Comprehensive Study Guide for Research 10: Research Planning and IMRAD Formatting

Overview of the Research Plan

A research plan is a concise, logical document that establishes the initial framework for a research project. Serving as a concept paper, it can be shared confidentially with peers and collaborators to discuss the importance and conduct of the proposed investigation.

  • Required Elements and Criteria:

    • Title: Must be clear, accurate, concise, and unambiguous. It should reflect both the content and the purpose of the study. While it should be memorable, clarity must not be sacrificed for brevity.

    • Background, Context, or Rationale: This section sets the scene by referring to relevant literature, policy, theory, or practice. It explains the project's contribution, relevance, importance, and timeliness.

    • Aims and Objectives: This establishes the link between the research question and the goals. The aim is a high-level general statement, whereas objectives are specific, focused questions. Objectives must be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant (Realistic), and Time-bound.

    • Hypothesis: Utilized in scientific or experimental approaches to test anticipated behavior. It is typically expressed in the "null" form.

    • Literature Review: A broad survey of scholarly papers, policy documents, and house reports. Its two-fold purpose is to acquaint the researcher with current thinking and to identify methods or gaps in existing research.

    • Research Design and Methods: Detailed description of techniques and tools for data collection and analysis. It must define the project's limits, sampling plan (e.g., number of participants/observations), and generalizability.

    • Ethical Issues: Addresses the involvement of human or animal subjects. Research involving humans requires informed consent and anonymity/confidentiality. Research involving vertebrate animals must follow the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol.

    • Risk Assessment: Evaluates potential risks to the project's success, the probability of occurrence, potential impact, and management strategies.

    • Resources: Identification of local materials and specific facilities (laboratories, computer shops, etc.). It should describe the scientific environment and any special facilities for biohazards.

    • References: Accurate citations for all documents, websites, and resources mentioned.

Guidelines for Research Selection and Presentation

To ensure a professional and rigorous research plan, investigators should adhere to specific standards of writing and evaluation.

  • Writing Standards:

    • Use straightforward, direct, and concise language.

    • Use "signposts," such as descriptive headings and linking sentences, to maintain logical flow.

    • Focus on key points rather than exhaustive detail.

    • Avoid jargon and minimize the use of acronyms; define acronyms upon first use.

    • Use figures and illustrations to convey complex information efficiently.

    • Check manually for typographical errors, as spell-checkers cannot distinguish between homophones (e.g., "there" vs. "their").

  • Checklist for Selecting a Research Topic:

    • Is the problem interesting and novel?

    • Does it contribute to socio-economically important problems?

    • Will it generate new information?

    • Is it feasible regarding time, expense, and material availability?

    • Is the research reproducible?

    • Does the researcher possess the necessary skills or the ability to learn them in time?

The IMRAD Format for Research Proposal Revision

The IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) is a structured approach used for lab reports and systematic research in social/natural sciences and engineering. It is also referred to as the APA format.

  • Introduction:

    • First Paragraph: A short overview of the present information in the research area.

    • Second Paragraph: Summary of literature, identified limitations, and unanswered questions.

    • Third Paragraph: Explicitly states the aim of the study and sets expectations for the paper.

    • Citations: Include only recent, relevant references (e.g., from search engines like PUBMED) rather than listing every existing study.

  • Methods:

    • Materials and Equipment: Provide exact technical specifications and quantities. Use generic or chemical names in small caps rather than trade names.

    • Study Groups: Identify genus, species, or strain accurately. Note characteristics like age, gender, and physiological status.

    • Statistical Analysis: Specify the software version used and confidence intervals.

    • Ethics: Quote the protocol and include details of the written informed consent for human volunteers.

  • Results:

    • Presents analyzed data without interpretation. Use a mixture of text, tables, and graphs.

    • Report data as Mean and SD (Standard Deviation) along with significance levels.

    • Baseline characteristics of the sample should be presented in tables to allow for generalization.

  • Discussion:

    • First Paragraph: General summary of results and how findings add to knowledge.

    • Second Paragraph: Addresses strengths, limitations, and potential biases (chance/bias influence).

    • Third Paragraph: Summary of scientific implications. Avoid ending with clichés like "Further studies are needed."

Case Study: In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Lantana camara

This specific study evaluates the effectiveness of Lantana camara (Baho-baho) extracts against Eudrilus euginiae as a model for intestinal parasites.

  • Rationale: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) like Ascaris lumbricoides contribute to malnutrition and anemia in the Philippines. Resistance to drugs such as Albendazole necessitates natural alternatives.

  • Experimental Parameters:

    • Sample Size: 7272 Eudrilus euginiae earthworms, nearly equal in size (6−8 cm6-8\,cm) and weight (1.5−2.5 g1.5-2.5\,g).

    • Extraction Method: 300 g300\,g of ground plant material (leaves, stem, flower) boiled in 1 L1\,L distilled water for 30 minutes30\,minutes at 100 ∘C100\,^\circ C.

    • Treatments: Aqueous extracts at 50%50\% and 100%100\% concentrations; Albendazole (1 mg/ml1\,mg/ml) as standard drug; Normal saline (0.9%NaCl0.9\% NaCl) as negative control.

    • Measures: Time of paralysis (no movement upon pin prick) and lethal time (no movement when shaken or dipped in 50 ∘C50\,^\circ C water).

    • Statistical Analysis: Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research (STAR) 2.0.1 at a 5%5\% level of significance.

Case Study: Shelf-life of Tomatoes and Guava Leaves

Janelle's study investigated whether fresh guava leaves could prolong the shelf-life (days without dark spots) of unripe tomatoes.

  • Experimental Groups:

    • Treatment A: 50 g50\,g fresh guava leaves.

    • Treatment B: 100 g100\,g fresh guava leaves.

    • Treatment C: 150 g150\,g fresh guava leaves.

    • Positive Control: Refrigerator storage.

    • Negative Control: Exposed at room temperature.

  • Observed Results (Summary of Means):

    • Treatment A replicate average: ≈16.67 days\approx 16.67\,days.

    • Treatment B replicate average: ≈21 days\approx 21\,days.

    • Treatment C replicate average: ≈27.33 days\approx 27.33\,days.

    • Positive control average: ≈29 days\approx 29\,days.

    • Negative control average: ≈12 days\approx 12\,days.

  • Implication: Higher quantities of guava leaves (Treatment C) showed results comparable to refrigeration (Positive Control).

Case Study: Organic Fertilizer and Stevia Height

An investigation into how different fertilizers affect the growth height of Stevia plants.

  • Data Highlights (Mean Heights):

    • Treatment A: 15.21 a15.21\,a

    • Treatment B: 13.35 a13.35\,a

    • Treatment C: 14.70 a14.70\,a

    • Positive Control: 10.78 b10.78\,b

    • Negative Control: 7.05 ab7.05\,ab

  • Statistical Note: Coefficient of Variation (CV) = 16.57%16.57\%. Means with the same letter are not significantly different at α=0.05\alpha = 0.05.