PHAR 628 Lecture 4: The Process of Scientific Inquiry - PDF

PHAR 628 Research Methods & Biostatistics Lecture 4: The Process of Scientific Inquiry Lixian Zhong, Ph.D. Jan 24th, 2025 1 Objectives ❖To describe the process in scientific res...

PHAR 628 Research Methods & Biostatistics Lecture 4: The Process of Scientific Inquiry Lixian Zhong, Ph.D. Jan 24th, 2025 1 Objectives ❖To describe the process in scientific research ❖To understand the structure of a research report 2 Steps in Scientific Research Process Pose a research question and hypothesis 1 Develop and implement a research plan 2 Perform data collection and analysis 3 Prepare a research report 4 3 Steps in Scientific Research Process Pose a research question and hypothesis 1 Develop and implement a research plan 2 Perform data collection and analysis 3 Prepare a research report 4 4 Pose A Research Question and Hypothesis A Research Question is a question that states the research problem to be studied. E.g. In patients with diabetes, do clinical services by pharmacists improve short- term clinical outcomes compared with traditional care in an outpatient setting? A Hypothesis specifies an expected relationship that is being evaluated between intervention and outcome or two or more variables. E.g. Clinical services by pharmacists will improve short-term clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes in outpatient settings compared to traditional care. 5 Pose a Research Question and Hypothesis Sources of research question- clinical practice, policy, current issue, literature, theory… Desirable characteristics -Feasible -Interesting -Novel -Ethical FINER -Relevant 6 Pose a Research Question and Hypothesis Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Timeline and Setting (PICOTS) framework can be used to develop a good clinical question. Economical, Clinical and Humanistic Outcomes (ECHO) are usually evaluated in pharmaceutical practice and policy research. 7 Pose a Research Question and Hypothesis – Example using PICOTS Framework E.g. Clinical services by pharmacists will improve short-term clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes in outpatient settings compared to traditional care. 8 Steps in Scientific Research Process Pose a research question and hypothesis 1 Develop and implement a research plan 2 Perform data collection and analysis 3 Prepare a research report 4 9 Developing and Implementing a Research Plan Research design: Refers to overall plan that allows researchers to gather answers to study questions and test study hypothesis. Research design classification: ◦ Experimental: Strongest design to test research hypothesis. ◦ Observational: Designs like cohort study or cross-sectional studies provide the evidence of associations or relationships. 10 Steps in Scientific Research Process Pose a research question and hypothesis 1 Develop and implement a research plan 2 Perform data collection and analysis 3 Prepare a research report 4 11 Data Collection and Analysis Research Methodology: Provides details on data collection and measurement techniques. Grouped as ◦ Primary methods: specific data collection using self-reported observations, biological assessments (E.g. Surveys, lab tests) ◦ Secondary methods: use of previously collected data for purposes such as patient care or reimbursement (E.g. Medical charts, medical claims) 12 Data Collection and Analysis Collect data Organize, summarize and analyze the data. Statistical analysis provides quantitative answers to the research questions -Descriptive measure like means, medians and standard deviations are often used to summarize the sample characteristics. -Inferential statistics such as t-test and analysis of variance are used to make inferences on the population. 13 Steps in Scientific Research Process Pose a research question and hypothesis 1 Develop and implement a research plan 2 Perform data collection and analysis 3 Prepare a research report 4 14 Why report research? To organize, summarize and document research To communicate research To get publicity so that research findings can be disseminated To be archived as part of the literature Researchers can be recognized for their contribution 15  Why Read Research Reports? Our professional advancement depends on incorporating research findings into our scheme of making clinical judgments and treatment decisions. As consumers of research, we have a responsibility to evaluate research reports to determine whether the findings provide sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of current practices or offer alternatives that will improve patient care. 16 General Structure of a Journal Article Session Should Contain Title Very brief summary of the article Brief statement of the objectives of the study Brief description of the methods Abstract Highlights of results General conclusions Statement of the problem Review of literature Introduction Rationale and/or theoretic framework Specific objectives or hypotheses Study design Criteria for and methods of subject selection Methods Measurement methods and data collection/analysis techniques Tables and figures that summarize findings Results Narrative description of findings Importance of findings Discussion Critique study limitations and strengths (and Discuss conclusion generalizations Conclusions) Comparison of results of work of others Suggestions for future study References List of all references cited in the article 17  Title Title List of authors (& author affiliations) Name of the Journal Time and issue of publication 18 An example of Title Page 19  Abstract Overview and purpose of the study General description of methods Highlights of results Statement of significance of results General conclusions 20 An example of abstract 21  Abstract The abstract summarizes the content of the article. Abstract includes the purpose of the study, general study design and methodology, a summary of the results, and the major conclusion(s). The abstract must be concise. The word limit may be 150-350 words, occasionally more or less. 22 General Structure of a Journal Article Session Should Contain Title Very brief summary of the article Brief statement of the objectives of the study Brief description of the methods Abstract Highlights of results General conclusions Statement of the problem Review of literature Introduction Rationale and/or theoretic framework Specific objectives or hypotheses Study design Criteria for and methods of subject selection Methods Measurement methods and data collection/analysis techniques Tables and figures that summarize findings Results Narrative description of findings Importance of findings Discussion Critique study limitations and strengths (and Discuss conclusion generalizations Conclusions) Comparison of results of work of others Suggestions for future study References List of all references cited in the article 23  Introduction (Background) Statement of the problem Clinical relevance Review of literature Rationale and theoretical framework (if any) Specific purpose and hypotheses (or guiding questions) 24 Introduction 25  Methods How the Study was carried out – “Cookbook” Study design Criteria for and methods of subject selection Measurement and data collection methodology Data analysis procedures 26 Methods 27  Results The results section must report the findings of the study without interpretation or commentary. Readers should find a narrative description presented in the order of the stated purposes, aims, or hypotheses. The results should be used to clearly answer each research question. 28  Tables and Figures Tables and figures are frequently used in the results section of an article to facilitate explanation of statistical findings and to provide visual explanations. To be effective, the tables and figures must follow guidelines for the specific journal and general considerations for developing visual materials. 29  Discussion (and Conclusions) - Interpretation of statistical outcomes - Discussion of clinical significance of outcomes - Importance of the work - Comparison of results with work of others - How results support or conflict with theory - Critique of the study limitations and strengths - Suggestions for further study 30  Conclusion(s) The is a brief restatement of the purpose of the study and its principal findings. It is often written in such a way that the author states the deductions made from the results. Phrases such as "the results of this study indicate" and "this study demonstrates“ serve to link the summary of results and the meaning of those results. 31 Conclusion(s) 32  References The style of citing references throughout the text and in the listing of references at the end of a manuscript must follow the Instructions to Authors. Many journals use the style suggested by the published "Uniform Requirements.” Others may follow American Psychological Association or the American Medical Association For non-journal article citations, such as internet, journals generally include instructions for such citations. 33 General Structure of a Journal Article Session Should Contain Title Very brief summary of the article Brief statement of the objectives of the study Brief description of the methods Abstract Highlights of results General conclusions Statement of the problem Review of literature Introduction Rationale and/or theoretic framework Specific objectives or hypotheses Study design Criteria for and methods of subject selection Methods Measurement methods and data collection/analysis techniques Tables and figures that summarize findings Results Narrative description of findings Importance of findings Discussion Critique study limitations and strengths (and Discuss conclusion generalizations Conclusions) Comparison of results of work of others Suggestions for future study References List of all references cited in the article 34