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Workshop on Research Methodology

Introductory document and group work format

National Board of Examinations( Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)

Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029

National Board of Examinations1



Contents

I. Introduction 3II. Objectives 3III. Main Content Areas 4IV. Methodology 5V. Category & Number of participants 5VI. Evaluation of Workshop 5VII. Tentative workshop schedule 6VIII. Group work-I, Issues related to protocol writing and research in

DNB accredited hospitals/institutions. Need for research and

listing of skills desired for protocol writing andconducting research 7

IX. Group work-II, identification of research problem and writingresearch objectives and study variables 12

X. Group work-III, , identification of research design to fulfil theresearch objectives identified, and to identify the study areaand study population for the study 21

XI. Group work-IV, identification of sampling technique andsample size for the study 26

XII. Group work-V, identification of data collection techniquesand data collection tools 31

XIII. Group work-VI, identification of statistical data analysismethods and data presentation methods 39

XIV. Group work-VII, identification and application of statisticaltests of significance on the data 55

XV. Group work-VIII, Writing a thesis protocol 57




Introduction

The National Board of Examination was established in 1975 with the primary

objective of improving the quality of the Medical Education by elevating the level

and establishing standards of post graduate examinations in modern medicine,

on an all India basis. There are more than 450 accredited hospitals/institutions,

imparting DNB courses in 43 medical specialties. In order to improve the

competencies of DNB candidates in medical research (as envisaged in the

requirement of thesis submission by them) it has been suggested to conduct

short term workshops on regional basis.

The present workshop has been designed to enhance the competencies

of the participants in the area of research methodology and thesis protocol

writing, so that they are able to design and carry out medical research work for

thesis in a more effective way.

General Objective

To enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants so that they are

able to write thesis protocol and conduct medical research for DNB training

programme.




Specific Objectives

During the workshop the participants should be able to :

i. Select research topic

ii. Write objectives

iii. Identify research design to fulfil the objectives

iv. Describe details of appropriate sampling technique and sample

size for the studyv. Select data collection techniques and tools

vi. Describe data analysis and data presentation methods

vii. Prepare thesis protocol

Main Content Areas

i. General concepts in research

ii. Types of research designs

iii. Sampling techniques and sample size

iv. Types of research data

v. Data collection techniques

vi. Data collection tools

vii. Data analysis and data presentation

viii. Tests of significance

ix. Format for writing a thesis protocol




Duration

3 days

Methodology

The participants would be provided with relevant reading materials and

exercises for various sessions by the group facilitator. The orientation to basic

concepts would be done through discussion by facilitators in groups.

This would be followed by group work / exercises during which participants

would complete the assigned group tasks/exercises and would make

presentation to the group facilitator in the group.

Category & Number of participants

The DNB candidates who are in first year and are preparing for their

thesis protocol along with DNB trainers from NBE accredited hospitals/

institutions.

The number of the participants per workshop will be 35-40.

Evaluation of Workshop

i. Feed back from the participants on given format.

ii. Analysis of the exercises/ group tasks performed during group work




TENTATIVE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Day-1

9.30-10.30AM Registration, Inauguration & workshop brief 10.30-1.00PM Group work-I, Issues related to protocol writing and

research in DNB accredited hospitals/institutions.Need for research and listing of skills desired for protocol writing and conducting research.

2.00-3.15PM Group work-II, identification of research problemand writing research objectives and study variables.

3.30-5.15PM Group work-III, , identification of research design tofulfil the research objectives identified, and toidentify the study area and study population for the

study.Day-29.30-10.30AM Review of the previous day’s activities10.30-1.00PM Group work-IV, identification of sampling technique

and sample size for the study

2.00-3.15PM Group work-V, identification of data collectiontechniques and data collection tools

3.30-5.15PM Group work-VI, identification of statistical dataanalysis methods and data presentation methods

Day-39.30-10.30AM Review of the previous day’s activities10.30-1.00PM Group work-VII, identification and application of

statistical tests of significance on the data

2.00-3.15PM Group work-VIII, Writing a thesis protocol

3.30-5.15PM Concluding session




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-I

Group Work –I, Issues related to protocol writing and research in DNBaccredited hospitals/institutions. Need for research and listing of skills desiredfor protocol writing and conducting research.

