Research Plan Template

Name(s): Rylee Nepple

Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)
A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
There are almost 50 million cases of dementia worldwide, with over ten million new cases each year.
Dementia affects cognitive functions, including memory skills, thinking capabilities, learning capacity, and
orientation. People with dementia are often left confused and unaware of what is going on, with poor memory
skills to help them figure these things out. As dementia advances, this confusion only gets worse. Patients
will forget where they live, who their family members are, how old they are, and even their own name.
Dementia is one of the hardest conditions for an unaffected family member to deal with, as there is no known
cure. Family members can only hope for a slow decline as they watch their loved ones forget who they are.
By creating an app to help patients stay organized, I am making to easier for the patient to remember where
certain information is, work to improve memory skills through games, and to keep an album of family and
friends. By having all of this information in one place, along with games to improve memory skills, the
patient will be better able to recall where important information is stored and how to access it. This year, I
will continue to develop the application to a state where the information can be saved, allowing the
application to serve its purpose.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How can I improve my app so that it can save information while keeping it easy to
manage and incorporating fun, memory-based games?
Hypothesis(es): If I improve my app to a state where it is able to save user information, then I will be able to
help many people affected by dementia nationwide to better organize their personal and medical information
and work towards improving their memory skills.
Engineering Goal(s): To be able to manufacture a working prototype of this app on computer software.
Expected Outcomes: A functional app that it able to have personal information input and to employ the use of
memory skill games.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
Materials: Computer with Outsystems software downloaded and access to the internet
1. Review Outsystems software and determine if I am able to manipulate the app so that it information
input can be saved.
2. If information is able to be saved on Outsystems, follow the procedure until step six, then skip to step
twelve. If information is unable to be saved, skip to step seven and follow the remaining procedure.
3. Edit the pre-existing app so that users can input and save their information, making the application
usable.
4. After editing the app, switch into the fake user profile and test the software, noting any bugs or
improvements that should be made.
5. Go back into programming and make improvements to the software, making sure the program is easy
to use and without any bugs.
6. Repeat steps three and four until the app if fully functional and ready to be made mobile.
7. If the app in Outsystems software in unable to be manipulated so that information can be saved,
research other coding platforms and websites to find one that can be used to save user information
8. Once a coding platform is found, transfer all information from Outsystems into new coding platform,
 Research Plan Template

Name(s): Rylee Nepple

making sure to include emergency patient information, emergency contacts, medical contacts, a photo
album of friends and family members where personal photos can be uploaded, and memory games to
help improve memory skills of the patient.
9. Make a fake profile using the app to test the usability of the software and to notice any bugs that need
to be worked out.
10. Go back into the programming and make improvements to the software, making sure the program is
easy to use and without any bugs.
11. Repeat steps nine and ten until the app is fully functional and ready to be made mobile.
12. Remove the hyperlinks to external websites for memory games and begin to code in your own
memory game. The game will be matching style, having the user match photos of people they
uploaded in the photo album to their name/ relationship with the user.
13. Switch into the fake profile and test the memory game, noticing any bugs or software issues that need
to be improved upon.
14. Go back into the program and make any necessary improvements to the memory games.
15. Repeat steps thirteen and fourteen until the memory games are fully functional.
Risk and Safety
Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
The risk of creating this app is minimal. There will be no physical testing procedure of any kind, and the only
human interaction the app will have is with me. The low risk factor leads to minimal safety precautions as
well. While making the app, I should be careful not to sit in front of the computer for too long so as to avoid
eye damage
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
I will analyze the results by creating a fake profile to use the app. By using this profile I will be able to view
the app from a user’s point of view and determine what can be fixed in the app and how to improve the
overall functionality. This will also allow me to see how easy it is to navigate the app so I can reorganize the
app if needed. Using the profile, I will also play the memory games the app will provide and determine if they
are too easy or too difficult and how entertaining they are. Using the information I gather with the fake
profile, I will then go back into the program and make any necessary changes.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations
(minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the
frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal,
etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses)
be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not
anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have
access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they
will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.
 Research Plan Template

Name(s): Rylee Nepple

Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury
to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.

Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:

• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.