KESMONDS INTERNATIONAL

UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCE

MASTER OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

APM 501 ASSIGNMENT

Part 01

CANDIDATE: MOHAMED IBRAHIM ABDI

ISSUE DATE: 20 September 2021

RESEARCH METHODLOGY

1.1. INTRODUCTION

Research is key tool of all science, it was comes from field of psychology, which is the study of

wisdom, and can be divided into many subfield which includes by epistemology. The

epistemology is the investigation and searching of knowledge, which was the beginning of

knowledge. After that scholars start to search, collect, analysis and interpret what they get into

understand way.

Today, research is used many diverse scientific fields as like biology, physics, psychology,

medicine, zoology and botany, different other fields in which research makes valuable

contributions to what we know already and how we think about things.

1.2. Definition and concept of research

The term of research has consisted of two words joined together to form one word, The term

‘Research’: Research = Re + Search, the first word ‘Re’ means again and again and the second

word ‘Search’ means to find out something, so the research means to find out something again

and again to get useful information.

Research is way of searching knowledge by using scientifically approach for the purpose of

discovery new facts, or generate knowledge and interpretation of it. Sometimes research can

answer certain questions or try to get solution to existing problem. The points that research

should be used consists five purpose, the testing ideas, discover new facts, create new

knowledge, answer question and solve problem. This will be the main purpose of all research

with in any field of science, so that research is primary essential tools that scientists can’t work
without it. Or scientists must have equipment with the knowledge of research to be aware of the

dynamic aspects of his knowledge.

1.3. History of research

The father of science Aristotle, the first person who realize the empirical measurement was

important, believed that knowledge could only be get by collecting upon what is already

known. he proposed “thought and reasoning” must be applied to support the real-world

findings, which is known as Induction. The second common scholar was Roger Bacon (1214 -

1294) was one of the earliest European scientists who tried to improve scientific methods. He

established the theory of making observations, hypothesizing, and then experimenting. The

Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), was one of the extreme agents behind the expansion of the

scientific method. He indicated also the importance of induction as part of the scientific

method.

There are many Islamic scholars who also pointed out the structure of scientific methods, the

common one was Ibn al-Haytham, in his book called 'The Book of Optics, develop the structure

of research methods in science similar to our own used by today scholars. The first Islamic

scholar who use a recognizable peer review process was Al-Rahwi (851 - 934).

1.4. Types of research

The research can be classified into different types, for example, basic research and applied

research according to the usage of research.

1.4.1. Basic research and applied research

The basic research is necessary to create new knowledge, facts, and information to deal with

major health problems in the community. So that basic research is exploratory research, which

means it is exploring new knowledge to discover unresolved. For example, the research centers

and educational research institutions mostly involve basic research.

The second type was applied research which is necessary to determine priority problems

existing in the community and to design implementation and evaluate policies and programs

that will carry out to get the greatest health benefit, for making optimal use of available

resources. This research did by government official agencies, international Non-governmental

organizations (INGOs), and local NGOs.

1.4.2. Qualitative and quantitative research

Qualitative research means quality or kinds, also known as naturalistic, any knowledge that

related to the investigating things of the internal reality of individuals and groups. This

quantitative research was concerned to the studying human behavior and the culture of social

world settled by human beings.

Quantitative research means quantity, also known as positivistic research, is concerned with

investigating things in the world, for observe and measure. In another word, quantitative research

is knowledge of external reality and measuring it. This include the natural sciences such as

biology, geology, chemistry, and physics etc.

1.5. Research process

Research the process is the continuous steps of searching or finding out the problem of study,

also consists of series of activities or steps necessary to successfully carry out your research.

These activities or steps are;

  First Formulating the Research Problem

 Construction your search topic

 Developing your research Objectives

 Searching Extensive Literature Survey

 Developing the Research Hypothesis

 Preparing the Research Design

 Determining the Research Design

 Collecting the Research Data

 Implementation of the Project

 Analysis of collected Data

 Testing existing Hypothesis

 Generalization and Interpretation

 Preparing of the Result as report

                                                         

1.6. Research problems

All research topics have existing problems behind them, the problem is a statement

about difficulties that research experience within an area of concern, this condition needs to be

improved or interfere or need to be eliminated. The problem statement answers the question

about why you selected this topic. Or why do you study?

The problem can be two parts, first part will be popular problem knew all community with their

solution, this known as surface, this problem does not need further study. The second part will be

not have clear answer or it will give you multiple explanations to answers, this problem known

as an actual problem, this problem needs to make a study to get a real answer.
 

1.7. Research Topic

he topic is the subject or items to be researched, analyzed, and interpreted during the study. A

research topic should have three main points of the following

  Subject (independent variable) (IV)

   Object (dependent variable).

