Al Neelain University Faculty of Medicine- Department of Community Medicine

Sem.7 Research Methodology Course

Selecting a Research Problem

Dr.Abeer Abuzeid Atta Elmannan

Session outlines:• Selecting a research problem • Developing a research hypothesis.• Searching the literature• Citing references.

Steps in development of a research proposal

Step 1Statement of research problem

Step 2Literature review

Step 3Formation of objectives

Step 4Research method

Step 5Work –plan

Step 6Plan for project administration

Step 7Budget

Step 1: Statement of research problem

What is a Problem?• Problem is discrepancy

between what should be and what is existing

• The discrepancy raises questions (Why) ?

• Finding a problem is not difficult but identifying one for research is not always easy.

Formulating a Research problem

• The first step in beginning a research project is to decide “ What is the Research Question”?

• A “Research Question” is a question about the problem to be addressed , it is therefore focused on the content of the topic of interest.

• Always a researcher should spend a considerable time in thinking it through

• The task is a difficult one, although it may not appear to be so.

This is the most critical step in the Research

Steps in the formulation of a Research Problem

• Step 1 – Identify a broad field of interest to you

• Step 2-Dissect the broad are into a sub areas

• Step 3 –Select what is of most interest to you

• Step 4-Raise a research question.• Step 5 –Formulate Objectives• Step 6 – Assess your objectives• Step 7- Double –check

Criteria

Research problem has three criteria:

1. Perceived discrepancy between what is and what should be.

2. A question about why discrepancy exists.

3. More than one possible and reasonable answer to the question.

Example:• Ideally we expect that all mothers should

breastfeed their infants for full two years or even longer. But actually few mothers do so

i.e. there is a discrepancy between the actual and the expected behaviour of mothers.

• Therefore we can say that problem exists. This problem raises several questions.

Simple questions:• Q.1. Why mothers do not

breast‑feed their infants for 2 year? OR

• Q.2. What are the reasons for mothers discontinuing breast feeding earlier than 2 years?

There are more than one possible answer,,,

• Mothers do not have enough breast milk after the first months.

• Mothers have some infection or disease of breasts or nipple which hampers breast feeding for a longer duration.

• The babies do not tolerate breast milk well.• The mother may have a total dislike for breast

feeding baby and so on.

Prioritizing problems for research

Seven criteria are used

Final score=outcome of multiplication of the scores for

all criteria

1-Relevance

Not relevant 0Relevant 1Very relevant 2

2-Avoidance of duplicationSufficient information already available

1Some information available

2No information available

3

3-Feasibility

Study not feasible considering available resources 1

Study feasible considering available resources 2

Study very feasible considering available resources 3

4-Political acceptabilityTopic not accepted to policy makers 0Topic to some extent accepted 1Topic fully accepted 2

5-Applicability

No chance of recommendations being implemented 1

Some chance of recommendations being implemented

2Good chance of recommendations being implemented

36-UrgencyInformation not urgently needed

1Information is needed but delay is acceptable

Information very urgently needed for

2decision making

3

7-Ethical acceptability

Not ethically accepted 0

Minor ethical problem 1

No ethical problem 2

Problem analysisFocuses on two issues• Factors that may have contributed

to the problem.• The relationship between the

problem and the contributing factors.

Contributing factors :• Socio-cultural factors.• Service-related factors.• Disease-related factors.

Factor

Factor

factor

factor

problem

factor

Problem analysis diagram(PAD)

Constructing Hypothesis• The second important consideration in the formulation

of a research problem is the construction of a hypothesis.

• A hypothesis brings clarity, and focus to a research problem.

• A hypothesis tells what data to collect and what not to collect, thereby providing focus to the study.

• As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances objectivity in a study.

• Hypotheses are based on guesses.

• Hence Hypothesis is a prediction, assumption, or supposition about a phenomenon, relationship or situation , arrived at from observation. It can be accepted or rejected.

The characteristics of a hypothesis

• A hypothesis should be simple , specific and conceptually clear

• A hypothesis should be related to the existing body of knowledge – It is important that hypotheses emerges from the existing body of knowledge

• A hypothesis should be expressed in terms that can be measured.

The characteristics of a hypothesis (Cont.)

It should specify ;• the population,• the cause being considered,• the expected outcome (disease),• the dose-response relationship, and• the time response relationship Example• The smoking of 30-40 cigarettes per day causes lung

cancer in 10 percent of smokers after 20 years of exposure

Success or failure of a research project frequently depends upon the soundness of the hypothesis

Errors in testing a hypothesis

Incorrect conclusions about the validity of a hypothesis may be drawn if,

• The study design selected is faulty

• The sampling procedure adopted is faulty

• The method of data collection is inaccurate

• The analysis is wrong

• The statistical procedures applied are inappropriate

• The conclusions drawn are incorrect

Problem statement(summary)

Should be written in a concise and clear manner, and should contain the following information:

1-Background information ( geographic areas affected, characteristics of the population groups, health services…)

2-Basic description of the research problem

3-Reasons why the problem is important .

4-Unanswered questions5-Possible solutions

Step 2: Literature Review

Lecture outlines • Identify the reasons for reviewing the

literature• Describe the possible sources of

information• List the steps in writing the literature

review• Quote references• Demonstrate sources of bias in

literature review• Discuss ethical issues in writing

literature review

Why we review literature?

