1. Scientific Research and Methods
EN481 Environmental Health Management
Scientific Research and Methods
LIANG Li, Ph.D.
Faculty of Public Health
Thammasat University
December 2, 2016

2. Scientific Paper Introduction Objectives Materials and methods
Results and discussion
Conclusion and recommendations
References cited

3. Research Question and Objectives
Rational of the study: why do you decide the focus of your study?
Research question: clear enough?
Research objectives: general and specific
Objectives should be answered or proven by results
Scope of the study
Title of the paper: concise, informative, attractive, dynamic, finalizing it at the end

4. Literature Review What is the purpose of literature review?
How to conduct literature review?
What has been done previously?
What are the research gaps?
Keeping good record of literature
EndNote
References

5. Materials and Methods Hypothesis  experimental design  experiment
Proving hypothesis by experiment and deciding to accept or reject it by statistical analysis
Importance of statistical analysis
Social science: questionnaire survey
Biological science: laboratory experiment, Koch's postulates proving cause and effect
Are methods adequate and appropriate to answer the research question?
Is the methodology clear enough for replication?

6. Results and Discussion
Are the results clearly stated?
Do the results answer the research objectives?
Summarizing your findings
Presenting in tables or figures
Table/figure should be able to stand alone
Explaining your result: What does it mean? What does it imply? Whether or not it is logically acceptable or explainable?
Similarities or differences comparing with other people’s work?

7. Conclusion and Recommendations
How does the conclusion relate to the results?
Whether or not the research question is answered and research objectives are met?
Conclusion: be concise; cannot be too specific; do not repeat results
Recommendations: including those for further study

8. Originality
Does the author present a new way of looking at an important problem or its solution?
Any innovative concept introduced?
Any creative methodology adopted?
Any new findings?
What are the scientific contributions of your study to the society and academia?

9. Important Points Respect your data
Scientific and professional attitude
Plagiarism
The first sentence/paragraph is very important
Finalizing abstract and title in the end
Practice makes perfect

10. Example
Comparing e-waste management systems among selected countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion

11. Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
Thailand
Vietnam
Yunnan and Guangxi of China

12. Research Objectives Overall goal:
To propose a decision-making approach to improve e-waste management systems among the selected GMS countries

13. Research Objectives (Cont.)
To compare the e-waste management issues and identify e-waste management problems among the selected GMS countries
To determine the awareness of e-waste disposal impacts on the environment among different gender and age groups at different educational and income levels in the selected GMS countries
To propose a sustainable e-waste management mechanism for adoption among the selected GMS countries

14. Literature Review
E-waste management practices in some selected countries
Review of e-waste-related laws, processes, and practices in selected countries
Determining what has been done inside or outside the study area, what has not been done inside or outside the study area, and what needs to be done within the study area

15. Materials and Methods Development of questionnaires
Pretest to verify questionnaires
Improving questionnaires
Orientation of surveyors
Questionnaire survey and data collection
Data coding
Data analysis

16. Data Collection Questionnaire surveys
Selection of the target and the process of conducting questionnaire survey are to be consistent
Avoiding duplications
Field visits and interviews of focus groups

17. Data Analysis (Example)
Chi-square (χ2 ) test
Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Tukey’s multiple range test
Pearson correlation coefficients (r)

18. ANOVA of the mean numbers of the responses to the level of satisfaction toward manufacturers using recyclable or reusable materials (S201), the take-back system adopted by manufacturers (S202), and the incentives provided to retailers and consumers to practice reuse and recycle of e-waste (S203) among Thailand (Th), Laos (La), and China (Cn)

19. Review for Final Exam
The linkages of environmental performance assessment, state of environment, and sustainable development planning
Environmental concern and its Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response indicators
Environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, health impact assessment
Scientific research and methods

20. Liang Li, Ph. D. Faculty of Public Health Thammasat University Liang
Liang Li, Ph.D. Faculty of Public Health Thammasat University