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Writing a research Writing a research proposalproposal

Jan Illing, Jan Illing, Gill Morrow and Charlotte KergonGill Morrow and Charlotte Kergon

What is a research proposal?What is a research proposal?

A document that focuses on:A document that focuses on:• What the research is aboutWhat the research is about• A plan of how the research is to be doneA plan of how the research is to be done• Forms basis of a contract betweenForms basis of a contract between

researcher and supervisor/funding bodyresearcher and supervisor/funding body

Why do we need it?Why do we need it?

• Requirement for funders to assess theRequirement for funders to assess the

quality of the planned researchquality of the planned research• Requirement for research undertaken atRequirement for research undertaken at

UniversitiesUniversities• Required by ethics committeesRequired by ethics committees•Helps clarify thoughtsHelps clarify thoughts

The stages of getting a The stages of getting a proposal togetherproposal together

Identify the problem/concept and Identify the problem/concept and potential impactpotential impact•What are you trying to find out?What are you trying to find out?•What is the research question?What is the research question?•Is there a hypothesis?Is there a hypothesis?

•Needs to hold your interest and beNeeds to hold your interest and be

something you have energy forsomething you have energy for

Identify a good research Identify a good research questionquestion

•Look at the literatureLook at the literature•Talk it over with colleagues/supervisorTalk it over with colleagues/supervisor

A good research question needs to:A good research question needs to:• be feasible (time, resources, expertise)be feasible (time, resources, expertise)• provide focus provide focus • set boundariesset boundaries• check assumptions, define any terms/variables check assumptions, define any terms/variables • be answerable! be answerable!

The literature reviewThe literature review• Provides the research backgroundProvides the research background• Tells a story about what has been doneTells a story about what has been done

already/what is knownalready/what is known• What are the gaps?What are the gaps?• Your study should be the obvious nextYour study should be the obvious next

thing to do!thing to do!

How to do a literature How to do a literature review review •Search relevant databases (Medline, Search relevant databases (Medline,

Embase etc., view journals, books, policy Embase etc., view journals, books, policy documents, conference abstracts)documents, conference abstracts)•Summarise main findings – only provideSummarise main findings – only provide

detail if very relevant e.g. if findings aredetail if very relevant e.g. if findings are

controversial or very few studiescontroversial or very few studies• Write lit review up chronologically (if Write lit review up chronologically (if

meaningful) or in themesmeaningful) or in themes•Keep it succinct and relevant!Keep it succinct and relevant!

Systematic literature Systematic literature reviewreview

• A systematic literature review is different – A systematic literature review is different –

literature is not part of the study but is theliterature is not part of the study but is the

study! study! •The search terms, criteria for including andThe search terms, criteria for including and

excluding studies need to guide the study.excluding studies need to guide the study.• Need to set up coding frame to code theNeed to set up coding frame to code the

studies intostudies into• Look at systematic reviews e.g. BEME, CockraneLook at systematic reviews e.g. BEME, Cockrane• Needs to be reproducible! Needs to be reproducible!

MethodsMethods• Sample – who/what? and how will you recruit Sample – who/what? and how will you recruit

them/get data?them/get data?• Research question should point to type ofResearch question should point to type of

methods (e.g. Is it about deeper understandingmethods (e.g. Is it about deeper understanding

of issues or size of problem? Or both?)of issues or size of problem? Or both?)• Understand the method, talk to experts, read Understand the method, talk to experts, read

up on methods, what are the pitfalls?up on methods, what are the pitfalls?• Look at relevant papers – how did others Look at relevant papers – how did others

approach the method?approach the method?

Method – details, details, Method – details, details, details!details!

• Weak proposals lack details! ButWeak proposals lack details! But keep succinct!keep succinct!• Justify choice of methodsJustify choice of methods• Can you walk me through the wholeCan you walk me through the whole

study, day by day, minute by minute whatstudy, day by day, minute by minute what

will happen next? how will it happen?will happen next? how will it happen?• Anticipate problems – how can you increase Anticipate problems – how can you increase recruitment? improve on response rate? avoid recruitment? improve on response rate? avoid large study drop out? improve on questions large study drop out? improve on questions asked/questionnaire quality?asked/questionnaire quality?

