Contents of the presentation

Goals and Objectives o Rationale/Justification o Hypothesis/Research Statement o References

o

What is a project?
A project is a ...series of activities designed to achieve a specific outcome within a set budget and timescale.

Objectives and justification (problem statement, rationale)

These help one to define the following:
What do I want to achieve? Why do I want to do this? By when should this be accomplished? What are the main steps that need to be carried out?

Goals and objectives

What am I planning to do? Goals and objectives set out the scope of the project. In a sense, this section also alludes to what is not going to be done. It sets the boundaries of the project.

Goals and objectives

Research objectives are derived from knowledge gaps, and should state what is new and special that warrants investigation.

What is the goal of the project?

The goal is a short and general sentence defining... The overall aim of the project The contribution of the project in a bigger context thereby describing the purpose of the project.

Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans naturally exposed to malaria (Plasmodium falciparum)
Project goal: To provide critical information on PfEMP1 antibodies levels for the development of a malaria vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa.

Defining the objectives of the project

The objectives are a more specific, and provide a statement on What the project will aims to achieve at termination (an insight into what will be in the thesis) Which requirements must be met.

Defining the objectives of the project (cont'd)

Objectives should be SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely.

Example: PfEMP1 levels .

Objectives: By September 2012: To assess the correlation of the levels of PfEMP1 antibodies with age and parasitemia To determine if PfEMP1 antibodies are transferred from pregnant mothers to their infants, and to evaluate PfEMP1 antibody production from birth through the first year of life To develop human resources and infrastructure to enhance malaria research in Kenya.

Terminology
Goal...objectives... general objectives...specific objectives... targets... specific targets... sub-targets etc

are terms not only widely used but used in different ways, so there is a risk of confusion.

Keep the hierarchy as simple as possible

Goal

Objective

Objective

Main Steps

Main Steps

Use common sense Keep it as simple as possible

Activities

S P E C I F I C I T Y

Main steps represent what needs to be reached to meet the related objective.

Define your activities

Goal

Objective

Objective

Objective

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities

What must be done to meet the related objective

Goals and objectives

Keep it simple o Avoid unnecessary narratives o Limit the objectives to one or two sentences each o If your ideas lack focus, they cannot be clear to the reader (reviewing your application)
o

Establishing the project statement

The statement is a short paragraph defining and summarizing ... What needs to be done Why this needs to be done By when the work must be finished thereby giving boundaries to the project.

Statement of the Problem

The problem statement should clearly explain why the research should be conducted. It describes the problem that is to be investigated. Problem should stand out, so that the reader can easily recognize the problem.

Statement of the Problem

Points to be discussed to show the importance of the study o The research should address the needs of the country o The importance of the science should be clear o The magnitude of the problem and how the research results will contribute its solution o Demonstrate that it is feasible to solve the problem o Arouse the readers interest and encourage him to read further o Capacity building in the area of the proposed research

Project statement
Is there a clear and real problem to be solved? Is the problem clearly justified? Is it a subject for research? Is it novel? How important is it? Is the problem clearly recognized? Does it tackle specific area? Does it fit the timeline of research?

Example: PfEMP1 antibodies levels in humans naturally exposed to malaria (P. falciparum)
Project statement: In order to provide critical information for the development of an effective malaria vaccine, the project aims to determine, by the year 2012, the levels of PfEMP1 antibodies in humans naturally exposed to malaria (in relation to age, pregnancy, transfer to new born infants).

Statements to avoid
Avoid such terms as
o little is known about, o There is a general lack of information about.., o or no research has dealt with.

Hypothesis (Research Question)

Hypotheses, or research questions must be clearly described. A hypothesis should be clearly testable. Avoid using null- hypothesis.

Hypotheses (Research Question) The null hypothesis denies you the opportunity to state research objectives in a much more realistic, interesting and precise way

Null Hypotheses (Research Question) For example, I want to investigate the value of an enzyme in a pathway in an human pathogen as a potential drug target. The null hypothesis might state that, blocking the activity of enzyme X in metabolic pathway Y has no effect on the survival of the parasite.

Alternative/Research Hypotheses (Research Question)

For example, I want to investigate the value of an enzyme in a pathway in an human pathogen as a potential drug target. The Research Hypothesis allows you to say This human pathogen derives its energy requirements entirely from utilization of this metabolic pathway Y. Therefore, blocking the activity of enzyme X in metabolic pathway Y will lead to the death of the parasite.

References
Use a standard format Respect journal format requirements Reference list must include all work cited in the text All references listed must be cited in the text List references in alphabetical order Use consistent formatting

References cont.
Citations in the text: One author: A study of the distribution of primates in Nairobi by Ochieng (1987) or The distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described (Ochieng, 1987). or The distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described (Ochieng and Mwangi, 1987). or The distribution of non-human primates in Nairobi has been described (Ochieng et al., 1987).

Is the literature cited: o Relevant o Up to date o Accurate and consistent Are sources of information cited? Always give credit to your sources - you are more credible and you lose nothing.

Citations in the list: Journal article: Author Year Title Name of Journal (see standard abbreviations)* Journal volume Journal pages

*For Journals, abbreviations: Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Credits: DAAD Sudan Office WHO-TDR