Week 5

Research
Proposal
Intro
Setting the Stage: Writing the Introduction of Your Proposal
Author

Dr. Samuel Blay Nguah

Published

August 30, 2025

“A man who is carrying an elephant on his head should not bother himself with a grasshopper by the foot.”

Recap…

Last week we explored how to transform curiosity into a structured protocol by dissecting the anatomy of a good research proposal. This week, we begin diving into the sections of the proposal, starting with the Introduction.

Introduction

If your research proposal were a blockbuster movie, the Introduction would be the trailer. It provides the audience with just enough information to understand the plot, builds excitement, and convinces them to purchase a ticket. Sadly, many residents either turn their introduction into a 5-hour documentary on the disease itself or a 30-second advertisement with no substance. Neither approach works.

The introduction is your opportunity to tell the examiners: “Here’s the problem, here’s why it matters, and here’s why my study is needed now.” It sets the tone for the entire proposal and is often the first part reviewers use to decide whether you truly understand your research question.

Purpose of the Introduction

The introduction should:

  1. Provide the context for your study (what’s the bigger picture?)
  2. Clearly define the research problem.
  3. Highlight the knowledge gap you’re addressing.
  4. Lead naturally to your objectives and hypotheses.

Think of it as funneling: Start broad (background), narrow down (the specific problem), then pinpoint (the gap your study will fill).

What Makes a Good Introduction?

A good introduction is short, structured, and purposeful. It answers three silent questions in the examiner’s mind:

  1. What’s the context?
    Why is this topic important in paediatrics, and especially in West Africa?
    Example: “Globally, severe malaria is a leading cause of childhood deaths, with sub-Saharan Africa carrying the greatest burden.”

  2. What’s the gap?
    What’s missing in current knowledge or data?
    Example: “While numerous studies have described severe malaria mortality, predictors of death among children in Kumasi remain poorly characterized.”

  3. Why now?
    What makes your research timely and relevant?
    Example: “Understanding these predictors could inform triage and clinical management in resource-limited tertiary hospitals.”

Common Pitfalls

  • Overloading with facts: Don’t copy-paste every malaria statistic since 1960.
  • Storytelling without focus: “In 1880, Laveran discovered the malaria parasite…”. Examiners don’t need a history lesson.
  • Vagueness: Writing a whole page without once stating the research problem.

Here’s a real-life blooper from a resident: “Asthma is a disease. It is common in children. Many children suffer from asthma. This study is about asthma.” That got a firm “Try again!” from their supervisor.

Structure of a Good Introduction

Here’s a 4-paragraph model that works:

  1. Background – Describe the global/regional/national context.
  2. Local Relevance – Why does this problem matter in your setting?
  3. Gap in Knowledge – What’s missing in the literature?
  4. Research Problem Statement – Clearly state what your study aims to answer, thereby establishing your objectives.

Tips for Success

  • WACP candidates: Keep within 300 words and articulate the problem, research questions, hypotheses, and objectives clearly.
  • GCPS candidates: You may have more room (300–500 words), but stay concise.
  • Statistics: Sprinkle them like salt; enough to enhance the taste, not too much to choke your reader.
  • African Literature: Always reference at least one local or regional study.
  • Clarity: Write simply. Examiners should feel carried, not dragged.

A Sample Introduction…

Title: Predictors of Mortality in Severe Malaria in Children Under Five Years in Kumasi, Ghana

Malaria continues to be a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2022, an estimated 247 million cases of malaria occurred globally, resulting in 619,000 deaths, with children under five years accounting for nearly 80% of these deaths (WHO, 2023). Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden, contributing approximately 94% of global malaria cases and deaths.

In Ghana, malaria remains the number one cause of outpatient attendance and childhood hospital admissions, with under-five mortality rates still heavily influenced by this preventable disease. Severe malaria, characterized by complications such as cerebral malaria, severe anaemia, and respiratory distress, is associated with particularly high mortality when not promptly managed. At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, severe malaria cases are frequently admitted to paediatric emergency and intensive care units, with outcomes varying depending on clinical and laboratory factors.

Several studies across Africa have identified predictors of mortality in severe malaria, including hypoglycaemia, delayed presentation, cerebral involvement, and co-morbid infections (Idro et al., 2010; Olumese et al., 2019). However, there is limited data from Ghana, particularly in Kumasi, on which factors most strongly predict mortality in children with severe malaria. Understanding these predictors in the local context is essential for improving triage protocols, guiding resource allocation, and ultimately reducing mortality.

This study, therefore, seeks to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of mortality among children under five years admitted with severe malaria at KATH. The findings will contribute evidence to support more targeted interventions and enhance early recognition of high-risk patients in Ghanaian hospitals.

Bingo!!! There you have it. 😎😎😎

Take-Home Message

The introduction is your proposal’s trailer; clear, concise, and compelling. It should set the stage by highlighting the context, narrowing down to the local problem, identifying the gap, and stating the research problem. Avoid bloating it with unnecessary detail or starving it of meaning. If you write your introduction well, you not only hook your examiners but also clarify your own research focus. Think of it as setting the foundation for a house: shaky introductions lead to shaky proposals.

Next Week on Paediatric Research Insights…

Next week, we’ll move from the what to the why: “Writing the Justification of the Proposal”, where you convince examiners that your research deserves attention, effort, and perhaps even funding.

So, go forth and write introductions that sparkle like fresh kelewele at midnight, spicy enough to get attention but not so overwhelming that no one can finish the plate. See you next week!

References

  1. Mbuagbaw L, Lawson DO, Puljak L, Allison DB, Thabane L. A tutorial on writing a research proposal. CMAJ. 2020;192(13):E332–E338. doi:10.1503/cmaj.190366
  2. Idro R, Ndiritu M, Ogutu B, Mithwani S, Maitland K, Berkley J, Crawley J, Fegan G, Neville BG, Peshu N, Marsh K, Newton CR. Burden, features, and outcome of neurological involvement in acute falciparum malaria in Kenyan children. JAMA. 2007;297(20):2232–40. doi:10.1001/jama.297.20.2232
  3. Olumese P, Snow RW, Omoluabi E, et al. Clinical features predicting mortality in children with severe malaria: evidence from multi-country studies. Malar J. 2019;18(1):144. doi:10.1186/s12936-019-2781-0