1. Developing Research Proposal
Mohammed T.A., Omar, PhD, PT.
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
College of Applied Medical Science
King Saud University

2. Outline Characteristics of Good Research Research papers elements
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

3. What Make Good Research Paper ?
science
Writing
publishing
research

4. Characteristics of Good Research
Feasibility/Applicability I
Interest N
Novelty/Originality E
Ethics R
Relevance/relative
FINER
Feasibility of a research problem includes considerations such as time, availability of subjects, facilities, equipment and money. Before proceeding to a final formulation of the problem statement, it is important for the researcher to examine the problem’s potential significance to therapist.
The following are examples of factors to be considered, depending on the category of research.
Number of subjects recruited
Time frame of the planned research.
Facility available (Equipment, supplies )
Required expertise
Cost and financial resources available
Research objectives must not be too many
Some Versions of Novelty
Critical appraisal of previous work
New research design /and methodology for research
New theoretical accounts of existing data
New analysis and new outcomes from existing data
Applying existing ideas to new area of study
Ideas, Facts, & Originality
Honest/ transparency

5. 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

6. Developing of Research Problem
Ides emerges (research area/topics)
Brainstorming (refine )
Review of the Literature (refine)
Identify Variables
Formulate research problem(s)

7. 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
To help locate your research problem for your thesis, ask yourself such questions as:
What was the issue/problem you want to study?
What is the concern being addressed “behind” this study?
Why do you want to undertake this study?
Why is this study important to the research community?

8. Collection & Management
Steps of Scientific Research
Selection of Research area/topics
No needs for study
Answers found
Crude Research Questions
Literature review
Refine Research Question
No answer
Hypotheses, Goals/Objectives
Research
Design & Sampling
Work plan
Data
Collection & Management
Planning research
Interpretation of data

9. Variables: is something that varies
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,
Problem statements that include more than one independent or dependent variables may be broken down into sub-problems that are not concise.
Variables are not inherently independent or dependent.
A variable that is classified as independent in one study may be considered dependent in another study.
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.

10. 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

11. Discuss with co-authors
Title
To help readers to Decide whether to
Read
Not Read
Titles that make no sense or fail to represent the subject matter adequately?
Discuss with co-authors

12. Title High impact word Short title ? Reflect content* Common name
Use
High impact word
Short title ?
Reflect content*
Specific and informative
Accurate, Simple, and complete
Do not use
Common name
Be verbose
Abbreviations
Symbols & Jargon
Date / Formulae
Full stops
Write down a few possible titles, and then select the best to refine further.
Ask your colleagues their opinion.
Spending the time needed to do this will result in a better title
Some journals, but not all, allow sub-titles
Many journals require a running title (30-50 Characteristics)
Make title easy for indexing and searching
Make title attractive, effective
Jargon: special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.
*Setting (location)
* Patients (what was studied)
* Intervention (treatment)
*Comparator (control group)
* Endpoint (outcome of interest)
* Design (study design)

13. Title
( 18word & 102 characters)

14. Title
( 18word & 102 characters)

15. Title
( 23 word & 181 characters)
( 16 word & 87 characters)

16. 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.
Introduction
What ?
Study
know
Why?
Importance
What?
Objective
1. Function: The function of the Introduction is to:
Establish the context of the work being reported. This is accomplished by discussing the relevant primary research literature (with citations) and summarizing our current understanding of the problem you are investigating;
State the purpose of the work in the form of the hypothesis, question, or problem you investigated; and,
Briefly explain your rationale and approach and, whenever possible, the possible outcomes your study can reveal.
It should present the nature and scope of the problems investigated
Review the pertinent literature and point out overall trend in what has been published about the topic, conflict in theory, gap in knowledge, methodology, evidence. Established the writer’s reasons (rationale and justification ) for reviewing the literature: summarize individual study and make comparison and analysis
State your SMART objective (s) purpose (s), briefly but clearly
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relative
Time-bound

