THE ROLE OF NURSES IN PREVENTION OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ITUKU/OZALLA, ENUGU

Abstract

The study assessed the knowledge and practice of post-operative wound infection   prevention among nurses in the Surgical Units of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu. The objectives of the study included to ascertain what nurses know about post-operative wound infections, assess nurses’ knowledge of factors  responsible for post operative wound infections and determine post operative wound  infection prevention practices adopted by nurses. Literature related to the study was  reviewed and the study anchored on Dorothy Orem’s self-care deficit theory. Cross-section descriptive survey research design was adopted with researcher designed questionnaire consisting of close-ended and response items in modified four point Likert  scale format used as instrument for data collection. The study population consisted of  174 nurses working at the Surgical Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu which was also used as the sample size of the  study. Data collected were analysed descriptively and presented in tables and charts. Findings revealed that  100% of the subjects have adequate knowledge about surgical site infections which majority, 87.1% rightly described as an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Results further showed that majority of respondents identified age patients’ nutritional status is responsible for the development  of surgical site infection, cigarette smoking, prolonged hospitalization, medical underlying conditions, pre-operative shaving, transient micro-organisms, lengthy  operation and sterilization of instrument as factors responsible for the development of surgical site infections. It was also revealed that most of the respondents always clean their hands often with an alcohol-based products and perform appropriate surgical hand    scrubs, always perform surgical skin antisepsis using an appropriate technique and antiseptic, wear clean, facility laundered scrub attire, minimize operating room traffic, follow environmental cleaning, engage with a patient who has experienced a surgical site infection to develop prevention strategies, follow a surgical safety checklist, implement team training to promote a team-based approach to surgical site infection prevention, maximize use of steam sterilization, clean instruments thoroughly before sterilizing or  disinfecting as well as speak up whenever a break in sterile technique is witnessed and correct the break as soon as possible. Based on the findings, it was recommended that surgical team members should be encouraged to emphasize the importance of following latest evidence-based practices of infection control in continuing education / training programs.

BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF PREOPERATIVE VISITS AMONG PERI-OPERATIVE NURSES AT THE FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI

This study assessed the Barriers to the Implementation of Pre-operative Visits among Perioperative Nurses at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki Ebonyi State. The specific objectives of the study were to identify what nurses know as the benefits of pre-operative visits, determine the personal barriers to the implementation of pre-operative visits as well as to ascertain institution-related barriers to the implementation of pre-operative visits by peri-operative nurses at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHA), Abakaliki. Literature review was conducted under conceptual, theoretical and empirical reviews. The study was anchored on Dorothy Johnson’s and Peplaus’s theory of interpersonal relationships. Descriptive survey design was adopted and the study population and sample size consisted of fifty-six (56) nurses working in the various theatres of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Self-designed questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The questionnaire contained close-ended questions as well as response items on modified four (4) point Likert scale. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and charts indicating frequencies, simple percentages and mean scores. Findings from the study revealed that 91.1% of respondents stated that pre-visit helps patients to become involved in their care, 94.6% stated that it gives them time to voice any fears they may have, 98.2% stated that it enables the nurse to assess the patient’s needs and to formulate a plan of care while 96.4% said that it improves interactions, information and instruction compliance by the patients. Personal barriers to the implementation of previsits were identified as fear of passing wrong information to patients (Mean=3.1), fear of passing too much information to patients (Mean=3.0) and linguistic barrier (Mean=2.9). Additionally, not having enough time to engage in preoperative visits (Mean2.9), high patient to nurses’ ratio (Mean=3.0), lack of support from immediate supervisors (Mean=2.9), non implementation of findings from previous pre-visits (Mean=2.8)and reluctance to embark on pre-visits alone (Mean=2.9)were identified as institutional barriers to the implementation of pre-operative visits among nurses. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among other things that adequate time should be set out during which the healthcare team including the peri-operative nurses should embark on peri-operative visits.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SAFE WASTE DISPOSAL AMONG NURSES IN SURGICAL UNITS OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ITUKU/OZALLA, ENUGU

