Research Plan for Healthcare Management Course: Fall 2016 Assessment

This document is a research plan prepared for the Kings Center for Professional Development's Master of Science in Health Care Management program, Research Methods course, as the end-of-course assessment for Fall 2016. The plan follows a structured template, addressing sections such as the project title, summary/abstract (including study title, design, participants, sample size, study period, aim, objectives, and outcome measures), background (literature review, problem statement, and research question), aim, objectives, justification, hypothesis, study design, subjects, population, selection & sample methods, measurements & data collection instruments, data collection procedures, data processing and analysis, results presentation, expected results (limitations), resources required, permission requirements (including ethics approval), project milestones, and a list of references. The assignment emphasizes adherence to scientific journal best practices and a word count between 2000-3000 words.

Kings Center for Professional Development
Master of Science in Health Care Management Program
Research Methods Course: End of Course Assessment Fall 2016
For the course assessment you will prepare a research plan. Follow the template that is
provided here. The recommended time to complete the assignment is 8 hours, excluding
reading and thinking. The length should be 2000-3000 words. Answer each section with
economic use of words bearing in mind the number of marks available. Use Font size 11. Do
not cut and paste. Do not use fancy unconventional formatting. Follow best practice from
scientific journals http://www.icmje.org/
Save the file using a name that includes your first name and then e-mail to Dr Farry. Please
complete and e-mail by 0900 on 04 December 2016.
Section headings Notes Marks available
(out of 100)
Project Title Follow best practice from the scientific literature 2
Summary/Abstract Use the following subheadings:
1. Study title
2. Study Design
3. Setting and study participants
4. Planned Sample Size
5. Planned Study Period
6. Aim and Objectives
7. Outcome Measures
5
Background Cover the following:
1. What is already known on this topic (brief review
of relevant literature, 6-8 references)
2. What is the problem that will be investigated
3. What is your research question
20
Aim 1-2 sentences describing the aim of the research 4
Objectives 4-5 detailed objectives 8
Justification What is the justification or rationale for the proposed
research 2
Hypothesis, research
question
If appropriate, state the null and alternative
hypotheses that will be tested 2
Study design What kind of study will this be 4
Subjects, population
selection & Sample
Methods
Describe in detail the setting, the target population,
the study population, sampling, inclusion and
exclusion criteria, how you will recruit your sample,
sample size calculation
10
Measurements & Data
collection instruments
List and define your variables and how these will be
measured (i.e. Job satisfaction will be measured
according to the subjects answers to questions in a
self-completed internet questionnaire). Give examples
10

of the questions if a questionnaire will be used.
Data collection
procedures
Give details of how you will collect your data 5
Data processing and
analysis
Give practical details of how you will code and collate
you data and what software you will use. Explain how
you will analyse your data and what statistical test you
plan to use to test any hypotheses.
5
Results Explain how you plan to present your results (tables,
graphs etc.) 5
Expected results Describe what you expect to find, what problems you
may encounter. What are the limitations of your
proposed study design.
5
Resources required
(budget etc.)
Consider what resources are needed 2
Permission Discuss here what approvals are needed including the
need for Research Ethics Committee approval. 4
Project milestones,
timetable
Give a realistic timetable for approval, data collection,
analysis and write up 2
References Include 10-12 references. Use a recognised style
http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing/home 5