This document provides guidelines for writing a research synopsis or proposal. It discusses key elements like the title, abstract, introduction, objectives, hypotheses, methodology, and limitations. The introduction establishes the framework and importance of the research. The objectives and hypotheses state what the study aims to accomplish and potential outcomes. The methodology describes the research design, subjects, inclusion/exclusion criteria, sample size, interventions, and data collection process. Limitations acknowledge weaknesses in the study. Overall, this document serves as a reference for how to structure a synopsis and address essential components to obtain approval for a proposed research study.

1. Synopsis writings
Prof Mulazim Hussain Bukhari
MBBS,DCP,CHPE,Mphil,FCPS,PhD
HOD Pathology, UCMD, University of Lahore

4. Learning objectives
• To provide guidelines for preparing a research synopsis
• How to plan for your research project.
• How to write the rationale for the research, the research objectives,
the proposed methods for data collection and recording formats
and/or questionnaires and interview guides.
• data collection and elaboration, for results with the discussion and
the conclusion.

5. Three pillars of modern day medical practice.
•Medical research
•Quality Research
•Medical education
•Effective Teachings
•Clinical practice
•Excellent Patient cares

6. ‘Medical research is an essential need that no nation can afford
to ignore’.

7. What are we going to discuss?
How to prepare a
Research Proposal/Synopsis?

8. What is Research Proposal/Synopsis?
•Detailed description of a proposed study designed to
investigate a given problem
In simple words
•Plan for your research project
•Submitted for approval from competent authorities..

9. What are the essentials of Synopsis?
• Selecting a Research topic.
• Construction of a Research proposal (research objectives, hypotheses,
methodology, work plan and budget).
• Importance
• Priority in the country and region
and to point out
• Why the proposed research on the problem should be undertaken?
• Facilitates peer review of the research proposal by the funding agencies.

10. What information does Research Proposal/Synopsis
should provide?
• Rationale for the research
•Research objectives
• Proposed methods for data collection
• Recording formats and/or questionnaires and interview
guides.

11. A research proposal is intended to convince
others that you have a worthwhile research
project and that you have the competence
and the work-plan to complete it.

12. What questions you should have in mind
while writing a research proposal?
•What you plan to accomplish?
•Why do you want to do it?
•How are you going to do it?

13. How much should I write for a good synopsis?
• No upper or lower limit
• The full synopsis usually be maximum 3000-4000
words, excluding appendices.

14. Title Page
• Supervisor

15. Key Elements of Synopsis
1. Abstract*
2. Introduction*
3. Problem analysis/literature review*
4. Objectives*
5. Hypothesis* Limitations*
6. Methodology *
7. Results Discussion Conclusion
8. Budget *
9. Appendix Data collection instruments (e.g., interview guide,
questionnaire)*
Items marked by an asterix are to
be included in the synopsis, while
items without asterix will be added
in the final report of you research
project.

16. Key elements of Research Proposal?
The first most important element
that defines
the research study.
•Part of a paper that is
……………………….
•Read the most and is Read first.

17. Face of the Research is Title and abstract

18. Title
•Should relate directly to the main objective of the
proposed
research.
•Should be concise and descriptive.
•Must be informative and catchy.
•An effective title not only prick’s the readers
interest, but also predisposes him/her favorably
towards the proposal.

19. Avoid the following when creating a title:
• Should not be too long
Don’t use too many unnecessary words.
Avoid language, such as, "A Study to Investigate the...," or "A Review of
the....
• Should not be too short
• So it does not tell the reader what is being studied.
• For example,
• A paper with the title, "African Politics" ………… ?
• is non-specific
it could be the title of a book and could literally examine anything
associated with politics in Africa.

20. Key elements of Research Proposal
2nd important element is the brief summary of synopsis.
What do we call it ……………………………. ?
Abstract
Alone should give the reader a clear idea about the
research.
It should include the …………………………………………..
• Main research question
• Rationale for the study
• Hypothesis (if any)
• Method ……. including the design, procedures, the sample and any instruments
that will be used.

21. What is the importance of abstract?
Every article submitted to a journal or a
conference must have an abstract.
• The quality of your abstract determines whether or
not anybody actually reads your proposal or comes to
your talk.

