Proposal Writing

In this course the knowledge and skills gained in the short course on Basic Epidemiology and Biostatistics will be utilized. Through the application of their knowledge of these subjects and their public health experience the participants will develop a research proposal. The course sessions will be followed by group work so that the participants can work in small units and finalize their research proposals. In addition, this course includes learning skills of critically assessing published articles in medical journals.

The goal of this course is to create a critical mass of trained persons well-oriented in writing research proposals. It will also enable the health professionals to critically comprehend the concepts and at the same time apply the epidemiological and statistical methods to develop a research protocol.

The following issues will be addressed in the course:

1. The critical analysis of a published scientific paper will be used as a baseline to start with the concept of writing a proposal to enable the students to identify the scientific requirements of medical writing and the various components of the paper. This will involve the critical reading of a published paper in context with the background, objectives, aims, study designs, data collection tool and their validity, data presentation and interpretation, in terms of discussion and conclusions. Statistical methods will be assessed for their applications and validity. The citation and listing of references will also be examined using the guidelines for critical assessment of scientific papers.
2. The definitions of research and its uses and advantages will be highlighted in context with its importance in health and disease.
3. The selection and prioritizing of a topic for research demands some underlying reasoning which will be dealt with in this section requiring guidelines to select a topic.
4. Hands-on-training of the students will be made possible in searching for the relevant literature using hand and web search.
5. Providing a background to the study will be worked at through exercises using several examples.
6. Formulation of objectives needs clarity of logical thinking which can focus on the scientific principals and, at the same time, covering the language issues.
7. Formulation of hypothesis is critical in terms of stating them in measurable terms.
8. Through definitions of objectives and hypothesis, the identification of variables and their types will be worked at.
9. Once the objectives and variables are identified, the design of the study will be identified based on the prior knowledge of basics in epidemiology.
10. Sampling techniques employed will be qualified appropriate to the objectives and the study designs. Probability and non-probability techniques will be applied on different scenario to appropriate their use in research.
11. Construction of Proforma and questionnaire appropriate to the study objectives and variables.
12. Validity of the measurements will be discussed for the documented variables.
13. Importance of self- and interviewer administered questionnaire.
14. Pre-testing the methodology of data collection.
15. Outlining of the plan for data analysis will be carried out constructing dummy tables and identifying appropriate statistical analysis.
16. Preparing of the work plan using the pattern of a Gantt chart.
17. Preparing budget and its justification for a proposal when seeking funding.
18. Writing the title of the study topic to include the study design, variables and statistical analysis. Abstract writing will be done according to different standards.
19. Sample size estimation based on objectives and study designs will be done using various statistical applications.
20. Presentation of the project will be the final step.

Interactive discussions, exercises, group discussions/work and hands-on training. Handouts would be provided to the students at the start of each session. Certificates of attendance will be issued out to the participants at the end of the course.

Certificates of attendance will be issued out to the participants at the end of the course.