Research Methods in Dentistry Lecture 3 PDF

DENT 4407 Research Methods in Dentistry Determination and definition of the research question Dr. Gülşilay SAYAR, DDS,PhD Associate Professor Bahçeşehir University School of Dental Medicine Department of Orthodontics [email protected] References Research Methods In Dentistry Fahimeh...

DENT 4407 Research Methods in Dentistry Determination and definition of the research question Dr. Gülşilay SAYAR, DDS,PhD Associate Professor Bahçeşehir University School of Dental Medicine Department of Orthodontics [email protected] References Research Methods In Dentistry Fahimeh Tabatabaei Lobat Tayebi Determination and definition of the research question Academic writing and research require a distinct focus and direction. A well-designed research question gives purpose and clarity to your research. In addition, it helps your readers understand the issue you are trying to address and explore. Determination and definition of the research question Every time you want to know more about a subject, you will pose a question. The same idea is used in research as well. You must pose a question in order to effectively address a research problem. That's why the research question is an integral part of the research process. Additionally, it offers the author writing and reading guidelines, be it qualitative research or quantitative research. Determination and definition of the research question In your research paper, you must single out just one issue or problem. The specific issue or claim you wish to address should be included in your thesis statement in order to clarify your main argument. Determination and definition of the research question Determination and definition of the research question A good research question must have the following characteristics •Should include only one problem in the research question •Should be able to find the answer using primary data and secondary data sources •Should be possible to resolve within the given time and other constraints •Detailed and in-depth results should be achievable •Should be relevant and realistic. •It should relate to your chosen area of research Determination and definition of the research question While a larger project, like a thesis, might have several research questions to address, each one should be directed at your main area of study. You can use different research designs and research methods (qualitative research or quantitative research) to address various research questions. However, they must all be pertinent to the study's objectives. Determination and definition of the research question What is a research question? A research question is an inquiry that the research attempts to answer. It is the heart of the systematic investigation. Research questions are the most important step in any research project. Research question initiates the research project and establishes the pace for the specific research Determination and definition of the research question A research question is: •Clear: It provides enough detail that the audience understands its purpose without any additional explanation. •Focused: It is so specific that it can be addressed within the time constraints of the writing task. Determination and definition of the research question A research question is: •Succinct: It is written in the shortest possible words. •Complex: It is not possible to answer it with a "yes" or "no", but requires analysis and synthesis of ideas before somebody can create a solution. •Argumental: Its potential answers are open for debate rather than accepted facts. Determination and definition of the research question A good research question usually focuses on the research and determines the research design, methodology, and hypothesis. It guides all phases of inquiry, data collection, analysis, and reporting. You should gather valuable information by asking the right questions. Determination and definition of the research question Why are Research Questions so important? Regardless of whether it is a qualitative research or quantitative research project, research questions provide writers and their audience with a way to navigate the writing and research process. Writers can avoid "all-about" papers by asking straightforward and specific research questions that help them focus on their research and support a specific thesis. Determination and definition of the research question Types of Research Questions There are two types of research: Qualitative research and Quantitative research. There must be research questions for every type of research. Your research question will be based on the type of research you want to conduct and the type of data collection. Determination and definition of the research question Types of Research Questions The first step in designing research involves identifying a gap and creating a focused research question. Determination and definition of the research question Determination and definition of the research question Determination and definition of the research question You can focus on the issue or research gaps you're attempting to solve by using the research questions as a direction. If you're unsure how to go about writing a good research question, these are the steps to follow in the process: •Select an interesting topic Always choose a topic that interests you. Because if your curiosity isn’t aroused by a subject, you’ll have a hard time conducting research around it. Alos, it’s better that you pick something that’s neither too narrow or too broad. Determination and definition of the research question Do preliminary research on the topic Search for relevant literature to gauge what problems have already been tackled by scholars. You’ll be able to quickly understand the abstract, find the key takeaways, and the main arguments presented in the paper. This will give you a more contextual understanding of your subject and you’ll have an easier time identifying knowledge gaps in your discipline. Determination and definition of the research question •Consider your audience It is essential to understand your audience to develop focused research questions for essays or dissertations. •When narrowing down your topic, you can identify aspects that might interest your audience. Determination and definition of the research question •Ask questions Asking questions will give you a deeper understanding of the topic. •Evaluate