Steps in Research, Formulating Research Problem and Hypothesis L1 PDF

RESEARCH PROJECT IN DIETETICS I
(NDD 31503)
STEPS IN RESEARCH, FORMULATING

RESEARCH PROBLEM AND
HYPOTHESIS
Dr. Mohd Razif Shahril
School of Nutrition & Dietetics
Faculty of Health Sciences
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY
6
What is RESEARCH (re and search)?
• ‘RE’ - prefix meaning again, anew or over again.
• ‘SEARCH’ - a verb meaning to examine closely
and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.
• ‘RESEARCH’?
• A structured inquiry that utilizes acceptable
scientific methodology to solve problems and
creates new knowledge that is generally
applicable
7
SCHOOL OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS • UNIVERSITI SULTAN ZAINAL ABIDIN
Characteristics of a RESEARCH
Critical Controlled Empirical
Systematic Valid and

Rigorous
Verifiable
Research is a process for collecting, analyzing

and interpreting information to answer questions
8
Why RESEARCH?
• To find out what we don’t know.
• To confirm whether what we know is correct.
• To know more than what we already know.
• To affirm our conceptual belief.
• To satisfy our curiosity.
9
Steps in Research
STEP 1: Formulating
research problem
STEP 2: Conceptualizing a
research design
STEP 3: Constructing an
instrument for data collection
STEP 4: Selecting a sample
10
Steps in Research (cont.)
STEP 5: Writing a research
proposal
STEP 6: Collecting data
STEP 7: Processing and

displaying data
STEP 8: Writing a research

report
11
The Eight-Step Model
12
Was that too complicated?
13
What is Literature Review?
• Is a critical and in depth evaluation of previous research.
• It is a summary and synopsis of a particular area of
research, allowing anybody reading them to establish
why you are pursing this particular research.
• It is NOT a chronological catalog of all sources, BUT an
evaluation, integrating the previous research together,
and also explaining how it integrates into the proposed
research.
14
Functions of Literature Review
It enables you to show how your It helps you establish the links
findings have contributed to the between what you are proposing to
existing body of knowledge in your examine and what has already been
profession. studied.
.
It provides a theoretical It helps you to integrate your

