08 / 08 · Methodology Consulting

Research Methodology Consulting

Study Design, Sample Size & Statistical Analysis Plans

The strength of a manuscript is decided long before the first word is written — at the point a research question becomes a study design. Our research methodology consulting covers PICO/PECO formulation, study design selection, formal sample size calculation, statistical analysis planning, and full protocol writing, so your study is built to withstand peer review from day one.

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Methodology Consulting

Study Design, Sample Size & Statistical Analysis Plans

80%Standard Statistical Power
PICO/PECOFramework Structure
Q1Target Journal Tier
PICO/PECOStudy DesignSample Size CalculationStatistical Analysis PlanEthics SubmissionProtocol WritingG*Power · Stata · RRCT · Cohort · Diagnostic

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Response within 24 hours

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What Is It?

Understanding Research Methodology Consulting

Every study lives or dies on its design. A poorly matched study design, an underpowered sample, or an ambiguous statistical analysis plan can undermine even a clinically important research question — and reviewers spot these issues immediately. Methodology consulting addresses these decisions before data collection begins, not after.

This covers formulating a precise, answerable research question (PICO for interventions, PECO for exposures), selecting the appropriate design (RCT, cohort, case-control, diagnostic accuracy), calculating a justified sample size, and pre-specifying the statistical analysis plan (SAP) — all of which reviewers and ethics committees now expect to see explicitly documented.

Why It Matters for Publication

Reviewers frequently reject on design or power grounds alone
Ethics committees require justified sample size calculations
A pre-specified SAP protects against accusations of post-hoc analysis
MD. Massab Bashir applies PhD-level methodological training to every protocol

97%

Job Success Score on Upwork

What's Included

Every Deliverable — Documented

No vague promises. Every engagement specifies exactly what you receive, at what standard, by what deadline.

Research Question Formulation (PICO/PECO)
Population, Intervention/Exposure, Comparator, and Outcome precisely defined into an answerable, testable research question.
Study Design Selection
Evidence-based recommendation and justification for RCT, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, or diagnostic accuracy design, matched to your question and resources.
Sample Size Calculation
Formal a priori sample size and power calculation using G*Power, Stata, or R, with documented assumptions ready for ethics submission and manuscript methods.
Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)
Pre-specified primary and secondary analyses, covariates, subgroup and sensitivity analyses, and handling of missing data — locked before data collection.
Ethics Submission Support
Methodology sections of IRB/ethics committee applications drafted and reviewed to pre-empt common committee queries.
Data Collection Instrument Design
Case report forms or survey instruments structured to capture exactly the variables specified in the SAP, minimising missing or unusable data.
Full Protocol Writing
Complete study protocol combining question, design, sample size, SAP, and ethics considerations into a single submission-ready document.
Methods Section Drafting
Manuscript-ready Methods section written directly from your finalised protocol, structured to your target journal's reporting guideline (CONSORT, STROBE, etc.).

Tools & Methodologies

PICO/PECOG*PowerStataRCONSORT · STROBEEthics/IRB Submission

Who This Is For

Researchers designing a study from scratch
PhD students preparing a thesis protocol
Clinicians planning a first prospective study
Research teams preparing grant or ethics applications
Hospital-based research teams
Researchers targeting Q1 journal publication

The Process

How We Work Together

Transparent, structured engagement from first contact to final delivery — with clear milestones and no surprises.

01
Free Consultation
We discuss your research question, available resources, and timeline, and confirm which methodology-consulting components you need.
02
Question Formulation
Your research question is structured into PICO or PECO format, sharpening exactly what is being tested and against what comparator.
03
Design Selection
We recommend and justify the most appropriate study design given your question, resources, and feasibility constraints.
04
Sample Size & Power
Formal sample size calculation performed and documented, with all assumptions stated for ethics and manuscript reporting.
05
Statistical Analysis Plan
Primary and secondary analyses, subgroups, and missing-data handling pre-specified in a locked SAP document.
06
Protocol & Ethics Support
Full protocol assembled and methodology sections of ethics submissions reviewed before you submit.

About Your Consultant

MD. Massab Bashir
MD. Massab Bashir
Medical Physician · PhD Researcher · Top Rated Plus
🎓Medical Physician with clinical foundation in evidence-based practice
🔬PhD Researcher in Immunology — advanced research methodology
⭐Top Rated Plus on Upwork — 97% Job Success Score
📄20+ Q1 publications supported

Free 30-Minute Consultation

Discuss your project and receive an accurate quote at no cost.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Methodology Consulting

What's the difference between PICO and PECO?+
PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) is used for intervention studies such as RCTs. PECO (Population, Exposure, Comparator, Outcome) is used for observational studies examining an exposure rather than an intervention, such as cohort or case-control studies.
Why do I need a formal sample size calculation?+
Ethics committees and most journals require a justified, pre-specified sample size calculation to demonstrate the study is adequately powered to detect a meaningful effect — without it, both approval and publication become significantly harder.
What is a Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) and why does it matter?+
An SAP pre-specifies exactly which analyses will be run, on which variables, before data collection or analysis begins. It protects your study from accusations of post-hoc or data-driven analysis, and reviewers increasingly expect to see one referenced in the Methods.
Can you help choose between an RCT and an observational design?+
Yes — the right design depends on your question, ethical constraints, timeline, and resources. We walk through the trade-offs (feasibility, confounding control, time to results) and recommend the design best matched to your specific study.
Do you help with ethics/IRB submissions?+
We support the methodology sections of ethics applications — study design justification, sample size, and data handling — which are frequently the source of committee queries and revision requests.
Can methodology consulting be combined with your other services?+
Yes. Many clients start with methodology consulting to design the study correctly, then return for medical writing or statistical analysis once data collection is complete — the upfront design work makes every later stage faster and more defensible.

Related Services

Often requested alongside methodology consulting

Systematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisMedical Writing

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Free 30-minute consultation. No obligation. Tailored recommendation and accurate quote within 24 hours.

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