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Department of Epidemiology
For both the MASTER'S THESIS PROPOSAL AND FOR the Ph.D. SHORT PROPOSAL
(SEE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS BELOW ITEM VII FOR Ph.D. PROPOSALS.)
I. Title Page: Project title, student’s name, chair of committee, committee members, and date. If your committee is not yet formally constituted, indicate potential committee members you are considering, including a Chair, who must have been selected.II. Specific Aims: List the project’s immediate goals in terms of hypotheses to be tested or research questions to be answered. If desired, the overall purpose of this line of investigation may be mentioned, in order to indicate the long-term importance of the specific information being sought through this study. This section should not exceed ½ page in length and may be much shorter.
III. Background and Significance: Describe the scientific context for the study, briefly summarizing previous related research. This should NOT be an extensive literature review. Keep references to a minimum by citing only those that are most relevant. This section should identify the gaps in knowledge which the proposed project will help to fill. It should not exceed 1 page in length. IV. Methods: The format of this section may be tailored to meet the needs of the specific study being proposed. However, the following sub-headings usually apply, and their use is encouraged. This should be the longest section of the proposal, usually 2-3 pages in length.
- Study design: Define a) the study
design, b) the primary exposures to be evaluated (or interventions to be implemented),
c) how the primary exposures would be assessed and quantified (if applicable),
d) outcomes to be assessed and their definition, and e) the key covariates and
their definition.
- Study setting: Describe the
location, organizational context, clinical site(s), or other setting in which
the research would take place.
- Study subjects: Indicate the
source(s) of study subjects, criteria for eligibility, and the anticipated
number to be studied.
- Data collection: Describe the
sources of key data items. When applicable, the sequence of data collection
activities for a typical subject should be given. A diagram can be helpful when
data will come from several sources or when multiple observations over time are
to be obtained. If there are plans to monitor and assure data quality (such as
duplicate data for some or all subjects, cross-checks of one data source
against another), describe them briefly.
- Data analysis: Describe how the
data will be organized to address each of the specific aims and/or hypotheses
mentioned in section A. Specify the statistical techniques to be used. Dummy
tables or figures may be helpful.
- Study Power: Summarize the results of statistical power or sample-size calculations.
V. Limitations: Describe any limitations that are beyond
your control (e.g., that have already been decided upon or implemented) that
may affect the ability to test adequately the primary hypotheses, or that may
influence your interpretation of the study results.
VI. Timeline: Provide an approximate timeline for completion
of the project.
VII. References: Provide citations to key literature
references used in the proposal.
Master's Proposals Only: Obtain original signatures from all committee members and mail signed proposal to Epi Program Office, Box 357236.
II. Student’s Role: Describe your role in the project (e.g., idea, design, data collection, data management, analysis).
III. Current Status: Describe the current status of the project, to include: 1) funding; and 2) general exam.
IV. Presentation:
- A. Select Epidemiology Faculty Meeting date when your chair can present your proposal.
- B. Email proposal to Professor Stephen M. Schwartz, PhD at stevesch@u.washington.edu at least 3 weeks before the faculty meeting.
- C. Make requested edits to the proposal.
- D. Email the finished proposal to ambuck@u.washington.edu and epi@u.washington.edu at least one week prior to the meeting.
This page was last updated on August 20, 2009