1. Start a concept note writing Ask a question Research Questions represent the uncertainty about something in the population that the investigator wants to resolve. Know what others have studied and concluded Figure out what else needs to be known

2. Should be a “WH” question Should ask about some parameter Should be clearly stated in question form Should imply possibility Should ask a relation between two or more measurable variables Should not involve immeasurable and indefinable variables Does students love their country Should not ask something metaphysical How time is moving? Research Question Criteria

3. 1. How many mothers wash their hands after cleaning a child who has defecated? 2. Why poor people in this urban community do not practice hand washing? 3. What kind and level of contamination is present on mothers’ hands in a population that does not practice hand washing? Examples of Research Questions

4. We can explore the population to get the answer (Descriptive Study) Or The answer to the research question has been guessed earlier and we can collect evidence in favor of that guess (Hypothesis Driven Study) Answering Research Questions

5. Hypothesis Hypothesis: a tentative explanation that accounts for problems that can be tested by observation, investigation, or experimentation.

6. Formulating the hypothesis  The hypothesis needs to be structured before data gathering and interpretation  The hypothesis gives direction to the collection and interpretation of data  A well-grounded hypothesis indicates that the researcher has sufficient knowledge in the area Formulating the hypothesis after collecting and/or analyzing the data set is like throwing the dice then betting

7. Hypothesis Criteria It must have some explanatory power It must state the expected relationship between variables: compare, relate or describe It must be testable It should be consistent with the existing body of knowledge It should be stated as simply as possible

8. Examples of Hypotheses  Both environmental constraints and attitudes limit hand washing in low income communities in Dhaka  Mothers wash their hands with soap <15% of the time after cleaning a child who has defecated.  Mothers’ hands will be routinely heavily contaminated with fecal bacteria and occasionally with rhinovirus.

9. Specific Aims/objectives An Aim is developed from the research question and the hypothesis An Aim tells what kind of knowledge the study is expected to obtain Aims must be clear about: What is to be described What is to be determined What is to be identified What is to be compared What is to be confirmed 

10. Examples of Specific Aims/Objectives  To Understand community attitudes towards hand hygiene and constraints that limit improved hand hygiene  To Assess baseline hand hygiene behavior and hand contamination with rhinovirus and fecal bacteria

11. Example # 1 of Research Question (RQ), Hypothesis, Aims and Parameters RQ: Why poor people in urban community do not practice hand washing? Hypothesis: Both environmental constraints and attitudes limit hand washing in low income communities in Dhaka Specific Aim: Understand community attitudes towards hand hygiene and constraints that limit improved hand hygiene

12. Example # 2 of Research Question (RQ), Hypothesis, Aims RQ: How many mother wash their hands properly after cleaning a child who has defecated? Hypothesis: Mothers wash their hands with soap <15% of the time after cleaning a child who has defecated. Specific Aim: Assess baseline hand hygiene behavior and hand contamination with fecal bacteria.

13. Research Questions Descriptive or Hypothesis driven? Your Hypotheses Specific Aims Now your turn….