• To prevent duplication

• To enable comparison

• To refine statement of the problem

• To formulate the suitable type of methodology

• To support the argument for need of the research (justification)

How to begin your search?

• Examine everything available to you. 

• Go beyond your own library resources and ask for references .

• Talk to those who know something about your topic

GETTING STARTED

• Write down the purpose statement of your study.• Embedded in this purpose statement are key terms.• This part of the literature review searches for core

literature.• Look for studies similar to your problem statement in

Sudan.• Look for studies similar to your problem statement in

other countries.

Sources of information• Individuals, groups, and

organizations• Published information

(e.gbooks,articles…)

• Unpublished information (reports, computer databases)

Sources of information(detailed)

• Articles (journals)• Books• Computer databases• Abstracts from journals• International organizations

documents (e.g WHO,UNICEF)• Report from ministry of health

(MOH) health facilities.

Sources of information (cont.)

• Vital statistics such as births, deaths …• Census• Surveillance system• Surveys• Internet• Knowledgeable People• Opinions, beliefs of key persons (through

interview)

How do you write a review of literature?

1. Take your problem analysis diagram as a framework for collecting information

2. Read information collected.3. Summarize the information (using index cards, exercise book or

computer entries)3. Organize your index cards in groups

according to which aspect of the problem they touch upon.

How do you write a review of literature? (cont.)

4. Decide in which order you want to discuss the various aspects.

5. Write a discussion in your own words.

6. Use consecutive numbers in the text to refer to your references. (Vancouver system)

7. List your references in that order.

8. Add the list as an annex to your research proposal/report.

Quoting references(Referencing/Citation/Bibliograp

hy)You need the following 10:1. Author(s)`s name2. Title of article /chapter3. Name of journal or book4. Edition (if applicable)5. Publisher's name6. Place of publication (for book)7. Year of publication8. Volume number (for journal)9. Issue number (for journal)10.Page numbers.

Quoting references

Referencing/Citation/Bibliography))For an article

• Author(s)` (surname followed by initials). Title of the article. Name of the journal,year,volume number: page numbers of article.

Example: Ali KA ,Ibrahim B & Yousif S .Assessment

of nutritional status in pregnancy .Sudan Medical Journal,1985; 3 :193-196

Quoting references(Referencing/Citation/Bibliograp

hy)For a book• Author(s)` (surname followed by

intials).Title the book .Place: Publisher, year,Edition.

Example: Abramson JH .Survey methods in

community medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone,1990,4th ed.

For a chapter in a book, the reference can include:

Author(s) of chapter (Surname(s) followed by initials). Chapter title. In: Editor(s) of book, (Surname(s) followed by initials). (eds). Title of book. Place: Publisher, year: page numbers of chapter.

Example:• Todd J and Barongo L. Epidemiological

methods. In: Ng’weshemi J, Boerma T, Bennett J and Schapink D (eds). HIV prevention and AIDS care in Africa; A district level approach . Amsterdam: KIT Press, 1997: 51-68.

Systems used:• Vancouver system

• Harvard system

Vancouver system • You will use consecutive numbers

in the text to indicate your references. At the end of your report you will then list your references in that order, using the format described above

Harvard system • You will refer to the references

more fully in the text, putting the surname of the author, year of publication and number(s) of page(s) referred to between brackets, e.g., (Shiva 1998:15-17). If this system of citation is used, the references at the end of the report should be listed in alphabetical order.

USING A REFERENCE MANAGER

Various computer software packages are available which allow references to:

• be readily recovered from databases, • easily inserted into your document, and• automatically adjusted whenever any other

alterations are made. • known as „reference management‟ packages

or „reference managers‟.Examples of well known packages:• EndNote, Mendeley and Zotero.

Bias in literature review

Definition• Distortion (alteration) of the

available information in such a way it reflects opinions or conclusions that do not represent the real situation.

Examples of bias• Restricting references to those that

support the point of view of the author.• Drawing conclusions from shaky

(doubtful) results.• Making generalization from just one

case or small study.

Ethical considerations in literature review

Ethical problems include:• Bias• Careless presentation of data• Presentation of research results or

scientific publications of other authors without quoting them. (This can take to court).

Key Requirements for citing references;

• Acknowledge the work of others wherever you make use of it.

• Present such acknowledgements in a consistent way using a recognized citation system.

• Give a well-presented reference list at the end of your work.

• You are also encouraged to make use of reference manager software.

Plagiarism • Is the copying or use of the work of others,

whether intentionally or unintentionally, as if it were your own.

• Such work may come from any source whether published or unpublished, in print or online – including words, images, audio recordings, diagrams, formulae, computer code, performances, ideas, judgments, discoveries and results.

You should demonstraterigorous and respectful academic practice at all

times

Other Assessment Irregularities• Cheating: deliberate attempt to deceive in

order to gain advantage in an assessed work

• Fraud: the submission of any work which may cause others to regard as true that which is not true.

• Collusion :any form of collaboration with another

• person, including another student, which has not been permitted.

• Personation : the deliberate submission of work done by another person.

Penalties

Ranging from;• Grade reduction, • Outright fail and resubmit, OR• Termination of student registration

as per university regulations.Students will be presumed innocent

unless the contrary can be established.