Final Project: The Research Proposal

Purpose: To provide a compelling rationale (Chapter 1) and process (Chapter 3) for addressing an unanswered problem or question in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Overview

  • Narrative hook (broad focus)
  • The research problem (narrowed focus)
  • Studies that have addressed the problem
  • Deficiencies in past literature
  • The importance of the proposed research

Purpose of study

Research Aims and Hypotheses

Definition of Terms (including the operational definitions of variables)

Delimitations and Limitations

Chapter 3: Methods
Participants and study design

  • Describe subject selection and sample size determination process (appendix?*) (Inclusion/exclusion criteria: age, gender, health status, activity status, medications, BMI, etc.)
  • Recruitment strategy and randomization strategy
  • State IRB approval and written consent will be obtained
  • State research design (e.g., randomized controlled trial)
  • Describe blinding, study duration, timing of measurements

Describe the independent variable in detail: specific diet, specific supplement, exercise protocol, etc.

Protocol procedures/dependent variables

  • Describe the study protocol in detail. Describe monitoring procedures, use of questionnaires etc.
  • Flow chart for design (appendix?*)
  • Laboratory analyses (appendix?*)
  • Describe blood/urine collection and processing (appendix?*)
  • Reference procedures and provide some details

Statistical analyses

  • State how data are presented (mean±SD)
  • Statistical tests and statistical program used (correlation or t-test)
  • State level of probability (p<0.05)