Think about qualityThink about quality•Robust methodsRobust methods•Sample size –power calculationSample size –power calculation•Response ratesResponse rates•Testing data collection toolsTesting data collection tools•Issues of validity and reliabilityIssues of validity and reliability•Trustworthiness and dependabilityTrustworthiness and dependability•TriangulationTriangulation

Analysis of dataAnalysis of data

The proposal should show that you have The proposal should show that you have already thought about the data you will already thought about the data you will collect and how you propose to analyse it collect and how you propose to analyse it E.g. E.g. • Qualitative approach eg Grounded theoryQualitative approach eg Grounded theory• Statistical tests Statistical tests

Get advice! Get advice!

Ethical questions?Ethical questions?

• Do you need to submit an application toDo you need to submit an application to

NRES or your University ethics committee?NRES or your University ethics committee?• Impact on publicationImpact on publication• State if study will/will not require ethical State if study will/will not require ethical

review (if yes, build in extra time needed)review (if yes, build in extra time needed)

Need to do ethical researchNeed to do ethical research

Anticipate what could go wrong! Anticipate what could go wrong!

Important issues to considerImportant issues to consider

• Informed consent – participants need toInformed consent – participants need to

be informed about the study, to volunteer be informed about the study, to volunteer • Confidentiality –protecting identity ofConfidentiality –protecting identity of

participants and reporting data that doesparticipants and reporting data that does

not identify individualsnot identify individuals• Anonymity – avoids collecting names etcAnonymity – avoids collecting names etc

Increases potential for more critical Increases potential for more critical

commentcomment

Plans for disseminationPlans for dissemination

List plans for dissemination List plans for dissemination

e.g.e.g. conference presentations journal conference presentations journal publications publications

Also any planned activities such as Also any planned activities such as hosting a meeting and presentations hosting a meeting and presentations to funding body/peer group/study to funding body/peer group/study participants etcparticipants etc

Study managementStudy managementGood support/advice increases study quality Good support/advice increases study quality

Reduces risk of:Reduces risk of:

failure to complete failure to complete

producing poor quality dataproducing poor quality data

Who will support the study? Who will support the study?

Supervisor, subject experts, research Supervisor, subject experts, research experts, relevant othersexperts, relevant others

Costing the studyCosting the study

• Produce Gantt chart of activitiesProduce Gantt chart of activities• Identify work streams – time, intensityIdentify work streams – time, intensity

and level of expertise required (seekand level of expertise required (seek

advice if need to cost research time?)advice if need to cost research time?)

Costings - also list any time Costings - also list any time provided freeprovided free

Staffing RA grade 7

25 days 2000

RA grade 7

25 days 2000

Non staff

Catering 100

Transcribing 2000

Travel 200

Total costs 6300

Gantt chart of activities and timeGantt chart of activities and timeInclude time to gain ethics approvable if appropriateInclude time to gain ethics approvable if appropriate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Nov

Lit review

Recruitment

Focus groups

Data analysis

Write report

Disseminate

AppendicesAppendices•Questionnaires/tools Questionnaires/tools •Topic guideTopic guide•Letters (for ethics only)Letters (for ethics only)•Letters of support e.g. From Letters of support e.g. From

collaborators, Trustscollaborators, Trusts•May need to supply names of refereesMay need to supply names of referees

Track record – CV, statement Track record – CV, statement about strengthsabout strengthsHave you got the expertise? Or are you Have you got the expertise? Or are you working with (collaborate) or supported by working with (collaborate) or supported by those who do?those who do?•Subject expertiseSubject expertise•Previous grantsPrevious grants•PublicationsPublications•PresentationsPresentations•Research trainingResearch training

Finally!Finally!

•Proof readProof read•Ask a lay person to read itAsk a lay person to read it•Does it make sense?Does it make sense?•Double check guidance from funding Double check guidance from funding

body/Unibody/Uni•Is everything included?Is everything included?

Thank you!

j.c.illing@dur.ac.uk

Question and Answer Question and Answer session (10 mins)session (10 mins)

Workshop activities (30 minsWorkshop activities (30 mins))

FacilitatorsFacilitators

Jan IllingJan Illing

Gill Morrow and Gill Morrow and

Charlotte KergonCharlotte Kergon