Research Project Proposal (generic template)This is a modified (expanded) version of a template used in:Iphofen, R. (2009) Ethical decision making in social research. A practical guide, London: Palgrave Macmillan pages 200-04.This template may be copied and used for any research or teaching project subject to quoting the source.This template is designed to assist researchers to put together a project proposal. A good proposal should address or provide information on each of the elements outlined below. The amount of detail required will vary according to the precise research topic and the overall aims of the project. Research proposals should be written clearly and in such a way that an intelligent layperson can understand the principles involved. Any complex issues or technical terminology should be clarified for the benefit of research governance and ethics reviewers. The project proposal must offer enough information to clarify the project aims and methods, but not too much unnecessary or repetitive material. The proposal should demonstrate that the researcher fully understands the issues associated with the use of the proposed methods. It should indicate any known difficulties associated with applying those methods in the proposed setting. This document can then be used to cut and paste from the relevant fields into any other formal review forms as required.Reviewers CriteriaIn writing a proposal researchers would do well to remember the criteria that governance and ethics reviewers will have in mind when reading the proposal. They will be assessing throughout whether the project is do-able. In simple terms they should be thinking: can it be done, does it need to be done, can this person/these people do it, and can it be done in the way they are proposing? The overarching ethical question, which will be considered throughout the proposal, is: can it be done without harm to any of the people involved? The ultimate justification for a project must be: will it tell us something new and/or useful that we didnt already know?It is essential that full consideration is given to research ethics and this should be consistently demonstrated throughout the research proposal. If submission to a research ethics committee (REC) is required it should be made clear which REC will be reviewing the proposal. But ethical considerations should be embedded in research design from the outset and clearly indicated when necessary throughout the project proposal. Ethical concerns are related to the principles and values to be upheld whilst research is being conducted. The proposal must show throughout how the researchers intend to protect the rights, dignity, safety and well being of all actual or potential research participants that includes research subjects as well as the researchers themselves. After completing this proposal, go through it again using the “Ethics Review Checklist” to ensure key items have been attended to.Project identification and rationaleProvide:a succinct and clear project titlefull title, short title and/ project nickname or acronym;a clear statement of the research issue under investigation whichspecifies the “research question” or questions ANDif appropriate, clarifies any “testable hypotheses”.a short initial statement that makes the focus of the research clearsome justification of the need for research to be conducted on this topicexplain if the research will fill a gap or meet a need it might add to knowledge, deliver productive outcomes or add value for policy and/or practice;some discussion of existing information on the topicat this stage a brief outline of the current state of knowledge further justification of the need for this research and which will be expanded later in the full protocol;an explanation of any secondary research that can/should be conducteda brief statement of desk research or systematic literature review that may be required;a rationale for conducting primary researchwhy new primary research is required;an explanation of why the research needs to be conducted in the chosen setting(s)in particular, why the proposed subjects and/or setting are needed for this research.Project personnel and collaboratorsThis section combines the need for clear lines of responsibility and accountability together with a quick reference source for all those involved in the project. It also clarifies who is doing what and whether they can demonstrate the competencies necessary to accomplishing the research goal.Provide:the name and contact details of the Principal Investigator (PI);the names and contact details of all research assistants/collaborators/partners in the project;a clear indication of the research roles of all those involved in the projectthe tasks/role allocated to each named individual;brief, targeted CVs for PI, supervisor(s) and any collabor