FORMAT OF

SYNOPSIS
A brief Discussion on the
components of FCPS
synopsis writing
 BEFORE STARTING
• Before starting to work on
Dissertation/Article, the FCPS trainee
has to send a Synopsis to RTMC and
get it approved.
• The synopsis is a brief out line
(about four A-4 size pages or 1000
words is the maximum limit) of your
future work
 SYNOPSIS HEADINGS
• A synopsis must have the following
headings:
• TITLE
• INTRODUCTION
• OBJECTIVES
• OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
• HYPOTHESIS
• MATERIAL AND METHODS
 TITLE
• Should reflect the objectives of the study.
• It must be written after the whole synopsis
has been written so that it is a true
representative of the plan……
 INTRODUCTION
• Should contain brief background of
the selected topic.
• It must identify the importance of
study, its relevance and applicability
of results.
• It must clearly state the purpose of
the study.
 RATIONALE/ SIGNIFICANCE/
NEED STATEMENT
• It must identify the importance of
study, its relevance and applicability
of results.
• It must clearly state the purpose of
the study.
 OBJECTIVES
• Objectives are statements of
mentions. They inform the reader
clearly what the researcher plans to do
in his/her work.
• The must identify the variables
involved in research.
• Objective should start with an action
verb and be sufficiently specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant and
time bound (SMART).
OBJECTIVES
 SMART
SUFFICIENTLY
SPECIFIC

TIME
MEASURABLE
BOUND
SMART

RELEVANT ACHIEVABLE
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
• May be required in some synopses.
• It is definition of a term specifically
telling how it will be measured for e.g.:
• Morbidity: this encompass a number of
aspects viz. prolonged hospital stay,
severe pain, immediate complications,
long term sequelae.
• A research must define how a vague
term will be measured.
 Efficacy
• Efficacy: These can by measured
– i. Time taken in relieve of symptoms
which may be pain, fever cough
heartburn etc.
– ii. Taking into account number of side
effects.
– iii. Time taken for complete recovery
student is requirement to specify how
he/she will measure efficacy.
 HYPOTHESIS
• A hypothesis is a statement showing
expected relation b/w 2 variables. A
hypothesis is needed in the following
study designs:
– All interventional studies
– Cohort
– Case control
– Comparative cross sectional.
 STUDY DESIGN
• Mention the name of the appropriate
study design.
 SETTING
• Name and place where the research
work is to be conducted
 DURATION OF STUDY
• How long will the study take with
dates
 SAMPLE SIZE
• How many patients will be included.
If there are groups how many per
group?
• You need a statistician for this work
 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
• Type of sampling technique employed
– Sampling is that part of statistical
practice concerned with the selection of
individual observations intended to yield
some knowledge about a population of
concern, especially for the purposes of
statistical inference.
 TWO REASONS
• Researchers rarely survey the entire
population for two reasons:

– The cost is too high and

– The population is dynamic, i.e., the

component of population could change

over time.
THREE MAIN ADVANTAGES
• There are three main advantages of
sampling:
– The cost is lower

– Data collection is faster

– It is possible to ensure homogeneity and

to improve the accuracy and quality of
the data because the data
 OBSERVATION
• Each observation measures one or more
properties (weight, location, etc.) of an
observable entity enumerated to distinguish
objects or individuals.
• Survey weights often need to be applied to
the data to adjust for the sample design.
• Results from probability theory and statistical
theory are employed to guide practice.
• In business, sampling is widely used for
gathering information about a population.
 SAMPLE SELECTION

• Inclusion criteria: on what bases will

patients be inducted in the study.

• Exclusion criteria: On what bases will

patients be excluded from the study.

 DATA COLLECTION
PROCEDURE
• A detailed account of how the researcher
will perform research;
• How s/he will measure the variable.
• It includes:
– Identification of the study variables
– Methods for collection of data
– Data collection tools (Performa/questionnaire)
 DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURE
• Relevant details naming software to
be used, which descriptive statistics
and which test of significance if and
when required, specifying variables
where it will be applied.
 REFERENCES
• In Vancouver style (for detail refer to
page 132).
DATA COLLECTION
INSTRUMENT
 PROFORMA OR
QUESTIONNAIRE
• The researcher must attach, as an
annex, the proforma or questionnaire
with the help of which he/she intends
to collect data.
• The proforma/ questionnaire must
match the objectives and must not
contain irrelevant sections like
inclusion and exclusion criteria etc.