How to Design Studies and Write Research Proposals

A Guide for Nursing, Allied Health and Social Care Students

1st Edition - March 15, 2024
Author: Kader Parahoo
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 6 1 6 3 - 3
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 6 1 6 4 - 0

If you’re writing a research proposal for the first time, this is the book for you. It’s the only text on the market that guides you through the entire process, from designing a re… Read more

How to Design Studies and Write Research Proposals

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If you’re writing a research proposal for the first time, this is the book for you.

It’s the only text on the market that guides you through the entire process, from designing a research study to submitting a successful proposal. It covers everything from formulating the research question to selecting the research methodology, collecting data, and navigating ethics, all supported with plenty of practical tips, real life examples and checklists for honing your proposal.

How to Design Studies and Write Research Proposals is written by nursing research expert Professor Kader Parahoo, whose work is loved by students for its accessible writing style and practical approach.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
List of proposal examples
Introduction
List of Illustrations
List of Tables
1. How to develop research questions for proposals
Introduction
Sources of research questions
From topic to specific questions
Summary and conclusions
References
2. Background and literature review in research proposals
Introduction
Relationship between literature and proposals
Introduction/rationale for the study
The literature review section of a proposal
Additional notes for the introduction/literature review in proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
3. Conceptual frameworks in research proposals
Introduction
The meaning of ‘conceptual framework’
Conceptual framework, theoretical framework and conceptual model
Common conceptual and theoretical frameworks used in nursing, health and social care research
How conceptual and theoretical frameworks are used in research studies
Conceptual frameworks in qualitative studies
Limitations of frameworks
Summary and conclusions
References
4. Selecting research designs for descriptive and correlational studies
Introduction
Methodology and design
Matching designs to questions
Research designs in descriptive and correlational studies
Blurring terminologies
Summary and conclusions
References
5. Selecting experimental designs
Introduction
Experimental designs
Trials in research proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
6. Selecting qualitative designs
Introduction
Questions in descriptive qualitative studies
Main reasons for undertaking qualitative studies
Use of theories and conceptual frameworks to underpin qualitative studies
The use of the term ‘design’ in qualitative studies
The flexible and emerging nature of ‘design’ in qualitative studies
Summary and conclusions
References
7. Selecting mixed methods designs
Introduction
Mixed method designs
Types of mixed methods design
Mixed methods designs as ideal types
Describing mixed methods studies in research proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
8. Quantitative data collection and analysis
Introduction
Selecting methods of data collection
Data collection and analysis methods
Selecting data collection methods for a study
Physiological measures and other sources of data
Data analysis
Data handling and management
Structured interviews
Clinical interviews
Reporting data collection and analysis in research proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
9. Qualitative data collection and analysis
Introduction
Qualitative face-to-face interviews
Focus groups
Summary and conclusions
References
10. Quantitative and qualitative observation in proposals
Introduction
Common types of observation in research studies
Issues to consider when using structured observation
Qualitative observations
Additional notes on observation in proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
11. Samples and sampling in quantitative studies and proposals
Introduction
Samples and sampling
Sampling in proposals for surveys and correlational studies
Sampling in trials
Summary and conclusions
References
12. Samples and sampling in qualitative studies and proposals
Introduction
Factors determining samples and sampling in qualitative research
Samples and sampling in grounded theory studies
Samples and sampling in phenomenological studies
Samples and sampling in ethnographic studies
Samples and sampling in mixed methods studies
Summary and conclusions
References
13. Ethical issues in study design and proposals
Introduction
Ethical issues related to the research topic or question
Ethical issues related to participants
Ethical issues related to designs and methods
Researcher-related ethical issues
Summary and conclusions
References
14. Research impact in proposals
Introduction
Brief background to the rise of ‘research impact’
What is research impact?
Strategies and activities to facilitate impact
Summary and conclusions
References
15. Involving users, patients and the public in research
Introduction
Background to PPI in nursing, health and social care research
Clarification of PPI terms
PPI before, during and after the study
Roles and status of users, patients and public contributors in research teams
Recruiting patients and public contributors
Ethical issues in PPI
Budgeting for PPI in proposals
Toolkits for PPI
Describing PPI in research proposals
Summary and conclusions
References
16. Timeline, costings and research team
Introduction
Resources for research studies
Estimating and calculating resources
Constructing a timeline for the study
Costing resources
The research team
The profile of researchers
Summary and conclusions
References
17. Tips for successful research proposals
Introduction
Pre-development phase
Proposal presentation
Pre-submission review
Funders’ criteria
Common reasons for proposal rejection
Rejection, reflection, revision and resubmission
Summary and conclusions
References
Appendix A. Checklist for reporting quantitative descriptive and correlational studies (survey, cohort and case control) in research proposals
Appendix B. Checklist for reporting trials in research proposals
Appendix C. Checklist for reporting qualitative studies in proposals
Appendix D. Checklist for mixed methods studies in research proposals
Index