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How to....
How to write a research proposal

How to write a research proposal

M Annersten,* R Wredling
Introduction
An attractively prepared research Abstract
proposal is crucial for achieving A structured written research proposal is a necessary requirement when making an
application for research funding or applying to an ethics committee for approval of a
sufficient resources to conduct a
research project. A proposal is built up in sections of theoretical background; aim
successful project or study. Funding and research questions to be answered; a description and justification of the method
agencies that sponsor research use a chosen to achieve the answer; awareness of the ethical implications of the research;
proposal as the basis for making experience and qualifications of the team members to perform the intended study; a
their funding decisions. Some budget and a timetable.
This paper describes the common steps taken to prepare a written
agencies request a two-step proposal;
proposal as attractively as possible to achieve funding.
the first is a brief plan of the project, Eur Diabetes Nursing 2006; 3(2): 102–105.
and, when accepted, a more detailed
proposal has to be submitted. Key words
Funding agencies often supply an Research proposal; methodology; ethics committee; funding; budget
application kit that includes the
forms to be completed and a specific Synopsis address is ordinarily identified
format for organising the content of A proposal often begins with a early in the proposal and should
the proposal.1 The ethics committee summarised overview of the be stated in such a way that its
requires a research plan to be able to proposed research project. It should importance is apparent to the
judge whether the intended project not be more than one full page reviewer, although the researcher
is ethically acceptable.2 stating the study objectives, sample should not promise more than can
There is considerable similarity and size, methods to be used, be produced.2–4
in the type of information that is duration and evaluation methods. The background should demon-
expected in research proposals, strate the researcher’s command of
and in this article we will describe Background to the problem current knowledge in the field,
several of these important aspects In the background section of the forming a logical reason ending in
of writing a research proposal. proposal, the researcher should the research question. A broad and
make the reader aware of what complex problem is unlikely to be
has already been done and what solvable or manageable and is likely
Authors is already known in the area. A to be deemed unethical to conduct.
M Annersten, RN, MNsc, description of how the literature If relevant, include the possible the-
Diabetes Nurse Specialist,
search and assessment has been ory applicable in the field so that
Öresund Diabetes Team AB,
Ideon Science Park, performed is important, as the the intended study can be put into
Scheelevägen 17, result should be what the intended a research context. Whenever the
SE 223 70 Lund, Sweden research is built upon and theoretical backgrounds of the
R Wredling, RN, Professor, provide justification for the pres- study, existing knowledge, or the
Department of Nursing Karolinska
ent study. It should strengthen the researcher’s experience permit an
Institutet and Danderyd University
Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden author’s argument concerning the explicit prediction of outcomes,
significance of the study, and point these predictions should be
*Correspondence to: out how the proposed research will included in the proposal.
M Annersten, augment that knowledge and
Öresund Diabetes Team AB, Ideon
why this is important. Not all Significance of the problem
Science Park, Scheelevägen 17,
SE 223 70 Lund, Sweden studies result in an immediate The proposal must clearly describe
Tel: +46 46 286 38 50 product or change of praxis, but how the proposed research will
e-mail: [email protected] may constitute a little brick in the make a contribution to existing
building of something bigger, knowledge and why it is important.
Received: 2 November 2005
which hopefully is supported by Funding bodies are interested in
Accepted in revised form:
18 May 2006 the funding agency. The problem developing knowledge based in
that the intended research will particular areas and not in the

102 EDN Autumn 2006 Vol. 3 No. 2 Copyright © 2006 FEND. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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How to....

