4.5. Study Variables
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4.5. Study Variables May 2020 KEY QUESTION? ▪ What do we want to measure? ▪ How do we measure it?
Transcript of 4.5. Study Variables
4.5. Study Variables
May 2020
KEY QUESTION?
▪ What do we want to measure?
▪ How do we measure it?
4.5. Study Variables…
Identify the variable:
▪ What do we want to measure?
▪ It is linked to your objective (review your
objectives)
▪ List all variables to be studied.
Measuring the variable:
▪ How do we measure it?
▪ Write the definition for your variable (easily
understandable)
▪ Determine the type of variable
▪ Determine the scale of measurement
May 2020
Dependent variable:
◼ Used to describe or measure the problem under
study.
Dependent variable:
◼ Used to describe or measure the factors that are
assumed to influence (or cause) the problem
Confounding variables:
◼ A variable associated with both the problem and
possible cause of the problem.
Relationship between variables
May 2020
Relationship between variables…
Cause Effect/Outcome
(Independent Variable) (Dependent Variable)
e.g. Smoking e.g. Birth weight
Other Factors
(Confounding Factors)
e.g. household income
May 2020
Example:
Factors affecting the survival of HIV infected children after
initiation of ART in Bahirdar, Ethiopia, 2107
Dependent Variable?
Independent variable?
WHAT IS VARIABLE…
May 2020
Example:
Factors affecting the survival of HIV infected children after
initiation of ART in Bahirdar, Ethiopia, 2107
Dependent Variable?
▪ Survival Time
Independent variable?
▪ Factors affecting survival time:
▪ Demographic factors: Age, sex, weight …
▪ Socio-economic factors: Income
▪ Clinical & virological factors: Hgb, CD4, Prophylaxis,
TB-treatment status, reason for ART, WHO Clinical
stage, Type of ART, Viral Load…
WHAT IS VARIABLE…
May 2020
▪ Variables are characteristics which takes different values in
different persons, places or things
▪ Variables can be broadly classified into: -
1. Categorical (qualitative) or
2. Numerical variables (Quantitative)
Variables
May 2020
Categorical (Qualitative) variables: -▪ Cannot be measured in quantitative form but can only be
sorted by name or categories
E.g. Place of birth, ethnic group, types of drug etc.
Numerical (Quantitative) Variables: -▪ Can be measured (or counted) and expressed in terms of
numbers (expressed numerically)
◦ Has the notion of magnitude
Variables…
May 2020
▪ Quantitative variable is divided in to two:
Discrete Vs Continuous Variables
Discrete: ▪ Can only have a limited no of discrete values
▪ Often only integer numbers are possible
▪Usually whole numbers (only whole numbers are
possible).
▪ Characterized by gaps or interruptions in the values
▪ Both the order and the magnitude for the values matter
▪ The values are not just labels, but are actual
measurable quantities
Examples: CD4 count, HIV viral load
Variables…
May 2020
Continuous Variables: -▪ Have an infinite number of possible values in any given
interval
▪ Any value is conceivable
▪ Both the magnitude and the order of the values matter
▪ Does not possess the gaps or interruptions
Example: Wt, ht, age etc….
Variables…
May 2020
▪ Clearly not all measurements are the same.
▪ Measuring an individuals weight is qualitatively different from
measuring their response to some treatment on a three
category of scale, “improved”, “stable”, “not improved”.
▪ Measuring scales are different according to the degree of
precision involved.
▪ There are four types of scales of measurement.
Scales of measurement
May 2020
Nominal scale:▪ Uses names, labels, or symbols to assign each
measurement to one of a limited number of categories that
cannot be ordered.
▪ Mutually exclusive unordered categories (Each item must fit
into exactly one category).
Examples Sex: Male, FemaleRace/ethnicity: White, Black, Latino, Asian, Native american, etc.)Blood Type: A, B, O, ABMarital Status: Single, Married, Widowed, Separated
Scales of measurement
May 2020
Nominal data can be summarized in:▪ Tables – using counts and percentages
▪ Bar chart/graph
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
Ordinal scale:▪ Ordered Categories
▪ Assigns each measurement to one of a limited number of
categories that are ranked in terms of a graded order.
