The research proposal should provide information and justification about
sample size.
It is
not necessarily
true that the bigger the sample, the better the study.
Beyond a certain point, an increase in sample size will not improve the
study
It is much better to increase the
accuracy and richness
of data collection.
It is better to make extra effort to get a representative sample rather than to
get a very large sample.
43

…Sample Size
For calculating sample size before the study begins, the researchers
have to make a decision on the level of statistical power they are
willing to accept for the study.
Traditionally, most studies set a power of 80%.
44

Sample size …(for qualitative study)
There are
no fixed rules
for sample size in qualitative research.
The size of the sample depends on what you try to find out, and from what
different informants or perspectives you try to find that out.
You can start with
two or four
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
depending on the complexity of the research objectives.
If the different data sets reconfirm each other you may stop at this point;
otherwise you conduct one or two FGDs more till you reach the point of
redundancy
,
i.e.
no new data comes up any more.
45

Analysis Plan
Specify the analysis procedures you will use, and label them accurately.
The analysis plan should be described in detail. If
coding
procedures are to
be used, describe reasonable detail. If you are
triangulating
, carefully
explain how you are going to do it.
Each research question will usually require its own analysis. Thus, the
research questions should be addressed one at a time followed by a
description of the type of statistical tests (if necessary) that will be
performed to answer that research question.
46

…Analysis Plan
Be specific.
State what variables will be included in the analyses and identify the
dependent and independent variables if such a relationship exists.
Decision making criteria (
e.g.
, the critical alpha level) should also be
stated, as well as the computer software that will be used (if there is a
need to use one). Statistical software like SPSS, Stata, etc.
These help you and the reader evaluate the choices you made and
procedures you followed.
47

Work plan
Work plan is a schedule, chart or graph that summarizes the different
components of a research proposal and how they will be implemented
in a coherent way within a specific time-span.
Example: GANTT Chart
48

…Work plan
It may include:
The tasks to be performed; i.e.
What
is to be performed
When
and
where
the tasks will be performed;
Who
will perform the tasks and the time each person will spend on them;
It describes the plan of assessing the ongoing progress toward achieving
the research objectives;
The plan specifies how each project activity is to be measured in terms of
completion, the time line for its completion;
A good work time plan enables both the investigators and the advisors to
monitor project progress and provide timely feedback for research
modification or adjustments.


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- Winter '19
- DR. Tesfa
- researcher