Developing Research Proposal
Mohammed T.A., Omar, PhD, PT.
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
College of Applied Medical Science
King Saud University
E-mail: momarar@cu.edu.eg
dr.taher_m@yahoo.com
Outline
Characteristics of Good Research
 Brain storming for writing a paper
Research papers elements
Title page
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: Review of literature
Chapter III:
Methodology & data collection procedures
Chapter IV: Results
Chapter V: Discussion
Chapter VI: Summary and Conclusions
References
Appendices
What Make Good Research Paper ?
Good
science
Good
Writing
Good
publishing
Good
research
Characteristics of Good Research
F
• Feasibility/Applicability
I
• Interest
N
• Novelty/Originality
E
• Ethics
R
• Relevance/relative
•
Honest/ transparency
FINER

Area of concern in which there is a gap in
knowledge needed for practice

Significance: current, hot topics, important area of
concern for profession

Background: one or two key studies that have
been conducted related to problem
Developing of Research Problem
Ides emerges (research
area/topics)
Brainstorming (refine )
Review of the Literature (refine)
Identify Variables
Formulate research problem(s)
Ides emerges
The ides can be defined through:
Observation/ Curiosity
Clinical Experience.
Literature search
Discussion with therapists or other students.
Discussion with patients or users of services
Newspaper articles and television
Steps of Scientific Research
Selection of Research area/topics
Crude Research Questions
Refine Research Question
Hypotheses, Goals/Objectives
Planning research
Interpretation of data
No needs for study
Answers found
Literature review
No answer
Research
Design & Sampling
Work plan
Data
Collection & Management
Variables:
is something that varies. Researchers
attempt to understand how and why differences in
one variable are related to differences in another
variable.
Independent variable
is the variable that has the presumed
effect on the dependent variable.
it is manipulated by the researcher.
Dependent variable
it is the consequence or the
presumed effect that varies with a
change in the independent variable.
it is not manipulated,
Extraneous Variables
It interferes with obtaining clear understanding of relational or causal
dynamics in the study. They can be recognized or unrecognized and
controlled or uncontrolled.
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How to Write a Good Research Proposal
Research Proposal elements
Title page
Chapter I:
Introduction
Statement of the problem
Purpose(s) of the study
Need/ significance for the study
Hypotheses
Definition of Terms
Chapter II: Review of literature
Chapter III: Methodology & data collection procedures
Chapter IV: Results
Chapter V: Discussion
Chapter VI: Summary and Conclusions
References
Appendices
Title
To help readers to Decide whether to
Read
Not Read
Titles that make no sense or fail to represent the subject
matter adequately
?
Title
Do not
use
Use
High impact word
Common name
Short title ?
Be verbose
Reflect content*
Abbreviations
Specific and informative
Symbols & Jargon
Accurate, Simple, and complete
Date / Formulae
*Setting (location)
* Patients (what was studied)
* Intervention (treatment)
*Comparator (control group)
* Endpoint (outcome of interest)
* Design (study design)
Full stops
Title
( 18word & 102 characters)
Title
( 18word & 102 characters)
Title
( 23 word & 181 characters)
( 16 word & 87 characters)
Chapter I: Introduction
The Introduction should provide readers with the BACKGROUND
information needed to UNDERSTAND your study, and the
REASONS WHY you conducted your experiments.
Study
What ?
know
Introduction
Why?
Importance
What?
Objective
General Rules: Introduction
Constructed as Inverted Pyramid and Keep Short [3-8 paragraphs
< (500 words), 1.5-2pages]




1st-2nd
3rd -5th
6th-7th
8th
: Paragraph introduce broad statement
: Review literature
:Paragraph explicit rationale
: Objective(hypotheses/aims/ questions)
Using the Past-TENS when referring to work that has already been published
but Present/Future- TENS when referring to your own study.
Cite-peer- reviewed scientific literature or scholarly reviews (≥10 years old).
Avoid general review from textbooks
Avoid unfocused review
Define any specialized terms or abbreviations
Avoid Plagiarism
DO NOT write a literature review in your Introduction,
DO cite reviews where readers can find more information if they want it.
General Rules: Introduction
General Rules: Introduction
Chapter I: Problem Statement
The problem is associated with the
the study, but it is not identical.
purpose of
May be in either question or declarative form
The problem should be stated clearly, concisely, and definitively.
Typically statement of the problems can begin with one of the
following
 The problem (s) of this study is (are)
 The study is concerned with
 The focus of the research is on the
20
Chapter I: Purpose (objectives/Aim) of Study
The purpose of the study encompasses the aims or goals
the investigator hopes to achieve with the research, not
the problem to be solved.
To describe...
 To determine differences between groups...
 To examine relationships among...
 To determine the effect of...

