Hi DCR - Congratulations on finishing at least the first pass of your sample size calculation! I encourage you to revisit that calculation as needed with your small group leader until you are feeling very confident that the setup and calculations are correct, even if the assumptions might be shaky (assumptions are always somewhat shaky!). A fundamentally sound power calculation is an important element of the Final Protocol that we'll look at carefully, so worth doing some iterations to get it right.
Week 4 is my favorite week in DCR, with my favorite assignment! This week, you'll not only focus in on measurements for your study, but you'll also get to DESIGN A NEW STUDY. Pick something different from the study you've been focusing on so far (at least a different study design, if not a different research question), and just get down an outline on paper (see example). This is a great exercise that doesn't take too long, and employs your new understanding of study design and creative juices in a different way than you've done so far. Often students end up SWITCHING their focus, and writing up the new study for the final protocol instead of the one they originally had chosen. Maybe that will happen to you!
I'll have office hours at the usual time tomorrow (Friday) at 10:10-11:00. See you soon.