Protocol / research protocol A protocol is the plan for a piece of research. It usually research protocol includes information about:• what question the research is asking and its importance/relevance• the background and context of the research, including what other research has been done before• how many people will be involved• who can take part• the research method• what will happen to the results and how they will be publicised. A protocol describes in great detail what the researchers will do during the research. Usually, it cannot be changed without going back to a research ethics committee for approval.
