Research guides and study spotlights from Uganda and East Africa
Practical guidance on proposals, methods, ethics, analysis and publication, alongside lessons from real studies in the region.
Which circumstances shape contraceptive use in Uganda’s secondary cities?
A study of 1,023 women in Jinja and Iganga found that most of the explained inequality in modern family-planning use was connected to circumstances beyond women’s control.
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Conceptual Framework Example: Determinants of Stunting in Children Aged 6–23 Months
A layered framework from household conditions to the study outcome, with measures for every construct and an editable version in the builder.
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Probability vs Non-Probability Sampling: Which One Fits Your Study?
Probability sampling is not always “better.” Learn when probability, purposive, convenience and other sampling approaches fit the inference your study actually needs.
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P-Values, Confidence Intervals and Effect Sizes: How to Read Them Together
P-values, confidence intervals and effect estimates answer different questions. Learn how to read them together and interpret results without reducing everything to significance.
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Cochran's Sample Size Formula: Why Everyone Keeps Getting 384
Learn Cochran's sample-size formula step by step, where 384 comes from and when to adjust for prevalence, finite populations, non-response and clustering.
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Conceptual Framework Examples That Actually Explain a Study
See practical conceptual framework examples for quantitative and qualitative studies, and learn what makes a framework explanatory rather than decorative.
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How to Interpret a 95% Confidence Interval
Learn how to interpret a 95% confidence interval, what its width means, why the null value matters and how to report confidence intervals correctly.
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Simple Random Sampling Explained With a Real Research Example
Learn what simple random sampling actually means, how to select participants correctly and why “randomly choosing whoever is available” is not random sampling.
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P > 0.05: Does It Mean There Is No Effect?
A p-value above 0.05 does not prove there is no effect. Learn how to interpret non-significant results using effect estimates and confidence intervals.
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How to Build a Conceptual Framework From Your Research Objectives
Build a conceptual framework step by step from your research objectives, literature and proposed relationships, without creating a box-and-arrow mess.
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Survey or Interview? How to Choose the Right Method for Your Research
Survey or interview? Learn which method fits your research question, what each can answer and when a mixed-methods design makes sense.
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Stop Writing One Paragraph Per Study: How to Synthesize a Literature Review
Learn how to synthesize a literature review instead of summarizing one study at a time, with a synthesis matrix and before-and-after example.
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How to Calculate Sample Size for a Cross-Sectional Study
Learn how to calculate sample size for a cross-sectional study, including prevalence, precision, finite populations, non-response and cluster designs.
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What Happens When Participants Take the Camera?
Ten women spent three months photographing how family planning was experienced at home, at work, in communities and in health services. Here is what the method made visible, and what became more complicated once participants took the camera.
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What Does p < 0.05 Mean? A Simple Guide to P-Values
What does p < 0.05 mean? Learn what a statistically significant p-value tells you, what it does not tell you and how to report it correctly.
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How to Find a Research Gap and Turn It Into a Problem Statement
A practical three-step method for identifying a genuine research gap (known, missing, why it matters) and converting it into a problem statement that earns approval.
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How to Calculate and Justify Your Sample Size (With Worked Examples)
How to calculate sample size for surveys, two-group comparisons, and qualitative studies, and how to write the justification paragraph reviewers expect in your proposal.
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Research Ethics Approval in Uganda: REC and UNCST Explained Step by Step
How research ethics approval works in Uganda: choosing an accredited REC, preparing your submission package, responding to reviewer comments, and registering your study with UNCST.
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How to Write a Research Proposal in Uganda: A Step-by-Step Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide to writing a research proposal in Uganda, from problem statement to budget, with the standard structure expected by Ugandan universities and research ethics committees.
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Featured Research: What Shapes Women's Contraceptive Use in Eastern Uganda?
A featured research spotlight on a qualitative study examining how gender norms, partner opposition, side-effect concerns, community beliefs, and service delivery barriers shape women's contraceptive use in eastern Uganda.
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Why Sample Size Is Not Just a Number
Sample size is not only a calculation. It is a methods decision shaped by your research question, assumptions, study design, resources, and analysis plan.
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How to Turn a Rough Research Idea into a Clear Research Question
Most research ideas start messy. This guide shows how to move from a broad interest to a focused, answerable research question.
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Before You Submit: A Practical Checklist for Research Proposals
A practical checklist to help students, researchers, and teams catch common proposal gaps before submitting for supervision, funding, or ethics review.
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