22. A good abstract contains
• What has been done or will be done
• Why it has been done or will be done
• How it has been done or will be done

23. How Long an Abstract Should Be?
•APA guidelines = 120 words or less
•Journal articles = 75-250 words
•Conference abstract = 150-1000 words
•Master’s Thesis = 150-300 words
•Dissertation = 350 words

24. Brain
CNS
PNS
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

25. The 3rd important element of synopsis provides the
readers with the background information…….. ?
Introduction
Its purpose is to
• Establish a framework for the research
• so that readers can understand how it relates to other research.
It should answer the question of:
• Why the research needs to be done and
• What will be its relevance.
• It puts the proposal in context.
Key elements of Research Proposal

26. RATIONALE OF RESEARCH
OR
RESEARCH(KNOWLEDGE)
APTITUDE † BEHAVIOR

27. Introduction
• The introduction typically begins with a statement of the
research problem in precise and clear terms and end at
Research question.
• Example:
• Is there a significant difference in self-regulated online learning
activities between 3rd year MBBS students who participated in
team-based blended learning and 4th year MBBS students who
participated in traditional instructor-led blended learning in
Pharmacology course at University College of Medicine &
Dentistry ?
Key elements of Research Proposal

28. What is needed while writing Introduction of the research
proposal?
Problem Analysis/Literature Review
• Provide the context for the research question in such a way as to show its
necessity and importance.
• Familiarize with existing knowledge about the research problem……………
Critical Review
• Find out whether or not others have investigated the same or similar
problems.

29. Problem Analysis/Literature Review
Source of Information / Literature …….. ?
• Should primarily be scientific peer reviewed literature.
• Newspaper articles, blogs and a lot of material from the internet are not
subject to quality control and are therefore considered less trustworthy.

30. How can one find out whether or not others have
investigated the same or similar problems?
•By thorough and critical review of the literature.
•By personal communication with experts.

31. What benefits did you get by thorough and
critical review of the literature?
• It helps understanding of the problem proposed for research
• It may lead to refining the statement of the problem
• It helps to identify the study variables
• It helps in formulation and selection of a research hypothesis.
• It ensures that you are not "re-inventing the wheel" and demonstrates your
understanding of the research problem.
• It gives due credit to those who have laid the groundwork for your proposed research.

32. How long should be the literature review in
Introduction?
•Brief and to the point.
•Pertinent / Relevant.

33. How should we end the introduction?
• To the background …………………………………………… present the
• Rationale of the proposed study and
• Clearly indicate why it is worth doing.

34. The 4th important element of synopsis …… ?
Objective of the Study
They may be stated as
•General
•Specific

35. General objective of the research
• What is to be accomplished by the research project?
• For example, to determine whether or not a new
vaccine should be incorporated in a public health
program.

36. Specific objectives
• Specific research questions the investigator wants to answer
through the proposed study
may be presented as
• Primary objectives
• Secondary objectives
Example Primary objective:
• To determine the degree of protection attributable to the new vaccine in a study
population by comparing the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.
Example Secondary objective:
• To study the cost-effectiveness of this program.

37. Objectives
Resist the temptation to put
Too many objectives
or
Over-ambitious objectives
that cannot be adequately achieved.

38. Objective
• Objective should be given by using “SMART”
criteria
•Specific
•Measurable
•Achievable
•Reliable
•Time Bound

39. •The 5th essential element of synopsis is predictions of the
outcomes from the study………….. ?
•Hypothesis
• Defined as “Tentative prediction or explanation of the relationship between two
or more variables.
In other words,
• It translates the problem statement into a precise, unambiguous prediction of
expected outcomes.

40. HYPOTHESIS …….. Examples
•H1 - The mean post test knowledge scores of subjects in
experimental group exposed to TBL (Team Based Learning)
will be significantly higher than their mean pre test
knowledge scores.
•H2 - The mean post test knowledge scores of the
experimental group will be significantly higher than the
control group.
•H3- Health education involving active participation by
mothers will produce more positive changes in child feeding
than health education based on lectures".

42. The 6th essential component of synopsis is to mention
• Limitations
influences that the researcher cannot control.
• The limitations of the study were:
• It should be specified what aspects will not be addressed.
• Mention that due to time constraints a limited number of
observations/measurements/interviews will be conducted.
• Methodological limitations can be put in the methods section.

43. Limitations
• Always acknowledge a study's limitations.
• Keep in mind that acknowledgement of a study's limitations is an opportunity to make
suggestions for further research.
• Provides an opportunity to demonstrate that you have thought critically about the
research problem, understood the relevant literature published about it, and correctly
assessed the methods chosen for studying the problem.
• May diminishes the validity of your research

44. • Sample size
• Lack of prior research studies on the topic
• Measure used to collect the data
oAccess
oCultural and other type of bias
oFluency in a language
Limitations….. Examples

45. The 7th essential component of synopsis is: GIT
Methodology
• Very important
• Plan to tackle your research problem.
This section should include:
• Research design
• Research subjects or participants
• What are the criteria for inclusion or selection?
• What are the criteria for exclusion?
• What is the sampling procedure?
• Will there be use of controls in your study?