How to write a research proposal

researcher’s personal journey or Methods Ethical awareness

general curiosity. The proposal The explanation of the intended Any ethical implications of the study
should indicate the expected research methods should be should be described and an expla-
generalisability of the research, its sufficiently thorough to ensure that nation as to how they will be han-
contribution to theory, possible the reader will have no doubt about dled should be given because the
applications or consequences of how the research objectives will be integrity of the study participant
the knowledge to be gained, and its addressed. The rationale for the (patient or healthy volunteer) must
potential of improving nursing method chosen must also be made be protected at all times. This is
practice and patient care. apparent. First, the study design described in the Declaration of
should be presented; descriptive, Helsinki and the Ethical Guidelines for
Objectives cross-sectional, longitudinal, or Nursing Research.6,7 The risk to the
Specific, achievable objectives randomised controlled trial. individual participating must not
provide the reader with clear Second, a clear description of exceed the expected beneficial
criteria against which the proposed the sampling plan and the number results, both in the case of the indi-
research can be assessed, and this of participants to be included vidual participant and the larger
section should be kept short and should be provided; the number of group of participants.8 Participation
clear. Statement of a research participants should be justified sta- must be voluntary and consented to
hypothesis or specific model to tistically, as should the method of only after accurate, detailed written
be tested is preferable as it can randomisation. In this section information is provided about the
be defined as true or false. The describe the method of recruit- study’s positive and negative impli-
outcome variables should be ment of participants. If the method cations for the participant. Describe
clearly defined as primary and encompasses an experimental here how the participants are to be
secondary objectives, measuring the design, a statistical power analysis given information about the study
appropriate items. Complicated and must be carried out to demonstrate and how informed consent will be
numerous research objectives often the ability of the research design to obtained. If there is an insurance
lead to no result at all, and should be detect relationships between vari- policy covering any injury caused by
avoided. In exploratory or descrip- ables. A power analysis determines the study procedure, it should be
tive research, the formulation of the minimum number of samples mentioned here. A copy of the
hypotheses might not be feasible, that need be included in order to application to the ethics committee
and in such cases, the objectives may achieve a true difference between may be attached to the research
be most conveniently phrased as the groups. proposal and a copy of the Patient
answerable questions. Third, a thorough methods Information Form and Informed
section should include a description Consent Form should also be
Research questions of the instruments to be used in attached.
Research questions help the reader the study; for example question-
to identify which variables are going naires, specific procedures such as Timeframe
to be measured. First, the questions programmes for patient education, There never seems to be sufficient
should be relevant when judged in or equipment. Copies of question- time for the perfect study to be
relation to the introduction and the naires should accompany the pro- conducted, but in order to facilitate
objectives. Second, the questions posal. Data collection and analytical the study to proceed, it is helpful to
must be researchable and answerable strategies, such as data management state a realistic deadline for the com-
using appropriate research methods. and method of interpretation to pletion of the study, some deadlines
Thus, the approach suggested by the be used after collection of data for the milestones of the study, such
research questions adds something should be described. Potential as ethics committee submission
new to the knowledge base. A system- methodological problems and deadline, and to make allowance for
atic review of different research ques- intended strategies for dealing with delays if the committee requests fur-
tions is an important part of the plan- such problems need to be discussed ther information. Also state a dead-
ning process. If this is carried out in this section. line when data collection should be
carefully, time and money will be Finally, in order to ensure completed, when the report should
saved in future and ensure that the that the study is proceeding be finalised (an example of a time-
study is sustainable and can be according to plan, the monitoring line is given in Table 1). This enables
performed within the given time- process to be performed should the funding agency to judge the
frame. be described.5 value of the money requested for

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How to....
How to write a research proposal

Task Calendar Month of Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Literature reading – –
Formulating the research question –
Choice and development of research method – –
Writing of protocol – –
Ethics committee application –
Preparing data collection –
Data collection – – – – – – – – – – – –
Data management – – – – – – – – – – – –
Data analysis – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Prepare report and publications – – – – –
Prepare data for archive –

