How to Write a Research Proposal: A Step by Step Guide

Introduction and Specific Aims/Questions

Purpose: Research proposal is a way to solicit funding for your research. It includes a detailed plan for your research plan. The purpose of this assignment is to generate a research proposal about a topic of your interest. 
Instructions: This research proposal consists of three chapters: Introduction and Specific Aims, Background and Significance, and Research Design and Methods. Please review the instructions below for each chapter. 
Introduction and Specific Aims/Questions 
This chapter was addressed/assessed in the online engagement. It is included here only to allow students to revise their previous response based on feedback.

In this chapter, you need to answer the following four questions in order:
1.What is the problem?
2.What do we know about the problem?
3.Why is it important?
4.What are you going to do about it (your aims or questions)? Please choose either a question or an aim but not both. 
Background and Significance 
In this chapter, you need to concisely present a review the literature about the topic and the variables in your research questions. You need to demonstrate to the reader that you have enough knowledge about the topic and that the problem is an important one that deserves funding and approvals. You should use a logical flow of ideas. 
Provide a critical overview of the literature about the topic area. This should mostly include valid research papers, however, some policy documents / guidelines / reports can be included if applicable. Discuss what is known from the literature, what the limitations are in the current literature and identify the gap in knowledge which will be addressed by your research proposal.

Please makes sure that you address all the variables in your research questions/aims. In this chapter, you also need to address the significance of the problem, i.e. why is it important? 
We recommend that you avoid writing too much. This is not going to boost your grade. On the contrary, when you write too much you are more likely to include irrelevant info which can be distracting to the reader. Concise writing is always appreciated, brief and yet, informative. Remember, writing is an art and science!
Research Design and Methods 
A methodology / research design that would allow you to answer your research question should be identified and described using the research literature. The choice of approach should be explained and justified. The following components must be addressed under chapter 3. 
1. Design
Quantitative or qualitative design 
Specific design, for example: phenomenology, experimental, ...  
2. Setting: 
A description of the area of research
Name of institution, description of the size of the institution, units, departments, volume of patients, ....
3. Sampling and Recruitment
Identify who the participants will be in the study (sampling plan)
Discuss how people will be recruited to participate in the study
If relevant, discuss participant retention.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria 
4. Data Collection Method
Identify and discuss the methods you will use to collect your data? (e.g. survey, interviews)
In several cases, you need to describe the data collection for each variable
Explain some of the considerations in using this method to collect data
Explore the advantages / disadvantages of this method
5. Data Collection Process
Explain how will you collect data using the methods you have identified.
6. Sample size consideration
how many patients you will need to recruit?
how did you make this decision (power analysis)?
7. Data Analysis
Discuss how you will analyse the data you have collected.
Each aim or question should be addressed separately 
8. Rigour / Reliability & Validity
Explain the issues about validity and reliability OR rigour that relate to your study.
9. Ethical Consideration 
Explain how consent will be sought / obtained from potential participants.
Identify ethical issues that relate to your study and explain how these will be mitigated.
10. Limitations
Identify and describe the limitations of the study