This document outlines the key components and requirements for writing an effective research proposal. It defines a research proposal as a plan or blueprint for a study that provides an overview before the study is conducted. An effective proposal must clearly describe the objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, ethical considerations, and data management plan for the proposed research. It should also identify the investigators and sponsors involved and include all necessary attachments. The proposal allows others to examine the planned research design and ensures all requirements are addressed before the study begins.

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL/ PROTOCOL WRITING
Prof. & Vice Principal- Mrs. Veena M. Joseph
© 2010Chettinad College of Nursing

2. Research Proposal
Definition
• It is the plan or the blue print of the study or preview of
the study
• It is a written document which outlines the plan of a
research study.

3. Purposes
1. Helps examine what the researcher intends to do
2. Submitting a research proposal prior to conduct of a
study is mandatory as a requirement for student
researchers
3. Research proposal can serve as a document of contract
for the project

4. Components of a Proposal
1.Title
2.Proposal summary
• Main objective (main topic/question)
• specific goals (operationalize the question into specific,
testable questions)
• Theoretical framework of project
• brief description of method (number of subjects) and
design (procedure)
• brief statement of potential significance

5.  Proposal main body
3.Introduction / background of the study ( 1. to 1.5 pages )
4.Study goals and objectives
5.Study design
6.Sponsor details
7. Methodology
8.Duration
9.Expected outcome
10.Follow up

6. 11. Data management and statistical analysis
12.Ethical issues and how these issues will be addressed
13.Safety and confidentiality of data
14. Quality assurance
15.Publication policy
16.Annexure / attachment / enclosures.

7. 1. Title
Should be
• Short
• Accurate
• Descriptive
• Concise
• Readable font size to be used ( 12 )
• Avoid more than two fonts
• Key words in the title should make a reader index
• Should include what population study involves

8. 2. Project summary
• Summarizes all the central elements of the proposal
• Should stand on its own and not refer the reader to points in
the project description
• Should be written like the abstract of a research paper, in not
more than 300 words
3. Introduction and background information
• Introduction should be brief
• Background information should be about what has already
been researched in the area with the description of the most
relevant studies published and
• what is yet to be known in this topic which would further
advance the knowledge

9. • A clear statement of the problem, its magnitude, affected
population and the geographical areas, the causes of the
problem and the possible solution which can be achieved
by doing the study has to be discussed
• Should indicate why the research needs to be done and
what will be its relevance
4. Study goals and objectives
• Goals are general statements of what the study intends
to achieve
• Objectives should be written for each goal because the
specify how one will accomplish the goal

10. • Goal can have many objectives
• Objectives can be primary or secondary
• Objectives should be simple and specific
5. Study design
• Quality of a study depends mainly on the study design
and methodology
• The design should include information on the type of
study approach, setting, study population,sample etc

11. 6. Details of the investigator
• Principal investigator & associate investigator
• Name , institute, ph no, email address
• Details of all the persons who will be involved in the
study
7. Sponsor details
• Details of the sponsor
• Nature of sponsorship
• What aspects of the research will be covered should be
stated

12. 8.Methodology
Should describe how exactly one is going to conduct the
study
8.1 design details
8.2 sample
8.3 inclusion / exclusion criteria
8.4 sampling technique
8.5 blinding details
8.6 detailed information on the interventions, procedures

13. 8.8 measurements and observations
• Details of how the observations are going to be recorded
• Instruments which are to be used to collect data
8.9 limitations of the study
9. Duration of the project
the proposal should specify the time that each phase of the
project is likely to take, along with a monthly time line for
each activity to be undertaken.

14. 1/22/10

15. 10. Expected outcome
• State what would be the expected outcome of the study
• How the study will contribute to the advancement of
knowledge
• How the results will be utilized
11. Follow up
• The nature of follow-up that will be provided to the
research participants
• For how long

16. 12. Data management and statistical analysis
• information on how the data will be collected
• Duration of data collection
• Data storage and management
• Data handling and coding for statistical analysis
• Sample size calculation
• Plan for statistical analysis of data

17. 13. Ethical issues
• Information on how and from whom ethical clearence will
be obtained
• Description of ethiocal considerations relating to the
study
• How these issues will tackled
• Informed consent process
14. Safety considerations
• Information on how the safety of the research
participants will be ensured
• Procedures for recording and reporting adverse events,
their follow up and compensation ( if any )

18. 15. Quality assurance
How the quality assurance will be ascertained for the conduct of
the study
16. Dissemination of findings and publication policy
• Plans of publication
17. Attachments
• Curriculum vitae of investigator
• Informed consent forms
• Letters of confirmation from collaborating institutions
• Research documents
• Other supportive documents
18. References