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<b><h4>Do you use research plans or protocols in your field of study?</h4></b>

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<b>Suzanne McClure, Postgraduate Researcher, University of Liverpool</b>

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We use research plans at the beginning. After three months, you must write a one-year research plan. I looked at mine the other day, and it was quite interesting. It changed quite a bit, but I think it serves a good purpose. And then after that, every year we have an annual progress report, where we meet with two members from outside of our supervisory team, and they review written work and they go over your progress so far, and what your intentions are for the next year.
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<b><h4>Have your thoughts about the importance of research plans changed over time?</h4></b>

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<b>Suzanne McClure:</b> My thoughts have changed about the research plans over time. I'm entering my fourth year, and I've really enjoyed volunteering, and speaking at outside conferences, and being very active. And I've not stuck to the research plan as well as I probably should have. And so, what has changed over time is the thought that I wish I would have stuck to it more closely, and paid better attention to it, because now I'm in the final year and I have a lot of work to do. 
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<b><h4>Can you provide an example of how having a plan helped you avoid or deal with a potential research problem?</h4></b>

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<b>Suzanne McClure:</b> I had a plan from the beginning that I wanted to speak at two to three conferences a year. And having that plan allowed me to seek funding opportunities, from various resources, to find different websites that would allow for funding. Had I not had that plan from the very beginning, I think I would have gotten stuck not being able to attend conferences. And it also helps with the research, I think, when you know you're going to a conference and you're presenting on a subject, you have to have that subject thoroughly researched by that point. 