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Writing a methodology for a study - any tips?

  • 06-05-2007 12:10pm
    #1
    Vorsprung
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭


    So I've to write a methodology for a bit of clinical research that I'm doing over the summer, which is just going to be part of the proposal to the ethics committee of the hospital. At the moment it's only about 140 words, and tbh I'm not sure what I should be writing. I've looked at a few similar studies on pubmed but they have the extra stuff like patient numbers and categories that can be added in after the study has been carried out.

    So anyone got any tips on writing these things? How long do they tend to be when they're part of a proposal?


Comments

  • #2
    littlebug
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Isn't there a standard ethics committee form with guidelines?

    I've just looked up one of ours and the form had sections on plan of study, scientific background, plan of investigation (i.e methodology) with a max word count of 250 which includes methods of data collection, sampling , sample size and selection and recruitment of participants and inclusion and exclusion criteria. There are other direct sections on risks, control groups, consent, confidentiality etc.

    In the original draft proposal the methodology word count section was 320 words and included details on all of the above stuff. It is pretty important to include all the sampling and recruitment details/ plans at this point.

    I can point you in the direction (online) of the ethics committe guidelines from the institution I work for if it would help?


  • #3
    Vorsprung
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    Hi Littlebug,

    Yea that would be great, thanks! At the moment it's only a draft, and I don't have details of the analyzing machines or other things like that. The inclusion criteria are pretty straightforward but the exclusion criteria could be the length of a road tbh. But your guidelines would be a great start, cheers!


  • #4
    tallaght01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    In terms of your methodology, you may not have to write it up in as much detail for the ethics application, as you woud have for the journal submission. My ethics submissions are submitted through www.corec.org.uk

    It's a UK site obviously, but if you look at their application forms, the questions should guide you as to what issues ethics committees are interested in.

    You could also try speaking to the chairperson of your local ethics committee. If you explain that it's your first application, he/she might meet up with you to have a chat about the pertinent issues.


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