The primary goal of any waste management system is to safeguard the health of the  citizens and protect the environment. This is achieved by ensuring proper collection,  transportation, treatment and, finally, safe disposal of waste. The study assessed the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Safe Waste Disposal among Nurses in the Surgical nits of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu. The objectives of the study included to understand what nurses know about over safe waste disposal,  determine the attitude of the nurses towards waste disposal and to establish the extent to which the Nurses in the Surgical Units of UNTH, Enugu practice safe waste disposal.            Literature related to the study was reviewed and the study anchored on the health belief model propounded by Janz and Becker in 1984. Descriptive survey research design was adopted with researcher designed questionnaire consisting of close-ended and response items in modified four point Likert scale format used as instrument for data collection.  The study population consisted of 174 nurses working at the Surgical Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. Data collected were  analysed descriptively and presented in tables. Findings revealed that nurses agreed that hospital hygiene training is important to ensure health workers, know how to handle wastes properly and realize the effect of poor waste disposal in the hospital. It was also  found that majority of the respondents agreed that safe disposal is of utmost importance to prevent contamination, should be priority at the hospital and that wearing personal protective equipment like gloves decreases the risk of hospital contamination. With regards to practice of waste disposal, majority of respondents agreed that they do not  dispose waste by open burning, that they use hospital waste bins provided very well, that  they wash their hands after handling waste before continuing to do their work, that they use personal protective equipment like gloves when handling wastes and that they   separate wastes before throwing them into the rubbish bin. Based on the findings, it was   recommended among other things that training, seminars and workshops should be organized regularly for nurses and other healthcare workers as this will help them  develop more positive attitudes and desirable practices towards hospital waste disposal  and consequently take necessarily precaution in order to avert the dangers associated with   improper solid waste disposal.

IMPACT OF ENUGU STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD (ESUBEB) UNIT SUPERVISION ON TEACHERS’ PERFORMANCE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ENUGU STATE

Abstract

Supervision of instruction is aimed at improving the effectiveness of teachers so that they can contribute maximally towards the attainment of educational goals. In realization of this fact, the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) has not only adopted the unit supervision programme, but has also held series of workshops for teachers, head teachers and unit supervisors as part of her efforts at providing functional supervisory services for primary schools in Enugu State. The purpose of this study was therefore, to find out the impact of unit supervision programme being operated by the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board on the performance of public primary school teachers in Enugu State. Four research questions were posed, and four hypotheses formulated and tested. These hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. To obtain data for answering the research questions and testing of the hypotheses, a structured questionnaire with 23 items was administered on a sample made up of 881 teachers and 81 unit supervisors. The findings of the study included that the unit supervision programme has helped in improving the performance of primary school teachers in the state, teachers in the state have positive regard or perception of supervision of instruction; and that the involvement of teachers in supervision, by their joint and co-operative participation in supervision will create a kind of atmosphere that would be conducive for making improvement in teachers’ performance. There was statistically no significant difference between the opinions of unit supervisors and teachers concerning both the impact of the unit supervision programme on teacher performance and on teachers’ perception of supervision. Sequel to the findings, it was recommended among others that for unit supervisors to continue to perform their assignments more effectively, efforts must be made by the Board to provide them with all the necessary logistics, especially means of transportation to facilitate their movement from one school to another. However, where this is not feasible, their supervision allowance should be increased reasonably to enable them visit schools regularly and with the necessary logistics provided, unit supervisors should be made to visit one school at least twice a week.

ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS’ SATISFACTION WITH HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA TEACHING HOSPITAL, GWAGWALADA, ABUJA

Abstract

Introduction

Patients’ satisfaction studies are useful in enabling healthcare service providers with information on how to identify with ease patients who are likely to disenrol; identify which areas of services need to be revitalized, effectively compare different healthcare programs/systems, evaluate the quality of healthcare delivery services as well as develop measures to increase utilization of healthcare services. It is also a systematic assessment of patients' satisfaction is an important element to design the marketing strategy for health care services over time which will enable hospital management to identify the points of strength and weakness, relative to competitors, and consequently investing the available resources in the dimensions that improve the quality of service delivery and patient satisfaction.

