Step 3

Designing the Study and Collecting Data

Chapter 15

Developing a Proposal & Protocol

FIGURE 15- 1 Research Plans for Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Data Collection

Resources for Research

A first step in creating a research plan is to ask:

Are the resources available

– money, time, and collaborators –

adequate for the intended study design?

Resources for Research

Many research projects require little in the way of material resources such as: •Access to a computer with a statistical software program•A decent collection of electronic journals•The cost of photocopying a limited number of questionnairesHowever, some primary studies may become quite expensive.

Resources for Research

Money and materials are not the only resources to consider:•Access to individuals who are willing to contribute their time, expertise, and/or connections•Access to potential study participants or data sets•Access to laboratory, office, or meeting space•Access to equipment like copying machines

Funding Sources

Not all research projects require financial support.

Some projects are enhanced by:•Internal grants from a school or employer •External grants from private foundations, corporations, government agencies, or other sources

Budgets

If grant money is sought, the funding proposal must align with the goals of the sponsoring agency and its typical funding level.

The budget should cover all the essential costs of the research project without being excessive in its total amount or in any category.

Funding Rates

Funding rates are often extremely low, and processing time varies. Waiting for funding can stall projects for lengthy periods of time.

Timelines

Most research proposals include a fairly detailed anticipated schedule for the planned research project.

1.Create a list of all the steps from planning the study through the dissemination of results

2.Create a calendar that shows when each of these steps is expected to begin and end

3.Set deadlines along the way that will help ensure that the project stays on track toward timely completion

Roles & Responsibilities

Research projects proceed most smoothly when all research team members have the same understanding about each person’s roles and responsibilities.

The protocol should include dates for the completion of all tasks and the incentives or reminders to be used to encourage careful and on-time completion.

The “P.I.”

Universities, hospitals, and other institutions typically require one researcher to act as the primary investigator (or principal investigator) and to accept responsibility for guaranteeing that:•The protocol is followed•Any adverse outcomes are immediately reported to the institution’s research ethics committee•The budget is properly managed

The “P.I.”

• In some situations the PI is the person doing the greatest amount of work on the project.

• However, many institutions require a senior employee (such as a professor) to be designated as the PI on all research project that involves human subjects.

Research Proposals

A proposal is usually a request for funding or for supervisory approval.

Research Proposals

Most research proposals contain:•A background that explains the project’s importance•A goals statement•A description of the methods that will be used•An analysis plan•A plan for the dissemination of findings•A timeline•A budget•Information about the researcher(s)

FIGURE 15- 2 Typical Proposal Content

FIGURE 15- 2 Typical Proposal Content

Research Protocols

A protocol is a detailed handbook describing all the actions that will be taken during the implementation of the study.

The research proposal serves as the backbone for developing a very detailed research protocol.

Research Protocols

Ideally, a protocol should:•Describe all the procedures that will be used for data collection and analysis•Provide details about the responsibilities of each member of the research team•List the deadlines for completion of all the steps in the research process•Describe the mechanism for updating any part of the research plan, should the need arise after approval of the initial protocol

Research Protocols

A strong protocol provides enough detail that another researcher could easily replicate the study.

It should also be detailed enough that the entire methods section of any paper that will result from the project could be written before data collection begins.