The Research Protocol
This is the map of your research.
Time spent developing a good protocol at the beginning of the process pays enormous dividends later on. It should detail exactly what you plan to do, as well as why, how, who, where, and when.
The aim of the research should be clearly stated, in one or two sentences that capture the essence of what the project is hoping to achieve.
The objectives will outline the specific goals/steps required to achieve the aim.
The protocol should include a background section, which draws on the literature search and concludes with why your piece of research is needed.
The research design should be stated and the method for collecting data clearly described, the sampling strategy must be included, as well as how data will be analysed .
It is also good to include a timetable for the project and you may need to estimate costs.
Equally important, even at this early stage, is consideration of how the results will be disseminated and how you plan to facilitate the implementation of your results.
Click here to see a super example of a research protocol in PDF format. It is reproduced by kind permission of Dr Kevin Gruffyd-Jones of Box surgery.
Next page: Getting Ethics and Trust Approval
Study guide collated by: Sandra Hollinghurst, Vicky Wood (Bath RDSU) and Michael Harris 
Last updated: 01 October 2006