Designing a Research Protocol for Survey: Step-by-Step Guide for Students

Building on the survey topic proposal, each student must develop a 6-page research protocol (excluding references). It must include a lay summary, background and rationale for the research, research question(s), purpose, objective(s), hypothesis (if applicable), methodology (e.g., framework, theory, or principles; population and recruitment; informed consent process; survey development process; data collection-survey, analysis, and dissemination). Other aspects to include are risks/benefits of the research, confidentiality and privacy of participants and data itself, and lastly references. Students must write 4 pages on the actual survey questions which includes the demographic questions relevant for the research. The survey questions must not include existing scales or questionnaires. The purpose of this assignment is to pull together what you have learned in the course by writing a research protocol centering survey design. For this you must build on your survey topic proposal and include learnings from the course lectures which will be reflected in the grading criteria. You must ensure that you have addressed the feedback from your survey topic proposal assignment. Research Protocol (6 pages excluding references) Abstract (250 words) in lay terms Introduction: Literature review Rationale Purpose: Overarching purpose of your research Research question(s) or hypothesis (if applicable) Objectives Methodology: Study design and whichever is applicable framework, theory, and/or principle Sampling frame, sampling methods, and recruitment methods Sample – eligibility criteria Informed consent process Survey design Data collection - Questionnaire Operational definition of concept and if required key variables Type of questions Response options Other data collection tools g. scales, focus group Proposed data analysis plan Limitations and mitigation strategies Minimizing total survey errors Validity and reliability Confidentiality and privacy of participants and data Risks and benefits of the research Proposed knowledge translation and exchange strategy / dissemination References (not included in the page count) Minimum of 15 peer-reviewed journal articles Questionnaire (4 pages) Demographics (1/2 page) – not necessarily supported by ladder of abstractions, but relevant and important for the proposed research Appendices (1-2 pages) Ladder of abstraction Scales (1/4 page) - full name of scale and provide reference (2 lines maximum) *Subpoints are not exhaustive. All assignments must be submitted on Quercus and must be written single-spaced with one-inch margins, and 12-point font size. The Vancouver Reference Style for text citations and reference lists is required for all written work. Please review the grading rubric for additional assignment details. Late assignments will be penalized as indicated in the syllabus. Also, points will be lost for going over the page count and anything written over the word count will not be graded. Rubric Research protocol including survey Research protocol including survey Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect. • Little evidence of even superficial understanding of subject matter with limited or irrelevant use of literature. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Abstract connects to literature. • Evidence of understanding subject matter; evidence of familiarity with literature; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Engaging abstract and connects to literature. • Evidence of understanding subject matter; familiarity with literature; evidence of ability to critically review and integrate literature; reasonable understanding of relevant issues; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 • Engaging abstract and connects to literature; summarizes protocol. • Strong evidence of original thinking; good organization; capacity to analyze and synthesize relevant literature; superior grasp of subject matter with sound critical evaluations; evidence of extensive knowledge base. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePURPOSE (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Purpose, research question(s), objectives, if applicable hypotheses included but lack clarity, refinement or appropriateness; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Purpose, research questions, objectives, hypotheses are clear and appropriate; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Purpose, research questions, objectives, hypotheses are clear, appropriate and demonstrate superior grasp of the relevant constructs. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMETHODOLOGY: STUDY DESIGN, WHICHEVER APPLICABLE FRAMEWORK, THEORY, AND/OR PRINCIPLE (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; Little evidence of understanding study design. • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; little evidence of even superficial understanding of paradigms or theory. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Evidence of understanding design, but design proposed is not appropriate for the research question(s); major modification needed. • Evidence of understanding paradigms; evidence of familiarity with theory; but weakly mapped on to research proposed; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Clear understanding of design and design proposed match research questions; minor modification required. • Evidence of understanding paradigms; familiarity with theory; evidence of ability to map paradigm and/or theory on to research question(s); minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Strong evidence of original thinking; superior grasp of subject matter; good organization and clarity; research design proposed match research question(s). • Strong evidence of original thinking; good organization; capacity to analyze and synthesize relevant literature; superior grasp of paradigms and/or theory with clear mapping on to research. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMETHODOLOGY: SAMPLING FRAME, SAMPLING METHODS, RECRUITMENT METHODS, AND SAMPLE (15%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; some to little evidence of understanding sampling. