Sample Research Proposal on General Public’s Awareness of the Role of Diet in Cancer

It is said that the level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer is dwindling. Hence, the causes of this must be investigated and lessons must be learned and derived from this study. The research will be based on the following assumptions: (a) all participants will be utilizing the correct procedures as outlined in the guidelines for the specific methodology employed, and (b) all participants will answer questions honestly to the best of their ability. Time will be the greatest limitation to this research, which could hinder long-term outcome objectives. Environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, will not be controlled, and this could create many variables within the research. As this study will utilize a small sample of respondents, the results may not effectively represent the general population.  If the level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer will be determined, this study will be a benefit to other societies experiencing problems gaining ground because of cancer. Also, if effectiveness is supported, this study will be significant in developing cancer patients as productive and effective individuals. Introduction The word cancer elicits dread in nearly everyone. Cancer accounts for considerable mortality and morbidity in both men and women (Kozier, 2004). Certain genes controlling growth and interactions with other normal cells are apparently abnormal in structure or regulation in cancer cells. Humans of all ages develop cancer, and a wide variety of organs are affected. The incidence of many cancers increases as the fourth to sixth power of age, so that as people live longer, many more will develop the disease. Apart from individual suffering, the economic burden to society is immense (Murray, et al, 2000). Cancer is caused in all or almost all instances by mutation or by some other abnormal activation of cellular genes that control cell growth and cell mitosis. These abnormal genes are called oncogenes. Also present in all cells are antioncogenes, which suppress the activation of specific oncogenes. Therefore, loss of or inactivation of antioncogenes allows activation of oncogenes that lead to cancer (Guyton & Hall, 2000). Cancer cells are characterized by three properties: (1) diminished or unrestrained control of growth; (2) invasion of local tissues; and (3) spread, or metastasis to other parts of the body. Cells of benign tumors also show diminished control of growth but do not invade local tissue or spread to other parts of the body (Murray, et al, 2000). An abnormal cell mass that develops when controls of the cell cycle and cell division malfunction is called a neoplasm. However, not all neoplasms are cancerous. Benign neoplasms are strictly local affairs. They tend to be surrounded by a capsule, grow slowly, and seldom kill their hosts if they are removed before they compress vital organs. In contrast, malignant (cancerous) neoplasms are nonencapsulated masses that grow more relentlessly and may become killers. Their cells resemble immature cells, and they invade their surroundings rather than pushing them aside, as reflected in the name cancer from the Latin word for "crab." Malignant cells also tend to spread via the blood to distant parts of the body, where they form new masses. This last capability is called metastasis (Marieb 2004). Genetic aspects of cancer are probably receiving the greatest current attention among genetic abnormalities. Some cancers are caused by oncogenes, genes which are carried in the genomes of cancer cells and are responsible for producing their malignant properties. These genes are derived by somatic mutation from closely related proto-oncogenes, which are normal genes that control their growth. Over 100 oncogenes have been described (Ganong, 2001). Obviously, the initiation of mitosis and normal cell division depends on the orderly occurrence of events during what has come to be called the cell cycle. There is intense interesting the biochemical machinery that produces mitosis, in part because of the obvious possibility of its relation to cancer. When DNA is damaged, entry into mitosis is inhibited, giving the cell time to repair the DNA; failure to repair damaged DNA leads to cancer. The cell cycle is regulated by proteins called cyclins and cyclin-dependent protein kinases, which phosphorylate other proteins (Ganong, 2001). Aims / Objectives of the Study This study will be conducted in order to determine the level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer, and provide meaningful lessons such as learning the effective cancer prevention strategies.             This study will also aim to increase the awareness and provide a better understanding of the issues and problems concerning most cancer patients in order to contribute an effective approach in addressing their problems. Research Questions Specifically this study will address the following questions: 1.      What significant level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer was determined? 2.      What specific alternatives or measures can be done to help improve the level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer? Plan of Investigation A. Setting and Subjects This study will be conducted in order to determine the level of awareness of the general public regarding the role of diet in cancer. In this study, the interview method of data gathering will be utilized, with a combined total of 50 respondents as participants. B. Design and Methods For this study, the descriptive method will be utilized. In this method, it is possible that the study would be cheap and quick. It could also suggest unanticipated hypotheses. Nonetheless, it would be very hard to rule out alternative explanations and especially infer causations. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach. This descriptive type of research utilizes observations in the study.  To illustrate the descriptive type of research, Creswell (1994) guided the researcher. The purpose of employing this method is to describe the nature of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause/s of particular phenomena. The researcher opted to use this kind of research considering the desire of the researcher to obtain first hand data from the respondents so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study. To come up with pertinent findings and provide credible recommendations, this study will utilize two sources of research: primary and secondary.  Primary research data will be obtained through this new research study. Questionnaire survey and in-depth interview will be conducted. On the other hand, the secondary research data will be obtained from previous studies on the same topic.  