RESEARCH PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Expand the spaces provided in the form to fit. Delete explanations. The final proposal should be
in Times New Roman font 12 in double spacing format.
TITLE: (A good title should be short, accurate, and concise. It should make the central objectives
and variables of the study clear to the reader (reviewer). The title provides the key words for the
initial classification and indexing of the project. If it is possible, without undue length, the title
can give a preview of the protocol. It is important to specify what population to be investigated
for example
Student’s name:
Student’s registration number:
Year:
ABSTRACT
(Should be written as one continuous paragraph not exceeding 250 words)
(The function of the abstract is to describe succinctly every major aspect of the proposed
research. The abstract should give a brief background to the reader and indicate the problem
statement as well as the central question that the research is intended to answer and its
justification. It should specify the hypotheses (if applicable) and the main research objective. It
should describe the study design. In addition, the abstract should briefly describe the methods
and procedures to be used in the project identify the significance of the outcome.)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
(The introduction section includes all of the sections listed below)
1.1 Background Information
(Provide important background information and context of the topic to be investigated. It
describes how the research will add to the existing body of knowledge.)
1.2 Statement of the Problem
This constitutes the basis of the need for research to generate further knowledge that will
contribute to existing knowledge. The statement must be written in a way that gives an empirical
basis to describe the situation and also clearly specifies the gaps in existing knowledge and/or
controversy and inconclusive evidence. It is at this point the investigator defines the objective of
study and conveys the questions or broader issues motivating the research. A logical sequence for
presenting the statement would be:
Magnitude, frequency and distribution: Affected geographical areas and population
groups affected by the problem. Ethnic and gender considerations.
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?
Possible solutions: in what ways have solutions to be problem been attempted? What has
been proposed? What are the results?
Unanswered questions: what remains to be answered? What areas have been possible to
understand, determine, verify or test?
The problem statement should make a convincing argument that there is not sufficient
knowledge available to explain the problem and it determine possible solutions, or it should
make a convincing argument for the need to test what is known and taken as fact if it is called
into question by new findings or conditions.
The discussion in this section should show that the investigator has documented this problem and
performed an exhaustive bibliographic review of the subject.
1.3 Justification
This describes the type of knowledge expected to be obtained upon completion of the project and
the intended application of the results. It should indicate the strategy for disseminating and
implementing the research. The justification should answer questions such as:
How does the research relate to the national priorities or those of the Region?
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?
The justification, which can be included as part of the statement of the problem or in a separate
section, should make a convincing argument that the knowledge generated will have a practical
value.
1.4 Research Questions
(The research questions are linked to the specific objectives)
1.5 Hypothesis
(The Hypothesis (if any) is linked to the study title. Descriptive studies do not require
hypotheses. Descriptive studies are also known as hypothesis generating studies (Grimes and
Schulz, 2002.)
1.6 Objectives
(The objectives stated must be specific, measurable realistic and attainable within the given time
frame)
1.6.1 General Objective
It is linked to the study title. The objective should specify what kind of knowledge the study is
expected to obtain. It should give a clear notion of what is to be described, determined,
identified, compared and, in the cases of studies with working hypotheses, confirmed.
1.6.2 Specific Objectives
These disaggregate and follow logically from the general objective. They are a preliminary view
of the research design. Each specific objective is designed to measure the listed research
questions.
Examples
1. To estimate the incidence of malaria in children covered by the nutritional supplementation
program and the incidence of malaria in that receive standard nutrition.
2. To determine the existence of statistically significant differences in the incidence of malaria in
the group of children who receive standard nutrition and the group receiving nutritional
supplementation.
3. To identify the protective factors that help to explain the differences in the incidence of
malaria according to the type of supplementation received.
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
(Given an up to date, relevant literature and scholarly knowledge in the field of the proposed
project). This is derived from the statement of the problem (presentation of empirical evidence
and central question) and is the argument that the research question has a basis (grounds) for
providing a probable answer(s) to the question.
Establishment of relationships (identification of the relationships between the independent
variable and the response variables). What is known and how has it been explained? Are the
results conclusive? What are the bases for the question?