Examples
Adverse events
Mild, moderate, severe, life-threatening, death
Income
Low, medium, high
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
Interval scale:
▪ Assigns each measurement to one of an unlimited number
of categories that are equally spaced.
▪ In interval data the intervals between values are the same.
▪ Zero is by itself a value, the selected zero point is not
necessarily a true zero in that it does not have to indicate a
total absence of the quantity being measured.
▪ It has no true zero point.
▪ Not only is it possible to order measurements, but also the
distance between any two measurements is known.
Examples
▪ Temperature measured on Celsius or Fahrenheit
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
Interval scale…
▪ We know, say, that the difference between a measurement of
20 and a measurement of 30 is equal to the difference
between measurements of 30 and 40.
Examples
▪ Temperature measured on Celsius or Fahrenheit
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
Ratio scale:
▪ Measurement begins at a true zero point and
the scale has equal space.
▪ Is the interval level with the additional property that there is
also a natural zero starting point (where zero indicates that
none of the quantity is present)
▪ The data values in ratio data do have meaningful
ratios
Examples
▪ Examples: Height, weight, blood pressure
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
Ratio scale:
For example…
Age is a ratio data, and someone who is 40 is twice as old as
someone who is 20.
Weight
Height
Price
Interval and ratio data are grouped under metric data.
Scales of measurement…
May 2020
▪ Refers to defining the variables.
▪ Two types of definition are required:
▪ Conceptual definition:
• Define the variable as it is conceived.
E.g. Overweight: Excessive fatness/overweight
▪ Operational definition:
▪ Working definition
▪ Operationalize your variables (provide indicator or
measurement for non-measurable variables)
4.6. Operational Definition
May 2020
Example:
▪ In a study on VCT acceptance, if you want to determine the
level knowledge concerning HIV in order to find out to what
extent the factor ‘poor knowledge’ influences willingness to be
tested for HIV.
▪ The factor ‘level of knowledge’ cannot be measured
▪ You would need to develop a series of questions to assess a
person’s knowledge and the answer to this question form an
indicator
Operationalizing variables…
May 2020
Example…
▪ If 10 questions were asked, you might decide that the
knowledge of those with:
▪ 0 to 3 correct answers is poor knowledge,
▪ 4 to 6 correct answers is reasonable, and
▪ 7 to 10 correct answers is good knowledge.
Operationalizing variables…
May 2020
4.7. Data Collection procedure and methods
May 2020
KEY QUESTION?
▪ What techniques will be best to answer
the question?
▪ How should we train data collectors?
▪ How do we check whether our data
collection techniques is best for our
study?
4.7. Data Collection procedure and methods
Indicate:
▪ The data collection instrument
▪ What tool do we need?
▪ How do we design the tool?
▪ Data collection method
▪ How do we apply it?
▪ Data collectors & supervisor (if any)
▪ Who will do it?
May 2020
▪ Allow as systematically collect data about our objects of
study (people, objects, and phenomenon)
Includes:
Observation
Self -administered Questionnaire
Interviews
Using available information
Focus group discussions (FGD)
Data Collection Methods…
May 2020
▪The choice of data collection method depend on:
▪ The accuracy of the information they will
yield
▪ Practical consideration (personnel, time,
equipment and other facilities
NB: Accuracy and practicability are often inversely
correlated
A method providing more satisfactory information will
often be more expensive/inconvenient
Data Collection Methods…
May 2020
▪ Use of documentary sources (secondary data)
▪ Interviews
▪ Self-administered questionnaires
Quantitative Data Collection Methods
May 2020
1. Use of documentary sources
▪ The use of information from;
▪ Publications (by MOH, Other GOs, NGOs...)
▪ News Papers and Journals.
▪ Clinical records and other personal records
▪ Death certificate
▪ Census publication, etc...
