Betkerur J. Guidelines for writing a research project synopsis or protocol. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2008;74:687-690
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A protocol or a synopsis of a research project is a document submitted to an authority or an institution for the purpose of
Synopsis is the gist of your planned project submitted for approval from competent authorities. It gives a panoramic view of your research for quick analysis by the reviewers.
Thus, a protocol or a synopsis forms an integral part of a research project or a thesis. Many universities have made it mandatory for the postgraduate degree student to prepare a thesis as a part of their postgraduate training. A good knowledge about how a protocol or a synopsis is written is imperative to all people involved in medical research.
Literally, protocol (Greek word, protokollon - first page) means a format procedure for carrying out a scientific research. Synopsis (Greek word, sun - together, opsis - seeing) means brief summary of something. Frequently, both the terms are used as synonyms but the term ′synopsis′ is used more often.
A synopsis should be constructed in a manner that facilitates the reviewer to understand the research project at a glance. It should be brief but precise. A synopsis can be structured in the following manner:
Title The title of the research project should be brief but informative; sensationalization of the title is best avoided. It should neither be too short nor too long. Any name of the institution, the number of cases to be studied should not be included. The hypothesis to be studied can be included.
a. "Study of ectopic pregnancy"
This was a title chosen for university registration. The title is too short. It does not state the problem or the hypothesis and is least informative. More meaningful title shall be, "Study of ectopic pregnancy in relation to morbidity, mortality, and intervention in a referral hospital".
b. "A novel sustained release matrix based on biodegradable poly (esteramides) and, impregnated with bacteriophages and an antibiotic shows promise in management of infected venous stasis ulcer and other poorly healing wounds", (Int. J Dermat vol 8 2002). The title is long and ill conceived. It gives a confusing picture about the study problem. Such long titles are best avoided. Certain amount of sensationalization is also present by using term ′novel′. More meaningful title shall be, "Response of venous stasis ulcers and other poorly healing wounds to a biodegradable matrix impregnated with bacteriophages and an antibiotic". The other details about the new method can be mentioned while stating the problem.
c. "Fine needle aspiration, as a diagnostic tool for papulonodular skin lesions". This is an acceptable, informative, and precise title. It states the hypothesis correctly.
Statement of the problem or hypothesis The problem being studied should be mentioned in precise and clear terms. Understanding the problem aids the researcher in constructing the research proposal. It also allows the person to formulate the hypothesis. The problem under study should be relevant to the present. A brief account of its utility at the local or national level has to be discussed. The present status of the problem and the necessity for taking up the study needs to be mentioned.
Hypothesis is mentioned as a tentative prediction or explanation of the relationship between two or more variables. Hypothesis should not be a haphazard guess but should reflect the knowledge, imagination, and experience of the investigator. Hypothesis can be formulated by understanding the problem, reviewing the literature on it, and considering other factors. A researcher can state the problem and the hypothesis in about 200 words covering all the aspects described above.
Aims and objectives All research projects should have objectives and aims and every effort should be made to achieve them. The objectives and aims should be only a few (2-3). They must pertain to the study problem. Usages of terms like "first study", "the only study", etc. should be avoided.
Review of literature Review of literature is a very important part of a research project. It achieves the following:
The review of literature in a synopsis need not be exhaustive. The relevant information should be covered in about 300 words quoting 8-10 authentic, easily retrievable references. Literature can be reviewed by using various scientific-information-gathering methods. These are journals, national or international; bulletins of organizations like WHO, CDC, and ICMR; books; computer-assisted searches like Medline and Medlar; and personal communications with other researchers. Internet provides a vast avenue for information gathering. Care must be taken to retrieve only relevant information. In this era of information technology review of literature is literally "just a click away".
Research methodology In a synopsis the research methodology adopted should be mentioned in about 150-200 words. The research methodology forms the core of the research project. The methodology should cover the following aspects:
Study settings
Study design The methodology starts with selection of study design. A single study design or a combination can be selected e.g.:
Descriptive designs
Cross-sectional study or survey
Epidemiological description of disease occurrence
Community diagnosis
Study of natural history of a disease
Observational analytical designs
Prospective study
Retrospective study
Follow-up study
Experimental designs
Animal studies
Therapeutic clinical trials - drugs
Prophylactic clinical trials- vaccines
Field trials
Operational designs
A mention about the research setting should be made. This includes information about the institution, facilities available, time of study, and population of study.