21
Chapter I: Research Objectives

The research objectives should be:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Closely related to the research question
Covering all aspects of the problem
Very specific
Ordered in a logical sequence
Stated in action verbs that could be evaluated e.g. to
describe, to identify, to measure, to compare, etc.
◦ Achievable, taking into consideration the available resources
and time
◦ Mutually exclusive, with no repetitions or overlaps
Chapter I: Significance of the study
The development of this section will attempt to
show that one or more of the following is true
Knowledge gaps exist between the theoretical and
practical aspects of the problem.
 More and better understanding of exist knowledge is
needed in the problem area.
 Validation of existing knowledge
 A solution to the problem needs to be found

Chapter I: Hypothesis

Hypotheses: formal statements of expected relationships
among variables

Hypotheses are scientific explanation that can be tested

Hypotheses can be supported or disproved by the
evidence collected.

Researchers often develop their project to test a hypothesis rather
than answering a question

Each hypothesis represents a unit or subset of the research
problem

Hypotheses are formulated before the study is conducted
because they provide direction for the collection, analysis, and
interpretation of data
Types of Hypotheses
Associative vs. causal
 Simple vs. complex
 Non-directional vs. directional
 Null vs. Research


Null hypothesis: States there is no difference or
relationship between variables; also called statistical
hypothesis

Research hypothesis: States what researcher thinks is
true; there is a relationship between two or more variables
Test your Self
EXAMPLE
In a clinical trial of aerobic and endurance exercises, the null hypothesis
might be that the aerobic exercises is no better, on average, than the
endurance exercise.
We would write H0:
There is no statistically significant difference between the
two exercises on average.
If we have control group(subjects who do not exercise)
We would write H0:
There will be no statistically significant difference between subjects
who exercise and subjects who do not
The alternative hypothesis might be that:
the aerobic exercise has a different effect, on average, compared to that of the
endurance exercise.
We would write H1:
the aerobic exercises is better than the endurance exercises, on
average.
PROBLEM (VS) HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis is an assumption, that can be tested
and can be proved to be right or wrong.
 A problem is a broad question which cannot be
directly tested.
 A problem can be scientifically investigated after
converting it into a form of hypothesis.

Research problem : Exercises
No evidence exploring the effectiveness of spinal
stabilization exercises (STE) in idiopathic scoliosis (IS)
associated with low back pain (LBP) in relation to
pain, disability, quality of life (QOL) and back muscle
endurance
The STE will be performed for 8-week in form of
Supervised PT Exercises
Non-supervised Exercises [Home-based Exercises(HBE)]
HYPOTHESIS: Exercises
Bases on your understanding
following:
1- Purposes (S) of the study
3-Hypothesis
3-1: research hypothesis
3-2: null hypothesis
formulate
the
Purpose: Exercises
The purpose is to

investigate whether or not 8 weeks of weekly
supervised PT compared to 8 weeks of an
unsupervised home exercise program would reduce
pain intensity and disability and improve QOL and
back muscle endurance in in participants with AIS
and LBP.
Research questions : Exercises
The following research questions were addressed in this
study:
1.
Would there be differences in pain intensity, disability,
QOL, and back muscle endurance between participants
with AIS and LBP who receive 8 weeks of weekly
supervised PT compared to those who receive 8
weeks of an unsupervised HBE?
2.
Would there be improved pain intensity, disability,
QOL, and back muscle endurance in participants with
AIS and LBP, regardless of group, after 8 weeks of
intervention?
Hypotheses : Exercises
The hypotheses of the study were as follows:
1.
Participants with AIS and LBP who receive 8 weeks of
weekly supervised PT would have significantly improved
pain intensity, disability, QOL, and back muscle endurance
following the intervention compared to those who
receive 8 weeks of an unsupervised HBE.
2.
Participants with AIS and LBP, regardless of group, would
have significantly improved pain intensity, disability, QOL,
and back muscle endurance after 8 weeks of intervention.
Hypotheses : Exercises
The null hypotheses of this study were as follows:
1.
There would be no differences in pain intensity, disability,
QOL, and back muscle endurance following the
intervention between participants with AIS and LBP who
receive 8 weeks of weekly supervised PT and those who
receive 8 weeks of an unsupervised HBE.
2.
Participants with AIS and LBP, regardless of group, would
demonstrate no improved pain intensity, disability, QOL,
and back muscle endurance after 8 weeks of intervention.
Chapter I: Delimitation/Limitation
• Potential weaknesses of
the study , things
researchers could not
control
• Bounds you set for the
study, things researchers
could control
• Define scope of the
study
Limitations
Delimitations
Chapter I: Delimitation/Limitation
• Research
approach,
design and methods
• Sample problem
• Uncontrolled variables
• Generalizability of the
data
• Reliability and validity of
research instruments
Limitations
• Number & kinds of subjects
• Treatment conditions
• Tests, measures,
instruments used
• Type of training (time and
duration)
Delimitations
Chapter I: Definition of Terms
Define each technical term as it is used in relation to
your research project.
Define the operational terms and concept
 Used specialized dictionaries, and citations
 Should be arranged alphabetical

Definition of Terms
Spinal stabilization exercises, low back pain , pain intensity, quality
of life, disability, scoliosis , supervised exercises, non supervised
exercises , back muscles endurance