Advantages
▪ Ready made information (easy and less costly)
▪ Best for studying past events May 2020
Disadvantages:
▪Reliability and Validity of the data is a problem
(collected by different person ... Different definition,
purpose, method)
▪Possibility of introducing error when data is extracted
( example: unreliability of handwriting)
▪May not include all information needed (because the
information is not recorded for research)
1. Use of documentary sources...
May 2020
▪ The data collectors interviews the study subjects to collect the data
▪ Can be more or less structured interview
Disadvantage ▪ Expensive and time consuming ▪ Requires skilled interviewer
Advantages: ▪ Frank answering of questions ▪ Clarification of the question if not understood ▪ Possibility of “follow-up” questions or probing questions ▪ The interviewer can make observation during interview
2. Interview
May 2020
▪ Use it when:
▪ Respondents have poor literacy
▪ You need to allow respondents to clarify
questions
▪ You want a better response rate
▪ If it can provide you with a better data tna the
rest
May 2020
2. Interview…
3. Self-administered Questionnaire
▪ Respondents reads and fills the questions by his/herself
Advantage:
▪ Simpler and cheaper (can be administered to many persons simultaneously)
Disadvantage:
▪ But requires certain level of education from the respondents
NB: Apart from their expense, interviews are preferable to self-
administered questionnaire
May 2020
▪ Use it when:
▪ The respondents are literate
▪ Geographical accessibility is an issue
▪ You need to provide confidentiality and
anonymity to the respondents
May 2020
3. Self-administered Questionnaire…
a) Observation?
b) Focused group discussion?
a) Qualitative interviews?
Qualitative Data Collection Method
May 2020
▪ Systematically selecting, watching and recoding behaviors of
people or other phenomena and aspects of the setting in
which they occur
▪ Includes all methods from simple visual observations to the
use of high level machines and measurements, sophisticated
equipment
1. Observation
May 2020
Advantage: ▪ Gives relatively more accurate data
Disadvantage:▪ Investigators or observers own bias, desires
▪ Needs more skilled human power and resources during the
use of high level machine
a. Observation…
May 2020
▪ Qualitative interviews are semi structured or unstructured.
▪ If the interview schedule is too tightly structured this may
not enable the phenomena under investigation to be
explored in terms of either breadth or depth.
▪ Semi structured interviews tend to work well when the
interviewer has already identified a number of aspects he
wants to be sure of addressing.
Called focused interview
b. Qualitative interview
May 2020
▪ Involve a series of open ended questions based on the topic
areas the researcher wants to cover.
▪ Qualitative interviews should be fairly informal.
▪ Interviewees should feel as though they are participating in
a conversation or discussion rather than in a formal
question and answer situation.
b. Qualitative interview…
May 2020
▪ Collect information from groups.
▪ Useful to obtain certain types of information or when
circumstances would make it difficult to collect information
using other methods to data collection.
▪ A group discussion of 6-12 persons guided by a facilitator,
during which group members talk freely and spontaneously
about a certain topic.
c. Focused Group Discussion
May 2020
▪ Used to obtain in-depth information on concepts,
perceptions, and ideas of the group.
▪ It aims to be more than a question-answer
interaction.
c. Focused Group Discussion…
May 2020
Steps in FGD▪ Recruitment of participants: Same background & socio-
economic status
▪ Physical arrangements: Arrange the chairs in a circle. Quiet,
adequately lighted, etc., and that there will be no disturbances.
▪ Preparation of a discussion guide: There should be a written list
of topics to be covered (can be listed as open-ended questions).
▪ During the discussion: One of the members of the research
team should act as a "facilitator" for the focus group. One should
serve as "recorder.“▪ Report writing
c. Focused Group Discussion…
May 2020
Defective instruments
Questionnaires with;
• Fixed or closed questions on topic about which little is
known (asking the ‘wrong thing’)
• Open ended questions without guidelines on how to
ask them
• Vaguely phrased questions
• Leading questions placed in an illogical order
• Un-standardized measuring scales
Bias in Information Collection
May 2020
Observer bias:
▪ The data collector will only see or hear things in
which he is interested (will miss the information that
is critical to the research).
To minimize this…
• Use observation protocols and guidelines
• Data collectors can work in pairs
Bias in Information Collection…
May 2020
Effect of the interview on the informant:
▪ The informant may mistrust the intention of the
interview and dodge certain question and give
misleading answers
▪ Take care when selecting the interviewers
Information bias:
▪ Incomplete information
▪ Recall bias
Bias in Information Collection…
May 2020
Selection of the method of data collection could be based
on:
1. The need for personnel, skills, equipment, etc. in
relation to what is available and the urgency with
which results are needed.