Method

This is a cross sectional descriptive study that was conducted from October to November, 2017 which involved the use of quantitative data administered as interviewer guide to two hundred and ten (210) in-patients at the various wards of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The descriptive statistics - frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations were used to summarise the items of the questionnaire. Specifically, the mean and standard deviation were used for the Likert scale items. The Chi-Square Test of Independence was the inferential statistics used. Analysis was done using SPSS 16 stats.

Results

Findings revealed a satisfaction level of 59%. Results further showed that 46.7%, 41.4% and 43.3% of respondents respectively assessed cost of healthcare services, healthcare providers’ interaction with patients and technical aspect of care respectively to be good for. For accessibility of healthcare services and interpersonal aspect of care, 46.2% and 43.3% of respondents respectively assessed it to be poor as against 41% and 41.9% of respondents who assessed them to be good. Findings equally showed that there is significant relationship between technical aspect care, health providers’ interaction and patients’ satisfaction and patients satisfaction with healthcare while no relationship was established between patients satisfaction, cost of healthcare services and interpersonal aspect of care.

Conclusion

This study found relationship between technical aspect care, health providers’ interaction and patients’ satisfaction and patients’ satisfaction with healthcare. An understanding of the roles played by these indices in patients’ satisfaction will help care providers to be aware of the importance of good interpersonal skills in the application of medical knowledge and expertise in the provision of health care.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that the management of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital should work together to enhance their responses to patient’s requests and enquiries, treat patients with high emotion and kindness, and improve tangible assets of the hospitals. By doing so, the hospital will make the patients satisfied with its services, and in turn improve their willingness to recommend the hospitals' services to others. There is also need to improve on the current level of student’s satisfaction while effort should be made to address the domains of dissatisfaction.

ROLE OF MTN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OPERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the role of MTN corporate social responsibility operations in the        development of education in Nigeria. The specifically determined whether secondary school teachers in Enugu metropolis are aware of the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN in Nigeria educational sector, ascertained whether secondary school teachers in Enugu metropolis agree that there is a relationship between the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN and developments in Nigerian   educational sector as well as determined if secondary school teachers in Enugu   metropolis agree that there is a relationship between corporate social responsibility   programmes of MTN and Nigerians’ patronage of MTN services. Survey research method was used for the execution of the study. The population of the study comprised secondary school teachers drawn from fifteen (15) public secondary schools in the three local government areas that make up Enugu metropolis. From these areas, a total of 400 respondents were selected, using multi-stage cluster   sampling technique. The test instrument was administered to the sample population  and 396 respondents correctly filled and returned theirs. With the help of survey research instrument, sufficient data were collected. In order to complement, validate and authenticate each research output, the data were analyzed with various statistical methods such as simple percentages, frequency distribution tables. The findings  among others, revealed that majority of educated and well versed residents of Enugu metropolis are conversant with the concept of corporate social responsibility as well  as the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN Nigeria which include  Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Project Fame West Africa and MTN Soccer  Academy, Child Friendly School Initiative, Partnership against AIDS in the  Community Dialysis Centre and Fleet Management and Vehicle tracking. It was also revealed that MTN Nigeria’s various corporate social responsibility programmes targeted towards Nigeria educational development like the Universities Connect, Science and Technology Scholarship, Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students and Youth Skills Development Project and that there is an agreement  among respondents that MTN Foundation Universities Connect has contributed to the  development of Nigeria educational sector. That most Nigerians are in agreement that there is a relationship between the corporate social responsibility programmes of    MTN and Nigeria educational development. That the corporate social responsibility  programme of MTN Nigeria is partly responsible for Nigerian’s patronage of MTN services. Based on the findings, it was recommended that stakeholders in the  educational sector should strive to synergize some good aspects of the various corporate social responsibility programmes of multi-national corporations instead of leaving them to the whims and caprices of these multi-nationals. Aside the policy issues recommended, the researcher also suggested that similar studies be conducted in other states in Nigeria to revalidate or refute the findings of the study.