   The target population (where the study will be conducted).

E.g. Impact of brucellosis on goat productivity in Mogadishu Somalia.  Brucellosis is Subject

(independent variable) (IV), goat productivity is Object (dependent variable) or (IV) and

Mogadishu Somalia is the target population (where the study will be conducted).

The interested topic should have above mentioned points in a concise statement of about 12

words approximately without detailed wording and unnecessary explanations. The topic must be

concise, Specific includes all the essential elements of the study (subject, object & target

population).

1.7.1. How to select Research Topic?

Basically, a researcher or a person will select a research topic first by identifying a wide area of

interest (research area) and then narrow down to area to a manageable statement (research topic).

The examples below demonstrate difference between research area and research topic:

•      Research area: drought

•      Research topic:     

–     # Effects of drought on Livestock production in Africa: A case SOMALI goat

farm

–      # Effects of drought on goat production In Hodon district   

 •      Research area: Pneumonia  

•      Research topic:    

–     # Factors limiting Pneumonia Control Programs In Mogadishu, Somalia

–     # Factors Promoting Pneumonia Control Programs In Mogadishu, Somalia

1.8. Literature review

Literature review is reviewing of existing knowledge prepared by other scholars available to

support you documents or is the process of identification and retrieval  from the data containing

information that are related to the research problem in existing documents.

The aims of literature review is to facilitate understanding of readers and help the researcher

comprehend the previous data that have been recorded be relevant to the research problem. The

researcher is required to determine that he/she recognizes the issues and facts surrounding the

problem at hand. The researcher must make extensively reading on several articles, books,

Journals etc. that concerns meaningfully to the issue under study.

The importance use of literature review

–     It prevents duplicating work.

–     It increases knowledge on the problem.

–     It gives confidence why your particular research.

–     To be familiar research methods

–     To know weaknesses and gaps to be filled.

The source of literature review

The source of literature can be peer-reviewed articles, books, dissertations or thesis and

conference papers, reports, website data, other available data in internet. Some source will

collect with the unofficial published data from government agencies, like minister of livestock,

minister of agriculture etc.

Reference

Reference is a making clarification of statement owned by someone who gave explanation of

condition and you described his theories and suggestions. The References that you identified

must make the following step.

•      You should try first to skimming or read.

•      Then try to make summaries of the important information and should be recorded on

separate index reference cards or as computer file.

•      There should then be classified the information.

•      Finally add to your literature correct citation protocol.

Kinds of reference

The kinds of reference totally difference based the different institution existence, but the formats

suggested below have been adopted as standard many journals and are referred to as the

Vancouver System,  the system of reference based on numerical based, that means in literature

put numbers with brackets and the reference information will list in bibliography in last pages of

data.

e.g. the delays in of rabid animal diagnosis were relatively most widespread. [21]
But there is another common reference system used by other journals and books it is common to

put the year, between brackets, and conventional after the name of the author(s). This is called

the Harvard System.

e.g. e.g. the delays in of rabid animal diagnosis were relatively most widespread. (Aoki M, Mori

T, Shimao T. 1990)

There are more methods in use for referencing to literature. Always make carefully look at what

methods is used in the institutions you are submitting an article or thesis to and follow it

systematically.

1.9. Research design

The study design or research design is scientifically way of collecting data, to address the actual

research problems and reach conclusion. It can be a strategy that you can choose to join different

types of study in an acceptable way.

1.9.1. Types of research design

The two types of research

1.      Observational research design

2.      Interventional research design

Observational research design

  Exploratory studies

  Descriptive Research Design.

-          Case report

-          Case series

 -          Cross sectional

-          Correlational Research Design.

  Analytics research design

-          Cohort study

-          Case control study

Interventional research design

-          Experimental Research Design.

-          Quasi-Experimental or Causal-Comparative Research Design.

1.9.1.1. Observation study

Observational studies are research design which the researcher just observes but does not

intervene and analyses researchable objects or situations;

  An exploratory the study is a small-scale study of exploring unknown things with

short duration, which is mostly carried out when little information is known about a

problem.

  Descriptive studies: Descriptive studies may be defined as researches that explain the

patterns of situation occurrence and other problem-related conditions by describing

person place and time.

-          Case reports and case series Case report: a careful, first detailed report

by one or more researchers of the profile of a single condition. The individual

situation report can be expanded to a case series.

 -          Correlation study: is a comparison of data from entire populations to

existing problems between different groups during the same period of time or

in the same population at different points in time.

-          A cross-sectional: A cross-sectional is prevalence study provides

information of past periods concerning the situation at a given point time. 

Usually involve collection of new data,

Analytic studies

Analytic studies may be defined as studies used to test existing hypotheses that concerning the

association between a suspected risk factor and a consequence and to measure the degree of the

association and its numerical significance.

