1. Research Methodology Farzin Farahbakhsh Medical Student Research Fellow, Sports Medicine Research Center Thanks to Kamyar Mollazadeh Moghaddam and Fatemeh Adili-Aghdam for their wonderful slides

2. What is Research? Re ---------------- Search Re means (once more, afresh, anew) OR (back; with return to a previous state) Search means (look thorough or go over thoroughly to look something) OR (examine to find anything concealed)

3. What is Research?, Cont’d Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS or FINDING SOLUTION to PROBLEMS.

4. What is Research?: SYSTEMATIC SYSTEMATIC because there is a definite set of procedures and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results.

5. What is Research?: ORGANIZED ORGANIZED in that there is a structure or method in going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope.

6. What is Research?: FINDING ANSWERS FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.

7. What is Research?: QUESTIONS/PROBLEM QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose. “A PROBLEM well-defined is half solved”

8. What is Research?: What Makes a Good QUESTION Feasible (answerable with a robust method) Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant FINER criteria

9. Any Good QUESTIONS?

10. Why Do Research? Research allows you to pursue your interests Experience active vs. passive learning Advance career and graduate study options Apply learning to professional issues Prepare for a life-time of learning and a world of change Enhance self-directed learning skills To hone your problem-solving skills CV

11. What is CV? Curriculum Vitae (or CV) Latin origin Means “the course of one’s life”

12. What is CV?: Why do this now? Time will go by quickly Helps you notice your progress over time Good for self assessment It will help you organize important things for your future career Assists in setting goals for your future Helps when getting recommendation letters and applying for positions Some grants and awards applications require this

13. Resume vs. Vitae Length: Short Content: All-inclusive summary of skills, experiences and education Purpose: to get an interview or employment Length: As long as it takes Content: Area-specific listing of education and academic background Purpose: promotion and tenure, grants, specialist positions, awards, etc.

14. Types of Research Basic Applied Applied/Basic

15. Types of Research: Basic Driven purely by curiosity and a desire to expand our knowledge not directly applicable to the real world in a direct way Why bother? Basic research feeds applied research Example: Evaluations,

16. Types of Research: Applied To answer a specific question that has direct applications to the world. Solves a problem Example: 'How should a student study?'

17. Types of Research: Applied/Basic More common Example: Different aspects of a disease

18. Source: NIH.gov

19. What is Research Process? Series of various actions, which are necessary to effective research work. Research process consist of a number of closely related activities. Various steps involved in a research process are not mutually exclusive; nor they are separate & distinct.

20. What is Research Process?: Steps 1 ST STEP-Formation and Development of a Working Title 2 ND STEP-Literature Review 3 RD STEP-Determining research design 4 TH STEP-Writing a Proposal 5 TH STEP-Data Collection 6 TH STEP-Data Analysis 7 TH STEP-Preparing and presenting final research report 8 TH STEP-Dessimination

21. Research Protocol Protocol- “ …a complete written description of, and scientific rationale for, a research activity …” (Protomechanics NIH) Why? To check if the objectives can be achieved To check the feasibility of the study To estimate needed time and funds Prevents failure to collect crucial information Lays down the rules for all partners To obtain approval of ethical committee(s) Application for funds Makes it much easier to write article

22. 1 st STEP -Formation and Development of a Working Title The selection of a research title is often the result of many factors Personal interests, experiences, values, and passions The desire to satisfy scientific curiosity Previous work -- or the lack of it -- on a topic The current political, economic, and social climates Being able to get access to data Having a way to fund a study

23. What is a Good Title? Rationale Avoiding Duplication Feasibility Social and political acceptance Cost-effectiveness Urgent need for research evidence Ethical Issues

24. Avoid Duplication! If there’s a similar work Setting Time Place Subjects Limitation of previous studies Inconsistency of previous results Try to make it better If there’s no similar work