Top tips: Using information in research proposals

Your research idea

At an early stage, an information search can help you establish:

• Has anyone done it before? Perform a scoping search of PubMed. Check for systematic reviews.
• Is anyone working on it now? Check ongoing/current databases such as the NIHR ‘Be Part of Research’, Europe PubMed Central Grant Finder Tool, Clinical trials.gov  
• Has the topic been flagged as important to the NHS and relevant to clinical practice/national policy? Look for relevant guidance and policy or priority-setting documents. Look at NICE guidance, clinical guidelines, and the James Lind Alliance.

Writing the background

Set your study in a practical and/or theoretical context, making it clear how much is known already and what difference your research will make. Justify your research proposal using evidence from the literature, particularly any systematic reviews or recent guidelines (NICE). Support your case with:

• Recent data describing the size of the problem, the cost to the NHS, and implications for patients
• Recent articles/primary research – show awareness of current ‘players’ in the field 
• Systematic reviews/meta-analyses whenever possible

Methods section

Information can also be useful in the methods section to:

• Explore how other researchers have tackled similar questions
• Demonstrate the feasibility of your proposed research design

Other uses of information

Your searches can also help you to:

• Identify potential collaborators/specialist reviewers
• Identify funding for your research by noting how other similar studies were supported

Referencing  

Remember to cite all information sources, including any supporting statistics.

Getting help

Make use of:

• Health librarians – contact your local NHS trust or university librarians
• Health library and information services directory 
• Online tutorials – available for searching techniques and about individual databases
• RSS Information Specialists can help you with your searches. They can also give advice on undertaking systematic reviews, search techniques, sources of information, and referencing

Author: Christine Keen      Created: March 2021, Updated November 2024