17. General Rules: Introduction
Constructed as Inverted Pyramid and Keep Short [3-8 paragraphs < (500 words), 1.5-2pages]
1st-2nd : Paragraph introduce broad statement
3rd -5th : Review literature
6th-7th :Paragraph explicit rationale
8th : 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
The structure of the Introduction can be thought of as an inverted triangle - the broadest part at the top representing the most general information and focusing down to the specific problem you studied.
Organize the information to present the more general aspects of the topic early in the Introduction, then narrow toward the more specific topical information that provides context, finally arriving at your statement of purpose and rationale.
A good way to get on track is to sketch out the Introduction backwards; start with the specific purpose and then decide what is the scientific context in which you are asking the question(s) your study addresses. Once the scientific context is decided, then you'll have a good sense of what level and type of general information with which the Introduction should begin.
Do this by using key words from your Title in the first few sentences of the Introduction to get it focused directly on topic at the appropriate level. This insures that you get to the primary subject matter quickly without losing focus, or discussing information that is too general.
The key is to summarize (for the reader) what we knew about the specific problem before you did your experiments or studies. This is accomplished with a general review of the primary research literature (with citations) but should not include very specific, lengthy explanations that you will probably discuss in greater detail later in the Discussion. The judgment of what is general or specific is difficult at first, but with practice and reading of the scientific literature you will develop e firmer sense of your audience. In the mouse behavior paper, for example, you would begin the Introduction at the level of mating behavior in general, then quickly focus to mouse mating behaviors and then hormonal regulation of behavior. Lead the reader to your statement of purpose/hypothesis by focusing your literature review from the more general context (the big picture e.g., hormonal modulation of behaviors) to the more specific topic of interest to you (e.g., role/effects of reproductive hormones, especially estrogen, in modulating specific sexual behaviors of mice.)
Focus your efforts on the primary research journals - the journals that publish original research articles. Although you may read some general background references (encyclopedias, textbooks, lab manuals, style manuals, etc.) to get yourself acquainted with the subject area, do not cite these, becasue they contain information that is considered fundamental or "common" knowledge wqithin the discipline. Cite, instead, articles that reported specific results relevant to your study. Learn, as soon as possible, how to find the primary literature (research journals) and review articles rather than depending on reference books. The articles listed in the Literature Cited of relevant papers you find are a good starting point to move backwards in a line of inquiry. Most academic libraries support the Citation Index - an index which is useful for tracking a line of inquiry forward in time. Some of the newer search engines will actually send you alerts of new papers that cite particular articles of interest to you. Review articles are particularly useful because they summarize all the research done on a narrow subject area over a brief period of time (a year to a few years in most cases).
For example: State briefly how you approached the problem (e.g., you studied oxidative respiration pathways in isolated mitochondria of cauliflower). This will usually follow your statement of purpose in the last paragraph of the Introduction. Why did you choose this kind of experiment or experimental design? What are the scientific merits of this particular model system? What advantages does it confer in answering the particular question(s) you are posing? Do not discuss here the actual techniques or protocols used in your study (this will be done in the Materials and Methods); your readers will be quite familiar with the usual techniques and approaches used in your field. If you are using a novel (new, revolutionary, never used before) technique or methodology, the merits of the new technique/method versus the previously used methods should be presented in the Introduction.
DO NOT write a literature review in your Introduction,
DO cite reviews where readers can find more information if they want it.

18. General Rules: Introduction
Number of words=400

19. General Rules: Introduction

20. Chapter I: Problem Statement
The problem is associated with the purpose of the study, but it is not identical.
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

21. 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...

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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 8

26. 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)
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.  

27. 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.

28. 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)]

29. HYPOTHESIS: Exercises
Bases on your understanding formulate the following:
1- Purposes (S) of the study
3-Hypothesis
3-1: research hypothesis
3-2: null hypothesis

30. 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.

31. Research questions : Exercises
The following research questions were addressed in this study:
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?
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?

32. Hypotheses : Exercises
The hypotheses of the study were as follows:
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.
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.

33. Hypotheses : Exercises
The null hypotheses of this study were as follows:
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.
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.

34. Chapter I: Delimitation/Limitation
Limitations
Potential weaknesses of the study , things researchers could not control
Delimitations
Bounds you set for the study, things researchers could control
Define scope of the study

35. Chapter I: Delimitation/Limitation
Limitations
Research approach, design and methods
Sample problem
Uncontrolled variables
Generalizability of the data
Reliability and validity of research instruments
Delimitations
Number & kinds of subjects
Treatment conditions
Tests, measures, instruments used
Type of training (time and duration)

36. 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