Summary and Synthesis: How to Present a Research Proposal

• Published in: Indian journal of dermatology Vol. 62; no. 5; pp. 443 - 450
• Main Authors: Setia, Maninder Singh, Panda, Saumya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-09-2017; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Biostatistics; Biosynthesis; Chronographs; Clinical trials; Dermatology; Epidemiology; Ethics; Human subjects; IJD; Medical research; Module on Biostatistics and Research Methodology for the Dermatologist - Module Editor: Saumya Panda; Psoriasis; research proposal; research protocol; Researchers; study design; Survival analysis; New York; United States > US; Greenland; India; Biostatistics; research proposal; study design; research protocol
• ISSN: 0019-5154; 1998-3611
• DOI: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_405_17

This concluding module attempts to synthesize the key learning points discussed during the course of the previous ten sets of modules on methodology and biostatistics. The objective of this module is to discuss how to present a model research proposal, based on whatever was discussed in the preceding modules. The lynchpin of a research proposal is the protocol, and the key component of a protocol is the study design. However, one must not neglect the other areas, be it the project summary through which one catches the eyes of the reviewer of the proposal, or the background and the literature review, or the aims and objectives of the study. Two critical areas in the "methods" section that cannot be emphasized more are the sampling strategy and a formal estimation of sample size. Without a legitimate sample size, none of the conclusions based on the statistical analysis would be valid. Finally, the ethical parameters of the study should be well understood by the researchers, and that should get reflected in the proposal.