2. The acceptability of the procedures to the subjects
3. The probability that the method will provide a good
coverage
Data collection methods…
May 2020
Data collection Tools:
May 2020
KEY QUESTION?
▪ What tools do we need?
Can be:
▪ Questionnaire
▪ Check list
▪ Observation/FGD/In-depth interview guide
Open ended questions: -
▪ Permit free responses that should be recorded in the
respondents own words.
▪ The respondent is not given any possible answers to
chosen from
▪ Such questions are useful to obtain information on: -
▪ Facts with which the researchers is not familiar
▪ Opinions, attitudes, and suggestion of informants
▪ Sensitive issues
Types of questions used for data collection
Example: Can you describe exactly the causes of malnutrition in Ethiopia?
May 2020
Closed ended questions: -
▪ Offer a list of possible options or answers from which
the respondents must choose
▪ One should try to offer a list of options that are
exhaustive and mutually exclusive
▪ Keep the number of options as few as possible
Example:What is your marital status?
a. Single □
b. Married □
c. Separated / Divorce / Widowed □
Types of questions used for data collection…
May 2020
Requirements of questions
o Must be clear and unambiguous
o Must not be offensive
o The questions should be fair
o Sensitive questions
Types of questions used for data collection…
May 2020
Step 1: Content
Step 2: Formulating Question
Step 3: Sequencing Question
Step 4: Formatting the Question
Step 5: Translating the questions
Steps in designing a questionnaire
May 2020
▪ Take your objectives and variables as your
starting point.
▪ Decide what questions will be needed to
measure, define study variables and reach study
objectives
Step 1: Content
May 2020
Step 1: Content …
Structure it as follows
• Introduction (information sheet & consent)
• (purpose, confidentiality, use of data & potential benefit
of the study)
• Socio-demographic information
• (personal information, household and geographical
information)
• Main study questions
• (make sure the questions answers the study objectives
(variables
• Closing statement (Thank you)May 2020
▪ Formulate one or more questions
▪ Questions should be specific and precise enough
▪ Check whether each question measures one thing at a
time
▪ Avoid leading questions
▪ Avoid combined questions.
Example: How large an interval would you and your
husband prefer between two successive births?
Step 2: Formulating Questions
May 2020
▪ Design your interview schedule or questionnaire to be
“consumer friendly.”
▪ The sequence of questions must be logical for the
respondent
▪ At the beginning of the interview, keep questions
concerning “background variables”
▪ Start with an interesting but non-controversial question
▪ Pose more sensitive questions as late as possible
▪ Use simple everyday language.
Step 3: Sequencing questions
May 2020
▪ Make sure each questionnaire has a heading, space and
location of interview
▪ Your questionnaire should not only be consumer
but also user friendly!
▪ Lay out such that questionnaire belonging
together appear together
Step 4: Formatting the questions
May 2020
▪ The 1st translator and 2nd re-translator are not
friendship
▪ The translation is done on three steps
Step 5: Translating the questions
i.e. National (international) language => Local language => Original language
Example:
English / Amharic → Sidama → English /Amharic
May 2020
Mechanisms of Ensuring the Quality of Data
• Prepare a field work manual for the research team
(guideline on sampling procedure, purpose and
procedure of the study and instruction on how to ask
and record)
• Select research assistants and train them
• Pre-test
• Supervision
4.8. Data Quality Assurance and Management
May 2020
▪ What will we do with the collected data?
Steps:
▪ Compile, check, label, and store
▪ Design data base (decide on the software
you want to use).
▪ Enter the data into database
▪ Clean the data
▪ Plan for data analysis, interpretation &
presentation
May 2020
4.9. Data processing and analysis
Any ethical consideration for:
• Respondents?
• Researchers?