background to your study. research findings into the existing
body of knowledge. 15
How to Review Literature
Searching for the existing literature in your area of study
Reviewing the selected literature
Developing a theoretical framework
Developing a conceptual framework
16
Searching for the existing literature in
your area
Books Journals Online Databases
17
Searching for the existing literature in
your area (cont.)
18
Reviewing the selected literature
• Start reading the selected literature critically to pull
together themes and issues that are of relevance to your
study.
• If you don’t have a theoretical framework, it will be
developed roughly at this point.
• Slot the information carefully and critically where it
logically belongs under the themes in theoretical
framework so far developed.
19
Developing a theoretical framework
• Paradox – “until you go through the literature you cannot
develop a theoretical framework, and until you have
developed a theoretical framework you cannot effectively
review the literature”.
• Solution – to read some of the literature and then attempt to
develop a framework, even a loose one, within which you can
organise the rest of the literature you read.
• Without a draft version of theoretical framework, you will be
lost in doing literature review.
• Theoretical framework consists of the theories or issues in
which your study is embedded.
20
Developing a conceptual framework
• Conceptual framework stems from the theoretical
framework and focuses on the section(s) which become
the basis of your research problem.
• The conceptual framework describes the aspects you
selected from the theoretical framework to become the
basis of your enquiry.
21
e.g. Conceptual Framework
22
e.g. Conceptual Framework
23
The structure of literature review
24
The structure of literature review (cont.)
Like an essay, a literature review has:
1. Introduction: Explains the broad context of research area,
the main topics you and briefly highlights relevant
issues/debates in your field of research.
2. Main body: An analysis of the literature according to a
number of themes or topics that overlap. Headings are useful
- make sure to check they link together and tell a coherent
"story".
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the current state of the research
and should identify any gaps or problems with the existing
research, and explain how your investigation is going to
address these gaps or build on the existing research.
25
Tips in writing literature review
• Begin with an introduction and end with a summary.
• Use headings and sub-headings.
• Connect between topic and sub-topics.
• Use direct quotations INFREQUENTLY.
• Always cite the sources.
• Include your own knowledge.
• Summarizes each subtopic.
• A transition paragraph from one subtopic to another is
useful.
26
Tips in writing literature review (cont.)
27
✓ Read the whole article first!
✓ Understand the discussion.
✓ Appraise, do not merely describe.
✓ Do not just quote from the abstract.
✓ Never “copy and paste” sentences.
✓ Quote the findings and comment.
✓ Use sub-headings/chapters to arrange.
28
T
• define
29
T
• define
30
What is research problem?
• Any question that you want answered and any
assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or
investigate.
• However;
– not all questions can be transformed into research
problems.
– the process of formulating them in a meaningful way
is not at all an easy task.
– it requires considerable knowledge of both the subject
area and research methodology.
31
Research problem is
like an identification
of destination before
undertaking research
journey
32
Clear research problem would
result in clear and economical
research plan.
33
RESEARCH PROBLEM IS THE
FOUNDATION OF THE RESEARCH STUDY
34
WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO FIND
OUT ABOUT AND NOT WHAT YOU
THINK YOU MUST FIND 35
The way we formulate the research
problem determines every step that
follows;
• type of study design that can be used
• type of sampling strategy that can be employed
• research instrument that can be used or developed
• type of analysis that can be undertaken
36
37
Identifying research problem
• Differentiate between research vs. non-research
problems.
• Non-research problems are answered by these
questions:
– Can it be solved by administrative changes?
– Are there already solutions available that can be used?
– Is the problem due to lack of manpower and resources?
– Is there data showing that it is not a significant issue?
38
Prioritizing research problem
•1 Relevance
• How important?
• Size, severity, health & social consequences?
•2 Duplication
• Is the answer already available from other studies?
•3 Feasibility
• Feasible to carry out remedial actions?
• Are the manpower, time and resources available?
•4 Applicability
• Potential solution is effective under ideal conditions?
• Will managers accept and use it?
39
Prioritizing research problem (cont.)
•5 Cost effectiveness
• Are the resources invested worth the outcome?
• Will the solution be too expensive to implement?
•6 Timeliness
• Will the answer come quick enough?
•7 Ethics
• Will the project be acceptable to the respondents?
•8 Political acceptability
• Will the managers and community accept the
results?
40
Steps in formulating research problem
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3
Identify broad Dissect to sub- Select interested
field areas sub-area
STEP 5
STEP 6 STEP 4
Formulate
Assess objective Raise questions
objectives
STEP 7
Double check
41
Formulation of research objectives
• What is an ‘objective’?
– A clear and specific goals you set out to attain in your
study.
• Two types of objectives;
– Main objectives
• Specific objectives / sub-objectives
MAIN OBJECTIVES SUB-OBJECTIVES
• Overall statement of the thrust of • The specific aspects of the topic
your study. that you want to investigate
• It is also a statement of the main within the main framework of
associations and relationships your study
that you seek to discover or • One sub-objective contains one
establish aspect only 42
Formulation of research objectives (cont.)
• Sub-objectives should be numerically listed.
• Worded clearly and unambiguously.
• Use action-oriented words or verbs when writing your
objectives.
• E.g. start with;
– ‘to determine’, ‘to find out’, ‘to ascertain’, ‘to measure’
and ‘to explore’
• the wording of your objectives determines the type of
research design you need to adopt to achieve them.
43
Functions of research objectives
• Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials).
• Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly
necessary for understanding and solving the problem
you have identified.
• Organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases.
44
Characteristics of objectives
Main
Clear Complete Specific Direction
Variables
Descriptive studies
Correlation studies (experimental and non-experimental)
Hypothesis testing studies
45
What is hypothesis?
assumption
suspicion
statements
hunch
idea
46
What is hypothesis? (cont.)
• A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship
between two or more variable.
• A proposition, condition, or principle which is assumed,
perhaps without belief, in order to draw out its logical
consequences, and by this method to test its accord with facts
which are known or may be determined.
• A proposition that is stated in a testable form and that predicts
a particular relationship between two (or more) variables
• Characteristics of a hypothesis;
• It is a tentative proposition
• Its validity is unknown
• In most cases, it specifies a relationship between two or
more variables.
47
The process of testing a hypothesis
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Formulate Collect the Analyse
your hunch required data to
or data draw
assumption conclusion
48
Characteristics of a hypothesis
• A hypothesis should be simple, specific and conceptually
clear.
• A hypothesis should be capable of verification.
• A hypothesis should be related to the existing body of
knowledge.
• A hypothesis should be operationalizable.
49
Types of hypothesis
• Research Hypothesis
– The basis of our investigation
– Four types;
• Hypothesis of difference
• Hypothesis of point prevalence
• Hypothesis of association
• Hypothesis of no difference (null hypothesis)
• Alternate Hypothesis
– Explicitly specify the relationship that will be considered as true
in case the research hypothesis proves to be wrong
– Opposite of research hypothesis
– Null hypothesis (H0) or hypothesis of no difference
50
Types of hypothesis
1 2
a b c d
51
Errors in testing a hypothesis
• Incorrect conclusion 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 conclusion drawn are incorrect
52
Errors in testing a hypothesis (cont.)
• Rejection of a null hypothesis when it is true
– Type I error
• Acceptance of a null hypothesis when it is false
– Type II error
When all null hypothesis is actually;
TRUE FALSE
When your ACCEPT Correct decision Type II error
decision is to; REJECT Type I error Correct decision
53
Errors in testing a hypothesis (cont.)
When all null hypothesis is actually;

TRUE FALSE
When your ACCEPT Correct decision Type II error
decision is to; REJECT Type I error Correct decision
54
Establishing operational definition
• Working definitions or operational definitions are
pre-defined concepts that you plan to use either in your
research problem and/or in identifying the study
population in a measurable form.
• Used only for the purpose of your study and could be
quite different to legal definitions, or those used by
others.
• Working definitions will inform your readers what exactly
you mean by the concepts that you have used in your
study to avoid ambiguity and confusion.
55
Thank You
56

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RESEARCH PROJECT IN DIETETICS I

STEPS IN RESEARCH, FORMULATING

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY

Critical Controlled Empirical

Systematic Valid and

Research is a process for collecting, analyzing

STEP 4: Selecting a sample

STEP 6: Collecting data

STEP 7: Processing and

STEP 8: Writing a research

It provides a theoretical It helps you to integrate your

Reviewing the selected literature

Developing a theoretical framework

Developing a conceptual framework

Books Journals Online Databases

Correlation studies (experimental and non-experimental)

Hypothesis testing studies

When all null hypothesis is actually;

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