UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES Writing proposals for research grants Resource Person Professor Obinna Onwujekwe Departments of Health Administration & Management and Pharmacology & Therapeutics Obinna. onwujekwe@unn. edu. ng Phone: +234 803 700 7771

Objectives of the workshop �Understand the rationale for research proposals �Learn the components of a research proposal �Learn how to craft a research proposal �Write a skeletal proposal

Martin Luther King, Jr. �The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. �Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

What is the purpose of research? �Makes an original contribution to advance the existing stock of knowledge �Basis for sound policy formulation �Social and economic growth progress depends on quality and utilization of research evidence by government, policy makers and social groups �It satisfies one’s intellectual yearnings for better understanding of his environment

Why write a research proposal? �Generate evidence for policy making or for strategic planning �Contribute to current conversations and debates �Respond to a call for proposal �For undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate projects �To generate data for publications �Answer critical questions bothering the scientist or researcher �Hobby

Principles in writing a research proposal �Address a research problem that is particularly significant in the context of Nigeria or area concerned �Internally consistent (synergy between objectives and methodology) �Includes procedures for addressing every objective �Presented in such a manner that flows logically from section to section and subsection to subsection �Easily readable with clear and concise language

Movement from ideas to proposals �Expression of interest (EOI) (response to a call for proposal) �Expression of inquiry (EOI) (no call for proposal, but inquire whether funding is available) �Draft proposal �Internal peer review �Extensive literature review

Nnamdi Azikiwe � Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar.

Sections of a proposal – an example � Title � Introduction: background/justification (rationale) � Research questions � Aim and objectives �Literature review – theoretical and empirical � Theoretical and Conceptual frameworks � Research methods � Context of research � Study area � Study design � Sampling and sample size (inclusion and exclusion criteria) � Data collection tools � Plans for data analysis � Plans for research communication (research uptake strategy) � Ethical considerations � Timelines � References � Budgeting

Selecting a topic: Criteria for selection: �Relevance �Should be a priority problem. �Think of serious problems that affect a great number of people �Avoidance of duplication �find out whether the topic has been investigated before, either within the proposed study area or in another area with similar conditions. �If the topic has been researched, the results should be reviewed to explore whether major questions that deserve further investigation remain unanswered. If not, another topic should be chosen. �Feasibility of study �Consider available resources

The Title �Must be sharp �Informative �Keep it short and simple (KISS) �Respond directly to a call �Should be active �Should be focused �Should contain the name of the area where the study is to be conducted �Should be concise and not vague �Not too long �Keep it short and simple (KISS �ETC

Introduction �Should contain the following sections: �problem statement �Rationale/justification/significance of the study �objectives of the study �It provides the rationale for the study �Why it should be funded and Why it provides value for money �Encompasses literature review on the subject matter �It goes from general (what is reported in the literature, what is done in practice) to more specific (your study). �Identifies gaps in literature and potential contributions of the study �Provides the basis for research questions and objectives �Provides basis for conceptual framework and research methods

Problem statement �A concise description of the nature of the problem (the discrepancy between what is and what should be) and of the size, distribution and severity of the problem (who is affected, where, since when, and what are the consequences). �Use a literature review (original research papers and review articles) to provide this context. �Go from general to specific e. g. If you are doing a study on adherence to HIV treatment in Nigeria, start with some information on the HIV epidemic, then the treatment options and lastly the issues with adherence. And within these sections start with global evidence, then Africa, then Nigeria.

Rationale for the study �Relates to the origin/source of the topic and the importance of the problem. �A brief description of any solutions to the problem that have been tried in the past should be given, how well they have worked, and why further research is needed. �Again, use literature to support this.

Significance of the study �A description of the type of information expected to result from the project and a clarification of how this information will be used to help solve the problem (contribution to existing knowledge).

Research questions �Asks the questions that the research will answer �Should try not to have many - not be more than four so that the research is focused �Aim and objectives are derived from research questions �Any examples?

Aim (General Objective) �A general statement that shows the direction of the study and its contribution to knowledge �General aim or purpose of the study which is derived from the research topic �Should be sharp and focused �Reflect the title of the study �Encompass the research questions �Leads to specific objectives �Etc

Specific objectives �Are derived from research questions, based on your general objective. �statements of the research question(s). �Should be: simple (not complex), � specific (not vague), � stated in advance (not after the research is done). � �Linked directly to the aim �Should be SMART �Should not be too many – not more than five

Specific Objectives CONTD �Use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated, for example: to determine, to compare, to verify, to calculate, to describe, to establish etc. �Don’t put too many specific objectives or overambitious objectives that cannot be adequately achieved by the implementation of the proposal. 3 to 5 specific objectives �For each specific objective, think of the indicators to be measured �Indicators are what will be measured to show whether or not objectives have been achieved

Literature review A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL STARTS WITH A DETAILED LITERATURE REVIEW

What is a Literature Review (LR)? �LR is an account of what has been published on your topic of interest. �Generally, the purpose of a review is to critically analyze a segment of a published body of knowledge through summary, classification, and comparison of prior research studies, reviews of literature, and theoretical articles. �In writing the LR, your purpose is to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. �It provides the framework of your research investigation and summarizes the literature you studied in order to develop your research study

Why do a Literature Review? �Find gaps in the literature �Avoid reinventing the wheel (at the very least this will save time and it can stop you from making the same mistakes as others) �Build on the platform of existing knowledge and ideas �Learn about other people’s working in the same field �Identify important works about your topic �Provide the intellectual context for your own work, enabling you to position your project relative to other works �Learn about opposing views �Discover information and ideas that may be relevant to your project �Identify research methods that could be relevant to your project

