including specific variables and measures will be collected for analysis. Aim for 4 5 pages in this section. Proposed study design. Heres where you describe the type of study you propose. Are you going to use existing data or collecting your own? Is the study going to be a survey (cross-sectional or longitudinal) a clinical trial (can you randomize?) a cohort study (with a group of individuals being followed over time) or a case control study? Or are you going to collect qualitative data via interviews and focus groups? Make sure what the study design can answer your research question and achieve the specific aims. Include a feasible and reasonable timeline Calculate sample size needed with reasonable assumptions. Population to be Studied Here you indicate the specific population group you will study and what the units of analysis are (individuals groups organizations cities etc). This is also where you determine inclusion criteria such as age sex geographical location disease status etc. If applicable also describe exclusion criteria i.e. who shouldnt be included in the study. The population you choose should be appropriate to answer your research question. Data Collection/Measures. In this section you describe what data variables you will collect and/or use and the types of variables (categorical numeric etc). Also describe what variables will serve asthe independent variables dependent variables (outcomes) and co-variates (demographics employment status health status occupation political beliefs religion co-morbidities for example). Data Analysis Techniques In a research proposal one is expected to provide a data analysis plan. You should discuss how the data will be organized so that the research questions you have set out to study can be examined. For example in a cohort study or a survey study you can propose using a multi-variate regression to answer the research question which investigates the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable while controlling for co-variates such as demographics. For a clinical trial study you can proposal comparing the differences between treatment and control groups before and after. Impact of the study This provides a closure of your proposal. Depict a hopeful future provided your study is successfully completed. What do you expect to learn from the research study you propose? How would your findings inform the health care field or improve patient outcomes moving forward?
