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Quantitative Research Protocol

(Please us this template as a guide to draft your protocol)

Title of Research

I. Introduction and background of the study

II. Statement of the problem

III. Purpose of the study with objectives

IV. Research questions and/or hypotheses

V. Theoretical framework

VI. Definitions of key terms including theoretical and operational definitions

VII. Assumptions (if appliciable)

VIII. Significance of the study specific to your discipline in these three areas:

·  Education (i.e. Medical education, Nursing education, etc.)

·  Clinical practice (i.e., Physical Therapy clinical practice, etc.)

·  Research (i.e. Respiratory Therapy research, Radiology research, etc.)

IX. Scope and limitations of the study

X. Review of Literature (If greater than 2 pages, please list additional content in appendix)

A scholarly critique of the primary resources of the empirical research that is relevant to the concepts of the study. The review establishes the current state of knowledge about the topic under study and contains gaps in the knowledge concerning the topic and the problem that exists. Include search engines and key words used in your search.

XI. Methods

·  Research design

Description of the design being used for the study utilizing accepted quantitative design labels appropriate for the study and brief description of the fit of the variables within the design. Elaborate on the general class of your design (experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, etc.) If you will be using multiple measures, make a plan for their order and describe here.

·  Research setting

Description the location of the study.

·  Sample size

o  Purpose of the sampling

o  Characteristics of potential types of persons, events, or processes to be sampled

o  How decisions about sampling are made

o  Sample size estimates provided based on previous experience, pilot work, etc.

·  Access and recruitment of sample

How will you recruit subjects? Explain in detail.

·  Inclusion criteria

·  Exclusion criteria

·  Ethical considerations and protection of human subjects

Provide a detailed plan including how subjects will be informed of any risks/benefits by participating in the study. Refer to the IRB documents.

·  Data collection procedure

Description of how data will be collected. Description of the intruments being used to measure the variables. Include origins of the instruments, how they were previously used, the reason for selecting them, reliability and validity of the instruments, how they will be scored and the level the scores represent.

·  Demographic data

What data will you collect and why?

·  Data analysis plan

Statistical analysis process explicitly and methodically described. Include plan for identifying and managing missing data and outliers and how accuracy of data entry will be assured.

XII. How will you disseminate your findings?

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