How do I do a Literature Review? Selecting Sources for the Literature Review �A good literature review requires a good literature search. �Develop key words for the search �an exhaustive search of the resources and information about your research topic. �Initial reading to become familiar with topic �Material in reader or a review article �Identify key words (and key issues) �Snowball - look for references in articles �Online search of electronic databases: �Keep track of what you have searched – where & with what keywords (methods; avoid duplication)

What are the possible sources of information? �Individuals, groups, and organizations �Published information (books, articles, indexes and abstract journals) �Unpublished information (grey literature, other research proposals in related fields, reports, records and computer data bases) �Data from routine statistics �Statistics issued at National, state and LGA levels

Reviewing and writing down the literature � Once you have identified the key resources for your topic, you then need to describe, critique and relate each source to the subject of the inquiry. � This prepares you to organize your literature review logically � Work out a structure as soon as possible and take notes using that structure: � Saves time � Helps to develop a clear line of argument � Decreases the likelihood of plagiarism � Increases the potential for analysis (unpack into constituent parts; isolate main variables; determine relationship between them) � Review abstracts and/or skim whole article: � Check for relevance. � Identify key issues � More detailed reading and note-taking: � Key issues � Good quotes � Source of information � Reference as you go along

Structure of LR: create a table of information Reference (Author, title, article) Issues Thematic area (introduction, Objectives, methods) Remarks (special quotes)

Checklist Must be clear that you have: �Identified the key literature relevant to the topic �Reviewed the literature thoroughly and with an ‘openmind’ �Identified the key ideas, concepts (and methods) �Recorded your sources accurately and consistently �Analysed the information in a systematic, comprehensive and relevant way

Methodology �Most important part of the proposal. �Should include information on �where the study will take place, �The design of the study � information on the type of study, � the research population �How to select those to be studied, �Statistical methods used to calculate the sample size �measurements to be taken, �observations to be made, �how to analyze your data.

Methodology CONTD �Informs how the study will be undertaken �Linked to specific objectives �Have a specific method for each specific objective �What study design �Cross-sectional �Prospective �Retrospective �Primary vs secondary data �Detail data collection methods �Qualitative (several methods) �Quantitative (several methods) �Mixed �Etc

A rough guide to research Designs Were comparisons made? No Descriptive study Yes Were subjects chosen based on the outcome? No Were subjects followed overtime? Yes No Case-Control study Cross-sectional study Yes Did the investigator make interventions? Yes Were the interventions assigned randomly? No Yes Cohort study Randomized trial No Were subjects compared with themselves? Yes Before-after study No Were intervention subjects compared with other subjects? No Clinical anecdote Yes Randomized control trial

Sampling, sampling frame and sampling method. Which is the larger group (sampling frame) from which the participants (sample) will be recruited for research? How are you going to select (sampling method) the sample? �Non probability: • Probability: Ø Quota sampling Ø Simple Random sampling Ø Purposive Ø Systematic sampling Ø Incidental/Convenience Ø Stratified sampling Ø Snowballing Ø Cluster sampling Ø Multistage sampling 9/25/2020 31

Data collection �Describe the instrument(s) to be used for data collection (e. g. interview guide, questionnaire, checklist or data collection form) including validity and reliability �Describe who will collect the data �If you are going to use a (adaptation of a) standard tool, you can refer to an article in which it is described. In case you developed a tool yourself, you should include it as an appendix.

Data analysis This section should cover the variables to be measured and the statistical analysis to be done: �The statistical methods proposed to be used for the analysis of data should be clearly outlined including the program to be used. �The level of significance to be used should be stated. �How the data will be summarized (e. g. means, % including measures of variability e. g. SD, 95% CI),

Data analytic methods �Hypotheses being tested �Qualitative �Quantitative �Triangulation �Software packages �Presentation of results?

Plans for research communication �Workshops �Meetings �Policy briefs �Technical reports �Conferences �Papers �ETC

Ethical considerations �Informed consent �Ethical approval �What else?

References üVancouver system �Harvard

Time line �What? �When? �How? �Who (team building and justify roles) �Specified time frame �Reasonable

Budgeting: Allocating or making rational provisions for enough monetary resources for different tasks taking into consideration the prevailing amount of money available for an activity or project.

Steps 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify activities Identify resource requirements for different activities Identify unit cost for each resource required Quantity resource requirements for different activities Allocate available money to cover different resources

Monetary Allocation 1. Personnel �Determine person-months for each person �Determine cost person-month for each person �Compute money to be paid to each person �Subtotal personnel

Monetary Allocation Cont’d 2. Travel Costs �Determine number of trips �Determine cost per trip �Compute travel costs �If travel costs is high, then it may be better to buy a field vehicle �Purchase vehicle �Compute and provide adequate funds for running and insuring vehicle �Add driver to personnel costs

Monetary Allocation Cont’d 3. Equipment �Computer �Palmtop �Tape recorder �PCR �HPLC

Monetary Allocation Cont’d 4. Supplies �Stationary �Lab reagents, etc 5. Communication 6. Workshops

Monetary Allocation Cont’d 7. Dissemination �Publications �Seminars �Policy briefs 8. Miscellaneous

Budget Justification Provide reasons for each budgetary line allocation. E. g. 1. Base per-month personnel allocation on current salary wage 2. Base travel on cost of hiring a taxi per day.

References �Should be complete �Should follow a uniform layout

Annexes �Study tools �As required by funders �Any excess material that makes the proposal to be above the word/page limit �What else?

Ignorance and stupidity. �Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Acknowledgment �Prof BSC Uzochukwu for some of the slides

Thank You!