Research Protocol Skill
Produces structured research protocols for academic, clinical, social science, or market research studies.
Required Inputs
- Research type (clinical trial / observational / qualitative / systematic review / survey)
- Research question or hypothesis
- Setting and population
- Proposed methodology
- Timeline
- Funder or institution (if applicable)
Output Structure
Research Protocol: [Study Title]
Version: 1.0 | Date: [Date] | PI: [Name, institution]
1. Background and Rationale
- What is already known
- What the gap in knowledge is
- Why this study is needed now
2. Research Objectives
Primary: [One clear answerable question or hypothesis] Secondary: [Additional questions]
3. Study Design
- Design: [RCT / cohort / qualitative / mixed methods]
- Setting: [Where]
- Duration: [Total period and recruitment window]
- Rationale: [Why this design fits the question]
4. Participants
Inclusion criteria: [List] Exclusion criteria: [List] Sample size: [n] — Basis: [Power calculation or saturation rationale] Recruitment: [Method and source]
5. Methodology / Intervention
For interventional: intervention description, control, randomisation, blinding For observational/qualitative: data collection methods, tools, data collectors
6. Outcomes / Measures
Primary outcome: [Measure], assessed by [method], at [timepoint] Secondary outcomes: [Measure], [method], [timepoint]
7. Data Management
- Storage: [Where and anonymisation method]
- Access controls: [Who can access]
- Retention: [How long]
8. Analysis Plan
Quantitative: [Statistical test], [missing data handling], [software] Qualitative: [Framework — e.g. Braun & Clarke], [quality assurance]
9. Ethical Considerations
- Ethics approval: [Body / reference]
- Informed consent: [Process]
- Confidentiality: [How maintained]
- Risk to participants: [Assessment and mitigation]
10. Dissemination Plan
- Target journals: [2-3 relevant]
- Conference presentations
- Public/patient summary
11. Timeline
| Phase | Activities | Start | End | |---|---|---|---| | Setup | Ethics, approvals, tool development | | | | Recruitment | | | | | Data collection | | | | | Analysis | | | | | Write-up | | | |
Quality Checks
- [ ] Primary objective is singular and answerable (not compound)
- [ ] Sample size has a stated basis (power calculation or saturation rationale)
- [ ] Ethical considerations section is complete
- [ ] Analysis plan is pre-specified (not "to be determined")
- [ ] Timeline includes all phases from ethics approval to write-up
Example Trigger Phrases
- "Write a research protocol for [study]"
- "Help me design a study to investigate [question]"
- "Write the methodology for my research proposal"