Points to include (Respondents)
▪ Respect the confidentiality of the respondents
▪ Participation in the study must be voluntary
▪ Provide full information about the study to the respondents
(risk, benefit) – get a consent
▪ Do not harm the respondents
▪ Respondents should not be paid for participation
4.10. Ethical Considerations
May 2020
Points to include (Researcher)
▪ Conflict of interest between the researcher and
study conducted
▪ Make sure the study is scientifically and
methodologically sound
▪ Integrity in data collection, analysis,
interpretation and presentation
▪ Researchers must be aware in detail about the
study
May 2020
4.10. Ethical Considerations….
4.11. Dissemination Plan
▪ Indicate to which concerned bodies you are going
to disseminate the result
• Presentation
• Publication
May 2020
▪ A schedule, chart or graph that summarizes the
different components of a research project and how they
will be implemented in a coherent way within a specific
time span.
It may include:
• The tasks to be performed;
• When and where the tasks will be performed; and
• Who will perform the tasks and the time each person will
spend on them.
•How to monitor the progress
5. Work Plan
May 2020
• Use work schedule and Gantt chart
• A work plan can serve as:
▪ A tool for planning the details of the project
activities and drafting a budget.
▪ Visual outline or illustration of the sequence of
project operations
▪ Management tool for the Team Leader and
members of the research team
▪ A tool for monitoring and evaluation
5. Work Plan…
May 2020
5. Work Plan…
May 2020
Activities Time
Dec
2018
Jan
2019
Feb
2019
Mar
2019
Apr
2019
May
2018
Jun
2019* Topic selection
* Proposal development
* Submission of final proposal
* Data collection
* Data compilation and analysis
* Write up of the final paper
* Submission of the final paper
* Defense
▪ Resource requirement and appropriation:
▪ Identify the areas that needs funding
▪ Personnel cost
▪ Equipments and supplies
▪ Transportation, etc
▪ Calculate the costs involved
▪ Identify sources of funding
May 2020
6. Budget
6. Budget
May 2020
7. References
Two style of reference citation:
▪ Vancouver system:
▪ The references in your text can be numbered in the sequence in
which they appear in the report and then listed in this order in the
list of references
▪ Harvard system:
▪ Listing in brackets the author’s name(s) in the text followed by the
date of the publication and page number, for example: (Shan 2000:
84).
▪ In the list of references, the publications are then arranged in
alphabetical order by the principal author’s last name.May 2020
7. References…
▪ Use only one style of referencing consistently throughout the
proposal)
NB: Your references should be up-to-date [not before 2008G.C.]
May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Print Materials 1. Book:
General format:
▪ Author(s). Title of book. Edition. City of publication: Publisher; Year of
publication.
Examples:
Two authors with edition
▪ Jacobs P, Rapoport J. The economics of health and medical care. 5th ed.
Toronto: Jones and Barlett Publishers; 2004.
One editor
▪ Wood DC, editor. The economics of health and wellness: anthropological
perspectives. Boston: Emerald/JAI; 2008. May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Print Materials…2. Journal article
General format:
▪ Author. Title of article. Abbreviated title of journal Year Month
day of publication; volume number(issue number):page
numbers.
Example:
Two authors, day of publication is not given
▪ Gades MD, Stern JS. Chitosan supplementation and fat
absorption in men and women. J Am Diet Assoc 2005 Jan
105(1):72-7.May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Print Materials…
3. Newspaper article
General format:
▪ Author. Title of article. Newspaper Title (Edition). Year Month
day of publication;Sect. letter:page number (column number).
Example:
One author, final edition
▪ Smith T. Packing on the pounds adds year: study of Canadian
adults say underweight seniors at risk. Edmonton Journal (Final
Ed.). 2009 Jun 24;Sect. A:7 (col. 1).May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Electronic Sources
1. Journal article from library subscription database
General format:
▪ Author. Title of article. Abbreviated title of journal [Internet].
Year Month day of publication [cited Year Month Day];volume
number(issue number):page numbers. Available from: URL
May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Electronic Sources…
2. Newspaper article from library subscription database
▪ Use the print format and include elements that refer to the
electronic version (in bold).
General format:
▪ Author. Title of article. Newspaper Title [Internet]. (Edition).
Year Month day of publication [cited Year Month Day];Sect.
