HCH 403: RESEARCH METHODS

Course: MBChB Community Health Rotation-

Year 5
Semester 1- 2021/2022 Academic Year

Course Lecturer: Dr Isaac Mwanzo, PhD

Department of Community Health &
Epidemiology
School of Public Health, Kenyatta University

Time: Tuesday 7.00AM-1100AM

Venue: LR06 – Old Library

Course Description
This course is meant to introduce the medical student to the
science of research. Students will learn the meaning of
research, different research methods and the process of
carrying out research. This course will help the medical
student appreciate the important role that research plays in
the field of health.

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, the student should be able to do the
following:

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  Understand the meaning, purpose and basic concepts of
research
 Understand the different research designs and be able to
identify an appropriate design for their research question
 Write a research proposal and a research report.

Reference Books:

Assessment plan
There will be an assignment given during the course and a
CAT at the end of the rotation. Assignment should be neatly
typed 12 font size, Calibri or Times New Roman font. There
will be a Community Health exam at the end of the academic
year which will consist of questions from this course. Your
overall grade will consist of marks from the assignment,
CAT and main exam.

Class Participation
All students are expected to attend all the classes. A class
attendance list will be signed for each class. The students
will be expected to actively participate in discussions in
class. Students will be expected to avoid any class
disruptions including coming in late, walking in and out of
class during class session and use of cell phones.

Course Contents
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  Research: meaning, purpose, terms and concepts
 Sources of research ideas
 Research designs: Quantitative and qualitative methods
 Sampling and sampling designs: Non-probability and
probability sampling
 Data: collection, instruments, processing,
 Scales of measurement
 Ethical issues in research
 Proposal writing: format, problem, questions,
hypothesis, literature review, methods
 Writing a research report

REFERENCE LIST
 Greg Guest & Emily Namey, 2015: Public Health
Research Methods: Sage publication.

 WHO/CIOMS 2002: International Guidelines for

biomedical research involving human subjects.
 Arlene Fink, 2013: Evidence-based public health
practice. Sage publication
 Signild Vallgard & Lene Koch, 2008: Research methods
in public health

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  Ann Bowling 2009: Research methods in Health,
Amazon Publication.
 Frances Gritffiths, 2009: Research methods for health
care practice, Sage publications
 Kothari C.P (2000) Research Methodology: Methods
and Techniques, 2nd Edition
 Bordens, K.S and Abbot, B.B (2000). Research Design
and Methods: A process Approach, 2nd Edition
 Any other relevant reference materials

What is research?
Research has been defined in a number of different ways.
An investigation or experimentation aimed at the
discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of
accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or
practical application of such new or revised theories or
laws
Research can be defined as the search for knowledge, or
as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts,
solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or
develop new theories, usually using a scientific method.
The primary purpose for basic research (as opposed to
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 applied research) is discovering, interpreting, and the
development of methods and systems for the
advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of
scientific matters of our world and the universe.
Scientific research relies on the application of the
scientific method, a harnessing of curiosity. This
research provides scientific information and theories for
the explanation of the nature and the properties of the
world around us. It makes practical applications
possible.

Objectives of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions
through the application of scientific procedures. The main
aim is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not
been discovered yet.
Broad categories of objectives of research
1.To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights
2.To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
population

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 3.To determine the frequency with which something
occurs
4.To test hypothesis
What motivates people to do research?
1.Academic purpose
2.Face the challenges in solving unsolved problems
3.Get intellectual joy of doing something creative
4.Get respectability
5.Directive of government
6.Employment conditions
7.Curiosity about new things
8.Desire to understand causal relationships.

