Writing

Methods
in Research Proposal
Proposal Development
Workshop
7th December 2018
AP Dr.Aniza Abd Aziz
 Proposal Template
Fakulti Perubatan, UniSZA

Garispanduan
Pembentangan
Cadangan Penyelidikan,
Fakulti Perubatan, UniSZA
Aim & Approach
Technical research input (specification)

Direction: 2C 2S
 Correct concept
 Standard structure

Approach: 3R
 Refer to proposal template FP UniSZA
 Relate & compare S2 & S3
 Real example & common mistake
Learning objective
 WHAT
 HOW
Quiz: Questions
1. What does SSS means?

2. What is the importance of research methods?

3. How does writing of methods differ between

research proposal and report?

4. How does writing of methods differ between

Masters and PhD thesis?
Research
report vs
Research
proposal
Research
Health related research is 3S.
• a systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of health and health related
data (scientific approach)

• to answer a certain question

• either increase our understanding of an
health issue or
• to solve a problem related to health.
Research Report
Afinal, full or complete report for a research
which has ended.

 Two types:
 Thesis and dissertation
 Research article published in a journal
@scientific paper

(Piaw, 2012)
Research proposal
A proposal involve writing the planned
research project rather a completed one.

 It
provides the researcher with a systematic
guidance using scientific procedure.

A well-planned proposal will lead to

a successful research.
Research proposal
 Collectingand analyzing data should be
planned in advance.

 Itwill enable the researcher to assess whether

the data collection is feasible and the data
analysis is attainable.

An advanced data planning will lead to

a more organized data collection &
presentation.
Original article writing guideline
using IMRAD
Standard manuscript guideline for biomedical research:
 Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical
Journals
 by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
 Introduction (I)
 Methods (M)
 Results (R)
 and (A)
 Discussion (D)

Note: Applicable for

 observational studies (i.e. retrospective/descriptive)
 experimental studies (i.e. randomised controlled trial)
Proposal vs Report using
IMRAD
Manuscript @ Article Proposal
Introduction (I) Introduction + Rationale + Lit review + Objective

Methods (M) Methods

Results (R) Expected results (Dummy table-quantitative)

And (A) And

Discussion (D) Expected output (option)

Others:
• Proforma & Questionnaire
• Information sheet & Consent Form
 Proposal Template
Fakulti Perubatan, UniSZA

Garispanduan
Pembentangan
Cadangan Penyelidikan,
Fakulti Perubatan, UniSZA
 Content Sub-headings
INTRODUCTION • Background • Problem statement • Rationale of study

OBJECTIVES • Research questions • Research objectives • Operational

• Research hypotheses definitions

LITERATURE • Literature review • Conceptual

REVIEW (follow objective) framework

METHODS • Study design • Study population • Research tool

• Study setting • Sample size calculation • Data collection
• Sampling method • Statistical analyses
• Variable definitions • Flow of data
collection
Expected • Dummy table
(follow objectives)
RESULTS

Milestone & • Milestone • Budget (option)

Gannt chart • Gannt chart

REFERENCES

APPENDICES • Proforma & Information sheet &

Questionnaire Consent Form Outline of Proposal
The importance of Methods
section
 It establishes the validity of your results.
 Achieve the research objectives
 Measures are correct and acceptable

 It contain sufficient information to allow other

researchers to replicate and verify the
findings.
Validity concept
in research
Objective

Literature

Methods

Results

Discussion
 Ethical aspects of
study design and data analysis

 Right research design

able to address the research hypotheses e.g.
prevalence by cross sectional, causality by RCT

 Adequate sample size

sample size calculation to ensure sufficient size to
• capture the prevalence
• test the hypothesis or minimally detect any
differences
 Ethical aspects of
study design and data analysis

 Appropriate sampling method

discover the sampling frame and use
probability sampling to ensure
representativeness of the finding to the
population of interest