Location. Available from: URL
May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Electronic Sources…
3. Electronic book from library subscription database
General format:
▪ Author(s). Title of book [Internet]. Edition. City of publication:
Publisher; Year of publication [cited Year Month Day]. Available
from: URL
May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Electronic Sources…
4. Website
- If you are not able to find all of the information identified in the
general format, include only what is available from the source.
General format:
▪ Author(s). Title of website [Internet]. City of publication:
Publisher; Publication/copyright date(s) [updated Year Month
Day; cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
May 2020
7. References…
How to write a reference: Electronic Sources…
5. Webpage or document from a website
▪ If you are not able to find all of the information
identified in the general format, include only what is
available from the source.
General format:
▪ Title of homepage [Internet]. City of publication:
Publisher; Publication/copyright date of homepage.
Title of webpage or document; Year Month Day of
publication of webpage or document [cited Year
Month Day];[pagination of webpage or document].
Available from: URLMay 2020
Annex
▪ The annexes should contain any additional information needed
to enable professionals to follow your research procedures and
data analysis.
▪ Information that would be useful to special categories of readers
but is not of interest to the average reader can be included in
annexes as well.
▪ May include;
▪ Annex I: Dummy tables (optional)
▪ Annex I: Information sheet and Consent form
▪ Annex II: Questionnaire [both English version and that translated to
local language], Check list etc.
▪ Annex III: (Others as necessary like support letters, lists of
hospitals, districts, villages etc. that participated in the study etc.)May 2020
Components and Outline of a Research
Proposal
Look at Appendix 1
May 2020
▪ Name of the Institution
▪ Title of the research project: not more than 20
words
▪ Name of the investigator:
A research proposal submitted to, Universal Medical College,
Research and Publication Office, in partial fulfillment for the
requirement for B.sc Nursing/Pharmacy/Health Officer program.
Cover page 1
May 2020
▪ Name of the Institution
▪ Title of the research project: not more than 20
words
▪ Name of the investigator:
▪ Name of the advisor:
▪ Date and place
Cover page 2
May 2020
▪ It is good practice to thank those who supported you
technically or financially in the design and implementation of
your study.
▪ Also your employer who has allowed you to invest time in the
study and the respondents may be acknowledged.
▪ Acknowledgements are usually placed right after the title page
or at the end of the report, before the references.
▪ Acknowledgment shouldn’t exceed 100 words
Acknowledgement (optional)
May 2020
Summary/Abstract
▪ Only one page (do not exceed 350 words)
▪ Background (problem statement):
▪ Objectives:
▪ Methods:
▪ Work plan:
▪ Budget:
…cont
May 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Not more than two pages)
▪ A table of contents is essential.
▪ It provides the reader a quick overview of the major sections of
your report, with page references, so that (s)he can go through
the report in a different order or skip certain sections.
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES (Not more than two pages)
▪ If you have many tables or figures it is helpful to list these
also, in a ‘table of contents’ type of format with page numbers.
…cont
May 2020
LIST OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS (optional)
▪ If abbreviations or acronyms are used in the report, these
should be stated in full in the text the first time they are
mentioned.
▪ If there are many, they should be listed in alphabetical order
as well.
▪ The list can be placed before the first chapter of the report.
…cont
May 2020
NB:
▪ The table of contents and lists of tables, figures, abbreviations
should be prepared last, as only then can you include the
page numbers of all chapters and sub-sections in the table of
contents.
▪ Then you can also finalize the numbering of figures and tables
and include all abbreviations.
▪ The pages of acknowledgment, table of contents and lists of
tables, figures, abbreviations and acknowledgment should be
numbered in roman numbers
…cont
May 2020
1.1. Background of the study
▪ It should certainly contain,
▪ Some relevant (environmental/ administrative/ economic/ social)
background data about the country
▪ The health status of the population (global and national
overview), and
▪ Health service data which are related to the problem that has
been studied.
[One and half page]
Chapter 1: Introduction
May 2020
Chapter 1: Introduction…
1.2. Statement of the problem
▪ Give definitions and the scope of the problem.
▪ The discrepancy between what is and what should be (its size,
distribution, and severity (who is affected, where, since when,
etc.)
▪ An analysis of the major factors that may influence the problem
▪ Convincing argument that available knowledge is insufficient to
answer a certain question and to update the previous knowledge
▪ Provide the rationale for undertaking the research project in
detail [Ethiopian or local context].
