The Research Directorate applies a Potential and Originality (P&O) Quotient to all studies submitted to the governance process. This is in an effort to weight studies according to their potential and originality and therefore their likelihood of impacting on practice and or scientific knowledge. The P&O Quotient ranges from 5 to 1:
5 – this represents a study which if brought to completion successfully has the potential to impact on practice or scientific knowledge at international level.
4 – this is a study which has the potential to impact on practice/scientific knowledge at national level.
3 – this is a study that has the potential to impact on practice/scientific knowledge at local level.
2 – this is a study that has the potential to aid and facilitate the investigators knowledge in relation to conducting research studies but is unlikely to have any meaningful impact on practice or on the body of current scientific knowledge.
1 – this is a study that doesn’t hold any particular potential and therefore ought not to be performed.