T-DTH3

Goal: Finalize Chapter 4 (research design, methods, instruments), secure ethics/institutional approval, and prepare pilot testing.

Key deliverables (end of T-DTH3)

• Complete Chapter 4: Research Design & Methods.
• Data collection instruments (questionnaires, interview guides) ready and piloted.
• Sampling frame and sample size calculation justified.
• Ethics application submitted and (ideally) approved (or conditional approval).
• Data management plan & consent forms.
• Pilot test report with adjustments.

Step-by-step checklist

1. Decide design & rationale
   • State design (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) and why it best answers questions.
   • Operationalize variables and measurements (table: variable — definition — measurement — scale).
2. Sampling
   • Population, sampling technique, sample size calculation (show formula and assumptions).
   • Recruitment plan and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
3. Data collection instruments
   • Draft instruments, include translation/back-translation if needed.
   • Build codebook (for quantitative) and initial thematic guide (for qualitative).
4. Validity, reliability and credibility
   • Quant: piloting, Cronbach’s alpha, instrument validity steps.
   • Qual: triangulation, member checks, audit trail.
5. Ethics & approvals
   • Prepare ethics application: study summary, risks, benefits, consent forms, data protection measures.
   • Attach instruments, CV, supervisor letter and any local clearance forms.
6. Pilot study
   • Conduct pilot with small sample (5–10% or 10–30 participants depending on design).
   • Produce short pilot report: what worked, what changed.
7. Finalize data management plan
   • Storage, anonymization, access control, retention period, backup, intended repositories (if any).
8. Supervisor meeting
   • Present final Chapter 4 + pilot report + ethics application package.

Templates to include (copy/paste ready)

• Participant information sheet (1 page): study purpose, voluntary, anonymity, contact.
• Short consent form: checkboxes, signature, date.
• Instrument header: study code, question ID, response options, skip rules.

Quality assessment rubric (for T-DTH3)

• Methodological fit (35%): Does method suit questions & theoretical framework?
• Instrument quality & piloting (25%)
• Ethics & data protection (20%)
• Sampling & feasibility (10%)
• Supervisor approvals & responsiveness (10%)

Common pitfalls & mitigations

• Pitfall: Underestimating recruitment time → mitigate: build buffer and alternative sites.
• Pitfall: Weak ethics justification → mitigate: explicitly state potential harms and protective measures.
• Pitfall: Poor instrument translation → mitigate: back-translation and cognitive interviews.