How are the possible answers to the question explained and defended? What are the
assumptions? What is the relationship? What are the working hypotheses?
The theoretical framework, considered the grounds that support the central question of the study,
states the investigator’s reasoning and arguments for the project to find the evidence that will
answer the research question and/or hypothesis. It requires an exhaustive bibliographic review.
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
(Provide clear descriptions of the scientific methodologies that will be used in this research,
indicating statistical methods, experimental designs and analysis to be used etc.)
3.1 Study Context
3.2 Study Design
(Summarise the study design in one short sentence. The type of study and its design should be
decided on the basis of its appropriateness to the objectives, the availability of resources and in
some cases, ethical considerations.)
3.3 Study Population
(Selection of the study population should be guided by the research question.)
3.3.1 The Inclusion Criteria
(The inclusion criteria should be determined by scientific and ethical criteria, rather than
convenience. Exclusion purely on the basis of age should always be avoided.)
3.4 Sample Size Determination
(Indicate the procedure and criteria used and justify the selection and size.)
3.5 Sampling Method
(The Statistical sampling methods should be described.)
3.6 Laboratory Procedures
(This section must describe in detail the procedures to be used to control the factors that
undermine the validity or reliability of the results. Procedures or techniques that are standardized
and/or documented in the literature should be described briefly and bibliographic references
should be given to sources where the details of these procedures and techniques can be found.)
The protocol should have an annex containing the instruments that will be used (Kit inserts,
questionnaires, interview guides, Moderator guides, registration forms, etc.)
3.7 Data Management
(State what procedures will be used for data management, including data coding, monitoring and
verification. Also describe the administrative and computer procedures to be used, the type of
staff available and whether any training will be needed to facilitate data management. In
addition, briefly describe the software packages that will be used.)
3.8 Limitations of The Study
3.9 Data analysis and Presentation
(An analysis plan is based on the proposed objectives and the types of variables, the investigator
should specify how the variables will be measured and how they will be presented (quantitative
and/or qualitative), indication the analytical models and techniques (statistical, non-statistical, or
analytical techniques for non-numeric data, etc.)
3.10 Ethical Considerations
When the research involves human subjects, this section should explicitly provide for the
following a aspects;
The know benefits and risks or disadvantages for the subjects in the study.
Exact description of the information to be delivered to the subjects of the study and when
it will be communicated orally or in writing. Examples of this information include: the
objectives and purposes of the study, any experimental procedures, and known short- or
long-term risks, possible discomforts, expected benefits of the procedure used, duration
of the studies, alternative methods for treatment if the study is a clinical trial, suspension
of the study if a finding is made of negative study and the freedom of subjects to
withdraw from the study whenever they want.
When appropriate indicate any special incentive or treatment that subjects will receive
through their participation in the study. If there is any type of remuneration specify the
amount, method of delivery time and reason why payment is required.
Indicate how the information obtained from participants in the study will be kept
confidential.
List the drugs, vaccines, diagnoses, procedures, or instruments to be used, whether they
are registered, unregistered, new or currently in use in the country.
Moreover, responses are required for other ethical aspects such as:
In studies where personal information will be obtained from the subjects, indicate how
the information will be confidential.
For studies involving the participation of subjects in an experiment (experimental or
quasi- experimental trials, studies of interventions, etc.), information should be provided
on the free and informed consent of the participants and the strategy that will be used to
obtain it.
Brief synopsis of how the inclusion as appropriate, of children, the elderly, physical
challenged, and pregnant women. Justify the non-inclusion in the study group, if
appropriate, of women (of any age), an ethnic minority, racial group, etc.
When appropriate, indicate how the appropriate balance of the two sexes will be ensured
in the study groups. In addition, indicate, when appropriate, how gender inequities and
discrimination and disadvantages can affect women’s involvement in the research.
When studies involve human subjects, an institutional ethics committee in the country or
institution where the research will be conducted should evaluate and endorse the research, before
it is funded. For this purpose, the form for research involving human subjects would be filled out
and care should be taken to attach the informed consent form that will be signed by the subjects
involved in the study.
REFERENCES
Provide a list of references you used in preparing your document (USE APA STYLE)