How to Prepare a

Research Proposal
By
Abla G. Khalifa
Professor Child Health
National Research Center
 The research process
:The two basic questions are

1. What to investigate? Why?

2. How to investigate it? Why?
Essential Ingredients

The Issue
What problem does
the research
address?

Research Benefit
Design What will the
How will the research contribute
research achieve its to existing
stated objectives? knowledge?
OUTLINE
1. What? The Research Idea
2. Where? The Research Sponsor
3. Proposal Elements
4. Your Secret Weapon
5. DOs and DONTs (mostly DONTs)
6. Speaking of Budget
7. Reviewing Proposals
 TWO MAIN TYPES OF FUNDED
RESEARCH

1. Research you really want to do:

Find sponsor!

2. Topics some sponsor wants to see done:

Respond to RFP
 Several dimensions for classifying
research proposals:
1. Content: Basic vs. applied
2. Time Frame: Short-term vs. long-term
3. Scope: Program vs. project
4. Teaming: Single PI vs. multiple investigators
5. Selection: Competitive vs. sole source
6. Client: Scientific vs. mission agency
7. Other: Exploratory, Seed, Renewal..

All of the above affect emphasis of the proposal,

and what it needs to convey.
 Idea

Research question(s)

Methodologies

Conceptual model
& hypotheses
Data
collection

Data needs
Theory should
inform all stages.
Basic outline of a research
protocol
Title of the research project
Project Summary
Statement of the problem (scientific
justification)
Justification and use of the results (final
objectives, applicability)
Theoretical framework (argumentation,
possible answers, hypothesis)
Research objectives (general and specific)
 Basic outline of a research
protocol
Methodology :
Type of study and general design
Universe of study, sample selection and size,
unit of analysis and observation.
Selection and exclusion criteria
Proposed intervention (If Applicable)
Data collection procedures, instruments used,
and methods for data quality control
Procedures to ensure ethical considerations in
research with human subjects
 Basic outline of a research
protocol
Plan for analysis of results
Methods and models of data analysis according to types
of variables
Programs to be used for data analysis
Bibliographic References
Timetable
Budget
Annexes (Data collection instruments, elaboration on
methods and procedures to be used, and more.)
Review of Available Literature
It prevents you from duplicating work that has
been done before.
find out what others have reported on the
problem you want to study.
become more familiar with the various
research approaches that might be used in your
study.
provide you with convincing arguments for
why your particular research project is needed.
Possible sources of information
Individuals, groups, and organizations.
Published information (books, articles,
indexes, abstract journals).
Unpublished information (other
research proposals in related fields,
reports, records, computer data bases)
Where can we find these sources?
key person (researcher, decision maker
or community member) who is
knowledgeable on the topic
speakers on your topic at conferences
that may be useful to contact;
Libraries in universities, research
institutions, the Ministry of Health,
International Organizations (WHO,FAO..)
Where can we find these sources?
bibliographies and reference lists in key
papers and books to identify relevant
references;
indexes (e.g. Index Medicus) and abstract
journals ,which are available in libraries
either as hard copies or in computerized
form.
Requesting a computerized literature search
(e.g. Medline , Agricultural line etc.)
References that are identified:

Should first be skimmed or read.

