Description
Summative Assignment: Research Proposal
Word limit: 2000 words – excluding the title and reference list. All other text is counted in the limit.
Marks: 100%
Students are required to submit a structured and concise research proposal for a systematic literature review. This will form the basis for their dissertation. It should include four sections:
1. Background (~700 words), including context and rationale for the study, nature and extent of the problem/issue, a brief summary of previous relevant research, and public health must have citations
2. Research Question (~100 words), including the PICO or PECO formulation.
3. Study Design and Methods (~1200 words), including details of design, search strategy, study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data synthesis approach. Also, provide a study timetable that demonstrates that the research question can be answered in the time you have available. Finally, list the resources needed to complete the systematic literature review research.
HINT: You must propose a quasi-systematic literature review. Do not suggest that you will collect primary data.
4. References (not counted in word count): use Harvard Referencing Style – details and examples may be found at
Kindly Note:
The assignment research question should be categorized using the PICO or PECO format.
P- population
I or E- Intervention or Exposure
C-comparison
O-Outcome you are interested in from the topic.
