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Preparing a Research Proposal: An Overview

Dr.Murali Vallipuranathan

MBBS, PGD, MSc, MD

Board Certified Specialist in Community Medicine

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Why should one plan for a research• To obtain an academic degree• To get research allowance• To establish evidence based new knowledge• To obtain experience in research: stepping stone• To get recognition from peers, colleagues and other

researchers• To get academic promotions (universities, PGIM and certain

posts in MoH)• Self satisfaction• Part of the duty• CPD activity

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What are the common issues?• Where can I get the idea for research?

• How can I prepare the research proposal?

• Do I need to get ethical clearance? If so where can I get the ethical clearance?

• Where can I get the funding for my research?

• Who can be my co-authors?

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What are the common issues? (continued)

• Where can I collect data?

• How can I analyze my data?

• How can I write a budget proposal?

• How can I manage my research project?

• How can I disseminate my study findings?

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Where can I get the idea for research?

Common sources• Observation.

• Literature reviews.

• Professional conferences.

• Experts.

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How can I get started with simple research?

• Study what others have done before and redo in different circumstances; mainly descriptive studies

• Assess what is routinely done in wards/clinic and compare with standard protocol : Medical Audit

• Discuss problems with colleagues, other staff and clients: every observed problem is a nidus for research

• Testing for associations (example: risk factors and outcome)

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1. Identification of Area of Interestis by• Observation in

• The hospital• The Community• Place of work• Reading journal articles

• Discussion with• Friends• Colleagues, supervisor, teachers, other researchers

• Following a “hunch”• A feeling• intuition

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The research question

• All studies should start with a research question that addresses what the investigator would like to know

• Goal is to find an important research question that can be developed into a feasible and valid study plan

Criteria for selection of research

• Relevant• No duplication• Feasibility• Applicability • Ethical considerations (harm Physical or mental or

psychological)• Is Permission possible?

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Hypothesis• A prediction regarding the outcome of a study that often

involves the relationship between two variables

Hypothesis Testing:• The process of determining whether a hypothesis is supported

by the results of a research study

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Stages of a Research Process

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IDENTIFY AREA OF INTEREST

IDENTIFY PROBLEM

CARRY OUT LITERATURE SEARCH

CONSTRUCT HYPOTHESIS

DEVELOP RESEARCH DESIGN

IDENTIFY & CONSTRUCT RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

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Stages of a Research Process (CONTINUED)

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IDENTIFY AND CONSTRUCT RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

DETERMINING SAMPLING DESIGN

PREPARE BUDGET PROPOSAL

ETHICAL CLEARANCE

EXECUTION OF PROJECT

DATA COLLECTION

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Stages of a Research Process (CONTINUED)

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DATA COLLECTION

DATA ENTRY AND ANALYSIS

HYPOTHESIS TESTING

GENERALIZATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

PREPARING RESEARCH REPORT

DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

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Is it necessary to prepare a research proposal at the early stages?

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Is it necessary to prepare a research proposal at the early stages?

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Preparing research proposal• Why should we prepare a research proposal?

1. To get ideas clarified

2. To get ethical clearance

3. To get funding

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Components of a research proposal

• Introduction/ Background• Justification• Literature review• Research Question and Hypotheses• Objectives• Method

- Settings- Sample- Study design- Study instrument- Ethical clearance- Statistical analysis

• Budget• Time frame• Limitations• Conflicts of interest

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Rationale:

Describe within the context of present knowledge

Justify in terms of demographic, social or health impact

Policy, service or programme relevance

Relevance to activities and objectives of the funding agency

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Objectives

General and specific objectives

State clearly in measurable terms

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Review of literature

Describe the most relevant studies published

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Design and methodology

Brief description of study design

Justify choice of design in relation to the objectives of the research

Brief description of the source population

Sample size

Describe method of computation

justify assumptions underlying calculation of sample size

Statistical power

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Selection of sample

Sampling procedure including type

e.g. simple random, stratified, cluster etc

Where and how sample would be recruited

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

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Selection of comparison groups

matching criteria

Allocation of subjects in to index and comparison groups (where applicable)

method of allocation

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What is conflict of interest in research?• A conflict of interest in research occurs when there is a

divergence between researcher’s private interests and his or her professional obligation as a researcher.

• Most commonly due to ties between the researcher and industry (pharmaceutical, medical device, medical supply and insurance companies)

• Researcher should declare not only his conflict of interest but also his spouse’s and other family members’ conflict of interests.

