1. 1Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Chapter 28
Writing Research Proposals

2. 2Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Research Proposal
 Written plan identifying
 Research problem
 Research purpose
 Methods
 Written for
 Institutional review board approval process
 Funding request
 Sometimes to request intramural approval to
conduct study
 Formally written, concise

3. 3Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Writing a Research Proposal
 Involves
 Developing ideas logically
 Determining the depth or detail of the proposal’s
content
 Identifying critical points in the proposal
 Developing an aesthetically appealing copy

4. 4Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Developing Ideas Logically
 An organized argument establishing
background, a plan, and the expected
outcome
 All steps well justified
 Online guides for proposal development
available

5. 5Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Determining the Depth of a
Proposal
 Dictated by the group/institution to which the
proposal will be submitted
 Hospitals usually post requirements online
 Universities provide lists of requirements

6. 6Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Identifying Critical Points
 Highlight in bold and italics
 Headings, tables, or graphs
 Detail
 Background/significance of research problem
 Purpose
 Methodology/research design
 Research production plans

7. 7Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
An Aesthetically Appealing
Proposal
 Formatted according to specifications; APA if
not otherwise specified
 Submit online, in person, or by mail, as
specified
 Neat
 Without spelling, punctuation, or grammar
errors
 Ask a peer to read and critique

8. 8Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Research Proposal
 Varies according to the purpose of the
proposal:
 Student proposal: for university permission to
conduct research
 For institutional review board permission to
conduct research
 A competitive request for funding

9. 9Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Student Proposal
 Purpose: to communicate planned projects to
 Faculty and members of university or agency IRBs
 Written to satisfy requirements for a degree
 Format and contents usually specified by
faculty

10. 10Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Format of a Student Proposal
(Cont’d)
 More detailed than a funding proposal
 Often consists of the first few chapters of the
student’s thesis/dissertation
 Title should accurately reflect the planned
study’s design and methods

11. 11Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Quantitative
Research Proposal
 Table of contents—usually rather detailed
 Three or four chapters:
 Chapter 1: Introduction
 Chapter 2: Literature review
 Chapter 3: Framework (sometimes combined with
chapter 2)
 Chapter 3 or 4: Methods and procedures

12. 12Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Introduction
 Research problem—includes background
information
 Purpose statement, based on the research
problem And the need for the study
(justification)
 Usually includes
 Conceptual definitions and operational definitions
of variables
 Assumptions

13. 13Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Review of Relevant Literature
 Overview of essential information
 Theoretical (conceptual literature)
 Empirical (actual related research)
 Master’s thesis: usually a limited literature
review
 Doctoral dissertation: an exhaustive literature
review
 Reiteration of how proposed study will fill
research gap

14. 14Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Literature Review
 First purpose is to let the reader know
 What has Already been done
 What methodologies have been used before
 What is known or suspected
 What has been disproven
 Second purpose is to build a logical trail of
evidence

15. 15Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Literature Review (Cont’d)
 Narrative or pinch table
 Sometimes critiques individual studies
 Sometimes synthesizes previous studies as a
group

16. 16Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Framework
 Theoretical explanation of how study
concepts are connected
 Conceptual definitions included here, if not in
introduction
 Must be coherent with the study variables and
study measurements
 Map or design optional
 Middle-range (practice) theories often used
 For doctoral dissertation, Alternative theories
considered may also be required

17. 17Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
 Description of the design/general strategy for
conducting the study
 Sometimes a map or diagram of the design
 Operationalizations of variables (if not in
introduction)
 Pilot study information (if any)

18. 18Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures (Quasi-
Experimental and Experimental Studies)
 Describing how research situation will be
structured
 Detailing treatment to be implemented
 Explaining how effect of treatment will be
measured
 Specifying variables to be controlled and
methods for controlling them

19. 19Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures (Quasi-
Experimental and Experimental Studies)
(Cont’d)
 Identifying uncontrolled extraneous variables
and determining their probable impact on the
findings
 Subject assignment plan
 Exploring strengths and weaknesses of
design

20. 20Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
 Identification of target population and
accessible population
 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
 Rationale for these sample criteria
 Expected sample size/sampling method
 Justification for sample size (power analysis, if
performed)

21. 21Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
(Cont’d)
 Identification of study setting
 Agency name
 Description of the setting
 Advantages and disadvantages
 Letter of support from site

22. 22Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
(Cont’d)
 Ethical considerations
 Protection of human subjects
 Risks and benefits
 The consent form (in appendix)
 Protection of clients served by the agency
 Protection of the agency (if applicable)
 Signed authorization form (per HIPAA)
 Security of data after obtained

23. 23Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
(Cont’d)
 Data collection plan
 What data are to be collected
 Process for collecting data
 Who will collect data (consistency, if more than
one person collecting)
 How the data will be collected
 Data collection schedule
 Special equipment
 Data security/methods of data storage