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying Issues related to protocol writing and research in DNBaccredited hospitals/institutions and listing of skills desired for protocol writingand conducting research.

i. Select a chairperson (for guiding, directing and control of discussion)and rapporteur (for recording the main discussion points &presentation) in the group.

ii. Discuss in group and list the problems/ difficulties faced in protocolwriting and research in DNB accredited hospitals/institutions

iii. Discuss and list suggestions for overcoming these problems.

iv. Discuss and list skills desired for protocol writing and conductingresearch.

v. Prepare the group work report and discuss it with the facilitator.




Exercise-I, Group work-I, Issues related to protocol writing and research inDNB accredited hospitals/institutions

1. Please consider your own hospital/ institutions and the DNB trainingprogramme and list five difficulties related to protocol writing.

2. Please consider your own hospital/ institutions and the DNB trainingprogramme and list five difficulties related to the conduction of researchfor your thesis work.




3. Please write your suggestions for overcoming the difficulties related toprotocol preparation.

4. Please write your suggestions for overcoming the difficulties related toresearch for thesis work.




5. Refer to the thesis and list out the deficiencies in the thesis.




6. Discuss with your issues within the group and list common issues facedby all the members of the group and discuss the same with your facilitator.




Exercise-II, Group work-I, Need for research and listing of skills desired for protocol writing and conducting research.

1. Refer to the handouts and discuss the need for research during DNBtraining programme in your group.

2. List the three positive aspects of having thesis during the DNB training

programme.

3. List the three negative aspects of having thesis during the DNB trainingprogramme.

4. Discuss in the group and write the majority opinion of group members

and discuss with your facilitator.




5. Discuss in the group and list various skills which are required for writing agood thesis protocol and for conducting the research for thesis work.

6. Consider your own current competencies for writing a good thesisprotocol and for conducting the research for thesis work, and list theareas where you would like to strengthen your skills during the presentworkshop and discuss with your facilitator.




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-II

Group Work –II, identification of research problem and writing researchobjectives and study variables.

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying research problem and study variables and writingresearch objectives

i. Select a chairperson (for guiding, directing and control of discussion) and rapporteur (for recording the main discussionpoints & presentation) in the group.

ii. Discuss in group and list the research topics which can be donein DNB accredited hospitals/institutions and allot one topic to eachmember of the group.

iii. Each member in the group will write study objectives for the topicallocated to him/her and later on discuss with the facilitator .

iv. Each member in the group will write study variables for the studyand later on discuss with the facilitator .




Exercise-I, Group work-II, identification of research problem/issue.

1. Consider your own specialty and list three problems/topics on which you

would like to work for your thesis work.




2. Please complete the following information about the researchproblems/issues listed by you:

Research problem/ Issue Problem/issueNo.1

Problem/IssueNo.2

Problem/ issueNo.3

Yes No Yes No Yes No

Is the issue relevant to your specialty?

Is the issue very common and has beendone by many researchers?

Is the issue very rare and very fewresearchers have worked on it?

Will the number of subjects to be covered

be available to you during the time frame?

Can the research be done with in theresources (Library, equipment, labfacilities, surgical cases load, number of procedures done in the hospital etc.) whichyou have at your disposal in your hospital?

Can you complete the research within thetime frame as required by National Boardof Examinations ( Six months before theexamination)

Do you require the approval from ethicalcommittee for the study?

Will your data collection techniques andtools be acceptable by the study population/ cases from where you intend to collectdata?

Do you have the facilities for data analysis?

Any other

List the most common research issue/ problem you can cover during your thesisresearch work. Discuss in the group and with your facilitator the reason for selecting the topic for your research work.




Exercise-2, Group work-II, Writing objectives for the research study.

1. Please go through the hand out formulation of research objectives and

also refer to the research topic/ issue listed by you ( in the Exercise-1 of Group work –II), and write down objectives which you would like toachieve during the research work.




2. Discuss your objectives with the group members and the facilitator andwrite the final modified objectives for the study.




Exercise-3, Group work-II, Identification of study variables

Please go through the handout on study variables. Consider your study

objectives and identify the following variables for your study:

1. Dependent variable

2. Independent variables




3. Background variables

4. Confounding variables

5. Discuss in the group and with your facilitator the variables listed by you.




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-III

Group Work –III, identification of research design to fulfil the research

objectives identified, and to identify the study area and study population for thestudy.

