1. Preparing a Research Proposal: An
Overview
Dr.Murali Vallipuranathan
MBBS, PGD, MSc, MD
Board Certified Specialist in Community Medicine
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2. Why should one plan for a research
• To obtain an academic degree
• To get research allowance
• To establish evidence based new knowledge
• To obtain experience in research: stepping stone
• To get recognition from peers, colleagues and other
researchers
• To get academic promotions (universities, PGIM and certain
posts in MoH)
• Self satisfaction
• Part of the duty
• CPD activity
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3. What are the common issues?
• Where can I get the idea for research?
• How can I prepare the research proposal?
• Do I need to get ethical clearance? If so where can I get the
ethical clearance?
• Where can I get the funding for my research?
• Who can be my co-authors?
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4. What are the common issues? (continued)
• Where can I collect data?
• How can I analyze my data?
• How can I write a budget proposal?
• How can I manage my research project?
• How can I disseminate my study findings?
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5. Where can I get the idea for research?
Common sources
• Observation.
• Literature reviews.
• Professional conferences.
• Experts.
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6. How can I get started with simple research?
• Study what others have done before and redo in different
circumstances; mainly descriptive studies
• Assess what is routinely done in wards/clinic and compare
with standard protocol : Medical Audit
• Discuss problems with colleagues, other staff and clients:
every observed problem is a nidus for research
• Testing for associations (example: risk factors and outcome)
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7. 1. Identification of Area of Interest
is by
• Observation in
• The hospital
• The Community
• Place of work
• Reading journal articles
• Discussion with
• Friends
• Colleagues, supervisor, teachers, other researchers
• Following a “hunch”
• A feeling
• intuition
7

8. The research question
• All studies should start with a research question that
addresses what the investigator would like to know
• Goal is to find an important research question that can be
developed into a feasible and valid study plan

9. Criteria for selection of research
• Relevant
• No duplication
• Feasibility
• Applicability
• Ethical considerations (harm Physical or mental or
psychological)
• Is Permission possible?
9

10. Hypothesis
• A prediction regarding the outcome of a study that often
involves the relationship between two variables
Hypothesis Testing:
• The process of determining whether a hypothesis is supported
by the results of a research study

11. 11
Stages of a Research Process
11
IDENTIFY AREA OF INTEREST
IDENTIFY PROBLEM
CARRY OUT LITERATURE SEARCH
CONSTRUCT HYPOTHESIS
DEVELOP RESEARCH DESIGN
IDENTIFY & CONSTRUCT RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

12. 12
Stages of a Research Process (CONTINUED)
12
IDENTIFY AND CONSTRUCT RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
DETERMINING SAMPLING DESIGN
PREPARE BUDGET PROPOSAL
ETHICAL CLEARANCE
EXECUTION OF PROJECT
DATA COLLECTION

13. 13
Stages of a Research Process (CONTINUED)
13
DATA COLLECTION
DATA ENTRY AND ANALYSIS
HYPOTHESIS TESTING
GENERALIZATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
PREPARING RESEARCH REPORT
DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

14. Is it necessary to prepare a research proposal at
the early stages?
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15. Is it necessary to prepare a research
proposal at the early stages?
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16. Preparing research proposal
• Why should we prepare a research proposal?
1. To get ideas clarified
2. To get ethical clearance
3. To get funding
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17. Components of a research proposal
• Introduction/ Background
• Justification
• Literature review
• Research Question and Hypotheses
• Objectives
• Method
- Settings
- Sample
- Study design
- Study instrument
- Ethical clearance
- Statistical analysis
• Budget
• Time frame
• Limitations
• Conflicts of interest ICPHI 2013 17

18. Rationale:
 Describe within the context of
present knowledge
 Justify in terms of demographic,
social or health impact
 Policy, service or programme
relevance
Relevance to activities and
objectives of the funding agency
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19. Objectives
 General and specific objectives
State clearly in measurable terms
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20. Review of literature
Describe the most relevant
studies published
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21. Design and methodology
 Brief description of study design
Justify choice of design in relation to the
objectives of the research
 Brief description of the source
population
 Sample size
Describe method of computation
justify assumptions underlying
calculation of sample size
Statistical power
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22. Selection of sample
 Sampling procedure including type
e.g. simple random, stratified, cluster etc
 Where and how sample would be
recruited
 Inclusion criteria
 Exclusion criteria
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23. Selection of comparison groups
matching criteria
Allocation of subjects in to index
and comparison groups (where
applicable)
method of allocation
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24. What is conflict of interest in research?
• A conflict of interest in research occurs when there is a
divergence between researcher’s private interests and his or
her professional obligation as a researcher.
• Most commonly due to ties between the researcher and
industry (pharmaceutical, medical device, medical supply and
insurance companies)
• Researcher should declare not only his conflict of interest but
also his spouse’s and other family members’ conflict of
interests.
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25. Ethical clearance
• Studies not requiring ethical clearance
- Medical Audit
- Desktop studies conducted from published secondary data
- Most of the studies not directly involving humans or live
forms (example: ecological studies)
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26. Ethical Clearance (continued)
• From where should I get the ethical clearance?
- University ethical review committees
- SLMA ethical review committee
- Hospital ethical review committees?
Local clearance should be obtained in multi centre studies.
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27. Funding
• Who will fund my research?
- Self
- Co-authors
- NGO/ INGO
- University/ Government
- Grants5/2/2013 ICPHI 2013 27