46. Operational definitions:
should follow the objectives explaining the
words that need to be studied as stated in the
objectives.
Eg. ‘Role’ of anti-hypertensives.
‘Evaluation’……
‘validity…etc.

47. ?? RESEARCH METHOD / MEASUREMENT
IF CORRECT
RIGHT CONCLUSION

48. Research design
Example:
• A multicenter, prospective, observational, non-interventional study in patients with suspected
Types of research designs
• Prospective
• A prospective study watches for outcomes, such as the development of a disease, during the study period and relates
this to other factors such as suspected risk or protection factor(s). The study usually involves taking a cohort of subjects
and watching them over a long period.
• Retrospective
• A retrospective study looks backwards and examines exposures to suspected risk or protection factors in relation to an
outcome that is established at the start of the study.
• Retrospective Case-Control studies
• Case-Control studies are usually retrospective
• Prospective Cohort studies
• Cohort studies are usually prospective

49. Designs
• Meta-Analysis. A way of combining data from many different research
studies. ...
• Systematic Review. ...
• Randomized Controlled Trial. ...
• Cohort Study (Prospective Observational Study).
• Case-control Study. ...
• Cross-sectional study. ...
• Case Reports and Series. ...
• Ideas, Editorials, Opinions.

50. intervention
yes No
Experimental
Randomization
and control
Yes No
Randomization
and control trial
Quasi
Experimental
Observational
Analytical Descriptive
Cross sectional
Case control
Cohort
Case
Report
Case
series
Studies for research
1. Epidemiology
2. Pre-clinical studies
3. Clinical trials

51. Criteria of study

52. Inclusion criteria:
Patients who are :
• Suffering with Chronic Renal Failure undergoing Hemodialysis in selected
hospitals of Lahore.
• Willing to participate in research study.
• Available at the time of data collection.
Exclusion criteria:
Patients who:
• Are terminally ill.
• Do not know to read and write English

53. Methodology
Sample size (Amount of Food you need)
• 100 patients who met the sampling criteria. 50 in experimental
and 50 in control group.
• A larger sample size than needed to test the research hypothesis
increases the cost and duration of the study and will be unethical
if it exposes human subjects to any potential unnecessary risk
without additional benefit.
• A smaller sample size than needed can also be unethical as it
exposes human subjects to risk with no benefit to scientific
knowledge.

54. e is the desired level of precision (i.e. the margin of error),
p is the (estimated) proportion of the population which has the attribute
in question,
q is 1 – p.
https://www.statisticshowto.datasciencecentral.com/probabilit
y-and-statistics/find-sample-size/

55. • Interventions:
• If an intervention is introduced, a description must be given of the
drugs or devices (proprietary names, manufacturer, chemical
composition, dose, frequency of administration)
Methodology

56. • Ethical issues
Apply to all types of health research.
• Ethics Committee approval
• Conflict of Interest.
• Informed consent form (informed decision-making): Must be
developed and attached to the proposal.
Methodology

57. Characteristic of indicators UTILISABLE
• VALID-they should actually measure what they are supposed
to measure
• RELIABLE-the answers should be same if measured by
different people in similar circumstances
• SENSITIVE-they should be sensitive to changes in the situation
concerned
• SPECIFIC-they should reflect changes only in the situation
concerned
• FEASIBLE-they should have ability to obtain data needed
• RELEVANT-they should contribute to the understanding of the
phenomenon of inetrest

58. VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
• Validity refers to what degree the research reflects the given research
problem, while Reliability refers to how consistent a set of
measurements are.

59. What should be written in
Informed Consent Form?

60. What should be written in
Informed Consent Form?
• It should be written in the:
• Prospective subjects’ mother tongue
• Simple language … easily understood by the subject.
• The use of medical terminology should be avoided as far as possible.
Explain:
• Why the study is being done
• Why the subject has been asked to participate.
• Whether or not the study procedures offer any benefits to the subject
• The nature, likelihood and treatment of anticipated discomfort or adverse effects.
• If the risks are unknown or a comparative risk cannot be given it should be so stated.
• That the subject has the right to withdraw from the study at any time without, in any
way, affecting his/her further medical care. It should assure the participant of
confidentiality of the findings.