your question through the What, Why, When, How, and other open-ended questions assessment. Determination and definition of the research question •Assess your question Once you have created a research question, assess its effectiveness to determine if it is useful for the purpose. •Refine and revise the dissertation research question multiple times. Determination and definition of the research question Use this list of questions as a guide when formulating your research question: Are you able to answer a specific research question? After identifying a gap in research, it would be helpful to formulate the research question. And this will allow the research to solve a part of the problem. Determination and definition of the research question Is your research question clear and centered on the main topic? It is important that your research question should be specific and related to your central goal. Determination and definition of the research question Are you tackling a difficult research question? It is not possible to answer the research question with a simple yes or no. The problem requires in-depth analysis. It is often started with "How" and "Why." Determination and definition of the research question Start your research Once you have completed your dissertation research questions, it is time to review the literature on similar topics to discover different perspectives. Determination and definition of the research question The following criteria can help you evaluate the strength and importance of your research question and can be used to determine the strength of your research question: Researchable It should only cover one issue. A subjective judgment should not be included in the question. It can be answered with data analysis and research. Determination and definition of the research question •Specific and Practical 1.It should not contain a plan of action, policy, or solution. 2.It should be clearly defined 3.Within research limits Determination and definition of the research question •Complex and Arguable 1.It shouldn't be difficult to answer. 2.To find the truth, you need in-depth knowledge 3.Allows for discussion and deliberation Determination and definition of the research question •Original and Relevant 1.It should be in your area of study 2.Its results should be measurable 3.It should be original Determination and definition of the research question Conclusion - How to write Research Questions? Research questions provide a clear guideline for research. One research question may be part of a larger project, such as a dissertation. However, each question should only focus on one topic. Determination and definition of the research question Conclusion - How to write Research Questions? Research questions must be answerable, practical, specific, and applicable to your field. The research type that you use to base your research questions on will determine the research topic. You can start by selecting an interesting topic and doing preliminary research. Then, you can begin asking questions, evaluating your questions, and start your research. Determination and definition of the research question By choosing an appropriate research design, you can answer your research question. “what you will do to answer the research question” forms your research design. At this step, you should know which type of study is most likely to answer your question and give the highest quality results. For determining the most appropriate study design, your research question should be well-formulated Determination and definition of the research question Based on the research question, the hypothesis (relationship between variables or a difference between groups), and the type of data (quantitative or qualitative), you can decide about the required statistical tests and explain the rationale for your decision Determination and definition of the research question • Is the main research question formulated precisely (PICOT)? Determination and definition of the research question As Albert Einstein said, “the formulation of the problem is often more essentialthan its solution.” Specifying the question makes it possible to give a framework tothe project. The research question plays a guiding role because it will serve as abasis for formulating and identifying the hypotheses. Determination and definition of the research question Developing the research topic into a question makes it easier to outline the steps necessary to answer the question posed. It helps the researcher to understand more clearly what he/she is looking for. In other words, by framing the question, the problem is almost half solved. It is also helpful during proposal writing for answering the questions raised. Determination and definition of the research question If your study is exploratory research (case report), your question is about what happened (e.g., what are the adverse effects of tongue piercing? Determination and definition of the research question In the descriptive research (cross-sectional study), you will ask about the characteristics of the problem (What are the prevalence and risk indicators of periimplantitis? Determination and definition of the research question In the observational analytical study (case-control, cohort study), you will ask about the relation of two or more variables together (Is there any association between orofacial pain and depression? Determination and definition of the research question The question in the interventional (experimental) research is about the effect of one variable on another one (Does preemptive analgesia with intravenous acetaminophen affect postoperative pain after third molar surgery? Determination and definition of the research question If you’re going to investigate the causes or the prognosis of this disease (uncontrollable phenomenon), cohort studies are appropriate; and in case your question is about the effectiveness of a new treatment for this disease, clinical trial studies are more applicable. Determination and definition of the research question Let us consider a research question on dental ceramics. If your research question is “which dental ceramics has the best fracture resistance among the available ones,” you can measure bending (flexural) strength by in vitro assessment. However, if you want to evaluate the ultimate performance of a new dental ceramic, you need to conduct a clinical trial. Thank you...