-          Cohort study: Study groups identified by exposure status prior to

discover of the status of their condition and both exposed and unexposed

groups followed in an identical manner until they develop the problem under

study.

-          Case control study: is a Group of subjects with the problems and a group

of subjects without the problems (controls) is identified. Information, about

previous exposures are obtained for cases and controls, and frequency of

exposure compared for the two groups.

1.9.2. Intervention studies

In intervention studies, the researcher operates a situation and measures the effects of this

influence. Usually (but not always) two groups are compared, one group in which the
interference takes place and another group that remains ‘untouched’. The two classes of

intervention studies are:

•      Experimental studies “randamization” and

•      Quasi-experimental studies “Non randamization”

-          Intervention (experimental) studies can also, be considered either

therapeutic or preventive.

-          Therapeutic trials are conducted among sick animals with a particular

disease to determine the ability of drugs or procedures to diminish symptoms

prevent a recurrence, or decrease the risk of death from that disease.

-          A preventive trial or known as community trial involves the evaluation

of whether an agent (vaccine) or procedure reduces the danger of developing

the disease among those free from that illness at enrolment.

1.9.3. QUALITATIVE” RESEARCH

Methods of Qualitative” Research

•      There are many methods of qualitative research. The most common methods include

ethnography, biography, phenomenology, case study.

–     Ethnography is an explanation and interpretation of a cultural or social

behavior group or system.

–     Biography is the study of an individual and her or his experiences as told to

the researcher or found in documents and archival material.

 –     Phenomenology is the study of the lived involvements of numerous

individuals centered on a single phenomenon. A phenomenology is similar to a

biography

–     Case study is an examination of a bounded system (a case or multiple cases)

over time through detail.

–     Grounded theory is the study of existing problems and their processes. It is a

general practice of analysis linked with data collection that uses a methodically

applied set of methods.

1.10 What is sampling?

Sampling is action involves the selection of a number of individuals or study units from a

defined study geographical population. The population is too large for everyone to consider

collecting information from all its members. Instead, we select a sample of study units hopeful

that the sample is representative of the population. Target population or known as reference

population Is that population in study location of about which an researcher wishes to draw a

conclusion.

1.10.1. Sample size calculation

Sample size can be calculated using different formulas available, it part of statistical methods, as

you known sample size is refers to a portion or subset of the population and the important

questions is to answer, how many respondents will you select? And how do you arrive right

sample size at the number? There are many tools calculating sample size includes.

1-      Tables for sample size (krejcie and morgan 1970)

 2-      Slovene’s Formula

3-      Confidence interval

4-      Proportional probability methods

You use any of the above tools to get accurate sample size out of target population.

1.10.2. Sample procedure

The sample procedure after calculated the sample size, sample procedure is an ideal getting your

small sample to the target population in an equal chance or available or interested which will produces

unbiased and precise estimates of sample size. The sample procedure can divided into two main types,

probability and Non probability.

-          Probability sampling

  Simple random sampling

  Systematic random sampling

  Stratified random sampling

  Cluster random sampling

-          Non probability sampling

  Convenience sampling

  Judgment or purposive sampling

  Snow ball sampling

  Quota sampling

1.11. Data collection

The data collection can be primary data and secondary

Primary data is a type of data collection that is collected by different researchers or institutions

directly from main available sources through different media such as questionnaire, interviews,

surveys, experiments, etc. the tools or primary instruments include

-          Questionnaire

-          Interview

-          Observation (observe and participations)

-          Focus group discussion

A questionnaire is a instrument of data collection which consisting of a series questions

completing respondents by writing. Online literacy people can do. The purpose of questionnaire

is to collect information from respondents and community or key informants.

1.11.1. Secondary data

Secondary data is data collection that is already collected by different researchers, secondary data is

passive process of less efforts and cost. The most Common sources of secondary data collection include.

  Government departments,

  Local private research centers

  Organizational records and

  Other individual researcher

The common methods of secondary data is systematic review, which is type of design of

reviewing of existing data, both qualitative and quantitative, by searching similarities and

difference of existing knowledge or current facts.

1.12. Quality and validity

The quality of research can be indicators uses of reliability and validity, with suitable places and

calculated the contents of his study. Both are essential to the study or research acceptability.

-          Validity: is refers to the degree to which a given tool can accurately

measure what it is used to measure. The questions at this point is, is the tool

you are using the valid tool to measure what are you measuring? For example

The researcher can calculate the content validity from expert’s decision is

called Content Validity Index (CVI), the formula will be CVI= number of

questioner declared valid/total number of questions, the result will be

interpret, the Minimum CVI to declare an instrument to be valid is 0.70, if it is

greater acceptable, if it’s not, not accepted. To ensure validity, there are

various devices used: one is used of expert’s judgment. The researcher gives

the tool to experts in his/her field and they judge whether the tool is valid or

not.

