Research Method
Research Project Plan and Proposal
© University of Cambridge
[email protected]
School of Medicine - VNU, May 21st, 2024 Lecturer: Tu Ha
Outline 1
I. Research proposal and research topic selection
II. Research proposal structure
III. What makes a good research proposal
IV. Dos and Don’ts
I. Research Proposal 2
Research
Obtain
Questions/
answers
Problems
Research Proposal
• Overall plan, strategy, and structure
• Outline various tasks (to fulfill the research
objectives, test hypotheses)
• state the reasons for undertaking the study
I. Research Proposal 3
• Detailed operational plan
• Must provide:
what you are proposing to do;
how you plan to find answers to what you are proposing;
why you selected the proposed strategies for investigation.
I. Research topic selection 4
- a question and an
educated guess of answer
- right questions to ask?
formulating interesting,
productive research topics?
I. Research topic selection 5
Focused vs. Extended
• Like a beam of light, research can be focused more or less sharply
• The choice of focus can be a key to determining how fruitful the investigation
turns out to be
• The topical focus must be clear and sharp
Example:
i.) investigating the effect of transporters on oral bioavailability
ii.) investigating the effect of efflux transporters on oral bioavailability
I. Research topic selection 6
Novel vs. Grounded
• Different experiment set-up novelty if the difference is not in some key variable/
variables that are essential to the result
• While research must be novel to merit attention and funding, it must also be well-
grounded in established scientific knowledge
• The literature review section of a research proposal:
- Convince reviewers of how well-grounded and how novel the proposed research is;
- Literature search helps select an adequately grounded while interestingly novel
research topic.
• Example:
i.) investigating the effect of efflux transporters on oral bioavailability on MDCK cell line
ii.) investigating the effect of efflux transporters on oral bioavailability on cBRCP knock-
out MDCK cell line
I. Research topic selection 7
Feasible vs. Challenging
• a research topic to be realistically undertaken and completed with the time and
resources available matter of being grounded
- A topic has to be scientifically feasible
- The feasibility must be practical as well
• The project should be a challenge to carry out, both intellectually and practically
- The resources to be of the most effective and productive use
- The intellectual challenge to produce the most exciting results
Example:
i.) optimising spray-drying conditions for black pepper extract in Southern Vietnam
I. Research topic selection 8
Theoretical vs. Empirical
• A common criticism of a research proposal that is inadequately grounded in a
theoretical framework (“fishing expedition”)
• Lack of explaining the purpose or the significance of the effort except for
characterising the phenomena to be studied as important
Short-term vs. Long-term prospects
An exciting research topic is one that:
• Present results that open up new avenues for further research
• Provide the basis for a later proposal for renewed support
I. Research topic selection 9
Asking questions
• Why have I decided to do some research?
• How can I remain interested in my research?
• How do I choose a research method?
• What personal characteristics do I have which might help me to complete my
research?
• What skills and experience do I have which might help in my research?
I. Research topic selection 10
Understand the five “Ws”
“optimising spray-drying conditions for black pepper extract in Southern Vietnam”
I. Research topic selection 11
Summarise your research
• Try to sum up your proposed project in one sentence
• Discuss your sentence with your tutor or boss and revise if there is any confusion
Statement: I’d like to perform a project focusing on spray-drying black pepper
extract in Southern Vietnam
II. Research proposal structure 12
Contents of a proposal
• Title
• Background
• Aims and objectives
• Methodology
• Timetable
• Budget and resources
• Citation
II. Research proposal structure 13
(Wetting angle)
II. Research proposal structure 14
Title: Short & explanatory
Background: The reader should know what the proposal is about, why it is worth
reading, and how you’ll build your research
✓ What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and
define key terms/concepts
✓ Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction.
Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are
you offering? What important issues does your research help define or answer?
✓ How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the
introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key
elements of the paper in chronological order
II. Research proposal structure 15.1
Background
• WHAT - WHY – HOW: this project is undertaken and the need for this project
II. Research proposal structure 15.2
Background
• WHAT - WHY – HOW: this project is undertaken and the need for this project
II. Research proposal structure 16
II. Research proposal structure 17
II. Research proposal structure 18
Aims and Objectives
• depending on the project format (1 - 2 aims and no objectives) OR (1 – 2 aims and
specific objectives)
AIM
OBJECTIVES
II. Research proposal structure 19
• Method: describe your proposed
research methodology and
methods and justify their use.
- Why have you decided upon your
methodology?
- Why have you decided to use those
particular methods?
- Why are other methods not
appropriate?
II. Research proposal structure 20.1
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 20.2
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 20.3
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 20.4
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 20.5
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 20.6
• Method
II. Research proposal structure 21
• Timetable: A detailed timetable scheduling all aspects of the research
II. Research proposal structure 22
• Timetable: A detailed timetable scheduling all aspects of the research
II. Research proposal structure 23
• Budget and Resources:
II. Research proposal structure 24
• Citation/References
- Citation machines – Zotero, Endnote, Mendeley
- Check citation style: Faculty of Pharmacy – Vancouver with “[..]”
III. What makes a good proposal? 25
• Relevance, either to the work of the funding body or to the student’s course.
• The research is unique or offers new insight or development.
• The title, aims, and objectives are all clear and succinct.
• Comprehensive background research and literature review have been provided.
• There is a good match between the issues to be addressed and the approach to
be adopted.
• The researcher demonstrates relevant background knowledge and/or experience
• Timetable, resources, and budget have all been worked out thoroughly, with
most eventualities covered.
• Useful policy and practice implications.
IV. Why proposal fails? 26
• Aims and objectives are unclear or vague
• There is a mismatch between the approach being adopted and the issues
• to be addressed
• The overall plan is too ambitious and difficult to achieve in the timescale
• The researcher does not seem to have conducted enough in-depth background
research
• The problem is of insufficient importance
• Information about the data collection method is insufficiently detailed
• Information about the data analysis method is insufficiently detailed.
• The timescale is inappropriate or unrealistic
• Resources and budget have not been carefully thought out.
• This topic has been done too many times before
Summary 27
• Careful selection of research topic (different dimensions to be considered)
• Well-structured proposal with detailed information explaining the need to
carry out the research project
• Well-written background knowledge and suitable adoption of research
methods to achieve previously outlined aims
• It’s all about research and writing skill with no grammatical and spelling
errors.
• Plagiarism!!