28. Co-authorship
• Co-author
A person contributes with the main author in any substantial way
to a publication, with advice, planning, or analysis, then he or
she is entitled to be a co-author
• Avoid inappropriate authorship
Examples: Including the name of Head of the Department or
Consultant without any real contribution to the paper,
interviewers
• Co-authors should be consulted before sending the draft for
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29. Data Collection
Define study population and select appropriate sample.
• Secondary data
- Registers
- Records
- Annual Health Bulletins
- Surveys already done (Examples: DHS surveys, Census)
• Primary data
- Hospital (ward, clinic or OPD)
- Special groups (examples: students, occupational
categories)
- Community
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30. Data collection
Variables to be studied
Data collection instruments
Validation
Training of investigators
Logistics of data collection
Supervision
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31. Analyzing data
• Knowledge in statistical software ( example: SPSS)
• Consult a statistician or a senior researcher with statistical
knowledge
• Select the appropriate statistical tests
• Statistical advice should be obtained in early planning stages
to avoid disappointments (example: appropriate sample size)
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32. How can I manage my project?
How the work would be co-ordinated and
supervised
Problems anticipated
difficulties which may interfere with successful
completion within time and costs proposed
Expected outcomes
advancement of knowledge
how results would be utilized
means of dissemination of results 32
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33. Activities June
2012
July
2012
Augus
2012
Sept
2012
Oct
2012
Nov
2012
Dec
2012
Jan
2013
Preparing
proposal
X X
Literature
review
X X X X X X X X
Ethical
clearance
X X
Development of
data collection
instruments
X
Preparing
funding
proposal
X X
Duration of study – time plan
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34. Activities Oct
2012
Nov
2012
Dec
2012
Jan
2013
Feb
2013
March
2013
April
2013
May
2013
Pre testing of
instruments
X
Validation of
methods /
instruments
X
Data collection
& Entry
X X
Data analysis X
Final report &
Dissemination
X X
Duration of study – time plan
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35. How can I prepare a budget proposal
Personnel costs
Supplies
e.g. chemicals, reagents, test kits,
stationery
Equipment
Subject costs
e.g. reimbursement of bus fares ,
compensation for time lost
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36. Travel
Data analysis
Budget summary
Budget justification
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37. Budget
1st year 2nd year
Personnel
professional / scientific
staff
N – person
months
Technical staff
Other
Equipment
Supplies
stationary
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38. Budget summary – for each year of duration
of project provide sub totals under each budget item
1st year 2nd year
Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
Data analysis
Dissemination of findings
Grand Total
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39. Budget justification
Provide justification for the
amounts asked for under each
budget item in detail
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42. Disseminating Research findings
• Presenting abstracts at the academic forum
• Publishing as journal article
• Publishing as research report
• Press conference
• Mailing or communicating research findings to relevant
stake holders
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43. Produce a good abstract
• Standard format should be followed
• It has 4 Essential parts
1. Why the study was done: Objectives
2. What was done: Methods
3. What was found: Results
4. Conclusions/Interpretation
• Stick to prescribed word limit
• Be clear and concise and avoid superfluous detail5/2/2013 ICPHI 2013 43

44. SLMA requirement on Abstracts
submission
• The text of the abstract should not
exceed 250 words. It should be
structured as follows:
1. Objectives
2. Design, setting and methods ( including statistical
methods where relevant)
3. Results
4. Conclusions
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45. Where can one submit his or her
abstract?
• Regional clinical societies/ Medical Associations
• Sri Lanka Medical Association
• Professional Colleges/ Universities
• Other academic societies
• International Conferences
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46. Where can one submit his or her abstract?
(continued)
Cautions
• Study the criteria for submission of abstracts
• How relevant is my study to the session/ conference theme
and participants
• Ensure publication of the abstract
• Include co-authors
• Declare presentation in another forum
• Declare conflicts of interest
• Acknowledgements5/2/2013 ICPHI 2013 46

47. Oral presentation or poster?
Oral
• Cheap presentation
• Prominence
• Have to present in the
podium
• More opportunities for
critical evaluation
Poster
• Expensive poster
• Less prominence
• Have to stay with the
poster during “intervals”
• Less opportunities for
critical evaluation
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