-          Reliability: is refers to the degree to which an tool is consistent in

measuring what it is used to measure by uniformity, we mean that each time

an tool is used to measure, it will give you the same results. The simple and

commonest way to ensure reliability is through using “Test Retest Method”.

This method the researcher manages the tool to a few respondents and after a

months or days then administer it to the same respondents. After that the

results of the two study or tests are compared; if the two result differ a lot then

the instrument is not reliable. Another tools can be used will be – Cronbach’s

alpha.
1.13. Data analysis

The data analysis is the very critical step of research process, it consists of collection of data,

data entry and make data easily understandable, the data can be presented in tables, graphs,

figures and Statistical data analysis depends on several issues such as the kind of measurement

scale you used, the sample size you retrieved, sampling technique you used and the shape you

data will distribution.

The scale of measurement, we will get back, the first chapter of statistics, the types of scale was

typically four scales or levels of measurement which includes

-          Nominal

-          Ordinal

-          Interval

-          Ratio

The scale is very important to know the level of measurement as it aids you to decide how to

interpret your data from the variable concerned. Also knowing the level of measurement aids you

to choose which statistical techniques of data analysis are suitable for the numerical values to the

variables.

1.13.1. QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS

1.13.2. Descriptive Data Analysis

Descriptive Data Analysis can be used to the Descriptive statistics which will help you to

simplify large amounts of data in understandable way. The purpose of this methods is reduce lots

of data into a simpler summary. So that this will enable you to make comparisons across people

or other units. And uses the following simple measurements.

 -          Measures of Central Tendency: These include Mean, Median and Mode; these

help in determining the degree of normality of the distribution of scores of variable

being considered.

-          Measures of Variability: These include the standard deviation, skewness and

kurtosis.

-          Fiduciary Limits: These indicates the interval (or the fiduciary limits) also

known as confidence interval.

-          Graphical Presentation of Data: This includes bar diagrams, pie charts,

histogram, and line graph.

1.13.2.1 Inferential Data Analysis

•      Use of Excel in Data Analysis the MS-Excel is an operating software which is an

excellent tool for analyzing data for using statistical techniques particular inferential

techniques including t-test, analysis of variance, correlation, and Chi-square.

•      Correlation: A Pearson correlation coefficient is a degree of linear

association between two variables in interval or ratio scale. The measure,

usually symbolized by the character r, varies from –1 to +1, with 0

indicating no linear association.

•      t-test: A t-test is used to compare the different mean scores obtained by

two groups within single variable.

•      ANOVA: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a comparing more than

two groups within single variable. It a collection of mathematical models

and their associated procedures.

 •      Chi-square is used an Equal Probability and Normal Probability

Hypothesis, also a chi-square test is any statistical tests in which the test

statistic has a chi-squared distribution.

1.14. Conclusion and recommendation

The conclusion and recommendation will be the last section of research report after data

analyzed, the description of the major findings, discussion of the theoretical and practical

implications of the findings mentioned in detailed way and then conclusion of the research report

will be, conclusion is the concise or summary of general all steps you did from the day you start

upto day you finished, it consists two to three paragraphs.

The recommendations is data of what you should advice to the stakeholders of interested groups

of your study, it tells us advices for future research or future action. In this section, a researcher

is free to discuss and indicated any possible revisions and additions to existing theory related to

his findings. The researcher will make discuss the implications of findings, to point out for

educational practical and suggest other topics related to his studies that can be replicated in other

settings or make be prepared by other research. The researcher may also suggest further studies

of the problem investigated.

Reference

• Richard A. Crosby, Laura F. Salazar (2021)- Essentials of Public Health Research

Methods-Jones & Bartlett

• Ann Bowling - Research Methods In Health_ (2014) Investigating Health And Health

Services-Open University Press

• Hilla Brink, Christa van der Walt (2005) - Fundamentals of Research Methodology for

Health-care Professionals-Juta Academic

• Corlien M. Varkevisser, Indra Pathmanathan and Ann Brownlee (2003) Designing and

Conducting Health Systems Research Projects. World Health Organization / International

Development Research Centre.

• Degu, G., & Yigzaw, T. (2006). Research Methodology: lecture notes for health science

students. Addis Ababa: The Carter Center (Ethiopian Public Health Training Initiative), 45-50.

• Getu, D., & Tegbar, Y. (2006). Research Methodology: Lecture Notes. University of Gondar in

collaboration with the Ethiopia Public Health Training, the Carter Center, the Ethiopia MOH, and

the Ethiopia Ministry of Education.