Developing a Research Question

Dr. Shiraz Shaikh

Learning Objectives

By the end of session, students will be able to:

• Define research, its types and its importance

• Start thinking about a research question

• Enlist characteristics of a good research question

• Phrase a research question

3

In Scientific terms

systematic collection

analysis

interpretation of data

RESEARCH is

Qualitative VS Quantitative

Qualitative Quantitative

The aim is a complete, detailed

description/exploration of variables

The aim is to classify features, count

them, and construct statistical models

to explain what is observed

Researcher may only know roughly in

advance what he/she is looking for

Researcher knows clearly in advance

what he/she is looking for

Recommended during earlier phases of

research projects

Recommended during latter phases of

research projects

Data is in the form of words, pictures or

objects

Data is in the form of numbers and

statistics

This course will primarily focus on Quantitative Research methods

5

Why do we do Health Research?????

6

Recommended action / decisions on health

We need to do research to:

• To provide the info n Know the magnitude

of the problem

Discover the associated factors

Study the effect/ make comparisons

information

How to start thinking: Characteristics of a good research question

Idea/research Question

• Idea’ or a creative thought, may arise

– by observation

– de novo (out of sky)/Curiosity

– more often stems from previous work

– Needs driven

– Opportunity driven

– Profit driven

Critical review of literature is the best source and always

required

• Idea should be continuously refined (think and rethink)

Essential Habits to conceive good Research Questions

• Read the medical literature (Tells you about the gapes)

• Attend Scientific meetings

• Be a team player-ideas come with discussions

• Understand donor’s demand

• Develop specific areas of scientific interest

How to start???

1. Identify your area of interest

eg Vaccination

2. Ask yourself what kind of research question suits your idea

Descriptive

what is the vaccination coverage in the infants

Relational/Comparative

Is the use of BCG vaccine related to decreased number of tuberculosis cases?

Is HIB vaccine more effective than pneumococcal vaccine in reducing the pneumonia?

Areas to think about……..

• Communicable diseases

(New infections/new treatments/new interventions/new vaccines)

• Non-communicable diseases

(new factors/changing behaviors/new treatments/new interventions)

• Child health (health issues, hygiene, nutrition)

• Maternal Health/Reproductive health (ANC, Delivery, PNC, FP)

• Health systems

(Governance/Financing/Services/Resources)

• Environmental and occupational health

(effects of workplace exposures/effects of environmental pollution)

• Mental health

(Stress/substance abuse)

• Injuries/Disaster

(workplace safety/violence/disaster/child labor/child abuse)

12

Proposed Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Re

levance

Du

plicatio

n

Feasib

ility

Po

litical A

ccep

tability

Ap

plicab

ility

Co

st Effe

ctiven

ess

Ethics

Total Score

Criteria for a good Research Question

13

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

How big is the

problem ?

Who is affected?

How severe is

the problem?

Ebola or Neglaria? What is more relevant to us

14

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

What is new about your question????

Decided on the basis of Literature Search?

15

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Priority Ratings for Research

questions

Consider the resources that are required to carry out the project:

1. Can you continue research for 5 years? 2. Can you buy a thousand dollar

machine? 3. Do you have the expertise to conduct

that research?

16

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

Research a topic which has the interest and support of the authorities

Generally this criteria applies for large grants?

17

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Ap

plic

ab

ility

Priority Ratings for Research questions

Studies whose recommendations are applicable at a local level

18

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Ap

plic

ab

ility

Co

st

Effe

ctiv

en

ess

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

19

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Ap

plic

ab

ility

Co

st

Effe

ctiv

en

ess

Eth

ics

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

• Cultural sensitivity must be given careful consideration. • Informed consent ensured •Benefits must outweigh risks

20

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Ap

plic

ab

ility

Co

st

Effe

ctiv

en

ess

Eth

ics

Total

Score

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

Rating Scale: 1= low, 2 = medium, 3 = high

Total Score out of 24

21

Proposed

Topics

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Rele

van

ce

Du

plic

atio

n

Fea

sib

ility

Po

litical

Accep

tab

ility

Ap

plic

ab

ility

Co

st

Effe

ctiv

en

ess

Eth

ics

Total

Score

Complications of

Aids 3 2 1 2 3 1 2 14

Smoking & Birth

Weight 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 19

High salt and

hypertension 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 20

………….

Priority Ratings for Research Questions

Phrasing a Research Question

• Clearly state the variable/variables of interest

• Clearly specify the population and place of interest (scale of the study)

Which one is better:

What is the vaccination coverage in children?

What is the vaccination coverage in children under one year of

age in a rural town of Sind

Is HIB vaccine more effective than pneumococcal vaccine?

Is HIB vaccine more effective than pneumococcal vaccine in

reducing pneumonia in children under one year in a rural town of Sind ?

Final thought

• Research is to see what

everyone else has seen

and to think what

nobody else has thought

• Somewhere, something

incredible is waiting to

be known