1 thinking about research & nature of research2

Sherzad Ali Ismael,Community Medicine Dept,College of Medicine.

1Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

Subject Research Methods Credit units 1 Hours 15 hours theory Assessment:

Quizzes (3): 30%

Assignments (2): 20%

Course exam (1): 50%

Success: 60%

Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 2

1. Thinking about research & nature of research.

2. Formulating & clarifying research topic3. Critically reviewing the literature 4. Formulating the research design

(Strategies)5. Writing & presenting the research

protocol6. Data collection methods (quantitative &

qualitative)

Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 3

Designing he questionnaires Reference writing using Endnote Technical research skills and IT Writing & publishing research paper Research ethics Academic writing in research

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Writing the reference (Harvard and Vancouver).

Clinical trials. Critical appraisal. Plagiarism.

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1. Bob Mathews & Liz Ross. Research Methods, a practical guide for the social sciences. Pearson Education limited 2010. England.

2. Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, & Adrian Thornhill. Research methods for business students. Pearson Education Limited 2009. Edinburgh.

3. Jonathan Grix. The Foundation of Research. Palgrave Macmillan 2004. London.

4. Geoffrey Marczyk, David DeMatteo & David Festinger. Essentials of Research Design & Methodology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc 2005. New Jersey.

5. SK Gupta. Basic principles of clinical research & methodology. Jaypee brothers medical publishers (P) limited 2007. New Delhi. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 6

6. RL Bijlani. Medical Research. Jaypee brothers medical publishers (P) limited 2008. New Delhi.

7. Mohit Bhandari & Parag Sanchesti. Clinical Research made easy, a guide to publishing in medical literature. Jaypee brothers medical publishers (P) limited 2010. New Delhi.

8. Yugish Kumar Singh. Fundamental of Research Methodology & Statistics. New Age International Publishers 2006. New Delhi.

9. Catherin Dawson. Practical Research Methods, A user-friendly guide to mastering research. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data 2002. UK.

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Provide an understanding and overview of different types of research methods.

Formulate research topics, design & critically reviewing the literature.

Identify different types & design of questionnaire.

Use technical research skills to write & publish researches.

conduct academic research and present research protocol.

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Research MethodsSherzad Ali Ismael,Community Medicine Dept,College of Medicine.

9Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

Understand the concept of research, approaches & components.

Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative researches.

Explain the concepts of quality of researches in terms of validity and reliability.

Understand research methodology with other dimensions of research.

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Knowledge: Information about or awareness of something, an issue, a fact that you have gained through learning or experience. (Longman Dictionary)

Information: Facts or details that tell you something about a situation, person, events etc. (Longman Dictionary)

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Hypothesis: an idea that is suggested as an explanation for something, but that has not been proved to be true.

Theory: a set of ideas or related concepts which can be used to explain & understand an event, situation, social phenomena.

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Science:

the study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world and society, especially through observation and experiment”. (The Oxford Dictionary)

Knowledge about the world, especially based on examining, testing, and providing facts”. (Longman Dictionary)

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Science is empirical

Based on scientific tests or practical experiments, not on ideas.

Science is rational

Based on reasons rather than emotions

Science is cumulative

Facts that can be built upon by future scientists.

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The Oxford Dictionary: Researches [plural], a careful study of a

subject, especially in order to discover new facts or information about it”.

Research is “a systematic method of finding solution to a problem” (Kothari, 2004). the systematic method consisting of stating the

problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the data, analyzing the facts & reaching certain conclusions.

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Undertaken when:

we have a question to answer.

we need to acquire knowledge (causes of headache are…)

we want to extend our understanding of the social world.

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To gain familiarity with a phenomenon. To portray accurately the characteristics of a

particular individual, situation or a group. To determine the frequency with which

something occurs.

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Desire to get a research degree. Desire to face the challenge in solving the

unsolved problems. Desire to be of service to society. Desire to get respectability.

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The question. The research process. The answer.

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The nature of research IS NOT:

Simply gathering information or facts.

Divorced from practical life.

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The nature of research IS:

Structured & purposefulness (both in gathering & interpreting data)

Accurate.

Strong & defensible.

Systematic.

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…a search for knowledge … a scientific & systematic search … an art of scientific investigation … a systemized effort to gain new knowledge

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Descriptive vs. Analytic. Applied vs. Fundamental. Quantitative vs. Qualitative. Conceptual (Philosophers & thinkers) vs.

Empirical (Experiment or observation). Other types

Clinical or diagnostic

Cross-sections or longitudinal.

Exploratory or explanatory.Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 23

1. Quantitative Research

Generates statistics through the use of large scale survey methods, questionnaire or structures interviews.

Words like:

▪ how many?

▪ How often?

▪ test,

▪ verify, are used.

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Based on measurement – applicable where quantitative measurements can be applied.

Knowledge of statistical methods helps us qualify our conclusions-attach scientific probabilities (levels of significance)- and provides a basis for accepting or rejecting hypotheses.

25Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

Explore attitudes, behavior & experience through interviews or focus groups.

Attempts to get an in depth opinion from participants.

Words like: Discover Motivation Experiences Think/ thoughts Problems Behave/ behaviors are used.

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When phenomenon being studied is qualitative, not amenable to clear measurement.

E.g. motivation research (why do you study research methodology?)

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…the term research refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem,

formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts & reaching certain conclusions either in the form

of solutions toward the concerned problem, or in certain generalizations for some theoretical formulation” (Kothari, 2011: p.1-2).

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Research MethodsSherzad Ali Ismael,Community Medicine Dept,College of Medicine.

29Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

The two words are often confused, used interchangeably & misunderstood.

Methods:

Defined as “techniques or procedures used to collect & analyze data” (Blaikie 2000: 8).

Can be used in both quantitative & qualitative researches.

E.g. using questionnaire, interview, statistical analysis,…etc.

30Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

Methodology (Philosophy):

A way of systematically solve the research problem.

Answer the questions:

▪ How the research is done scientifically?

▪ Which methods are used & why?

The term refers to the choice of research strategy.

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Key aspects to research quality:

Reliability- or dependability (replicability)

▪ Results may/ can be replicated by other researchers using the same methods? How?▪ (e.g. all data is included, & no data is lost)

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Key aspects to research quality:

Validity: Do the methods & tools truly measure what they are intended to measure?

▪ Internal validity: Are the data that I’m gathering relevant to my research question? ▪ I.e. will they help me to answer my research question or test my

hypothesis?

▪ External validity: can results of my research be generalized to the wider population?

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Quality criteria in Research (Becker et al 2006):

Accessible to appropriate audience.

Clearly addresses the research question.

Transparency in data collection & analysis.

A clear statement of how the research process was conducted.

The research makes a contribution to knowledge.

More…

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Descriptive research: describe subjects accurately.

Exploratory research: ‘what is happening; to seek new insights; to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a new light’ (Robson 2002:59).

Explanatory (causal relationship) research: between variables of interest.

Evaluation research: What changes in MOH policy help young men to quit smoking?

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THEORY

DATA

Inductive Deductive

Source: Bob Mathews & Liz Ross 2010

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