2. Any study should have a proposal before
it is carried out.
A plan
detailed description of a proposed study
designed to investigate a given problem
Quality proposal = quality study
- What you plan to accomplish….
- Why do you want to do it …
- How are you going to do it….
2
What is a research proposal?
3. Importance of a research
proposal?
1. Protect the students
Supervisors demanding additional
parameters
2.Protects the supervisors
poor quality research by students
3. Approval by UKMMC &UKMEC
4. Funding
3
4. Proposal Screening
Super
visors
Research
committee
at dept
level
Reviewer panel of
UKM Research
Committee
UKM
Ethical
committee Approval Start
Research
Progressing
Researc
h End
• Lulus
• Pinda & Hantar semula
• Pinda & Bentang
FF research
code
Laporan
Kemajuan
Laporan
Akhir
Laporan Akhir
Tesis/Disertasi/vi
va
5. Parts of a Proposal
1. Title
2. Introduction/Literature Review
3. Problem Statement
4. Objectives/Hypotheses
5. Methodology
6. Gantt Chart
7. Budget
8. References
6. No. Items
Principal
Investigator
MRC
UKMMC
Member
Comments by MRC
UKMMC Member
1. The TITLE is appropriate
2.
INTRODUCTION/LITERATURE REVIEW/RESEARCH
QUESTION
Has a similar study been done before?
If yes,
a)The novel elements in the present study
have been stated
b)Findings from previous studies have been
stated
If not,
c)There is sufficient justification
3.
Standard therapy is stated
4
a) Main OBJECTIVE is clear
b) Specific OBJECTIVES are clear
5
The HYPOTHESIS(SES) is/are clear
UKMMC Screening Form
7. No.
Items
METHODS
Principal
Investigat
or
MRC
UKMMC
Member
Commen
ts by
MRC
UKMMC
Member
6. The study population is clearly stated
7. The sample size calculation is shown & appropriate
8.
The study design is clearly described:
Animal study/ observational study (retrospective,
prospective), case-control or clinical trial
9.
Type of sampling mentioned: simple random,
convenient, systematic, stratified
10. The study sites is/are clearly stated
11.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria are stated &
appropriate
12.
The questionnaire(s) has (have) been validated (for
all versions used)
13.
A flow chart of the study methodology is enclosed
Statistical Analysis
8. No. Items
Princip
al
Investig
ator
MRC
UKMMC
Member
Comments
by MRC
UKMMC
Member
14 A Gantt chart is enclosed
15. Reasonable BUDGET is enclosed
16.
The SUBJECT INFORMATION SHEET is easy to
understand and follows the SPPI format
17.
The CONSENT FORM is clear and follows the SPPI
format
18.
Approvals/ Permissions have been obtained (if
required) from
a)Owners of all questionnaires and scoring
systems
b)Other relevant authorities, eg institution of
co-investigators, ministries, etc
c)DCA (Drug Control Authority)
19. Major ethical issues in the study (if any)
20.
The names of the co-investigators are clearly
stated & appropriate References
9. Title
Concise, descriptive, informative and catchy
Orient your readers to your research topic.
Indicate the type of study you will conduct.
Eg:
Prevalence and correlation of hypertension among
adult population in northwest Nigeria: a community
based cross-sectional study
Prevention and Management of Hypertension: A Study
on Knowledge and Attitudes of Women of Childbearing
Age
10. Title
Avoid
Too short & broad
Eg. Determining the mechanism of
action of TNF
Too long & technical
Eg. Determining the mechanism of action of TNF family
members in regulating apoptotic signaling complexes
within the mitochondria leading to a cure in
postmenopausal osteoporosis.
11. Title
Avoid spelling mistakes/ incorrect name of
place eg hospital name.
HUKM, HCTM, Hospital Canselor Tuanku
Muhriz
Fracture Contaminant: Which Bacteria is the
Culprit?
Avoid use of a question for title. Best left for
research question.
