Block 2 Lecture Reflection: Protocol Budgeting, Ethical Aspects, and Presentation Skills (28 July)

Description
This session of Block 2 focused on protocol budgeting, ethical aspects in clinical research.
The day began with lecture covering budget basics, followed by Charmaine Khumalo detailed session on ethical applications and data dissemination, and ended with workshop on presentation skills for proposal defence.
2. Feelings
Just when I thought I was settling into the research rhythm, this lecture challenged me again. The budget session burst my bubble and realising that the average master research budget capped at around R60,000 made me re-evaluate my initial expectations. I had to let go of ideas like hiring an research assistant or including extra site visits. I felt disappointed but grounded, realising that feasibility is just as important.The ethics lecture was equally overwhelming. The process seemed long and complex, filled with documentation and timelines. For a moment, I questioned whether I could manage it. However, I soon appreciated how ethical procedures protect both participants and researchers. By the time we reached presentation skills, my anxiety was high. Despite being used to speaking to patients and community groups, presenting before professors felt completely different. Yet, I was determined to face this fear and grow from it.
3. Evaluation
This block was both challenging and transformative. The budgeting session helped me understand the value of resource planning and aligning my research design with what is financially realistic. The ethics lecture reshaped how I viewed the research process and from simply “getting approval” to genuinely protecting participants and upholding integrity. The presentation workshop gave me practical strategies to communicate confidently and professionally, despite my initial nervousness.
4. Analysis
This lecture made me realise that research success relies on balance , ambition, ethics, and clarity. The budgeting session taught me humility and prioritisation, while the ethics discussion deepened my sense of responsibility. As a research nurse, I connected these lessons with my daily work, where accountability and respect for participants are vital. The presentation skills lecture helped me see communication as a professional skill.
5. Conclusion
By the end of the day, I had gained a new level of appreciation for the complexity of research. I concluded that good research is not just about the idea but also about how it is planned, funded, and ethically executed. Despite my initial fear, this block helped me grow in self-awareness, confidence, and resilience.
6. Action Plan
Going forward, I plan to:
• Rework my budget to align with practical constraints.
• Begin my ethics application early to accommodate timelines.
• Strengthen my data management and consent processes with supervisor feedback.
• Continue practising presentation skills to build composure and flow.