Strategies to Improve Access to Healthy Food

1.Research/statement question What is the main question/statement you wish to answer/ explore? Have you included a specific Public Health or Social Care Management Policy issue, target population, and context (location) in your research question/statement? 2.Introduction What are the key areas that will be addressed in this research proposal? 3.Background and Rationale for the study Have you read around your research topic? Have you provided background information on important historical & contextual events and research which informs the reader why and how the Public Health or Social Care Management Policy issue you are interested in exists as a problem? What other studies have been conducted and what is their relevance to your chosen topic issue? Where relevant, have you evidenced the Public Health or Social Care Management Policy issue with appropriate comparative statistical evidence supported by relevant literature, including the most current sources? Where relevant have you evidenced the Public Health or Social Care Management Policy issue with appropriate qualitative evidence supported by relevant literature, including the most current sources? Have you explicitly explained why your chosen research topic issue is important to your field of practice? Have you presented a Thesis/ Justification Statement? i.e. objectively justifying why you are interested in the chosen research topic? 4.Aim and Objectives What is the aim of the study – what do you want to achieve? (Identify one overall aim) Does the aim of the study resonate with your research question/ statement? What are the objectives of the study? (identify at least 4 – 5 objectives) Have you considered whether the aim and objectives actually describe what your proposed study intends to do, whether it’s realistic and reflects the requirements for analytical rigour expected at Masters Level? 5.Methodology You have a choice of conducting either Primary Research OR Secondary Research. If considering conducting Secondary Research you are required to address the following: Have you explained your selected methodological approach- e.g. secondary research versus primary research? Have you critically discussed the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen methodological approach while supporting this with relevant literature? Have you justified it? What is your Literature Search Strategy? i.e. How will you conduct your literature search? *What search engines will be used to search for the literature? *What academic & professional databases will be accessed? *What Keywords & Boolean operators will be used in the literature search? *What is your literature search exclusion and inclusion criteria and have you justified it? *What tools will you use to critically appraise the identified literature? If considering conducting Primary Research, you required to address the following: Have you explained your chosen methodological approach-i.e. Primary versus secondary research? Have you critically discussed the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen approach while supporting this with relevant literature? Have you justified it? Have you discussed and justified your: a) Data collection methods b) Study participants & Sampling technique/s) c) Data analysis method What is your Literature Search Strategy? i.e. How will you conduct your literature search? *What search engines will be used to search for the literature? *What academic & professional databases will be accessed? *What keywords & Boolean operators will be used in the literature search? *What is your literature search exclusion and inclusion criteria and have you justified it? *What tools will you use to critically appraise the identified literature? 6.Ethical Considerations How will you address this? Whether you are considering conducting Secondary Research or Primary Research, you must avoid plagiarism (which is a punishable academic offense), citing all literature sources appropriately, etc. In addition, if considering conducting primary research, you are required to seek ethical approval from the Ethics Review Committee. Issues pertaining to data protection, confidentiality, voluntary participation, participant anonymization inter alia must be addressed – see next pages for further guidance). 7.Indicative Research Time table When will you start, and finish the dissertation? Have you fully considered all relevant stages in the research process by identifying specific targets/ actions for completion within specific time frames? (e.g. a table with two columns – one with a list your targets/ actions and another timeframe, i.e. specific dates) 8.References Have you provided a comprehensive reference list of all cited literature sources? Ethical considerations This is a very important part of a Primary Research based Dissertation and further information can be obtained from the University Research Ethics Policy web site . All students are encouraged to visit this site prior to commencing their dissertation.