Postgraduate Research Notice and Announcement

What a good one includes

• Clear identification of the host institution, department, and principal supervisor to establish institutional authority.
• A concise study title or event heading that is easily understood by non-specialists while retaining scientific accuracy.
• Explicit participant inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure ethical compliance and target the correct demographic.
• A transparent breakdown of the time commitment, tasks involved, and any compensation or incentives offered to participants.
• Contact information using official university email addresses rather than personal accounts to maintain professional boundaries.
• A specific reference to the ethics committee approval number and date to prove the study is fully cleared for recruitment.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using dense academic jargon in recruitment flyers, which alienates lay participants and lowers response rates.
• Omitting the exact ethics approval code, which causes university administrators to immediately reject the notice for circulation.
• Failing to clearly state the exclusion criteria, leading to wasted time screening ineligible volunteers.
• Providing vague call-to-action instructions that leave readers unsure of how to sign up or RSVP.

Frequently asked questions