What is meant by a "research protocol"?

A "research protocol" is fundamentally a comprehensive document that outlines the study's purpose, design, and methodology. This protocol serves as a roadmap for the research project, detailing how the study will be conducted, including the objectives, hypotheses, and the specific methods that will be used to collect and analyze data. It is essential for ensuring that the research is conducted systematically and ethically, allowing for reproducibility and transparency in research.

In addition to detailing the study design and methodology, the research protocol also typically includes information on participant recruitment, informed consent procedures, and data management plans. This thorough documentation is crucial for review by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), which assess the ethical considerations of the proposed research. The inclusion of these details helps safeguard participants' rights and welfare.

The other options represent components or related documents that are important in the research process but do not encompass the full scope of what a research protocol entails. For instance, while statistical analyses are vital for evaluating research outcomes, they are just one aspect of the broader research protocol. Similarly, summarizing participant demographics is important but does not define the study's overall purpose and methodology. Lastly, documents related to funding applications are separate from the research protocol itself, focusing instead on financial aspects and resources needed for