proposal objectives and justification
TRANSCRIPT
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Contents of the presentation
o Goals and Objectives
o Rationale/Justification
o Hypothesis/Research Statemento References
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What is a project?
A project is a
...series ofactivities designed toachieve a specific outcome within a set
budgetand timescale.
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Objectives and justification
(problem statement, rationale)
These help one to define the following:
What do I want to achieve? Why do I want to do this?
By when should this be accomplished?
What are the main steps that need to be carried
out?
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Goals and objectives
What am I planning to do?
Goals and objectives set out the scope of the
project.
In a sense, this section also alludes to what is not
going to be done. It sets the boundaries of the
project.
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Goals and objectives
Research objectives are derived from knowledge
gaps, and should state what is new and special that
warrants investigation.
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What is the goal of the project?
The goal is a short and general sentencedefining...
The overall aim of the project
The contribution of the project in abigger context
thereby describing thepurpose of the project.
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Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans
naturally exposed to malaria (Plasmodiumfalciparum)
Project goal:
To provide critical information on PfEMP1
antibodies levels for the development of a
malaria vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa.
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Defining the objectives of the project
The objectives are a more specific, and provide a
statement on-
What the project will aims to achieve at
termination (an insight into what will be in the
thesis)
Which requirements must be met.
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Defining the objectives of the project (cont'd)
Objectives should be SMART
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely.
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Example: PfEMP1 levels .
Objectives:
By September 2012:
To assess the correlation of the levels of PfEMP1antibodies with age and parasitemia
To determine if PfEMP1 antibodies aretransferred from pregnant mothers to theirinfants, and to evaluate PfEMP1 antibodyproduction from birth through the first year of life
To develop human resources and infrastructureto enhance malaria research in Kenya.
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Terminology
Goal...objectives... generalobjectives...specific objectives...targets... specific targets... sub-targetsetc
are terms not only widely used
but used in different ways,
so there is a risk of confusion.
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Keep the hierarchy as simple as possible
Goal
Objective Objective
Main Steps Main Steps
S
P
E
C
I
F
I
C
I
T
Y
Keep it as simple
as possible
Use
common sense
Main steps represent what needs to bereached to meet the related objective.
Activities
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Define your activities
What must be done to meet the related objective
Goal
Objective Objective
Activities Activities
Objective Objective
Activities Activities
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Goals and objectives
o Keep it simple
o Avoid unnecessary narratives
o Limit the objectives to one or two sentenceseach
o If your ideas lack focus, they cannot be clear
to the reader (reviewing your application)
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Establishing the project statement
The statement is a short paragraph defining andsummarizing ...
What needs to be done
Why this needs to be done By when the work must be finished
thereby giving boundaries to theproject.
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Statement of the Problem
The problem statement should clearlyexplain why the research should beconducted.
It describes the problem that is to beinvestigated.
Problem should stand out, so that the readercan easily recognize the problem.
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Statement of the Problem
Points to be discussed to show the importance of the study
o The research should address the needs of the country
o The importance of the science should be clear
o The magnitude of the problem and how the researchresults will contribute its solution
o Demonstrate that it is feasible to solve the problem
o Arouse the readers interest and encourage him to read
further
o Capacity building in the area of the proposed research
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Is there a clear and real problem to be
solved? Is the problem clearly justified?
Is it a subject for research?
Is it novel?
How important is it?
Is the problem clearly recognized?
Does it tackle specific area?
Does it fit the timeline of research?
Project statement
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Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans naturally
exposed to malaria (P. falciparum)
Project statement:
In order to provide critical information for the
development of an effective malaria vaccine, theproject aims to determine, by the year 2012, the levels
of PfEMP1 antibodies in humans naturally exposed to
malaria (in relation to age, pregnancy, transfer to new
born infants).
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Statements to avoid
Avoid such terms as
o little is known about,o There is a general lack of
information about..,
o or no research has dealt with.
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Hypothesis (Research Question)
Hypotheses, or research questions must
be clearly described.
A hypothesis should be clearly testable.
Avoid using null- hypothesis.
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Hypotheses (Research Question)
The null hypothesis denies you theopportunity to state research objectives in a
much more realistic, interesting and preciseway
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Null Hypotheses (Research Question)
For example, I want to investigate the valueof an enzyme in a pathway in an human
pathogen as a potential drug target.
The null hypothesis might state that, blocking
the activity of enzyme X in metabolic
pathway Y has no effect on the survival of
the parasite.
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Alternative/Research Hypotheses
(Research Question)
For example, I want to investigate the value of an
enzyme in a pathway in an human pathogen as a
potential drug target.
The Research Hypothesis allows you to say This
human pathogen derives its energy requirements
entirely from utilization of this metabolic pathway Y.
Therefore, blocking the activity of enzyme X inmetabolic pathway Y will lead to the death of the
parasite.
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Use a standard format
Respect journal format requirements
Reference list must include all work cited in the text
All references listed must be cited in the text
List references in alphabetical order
Use consistent formatting
References
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References cont.
Citations in the text:
One author:
A study of the distribution of primates in Nairobi by Ochieng (1987)
orThe distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described
(Ochieng, 1987).
or
The distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described
(Ochieng and Mwangi, 1987).
orThe distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described
(Ochieng et al., 1987).
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Is the literature cited:
o Relevant
o Up to date
o Accurate and consistent
Are sources of information cited? Always
give credit to your sources - you are more
credible and you lose nothing.
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Citations in the list:
Journal article:
Author
Year
Title
Name of Journal (see standard abbreviations)* Journal volume
Journal pages
*For Journals, abbreviations: Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Credits:
DAAD Sudan Office
WHO-TDR