Table 1 Example of a timetable (adapted from Handbook for Clinical Investigators)3

this particular study. They might ment, special documents or increased/overhead cost will
have an interest in getting certain records, or laboratories, will be be added to the budget sum.
information from the study before a available; for example, the project Currently (2005), Karolinska Insti-
certain date. may require a web site. This should tutet, Stockholm, charges 54.5% as
be described to reassure sponsors overhead cost.
Study personnel or advisers that the project will be A well-conceived protocol
A study requires certain formal able to proceed as planned. The greatly facilitates the preparation of
scientific skills in order for willingness of the institution to the budget, which should be pre-
the research to be carried out appro- which the researcher is affiliated to sented on a separate sheet in a
priately. The formal skills and allocate space, equipment, services, table format. If there are any inor-
research experience in the area of data and secretarial support should dinate difficulties in detailing
the participating members of the be indicated. financial needs, there may be rea-
team should be described here. The son to suspect that the protocol is
mix of researchers in the team and Budget insufficiently developed. Funding
their experience with regards to the The funding requested must be for research projects is becoming
method(s) used should be described, justifiable in relation to the more and more difficult to obtain
as well as the contribution the information to be derived from and in Sweden, large studies of a
researchers claim they will be able to the study. The budget is judged in multi-professional design, with
make to certain parts of the study. relation to the kind of application research questions raised by differ-
Communication within the study made, whether the project is ent professionals, claim priority.
group may be structured; mention at long-term or short-term, or an
this point, if appropriate, the forms application for planning time. Conclusion
of communication – web site, regular Include consumables, software, cost The written research proposal
telephone conferences, etc. The of shipping and postage, staff, represents the means for
researcher’s suitability and other equipment, localities, reimburse- opening communication between
team members’ competencies for ment to participants, medical inves- researchers and parties interested
performing the study are typically tigations, laboratory analysis, time in supporting the conduct of
given major consideration in evaluat- for analysing and presentation of research. Those parties may be
ing the proposal. the results, including travel funding agencies, faculty advisors,
expenses and conference fees, and or institutional officers. An
Facilities application fees. If the study design accepted proposal is a two-way
The proposal should document implicates fasting visits (often com- contract; those accepting the
the extent to which specialist facili- mon in diabetes research), a nice proposal say that ‘We are willing to
ties and/or equipment required by breakfast should be offered to the offer financial support as long
the project, such as access to physi- participants and an appropriate as the investigation proceeds as
ological instrumentation, libraries, sum should be included in the proposed’, and those writing the
computers, data processing equip- budget. Finally, the institution’s proposal are saying ‘If you will

104 EDN Autumn 2006 Vol. 3 No. 2 Copyright © 2006 FEND. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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How to....
How to write a research proposal

offer support, then I will conduct between the researcher and the Buckingham: Open University
the project as proposed’. agency. This might increase Press, 1999.
Finally, the proposal document the opportunity for a successful 5. Directive 90/46/EC of the European
should be as attractive as possible. A application for the next study. Parliament and of the Council of 24
neat and pleasing appearance October 1995 on the Protection of
invites the reviewer to read the Conflict of interest: Individuals with Regard to the
proposal and suggests that care has None Processing of Personal Data and on
been taken in its preparation. The the Free Movement of Such Data.
text should be as clear as possible as References http://www.cdt.org/privacy/eudi-
1. American Association of Diabetes rective/EU_Directive_.html
committees are made up of mem-
Educators Education and Research [Accessed 1 February 2006].
bers from different professional
Foundation. Application Form. 6. Declaration of Helsinki. http://
backgrounds.
http://www.aadenet.org [Accessed www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm
If the funding applied for is [Accessed 1 February 2006].
1 February 2006].
received, remember to express 7. International Council of Nurses.
2. Polit DF, Hungler BP. Nursing
gratitude after the study has been Research. Principles and Methods, Ethical Guidelines for Nursing Research.
performed and the report has been 4th edn. Pennsylvania: JB Lippincott Geneva: ICN, 2003.
written, by providing the funding Company, 1991. 8. ICH Topic E6: Guidelines for
agency with a copy of the report. At 3. Lemne C. Handbook for Clinical Good Clinical Practice. http://
the end of any published article, Investigators. Sweden, Lund: www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/ich/0
financial support should be Studentlitteratur, 1999. 13595en.pdf [Accessed 1 February
acknowledged in a format agreed 4. Bell J. Doing your Research Project. 2006].

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