61. Ethics checklist
• The proposal must describe the measures that will be undertaken to ensure
that the proposed research is carried out
“in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on
Ethical Principles for Medical research involving Human Subjects”.
Example:
• I have read this protocol and agree to conduct this trial in accordance with all
stipulations of the protocol and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki
and its amendments, and any applicable local laws and regulations.

62. Ethics checklist
• Does the study require any interventions or investigation to be
conducted on patients or other humans or animals?
• If so describe briefly.
• Has permission been obtained from your research setting?
• Has ethical clearance been obtained from your institution?

63. Research setting
includes all the applicable aspect of the study:
• Population to be studied:
CRF patients undergoing hemodialysis in selected hospitals of Lahore
city.
• Duration of study
• Place of study.
Dialysis units and wards of selected hospitals.

64. Study Instruments
• Instruments are the tools by which the data are collected.
For Example: Researcher prepared structured questionnaire consisting of
MCQs
• Descriptions of other methods of observations like laboratory tests and
screening procedures with references

65. Collection of data
• A short description of the protocol of data collection.
For example, in a study on blood pressure measurement:
• Time of participant arrival.
• Rest for 5 -10 minutes.
• Which apparatus (standard calibrated) to be used.
• In which room to take measurement.
• Measurement in sitting or lying down position.
• How many measurements.
• Measurement in which arm first.
• Details of cuff and its placement.
• Who will take the measurement.
• This minimizes the possibility of confusion, delays and errors.

66. TITLE: EFFECTIVENESS OF SELF INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE [SIM] ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF RENAL DIET AMONG CHRONIC RENAL
FAILURE [CRF] PATIENTS UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF LAHORE
• STEPS OF DATA COLLECTION
• Step I: Prior to data collection permission will be obtained from the Hospital authority.
• Step II: The researcher will introduce herself to the subjects.
• Step III: By using random sampling method, subject will be assigned in experimental &
control group.
• Step IV: Informed consent will be taken from all the subjects after explaining the purpose
of the study.
• Step V: Pre test will be conducted by using structured knowledge questionnaire for both
groups.
• Step VI: Self instructional module will be administered to the experimental group.
• Step VII: A post test will be conducted 7 days after the pre test by using structured
knowledge questionnaire for both groups.
• Step VII: The data collected will be tabulated and analyzed.

67. Data analysis
The description should include
• The design of the analysis form
• Plans for processing and coding the data
• The choice of the statistical method to be applied to each data.

68. References
• Please recheck the uniformity of references cautiously
• Follow the same style for all the references.
• Be sure which format do you want to follow for writing references.

69. References Formats
Harvard style
• Author’s name followed by its initials.
• Year of publication.
• Article title with single quotation mark followed by full stop.
• Name of Journal in italic form.
• Volume followed by a comma
• Issue no. in bracket.
• Page no.
Example
• Padda, J. (2003) ‘creative writing in coventry'. Journal of writing studies 3 (2), 44-59. 2.
• Lennernas, H. (1995) ‘Experimental estimation of the effective unstirred water layer thickness in
the human jejunum & its importance in oral drug absorption’. Eur. J. pharm sci (3), 247-253.

70. References Formats
• Oxford
• Author’s name followed by its initials.
• Year of publication.
• Article title followed by full stop.
• Name of Journal in italic form
• Volume followed by a comma
• Page no.
Example
• Alibali, M. W., Phillips, K. M., & Fischer, A. D. (2009). Learning new problem-
solving strategies leads to changes in problem representation. Cognitive
Development, 24, 89-101.

71. Reference Formats
• Vancouver style
• Liaw S, Hasan I, Wade, V, Canalese R, Kelaher M, Lau P, et al.
Improving cultural respect to improve Aboriginal health in general
practice: a multi-perspective pragmatic study. Aust Fam Physician.
2015;44(6):387-92.

72. • You can use the software like
• https://www.mendeley.com
• http://endnote.com
• ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………

73. Check Plagiarism Ethical & Legal issues
Avoid Plagiarism
It is using or copying other peoples’ ideas
and words without clearly acknowledging the
source of that information

75. Material taken from
• Google scholars
• Dahl, A., Dich, T., Hansen, T., Olsen, V. 1999. Strenghten project work:
A toolbook for problem-based project work. [Styrk projektarbejdet:
En redskabsbog til problemorienteret projektarbejde]. Biofolia,
Frederiksberg.
• Rienecker, L. and Jørgensen, P.S. 2006. The good assignment. [Den
gode opgave]. 3rd edition. Forlaget Samfundslitteratur, Frederiksberg.
• Yin, R.K. 2003. Case study research: design and methods. Applied
Social Research Methods Series 5. Sage, Thousand Oaks.