1. Advanced Research Skills in Psychotherapy 1 NS604 ‘ Introduction & Refining Research Proposals’ Dr. Gemma Kiernan Room 219-School of Nursing Telephone: 01-7008542; E-mail: gemma.kiernan@dcu.iegemma.kiernan@dcu.ie

2. Format  Overview of the research component  Overview of module  Refining your research proposal

3. Research Component: Aim  acquisition of ‘the skills and knowledge to function as senior….. practitioner researchers’ -Programme Accreditation Document (2008)

4. Research Component: Structure  Three research modules –Advanced research skills in psychotherapy 1 (year 1) –Advanced research skills in psychotherapy 2 (year 2) –Research Dissertation (year 3 & 4)  Assessments that contribute to completing research study and producing dissertation –Refined research proposal –Literature review –Pilot study –Reflective critique

5. Research Component: Structure  Supervision –Research supervisor and co-supervisor for monthly meetings during academic year –Monitoring progress and providing support PGR2 form Attaining ethical approval

6. Research Component: Dissertation  Length of 40,000 words approx.  Format according to DCU guidelines (see http://www.dcu.ie/info/regulations/postgraduate_regulations_g.shtml ) http://www.dcu.ie/info/regulations/postgraduate_regulations_g.shtml  Assessed via viva voce/oral examination

7. Research Component: Context  School of Nursing - psychotherapy –Established in 1995 –70+ staff & 1,000 students –Innovative programme development incl. psychotherapy Accredited Grad Dip/MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy in 2001 Developed a Grad Dip/MSc in Counselling/Psychotherapy in 2004 Developed Doctorate in Psychotherapy in 2008 –Established Centre for Psychological Health and Well Being in 2007

8. Research Component: Context  School of Nursing - research –Thriving research community –‘Health4Life’ research portfolio Health Systems Psychosocial Health Clinical Judgement and Decision-Making Care and Presence Infection and Immunity

9. Research Component: Context  DCU & research –2,600 postgraduate students –Wide range of research collaborators –Significant external funding –See http://www.dcu.ie/research/downloads/strategy.pdf for DCU ‘Leading Through Challenge’ Research Strategy (2009-2014).http://www.dcu.ie/research/downloads/strategy.pdf  Facilities –Library –Equipment –Photocopying etc. –Tea/coffee

10. Module Overview  Aims, learning outcomes & syllabus  Module timetable  Module assessment  Reading list

11. Research Proposal: Presentation  Brief presentation of your research proposal to the group –What is your research idea? –Where did your research idea come from? –What methodology will you employ? Why?

12. Research Proposal: Refinement  Writing your research proposal –Abstract –Purpose/research questions or aim/objectives –Rationale –Brief literature review –Methodology Design Participants Data collection Ethical permission Analysis –Timetable Gantt chart –References http://www.library.dcu.ie/classes_and_tutorials/citing.shtml –Appendices

13. Research Proposal: Refinement  Study Purpose or Aim –Clear concise statement about the intent of your research explore describe... examine relationships among... determine differences between groups... determine the effect of...  Research questions or objectives –Consider what has to be accomplished to meet the purpose/aim (Bowling, 2009)

14. Research Proposal: Refinement  Example: Research purpose/aim: –The purpose/aim of this study was to (a) identify physical and psychosocial patterns of symptomatology in adult women incest survivors, and (b) design a systematic assessment instrument to identify incest early in nonreporting adult women survivors.

15. Research Proposal: Refinement  Example: Research questions/objectives: –What patterns of physical symptoms are present in adult women incest survivors? –To describe the patterns of physical symptoms that are present in adult women incest survivors. –What patterns of psychosocial symptoms are present in adult women incest survivors? –To describe the patterns of psychosocial symptoms that are present in adult women incest survivors. –Is there a correlation between the frequency of multiple victimisation and the number of reported physical and psychosocial symptoms? –To examine the relationship between the frequency of multiple victimisation and the number of reported physical and psychosocial symptoms. –Is there a correlation between the age when the sexual abuse began and its duration? –To examine the relationship between the age when the sexual abuse began and its duration.

16. Research Proposals – What Reviewers Want (HRB, 2010)  Demonstrate the originality of the research  Explain the need for the research  Ensure appropriate methodology is used, the study is adequately powered and there is a clear plan for data analysis and evaluation of results  Propose a timetable that is realistic and achievable  Provide a well-thought out, thorough and realistic budget  Show that you have an awareness of the research findings  Ensure that you have a clear and appropriate dissemination  Show that you have the right skills/experience on the team  Show that you have an awareness of difficulties and challenges that may be encountered and a plan for how to deal with them

17. Unsuccessful Research Proposals (HRB, 2010)  Vague research question  Predominantly audit  No clear hypothesis  Too many aims  Overly ambitious  No clear outcome or endpoint identified  Poor or incomplete literature review  A project which gathers lots of data but no clear knowledge gain  Team lacking expertise or experience to deliver  Uni-disciplinary focus/approach in an area that has moved to multidisciplinary delivery  Roles and responsibilities unclear

18. Unsuccessful Research Proposals (HRB, 2010)  Theoretical and conceptual underpinning of the hypothesis/intervention is poorly articulated/weak  Details around methods, instruments and analysis plan is lacking  No discussion on validity and reliability of instruments/scales chosen  Methods chosen don’t match the questions and won’t be able to conclude about effectiveness  Ethical concerns  Concerns around feasibility  Unrealistic budget  Project involves cost-effectiveness arm without appropriate detail on methods and without stated expertise/input  Lacks epidemiological input  Lacks experience in qualitative research or mixed methods

19. Unsuccessful Research Proposals (HRB, 2010)  Unclear whether it is a feasibility/pilot/definitive study  Rationale and justification for sample size unclear  Weak trial design or lacking details around trial design  Lacking description of control intervention – what is ‘usual care’?  No discussion of the cultural context or changes needed when deploying an intervention that worked elsewhere  Lack of acceptability testing of interventions  Incorrect sampling frame  No discussion on avoiding contamination or selection bias  Little/no discussion on retention and attrition of participants  Lacking details on data collection and management  Primary outcome measure inappropriate  Weak evaluative component

20. Research Proposal: Refinement  Checklist for assessing your research proposal Ensure that you: –Have identified a clear and researchable research question or aim/objectives; –Have a sound justification for the proposed research; –Have critically reviewed relevant literature; –Have outlined the overall methodology and justified it in relation to the research question or aim/objectives; –Have defined and described the study population with clear outline of the sampling design and sample size;

21. Research Proposal: Refinement Continued……. Ensure that you: –Have clearly outlined the methods for data collection; –Have considered potential ethical issues; –Have considered data analysis; –Have considered that the research can be done with the time and resources proposed.