proposal objectives and justification

7/29/2019 Proposal Objectives and Justification

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Contents of the presentation

o Goals and Objectives

o Rationale/Justification

o Hypothesis/Research Statemento References


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What is a project?

A project is a

...series ofactivities designed toachieve a specific outcome within a set

budgetand timescale.


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Objectives and justification

(problem statement, rationale)

These help one to define the following:

What do I want to achieve? Why do I want to do this?

By when should this be accomplished?

What are the main steps that need to be carried

out?


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Goals and objectives

What am I planning to do?

Goals and objectives set out the scope of the

project.

In a sense, this section also alludes to what is not

going to be done. It sets the boundaries of the

project.


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Research objectives are derived from knowledge

gaps, and should state what is new and special that

warrants investigation.


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What is the goal of the project?

The goal is a short and general sentencedefining...

The overall aim of the project

The contribution of the project in abigger context

thereby describing thepurpose of the project.


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Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans

naturally exposed to malaria (Plasmodiumfalciparum)

Project goal:

To provide critical information on PfEMP1

antibodies levels for the development of a

malaria vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa.


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Defining the objectives of the project

The objectives are a more specific, and provide a

statement on-

What the project will aims to achieve at

termination (an insight into what will be in the

thesis)

Which requirements must be met.


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Defining the objectives of the project (cont'd)

Objectives should be SMART

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely.


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Example: PfEMP1 levels .

Objectives:

By September 2012:

To assess the correlation of the levels of PfEMP1antibodies with age and parasitemia

To determine if PfEMP1 antibodies aretransferred from pregnant mothers to theirinfants, and to evaluate PfEMP1 antibodyproduction from birth through the first year of life

To develop human resources and infrastructureto enhance malaria research in Kenya.


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Terminology

Goal...objectives... generalobjectives...specific objectives...targets... specific targets... sub-targetsetc

are terms not only widely used

but used in different ways,

so there is a risk of confusion.


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Keep the hierarchy as simple as possible

Goal

Objective Objective

Main Steps Main Steps

S

P

E

C

I

F

I

C

I

T

Y

Keep it as simple

as possible

Use

common sense

Main steps represent what needs to bereached to meet the related objective.

Activities


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Define your activities

What must be done to meet the related objective

Goal

Objective Objective

Activities Activities

Objective Objective

Activities Activities


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o Keep it simple

o Avoid unnecessary narratives

o Limit the objectives to one or two sentenceseach

o If your ideas lack focus, they cannot be clear

to the reader (reviewing your application)


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Establishing the project statement

The statement is a short paragraph defining andsummarizing ...

What needs to be done

Why this needs to be done By when the work must be finished

thereby giving boundaries to theproject.


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Statement of the Problem

The problem statement should clearlyexplain why the research should beconducted.

It describes the problem that is to beinvestigated.

Problem should stand out, so that the readercan easily recognize the problem.


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Statement of the Problem

Points to be discussed to show the importance of the study

o The research should address the needs of the country

o The importance of the science should be clear

o The magnitude of the problem and how the researchresults will contribute its solution

o Demonstrate that it is feasible to solve the problem

o Arouse the readers interest and encourage him to read

further

o Capacity building in the area of the proposed research


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Is there a clear and real problem to be

solved? Is the problem clearly justified?

Is it a subject for research?

Is it novel?

How important is it?

Is the problem clearly recognized?

Does it tackle specific area?

Does it fit the timeline of research?

Project statement


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Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans naturally

exposed to malaria (P. falciparum)

Project statement:

In order to provide critical information for the

development of an effective malaria vaccine, theproject aims to determine, by the year 2012, the levels

of PfEMP1 antibodies in humans naturally exposed to

malaria (in relation to age, pregnancy, transfer to new

born infants).


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Statements to avoid

Avoid such terms as

o little is known about,o There is a general lack of

information about..,

o or no research has dealt with.


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Hypothesis (Research Question)

Hypotheses, or research questions must

be clearly described.

A hypothesis should be clearly testable.

Avoid using null- hypothesis.


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Hypotheses (Research Question)

The null hypothesis denies you theopportunity to state research objectives in a

much more realistic, interesting and preciseway


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Null Hypotheses (Research Question)

For example, I want to investigate the valueof an enzyme in a pathway in an human

pathogen as a potential drug target.

The null hypothesis might state that, blocking

the activity of enzyme X in metabolic

pathway Y has no effect on the survival of

the parasite.


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Alternative/Research Hypotheses

(Research Question)

For example, I want to investigate the value of an

enzyme in a pathway in an human pathogen as a

potential drug target.

The Research Hypothesis allows you to say This

human pathogen derives its energy requirements

entirely from utilization of this metabolic pathway Y.

Therefore, blocking the activity of enzyme X inmetabolic pathway Y will lead to the death of the

parasite.


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Use a standard format

Respect journal format requirements

Reference list must include all work cited in the text

All references listed must be cited in the text

List references in alphabetical order

Use consistent formatting

References


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References cont.

Citations in the text:

One author:

A study of the distribution of primates in Nairobi by Ochieng (1987)

orThe distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described

(Ochieng, 1987).

or

The distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described

(Ochieng and Mwangi, 1987).

orThe distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described

(Ochieng et al., 1987).


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Is the literature cited:

o Relevant

o Up to date

o Accurate and consistent

Are sources of information cited? Always

give credit to your sources - you are more

credible and you lose nothing.


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Citations in the list:

Journal article:

Author

Year

Title

Name of Journal (see standard abbreviations)* Journal volume

Journal pages

*For Journals, abbreviations: Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


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Credits:

DAAD Sudan Office

WHO-TDR

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