1. Linking research questions & design
MEDI6302
Session 2
Linking research questions & design
Sydney
Broome
Fremantle

2. Research Question Hypothesis Design Scientific Method Research
‘Materials & Methods’
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

3. Your research question(s) should state the… …of your study.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

4. Research Design (methods)
Your research design (‘methods’) should also state the… …of your study.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

5. Research Design
A systematic plan that investigates your research question (hypothesis) as accurately & efficiently as possible.
Research design is outlined in the ‘methods’ section of your paper.
Outlines the ‘HOW’ (‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’) of your study.
Outlines the science, feasibility & logistics of your study.
Important part of proposal, grant or ethics submissions.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

6. Design is based on your research question
Use the PICOT approach
POPULATION (what group of people are you studying?)
-Person, cohort, sample, population, database?
INTERVENTION (are you making a change or intervention in your study group?)
YES = Experimental trial.
-Random allocation of intervention? = randomised trial.
NO = Observational study.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

7. Design is based on your research question
Use the PICOT approach
CONTROLS (are you controlling the research variables?)
YES = Controlled trial.
-(randomised) controlled trial (RCT).
COMPARISONS (are you comparing groups? [but not as an RCT])
YES = Analytical study.
-cohort study.
-case-comparison [control] study.
-cross-sectional study.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

8. Design is based on your research question
PICOT approach
OUTCOMES (how will you analyse & present your data?)
-Quantitatively? (using comparative statistics).
-Are you using data from other studies or databases?
-YES: Meta-analysis or systematic review.
-Qualitatively? (using ‘descriptive’ statistics, writing a narrative report).
-Mixed-methods?
TIMELINES
-Prospective, retrospective, longitudinal, snap-shot.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

9. Design Classification Narrative Review Trial Case Report Case Series
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

10. https://image. slidesharecdn
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

11. Research Design Hierarchy
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

12. © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

13. Human Research Design
WHO: population, cohort, sample, data-base, individual?
WHAT: clinical or non-clinical? (e.g. social sciences).
HOW: observational (study) or experimental (trial).
HOW: in-vivo or in-vitro (laboratory).
HOW: qualitative (descriptive) or quantitative data analysis.
HOW: meta-analysis, trial, survey, narrative-review, case-based.
WHERE: single centre, multi-centre.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

14. Logistics & Feasibility
WHAT resources are available for your research?
WHO: research staff (expertise) & subjects (availability).
WHO: cultural considerations, special groups.
WHAT: equipment, facilities.
WHERE: venues.
HOW (much): funding, cost.
HOW (long): time.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

15. Research Design
Tips
Adapt (already proven) research design methods in published studies that are similar to yours (based on your literature review).
Are there are research design guidelines you can use?
-e.g. International Headache Society for migraine research.
Look at ‘methods’ & ‘instructions for authors’ sections in journals.
Outline feasibility, logistics, equipment & special skills (staff).
Get advice from a statistician BEFORE designing your study.
POWER your study properly.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

16. Learning task 1 Define & understand the following terms…
Glossary of terms
Define & understand the following terms…
Experiment
Trial versus study
Survey
Audit
Convenience sample
Qualitative research
Observational study
Descriptive study
Mixed-methods design
Meta-analysis
Comparator study
Cohort study
Narrative review
Controlled trial
Dependent variable
Independent variable
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

17. Learning task 2 Write down your research question (session 1).
Outline your research design, based on PICOT headings.
-Population
-Intervention
-Control or Comparison group
-Outcomes
-Timeline
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

18. Research design statement
Learning task 3
Research design statement
Write a one paragraph ‘research design statement’ based on PICOT.
Example
The current study is a prospective randomised, controlled trial
investigating the analgesic effects of ibuprofen versus placebo
in a convenience sample 76 post-operative patients.
Timeline
Randomised
Controlled
Outcome
Intervention
Population
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

19. Writing your ‘methods’
Learning task 4
Writing your ‘methods’
section
Draft a template of the main headings & sub-headings of your ‘materials & methods’ section (see similar papers, instructions for authors).
Add your ‘hypothesis statement’ (from session 1) & ‘research design statement’ at the beginning of this template.
List five strengths & weaknesses of your research design.
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved

20. End
© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved