Advanced Research Methodology Introduction

Course Introduction

• Course title: Advanced Research Methodology
• Instructor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Hadi M Ismail
• Qualifications: BDS, MSc, PhD
• Course materials include: Dr Ranjdar, Adham, Dr Sarhang
• Subject outline available on a Telegram Group
• Introduction to research methodology

What Is Research?

• Scientific research is a rational approach
• Used to examine problems, discover precise answers to questions

Purpose of Research

• Earn doctorates or masters degrees
• Meet curiosity
• Make discoveries
• Provide innovative solutions to complex problems
• Develop new products
• Save costs
• Advance science
• Acquire new knowledge
• Improve the well-being of society

Key Characteristics of Research Questions

• Organized, planned, and with a proposal
• Scientific, reproducible, feasible, and reliable
• Systematic and following clearly defined steps

Research Process Overview

• Problem identification (1)
• Literature review (2)
• Research design (3)
• Data collection (4)
• Data analysis (5)
• Interpretation (6)
• Reporting (7)

Research Project Process

• Identify a gap in the literature, select a topic of interest
• Choose methodology and method
• Develop a proposal and seek ethical approval
• Conduct research and analyze findings
• Write up, edit, and revise results
• Final touches and submit the project

Definitions

• Method: Specific technique or procedure for a task, research, or problem-solving
• Methodology: Broader term encompassing underlying principles, theoretical framework, and approach of a field of study
• Guides researchers in making decisions about data collection, analysis, and interpretation

Variables

• Variable: Measurable factor that varies during research, with more than one value
• Independent variable: Cause, risk factor (manipulated in research)
• Dependent variable: Effect, outcome (responds to changes, analyzed for the objective)

Hypothesis

• Statement in response to a research question—based on researcher's experience and findings from previous studies
• Null hypothesis (H0): Predicts no difference between control and study groups
• Alternative hypothesis: Assumes differences or associations between variables within groups

Participants/Samples

• Participants/samples drawn from a population with specific characteristics
• Most research uses a sample from a defined population due to substantial populations
• Sampling: Choosing portions of a population for observation and study

Researcher

• Researcher: Individual conducting studies using rigorous methodology to produce new knowledge
• Research must be based on facts within the scientific community's framework
• A successful researcher is curious, has integrity, analytical ability, critical thinking, receptive to criticism (professionally), open-minded, and objective

Types of Dental Research

• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Experimental
• Correlational
• Qualitative
• Quantitative

Research Based on Time

• Cross-sectional: Data collection at one point in time
• Longitudinal: Data collection over an extended period
• Retrospective: Looking back at past data
• Prospective: Looking forward from the present to the future (observational, experimental)
• Different methodological types and designs

Research Based on Location

• Field research (e.g., dental clinic)
• Library research (e.g., systematic review, meta-analysis)

Research Based on Data Type

• Qualitative research: One-on-one interviews, focus groups, ethnographic research, case study research, record keeping, qualitative observation
• Quantitative research

Research Based on Application

• Fundamental (or basic) research: Basic knowledge discovery
• Applied research: Practical problem-solving
• Developmental research: Focus on improvement or change

Research Based on Main Question or Objectives

• Exploratory: Discovering or gaining initial knowledge
• Descriptive: Describing characteristics or concepts of a population
• Analytical (explanatory): Analyzing relationships or causes and effects

Steps of Exploratory Research

• Problem recognition (not clearly defined) at a preliminary stage
• Methods to explore the problem (no hypothesis, no control groups, no interventions or variable manipulations)
• Produces qualitative data, no conclusive result, leads to further research

Steps of Descriptive Research

• Recognize the problem
• Define a hypothesis
• Plan methods to answer the question
• No control groups, no interventions, uncontrolled variables
• Produces quantitative data, conclusive result

Case-Control Retrospective Study

• Choosing a study population based on a disease's presence or absence.

Steps in the Case-Control Survey

• Clear statement of criteria (inclusion, exclusion, matching to increase validity)
• Selecting individuals with the disease
• Selecting individuals without the disease (control)
• Measuring the interested risk factor retrospectively
• Data analysis for cause-and-effect relationships

Cohort Study

• Selecting a disease-free sample (population of interest)
• Determining those exposed to a specific risk factor
• Comparing disease occurrence in exposed and non-exposed groups over time

Steps of the Prospective Cohort Study

• Determines the population of interest
• Selecting disease-free samples in the population
• Identifying subjects exposed to the risk factor vs those not
• Tracking the occurrence or non-occurrence of the disease over time in each group

Clinical Trial

• Population of interest
• Random sampling
• Study sample with a particular disease
• Random assignment of subjects to treatment and control groups
• Evaluating effects over time

Steps in the Experimental Study

• Identifying the relevant population of interest
• Determining a sample using random sampling
• Obtaining informed consent prior to the experiment
• Randomly assigning participants to intervention and control groups
• Following subjects under rigorous conditions for a specific timeframe
• Appropriate statistical methods to compare and conclude

Hierarchy of Research Design

• Ranked designs (1-7) from randomized controlled trials as the most rigorous to case reports, based on the level of evidence.