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying research design to fulfil the research objectives , identifythe study area and study population for the study.

i. Select a chairperson (for guiding, directing and control of discussion) and rapporteur (for recording the main discussion

points & presentation) in the group.

ii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof research designs

iii. The group members will then list the research deign most feasiblefor their individual studies and discuss the same with the facilitator.

iv. Each member in the group will write the study area and study

population for the study and discuss the same with the facilitator .




Exercise-1, Group work-III, Identification of research design for theproposed study.

Please go through the handout for Exercise-1, Group work-III, Identification of research design.

Consider your study objectives and resources available to you for your studyand

1. Write whether you would require the Non-Interventional (Exploratorystudies, Descriptive studies, or Comparative (analytical) studies); or interventional (Experimental studies or Quasi-experimental studies) studydesign for your study?




2. Write reasons for selecting the design for your study.

3. Discuss in the group and with your facilitators.




Exercise-2, Group work-III, Identification of study area and studypopulation for the study.

1. Consider the study design and the objectives for your study and write thename of the hospital/ institution/ community where you would like tocarry out the study and also mention the reasons for such decision.

2. Describe the characteristics of the study area you have chosen for your study.




3. List the categories of the subjects and their characteristics whom you

would include in your study (for example children below 5 years havingoperated for a particular disease in the hospital; adult females in thereproductive age group admitted for delivery; relatives of the cases whoare accompanying the patient; treating doctors; nursing staff providingcare to patients etc.)

4. Discuss the same in your group and with your facilitator.




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-IV

Group Work –IV, identification of sampling technique and sample size for the

study

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying sampling technique and sample size for the study

i. Select a chairperson (for guiding, directing and control of discussion) and reporter (for recording the main discussion points& presentation) in the group.

ii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof sampling techniques.

iii. The group members will then list the sampling technique mostfeasible for their individual studies and discuss the same with thefacilitator.

iv. Discuss in group various methods of calculation of sample size.

v. Each member in the group will calculate the sample size mostappropriate for their study and discuss the same with the

facilitator .




Exercise-1, Group Work-IV, Identification of the sampling technique.

Please go through the handout on sampling techniques, in your group and

discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various sampling techniques.

1. List the sampling techniques which will suit your study the most and givereasons for selecting the same.




2. List possible reasons for bias which are likely to be there in your study,and how will you try to minimize the same.

3. Discuss the same with your facilitator.




Exercise-2, Group Work-IV, Calculation of sample size

1. Consider the study objectives and study design you have identified, andlist what type of data will be collected. Will it be quantitative or qualitative?

(If you will collect data which will be measured in terms prevalence ratefor a disease, or cure rate for a drug regimen, or number of cases which

developed complications or died, or a characteristic which is present or absent in the person or in biological fluids, etc. such type of data is calledqualitative data.

If you will collect data which will be measured in terms weight /height gainafter a therapy, changes in blood pressure, change in bio-chemicalparameters such as blood hemoglobin, sugar, urea, etc. this type of datawill be quantitative data.)

2. List the type of data you will collect.

3. If it is a qualitative data, what will be the expected values, ( This will befrom review of literature). The prevalence rate for goiter is estimated tobe 10% in adolescent girls in a community, or 70% cure rate for a drugregimen for Tuberculosis, or 2.5% is the complication rate after cardiacsurgery or survival rate of five years is 50% after diagnosis of carcinomaovary ,or 70% of children have genetic variations in some chromosomesetc. What will be the desired level of precision (99% ,Value of Z at 99% =2.576 or 95%, Value of Z at 95% =1.96)

4. If you are going to collect the quantitative data then what is the expectedvalue of the Mean and standard deviation.




5. Determine the sample size if Standard deviation of the population is 6, themean blood urea level is = 25, and the sample mean is= 23 and thedesired level of precision is 99%. Value of Z at 99% = 2.576.

Given

Standard Deviation of the population= 6Mean value of population= 25Mean of the sample=23Difference of means= 25-23= 2Z = 2.576

Formula for sample size

N= square of (Standard deviation X Z/Difference of Means)




6. Determine the sample size if five years survival rate is 20% after

diagnosis of carcinoma lung. You are willing to accept in your study avariations of +/_ = 5%, the desired level of precision is 99%. Value of Z at99% = 2.576.

