Dr.

Magda Yousif 20-21 1

By the end of this course the student will be able to:
- Identify research and research methodology.
- Outline steps in conducting research.
- Discuss the important of scientific research and methods in
health practice.
- Formulating research proposal.

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By the end of this session the student will be able to:

Recognize the basic of the research methodology

Identify common terminology in the research.
Identify classifications and types of the research
Describe the research process

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 Research concept:
Research is an active, diligent and systematic process of
inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events,
behaviors, or theories, or to make practical applications with the
help of such facts, laws or theories, to prove a hypothesis or
answer a specific question. Finding a definitive answer is the
central goal of any experimental process.

Research methodology definition

Specific procedure or techniques used to identify, select,
process, and analyzing information about a topic. It follows
scientific investigation principles.

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Methodology:
Is the overall procedures of the research process starting
from selection the research topic till writing the final
report.

Methods:
Is study design or ways you explain the method of data
collection and analysis and disseminate the results.

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The word "research" derives from the Middle French and the
literal meaning is "to investigate thoroughly".
The term "research" is also used to describe the
collection of information about a particular subject with
clear objectives or purpose.

Things to remember:
Just fact or information with no clear purpose as term to
get your product or idea and respected, collect data with
out interpretation or analysis this not consider reasech

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Research definition
Careful study or investigation in order to discover new
facts or information
“Oxford Dictionary”

The systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of

data to answer certain question or solve a problem
“Scientific definition”
 Variable
Is a quality, characteristic or constituent of a person,
object or phenomenon that is changeable and
measurable

Dependant variable
The variable used to measure the problem under study

Independent variable
The variable used to describe or measure the factors
assumed to cause or influence the problem
 Data
Observations made on individuals making the study
sample

Quantitative data
Numerical data or data based on numbers

Qualitative data
Non-numerical data or data based on qualities
 Population
An aggregate of individuals of people, things, events or
anything in common

Target population
The whole population targeted by the study

Study population
Part of the target population best reflecting the
phenomenon under study
 Sample
Part of the study population from which the information is
obtained

Sampling
The process of selecting study units from a defined study
population

Sampling frame
List of all individuals in the study population from which a
sample is to be selected

Sample size
The number of individuals (study units) in the sample
 Bias
Systemic error that can distort the study and tends to
produce results or conclusions that differ from the
truth
It can affect either the internal or external validity of
the study or both

Internal validity
Here, the results are accurate and repeatable for the
same study sample

External validity
It means the results are accurate and generalizable to
the target population
 Accuracy
The exactness and freedom from error

Repeatability (reproducibility)
The ability of getting the same results if using the same
methods for the same study sample

Generalizability
The ability of assuming representativeness of the
results obtained from the study sample to the target
population
Research serves two major purposes:
1- Generates new knowledge and technologies to deal
with major unresolved problems (basic research).

2- Identifies priority problems and designs and evaluates

policies and programs (applied research).
It demands a clear statement of the problem.
It requires a plan (proposal).
It builds on existing data (literature review).
It collects new data.
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 Applied research Basic research

Focus on a practical solution to problem. Primarily concerned with expand of

knowledge

Objectives are negotiated with

originator Choice of topic and objectives set
by researcher
Mostly Undertaken by people Mostly undertaken in universities
based on different setting or research centers
(organization or institutions)
Tight time scale time limited to Flexible time scale
find solution to the problem and
done under pressure

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Quantitative research is research involving the use of
structured questions where the response options have
been predetermined and a large number of
respondents is involved.
The researcher :
Decide what to study.
Asks specific, narrow questions.
Collects numeric (numbers) data from participants.
Analyzes these numbers using statistics.

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Is collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data by
observing what people do and say.
Whereas, quantitative research refers to counts and
measures of things, qualitative research refers to the
meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics,
symbols, and descriptions of things

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Synthetic rather than analytic.
Generally hypothesis generating.
Investigative methods and non- intrusive.
Data are more impressionistic.
Research in such a situation is a function of
researcher insights and impression.

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Qualitative data are in form of words rather than
numbers based on:
Observation (recorded in field notes
In- depth Interview.
Focus Group discussion
Surveys( open ended questions).
Document analysis ( listen, record, transcribe and
analysis).

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Step I: Formulating a research problem:
The main function of formulating a research
problem is to decide what you want to find out
about.
Formulating a research problem is the first and
most important step in the research process.
It should tell you, your research supervisor and
your readers what you intend to research.

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The purpose of a literature review is to gain an
understanding of the existing research and debates
relevant to a particular topic or area of study, and to
present that knowledge in the form of a written report.
Conducting a literature review helps you build your
knowledge in your selected research topic.

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An extremely important feature of
research is the use of appropriate
methods.
The main function of a research design is
to explain how you processing your
research and how will find answers to
your research questions.

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Anything that becomes a means of collecting
information for your study is called a
“research tool” or a “research instrument”.
For example, observation forms, interview
schedules, questionnaires and interview guides
are all classified as research tools.
The construction of a research tool is the first
‘practical’ step in carrying out a study.

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The accuracy of your findings largely depends
upon the way you select your sample.
The basic objective of any sampling design is
to minimize, within the limitation of cost, the
gap between the values obtained from your
sample and those prevalent in the population.

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Now, step by step, you have done all the preparatory
work.
Next put everything together in a way that provides
adequate information, for your research supervisor
and others, about your research study.
This overall plan tells a reader about your research
problem and how you are planning to investigate, and
is called a research proposal or study plan.

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Introduction (background, statement of the problem and rationale).
A statement of the objectives of the study.
A list of research questions or hypotheses, if you are testing any.
The study design you are proposing to use.
The setting for your study.
The research instrument(s)you are planning to use
Information on sample size and sampling design.
Information on data-processing procedures.
Ethical consideration.
The proposed time-frame.

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Data collection:
As a part of the research design, you decided upon the
procedure you wanted to adopt to collect your data.
For example, depending upon your plans, you might
commence interviews, mail out a questionnaire, conduct
nominal/focused group discussions or make observations.
Data process:
If your study is purely descriptive, you can write your
dissertation/report on use a computer program.

If you want quantitative analysis, it is also necessary to decide

upon the type of analysis required (i.e., frequency distribution,
cross-tabulations or other statistical procedures.

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Writing the report is the last and, for many, the most
difficult step of the research process.
This report informs the world what you have done,
what you have discovered and what conclusions you
have drawn from your findings.
Your report should be written in an academic style
and be divided into different chapters and/or sections
based upon the main themes of your study.

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 Selection, analysis & What is the problem and why should it be
Statement of problem Studied?

What information is already available?

Literature review

Formulation of objectives Why do we want to carry out the research?

What do we hope to achieve?

Research methods What additional data do we need to meet

Objectives? How will the data be collected?

Work plan Who will do what and when?

Plan for project How will the project be administered? How

Management & will knowledge translation be ensured?
KT
What resources are needed to carry out the
Budget study? What resources do we have?

How will we present our proposal to

Proposal summary relevant authorities and potential funding
agencies
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