The Assignment

Indicative word count: 1500 words

In the real world, to do research, you will often have to seek permission or apply for funding. This is usually done via a research proposal. To be a successful researcher, you need to be very clear about what you are planning to do. This module, gives you the opportunity to learn the skills to do this.

The Brief

Background, objectives and hypotheses

This should include a brief, but critical review of the current state of knowledge about issues relevant to your chosen topic (no more than 750 words). You must explain the purpose of the project and define the main research question.

Planned research design

Give details of the proposed experimental design, methods, sample size, variables measured, etc. You should describe any potential confounding variables and how these will be addressed. Include some indication of time allocation and provide an example data-collection sheet.

Planned analysis

Set out the types of questions being asked (trends or differences), the data to be collected, and any descriptive or inferential statistics that could be applied.

Risk assessment

This provides evidence to demonstrate that the project has been assessed for all potential risks and these risks have been minimised or removed. A complete Risk Assessment form should be appended to the proposal.

An Ethical Statement

Information regarding any ethical considerations for the subjects or context of the project. A completed Ethical Review Form should be appended to the proposal.

Your proposal should have 1.5 line spacing throughout and be fully referenced according to a standard referencing style. You are encouraged to use referencing software such as Mendeley for this purpose. There is an indicative limit of 1500 words ± 10% which does not include the ethical statement, risk assessment, references/tables/figures or captions. There will be no marks allocated to the ethical review or risk assessment but they are a requirement for submission)

The Ethical Review Process

This is mandatory in the UK in order to control scientific research involving animals. See, especially, this explanation from the UK Government of the important Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (UK GOV, 1986). This regulates the use of vertebrates and Octopus vulgaris in:

any experimental or scientific procedure applied to a protected animal which may have the effect of causing that animal pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm”

See also the European Directive (EU, 2010) on protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

If you are not working with animals, but with people, plants or even just with data you may still have ethical issues to deal with (UK GOV, 2018).

Risk assessment

This provides evidence to demonstrate that the project has been assessed for all potential risks and these risks have been minimised or removed. A complete Risk Assessment form should be appended to the proposal.

We need a risk assessment because they are mandatory in accordance with Health and Safety legislation, but more importantly we need them to avoid…

• Accidents causing injury or death
• Work /study related ill health
• Repetitive / accumulated strain injuries
• Damage to equipment and the environment
• Stress-related ill health / mental health problems

Hazards, Harm and Risk

What’s the difference?

Hazards are are the potential to cause harm which we define as what could happen to you/the public/specimens/ equipment/environment/ etc.

Risk is the likelihood that this harm will occur

Steps to Risk Assessment

  • Step 1 – Identify activity or premises to concentrate on.
  • Step 2 - Identify the significant hazards associated with these.
  • Step 3 - Find out if there are any health and safety standards or minimum requirements relevant to the activity or hazard you are considering.
  • Step 4 - Decide who is at risk and might be harmed.
  • Step 5 - Next consider how people might be harmed from these hazards.
  • Step 6 - List what controls are currently in place to reduce the risks identified.
  • Step 7 - Decide what further action is needed.
  • Step 8 - Action Plans.

What is the Risk?

We can roughly estimate this using the following table, which shows how we combine the severity of an outcome with the likelihood of it happening in order to estimate the overall risk.

Evaluation of risk

Evaluation of risk

Example Risk Assessment

Actual risk assessments are normally written on templates provided by an employer or site operator. Here is an example part of a Cornwall College risk assessment, for a field trip to do some sampling on sandy beaches.

An example of a risk assessment

An example of a risk assessment

Virtual or actual visit

Before you write a risk assessment for an activity that involves fieldwork, it is a good idea to visit the site if you can:

  • Go to your proposed site and identify all the and hazards and risks
  • Think about the time of year you will be sampling
  • Who will you be sampling with?
  • How will you get to the site?
  • How will samples be collected/transported?
  • If a visit isn’t possible- find a map/picture
  • Does the site hold its own risk assessment?

References

EU, (2010) DIRECTIVE 2010/63/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Official Journal of the European Union. European Union; 2010. p. 276/33–79.

UK GOV (1986) Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/14/contents

UK GOV (2018) Data Ethics Framework, Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-ethics-framework