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Evidence of understanding of sampling frame, sampling strategy, and recruitment; description of sample; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Clear understanding of sampling frame, sampling strategy, recruitment methods and how to select sample with eligibility criteria outlined; sampling method is appropriate for study population; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Strong understanding of sampling frame, sampling strategy, recruitment methods, and selection of sample; all details (who, where, when, how) are fully and appropriately explained; appropriate citation of relevant literature to support sampling decisions from methods to study population. 15.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMETHODOLOGY: SURVEY DESIGN, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; Some to little evidence of understanding the questionnaire as a data collection tool and proposed analysis. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Evidence of understanding and ability to propose simple questionnaire as a data collection tool and analysis plan; evidence of ability to develop solutions to simple questionnaire and analysis problems; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Evidence of understanding and ability to propose questionnaire as a data collection tool and analysis; some evidence of critical capacity and analytic ability; data analysis matches data collection; data collection matches research question(s); minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Evidence of critical capacity and analytic ability; data analysis matches data collection; data collection matches research question(s); Strong evidence of original thinking; good organization; capacity to analyze and synthesize relevant literature; superior grasp of data collection and analysis process. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMETHODOLOGY: MINIMIZING TOTAL SURVEY ERRORS; DISSEMINATION, RESEARCH RISKS AND BENEFITS; CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing, or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; Some to little evidence of understanding rigor and methods of improving study quality – minimizing survey error and maximizing quality of study design. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Some to little evidence of familiarity with other research aspects: risks and benefits, confidentiality and privacy. • Some to little evidence of familiarity with simple strategies to increase rigor or quality – minimizing survey error and maximizing quality of study design; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Evidence of understanding of other research aspects: risks and benefits, confidentiality and privacy. • Evidence of understanding and ability to propose appropriate strategies to increase rigor and quality – minimizing survey error and maximizing quality of study design; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Good understanding of other research aspects. • Strong understanding and ability to propose strategies to increase rigor and quality – minimizing survey error and maximizing quality of study design; some evidence of critical capacity to anticipate and mitigate limitations; appropriate citation of relevant literature to support decisions. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOVERALL PROPOSAL CLARITY, STYLE AND ORGANIZATION (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Proposal is unacceptable (e.g. poorly organized, poor writing, incoherence, lacks logic, verbosity, repetition). B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Acceptable levels of clarity, logic and flow; major revision needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Proposal is well organized, clearly written, and logical; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Proposal is extremely well organized and logical with a sound structure and flow, clear and succinct writing; acceptable as is. 10.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQUESTIONNAIRE (15%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; evidence of understanding of questionnaire design. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Some to little evidence of understanding of questionnaire design; original material created for concept(s); variables are concrete and measurable terms; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Evidence of understanding of questionnaire design; original material created for concept; variables are concrete and measurable terms; questions are supported by the literature or existing scales; diversity of question and response format; structure of questions possesses good characteristics; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Original material created for concept; variables are concrete and measurable terms; questions are supported by the literature or existing scales; diversity of question and response format; structure of questions possesses good characteristics; organization of questions into sections, general or section instructions provided, good use of space and order of questions; measures of independent, dependent, test and background variables; objectives, research questions, and hypothesis (if applicable) can be matched to variables; superior grasp of questionnaire design. 15.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPPENDICES (10%) B- or less: Unacceptable 0-7.2 points • Missing or included but unclear, incomplete, or incorrect; some to little evidence of understanding of the ladder of abstraction as a tool to develop a questionnaire. B/B+: Acceptable 7.3-7.9 points • Some to little evidence of understanding and ability to propose the ladder; evidence of ability to use concept to build dimensions and sub-dimensions from its operational definition; major modification needed. A-/A: Good 8-8.9 points • Evidence of understanding and ability to propose the ladder; evidence of ability to use concept to build dimensions and sub-dimensions from its operational definition and include variables and indicators; variables and indicators matches to questionnaire content; minor modification required. A+: Excellent 9-10 points • Evidence of ability to use concept to build dimensions and sub-dimensions from its operational definition and include variables and indicators; variables and indicators matches to questionnaire content; and some variables match to objectives and hypothesis if applicable; concept(s) matches to research question; superior grasp of the utility of ladder of abstraction for questionnaire design. 10.0 pts Total Points: 100.0