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Ethical clearance• Studies not requiring ethical clearance

- Medical Audit

- Desktop studies conducted from published secondary data

- Most of the studies not directly involving humans or live

forms (example: ecological studies)

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Ethical Clearance (continued)

• From where should I get the ethical clearance?

- University ethical review committees

- SLMA ethical review committee

- Hospital ethical review committees?

Local clearance should be obtained in multi centre studies.

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Funding• Who will fund my research?

- Self

- Co-authors

- NGO/ INGO

- University/ Government

- Grants5/2/2013

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Co-authorship• Co-author

A person contributes with the main author in any substantial way to a publication, with advice, planning, or analysis, then he or she is entitled to be a co-author

• Avoid inappropriate authorship

Examples: Including the name of Head of the Department or Consultant without any real contribution to the paper, interviewers

• Co-authors should be consulted before sending the draft for publication or presentation

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Data CollectionDefine study population and select appropriate sample.• Secondary data

- Registers- Records- Annual Health Bulletins- Surveys already done (Examples: DHS surveys, Census)

• Primary data- Hospital (ward, clinic or OPD)- Special groups (examples: students, occupational

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Data collection

Variables to be studied

Data collection instruments

Validation

Training of investigators

Logistics of data collection

Supervision

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Analyzing data• Knowledge in statistical software ( example: SPSS)

• Consult a statistician or a senior researcher with statistical knowledge

• Select the appropriate statistical tests

• Statistical advice should be obtained in early planning stages to avoid disappointments (example: appropriate sample size)

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How can I manage my project?

How the work would be co-ordinated and supervised

Problems anticipated

difficulties which may interfere with successful completion within time and costs proposed

Expected outcomes

advancement of knowledge

how results would be utilized

means of dissemination of results32

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Activities June 2012

July 2012

Augus2012

Sept2012

Oct2012

Nov2012

Dec2012

Jan 2013

Preparing proposal X X

Literature review X X X X X X X X

Ethical clearance X X

Development of data collection instruments

X

Preparing funding proposal

X X

Duration of study – time plan

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Activities Oct2012

Nov2012

Dec2012

Jan2013

Feb 2013

March 2013

April2013

May 2013

Pre testing of instruments X

Validation of methods / instruments

X

Data collection & Entry

X X

Data analysis X

Final report & Dissemination X X

Duration of study – time plan

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How can I prepare a budget proposal

Personnel costs

Supplies

e.g. chemicals, reagents, test kits, stationery

Equipment

Subject costs

e.g. reimbursement of bus fares , compensation for time lost

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Travel

Data analysis

Budget summary

Budget justification

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Budget1st year 2nd year

Personnel

professional / scientific staff

N – person months

Technical staff

Other

Equipment

Supplies

stationary

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Budget summary – for each year of duration of project provide sub totals under each budget item

1st year 2nd year

Personnel

Equipment

Supplies

Travel

Data analysis

Dissemination of findings

Grand Total

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Budget justification

Provide justification for the amounts asked for under each budget item in detail

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Disseminating Research findings

• Presenting abstracts at the academic forum

• Publishing as journal article

• Publishing as research report

• Press conference

• Mailing or communicating research findings to relevant stake holders

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Produce a good abstract

• Standard format should be followed

• It has 4 Essential parts

1. Why the study was done: Objectives2. What was done: Methods3. What was found: Results4. Conclusions/Interpretation

• Stick to prescribed word limit

• Be clear and concise and avoid superfluous detail 5/2/2013

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SLMA requirement on Abstracts submission

• The text of the abstract should not exceed 250 words. It should be structured as follows:

1. Objectives

2. Design, setting and methods ( including statistical methods where relevant)

3. Results

4. Conclusions

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Where can one submit his or her abstract?• Regional clinical societies/ Medical Associations

• Sri Lanka Medical Association

• Professional Colleges/ Universities

• Other academic societies

• International Conferences

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Where can one submit his or her abstract? (continued)Cautions• Study the criteria for submission of abstracts

• How relevant is my study to the session/ conference theme and participants

• Ensure publication of the abstract

• Include co-authors• Declare presentation in another forum• Declare conflicts of interest• Acknowledgements

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Oral presentation or poster?

Oral• Cheap presentation• Prominence• Have to present in the

podium• More opportunities for

critical evaluation

Poster• Expensive poster• Less prominence• Have to stay with the

poster during “intervals”• Less opportunities for

critical evaluation

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