IMPACT OF STRIKE ACTION ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF TRADE UNION AIMS IN AN ORGANIZATION: A STUDY OF NIGERIA UNION OF TEACHERS, ENUGU STATE CHAPTER

Abstract

This study was on an evaluation of the impact of strike action on the achievement of trade union’s aims in an organization using Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Enugu State as a case study. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the effect of dialogue as an option for the Nigeria Union of Teachers Enugu State before they embark on strike, determine the impact of government response to Nigeria Union of Teachers strike action in Enugu State as well as ascertain if strike action has positively helped Nigeria Union of Teachers to achieve their aims in Enugu State. Based on the objectives, research questions were raised and hypotheses formulated. Literature related to the study was extensively reviewed under conceptual, theoretical and empirical review. Cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted with researcher designed questionnaire as the measuring instrument. The population of the study consisted of 21,168 primary and secondary schools teachers in the seventeen local government areas of Enugu State out of which a sample size of 393 respondents was derived using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size determination. Data collated were analyzed and presented in frequency tables and hypotheses tested using Chi-square (X²) at a significant level of 0.05. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents were of the opinion that dialogue as a pre-strike option has an impact in NUT’s decision to embark on strike. It was also found out that majority of respondents agreed that strike action has an impact on NUT’s resolve to embark on strike. Results also showed that majority of respondents agreed that government’s response to strike actions has positive impact on NUT’s resolve to use strike as a means of achieving the union’s aims in Enugu state and that most respondents agreed that strike actions have positively helped Nigeria Union of Teachers Enugu state chapter to achieve their aims in Enugu state. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended among other things that Organizational management and government should always try to get any dispute settled through the application of dialogues, negotiations and lobbying.    

APPRAISAL OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN ENUGU URBAN

ABSTRACT

This project is titled an appraisal of the principles and practice of electronic health records (EHR) in public and private hospitals in Enugu urban. The objectives of the study were to determine; the extent of possession of requisite equipment, the extent of compliance with the principle and practice of electronic health records (EHR) in public and private hospitals in Enugu urban. The research was a descriptive survey. The population of study was made up of 436 health care professionals out of whom 115 were Health Information Management (HIM) professionals, 78 clinicians, 73 non- clinicians, 160 private practitioners and 9 others as respondents. The research questionnaire was found reliable using the test re-test method thus: 72 for cluster A, 64 for cluster B, and 55 for cluster C yielding a general score of 63.67. The research involved three research questions. The study found out that: public hospitals do not possess the requisite equipment for EHR while private hospitals do; public and private hospitals comply with the principles and practice of EHR, but have not overcome the challenges in Enugu urban. The researcher made the following recommendations: that HIMAN and AHIMA codes of ethics be adopted, utilization and application of all the principles outlined in the study, use of out sourcing techniques, staff development through personal education, in-service training, workshops and seminars to increase competence, use of biometric identification, health insurance plans, policies and protection of patient’s privacy and voluntary consent. The researcher also recommended promotion of HIM professionals as and when due to prevent anti-social inclinations. The researcher agrees that use of EHR has a positive motivation as well as challenge to health care professionals in Enugu urban.

ASSESSMENT OF THE FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the factors militating against the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of electronic health records among healthcare workers at the hospital, determine the extent of possession of equipment for the implementation of EHR as well as identify the factors that hinder the implementation of EHR in the hospital. Related literatures were reviewed. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. 626e health workers at the National Orthopaedic Hospital formed the study population. However, the Taro Yamane formula was used to derive a manageable sample size of 244 respondents. Questionnaire was used as the research instrument which was personally administered by the researcher. Data collected were analyzed and presented in frequency table and in simple percentages. At the end of the analysis, findings revealed that most of the health workers at the study area have adequate knowledge of electronic health records. It was also discovered that majority of respondents were of the view that the hospital lacked requisite equipment for the implementation of electronic health records. Factors identified as hindering the implementation of electronic health records include absence of steady electricity power supply, insufficient funds to provide and maintain EHR requirements, inadequate training of manpower needed for EHR implementation, unwillingness of health workers to jettison paper-based medical records and capital intensive nature Of implementing EHR. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended among other things that governmental and non-governmental agencies in the health sector should be encouraged to channel enough funds for the advancement of automation in the health sector.