The Research Design             In order to come up with the most suitable research approaches and strategies for this study, the research process "onion" will be undertaken. This is because conducting a research is like peeling the back layers of an onion—in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the necessary data needed to answer the research questions and objectives, important layers should be first peeled away. With the said process, the researcher was able to create an outline on what measures are most appropriate to be applied in the study. Saunders et al (2003) said that while it is not unusual for a researcher to first think of his research undertaking by considering whether one should, for instance, administer a questionnaire or conduct interviews, thoughts on this question should belong to the centre of the research 'onion'. That is, in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the data needed to answer one's research questions, there are important layers of the onion that need to be peeled away: the first layer raises the question of the research philosophy to adopt, the second considers the subject of research approach that flows from the research philosophy, the third examines the research strategy most applicable, the fourth layer refers to the time horizon a researcher applies to his research, and the fifth layer is the data collection methods to be used.             Figure 1 shows how the researcher conceptualized the research approach to be applied in this study by Saunder et al (2003), in order to come up with the pertinent data needed to answer the research questions stated in the first chapter, as well as to arrive to the fulfillment of this research undertaking's objectives.            Then again, the research philosophy that is reflected in this study is positivism. With this research philosophy, a researcher prefers to work with an observable social reality in order to come up with law-like generalizations similar to those produced by the physical and natural scientists (Remenyi et al, 1998), and in this tradition, the researcher becomes an objective analyst, coolly making detached interpretations about those data that have been collected in an apparently value-free manner (Saunders et al, 2003). In addition, the emphasis is on a highly structured methodology to facilitate replication (Gill & Johnson, 1997) and on quantifiable observations that lend themselves to statistical analysis (Saunders et al, 2003). In here, the assumption is that the researcher is independent of and neither affects nor is affected by the subject of the research (Remenyi et al, 1998; Saunders et al, 1998).             Meanwhile, the second layer shows that this study has undertaken a deductive approach. Accordingly, this approach has five sequential stages: deducing a hypothesis; expressing the hypothesis in operational terms; testing this operational hypothesis; examining the specific outcome of the inquiry to either confirm the theory or indicate the need for its modification; and finally, modifying the theory in the light of the findings (if necessary) (Robson, 1993, p. 19).             Further, the deductive approach has a number of important characteristics. First, this approach is a search to explain causal relationships between variables, which consequently leading to the development of a hypothesis. Second, it involves the collection of a quantitative data (although it can, as well, use qualitative data), and these data are important to test a hypothesis that has been previously developed. The third characteristic of a deductive approach is that it controls to allow the testing of hypothesis. However, one must remember that with this approach, it is important that the researcher is independent of what is being observed—that is, the researcher should be objective and not subjective—so that the principle of scientific strictness will be pursued, as this approach emphasizes scientific principles. (Saunders et al, 2003)           Also, it is important that concepts are operationalized, which will enable facts to be measured quantitatively. Finally, the deductive approach is generalization (e.g., to be able to generalize about regularities in human social behavior, one must be able to select a sufficient numerical size of samples). (Saunders et al, 2003) C. Data Processing and Analysis The type of testing used in this case will be parametric testing. All the data gathered from the interview and questionnaires will be tabulated and coded so that parametric testing would be executed. Parametric tests are more powerful than nonparametric tests given the sample size, and assume the variable(s) being measured is/are normally distributed among the population. Criteria other than sample size must, of course, be met before parametric tests can be used.                 Based on the use of the thesis design and method, which utilizes the qualitative and the descriptive methods, this study focuses mostly on the report of the researcher and the interaction of the researcher and the respondents who are the subject of the study. Because the information gathered for the research focuses on the observation of the behaviors of the respondents in accordance to their level of awareness concerning the role of diet in cancer, one of the best ways that this can be achieved is through analyzing the responses form the given survey questionnaire.               As such, the processing of the data and their analysis will focus mostly on the different methods that the researcher will be able to interpret the answers of the respondents to the questions. Actually, when all the needed and pertinent data are gathered, the researcher will employ on them the documentary analysis technique, which is more commonly known as content analysis to come up with the findings needed for the fulfillment of the objectives of this research undertaking. Ethical Considerations and Data Protection The data generated will be used solely to understand the development of teaching and learning theories. The researcher is solely responsible for conducting the whole research process and shall abide all the policies regarding the organization as well as the university. The data is not transferable for any means in person or organization. The research is being done according to the guidelines and rules and regulations of the university. The researcher does not belong to any professional bodies to share the outcome of the research results. The four stages of ethics in doing research are followed by the way of a good design, modes of data collection, analysis of data and for proper dissemination. Both confidentiality and anonymity was maintained of the informants who have participated or shared information in the research. There is no Coercion or force to take advantage from the informants. Full voluntary guarantee was taken from the informants. Due consideration and approval was taken from the organization which is being studied. Prior objectives and motive of the research will be intimated. There is no misrepresentation or misuse of the data collected from the organization. Strict confidentiality should be maintained. Finally, the university for dissemination of academic purposes might take the data collected. Potential Problems Time will be the greatest limitation to this research, which could hinder long-term outcome objectives. Environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, will not be controlled, and this could create many variables within the research. As this study will utilize a small sample of respondents, the results may not effectively represent the general population.