Developing a study protocol is a tedious and most challenging task for the majority of academic researchers. At the same time, it is very important to understand the steps in developing a research protocol to perform an appropriate study and obtain reliable outcomes. A well-structured study protocol gives a proper guideline with a detailed explanation on the need for the research, aim and objectives, study design, study place and duration, participants' eligibility criteria, sample size, ethical considerations, planned procedures and investigations, method of data collection and data analysis.
A robust feasible protocol will increase the likelihood of drawing conclusions from the research that are scientifically sound. However, once the study is initiated, the protocol should not be modified during the progress of the study unless unexpected complications occur while conducting the study. If complications are anticipated, conducting a pilot study will be suitable to check the feasibility and find answers to the potential areas. So, always an extra care and time need to be spent to develop a meaningful study protocol by incorporating all the aspects of the study area. This will save failures at a later stage and help in justifying the study objectives. If the protocol is poorly prepared and not adhered to, it results in the complete derailment of the process and yields wrong information at the end. This will mislead the investigator as well as the scientific community.
Therefore, developing a study protocol is a crucial stage for any research and which will allow the development of a research idea into a complete useful study that can contribute to the wellbeing of the society.
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