Developing a Research Question

Judy Zerzan, MD, MPH

July 5, 2005

The Research Question• What topic are you interested in?

– What has already been done?

• Why is this important?

• What is your specific question?

– What group do you want to apply results?

– Looking for a difference or relationship? (methods)

– What intervention?

– What major outcome?

• What answer do you expect to find? (hypothesis)

Research Topic

Study Question

Study Question

Study Question

Use Topic to Generate Questions

• Topic – – Includes many related issues

– Broad

• Question – – Has an answer

– Specifies what the study will actually answer if it’s successful

– One sentence

Get an Idea and Hypothesis

The question should tell what you want to accomplish

• Brainstorm– Way you look at the world – experience,

knowledge– Passionate about

• Write this idea as hypothesis

• List your assumptions about the topic– Sort out assumptions– Things are sure of– Things you need to find out more about– Lit search helps with this

• Make a conceptual framework– What are factors involved?– How are the factors connected?

• Generate multiple hypotheses for what would make a difference

MD burnout

Perceived impact of workExtentTypePolicyCommunity changeSocial justicePatient careAdvancing science

DemographicsGenderFamily relationshipsLoan burdenYears since training

Characteristics of researchType of place- govt, academic, public health, foundationFunding presently/past# publications, # 1st authorPayMentoring% research %practice%teaching%adminFull-time/part-timeSpecialtyPromotion/levelYrs. in research

Motivation to pursue research trainingIdealismCreativityAcademic driveControlHelping othersSocial responsibilityDesire for recognition

Career satisfactionStress

The Beginning

• Broad question –– Hard to study because not precise – Must move from general to particular– Needs to be very specific and context bound

• What’s the question?

• What will be done with the answer?

Refine by Literature Review

• Find out what’s known

• Identify gaps

• Find out about methods

• Identify limitations of other studies

• Identify other people to talk to

Narrow MoreIdentify the main terms in your question and then

elaborate the possible meanings of each term– Limit by experience

– Define subject

– Define intervention/exposure

– Define outcome

– Define comparison

• Practical and methodological constraints

• Discuss with peers and experts

• Consider sources of bias and how can minimize

Think About

• How – methods

• What - specific definitions

• Why – cause and effect, relationship

• Where – location, viewpoint/perspective

• When – timing

• Whom – participants

FINER Criteria

• Feasible

• Interesting

• Novel

• Ethical

• Relevant

Let’s Try It!