PERCEPTION OF CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD OCULAR INJURIES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN ENUGU NORTH LGA

ABSTRACT

Childhood ocular injuries causes temporary pain and functional limitation, permanent disability, traumatic stress, depression, chronic pain, blindness and a profound change in lifestyle and decreased ability to perform age-appropriate activities. This study surveyed perception of causes and prevention of childhood ocular injuries among primary school teachers in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State. The specific objectives were to ascertain what teachers view as ocular injuries among children, determine what primary school teachers perceive as the causes of ocular injuries among children as well as ascertain what teachers can identify as preventive measures against childhood ocular injuries. The target population of the study was made up of the 354 teachers in 28 public primary schools in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State from which a sample size of 189 teachers was drawn using Taro Yamane formula. Survey research design was adopted for the study with self-designed questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Data collected were analyzed descriptively indicating frequencies and percentages. Results obtained were presented in tables and charts. Findings showed that majority of the respondents perceive ocular injuries as injuries involving the eye with 82% of them having witnessed a child involved in ocular injuries. About 70.5% identified hard blow to the eye as a major cause of ocular injuries while 38.4% indicated poor parental/adult supervision, 33% indicated children playful attitude, 20% children immaturity as causes of childhood ocular injuries. Results further indicated that 80.5% of respondents indicated health educating children as a preventive measure against childhood ocular injuries. Based on the findings, the researcher among other things recommended that ophthalmic nurses and other professionals in the eye care team should continually embark on school visits where teachers and pupils would be sensitized on the causes, sources and implication so ocular injuries. This will go a long raise their awareness level leading to effective preventive measures against childhood ocular injuries.

BARRIERS TO RESEARCH PARTICIPATION AMONG NIGERIAN NURSES

            ABSTRACT

The present study assessed the barriers to research participation among nurses at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu. The objectives were to ascertain the personal, job-related and organizational barriers that hinder nurses from conducting research as well as  identify the organizational barriers that hinder nurses from conducting research. The study was anchored on  Everett Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation theory. The target population of the study was made up of nurses working in the various units of the hospital from which a sample size of 267 respondents was derived using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size determination. Cross-section descriptive survey research design was adopted and self-structured questionnaire consisting of close ended questions and  response items in modified four point Likert scale format used for data collection. Data was analysed descriptively indicating frequencies, percentages and mean scores and presented in tables. Results of the study revealed  that nurses not being well taught on how to carry out research during their general  nursing training (Mean=2.9), perceived lack of need for nurses to embark on research (Mean=2.6), not knowing how to embark on research (Mean=3.1),      research being very difficult to understand (Mean=2.9) and research being considered a borrowed course during general nursing training resulting in adequate attention not being given to it (Mean=3.2) were personal factors. It was also   revealed that attending to so many patients (Mean=3.0), high patient to nurses’ ratio (Mean=3.9), the complex nature of nursing duties (Mean=2.9) and non-implementation of research findings (Mean=3.0) were identified job-related factors. It was also found out that lack of encouragement from the hospital (Mean=3.0), high cost of research (Mean=2.7) not being allowed to implement     research findings (Mean=3.0), lack of encouragement from professional colleagues (Mean=2.9), fear of exposure of hospital management deficiencies (Mean=2.9), inaccessibility of research materials (Mean=3.0) and non-existence  of up-to-date libraries in clinical settings (Mean=2.9) were identified as major organizational barriers to nurses’ participation in research. Based on the above findings, the researcher recommended that practicing nurses should be encouraged to assist in the collection of research information as well as becoming co-investigators to a research project. This will not only increase their knowledge base of the research process, but will increase their professional growth and    development among others.

10 Steps to Writing an Academic Research Proposal

This piece discusses some of the common elements in a research proposal. Whether you are doing quantitative or qualitative research, it is important that you outline the reasons why you propose doing the study and what process or procedures you will follow to complete the proposed study.