Sampling Sampling is selecting a sample of appropriate size for the study. The sample size depends on the study design. The study population can be population of cases, population of people, or population of recipients of certain treatment.
There are many methods for sampling like simple random, systemic and stratified sampling, cluster sampling, etc. Care should be taken to ensure that the sample size is adequate to produce meaningful results. The sample size should be adequate to apply all relevant tests of statistical significance. The samples should be representative of the population and should be reliable. This minimizes sampling errors.
Variables Variables are the factors that can change. These changes can affect the outcome of a research project. Thus, it is important to identify the variables at the planning stage. They should be quantified with a measurable unit. Knowledge of the various variables in a research project will assist in refining the objectives. Usually, objectives of a research will be to see the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. There are four types of variables.
Independent variables
These are the variables that can be manipulated by the researcher and the effects of that are observed on the other variables. For example, predisposing factors, risk factors and cause.
Dependent variables
The changes occur as a result of independent variables. For example, disease and outcome.
Intervening variables
These may influence the effect of independent variables on the dependent variables. For example, while studying the response of HIV-AIDS to HAART the outcome may be influenced by the presence of antitubercular drugs.
Background variables
These are changes that are relevant in the groups or population under study. These need to be included in the study. For example, age, sex, and ethnic origin.
Controls Control groups increase the validity of the research project. They usually consist of units of same population but differ in some respects. Controls are not necessary for all research projects. As far as possible they should be used in all analytical studies, drug trials, and intervention programs.
Study methods Here the researcher will have to describe the method of data collection, which may be in the form of:
A sample of the proforma should be prepared and attached. The possible cost involved and any financial assistance received must be mentioned.
Data collection A brief note on how data are collected should be included. The information should be about:
Data analysis Data analysis is an important part of a research project. A good analysis leads to good results. The plans for data analysis should be mentioned under the following heads Statistical methods, Computer program used, and Data sorting method. A general statement "appropriate statistical methods will be used." must be avoided.
Ethical clearance Wherever necessary, ethical committee clearance from the institute should be obtained. The certificate must be attached. Ethical clearance is required in all human and animal studies.
References All references quoted in review of literature and anywhere else in the synopsis should be listed here. There are two styles for writing references, Vancouver style and Harvard style. Vancouver style is easy to follow as it depends on the numbers as quoted in text.
Official requirements A synopsis is incomplete if it does not contain the following information:
Synopsis writing is an important step in a research project. A good synopsis will give maximum information in minimum words. A well-conceived synopsis will go a long way in convincing the reviewer about the ability of the researcher to conduct the project. In cases of need for financial assistance, the request will be considered favorably. Thus, all research workers should make efforts to prepare a well-structured synopsis.
Acknowledgments
The author is thankful to M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers for their permission to reproduce this article from the "Handbook on Health Professional Education" published by them. [21] [Table 1]
ed. London: Pergmon Press; 1994. | |
ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1983. | |
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ed. Churchill Livingstone; 2000. | |
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Welcome dear researchers; I want to use this opportunity to bring to your notice on how to write a good synopsis for thesis project. Well the idea of synopsis presentation before the main research work by most of the universities in Nigeria and the world at large was to ensure that a research student has a good background knowledge concerning his/her research project topic.
Before we go into the main topic proper, let us first of all define the term synopsis
SYNOPSIS: synopsis can simply be defined as a brief discussion or summary or a general survey carried out about a particular project topic; be it a thesis, dissertation, or an undergraduate project topic.
An MSc/MBA research student goes online and pick one or two project topics for thesis; on reaching his/her supervisor, the supervisor demanded for the synopsis for each of the topic he/she has chosen for project or thesis.
Writing a synopsis is nothing so big that a post graduate student cannot do during thesis writing. I will simply break it down with some examples so as to throw more light on the how to write a synopsis for thesis project.
