R ESEARCH M ETHODOLOGY How to write a research proposal?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

How to write a research proposal?

WHY DO YOU NEED A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?

To give a concise and clear outline of the objectives that you want to achieve through your project. Your proposal needs to show why the intended research is important and justifies the search effort.

To serve as a planning tool To present it to Educational institutions To apply for funding

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

THE PROPOSAL USUALLY INCLUDESTITLE. INTRODUCTION. JUSTIFICATION. OBJECTIVES. METHODOLOGY WORKPLAN. BUDGET.REFERENCES Appendices.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

THE METHODOLOGY SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:1.THE STUDY DESIGN.2.THE STUDY AREA.3.THE STUDY POPULATION.4.THE DATA COLLECTION METHODS 5.THE SAMPLE SIZE & THE SAMPLING TECHNIQUE.

6.THE DATA ANALYSIS PLAN.7. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

TITLE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

A good title should be short, accurate, and concise.

Indicate the type of study you will conduct. Address the main problem you are planning

to investigate. Is expected to be informative showing what,

where and when the research has been conducted

It is important to specify the population which is to be investigated.

TITLE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Examples: -Incidence of TB in HIV- infected children in North

Uganda 2007-2008“

-Effects of a programme for nutritional supplementation on malaria morbidity in children under five years in hyper-endemic area for malaria in Sudan (2000-2002).

INTRODUCTION

In an introduction, you should: Provide the necessary background for your

research problem. A brief summary of the literature A brief description of the gap in the literature Problem statement It should not exceed two pages

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM What …is the research problem?

Logical flow of statements:

Magnitude, frequency, and distribution: Affected geographical areas and population groups. Ethnic and gender considerations.

Probable causes of the problem: What is the current knowledge of the problem and its causes? Is there consensus? Is there controversy? Is there conclusive evidence?

Possible solutions: In what ways have solutions to the problem been attempted? What has been proposed? What are the results?

Unanswered questions: What remains to be answered? What areas have not been possible to understand, determine, verify, or test?

JUSTIFICATION

WHY SHOULD THIS RESEARCH BE DONE?

The justification should answer the following: How does the research relate to the national or regional

priorities? What knowledge and information will be obtained? Will this study generate new knowledge? What is the ultimate purpose that the knowledge obtained

from the study will serve? Will the study benefit patients, advance understanding or

influence policy? Will the study fill gaps in existing knowledge or resolve

current controversies How will the results be disseminated? How will the results be used and who will be the

beneficiaries?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The objective of the research are the goals to be achieved by the research project

Research objectives should be closely related to the statement of the problem

They are activities that the investigator will perform throughout the research process

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Writing your research objectives clearly helps to:

Define the focus of your study Clearly identify variables to be measured Indicate the various steps to be involved Establish the limits of the study Avoid collection of any data that is not

strictly necessary.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES MAY TAKE SEVERAL FORMS:

1. QUESTIONS: answers are to be found from the research.

2. 2.HYPOTHESIS: The formulated hypothesis is to be proved or disproved.

3. 3. POSITIVE SENTENCES: to measure, calculate.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The research objectives can be subdivided :

1-General objective: describe in general terms what will be achieve y research and why.

2-Specific objectives: break down the general objective into smaller, logically connected parts that systematically address the various aspects of the problem.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

Example:

-If the problem identified is low utilisation of antenatal care services, the general objective of the study could be to identify the reasons for this low uptake, in order to find ways of improving it.

-To verify the differences in the malaria morbidity in children under five when they participate in the nutritional supplementation programme as compared to those who do not participate.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: These disaggregate and follow logically from the

general objective. They provide a preliminary view of the research

design.Example: To estimate the incidence of malaria in children

covered by the nutritional supplementation programme and the incidence of malaria in children who receive standard nutrition.

To identify the protective factors that help to explain the differences in the incidence of malaria according to the type of supplementation received.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

The specific objective can be subdivided into three main types:

1. ESTIMATION OBJECTIVES: THESE ESTIMATE CERTAIN FEATURES SUCH AS INCIDENCE RATE, PREVALENCE.

2. ASSOCIATION OBJECTIVES: TEST THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CERTAIN FACTORS & DISEASE.

3. EVALUATION OBJECTIVES: ASSESS THE IMPACT OF AN INTERVENTION ON THE SEVERITY OF A DISEASE.

THE CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

Objectives should be: Specific – states exactly what you need to

achieve Logical and coherent Feasible Realistic, considering local conditions Defined in operational terms that can be

measured

THE CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

Objectives should be stated using action verbs that are specific enough to be measured,

for example:to compare, to calculate, to identify, to

determine, to calculate, to describe, to measure, etc.

Avoid the use of vague non-active verbs such as:

to appreciate, to understand, to believe, to notice, etc., because it is difficult to evaluate whether they have been achieved.

THE METHODOLOGY

The methodology section describes the procedures that will be used to achieve the objectives, and includes the following:

1.THE STUDY DESIGN.2.THE STUDY AREA.3.THE STUDY POPULATION.3.THE SAMPLE SIZE & THE SAMPLING TECHNIQUE.

4.THE DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES

5.THE DATA ANALYSIS PLAN.6. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

THE METHODOLOGY

Determine the Research Design Such as descriptive, analytic and

experimental designs.Study area The geographical location A map of Study area in the appendices.

Study population with inclusion and exclusion criteria

The general characteristics study population . The health status. Social and cultural data.

THE METHODOLOGY

Determine the Sample Size and Sample technique

In this section, you will describe the sample size Describe how you determined how many people to

include in the study.Determine the Data Collection method In this section you will describe how you propose to

collect your data e.g. through a questionnaire, chick list

Also it includes list of study variables.Determine the Data Analysis Procedures You also need to follow a scheme as how to analyze

the data and report the results. For example, you might run the data through Excel or SPSS

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ethical Approval Any research involving interaction with

human participants should get approval from ethical committees or boards.

This ethical approval is sought to ensure that the researcher conducts research in a manner that is respectful to the participants and other human beings that may be influenced by the research process.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONSINFORMED CONSENT

Information form should contain: Justification for research Responsibilities (Who) Outline of study Any possibly harm Confidentiality Volontary particpation Right of discontinuation at any time Simple language-Patients mother tongue A separate consent form is required

Outline how, when and where the patient will be consented!

WORKPLAN

Timetable for your research proposal You need to be able to demonstrate that your

research is possible within a given timeframe what would be the main stages of your

project? what would you be expecting to do in each

month or year of your research

EXAMPLE: WORK PLAN

BUDGET

The budget must be itemized . Examples of the budget items : 1. Personnel costs,2. Operating expenses3. Supplies4. Equipment5. Local travel6. Data processing

REFERENCES

Use of standard referencing system:Harvard style

Name and publication year in text Alphabetical bibliography

Vancouver style Numbered references Continous referencing in text

The recommended style of reference citation is Vancouver style.

APPENDICES

The appendices should include all the relevant materials such as mapping of the study area, Arabic and English versions of the data collection instruments, photographs etc.

THANK YOU