Research Methodology Lecture Notes PDF

Research Methodology  What is research? Research is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a problem.  Steps of conducting a research A. Prioritizing and selecting a research topic B. Review of literature an...

Research Methodology  What is research? Research is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a problem.  Steps of conducting a research A. Prioritizing and selecting a research topic B. Review of literature and other existing information C. Development of a research proposal D. Implementation of study: ▪ Data collection ▪ Data processing and analysis ▪ Interpretation of results ▪ Final report writing ▪ Presenting the results  A. Prioritizing and selecting a research topic Criteria for selecting a research topic:- 1. Relevance: The topic you choose should be a priority problem. Questions to be asked include: How large or widespread is the problem? Who is affected? How severe is the problem? 2. Avoidance of duplication: Before you decide to carry out a study, it is important that you find out whether the suggested topic has been investigated before.  B. Literature review Why is it important to review already available information when preparing for a research? - It prevents you from duplicating work that has been done before. - It helps you to find out what others have learned and reported on the problem you want to study. - It should provide you with convincing arguments for why your particular research project is needed.  C. Development of a research proposal Contents I. Title of the research II. Introduction: Background information III. Research objectives IV. Methodology V. Work plan VI. References VII. Annexes  I. Title of the research A good title should be short (10-12 words), accurate, and concise. It should Clearly related to the purpose of the study It is important to specify what population will be investigated, and where it will be conducted. Avoid beginning with redundant words such as (A study of ….)  II. Introduction (Background information and Statement of the research problem) The purpose of the introduction is to provide background information which is pertinent to the study.The statement of the research question is most important part of the introduction. It needs to be short and concise. The content of the introduction include: Importance of the topic What is known about the topic What is still unknown or problematic Findings of relevant studies ( past verb tense ) Statement of the research question What are the questions that are outstanding and need answer? III. Research Goals and Objectives Goals It describes the aim of the work in broad terms Objectives The research objectives should be: - Ordered in a logical sequence - Stated in action verbs that could be evaluated e.g. to describe, to identify, to measure, to compare, etc.  SMART Objectives ❖ S ------------ Specific ❖ M ---------- Measurable ❖ A ---------- Achievable ❖ R ---------- Relevant ❖ T ---------- Time-bound  IV. Methodology It is necessary to identify the variables that will be involved in the research being designed. Three types of variable are important: 1- Independent(predisposing/risk factors), 2- Dependent(outcome/disease) 3- Confounding variables. It is also necessary to specify whether these variables are Numerical(continuous/discrete), or Categorical (ordinal/nominal). Definition of variables should be clearly phrased.  V. Work plan It should include: 1. The various tasks to be performed 2. When the tasks will be performed 3. Who will perform the tasks  VI. References The references in your text can be numbered in the sequence in which they appear in the report and then listed in this order in the list of references (Vancouver system).  VII. Annexes These may include: - Interview schedule/ questionnaires (and/or other data collection tools). - Informed consent form - Institutional/Ethical approval for the study  D. Final Report Writing Main components of a research report: I. Title or cover page II. Abstract III. Introduction IV. Objectives V. Methodology VI. Research results (findings) VII. Discussion VIII. Conclusions IX. Recommendations X. References XI. Annexes or appendices (data collection tools, tables) I. Title or Cover page Cover page includes: research title, names of the authors with their titles and positions, and the institution that is publishing the report. II. Abstract In very few words (200-300) the abstract should inform about the main aspects of the manuscripts. Characteristics of an abstract - a very brief description of the problem (WHAT) - the main objectives (WHY) - the place of study (WHERE) - the type of study and methods used (HOW) - major findings and conclusions - the major recommendations - no references, tables or figures, no abbreviations.  III. Introduction It should certainly contain some relevant background data related to the problem, then the statement of the problem should follow. It should contain an explanation of the fundamental reasons for your research.  IV. Research objectives The general and specific objectives should be included as stated in the proposal.  V. Material and Methods This section is descriptive using the past verb tense. Subheadings should be used. 1. Subjects Methods of sampling Sample size estimation Inclusion and exclusion criteria 2. Variables Independent, dependent, controlled. 3. Pilot studies 4. Materials Equipment and measurement tools 5. procedures Detailed description, in chronological order in exactly what was done and by whom. 6. Ethical considerations 7. Statistical methods (packages, software..)  VI. Research Results It is important to plan which results are essential for answering question(s) posed in the introduction irrespective of whether or not support the hypothesis. The order of presentation of the results should be either chronological or from the most important. It is important that tables and figures have strong visual impact, are informative and easy to understand. Readers must be able to interpret them when stand alone. The results must not include discussion of the findings, methods of data analysis and citations of references.  Tables Express in a tabular way concise results Use tables to highlight individual values. Check your math. Keep lines to a minimum; avoid vertical lines. Use footnotes to clarify points of potential ambiguity. Check heading, labels of rows/columns/axes, and footnotes. Do not forget the units of the headings. Do no repeat any information in tables and figures. The table should contain at least 2 x2, rows x columns.  Figures Figure = figure legend + axes + units + content Use figures to highlight trends/relationships. Avoid grids, lines, frames, and legends inside the drawing. Use common symbols, clear and neat within the traces. Cite the reference in the figure legend. The measured variable is labeled on the Y axis while the categorical variable is labeled on the X axis.  VII. Discussion Contents of the discussion (present verb tense) Answer to the question(s) posed in the introduction together with any support and defense of the answers with reference. Explanation of unexpected findings. Clinical significance and importance of findings. The recommendations should follow logically from the findings.  VIII. Conclusions This section should comprise a brief statement of the major findings and implications of the study.  IX. Recommendations - The recommendations should follow logically from the discussion of the findings. - - Recommendations may be summarized according to the groups towards which they are directed, for example: policy-makers health and health-related managers at different levels health and health-related staff who could implement the activities potential clients the community at large Recommendations may involve: ◼ Methods, procedures or approaches for solving particular problems, ◼ Further work or actions or research to be completed  X. References The system of citing reference material in scientific journals varies with the particular journal. The name(s) of the author(s) and year of publication or numerical sequence 1,2are included in the body of the text of your paper. Bibliographic elements: The References section is a complete list of all references that you cited within your paper. The references are listed in alphabetical order by last name of the first author of each publication. Include only those references that you have actually read and that you specifically mentioned in your paper.  Citing Journal and Magazine Articles Author(s), Publication year, Article title, Journal title abbreviated, volume (issue number): pages number. 15 Citing Books Author(s), Publication year, Book Title, edition if known, Publisher, Place of publication, number of pages Citing Book Chapters Author(s), Publication year, Chapter title, In: Book title(Author(s)/editors, first name first) Place of publication, pages.  Citing Sites on the Internet Author's last name, First initial, (date created or updated), Title of the page, Title of the complete site, [Online]. Available: http://full.web.address. [Date accessed]. Citing a Thesis or Dissertation Author, Publication year, Title [dissertation], Publisher: Place of publication, number of pages. Available from: University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, MI; DAI number.  XI. Annexes OR Appendices These may include:- - Interview schedule/ questionnaires (and/or other data collection tools). - Informed consent form - Institutional/Ethical approval for the study  Verb tenses Present:Directives, conclusions, generalities, stable conditions. Past: Procedures, results, finished statements