A maximum of three pages (do not exceed 1000 words)May 2020
1.3. Significance of the Study
• Discuss what exactly your research contributes in addressing
the problem in question and how your result will be used in
dealing with the problem.
• It should contain a paragraph on what you hope (d) to achieve
with the results of the study.
One page only (Not exceeding 200 words)
Chapter 1: Introduction…
May 2020
2. Literature Review
▪ Discuss the theoretical and methodological concepts about
the problem.
▪ Discuss what is known and what is not known in the area of
the research.
▪ What are the methodological challenges in the area of the
research?
▪ Discuss the focus of the study based on the above points of
discussion
▪ Write a summary of the literatures reviewed (what are the
gaps identified through literature review?)
Maximum of four to six pages depending on nature of the
research project May 2020
3. Objectives and Hypothesis
3.1. General objective
3.2. Specific objectives: Should be extracted from
the general objectives (maximum of three four
specific objectives)
Only one page, Maximum (Do not exceed 200
words)
May 2020
Chapter 4
4. Methods & Materials
4.1. Study area and period
4.2. Study design
4.3. Population
▪ Target population
▪ Source population
▪ Study population
▪ Inclusion and exclusion criteria
May 2020
4.4. Sample size determination
4.5. Sampling technique/sampling procedures
4.6. Data collection procedures (methods, instrument,
personnel)
4.7. Study variables
4.7.1. Dependent variable
4.7.2. Independent variable
4.8. Data analysis procedures (be specific to the study
objective)
Methods…
May 2020
4.9. Data quality management [methods of maintaining
the quality of the data]
4.10. Operational definitions (if any)
4.11. Ethical consideration
4.12. Dissemination plan
(Maximum three to five pages) do not exceed 1500 words
Methods…
May 2020
Chapter 5: Work plan
▪ (Describe briefly the expected accomplishments of the project by
phase, and the estimated time for each using Gantt chart).
(Only One Page)
Chapter 6: Budget ▪ Give an itemized list of the direct costs of the project. Use separate table
for each item detail and justification of the proposed budget can be
annexed.
▪ Example of budget items:
▪ Personnel cost
▪ Equipments and supplies
▪ Transportation, etc
(Only one page)May 2020
▪ Two style of reference citation:
Vancouver system: The references in your text can be
numbered in the sequence in which they appear in the report and
then listed in this order in the list of references
Harvard system: Listing in brackets the author’s name(s) in the
text followed by the date of the publication and page number, for
example: (Shan 2000: 84).
(Use only one style of referencing consistently throughout the
proposal)
NB: Your references should be up-to-date [not before 2008G.C.]
7. References
May 2020
Annex
▪ The annexes should contain any additional information needed
to enable professionals to follow your research procedures and
data analysis.
▪ Information that would be useful to special categories of readers
but is not of interest to the average reader can be included in
annexes as well.
▪ May include;
▪ Annex I: Dummy Tables (optional)
▪ Annex II: Information sheet and Consent form
▪ Annex III: Questionnaire [both English version and that translated to
local language], Check list etc.
▪ Annex IV: (Others as necessary like support letters, lists of
hospitals, districts, villages etc. that participated in the study etc.)May 2020
General Instruction
May 2020
General Instruction:
▪ This form must be completed in three copies and should be
submitted according to the schedule set by the Research and
Publication Office
▪ Page (word count) limits must be strictly observed
▪ Additional information can be provided in annexes as necessary
▪ Final submission must be approved by the first advisor
May 2020
General Instruction…
▪ Use new times roman for all texts
▪ Use 1.5 spaced 14 font size for headings, 13 for 1st subheading
12for 2nd subheading and 12 with italic third subheadings
▪ Use 12 font size for the body of texts
▪ Pages should be numbered in a single sequence throughout the
proposal
May 2020
General Instruction…
▪ Use either the Harvard (author, year) or the Vancouver
(numbering) style to list your reference but it is important that
you remain consistent throughout.
▪ Good quality A4 sized paper should be used. Margins should
not be less than 35mm at the binding edge and 25mm for all
other margins.
May 2020