12. Introduction
Should be short : one or two pages
Familiarize reader to the topic
Highlight research problem.
Introduction and Literature Review is different.
Introduction is a summary about the study that include introductory paragraph, problem statement, objectives,
research questions and hypotheses, significant and contribution of the study.
Literature Review should include/discuss (where applicable):
- the results of previous studies in the same area
- comparison of the findings by previous researchers
- define the terms for every variable involved in the study
13. Literature Review
reflects extensive review of literature done
by the investigator
coherent, relevant & easily readable
helps investigator to
gain good knowledge in that field of inquiry
have insight on different methodologies that
could be applied
14. Literature Review
Summarize the findings of previous studies.
use proper format to cite other studies. Make sure
the references are included in the Reference List.
Do critical analysis of the findings of other studies.
What is the similarity or discordant findings of the
previous studies?
What is the gap in previous studies that make you
propose your study
15. Literature review
Literature SUPPORTS your hypothesis
UNIQUE / NOVEL
EXTENDS previous work
AVOIDS previous mistakes
15
Reader
knows
Reader
doesn't
know
16. The narrative of literature review
Introduce the
field:
broad focus
EPIDEMIOLOGY
DYSMENORRHOEA
Pathogenesis
Focus on certain
aspects in field of
interest
End with gap analysis
microbiota
research questions
SOLUTION!
PROBIOTICS
17. Objectives
Specific, achievable & measurable
One general objective
Several specific objectives
Arranged in the order of importance
Avoid too many objectives
18. Hypotheses
tentative prediction of the relationship
between two or more variables
Prediction of expected outcomes
exploratory research, may not have any
hypothesis
19. Research methodology
science of studying how research is done scientifically
systematically solve the research problem.
methodological steps you will take to test every
hypothesis
discuss procedures clearly & completely with
considerable amount of details
consult a biostatistician
21. Study design
specific plan or protocol for conducting the study
appropriate for achieving the objectives
22. Study population
What are inclusion & exclusion criteria?
What is the sampling procedure?
Will there be use of controls in your study?.
Some descriptive studies (studies of existing
data, surveys) may not require control
groups.
What are the criteria for discontinuation?
23. Sample size
What would be the minimum sample required?
How did you calculate it?
Determination of sample size is a bargain between
precision and the price (Resources & expenses
involved)
Calculation by software programmes, but the
principles should be understood.
24. Interventions
drugs or devices : proprietary names, manufacturer,
chemical composition, dose, frequency of
administration
information must be provided on available pre-
clinical investigations in animals and/or results of
studies already conducted in humans (approval of
the drug regulatory agency in the country is
needed before the study).
25. Study instruments
Tools by which the data are collected.
For validated questionnaires- give reference
to published work & get permission
New questionnaire – proofs of preparing,
precoding & pretesting of questionnaire
Others- medical examination, lab tests &
screening procedures - reference of
published work cited.
26. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
A brief description of how the data will
be processed & use of statistical package
What statistical tests of significance
would be used?
27. Gantt chart
Sequence of tasks to be performed & length of time
required for its completion.
Time Frame & Work Schedule
Highlighting the sequencing & relationship of
different activities in the study
28. Budget
translates project activities into monetary terms
- how much money will be required to
accomplish the various tasks.
Salary for RA, postdoc
Travel & conference
Chemicals/Kits/Tests
Equipment
Printing / Xeroxing
Consultancy charges/Proofreader
Publication fees
29. Appendix
CV: primary investigators and co-
investigators, their qualifications, research
experience etc
Publication policy
Consent form (bilanguage)
Patient Info Sheet (bilanguage)
Questionnaires
Scoring systems
Permissions to use questionnaires & scores
Certificates of approval KKM, hospital,
schools or relevant authorities.
30. REFERENCES
The proposal should end with relevant
references on the subject. Follow the
format “Gaya UKM”
For web based search include the date of
access for the cited website“ accessed on
June 10, 2018".