Significance of research
1. Initiates scientific thinking
2. Provides basis for policies
3. Improvement of professionalism; scientific body of
knowledge

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Scientific methods of research
The idea of science is to achieve systematic interrelation of
facts, logical arguments. It is based on the following
postulates:
1.It relies on empirical evidence
2.It utilizes relevant concepts
3.It is committed to objective considerations
4.Presupposes ethical neutrality
5.It results in probabilistic predictions
6.Its methodology is known to all and open to scrutiny
7.It aims at formulating theories

Characteristics of a scientific approach

1.Order and control- systematic approach to problem
solving; research moves in an orderly and systematic
manner- from definition of problem , design to collection
of data
2.Empiricism – relies on empirical evidence rooted in
objectivity; grounded in reality and not in personal
opinions

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 3.Generalization – interested in generalized understanding
of phenomena and how they are interrelated- generalize
to other people and situations
Purpose of scientific research
1.Descriptions
2.Exploration – looking at other dimensions, manner of
manifestations and other factors related to it.
Characteristics of a good research.
1.Systematic – clear steps
2.Logical – guided by rules of logic to conclusion
3.Empirical – deals with concrete data
4.Replicable – allows for research results to be verified by
replicating study and build sound basis for decisions
5.Observes ethics.
6.Publishable results

Types of research
Classified according to:
1.Disciplines- biomedical, social science, environmental
etc
2.Type o data- quantitative/qualitative
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 3.Level of analysis- descriptive/analytical
4.Design
5.Purpose

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Statement that can be supported by theory and previous
research; formulated and temporarily adopted to explain the
observed facts covered by the study. A declarative statement
that is tentative in nature; It must be tested, explained and
measured.

Types
1.Null Hypothesis – a denial of an attribute, an existence, a
difference or an effect or relationship expressed in
negative statement - Example: – “There is no significant
difference in the perception of the different groups of
respondents on the effectiveness of the program in terms
of its …….
2.Alternative Hypothesis – affirms the existence of a
phenomenon, acceptance of the attribute of relationship,
effects and differences. eg“There is a significant
difference in the perception of the different groups of
respondents on the effectiveness of the program in terms
of its…..

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 Characteristicsof Hypotheses
A good hypothesis has several basic characteristics: –
Testable – logical – directly related to the research
problem.
Represents a single unit or subset of the problem.
States a relationship between variables – sets limits of
study - stated in a form that can be accepted or rejected.

Sources of Hypothesis
 based on observation: – Environment.
 on literature.
 on other empirical data.
 personal experiences.

Criteria for Evaluating Research Hypothesis

• stated in declarative form
• be consistent with known facts, previous researches, and
theories
• statement should follow from the statement of the research
problem
• state the expected relationship between two or more
variables
• Testable
• stated clearly and concisely

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• The level of significance must be indicated when stating
the null hypothesis.

RESEARCH VARIABLES
These are factors that have different values which are
quantitatively measured and statistically tested to prove the
hypotheses; are qualities, properties or characteristics of
person, things or situations that change or vary.
 Identify the concepts to be studied.
• Variables are measurable.
• Variables are usually specific in focus.

Classification of Variables
According to possible number of values – Dichotomous
Variables • variables that take only two values – Example: »
Religion (catholic or non-catholic) » Nature of employment
(part-time or full-time) » Sex/Gender (Male or Female)

Independent or Dependent – Independent Variable •

known as the presumed cause • it is the antecedent • it is the
variable predicted.

Dependent Variable • known as the presumed effect • it is

the consequent • it is the variable predicted.

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eg SAMPLE:• An experimenter might compare the
effectiveness of four types of antidepressants.• The variable
is – "type of antidepressant."• When a variable is
manipulated by an experimenter, it is called an independent
variable.• The experiment seeks to determine the effect of
the independent variable on relief from depression.• In this
example, relief from depression is called a – dependent
variable.

In general, – the independent variable is manipulated by the

experimenter and – its effects on the dependent variable are
measured.

Quantitative or Qualitative – Qualitative Variables -

variables that express characteristics or properties - express a
qualitative attribute - Socio-economic status of respondents –
Quantitative Variables - variables that express amount and
those numerical in nature – Ex. height, weight,

Extraneous or exogenous variables – not the direct interest

of the researcher and should be controlled in order that the
hypothesis can be validly tested; are variables other than the
independent variable that may bear any effect on the
behavior of the subject being studied.

Intervening, modifying and mediating variable

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A variable that links the independent and the dependent
variables, and whose existence explains the relationship
between the other two variables.

Treatment or control variables

Treatment variable is the independent variable, whose
effect on a dependent variable is studied in a research
project. By contrast, a control variable in scientific
experimentation is an experimental element which is
constant and unchanged throughout the course of the
investigation.

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