – 24 March 2010 3

Outline of the Study Protocol

Research

Question

Significance

(background)

Design

Variables

Statistical

issues

Subjects

What questions will the study address?

Why are these questions important?

How

When

Who

Epidemiologic approach

Time frame

Selection criteria

Sampling design

Predictors Confounding Outcomes

Hypotheses Analysis Sample size

‘Title of Proposal’ • Should be specific But comprehensive

• Short But sufficiently descriptive

• No abbreviations

Provide a brief, informative summary

What goes into the title?

● The Topic (T) – study subjects and setting

- “who, what, when, where”

● In addition, choose one or two among;

M – Methods

R – Results

C – Conclusions

N – Name of study or data set

Siegel PZ, Successful scientific writing

= RATIONALE

Literature review of previous studies on the

subject; and justification of the study by

stating the problem and its public health

importance.

BACKGROUND

To convince the reader that the study is very

important (new and useful information).

1. Identify knowledge gap / limitations (study

problem)

2. Present your approach to filling the gap /

limitations (study purpose).

BACKGROUND

Siegel PZ, Successful scientific writing

• Common Mistakes

– Too much or not enough information

– Unclear purpose

– Confusing structure

BACKGROUND

LITERATURE REVIEW

A separate section, which allows a more thorough

review of the literature

The literature review serves several important

functions:

Ensures that you are not "reinventing the wheel“ .

Gives credits to those who have laid the groundwork

for your research.

Demonstrates your knowledge of the research problem.

Demonstrates your understanding of the theoretical

and research issues related to your research question.

Shows your ability to critically evaluate relevant

literature information

AIM OF THE STUDY

• state the goal you

need to achieve.

• To promote adequate

counseling and

screening capacity for

the Blood Transfusion

Services (BTS) in

National Guard

Hospitals, Saudi

Arabia.

• state the details of each objective that will

finally lead to achievement of the goal.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

S Specific Identifies the nature of the expected

change, the target groups, the target

area, etc.

M Measurable Can be measured in some way

A Achievable Is realistic given the likely available

resources

R Relevant Responds to the identified need or

challenge, and is within mandate

T Time bound Can be achieved in a stated timeframe

or specific planning period

SMART

STUDY AREA/SETTING

• describe the area or setting where the

study will be conducted. This description

should cover the details relevant to the

study topic.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS

• Inclusion and exclusion criteria of the

study subjects.

STUDY DESIGN

• mention the type of study design (eg

cross-sectional, case-control, intervention

study, etc..)

SAMPLE SIZE

• mentioned the input criteria for sample

size estimation.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

• mention the sampling technique, (e.g.

randomization) that will be used on order

to obtain a representative sample for your

target population.

DATA COLLECTION METHODS,

INSTRUMENTS, MEASUREMENT

• The instruments used for data collection

(questionnaire, observation recording

from, ect..).

• Studied variables included in these

instruments.

• Methods used to test for the validity and

reliability of the instrument.

DATA COLLECTION METHODS,

INSTRUMENTS, MEASUREMENT

• Techniques used should be briefly

described and referenced.

• Study definitions (eg case definition)

should be mentioned.

DATA MANAGEMENT AND

ANALYSIS PLAN

• Describe the analysis plan, tests used for

data analysis and statistical package(s)

used.

• Common Mistakes

– Too little information

– Information from Introduction

METHODS

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY RESULTS

• Expected results and potential

contribution of the project to

the relevant program.

REFERNCES

• mention recent articles relevant to the

study subject and enumerated according

to their order of appearance in the text.

1. Standard journal article

Vega K, Pina I, Krevisky B. Heart transplantation is

associated with an increased risk for

pancreaticobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996;

124(11): 980-3

2. Books and other monographs

Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke.

In: Laragh JH, Bremier BM, editors. Hypertension:

pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd

ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. P.465-78.

References

3. Disertation

Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care: the elderly's

access and untilizaiion (dissertation]. St. Louis (MO):

Washington Univ: 1995.

4. Unpublished material

Leshner AL. Molecular mechanisms of cocaine. N Engl J Med. In

press 1996.

5. Electronic material

Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious disease.

Emerg Inftect Dis [serial online] 1995 Jan-Mar (cited 1996

Jun 5]; 1(1). Available from URL:

http:/www.cdc.gov/ncdod/EID/eid.htm. Accessed 26 Nov

2013.

References

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• If needed, attached extra documents.

WORKPLAN

BUDGET

• Personnel (Max 30%)

• Supplies and Equipment

• Patients cost

• Training

• Others (specify)

APPENDICES

• Data collection instruments, elaboration on

methods and procedures to be used, etc..)

(Please attach the related documents.

Common Mistakes in Proposal Writing

Failure to provide the proper research question.

Failure to cite landmark studies.

Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough

detail on major issues

Too much rambling -- going "all over the map"

without a clear sense of direction.

Too many citation lapses and incorrect references

Too long or too short.

THINK

REVIEW

STOP

THINK

AGAIN

WRITE

“What is written with little effort is, in

general, read with little interest.” Samual Johnson

“It takes a long time to write a

short story.”

Thank you