1. Projects

2. Research Proposal Research Question Hypothesis Null – no association
Alternative – an association, but no direction
Research – indicate direction
Cross-sectional surveys can have hypotheses

3. Research Proposal Background and Significance
Magnitude of the problem – why do we care
Prevalence in the US or SC
Outcome
Exposure
Strengths – unique and novel aspects
Population available
Exposure measurement
Outcome measurement

4. Research Proposal Background and Significance
Therefore, we propose to study X here

5. Research Proposal Overview
Study design – state the type of study you plan to conduct

6. Research Proposal Study population Target population
Source/accessible population
Available n – need some estimate of this
Intended sample if sampling
Inclusion criteria
be specific: age, comorbidities
Trade off with generalizability
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment plan – how much time will it take
Remember inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and drop-outs will affect your available n

7. Research Proposal Problems, Pitfalls and limitations
Keep a running list of problems with your study

8. Reading
So far it would have been helpful to have read chapters 1 through 3.
For next Tuesday read chapter 4.
Next Tuesday we are talking about measurement/data collection.
Exposure
Outcome

9. Research Proposal Other comments Cross-sectional surveys
You can have hypotheses and should if you are looking at potential risk factors associated with an outcome.
If you have sampled based on outcome you are doing a case-control study.
Can not get information on incidence or prevalence in case-control studies only associations between exposures and outcomes.
If your are looking at outcomes among individuals with a given disease this is not a case-control study.