Then summaries of the important
information in each of the references
should be recorded on separate index
cards or as computer entries.
Finally the literature should be included
in your protocol.
Research Objectives
The OBJECTIVES of a research project summaries
what is to be achieved by the study.
The general objective of a study states what
researchers expect to achieve by the study in
general terms.
Specific objectives should systematically address the
various aspects of the problem as defined under
Statement of the Problem and the key factors that
are assumed to influence or cause the problem.
They should specify what you will do in your study,
where and for what purpose.
HYPOTHESES
Based on your experience with the study
problem, it might be possible to develop
explanations for the problem, which can
then be tested. If so, you can formulate
hypotheses in addition to the study
objectives.
A HYPOTHESIS is a prediction of a
relationship between one or more factors
and the problem under study that can be
tested.
The hypotheses
The principle intellectual instrument in
research. It's a key in the scientific method.
Definition: A reasonable scientific proposal.
An educated guess.
The hypothesis posits the expected
relationship between some variables.
Two requirements:
Must fit known facts
Be testable
Facts vs. hypotheses
The hypothesis is based on known facts, but
takes it a step further, often by combining
facts and thereby creating (possible) links.
Fact 1: Many farmers are credit constrained.
Fact 2: Soil conservation often requires cash
investments.
Hypothesis: Credit constraints make farmers
invest less in soil conservation.
Facts vs. hypotheses
The hypothesis is based on known facts, but
takes it a step further, often by combining
facts and thereby creating (possible) links.
Fact 1: Many farmers are credit constrained.
Fact 2: Soil conservation often requires cash
investments.
Hypothesis: Credit constraints make farmers
invest less in soil conservation.
Do all theses need to have
hypotheses?
No, but most of them would be better if
the research is organized around them!
Whats the difference between research
question and hypotheses?
Might be small
Hypotheses often more specific, and each
research question will have several
hypotheses.
A suggestion
A good approach and balance between
the three first components of the
proposal:
one grand research idea,
a few (maximum 4) research questions,
some hypotheses, at least one, maximum
3-4, linked to each research question. But,
there is a limit on the total number of
hypotheses (probably not more than 6-8).
 TITLE of the Study
Write the title last
Why?
Your Title is a mini-Abstract
TITLE of the Study
The title should be in line with your general
objective. Make sure that it is specific enough to
tell the reader what your study is about and
where it will be calculated. It is important to
specify what population or universe will be
investigated
Ex:: Effects of the program for rooming -in at
home on breast-feeding indicators:
Experimental test with low-risk
primiparous women attended at El-galaa
Maternal Hospital in Cairo
Project Summary
The abstract should give a clear idea to
the reader of the central question that
the research is intended to answer and
its justification.
It should specify the hypotheses (if
applicable) and the research objectives.
the abstract should briefly describe the
methods and procedures laid out in the
chapter on methodology.
Statement of the Problem
Magnitude, frequency, and distribution
(affected geographical areas and
populations. ethnic and gender
Probable causes of the problem: What
is the current knowledge of the problem
and its causes? Is there consensus? Is
there controversy? Is there conclusive
evidence?
Statement of the Problem
Possible solutions: In what ways have
solutions to the problem been attempted?
What has been proposed? What are the
results?

Unanswered questions: What remains to

be answered? What areas have not been
possible to understand, determine, verify, or
test?
Justification and Use of the Results
How does the research relate to the priorities
of the Region and the country?
What knowledge and information will be
obtained?
What is the ultimate purpose that the
knowledge obtained from the study will
serve?
How will the results be disseminated?
How will the results be used, and who will be
the beneficiaries?
Plan for Analysis of Results
Methods and Models of Data Analysis
according to Types of Variables
how the variables will be measured (quantitative -
, and/or qualitative)
the analytical models and techniques (statistical, -
non-statistical, or analytical techniques for non-
. numeric data, etc.)
a preliminary scheme for tabulating the data -
(especially for variables that are presented
.numerically)
Programs to Be Used for Data
Analysis
Briefly describe the software
packages that will be used and
their anticipated application ( ex
:SAS, SPSS ).
DOs and DONTs
1. Be constructive (diplomatic) in reviewing others work;
dont blast all previous work, dont be dismissive and
definitely dont single out anyone with scorn. Chances
are they are reviewing your proposal.

BAD: All previous studies are worthless because they failed to recognize the
effect of X on Y. Chen and Smith (1998) tried but their approach was
simply wrong. Ours is the first study to address this question correctly.

BETTER: Previous studies have made important contributions to this

challenging problem, however none of the published studies appear to
have completely accounted for the effect of X on Y. A pioneering effort in
this direction is described by Chen and Smith (1998), highlighting the
need for additional investigation of the system properties when the full set
of interacting factors are incorporated in the model.
DOs and DONTs (ctd.)
2. Avoid vacuous generalities (and clichs). Use specific
language to the extent possible. Ask yourself: Is any
meaning lost if this sentence/paragraph is removed?
Read critically, play devils advocate.

BAD: Transportation is a very important need for human society, and traffic
congestion is very big problem everywhere, especially in recent times.

BETTER: Transportation expenditures account for over 5% of domestic GDP,

according to an estimate prepared by the General Accounting Office
(1997). Delays associated with peak-period traffic congestion in the
Houston area account for.
DOs and DONTs (ctd.)
3. Do not assume that your reader/reviewer knows the problem you
are addressing as well as you do, or that they are equally familiar
with your perspective or methodology. Do not take a shared view
of the problem and its challenges for granted.

4. Try not to be flippant or arrogantDO NOT use language like:

It is well known, it is obvious or it is trivial to show.
It is like telling the reviewer Anyone with half a brain could tell
you that If it is that obvious then you may not need to dwell on
it, and if it is not (more likely), then just state and explain.

BETTER: It is generally accepted in the literature

Most standard textbooks (e.g. Topak and Srinivasan, 1975)
include a proof of
Typical mistakes:
Too much on:
background
other studies
(theories)
Too little on what the project is about:
research questions
Methodologies. If not sure: write something and be
specific: not: I will use a combination of quantitative and
qualitative methods
Weak on:
Research questions and hypotheses not specific
enough
Covers too much can she really do this?
THANK
YOU