Research Plan

What is a Research Plan/Project Summary?

All projects must have a Research Plan/Project Summary. This must be completed and submitted alongside the 'Student Checklist' before experimentation starts.

a. The Research Plan is to be written prior to experimentation following the instructions below to detail the rationale, research question(s), methodology, and risk assessment of the proposed research.

b. If changes are made during the research, such changes can be added to the original research plan as an addendum, recognising that some changes may require returning to the SFLC for appropriate review and approvals. If no additional approvals are required, this addendum serves as a project summary to explain research that was conducted.

c. If no changes are made from the original research plan, no project summary is required.

d. Some studies, such as an engineering design or mathematics projects, will be less detailed in the initial project plan and will change through the course of research. If such changes occur, a project summary that explains what was done is required and can be appended to the original research plan.

What should it include?

The Research Plan/Project Summary should include the following:

a. RATIONALE: Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.

b. RESEARCH QUESTION(S), HYPOTHESIS(ES), ENGINEERING GOAL(S), EXPECTED OUTCOMES: How is this based on the rationale described above?

c. Describe the following in detail:

• Procedures: Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection, and when applicable, the source of data used. Describe only your project. Do not include work done by mentor or others. If you will use published surveys, questionnaires or tests, describe how you obtained these, including required permission if applicable.

• Risk and Safety: Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.

• Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyse the data/results.

d. BIBLIOGRAPHY: List major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your literature review. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these references must be an animal care reference.

Items 1–4 below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your research plan/project summary as applicable.

1. Human participants research

a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations (minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).

b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?

c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? If yes and not your own, how did you obtain? Did it require permissions? If so, explain. What is the frequency and length of time involved for each subject?

d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal, etc.) to participants? How will you minimise risks? List any benefits to society or participants.

e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses) be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?

f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.

2. Vertebrate animal research

a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.

b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.

c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimise potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.

d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.

e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care.

f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the end of the study.

3. Potentially hazardous biological agents research

a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.

b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.

4. Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices

a. Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.

b. Material Safety Data Sheets are not necessary to submit with paperwork.