When a MBA/Msc. Research project student wishes to write a synopsis for his/her project topic, he or she must have in mind the following sub-headings.
If a research student has the following headings in mind when writing his/her synopsis, then I think the research student is on the right track.
Let us illustrate with the research topic: THE EFFECT OF BUDGET PADDING IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY, A TOOL FOR INFLATION
The synopsis for the above topic will follow this format:
The Effect of Budget Padding in the Nigerian Economy, A Tool For Inflation
The abstract should be written in one paragraph. For example:
The study on the Effect of Budget Padding in the Nigerian Economy, a Tool for Inflation came up with the aim to examine the relationship between budget padding and the rate of inflation in Nigeria; other specific objectives of the study include; investigating on the factors affecting the growth of inflation in Nigeria. The study adopted the method of primary data to seek responses from the respondents. The Pearson correlation method was used to validate the hypothesis. Proper recommendations were made to solve any other existing problem in future.
THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT
Here you discuss the importance of this research work. What will the research work achieve at the end?
For example, the research project will be of immense benefit to the federal government of Nigeria and her citizens as it will discuss the relationship between budget padding and the Nigeria economy. The study will also investigate and proffer solution to the factors affecting the economy of Nigeria and the effect of budget padding on the Nigeria economy.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Here you discuss on the previous research done relating to your research project topic.
For example:
(Uniprojectmaterials, 2017) used the method of Pearson correlation to examine the relationship between budget padding and the Nigeria economy. He made some useful recommendations on how to resolve the issue of inflation in Nigeria.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Here a project student discusses his/her methodology in the following format.
This chapter is designed to describe the procedures adopted in this research. The procedures involve the following: research design, population of the study, sample and sampling techniques, instrumentation, validation of the instrument, administration of the instrument and data analysis techniques.
3.1 Research Design
This study will be employ survey research design to examine the effect of budget padding on the Nigeria economy: a tool for inflation. According to Nworgu (2006), survey research design insurance that a group of people or items is studied by collecting analyzing data from only a few people or items considered to be representative of the entire group. It uses a questionnaire to determine the opinions, preferences, attitudes and perceptions of people about issues that concern them. A survey design is suitable for this research because it is going to make use of a questionnaire to elicit information from the respondents.
3.2 Population of the Study
The population of the study consists of about 100 respondents were selected based on their knowledge the effect of budget padding on the Nigeria economy: a tool for inflation.
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques
A sample of 40 was selected out of the population of 100 as stated above for the purpose of the study.
3.4 Instrumentation
The instrument for this study is questionnaire constructed by the researcher which was drawn from the research questions. The questionnaire was coded.
3.6 Validation of the Instrument
The validation was determined by the expert judgment of the supervisor. The judgment were sought to guarantee that each of the items in the instrument measured what it was supposed to measure. The final draft was adjudged valid by project supervisor.
3.7 Administration of the Instrument
A total of 100 copies of the questionnaire will be administered to the respondents by hand but 45 were returned after the exercise.
3.8 Data Analysis Techniques
Data collectedwill be analyzed using frequency table, percentage and mean score analysis while the Pearson correlation method was used to test the formulated hypothesis using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences)
(Uniprojectmaterials, 2017). Cambridge University, budget padding and the economy of Nigeria.
I believe this will help research project students in writing their synopsis.
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This is very common in academic writing, sometimes on the identification of the main idea to be focused on by a paragraph. Most students find it hard to write specific and clear topic sentences that sometimes mislead the readers. Being an experienced writer, I have some useful tips for you to write good topic sentences. Just read on, and you can improve your writing capabilities for academic writing with the guidance of WPS AI.
What gives the structure to every paragraph in an academic essay is a topic sentence. It introduces the main idea of the paragraph and thus facilitates the reader's movement through the essay. It is typically located at the beginning of the paragraph and really should specifically state the focus of the paragraph.
A topic sentence can be defined as a short and general summary statement of the main idea in a paragraph. It tells the reader what to expect from the paragraph and keeps the paragraph on track.
Clarity: It should be easy to understand.
