Guidelines for Writing Research Study Protocol Essay

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Extenuating Circumstances

If there are any exceptional circumstances that may have affected your ability to undertake or submit this assignment, make sure you contact the Advice Zone on your campus prior to your submission deadline.

The University operates a fit to sit policy whereby you, in submitting or presenting yourself for an assessment, are declaring that you are fit to sit the assessment. You cannot subsequently claim that your performance in this assessment was affected by extenuating factors.

By submitting this assessment, you declare that it is your own work and that the sources of information and material you have used (including the internet) have been fully identified and properly acknowledged as required. Additionally, the work presented has not been submitted for any other assessment. You also understand that the Faculty reserves the right to investigate allegations of plagiarism or unfair practice which, if proven, could result in a fail in this assessment and may affect your progress.

You understand that the University will retain a copy of any assessments submitted electronically for evidence and quality assurance purposes; requests for the removal of assessments will only be considered if the work contains information that is either politically and/or commercially sensitive (as determined by the University) and where requests are made by the relevant module leader or dissertation supervisor.

Note that all work handed in after the submission date and within 5 working days will be capped at 40%. No marks will be awarded if the assessment is submitted after the late submission date unless extenuating circumstances are applied for and accepted (Advice Zone to be consulted).

This assignment will be marked out of 100%

This assignment contributes to 50% of the total module marks.

You are required to submit a 3000-word essay that presents a study protocol for a research project including rationale, study objectives, design, methodology, ethical considerations and dissemination of results in a given health related area.

Imagine you are presenting your study protocol for a committee that is giving funding for research. As such, you should aim in writing the present assignment in a report style format, with the following subheadings: research question, rationale, study objectives, study design, methodology, ethical considerations, and dissemination of results.

You work will need to include the following points

Write a PICO research question in an area that is under-researched or that has not been investigated by previous research in that area(10 marks)
Give a short, concise rationale for the research question (10 Marks)
State the study objectives. These should be SMART (10 Marks)
Explain clearly and logically the study design (who/when/where/how/what) (15 Marks)
Explain clearly and logically the study methodology. This should include how data will be collected, what will be measured and how (15 Marks)
Outline key ethical considerations in your study and what you will do to ensure safety (15 Marks)
Give suggestions for how you will disseminate any findings, and say who these will be disseminated to. (15 Marks)
The submitted work should follow appropriate academic conventions i.e. spelling/grammar/referencing (10 Marks)

Learning Outcomes to be assessed (as specified in the validated module descriptor https://icis.southwales.ac.uk/ ):

Critically evaluate research findings in a specific area of public health practice
Explore the dissemination strategies & techniques for reaching different audiences

Design an original, evidence based, accurate and ethically appropriate research study protocol

In this assessment, I have taken/took note of the following points in feedback on previous work:

A reasonable attempt. I could have developed some ofthe sections
A good attempt, displaying my understanding and learning, with analysis in some
A very good attempt. The work demonstrates myclear understanding of the learning supported by relevant literature and scholarly work with good analysis and

An excellent attempt, with clear application of literature and scholarly work, demonstrating significant analysis and evaluation.

Level M Assessment Grid
Grade	Knowledge & Understanding		Analysis	Synthesis / Creativity	Evaluation
Distinction 70-100	Evidence of extensive reading. Well referenced and expressed in own words. Demonstrates systematic, detailed and comprehensive knowledge of a field of study. Confidently handles issues, which are complex or specialist in nature.		Consistently analytical. Selects and uses with confidence the most appropriate analytical frameworks to examine the key issues of an area of knowledge. Can analyse complex issues where knowledge is incomplete. Analysis is purposeful and illuminates practical considerations.	Devises an effective and imaginative structure. Shows originality in the practical application of advanced knowledge. Can discuss application of knowledge to complex or novel situations. Is able to pull together and give coherence to information / ideas from diverse sources.	Evaluates alternative views of complex or novel situations, based on a clear grasp of all relevant viewpoints and an even-handed discussion of their relative merits. Justifies conclusions and recommendations and shows awareness of their limitations. Critiques the rigour and value of the different positions taken or methods used. Where appropriate, makes critical use of own experiences.
Merit 60-69	Evidence of extensive reading. Well referenced and expressed in own words. Demonstrates comprehensive & detailed knowledge of complex issues or specialist knowledge. Understanding of current issues in the field and the provisional nature of knowledge.		Consistently analytical. Considers abstract and contextual information. Identifies key features of advanced or complex issues. Selects from a range of methods / techniques appropriate to the subject for clarifying the information.	Effective structure used to present arguments. Draws on a variety of sources. Consistently addresses the practical application of information / ideas with some originality. Can discuss application of knowledge to complex or novel situations.	Evaluates alternative views of complex or novel situations. Discusses reliability, validity and significance of information. Draws conclusions and makes recommendations that are justified by the arguments presented. Where appropriate, makes critical use of own experiences.
Good Pass 50-59	Evidence of wide reading. Well referenced and expressed in own words. Demonstrates comprehensive and/or detailed knowledge. Aware of provisional nature of knowledge.		Analyses aspects of the subject. Considers abstract and contextual information. Identifies important features of advanced or complex issues. Considers analytical methods / techniques appropriate to the subject.	Structures arguments well. Draws on a variety of sources. Discusses the practical application of information / ideas, showing some originality.	Can evaluate alternative views of complex or novel situations. Questions reliability, validity and significance of information. Where required, explores own experiences and views and their implications. Conclusions and recommendations are well argued and reasoned.
Clear Pass 41-49	Evidence of wide reading. Well referenced and expressed in own words. Demonstrates familiarity with of the body of relevant knowledge and some current / advanced issues.		Identifies significant features of issues, including those which are advanced or complex. Makes appropriate use of methods/techniques for analysis. Able to consider incomplete or contradictory areas of knowledge.	Structures arguments adequately. Discusses the application of information / ideas in an appropriate way.	Can evaluate alternative approaches/ viewpoints in complex or novel situations. Shows awareness of issues of reliability, validity and significance of information. Where required, explores own experiences and views and their implications. Conclusions and recommendations are supported by the arguments presented.
Narrow Pass 40	The work incompletely meets the criteria for a clear pass grade for some descriptors but demonstrates attainment of assessment criteria; or the work does not achieve the standard equivalent to D2 for one or more descriptors but is redeemed by a good standard in the others; or the work fulfils the criteria for a pass in relation to all descriptors but only meets the minimum requirements of assessment criteria.
Narrow Fail 30-39	Reading inadequate or not fully understood OR Knowledge of the field of study is limited and not consistent with module learning outcomes.	Where present, analysis overlooks the key features OR uses unsuitable methods/criteria. Does not address the assessment criteria.		Structure has problems with coherence or consistency. Limited application of theory to practice.	Lacks a balanced approach or adequate supportive evidence. Lacks discrimination or does not reach a well reasoned conclusion.
Clear Fail 0-29	Very limited evidence of appropriate reading. Very limited knowledge base	Little evidence of analysis. Does not address the assessment criteria.		Poor structure and little attempt to link theory with practice.	Little attempt to formulate an argument or draw conclusions.