Week 4
“He who does not know one thing knows another.”
Recap…
Last week, we discovered that a strong research question is like a stool: PICOT gives it the five legs it needs to stand. Today, we’ll learn how to weave that stool into a proposal sturdy enough to carry examiners.
Introduction
Every researcher has that “aha!” moment. It could be a puzzling observation on the ward, a nagging pattern in the outpatient clinic, or a burning question whispered during mortality meetings. But in academia, and especially in WACP and GCPS fellowship training, ideas alone are not currency. An idea without a proposal is like a recipe without ingredients: impressive-sounding, but you’ll never get fed.
A research proposal is your way of showing examiners, supervisors, and colleagues that you can transform curiosity into credible science. It is not simply “a hurdle before Part II.” It serves as your training ground for grant applications, collaborative projects, and the broader research world. If you can write a good fellowship proposal, you’re well on your way to writing protocols for WHO, UNICEF, or your Ministry of Health. And let’s be honest: it’s also your ticket to surviving rounds of corrections from…
The Purpose of a Proposal
Think of your proposal as a map, contract, and sales pitch rolled into one.
- As a map, it guides your steps from idea to data collection to final write-up.
- As a contract, it sets boundaries: no “mission creep,” no reinventing the wheel halfway.
- As a sales pitch, it convinces examiners and supervisors that your study is feasible, ethical, and essential.
Without a proposal, you’re like a surgeon walking into the theatre without instruments; enthusiastic, yes, but dangerously unprepared.
Reviewers, whether in Accra, Abuja, or Freetown, are looking for three main things (Hulley et al., 2013; PMID: 24071097):
1. Clarity — Do you know what you’re doing?
2. Feasibility — Can you realistically complete it as a resident with limited time and resources?
3. Relevance — Will the findings matter for children in West Africa?
Anatomy of a Proposal – GCPS vs WACP
Here’s where it gets interesting. Both Colleges want the same essential elements: a strong rationale, clear objectives, a robust methodology, and ethics. But the way they dress the bride is slightly different.
- GCPS is detailed and process-oriented. They want:
- Title page
- Abstract (500 words)
- Table of contents
- Introduction & rationale
- Aims/objectives
- Literature review (1500 words)
- Materials and methods
- Data management & analysis
- Ethical/legal considerations
- Logistics, timeline, budget
- References
- Appendices
- WACP, on the other hand, is concise and examiner-focused. They want:
- Title page with detailed candidate/supervisor info
- Introduction (≤300 words)
- Literature review (≤1500 words)
- Study design & methodology (≤1000 words)
- Relevance (≤200 words)
- References
- Ethical approval
- Verification page (with signatures)
- Page for official use
If GCPS is like a buffet, with every dish laid out, WACP is like a finely plated gourmet meal: smaller portions, but highly scrutinised.
Breaking Down Key Sections
Title
Should be short, specific, and informative. Avoid: “A Study of Malaria in Children.” Instead: “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Severe Malaria among Under-Five Children in Tamale Teaching Hospital.”
Introduction & Rationale
This is your chance to show why your question matters. Set the stage with local data, link to global literature, and highlight the gap. WACP allows 300 words; GCPS gives you more room, but don’t waste it with unnecessary storytelling.
Objectives & Research Questions
These must flow logically from your rationale. Examiners are allergic to vague objectives. Write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
Bad: “To study anaemia in children.”
Good: “To determine the prevalence and severity of anaemia among under-five children admitted at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital between Jan and Dec 2025.”
Literature Review
This section is both your credibility test and your GPS. A well-done review shows you understand what has been studied, where gaps remain, and how your project adds value. Both Colleges insist on African literature. Use recent published sources but also cite local theses and regional studies (Wong et al., 2021; PMID: 33486548).
Methods
This is the beating heart of your proposal. Define:
- Study design (cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, clinical trial)
- Population, inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Sampling strategy
- Sample size (with justification; examiners love formulas!)
- Data collection tools
- Data management and analysis plan
A good rule: if someone else reads your methods, they should be able to repeat your study without calling you at midnight.
Ethics
Both Colleges want assurance that you will not traumatise children, breach confidentiality, or overburden parents. Always name the ethics committee you applied to. Mention informed consent/assent, confidentiality, and data protection.
Relevance
WACP caps this at 200 words. Don’t just say “It will help children.” Be specific: “Findings will guide policy on asthma management in Ghana and provide baseline data for future multicentre studies.”
Budget, Timeline, and Logistics
Only GCPS explicitly requires these, but don’t ignore them for WACP. A Gantt chart is your best friend. Supervisors love to see that you’ve planned how to balance clinics, night calls, and fieldwork.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overambition: “I will follow 10,000 children for 5 years.” My friend, you’ll finish residency with white hair.
- Vague methods: “Data will be analysed.” How? With SPSS? STATA? Excel?
- Cut-and-paste literature review: Examiners can spot plagiarism faster than children smell fried plantain.
- Ignoring ethics: Nothing irritates examiners more.
Example in Practice
Research question: What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-aged children in Accra?
Proposal structure:
- Title: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children in Accra, Ghana.
- Introduction: Childhood obesity is rising globally and in Africa (PMID: 36738719). Data from Ghana is limited.
- Objectives: To determine prevalence, identify associated factors, and compare urban vs peri-urban schools.
- Literature Review: Summarise Ghanaian studies and SSA prevalence rates.
- Methods: Cross-sectional study, cluster sampling of schools, anthropometric measures, WHO BMI z-scores, logistic regression.
- Ethics: Parental consent, child assent, data anonymisation.
- Relevance: Findings will inform school-based health interventions.
- Budget/Timeline: Weighing scales, transport, data entry clerk, 9 months total.
Summary
A proposal is more than paperwork. It is your research promise to your supervisors, your College, and the children whose lives your findings may improve. Whether GCPS or WACP, examiners want to see clarity, feasibility, ethics, and relevance.
Take-Home Message
A strong proposal is a blend of curiosity, structure, and discipline. Ideas excite; proposals convince. And in fellowship training, only the latter will get you across the finish line.
Next Week on Paediatric Research Insights…
Now that we know the anatomy of a good proposal, next week we zoom into its beating heart: “Writing the Introduction of the Proposal.”
So polish your drafts, keep your supervisors caffeinated, and remember, a proposal is like cooking jollof. Everyone swears theirs is the best, but only the one with the right ingredients, steps, and timing avoids burning the pot. See you next week! 🚶🚶🚶
References
- Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, et al. Designing Clinical Research. 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013. PMID: 24071097.
- Wong CH, Wong SF, Poon JT, et al. How to write a research proposal. Int J Surg. 2021 Feb;85:41-46. PMID: 33486548.
- Manyanga T, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-age children in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Obes. 2014;1:5. PMID: 36738719.