Developing a research question: Steps for research success from the idea to publication Kelly M. Everard, PhD Fred Rottnek, MD, MAHCM David Anthony, MD Tammy Chang, MD
Presenters Kelly M. Everard, PhD Fred Rottnek, MD, MAHCM Saint Louis University School of Medicine David Anthony, MD Brown Alpert Medical School Tammy Chang, MD University of Michigan Medical School Make sure your name and affiliation are correct.
Disclosures The presenters have no financial interests to report.
Learning Objectives Develop an idea for a scholarly project from educational or clinical experience Write a research question that meets the FINER model criteria (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant) Define the terms used in the research question and determine how they will be measured Be ready to start your project
Schedule The research process and FINER model: 20 minutes Demonstrate how to develop research question: 15 minutes Breakout groups: 60 minutes Conclusion/Q&A: 10-15 minutes
The Research Process 20 minutes
Why is This Important? Typically physician faculty have not received much training in research methods YET, they are expected to engage in research at some level The process, not just the outcome, is important for filling a knowledge gap and getting publications
The Research Question Is a clear, focused, and relevant question from which a research project is developed and implemented Provides a path through the research and writing process A drawer full of surveys does not a research question make. Must explicitate terms (“What do you mean by that?”) “What do I need to do to get a publication?” I need a slam dunk. I’ve been collecting data for years. Diagramming sentence.
Pitfalls of Getting Started Lack of research training “It’s too big and scary” Starting with too broad a question “There’s no way I can get this study done” Waiting for the perfect study “I don’t have the money to do the study I want” Lack of time “I just can’t think about a research question right now. I’ll wait until my schedule frees up.”
The Good and the Bad News It takes work It is doable
Getting Started Choose something you are passionate about Write down ideas from: Teaching Your clinical practice Conferences Reading Conduct a literature review Has this been done before? Talk to others about the topic Consider including learners and practice partners in these steps I will talk about how finding research questions is not easy. MDs usually don’t think in those terms, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have good ideas.
The FINER model Feasible Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant Is the question answerable, do you have access to patients/data/students? Do you have resources? Interesting To yourself and others? Novel Has the study been done before? Ethical Can the study can be done without excessive risk to human subjects? Relevant Pass out worksheets
Demonstration: How to Develop a Research Question do a 15 minute session with an audience member who has a semi formed research question Or you could coach me through a thought process for a real study I am doing. I can have one prepared. 15 minutes
Breakout Groups Determine what you want to know Write research question down Define terms Apply FINER You might be asked: Why is this important? What do you mean by that? Can you measure that? How do you want to measure that? Accountability Roster Add to finer worksheet
Breakout Groups 60 Minutes Divide participants into 4 groups so we each have one to work with. How best to handle this? I’m thinking whoever gets research questions written down first gets to start. We can divide time between number of participants who want help with their questions. David, this is how I handled my MSEDI group. Some may just want to observe. I imagine they will be at different stages of readiness.
Next steps Do you have a shovel-ready research question? If not, what do you still need to refine? If so, what is your next step? Use this conference time (and travel time) to identify the next steps Dobbie and Freeman, 2005. Template for research reports.
Conclusions/Q and A
References Cook, D.A. (2010). Getting started in medical education scholarship. Keio Journal of Medicine, 59, 96-103. Hulley, S.B., Cummings, S.R., Browner, W.S., Grady, D., Hearst, N., Newman, T.B. (2001). Designing clinical research: An epidemiologic approach. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001. Misra, S., McElroy, J.A., & Hosokawa, M.C. (2013). Lessons from a successful collaboration between a researcher and a clinician. Family Medicine, 45, 357-358. Morrison, J. (2002). Developing research questions in medical education: the science and the art. Medical Education, 36, 596–597. Dobbie and Freeman, 2005. Template for research reports. http://www.fmdrl.org/index.cfm?event=c.beginBrowseD&clearSelections=1&criteria=Alison%20Dobbie#1069