 Correct statistical analysis

answer the research objectives
Content in METHODS
Methods content
Need to inform or describe clearly to the
readers/assessor
 WHAT kind of approach and data?
 WHERE is it going to be done?
 WHO will be involved and how many?
 HOW is it going to be done?
Methods content
 WHAT, WHERE: study design, study setting
 WHO: study population, sample size
 HOW:
 sampling method
 research tool
 data collection method
 analyses
Content in METHODS
Sub-sections
Study design*
Study population
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria Eligibility criteria
Sample size calculation*
Sampling method*
Variable definition
Research tool
Data collection
Flowchart of study
Description
Type of study
Reference, Source, Sampling frame, Sample, Subject
Minimum number of sample
Technique used to recruit sample
Definition of outcome and independent variables
Description of ALL instruments used in the study
Description of how data is collected
Overall description of study method

* Require standard scientific procedure

 Types of study design

Others:
Module Development
New Questionnaire/Screening test Development
 Quantitative study design

Figure 1: Type of common study design and its alternative names

Objective & study design
 Study population
Example title of research:
Coping mechanism and its moderating factors among
female lung cancer patients in Sumatera Utara

REFERENCE POPULATION

SOURCE POPULATION

Criteria
SAMPLING FRAME

Sampling
method
SAMPLE

Consent
SUBJECTS

Randomization
experimental control
 Types of
Sampling Method

PROBABILITY Quantitative
SAMPLING

Simple Systematic Stratified Cluster

Multistage
Random Random Random Random

NON
NON
PROBABILITY Quantitative & Qualitative
PROBABILITY
SAMPLING
SAMPLING

Convenience Volunteer Purposive Consecutive Quota Snowball

Variable definition vs
Operational definition
 Variable
definition = definition of
characteristics being measured

 Operational definition = how the

researcher decide to measure its core
variables (usually referring to outcome) in
the study
Research tool @instrument vs
Research procedure
@method data collection
 Research tool = Equipment use to collect
data (outline, validation)

 Research procedure = Activities involve in

collecting the data (step by step description,
apply common approach)
 Flowchart of study
Reference Cases treated at accident & emergency department,
population Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Source Cases treated at accident & emergency department,

population Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia during study period

Not eligible Inclusion & Exclusion criteria

Sampling
Eligible study sample
Frame

Systematic random sampling

Not consented
Informed consent obtained
Study
Sample Consented study sample

Study
subjects
Actual participants [n= ]

Data collection
Dead, GSC < 8,
transferred to ICU
Follow-up

Data analysis

Results & conclusion

 Conceptual Framework
vs Flowchart of study
Maxillofacial Trauma caused
Cases by motor vehicle accident,
admit to Oral and
Maxillofacial Ward

Demography:
Clinical characteristics:
Age
Gender Severity
Ethnic Level of consciousness
Study Weight Length of stay
Height Types of procedure
factors
Site of injury
Mode of injury: Types of fracture
Complications
Types of vehicle Infection
Rider/passenger/ Reoperation
pedestrian

Outcome
of Cost of Management
interest (RM)
 Tips in writing
METHODS in proposal
Tips 1: Describe step by step
 PhDthesis usually demand a more detail
explanation to answer a more complex
research objectives.

 Descriptionmust be describe in logical,

sequential and understandable manner.
Tips 2: Describe in phases
 Complexmethods could be presented in
phases accordingly.

 Example:
Phase I: Qualitative
 Study design
 Sampling method
 …
Phase II: Quantitative
 Study design
 Sampling method
 …
Tips 3 : Describe & justify
 Describe: for reader to understand the process
 Justify: for reader to accept the process

Example:
 Describe & justify the chosen study design,
choice of population and preferred procedure
 especially if choose the uncommon once
Tips 4: Avoid grammatical
mistakes
 Thedescription of planned activities in
proposal is in future tense.

 Title and headings use capitalization.

Tips 5: Citation in methods
 Cite
the author or source of instrument or
procedure.
Tips 6: Others
 Other important subsections:
 Pilot study
 Validation of questionnaire
Writing proposed
methods in
research proposal
Refer to the example
 PhDproposal by Ruhana, (2015)
 BMC protocols
Relevant websites
 http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/rese
archproposal

 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.c
om/articles?query=protocols&volume=&s
earchType=&tab=keyword
Quiz: Questions
 What does SSS means?

 What is the importance of research methods?

 Howdoes writing of methods differ between

proposal and research report?

 Howdoes writing of methods differ between

Masters and PhD thesis?
Summary
 Anappropriate methods produce near
accurate results.

 An
excellent description of research
methods is the one that is concise;
 substantial but valid
 complex but understandable