Given

Survival rate, p = 20Q= 100-p= 100-20= 80Difference of proportion which is acceptable = 5

Z = 2.576

Formula for sample size

N= pXqX2.576/ 5X5




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-V

Group Work –V, identification of data collection techniques and data collection

tools

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying data collection techniques and data collection toolsfor the study


ii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof data ( Primary & Secondary)

iii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof data collection techniques .

iv. The group members will then list the data collection techniquesmost feasible for their individual studies and discuss the same withthe facilitator.

v. Discuss in group basic components of a data collection tool.

vi. Each member in the group will develop one data collection toolfor their study and discuss the same with the facilitator .




Exercise-1, Group work-V, selection of data collection techniques

1. Discuss in the group various merits and demerits of various datacollection techniques by referring to the handout on exercise-1, groupwork-V.

2. Consider your study design, study objectives and the resources availableto you for your thesis work and list our the data collection techniques youwould like to use for your study.

3. Discuss with your facilitators the reasons for selecting various datacollection techniques selected by you.




Exercise-2, Group work-V, Development of data collection tools

1. Title of tool

First part of the data collection tool is the title and it should also containthe name of the institute/hospital, and the category of subject from whomthe information is to be collected.

Write the title of your study, name and address of the hospital.

Write the category of the subject (s) from whom you would collect theinformation using the tool.




2. Identification data

The second part of the tool is the identification data and backgroundvariable about the subject from whom you are going to collect theinformation.

Write the identification variables ( Name, age, sex, designation, address,OPD number, ward number, date of admission, date of operation etc.)and the background variables ( rural/urban, socioeconomic status,education, habits such as smoking, drinking, work place and nature of work, etc. as per the requirement of your study)




3. Body of the tool

It contains the questions which you are going to ask from the subjects of your

study.

There are two types of questions -Open ending ( e.g. what are your maincomplaints? In such a question the subject will use his/her own words to givehis/her response and you write the same. The advantage is that you may haveadditional information from the subjects. But these questions are difficult toanalyze); Close ending questions( Are you vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Hereyou have limited the response from the subject to two choices of beingvegetarian or non vegetarian. Do you some? Here the response is limited toYes/No. The advantages of close ending questions is that you get focusedinformation which is easy to analyze.) You should have both the open and close

ending questions in your tool.

Consider your study objectives and the study variables and write the questionsfor getting responses from your subjects.




4. Remarks

The last part of the tool is the remarks from the investigator who is collectinginformation from the subject.

He may like to add certain additional details not included in the tool, or someobservations about the behavior of the subject like the subject being not co-operative, etc. or some instructions to the person who will analyze the datacollected by the investigator.




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-VI

Group Work –VI, identification of statistical data analysis methods and data

presentation methods

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identifying statistical data analysis methods and data presentationmethods.for the study

i. Select a chairperson (for guiding, directing and control of discussion) and rapporteur (for recording the main discussion

points & presentation) in the group.

ii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof statistical data analysis methods.

iii. Discuss in group advantages and disadvantages of various typesof data presentation methods.

iv. The group members will then list the data analysis method mostfeasible for their individual studies and discuss the same with thefacilitator.

v. Each member in the group will identify data presentation methodsfor their study and discuss the same with the facilitator .




Exercise-1, Group Work-VI, Tabulation of data

Consider the Blood pressure ( Systolic/Diastolic) data of

i. 20 male subjects given below

110/80;130/80; 128/84; 140/90;150/90;110/70;180/90;100/70;160/80;150/80; 130/80;190/110; 150/90; 180/90; 100/80; 200/110; 190/90;210/100; 100/60; 180/90.

Consider the above data and draw a table for the same. You should refer to thehandout for the exercise-1, Group work-VI.




2. Show the table you have prepared to your facilitator.




Exercise-2, Group Work-VI, Presentation of data

2.1 Consider the following data

Country Prevalence of Obesity inadult population( in %)

