Focus upon justification of the study. Why is the research question relevant to clinical practice, education or management? Why would it be of value to consider the topic? Is there a gap in current evidence? Is the existing research outdated now?
How does the current literature relate to your aims/objectives/research questions? Can the literature inform your research? Is it that you have identified an existing gap within the literature that needs addressing via your questions?
• Critically appraise methodologies relevant to your research question demonstrating how your approach will help you to obtain an answer to your research question.
• Argue strongly in favor of the methodological approach that you consider most appropriate for your study – justify your chosen method by discussing why you have rejected alternatives and why your approach is appropriate.
• Provide a rationale for the method of data collection. Data reduction and analysis that you intend using with this approach.
• Highlight strengths and weaknesses with reference to your research question and chosen population.
• Discuss the sampling technique that you would use, highlight its strengths and weaknesses with particular reference to your research question .
• Discuss the ethical issues arising from the intended study.
a. Has abroad range been considered? Relevance/depth/quality/is it current?
b. Have you analysed the issues raised, rather than just repeating what is published?
c. Have you concluded how your literature review informs and focuses the research problem?
