2. A research proposal is a document written for the purpose of obtaining funding for a research project.

3. 1.Title page 2. Project summary 3. Project description 4. Ethical considerations 5.Timetable 6.Problems anticipated 7.Budget 8. References

4. Title page should provide information on: Project title Principal investigator(s) Institution Duration of the project

5. Project summary The project summary should be carefully written. It will be the first (and may be the only) part read by the reviewers. It should reveal persuasively the importance and the strengths of the project.

6. Objective(s) Specific objectives are statements of the research question(s). Objectives should be simple (not complex), specific (not vague), and stated in advance (not after the research is done).

7. Methodology The methodology section has to be thought out carefully and written in full detail. It is the most important part of the protocol. It should include information on the research design, the research subjects, interventions introduced, observations to be made and sample size.

8. Data management and analysis The protocol should provide information on how the data will be managed, including data coding for computer analysis, monitoring and verification. Information should also be provided on the available computer facility. The statistical methods used for the analysis of data should be clearly outlined.

9. Project description explain why the project is important to do & indicate its relevance to the particular lines of interest of the funding agency. Pilot studies, if already done, are important to demonstrate the feasibility of the research.

10. Ethical considerations Ethical issues and concerns should be addressed fully in the research proposal. Timetable The timetable should estimate the duration for collection of data, pilot study, final analysis of data and writing up the report.

11. Problems anticipated The investigators should demonstrate their awareness of obstacles and difficulties, which may interfere with the successful completion of the project within the timeframe and cost proposed.

12. Budget The budget request should be itemized and each item should be justified References A number of recent references on the subject should be cited in support of the proposal