A 20.0

B 15.0

C 25.0

D 30.0

E 10.0

Present the data in the form of a simple bar diagram





Treatmentregimen

for Cancer

Status of the cases

Died Improved Nochange

Deteriorated

A 5 10 5 10

B 10 5 5 5

C 10 5 10 5

D 5 20 5 10

E 5 5 10 5

Present the data in the form of a component bar diagram





Treatmentregimen

for Cancer

Status of the cases

Died Improved No change

A 5 10 15

B 10 5 10

C 10 5 15

D 5 20 15

E 5 5 15

Present the data in the form of a multiple bar diagram





Treatmentregimen

for Cancer

Status of the cases


Deteriorated

A 5 10 5 10

B 10 5 5 5

C 10 5 10 5

D 5 20 5 10

E 5 5 10 5

Present the data in the form of a percentage bar diagram





Patient Blood sugar status of the case

Beforetreatment

After treatment

Net change

A 180 160 - 20

B 200 150 - 50

C 220 180 - 40

D 200 210 + 10E 195 200 +5

F 210 190 - 20

G 220 190 - 30

H 220 225 + 5

Present the data in the form of a deviation bar diagram





Treatmentregimen

for Cancer

Status of the cases


Deteriorated

A 15 40 15 30

B 20 55 35 45

Present the data in the form of two pie diagrams





Treatmentregimen

Level of blood sugar in mg %

6 hour 12 hours 18hours

24 hours

A 280 270 260 200

B 210 220 200 180

C 260 240 200 180

D 300 280 280 260

E 290 280 280 260

Present the data in the form of a line graph

Show the diagrams you have prepared to your facilitator.




Exercise-3, Group Work-VI, calculation of mean, Mode, Median andStandard deviation

Consider the Blood pressure ( Systolic) data of

i. 20 male subjects given below

110;130; 150; 140;150;110;180;100;150; 150; 130;190; 150; 180; 100;200; 190; 210; 100; 180.Consider the above data and calculate the followings

1.1. Mean systolic Blood pressure in male subjects ( Add systolic bloodpressure for all male subjects and divide the sum with 20)




2. Draw the frequency and cumulative frequency table for the following

2.1 Systolic blood pressure in males

Write the range of systolic blood pressure in males ( e.g. minimum is 100 andmaximum is 210) = 210- 100 = 110

Write the number of classes you would like to have for the data ( e.g. 5 or 10 )

Write the class interval ( Divide the range with number of classes) 110/5= 22; or 110/10 = 11, in case you select to have 5 classes the class interval will be 22and for 10 classes the class interval will be 11.

Write the frequency ( number of male subjects with systolic blood pressure inthe class interval) in the following table.

Write the cumulative frequency ( Add the frequency of the row to the frequencyof immediately above row ) for various class intervals in the table

Class interval Frequency Cumulative frequency

100- 122

122-144

144-166

166-188

188-210




3. Calculate the mean value using the above tables.

Mean = Sum of all ( Mid class interval x frequency in the class)/ number of subjects.

Mean systolic Blood pressure in male subjects

4. Calculate the mode value using the above table.

( Mode is the most common number of the series, the modal class will be theone which has been represented maximum number of times)

Mode of systolic Blood pressure in male subjects




5. Calculate the median value using the above tables.

( Median is that value in distribution which divide the distribution in two equalhalves. The formula for median is as follows:

i. Calculate the value= Cumulative frequency of total distribution / 2.

ii. Look into the cumulative frequency(C.F) column and look in for the C.Fvalue which is equal or just greater than the value you have calculated ini.

iii. This is median class.

iv. Calculate median using the formula

Median =

Median of systolic Blood pressure in male subjects




6. Calculate the Standard deviation

Standard deviation of systolic Blood pressure in male subjects




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-VII

Group Work –VII, identification and application of statistical tests of

significance on the data

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of identification and application of statistical tests of significance on thegiven data


ii. Discuss in group the data requirements/conditions which shouldbe met for common types of statistical tests.

iii. The group members will then apply one test on the data given tothem and discuss the same with the facilitator.




Exercise-1, Group work-VII, Identification and application of statisticaltests of significance on the data

1. Consider your data, type of distribution, sampling technique and sample sizeetc. and decide which type of test would be the most suitable. The parametrictests are those tests which make assumption about the data, its distribution,randomness of sampling and adequate sample size etc. Some times when weare not able to fulfill these conditions then we go for the non-parametric tests.

2. When you decide to go for the parametric tests then you decide, which typeof data you are dealing with( qualitative or quantitative).

2.1. In case you are dealing with qualitative data, then you have to see whether youwish to compare the single attribute or proportion with the population valueor two attributes or proportions.

2.1.1. For the comparison of single proportion or attribute with population value,the test used will be Standard normal deviate test for single proportion.

2.1.2. For the comparison of two proportions or attributes the test used will beStandard normal deviate test for two proportions.

