Dissertation Proposal Form

This document is a sample dissertation proposal form for a research project on depression in young people in the UK. It includes the aims, objectives, research questions, methodology, and timeline for the project. The research aims to identify the impact of depression on the mental health of young people and explore ways to overcome it. The document also discusses the rationale, data collection methods, recruitment process, participant demographics, and analytical process. References and a section on project management are also included.

Dissertation Proposal Form
Student Name Supervisor Name
Student Number Course
Project title: Depression in young people, ages (18-15) in the UK.
Start and end
dates of research:
Proposed activity – aims, objectives, research question(s), and state how it is novel
Research aim: Main aim of this research is “To identify the impact of depression on
mental health of young people under the age group of 18-15: A study on UK
Research objectives:
 To identify the main reasons of increasing depression in young people under the
age group of 18-15 within UK.
 To determine the impact of depression on mental health of young people under the
age group of 18-15 within UK.
 To explore ways for overcoming issue of depression on mental health of young
people under the age group of 18-15 within UK.
Research questions
 What are the major reasons behind increment of depression in young people under
the age group of 18-15 within UK?
 How depression has negative impact on the mental health of young people under
the age group of 18-15 within UK?
 What are the effective ways for reducing problem of depression on mental health
of young people under the age group of 18-15 within UK?
This research is novel because it helps in identifying the major issues faced by young
people because of depression. This research is also different because it collects
quantitative or primary information about the topic.
Methodology – rationale, data selection and collection, recruitment, participant
demographics, analytical process
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Rationale: Main rationale behind the selection of current topic is to determine the major
issues faced by young people under the age of 18-15 because of depression. There are
different methodologies that will helps in identifying this problem (Ejim and et. al., 2021).
Data collection: There are two methods of collecting data i.e. primary and secondary. For
collecting primary information about the depression in young people of UK, questionnaire
will be used because it provides actual data about the topic. For gathering secondary
information, books, magazines, websites, journals etc, sources will be used for literature
review.
Research choice: There are two effective choices of the research such as qualitative and
quantitative. Both choices of the research are effective but in accordance to the existing
topic, quantitative research will be applied by investigator. Main reason regarding the
selection of quantitative research is it provides valid and reliable information within a less
time period. Qualitative is another type of research choice that is not valuable for carrying
out present investigation because it takes maximum time and not assist in collecting of
numerical data from the larger sample (Rodrigues‐Oliveira and et. al., 2021).
Recruitment: There are two methods of selecting sample are known as probability and
non-probability. Both are useful methods of selecting sample but according to the present
study probability is an essential technique. Probability sampling will be used for
recruiting participants within a study. This is a technique of sample selection and helps
investigative in selecting of 15 people of the UK randomly (Ashworth, Brooks and
Schiöth, 2021).
Participates demographic: 15 people are those whose comes under the age of 15-18 year
and have experienced depression.
Analytical process: Frequency distribution analysis as an analytical technique will be
used for evaluating primary and quantitative data about the topic. Main purpose regarding
the selection of frequency distribution analysis is it facilitate in evaluation of numerical
and quantitative data within minimum time period (Sami and Naveeda, 2021).
References
Ejim, O.C, and et. al., 2021. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among International
Postgraduate Students in a Uk University: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Rodrigues‐Oliveira, L. and et. al., 2021. COVID‐19 impact on anxiety and depression in
head and neck cancer patients: a cross‐sectional study. Oral Diseases.
Sami, A.H. and Naveeda, N., 2021. An Examination of Depressive Symptoms in
Adolescents: The Relationship of Personality Traits and Perceived Social
Support. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4(1), pp.1-11.
Ashworth, E., Brooks, S.J. and Schiöth, H.B., 2021. Neural activation of anxiety and
depression in children and young people: A systematic meta-analysis of fMRI
studies. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 311, p.111272.
Project management
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Table: Project timeline and key outputs
Month Activity
November Researching around the topic
December
Chapter 1 Introduction
January Chapter 2 Literature review
February Chapter 3 Methodology
March Chapter 4 Discussion
April Chapter 5 Conclusion and Proofreading
May Chapter 6 Proof Read
June Submit
Supervision Meetings
Research Data Management Plan (Describe the data you expect to acquire or
generate during this research project, how you will manage, describe, analyse, and
store the data and what mechanisms you will use to share and preserve your data.)
By doing this research, there will be a requirement of collecting two types of data i.e.
secondary and primary. Both types of data will be gathered for achieving each objectives
of the research. By managing both types of data, I will used computer system and make all
data systematically. For collecting primary data, I will be used questionnaire, whereas for
gathering secondary information, I will use books, articles etc. sources. For analysing this
type of data, I will be applied frequency distribution analysis.
Planned outputs/publications/research datasets/impact/dissemination
If successful, I undertake to carry out the
research according to the University’s
Ethics code of Practice and will be
required to complete an Ethics checklist –
see relevant forms detailed under Primary
Research (Applicant’s signature required) ………………………………………………….
Date and signature of Supervisor approval
………………………………………………….
Date and signature of Employer approval
(required for Apprentices only) ………………………………………………….
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ETHICS REVIEW PROCESS STUDENT ETHICS REVIEW
PROCESS STAFF
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20
Ethics submitted to
supervisor for approval
Ethics submitted to UG/PG
Dissertation ML/PTL for
final approval
Ethics submitted