Specificity: It focuses on one main idea.
Relevance: It supports the essay's main argument or thesis.
Guidance: It organizes the paragraph and guides the reader.
Focus: It keeps the paragraph on track.
Transition: This links the previous and next paragraphs.
Relationship to the Thesis Statement
Although the thesis statement provides the argument for the whole essay, topic sentences fractionate this argument into sub-points that are discussed in every particular paragraph. This, therefore, helps to ensure that each paragraph supports the overall thesis and a clear structure is maintained in the essay.
A topic sentence can help be made much more effective with a clear process for how each paragraph will work together so that it is both organized and effective in your overall essay. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write a strong topic sentence, with examples and tips for success.
First, make an outline of what the sentence is going to say, and then draft the topic sentence. This helps you not to get sidetracked from your main idea or too wordy about it.
Create an Outline Using WPS AI, you can come up with a comprehensive outline that will give your essay its structure. First, you have to craft a good thesis statement which sums up the purpose and argument of your essay. Next, look for some specific main idea which you will be discussing in each paragraph.
Example Outline:
Thesis Statement: "The rise of remote work changed a lot in terms of productivity, employee satisfaction, and work-life balance."
Paragraph Main Idea: "Through telecommuting, people have been able to increase productivity due to flexible working hours."
WPS AI Function: You can generate visual outlines of what you want to say with WPS AI and keep track of your thoughts. This tool can make sure that all of your ideas are clearly laid out.
With your outline in place, you can now draft your topic sentence. It needs to be specific, clear, and concise. The language should not be vague, and it must give clear direction to the paragraph.
Topic Sentences: Types
Simple Statement
Definition: A direct statement.
Example: "To this effect, remote work enhances productivity by letting people work where they are most productive."
Definition: A question that introduces what the paragraph is going to talk about.
Example: "How does remote work contribute to improved productivity?"
Definition: It indicates a contrast or difference.
Example: "Unlike traditional office settings, remote work offers unparalleled flexibility that boosts productivity."
Reason and Cause
Definition: It describes the reasons or causes.
Example: "The flexibility in remote work schedules directly leads to higher employee productivity."
Definition: It introduces a list of points.
Example: "Remote work boosts productivity through flexible hours, reduced commuting time, and individually customized workspaces."
WPS AI Function: You can use WPS AI to help you compose and refine topic sentences that are clear and focused on your main ideas.
After you have composed your topic sentence, brainstorm the evidence, examples, or details you will use to flesh out your main idea. Be sure all supporting details are relevant and directly relate to the topic sentence.
For example, if your topic sentence is that remote work improves productivity, you could use:
Statistics: "According to a 2023 study from Harvard Business Review, remote workers report an increase in productivity of 20%."
Research Studies: "A study by Stanford University showed that remote workers were 13% more productive than their peers working in the office."
Case Studies: "Companies like GitLab and Basecamp have reported significant boosts in productivity as a result of their remote work practices."
WPS AI Function: Using WPS AI, look for relevant data and examples and integrate them to add credibility and depth to the paragraph.
Finally, refine and revise your topic sentence so that it states what the paragraph contains explicitly and enhances the overall coherence of your essay. Besides that, check clarity and add transitional words if need be to enhance flow.
Example Revision: Original: "Working from home makes me more productive." Revised: "Working from home significantly improves productivity because it provides flexible hours and does not involve any hour-long commutes." WPS AI Function:
Use WPS AI's grammar and style check to perfect your topic sentences so that they are correct and make sense. You can effectively write topic sentences using these steps and the help of WPS AI, which gives your writing clarity and power.
The easiest and most effective way to write exact and relevant topic sentences is with WPS AI. Here to polish up your writing skills using advanced language capabilities, WPS AI makes sure that clarity and coherence echo through all the lines of your work. Here is how you can use WPS AI to get your topic sentences right:
Checking Grammar and Syntax
WPS AI can assist you in verifying your topic sentences for grammatical, punctuation, and syntactic errors. Clear and error-free language enhances the overall readability of your essays and makes them more credible.
