INTRODUCTION TO
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
Dr. Abazar Amar
MBBS, MPH, MEED
Sudanese Medical Research Association
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this Lecture the
Candidate must Know:
• Definitions of Research
• Types of Research
• Important of Research
• How to Identify Good Research problem
• How Select Good Research Topic
• How to Analyze Research Problem
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DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
Literally:
Investigation undertaken in order to discover new
facts or get additional information.
To search again.
Scientifically:
The systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of data to answer certain question or
solve a problem.
Answer question
Or
Solve problem
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TERMINOLOGY
A thesis or dissertation is a research submitted for
an academic degree or professional qualification
presenting the author's research.
"Thesis“ is used for part of a bachelor’s or
master’s course
"Dissertation" is normally applied to a doctorate
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RESEARCH PURPOSE
1. Generates new knowledge (basic research)
2. Identifies priority problems
3. Evaluates polices (applied research).
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CLASSIFICATION OF
RESEARCH
Basic research
Applied research
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
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BASIC RESEARCH & APPLIED RESEARCH
1. Basic Research
Generating new knowledge and
technologies to deal with major
unresolved issues.
2. Applied Research
Identification of priority problems
Design, implement and evaluate policies
and programmes of benefit
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STEPS OF DEVELOPING A RESEARCH
1. What is the problem and why should it be studied?
(Statement of the Problem)
2. What information is already available?
(Literature Review)
3. Why do we want to carry out the research? What
do we hope to achieve? (Objectives)
4. What data needed? (Methods and Tools)
How much is needed? How to collect?
How to process and analyze? Who will do what,
when and where? How to manage the project?
What resources are needed for carrying out the
study?
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PROBLEMS
9
IDENTIFICATION
& SELECTION
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INTRODUCTION
Problem is a
discrepancy between what
should be and what exists.
Finding a problem is not hard but identifying
one for research is not always easy.
A well-defined problem leads to good
statement of research problem, hypothesis,
and definition of key variables and selection
of appropriate methodology.
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SOURCE OF PROBLEM
Real life (observation)
Reading published papers
Professors and Seniors
Note: Problem analysis helps in
finding a topic
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TYPES OF PROBLEMS
1. Community based health problems
such as: harmful practices, unsafe water, poor
basic sanitation …
2. Hospital based problems
such as: Diseases
3. Health Services problems
Such as: (money, materials, manpower,
management)
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CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A PROBLEM
1. Important health problem
2. Have some chance of being solved
3. Feasible within the available resources
4. Be one that require reasonable
resources
5. The research should be cost/effective
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1.Important Health Problem
Statistical data.
Epidemiological data
Discussions with key personnel, decision-
makers, academicians and experienced
researchers in the various fields may
facilitate for the researchers to identify
priority problems
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2.Have Some Chance Of Being
Solved
Unreasonable to
select a problem
not amenable for
solution.
Explore & review
available
literature.
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3.Feasible Within The Available Resources
Is the available time enough to complete
the research if such problem is selected?
Will the research objectives be achieved
within the available time?
Will the research results be of value if the
research is carried within the available
time?
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4.Be One That Require Reasonable Resources
Examine the available and potential
resources at local, national and
international levels
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5.The Research Should Be Cost/Effective
Simple cost/effectiveness analysis.
Is it cost /effective to conduct a research?
Is it going to produce fruitful results?
Will the expected results solve the problem ?
How the research outcome will contribute to
general knowledge?
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PRIORITIZING PROBLEMS
Criteria for Selecting best research title
PRIORITIZING PROBLEMS
1. Relevance
2. Avoidance of duplication
3. Feasibility
4. Political acceptability
5. Applicability
6. Urgency
7. Ethical acceptability
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Relevance
Topic chosen should be a priority problem
Questions to consider include
How large or widespread is the problem?
Who is being affected?
How severe is the problem?
Who perceives the problem to be important?
If a topic is not relevant drop it out
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Avoidance of duplication
Has the topic been investigated
before?
Are there other studies that have
similar results?
Results should be reviewed to explore
whether major questions that deserve
further investigations remained
unanswered
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Feasibility
How easy is it to implement this research
problem?
Do I have the resources?
Thought should be given on
Personnel
Time
Equipment
and money locally available
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Political Acceptability
Always research on a topic that has the
interest of the authorities.
Increases the chance that the results of
the study will be implemented
At times you might need to show that
certain government policy needs
adjustment
Involve the policy makers concerned at
an early stage to limit confrontation
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Applicability
Is it likely that the recommendations
from this study will be applied?
Depends on the blessing of the authority
Depends on the availability of resources
to implement the recommendations
Opinion of potential recipients and
responsible staff influence the
implementation too.
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Urgency
How urgently are the results needed for
making decision?
Which research should bedone first and
which one can be done later?
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Ethical acceptability
Are you not inflicting harm on others
while carrying out research?
Review your research with the view of
ethics in whatever you are doing
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SCALES FOR RATING OF
RESEARCH TOPICS
Each of the 7 criteria is rated on a 3-
point scale to identify priority problems
Rating Scale
1.Low (1-2)
2.Medium (3-5)
3.High (above 5)
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Criteria For Prioritizing A Research
Problem
1. Relevance:
Not relevant =0
Relevant =1
Very relevant =2
2. Avoidance of duplication:
Sufficient information already available
=1
Some information available
=2
No information available =3
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Cont. Criteria for prioritizing a research
problem
3. Feasibility:
Study not feasible =1
Study feasible =2
Study very feasible =3
4. Political acceptability :
Topic not accepted to policy makers
=0
Topic more or less accepted
=1
Topic fully accepted =2
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cont. Criteria for prioritizing a
research problem
5. Applicability:
No chance of recommendations being
implemented = 1
Some of the recommendations being
implemented = 2
Good chances of recommendations
being implemented = 3
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cont. Criteria for prioritizing a research problem
6. Urgency:
Information not urgently needed =1
Information is needed but delay is acceptable =
2
Information very urgently =3
7. Ethical acceptability:
Not ethically accepted =0
Minor ethical problem =1
No ethical problem =2
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PROBLEM ANALYSIS
Identify factors that may have
contributed to the problem.
Clarify the relationship between the
problem and the contributing factors.
Problem analysis diagram helps to
visualize the interrelationship between
the problem and the contributing factors.
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E.G.
Malari
a
Diagnosis Treatment
Investigation Sign &
Supportive Antimalarial
s Symptoms
CBC BF Sensitive Resistant
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ASSIGNMENTS
Select Topic/s
Periodizing it Using above Table
Deadline for Submission: Next Week
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THANK YOU
Ref:
1. Research Guidelines
2. Mamoun H. Research Methods
3. Handout
Email: [email protected]
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