What constitutes a research protocol?

A research protocol is fundamentally a comprehensive plan that outlines the objectives, methodology, and procedures for conducting a research study. It serves as a blueprint for the research, detailing how the study will be performed, the research questions it aims to answer, and the specific methods that will be employed to gather and analyze data. This includes elements such as the study design, participant selection, interventions, outcome measures, and statistical analysis strategies.

By providing a structured and detailed approach to the research process, a protocol ensures that the study is conducted consistently and ethically, promoting the reliability and validity of the research outcomes. It also aids in obtaining approval from institutional review boards (IRBs) and can be a reference point for anyone involved in conducting or overseeing the research.

Other options do not represent what a research protocol is. A summary of research findings describes the results of a study rather than how it is conducted. A checklist for participant recruitment is a tool that may be used within the protocol but does not encompass the full scope of what a research protocol entails. A report for funding agencies may include information derived from a completed study, but it is not the formal plan for conducting research itself.