International University of Africa

Faculty of Medicine
Introduction to Research Methodology
Handout for students of semester II

i. Definitions of Research Methodology

i.  Investigation undertaken in order to discover new facts or get additional
information.
ii. Te search again.
iii. The systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data needed to
answer certain question or solve a problem.
ii. Research Purpose
i. Generates new knowledge to deal with major unresolved health problems
(basic research)
ii. Identifies priority problems and designs and evaluates polices and
programmes (applied research).
iii. Characteristics of a good research Problem
i. Relevance
ii. Avoidance of duplication
iii. Feasibility
iv. Political accessibility
v. Applicability
vi. Urgency
vii. Ethical acceptability
iv. Problem analysis focuses on two issues:
i. Identify factors
ii. Finding the relationship between problem and the factors.
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 PRELIMINARY PAGES

A. Title of the research

Criteria for the title:
• Aim specific: “telling exactly what your study aim at”.
• Place specific: “telling exactly where you undergo the study”
• Time specific: “telling when you undergo the study”
B. Dedication (optional): for those who helped you during your life
C. Acknowledgement: for those who helped you during the study -Ascending or
descending and for what?
D. Abbreviations
E. Abstract: (the main objective, the main methodology, the main results, the main
conclusion– not more than one page)
F. Table of content
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BODY OF THE RESEARCH
Chapter I: Introduction:
i. Background information about the topic
ii. Problem Statement:
Problem is a discrepancy between what should be and what exists. Finding a problem
is not hard but identifying one for research is not always easy. A well-defined
problem leads to good statement of research problem, hypothesis, and definition of
key variables and selection of appropriate methodology.
iii. Justification: This is the logical reasoning to show why the topic is important?
It is included as a subtitle at the end of the introduction
iv. Objectives
o General objectives: (State what is expected to be achieved by the
study).
• Example: Assessment of Limb Prosthetics Services in Sudan in
order to improve policies of providing services
o Specific objectives: (is the breakdown of the general objectives). e.g.

• To assess the efficiency of services

• To assess the quality of services

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 • Use action verbs for specific objectives:
• To explore - To describe - To identify - To measure -
To determine - To compare - To verify
o Avoid non-operational verbs such as to understand, to notice, to
observe, to see

Chapter II: Literature Review:

Why we review literature?
i. To prevent duplication.
ii. To refine statement of the problem.
iii. To formulate the suitable type of methodology.
iv. To support the argument for need of the research.
Sources of Information
i. Individuals, groups and organizations
ii. Books, articles, indexes and abstracts journals
iii. Published information
iv. Unpublished information (reports, records ... etc.)
v. Trusted websites
ii. How to refer to resource for an article
Author’s Surname followed by initials - Title of article - Source/Publisher - Year

Chapter III: Research Methodology:

1. Study design:
i. Observational:
• Descriptive/analytical
• Analytical:
• Case-control
• Cohort

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 • Case-series
ii. Experimental:
• Randomized Trials
• Non-randomized trial
Descriptions of study designs
i. Community-based
ii. Facility-based
iii. Hospital-based
iv. Cross-sectional
v. Longitudinal
vi. Retrospective
vii. Prospective
2. Study area: Study area: Describe briefly the study area whether it is geographical
of a facility area. .
3. Study population: Study population: Describe the general characteristics of the
study population
4. Data collection technique:
5. Data Collection
i. Data collection Techniques:
• Interviews
• Observation
• Secondary data
• Measurements
ii. Data collection tools:
• Questionnaire
• Check lists
• Records, reports, previous studies
iii. Weight, height, Hb ……

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6. Variables
i. Dependent variables: the variable used to describe or measure the problem
under study.
ii. Independent variable: direct factors that are assumed to cause or influence
the problem.
iii. Confounding variable: A variable may either strengthen or weaken the
results
iv. Background variable: indirect factors such as age, sex, education level,
socioeconomic status and religion.
7. Sampling Techniques
Probability sampling: (Sample has a known probability of being selected)

i. Simple Random Sampling (SRS) - Each individual is chosen randomly

and entirely by chance
ii. Stratified Sampling (works best when a heterogeneous population is split
into fairly homogeneous groups)
iii. Cluster Sampling: the total population is divided into groups (or clusters)
and a simple random sample of the groups is selected.
iv. Systematic Sampling: the selection of elements from an ordered sampling
v. Multistage Sampling (sampling plans where the sampling is carried out in
stages using smaller and smaller sampling units at each stage combining
some of the methods above are combined in stages)

Non-probability sampling:
• Purposive sampling: members of the population are chosen based
on their relative ease of access
• Convenience sampling (people who are easy to reach)
• Snowball sampling: The first respondent refers an acquaintance.
The friend also refers a friend, and so on.
8. Sample size: N/1+N (d)²
9. Data analysis:
i. Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) or
ii. Manual statistical analysis
10. Ethical consideration: Approvals from the institutes and Approval from the
study population (Written or Verbal)

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Chapter IV: Results
i. Results should be presented in figures or table
ii. Each table/figure should have a title (above) and a text (below) summarizing
the table/figure

Chapter V: Discussion
The purpose of the discussion:
i. To interpret and describe the significance of your findings in light of what was
already known about the research problem being investigated and,
ii. To explain any new understanding or fresh insights about the problem after
you've taken the findings into consideration.

Chapter VI: Conclusion:

The conclusion is intended to help the reader understand why your research should matter
to them after they have finished reading the paper.

Chapter VII: Recommendations (Should be applicable and from your findings) –

conclusion and recommendation is sometimes are written in one chapter)

Annexes: The questionnaire, Map. Photos etc,

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Proposal Writing
• Proposal Format
1. Title
2. Introduction (including literature)
3. Methodology
4. Type of result presentation
5. Work plan
6. Budget
7. References
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Dr. Abdelmageed Osman Musa
Associate Professor – Community Medicine - International University of Africa –
Faculty of Medicine - 03-03-16