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How to Formulate a Research Question
Dr. Bassem S. Kurdi, MBBS Demonstrator
Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine, KAU
Objectives
l What is a research question? l Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis l Sources for the RQ l What makes a good RQ? l Common problems in RQs l What’s after the RQ l References
Objectives
INSPIRATION!
What is a Research Question?
l The first methodological step to resolve a scientific uncertainty.
l It is an organized and more specific inquisitive statement of the topic under study that can be translated into a research project
l “The single most important component of a study... It is the keystone of the entire exercise” (1)
Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest Topic RQ Hypothesis
Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
l Interest: A general interest in a specific field l Topic: A broad idea requiring further analysis
– Could include population, variables, etc.
l RQ: Brings a piece of the topic into focus l Hypothesis: A tentative explanation that
accounts for a set of facts and can be tested. – Conjectural statement that identifies the predicted
relationship between two or more variables. (2)
Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest: Endocrinology. Type II DM. Topic: Vit. D3 and its relationship to Type II DM RQ: Does administration of 4’000 IU of Vit. D3
daily in addition to Metformin in adults with newly diagnosed T2DM improve glycemic control, compared to Metformin alone?
Hypothesis: Our expected answer for the RQ!
The Hypothesis!
Terms of interest: (3) l Null Hypothesis: Ho
– Innocent till proven guilty
l Alternative Hypothesis: H1
l Directional vs. Non-directional Hypothesis N.B. PICO Clinical Question in EBM
It’s Only the Beginning!
Sources for the RQ
l Clinical Experience l Mentor l Literature Overview l Conferences l Research Experience
Clinical Experience
l Parents of infants with colic use caraway to sooth their babies. A primipara mother asks you if this home remedy a safe and effective treatment for her newborn child.
Mentor
l Discuss ideas with an experienced physician in the area of your interest.
l Other benefits. l Do your homework
Literature Overview
l Journals: Pediatrics, NEJM, JAMA, Saudi Medical Journal, etc.
l Online Databases: MedLine. PubMed, Google Schoolar
l Local university publications database
l Don’t re-invent the wheel!
Conferences
l Latest updates in the field l Abstracts book l Meeting the experts
Research Experience
l One’s previous research experience l Do one and it will lead you to another
What Makes a Good RQ?
FINER Criteria (4) l Feasible l Interesting l Novel l Ethical l Relevant
FINER: Feasible
l Time. Can this be done in a reasonable time frame for me?
l Money. Can sufficient funding be collected? Is it too expensive?
l Population. Can a large enough sample size be secured?
l Skills. Are any special skills required and available?
l Resources. Can I secure the required resources?
FINER: Interesting
l Is it interesting to me? l Is it interesting to others around me? l Is it interesting to journal editors?
FINER: Novel
l Don’t reinvent the wheel l Am I addressing something new? l Am I addressing something old in a new
way?
FINER: Ethical
l Are there any ethical issues? l What are the risks vs. benefits? l Will my Local Research Ethics Committee
accept the proposal?
FINER: Relevant
l What will it add to the existing body of knowledge?
l Will the results be applicable? l Will the results be generalizable?
FINER is Fine!
Common Problems
l Reinventing the wheel: Review literature thoroughly, give it a new spin
l Ethically questionable: Local research committee
l Question too broad or too narrow: revise your question. Discuss with a mentor
l Unavailable resources: patient records, money, investigations: Allah m3ak!
l Unsupportive faculty: find someone else!
What’s Next?
l Extensive literature review l Revise your RQ and Hypothesis l Determine variables and confounding factors l Discuss your project with an expert l Check local university & college policies l Proceed to study design
References
1. Bordage G, Dawson B. Experimental study design and grant writing in eight steps and 28 questions. Med Educ. 2003;37(4):376-85
2. Geri LoBiondo-Wood & Judith Haber. Nursing Research: Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice, 7th Edition
3. Steps Statistical Glossary v1.1 http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/index.html
4. Hulley SB, Cummings SR, eds. Designing clinical research. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1998
How to Formulate a Research Question
This presentation can be found at: www.bassemkurdi.com
Disclaimer: All images used in this presentation are property of their respective owners unless otherwise stated. This presentation is for non-profit educational purposes only.
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