2.2 For the quantitative data, you need to consider the sample size, if sample ismore than 30 and you wish to compare two means, then you can use theStandard normal deviate test.

2.3. For the quantitative data with sample size of less than 30 and comparison of two

sample means the test used will be Student’s –t test.

2.4. For the quantitative data with sample size less than 30 and tow observations onthe same subjects the test used will be Students-’t paired test.

2.5. For comparison of more than two sample means you need to use theAnalysis of variance or F-test.

3.0 When you decide to go for the parametric tests, you can use the X2 Chi-square test, Sign test, Run test etc.

4.0 Write the names of the tests you have selected and discuss the reasons

with your facilitator.




Exercise – I, Student’s – t test ( when sample size is less than 20)

The following data is related to two samples of patients

Sample Number Mean Value of

Blood UreaStandardDecisions

A n1 = 12 X1 = 57.2S1 = 3.41

B n1 = 7 X2 = 52.3S2 = 3.62

Whether these two sample means differ or not. Test by student ‘t’ test(Student ‘t’ Table Value at 17d.f,0.05 = 2.11).




Exercise – I, Student’s - t test (when sample size is less than 20)

The following data is related to two samples of patients

Sample Number Mean Value of

Blood UreaStandardDecisions

A n1 = 12 X1 = 57.2S1 = 3.41

B n1 = 7 X2 = 52.3S2 = 3.62

Whether these two sample means differ or not. Test by student ‘t’ test(Student ‘t’ Table Value at 17d.f, 0.05 = 2.11).




Exercise II– for Student’s- ‘t’ paired- test

The Blood Urea profile for six patients before & after administration of a

drug was as follow:

SubjectBlood Urea

Before drug Adm.After drug Adm.

A 58 53

B 29 28

C 30 31

D 55 48

E 56 50

F 45 42

Can we say that the drug was effective in reducing Blood Urea levels.Test at 5% level of significance (Table value student’s-t, test at 0.05 = 2.57).




Exercise – III, for Z-test( For two sample means when size of sample is>20)

The intelligence test was done on Boys & Girls the results were as follow:

Measure S.D N

GirlsX1 78

SD1 12 n1 80

BoysX2 75

SD2 17 n2 120

Is the difference between the two means is significant at 5% level.(Given Z at 0.05 = 1.96)




Exercise –IV, For Chi-square test

‘A’ Drug is claimed to be effective in curing Hepatitis infection. In anexperiment on 328 patients, half were given drug ‘A’ and the half were givenplacebo. The patients’ response to these treatments were as follows:

Cured Worsened No effect

Drug A104

20 40

Placebo88

24 52

Test the hypothesis that the drug ‘A’ is no better than the placebo.

(Using Chi-square test; Chi-square at 2 d.f , 0.05= 5.99)




GUIDELINES FOR GROUP WORK-VIII

Group Work –VIII, Writing a thesis protocol

Group Task

The participants would be divided into groups and each group would completethe task of writing a thesis protocol.


ii. Discuss in group the steps and heading under which a protocol

should be written.

iii. The group members will then write individual protocol taking in toconsideration previous group work reports and discuss the samewith the facilitator.




Exercise-1, Group work-VIII, Writing of a thesis protocol

Please refer to the handout on exercise-1, group work-VIII, and complete the

following information:

1. Title page for your thesis protocol




2. Introduction (Giving introduction to the subject, rationale for the studyand justification etc.)




3. Objectives for the study

3.1. General Objective

3.2. Specific Objectives




4. Review of literature

Please mention the main heads and subheads under which you would like toreview the relevant literature.




5. Materials and methods

5.1. Study area

5.2. Study population




5.3. Study variables

5.3.1. Please list the independent study variables for your study.




5.3.2. Please list the dependent study variables




5.3.3. Please list the background variables for your study.




5.4. Sampling techniques and sample size




5.4. Data collection techniques

5.4.1. Primary data collection

5.4.2. Secondary data collection




5.4.3. Develop tool (s) for your study

5.4.3.1 Title

5.4.3.2. Identification data




5.4.3.3. Body of the tool




5.4.3.4. Remarks




5.5. Data analysis plan

5.5.1. Tabulation plan




5.5.2. Statistical analysis plan




5.5.3. Statistical tests of significance

5.5.6. Any other specify

5.6. References


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