Assignment 2 Reflection: Final Research Proposal Feedback

Assignment 2 Reflection: Final Research Proposal Feedback
(Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, 1988)
1. Description
Assignment 2 required the submission of my final research proposal, incorporating all feedback from my first draft and supervisor consultations. The proposal included sections on study procedures, data management, statistical considerations, ethics, dissemination, budget, and timeline. After submission, I received a total mark of 79%, which reflected a significant improvement from my previous score of 59%.
The detailed feedback was encouraging:
• Study Procedures (8/10): The processes and data collection tools were clear and appropriate.
• Data Management Plan (8/10): The level of detail and practicality were commended.
• Statistical Considerations (16/20): My sample size calculation and analysis plan were accurate and well-structured.
• Ethical Considerations (13/15): My ethics section was thorough, addressing permissions, consent, and benchmarks.
• Data Dissemination (5/5): Comprehensive and well-planned.
• Budget and Motivation (13/15): Feasible, well justified, and realistic.
• Timeline (4/5): Appropriate and achievable.
• Corrections (6/10): I incorporated most feedback, providing clear justifications for any suggestions not adopted.
Overall, this assignment showed my ability to take earlier feedback seriously, refine my proposal, and demonstrate maturity in academic writing and research design.
2. Feelings
When I first saw my mark of 79%. I was shocked, emotional, and proud. I could hardly believe it. After struggling with my first draft and feeling discouraged, this result made me realise that growth comes through perseverance, humility, and hard work. I felt proud not just of the mark but of the progress I had made in understanding research concepts and applying feedback.
I was also deeply grateful to my supervisor, who had patiently guided me through the process, and to my convenors for their clear feedback during the earlier stages. The improvement reminded me that constructive criticism is not meant to discourage, but to build and strengthen one’s academic capabilities.
3. Evaluation
This experience was extremely rewarding and affirming. The improvement in my mark validated the effort I put into reading additional literature, restructuring my proposal, and clarifying my study design. The positive feedback on the ethical considerations and budget feasibility showed that I had learned to balance scientific integrity.
However, I also recognised that my correction score (6/10) indicated that I could further improve in addressing every detail of feedback and communicating my rationale for changes more clearly. Nonetheless, this assignment proved that applying feedback diligently leads to real academic progress.
4. Analysis
Through this reflection, I realised how essential resilience and feedback integration are in the research journey. After receiving 59% for my first draft, I could have easily been discouraged but instead, I decided to revisit the feedback point by point with my supervisor. I reread relevant journal articles, updated my references, and critically revised my background and methodology sections.
The result demonstrated that learning is a process of iteration and reflection. The improvement across all sections from data management to ethical planning which reflected not only academic progress but also personal growth in discipline and confidence. It also deepened my understanding of research accountability, especially the importance of clarity, feasibility, and ethical soundness in proposal writing.
5. Conclusion
I concluded that this experience was one of the most significant turning points in my postgraduate journey. Moving from 59% to 79% symbolised not only improvement in technical skill but also growth in self-belief and academic maturity. I learned that feedback is not a form of criticism but a tool for excellence, and that research success requires patience, persistence, and humility.
This achievement gave me confidence in my abilities as both a nurse and a developing researcher. It reaffirmed my passion for research in public health and occupational health, and inspired me to continue improving and aiming even higher in future studies.
6. Action Plan
Going forward, I plan to:
• Continue using feedback proactively, treating it as a guide for continuous improvement.
• Maintain regular supervisor consultations to ensure alignment between my proposal and research objectives.
• Strengthen my statistical understanding by revisiting key concepts and applying them in future studies.
• Develop a habit of updating literature regularly to keep my work current.
• Attend research writing and presentation workshops to enhance my confidence and academic communication skills.
This assignment reminded me that true growth happens when we allow ourselves to be teachable. The journey from uncertainty to confidence has shown me that perseverance and openness to learning can turn every challenge into a milestone of success.