Memorandum
To: Dr. Erika Paterson, Instructor ENGL 301
From: Brenda Martinez, Student
Date: November 12th, 2019
Subject: Progress Report- ‘Reduction of aerosol bacteria in clinical dental hygiene practice’
Hello Dr. Erika Paterson,
Please find the following progress report for my research topic, ‘Reduction of aerosol bacteria in clinical dental hygiene practice’. I have summarized the purpose for this formal report, the intended audience/study participants, the research plan, and the writing schedule. Also attached, are the research method questionnaires that I intend to use for data collection.
Formal Report Purpose
To research the perceived benefits of using a pre-procedural rinse in a dental health care setting. Recently, the dental hygiene team was informed by management that using a pre-procedure rinse could be beneficial in the reduction/control of aerosol bacteria. This report aims to collect anonymous data and receive feedback from the dental hygiene team, using a survey. I am interested in informing management on these findings as they pertain to the dental hygiene team’s perceived benefits or not regarding this new protocol.
Audience/Research Participants
The audience to whom I will present the research findings will be the dentist, Dr. B. Miller, and office manager, Ms. J. Olmstead. Staff at Richmond Dental Clinic will begin using a pre-procedural antiseptic rinse, as per the recent changes in office protocol since the last staff meeting. In particular the dental hygienists providing routine ultrasonic scaling, which has aerosol emitting properties. The dental hygiene team will be the research participants.
Research Plan
Research will be conducted using a survey method. I will discuss the topic of research with the dental hygiene team, and provide a short survey that should take no longer than 5 minutes. The research participants, being the dental hygiene team, will be reminded that their participation is voluntary and anonymous. The ethical explanation of the survey will be provided within the survey prior to commencing and answering the questions.
Writing Schedule
October 11, 2019 -Formal Report Proposal (completed)
October 11, 2019- Email memo to instructor regarding formal report proposal (completed)
October 16, 2019- Peer review of report proposal (completed)
November 8, 2019- Formal report outline (completed)
November 12, 2019- Progress report memo to instructor (completed)
November 16- December 16, 2019- Conduct research (to be completed)
December 4, 2019- Formal report draft (to be completed)
December 10, 2019-Peer review of formal report draft (to be completed)
December 19, 2019- Formal report due
I intend to follow this schedule in order to meet the deadline of the formal report, I have been pleased with my progress so far. I look forward to your response regarding the questionnaires, and upon approval, I will begin collecting data. Please feel free to contact me for any clarification regarding this progress report or research plan; I appreciate your time and, feedback.
Attachments
Link to survey
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtTEeUTPjF_jPPU4BQ29hmfgts-7YYgDJhOwYRfY_sdsoZSg/viewform
Hello Brenda,
Thank you for this progress report. I am a little confused about the idea of the audience for this report being ‘participants’ in a research project; this is not in keeping with ethical research requirements for this course. I was unaware that this was your intention by reading the Report Proposal – I thought you would do anonymous and voluntary surveys. You can not proceed to involve people in research and or observations without guaranteeing anonymity with this course. I have filled out the necessary paper work for ethical research, but this restricts my students to very limited primary research practices. To do a research project with participants you would need to go before the Ethics committee and fulfill certain requirements and present research credentials. This is work to be done at the graduate level. I hope you understand.
So, you need to rethink this investigation – create a survey that is meant to collect data – but NOT to educate or in any way influence the participants beyond answering question anonymously and voluntarily
Thank, Erika
Hello Erika,
Thank you for revising my progress report, the feedback you have provided is very helpful. I have edited my progress report, and have made the necessary changes in order to maintain the anonymous status of the participants. I have made changes with the hope that I can still conduct this research report as planned. Please let me know if it is within the ethical guidelines approval to commence my research.
Best Regards, Brenda