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INTRODUCTION
TO RESEARCH
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CLASS REQUIREMENT
Compiled lecture notes
Attendance
Assignment
Activites (Group/ Individual)
Research proposal
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OVERVIEW OF
THE RESEARCH
PROCESS
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the chapter, the student should be able to:

1. Define clinical research as a branch of science

2. Describe the characteristics of the research process;
3. Explain the different processes in conducting
research;
4. Understand the difference between internal and
external validity of research results
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Clinical Research

• Studied to understand health and disease

• This is a part from the ordinary type of research where
technologies, new knowledge, innovations or new polices
may be the outcome of the undertaking.
• Clinical research helps find new and better ways to
detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent disease which is the
main goal of doing research in health.
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Clinical Research

Areas covered in Health Research

• Etiology
• Disease prevention and promotion of well-being
• Detection, Screening, and Diagnosis
• Development of treatments and therapeutic interventions
• Evaluation of treatment and therapeutic interventions
• Management of Diseases and Conditions
• Health and Social Care Services
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Clinical Research

Why is Research Important?

1. Searching for useful knowledge
2. Determine magnitude of a health problem
3. Determine or assess factors associated with a health problem
4. Determining appropriate intervention/treatment
5. Determining effectiveness of a treatment
◦Clinical/Drug trials
6. Evaluating an intervention- food fortification/ micronutrient
supplementation
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS

It is very systematic
It is very objective in data collection
Replicability or reproducibility of results
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DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
Research is the systematic and rigorous investigation of a situation or problem
in order to:
a. generate new knowledge; or
b. validate existing knowledge.
In the specific case of research for health, a comprehensive definition of what
it covers is defined by WHO (2012) as a research area which covers the full
spectrum of research, which spans the following five generic areas of activity:
1. measuring the magnitude and distribution of the health problem
2. understanding the diverse causes or the determinants of the problem,
whether they are due to biological, behavioral, social or environmental
factors
3. developing solutions or interventions that will help to prevent or mitigate
the
problem
4. implementing or delivering solutions through policies and programs; and
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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
1. IDENTIFICATION AND DEFINING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The most crucial step in the process of research is defining the research problem. This
research phase has four sub-steps, namely:
a. Selecting a research topic;
b. Identifying the research problem;
c. Formulating the research objectives; and
d. Determining the significance of the research problem and objectives identified

Examples of Research Problems in Health:

• Growing microbiological resistance in diseases
• Treatment and prevention of diseases
• Health policy and systems research
• preparedness for new/ emerging infections
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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

2. MAKING THE REVIEW THE LITERATURE AND STUDIES

A review of related literature (RRL) is a detailed review of existing literature
related to the topic of a thesis or dissertation. In an RRL, you talk about
knowledge and findings from existing literature relevant to your topic. If you
find gaps or conflicts in existing literature, you can also discuss these in your
review, and if applicable, how you plan to address these gaps or resolve these
conflicts through your study.

3. DEVELOPING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK UNDERLYING THE

RESEARCH PROBLEM
A conceptual framework is an analytical tool with several variations and
contexts. It can be applied in different categories of work where an overall
picture is needed. It is used to make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas.
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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

4. REVISITING THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Research objectives describe concisely what the research is trying to achieve. They
summarize the accomplishments a researcher wishes to achieve through the project
and provides direction to the study.RD

5. DEFINING THE VARIABLES TO BE STUDIED

A variable is defined as anything that has a quantity or quality that varies. The
dependent variable is the variable a researcher is interested in. An independent
variable is a variable believed to affect the dependent variable. Confounding
variables are defined as interference caused by another variable.
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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
6. CONSTRUCTING THE RESEARCH DESIGN
The function of a research design is to ensure that the evidence obtained enables you to
effectively address the research problem as unambiguously as possible. In social sciences
research, obtaining evidence relevant to the research problem generally entails specifying
the type of evidence needed to test a theory, to evaluate a program, or to accurately
describe a phenomenon. However, researchers can often begin their investigations far too
early, before they have thought critically about what information is required to answer
the study's research questions. Without attending to these design issues beforehand, the
conclusions drawn risk being weak and unconvincing and, consequently, will fail to
adequate address the overall research problem.

7. DESIGNING THE TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTION

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of
interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research
questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
8. DESIGNING THE DATA ANALYSIS PLAN
A data analysis plan is a roadmap for how you're going to organize and analyze your
survey data—and it should help you achieve three objectives that relate to the goal you
set before you started your survey.

9. PLANNING FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF RESEARCH

The administrative aspects of research describes about the preparation of the item budget,
work schedule as well as planning for the securing of the research ethics clearance.

10. COLLECTING OF DATA

11. PROCESSING OF THE COLLECTED DATA

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STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
STEPS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH
12. DATA ANALYSIS

13. WRITING OF THE RESEARCH REPORT

14. DISSEMINATING THE RESULTS

Dissemination of research findings is an important part of the research process, passing
on the benefits to other researchers, professional practitioners and the wider community.
Research activities supported by public funding are rarely considered complete until the
results have been made widely available