Research Methods Ass. Professor, Community Medicine, Community Medicine Dept, College of Medicine.

 Be able to identify different types of research design.  Understand the advantages and disadvantages of research design.  Be able to design, conduct specific type of research design. 2 Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods

 Science:  knowledge about the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world and society based on facts”. (Oxford Dictionary)  Scientific method :  “an approach to the acquisition of new knowledge” 3 Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

 Empirical approach  Observations  Questions  Hypotheses  Experiments  Analyses  Conclusions  Replication Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 4

 “an evidence-based approach that relies on direct observation and experimentation in the acquisition of new knowledge” (Kazdin, 2003). Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 5

 refers to two distinct concepts:  being aware of the world around us and  making careful measurements E.g. Newtonian observation. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 6

 Translating the research idea into an answerable question. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 7

 an educated—and testable—guess about the answer to your research question.  an attempt by the researcher to explain the phenomenon of interest.  A key feature of all hypotheses is that each must make a prediction.  Typically phrased as “if-then” statements. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 8

 a key aspect of conducting a research study  is measuring the phenomenon of interest in an accurate and reliable manner.  Accuracy refers to whether the measurement is correct.  Reliability refers to whether the measurement is consistent. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 9

 the use of statistical techniques.  Null hypothesis should be rejected?  Type I error : Concluding that there is a difference between the groups being studied when, in fact, there is no difference.  Type II error: Concluding that there is not a difference between the two groups being studied when, in fact, there is a difference Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 10

 “the phenomenon being studied had an effect—a statistically significant effect”.  conclusions should be supported by the data analyses. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 11

 “conducting the same research study a second time with another group of participants to see whether the same results are obtained”. (Kazdin, 1992; Shaughnessy & Zechmeister, 1997)  Replication build reliability, & then generlizability. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 12

 Research is “a systematic method of finding solution to a problem” (Kothari, 2004).  The systematic method consisting of stating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the data, analyzing the facts & reaching certain conclusions. 13 Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research

 To get a degree.  To solve a problem.  To get familiarity with a phenomena.  Determine the frequency with which something occurs. Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research 14

15 Research Methods- Thinking about research & nature of research The question The research process The answer

 Population: an entire body of people to which the researcher would like to generalize research findings.  Samples: a segment of the population.  Number of individuals (cases) are called sample size. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 16

 Independent variable: a variable that brings a bout change in another variable. (i.e. the cause)  Dependent variable: is the outcome of the study that is changed by the independent variable Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 17

 Cross-section. (Collect data at a particular time)  often employ the survey methodology (Easter by- Smith et al. 2008; Robson 2002)  Longitudinal. (Collect data over time)  study change and development (e.g. incidence). Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 18 Jan Jun. 2012

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 Case study:  Includes either a single case (a case record) or a small number of cases (case series).  Each case is discussed in details.  The subject of the cases may be a person, an organization, a situation or a country.  Examples: ▪ Studying a case or a group of cases after Laser eye surgery. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 20

 Survey:  Refers to the collection of information from a group of people belonging to a population of interest to make assumptions about that population.  The population of interest can be patients, learners (students), researchers or colleagues.  Collect quantitative data that are analyzed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 21

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 Attempts to discover a cause-effect relationship between two variables.  Has two main key elements:  Experimental group.(Subjects exposed to the experimental variable in an experiment)  Control group. (Subjects not exposed to the experimental variable in an experiment) Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 26

 Example: Randomized controlled trial (clinical trial) Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 27

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 Primary scientific paper.  Secondary scientific paper  A review paper which summarize other paper.  Two types: ▪ Narrative review ▪ Systematic review. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 29

 Studies not been identified or analyzed in a systematic, standardized and objective way.  Provide an update on a certain subject,  Written by experts. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 30

 Contains a clear statement on objectives.  Data sources for the papers are stated as well as the method of selection.  Ex: Meta-analysis  Composed of:  Abstract.  Introduction.  Methods.  Body of the review. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 31

 Definition:  Critically review research studies and  statistically combine their data  to help answer questions that are beyond the power of single papers.  Better sample size.  Example: MetaView software. Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 4: Formulating the research design & Data collection methods 32

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