Writing research proposal

Research Proposal Writing

• Writing a research proposal is a challenging task due to evolving trends in qualitative research design and the need to integrate medical advances.
• The proposal serves as a detailed plan for the intended study, aiming to facilitate a smooth research process.
• Many proposals for post-graduate evaluation committees and funding applications are substandard.

Proposal Structure and Contents

• A research proposal should have a cover page with the title, researcher’s name and affiliation, institutional affiliation, contact details, and signatures.
• The introduction should outline the research’s backbone and the objective of obtaining approvals and grants.
• The literature review should include relevant data, disagreements, and controversies, structured to show originality and innovation.
• Aims and objectives should state the research purpose and hypothesis, with primary and secondary objectives.
• Research design and methods should convincingly address the research problem with appropriate methodology and analysis.

Methodology and Ethical Considerations

• The proposal should detail the population and sample, data collection methods, and address potential barriers and pitfalls.
• Rigor in the research must be demonstrated through neutrality, consistency, and applicability.
• Data analysis should explain coding, sorting, and the statistical tests to be used.
• Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent and approval from relevant authorities.
• The budget should predict all research aspects and include an allowance for unforeseen events, with justification for all items.

Appendices and Citations

• Appendices support the proposal with documents like consent forms, questionnaires, and patient information.
• Citations are necessary for any scholarly research paper, and references should be cited in the proposal.

Extracted from: Sudheesh, K., Duggappa, D. R., & Nethra, S. S. (2016). How to write a research proposal? Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, 60(9), 631. doi: 10.4103/0019–5049.190617