Rephrase Topic Sentence for Clarity
WPS AI will review your topic sentence and suggest rewrites so you can present your intended message more clearly. It can rephrase any awkward language or sections that are ambiguous by creating a revised and more readable version of the sentence.
Automatically Expand/Shorten Topic Sentence
WPS AI can either draw out or shorten your topic sentences so they fit perfectly with what your paragraph requires. This will be very useful, especially in instances where there is an obligation to meet a word count or you would need to compress your topic sentence to a degree.
Sharpen your topic sentences for grammatical correctness, clarity, and details with these advanced features of WPS AI at your beck and call. This way, your write-ups will be more readable, leading to improved quality essays altogether.
The thesis statement tells what the whole paper is about. The topic sentence shows only what the paragraph it is attached to is about.
The topic sentence usually is at the very beginning because it immediately introduces the main idea of the paragraph. For stylistic reasons, however, it often occurs in the middle or end.
Paragraphs should not contain vague, over-broad statements or confusing or complicated sentences. Be sure your topic sentence is not just a statement of fact but rather the introduction of an idea to be further developed in the paragraph.
An effective topic sentence is an important part of writing for clarity and conveys an argument to the writer. Just follow these simple steps, and with WPS AI , you shall be guaranteed to generate strong, specific, and engaging topic sentences in a way that maximizes essay quality overall. WPS AI Grammar check, rewriting suggestions, and adjustment of length ensure improvement in your writing efficiency and results.
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Learn in 15 mins how to write a perfect synopsis for any thesis project using our ultimate guide created by professional academic writers. Check it out!
While the specific types of information you need to include in your synopsis may vary depending on your department guidelines, most synopses include the same basic sections. In this article, we'll walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know to write a synopsis for research.
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The synopsis for a thesis is basically the plan for a research project, typically done when pursuing a doctorate. It outlines the focus areas and key components of the research in order to obtain approval for the research. Here is a listing of the sections that typically are a part of the synopsis. Do check with your guide/supervisor for those ...
Lesson 4: Synopsis In order to clarify your thoughts about the purpose of your thesis and how you plan to reach your research goals, you should prepare a synopsis. A synopsis is a short, systematic outline of your proposed thesis, made in preparation for your first meeting with your supervisor. It serves to ensure that your supervisor gets a clear picture of your proposed project and allows ...
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Learn how to write a synopsis that summarizes the content and plot of a written work, with pictures and tips from wikiHow experts.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. It usually comes near the end of your introduction. Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you're writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across.
Learn how to write a clear and impactful thesis or dissertation conclusion that summarizes your main findings and highlights the implications for your field.
Introduction Synopsis writing can be a difficult task, whether it is for an article, project, thesis, or PhD. This is essentially a summary of the main points or arguments in your work, and it is typically used to provide readers with an overview of your project. In this blog, you'll learn how to write a synopsis, providing tips and answering the questions relating to all the queries from you.
Let's show you how to write the perfect thesis summary for your paper. Learn where you can get a great thesis summary example from.
A research synopsis is a short outline of what your research thesis is and all the steps you propose to follow in order to achieve them. It gives you and you...
A great synopsis is the one that delivers maximum information in minimum words. In this video you will learn what research synopsis is? General format of synopsis? How to write a good synopsis.
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Thus, a protocol or a synopsis forms an integral part of a research project or a thesis. Many universities have made it mandatory for the postgraduate degree student to prepare a thesis as a part of their postgraduate training. A good knowledge about how a protocol or a synopsis is written is imperative to all people involved in medical research.
Research project student wishes to write a synopsis for his/her project topic, he or she must have in mind the following sub-headings. The title of the project topic or thesis project topic. The abstract for the research thesis topic for project. The need for the project. The review of related literature concerning your research topic.
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Relationship to the Thesis Statement. Although the thesis statement provides the argument for the whole essay, topic sentences fractionate this argument into sub-points that are discussed in every particular paragraph. This, therefore, helps to ensure that each paragraph supports the overall thesis and a clear structure is maintained in the essay.
Like last time, my thesis is focused on B. Riley's balance sheet and operating performance at the EBIT level, which occurs before the claims of equity investors, preferred equity investors and ...