Some of the important parts of a good quantitative or qualitative research proposal include:

1. Determining the general topic;
2. Performing a Literature review on the topic;
3. Identifying a gap in the literature;
4. Identifying a problem highlighted by the gap in the literature and framing a purpose for the study;
5. Writing an Introduction to the study;
6. Framing research hypotheses and or research questions to investigate or guide the study;
7. Determine the method of investigation
8. Outline the research design
9. Define the Sample size and the characteristics of the proposed sample;
10. Describe the procedures to follow for data collection and data analyses.

Determine a General Topic

The first step in writing an academic research proposal is to identify a general topic or subject area to investigate. Usually this first point is the easiest because the research proposal will be tied to the overall theme of a course. In such a case, the general subject for investigation is normally determined by a supervisor who assigned to guide the student, the school's department chair, or academic advisory committee.

Perform a Literature Review

The next step is to read as much literature on the general subject matter as time will allow. While you read the literature it is advised to take copious notes and then summarize the purpose and findings of each study relevant to the general subject matter of the eventual research proposal.

Identify a Gap in the Literature

The general purpose of the literature review is not to have notes on a whole bunch of different journal articles and books on a particular subject. The purpose is to understand what studies have already been done on the subject and then to identify any glaring gaps in the literature. Identifying gaps in the literature will open up opportunities to add to the body of knowledge within the general subject area.

For instance, from literature, other researchers found that research excellence is actively admired and taken as a prerequisite for advancement in academics. However, no one has yet investigated the problems encountered by academics in carrying out research. This is an obvious gap in the literature.

Identify a Problem and Frame a Purpose Statement

After you have performed the literature review and hopefully identified an obvious gap in the literature, next you need to identify a problem related to the gap and frame a purpose statement as to why you are investigating what you propose and why other should care about the study. If your readers cannot answer the question so what? Or your answer the question why should I care? Then it may be interesting to you, but not relevant to anyone else. 

Write an Introduction

After you have identified a pertinent problem and framed a purpose statement, then you need to craft an introduction. Among other things, the introduction to the proposal will include

• The Problem Statement
• A brief summary of the literature
• A brief description of the gap in the literature
• A Purpose statement as to why you are proposing the study and why others should care about the subject matter tied to your research proposal.

Determine Research Hypotheses and or Research Questions

Next, you need to identify and craft carefully defined research hypotheses and or research questions. Research hypotheses identify what you are actually going to investigate and what you expect to find from your research study. Research hypotheses are normally found in quantitative research proposals which compare differences and/or relationships between independent variables (or causes of phenomena) and dependent variables (or the effects that result from causes). Research questions are normally found in qualitative research studies. Most importantly, in good academic writing, research hypotheses and questions must be informed or flow from the literature review.

Determine the Method of Investigation

The method section is the second of the two main parts of the research proposal. In good academic writing it is important to include a method section that outlines the procedures you will follow to complete your proposed study. The method section generally includes sections on the following:

• Research design;
• Sample size and characteristics of the proposed sample;
• Data collection and data analysis procedures

Determine the Research Design

The next step in good academic writing is to outline the research design of the research proposal. For each part of the design, it is highly advised that you describe two or three possible alternatives and then tell why you propose the particular design you chose. For instance, you might describe the differences between experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs before you elaborate on why you propose a non-experimental design.

Determine the Sample Size and the Characteristics of the Sample

In this section of your research proposal, you will describe the sample size and the characteristics of the participants in the sample size. Describe how you determined how many people to include in the study and what attributes they have which make them uniquely suitable for the study.

Determine the Data Collection and Data Analysis Procedures

The last section highlighted in this hub is the data collection and analysis procedures. In this section you will describe how you propose to collect your data e.g. through a questionnaire survey if you are performing a quantitative analysis or through one-on-one interviews if you are performing a qualitative or mixed methods study.

After you collect the data, you also need to follow a scheme as how to analyze the data and report the results. In a quantitative study you might run the data through Excel or better yet SPSS and if you are proposing a qualitative study you might use a certain computer program like ATLAi. to perform a narrative study or grounded theory study that exposes the main themes from the proposed interviews.

OUR STUDENTS WHO WERE DRILLED IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXERCISE

Below is a picture of graduates who have acquired requisite knowledge in Academic Research