Research Ethics Application Form
All research conducted by Arden University students require ethical approval. The
application should be sent to your supervisor with your research proposal and any supporting
documentation such as a recruitment invitation letter or guide, recruitment flyer
(online/offline), participant information sheet, informed consent form, permission letter form
an organisation to use their premises, participant instruction guide, questionnaire, measures,
interview questions, debrief form, and any supporting or additional documentation that will
be provided to the participants, or those helping with the research such as gatekeepers and
assistants.
Secondary Research Only (Answer up to and including Question 3)
Complete information up to and including Question 3 if you are conducting ONLY secondary
research and can answer YES to the following question:
This investigation will NOT involve the collection of data from human participants,
though it may collect data about individuals from published matter (e.g., previously
published interviews or behavioural data).
Once the application and research proposal are reviewed and approved by your Supervisor, it
will be sent to the Module Leader (ML)/Programme Team Leader (PTL) for final approval.
You cannot collect data until final approval has been provided by the ML/PTL.
Please complete the information below.
Please circle Yes or No to the following questions and where indicated please provide further
information
1. Are you required to use a professional code of ethics and conduct relevant to your
profession (e.g. British Psychological Society, Health Care Professions Council
National Health Service, Ministry of Defence, the Law Society)
YES/NO
If yes, please state
2. If yes, have you read the relevant professional code of ethics and conducts?
YES/NO
3. Are you sourcing secondary data? (e.g. Information from web sites, journal articles,
archives)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
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(IF CONDUCTING PRIMARY RESEARCH, PLEASE COMPLETE THE REST OF THE
FORM
Primary research is used if your investigation involves the collection of data directly
from human participants, rather than depending on data collected from previously
completed research, and this can be in the form of a questionnaire, survey, interview
or experiments.
All forms for primary research MUST accompany this Ethics form, including
A full draft of the questionnaire, interview questions, survey or experiment
PLUS:
 Participant Information Sheet
 Participant Informed Consent Form
 Participant Debrief Sheet
 Evidence of organisational approval (where relevant)
 Recruitment poster/invitation letter or email
These forms can be found in the Dissertation Module on ilearn
A proviso is to be used if all of the correct paperwork has been submitted, and this includes a
questionnaire that addresses the research aims and objectives but which requires some minor
amendments such as phrasing of questions, typos, grammatical errors and so on. Therefore,
the form can be approved as long as the conditions of the proviso are met. Guarantee of the
changes being met can be authorised by the supervisor and this will save going through the
whole proposal/ethics approval process again. The supervisor MUST see the proviso changes
before the student uses the instrument.
4. Are you using an external research instrument or validated scale? (e.g.
survey/psychometric))
YES/NO
If yes, please provide a reference.
5. Are you sourcing primary data involving participants (e.g. Surveys, interviews, focus
group, Internet forums)?
YES/NO
6. Are you dealing with sensitive data (e.g. personal data, organisational data, those with
vulnerable groups)?
YES/NO
If yes, please outline how this data will be stored securely to ensure compliance with
GDPR (all data MUST be stored on the AU Onedrive, not on personal drives)
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7. Are you sourcing secondary data? (e.g. Information from web sites, journal articles,
archives)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
8. Does the study require DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks?
**Please note that unless already working with this population, permission will not be
granted to students to data collect from this population)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide serial number, date obtained and expiry data
9. Does the study involve direct contact with:
**Please note that unless already working with this population, permission will not be
granted to students to data collect from this population)
Vulnerable adults (e.g. learning difficulties, dementia, living in residential care)
YES/NO
Those under the age of 18 YES/NO
Adults in prison/remanded in custody/on bail
YES/NO
If yes, please outline the participant group
Data Security
10. Can you guarantee the full security and confidentiality of data collected?
YES/NO
If no, please outline reasons
**Please note that any electronic data should be stored on Arden University’s one drive
(therefore students must use their Arden email address for data collection, communication
etc.)
11. Please outline how you will ensure anonymity and confidentiality of data
12. Will you be responsible for destroying the data after the research is complete?
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YES/NO
If yes at what date will the data be destroyed?
If no, who will be responsible?
**Please note that data should be destroyed as soon as possible (when full data usage has
been completed) but no later than 3 years from data collection.
Informed Consent
13. Will all participants receive information as to why the research is being conducted
and what their participation will involve?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
14. Will all participants be asked to give informed consent before the study starts?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
15. Will all participants be told of the data being collected and how the data be used?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
16. Will all participants be told that they do not have to participate in the research?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
17. Does the study involve deception?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide detail
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Risk of Harm
18. Is there any risk that the research may lead to physical/psychological harm or
disclosure of criminal activities/convictions?
YES/NO
If yes, please outline and explain what you will do to reduce risks
19. Is there any significant risk that participants may disclose the harming of others or
harming of themselves?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details and actions you will take
Participant Recruitment
20. Are you proposing to recruit participants who are students or staff or Arden
University?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details of any potential conflict of interest and how this will be
mitigated
21. Employees of organisations?
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation?
22. Students through educational institutions?
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the institution?
23. Participants in residential care, social care, nursing homes
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation and individuals/carers?
24. Adults in prison, in custody, on remand
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YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation and individuals?
Online Research
25. Will any of your research involve online data collection?
YES/NO
(e.g. online surveys, Facebook, Linkedin. Twitter)
If yes, how will permission be obtained to collect data if necessary?
26. Will you be using a survey software (e.g. Gorilla or Microsoft Forms)?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
Participant Payment
27. Are payments/incentives being offered to participants?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
28. Will you tell participants that payment/incentives do not affect participants right to
withdraw their data?
YES/NO
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