24. 24Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Methods and Procedures
(Cont’d)
 Data analysis
 Techniques used to summarize data and answer
research questions
 Organized by study questions
 Statistical tests and levels of significance
 Very limited projection of results and conclusions
• Study limitations
• How the findings will be shared, applied
 Budget and timetable

25. 25Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Qualitative
Research Proposal
 Structure is university-dependent
 Usually includes
 Introduction
 Research philosophy and general method
 Applied method of inquiry
 Current knowledge, limitations, and plans for
communication of study findings

26. 26Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Qualitative Introduction
 Research problem—includes background
information
 Problem statement, based on research
problem And need for the study
 Usually conceptual definitions here
 Usually assumptions here
 Evolution of study and significance to nursing
practice, patients, health care system, and/or
health policy

27. 27Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Philosophical and Conceptual
Foundation and General Methods
 Rationale for use of this method
 The philosophy, its essential elements, and its
assumptions
 Provision of a theoretical perspective for
study that influences focus of study, data
collection and analysis, and articulation of
findings

28. 28Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Method of Inquiry
 Tentative plan for study
 Site and access
 Sample
 Sampling plan
 Approximate sample size and how final size will be
determined

29. 29Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Method of Inquiry (Cont’d)
 Ethical concerns
 Protection of human subjects
 Risk minimization
 Consent
 Protection of data

30. 30Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Method of Inquiry (Cont’d)
 Data collection
 How and by whom data will be collected
 What will constitute “data”
 Where data will be collected
 What interview questions (if any) will be used
 If multiple persons collecting data, how they will be
trained
 Data storage

31. 31Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Method of Inquiry (Cont’d)
 Data analysis plan
 If simultaneous collection and analysis, state this
 Identify any software program to be used

32. 32Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Current Knowledge Base, Limitations,
and Plans for Communication of Study
 Summarizes and documents all literature
reviewed for the study
 Might be the second chapter, and might
follow data analysis (method-specific)
 Establishes significance of study, parallel
research
 Anticipated limitations of the proposed study
 Communication plans, budget, timetable

33. 33Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Condensed
Proposal
 For clinical agencies, funding institutions
 Same pieces but shorter in length
 Review of the literature much more brief
 Theoretical framework much more brief, or
even absent
 Usually documentation of researcher’s
background and ability to perform study
 Substantiation of support from hospitals,
clinics, universities, and so forth

34. 34Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Content of a Preproposal
 Short document that explores the funding
possibilities
 Like a query letter with more detail
 Letter of transmittal
 Short proposal for research
 Personnel
 Facilities
 Budget
 Sent to Many funding sources

35. 35Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Seeking Approval for a Study
 Institutional review
 Justification for conduct of the study
 Ethical considerations
 Impact of the study on the reviewing institution
 Most committees require verification of
clinical access (nurse manager, medical
director, or both)

36. 36Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Approval Process
 All studies require permission from somebody
 To determine process, access web sources
First
 Obtaining approval from both a university and
a hospital might take up to eight weeks

37. 37Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Co-Authorship
 Established before submission of the
proposal anywhere
 First author should be the person who does
the most amount of work, in the study
 Students should ask faculty whether they
expect co-authorship

38. 38Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Approval Process (Cont’d)
 Nurses conducting research in an agency
where they are employed must seek approval
only at that agency
 Graduate students
 Thesis/dissertation committee
 University IRB
 Agency IRB

39. 39Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Preparing Proposals for Review
Committees
 University: use online resources, or thesis or
dissertation chair, for information
 Clinical agency: use online resources, and
clarify with personnel in institutional review
office

40. 40Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Preparing Proposals for Review
Committees (Cont’d)
 Clinical institutional review considerations:
 Scientific merit
 Protection of human rights
 Congruence of the study with the agency's
research agenda
 Impact of the study on patient care

41. 41Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Social and Political Factors
(University)
 When choosing a committee, match
participants for their knowledge base and
potential contribution to the final product
 Known ability to work well with one another is
extremely desirable

42. 42Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Social and Political Factors
(Clinical Site) (Cont’d)
 For clinical research, elicit cooperation of staff
 Talk up the planned research and its possible
clinical applications
 If possible, ask staff nurses for input/wisdom
 Talk up positive effect of research on magnet
status, if that is a consideration

43. 43Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Verbal Presentation of a Proposal
 Thesis or dissertation proposal—part of the
academic process
 Most clinical agencies require researchers to
meet with IRB to discuss proposals
 Neat business attire
 Rehearse: practice, practice, practice

44. 44Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Verbal Presentation of a Proposal
(Cont’d)
 Usually, committee will ask questions such as
 Tell us about your study.
 Why is your study necessary/valuable?
 What other literature is out there?
 What are the study limitations?
 Why did you choose this method?
 Say thank you

45. 45Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Revising a Proposal
 Before the study
 Do what is needed to gain access
 Argue only about things that potentially affect the
study results
 Adhere to all negotiated agreements

46. 46Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Revising a Proposal (Cont’d)
 After the study begins
 Rarely necessary
 Must Really fix a problem or enhance the study
 Students Must discuss these with advisors