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INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
(Methodology, Research Problem, Research
Question, & Research Hypothesis)
Kinds of research (based on broad objectives)
1. Basic
– develop better understanding of
nature
2. Epidemiological
– use of population/groups of
people as subjects
– identification of risk factors
and/or causes of diseases for
preventive measures,
3. Clinical
– understand the disease process
(identification of determinants of
illness)
– basis for development of
technology for disease cures
The Research Process:
In a research journey, there are two important
decisions to make:
1. what we want to find out about or what
research questions (problems) we want
to find answers to
2. and how to go about finding their
answers
Steps in research process:
1. Formulating the research problem
– first and most crucial in the
process
– function: to decide what you
want to find out
2. Reviewing the literature
– integral part of the research
process
– makes valuable contribution in
every operational step
– functions: to bring clarity and
focus to our research problem; to
improve our method; to broaden
knowledge; to contextualize the
problem
3. Developing objectives
– what we want to attain in the
study
– can be listed into two headings:
general objectives (overall
statement of the thrust of study)
and specific objectives (specific
aspects of the topic that we want
to investigate in the framework
of study)
4. Preparing the research design
– Research Design – conceptual
structure within which research is
conducted
– analytical, observational, clinical
5. Determining sampling methodology
6. Collecting the Data
– construction of data collection –
one of the important parts of
research
– the data is entirely dependent to
the questions we ask the
respondent/s
7. Analyzing data
8. Generalizing and interpreting results
9. Preparing the report or presenting results
– formal write ups of conclusions
reached
Research problem
- the issue that leads to the need for a
study
- the issue to be settled
- the first and most crucial step in the
research process
- the problem should be clear
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Research question Sources of a research problem:

- the question that the investigator wants 1. intellectual curiosity
answered in order to explain the problem 2. serendipity
- the question to be answered or resolved 3. analysis of needs and practice
- is formulated from the research problem 4. organized and systematic determination
of research needs (DIC – researches in
OLFU)
Research hypothesis
- predictions the researcher makes about
Sources of researches:
the expected relationship among
variables 1. medical journals
- a statement of what the researcher 2. Pubmed
believes in regarding the supposed 3. MedLine
relationship 4. freemedicaljournals.com

Examples: Considerations in selecting a research

problem:
Research problem:
1. Researchability (example: Can
There is a well-established association between
painkillers be used even if its
a shorter adult height and an increased risk of
administration can kill the patient?)
coronary artery disease (CAD)… the precise
2. Clarity
mechanisms linking shorter height with an
3. Significance
increased risk of CAD remain unclear. (C.P.
– the research should be worth
Nelson et al., 2015)
investigating
– it is significant if:
a. it affects a large
Research question: population
Can genetic variants that affect a trait provide a b. it has serious morbidity
means of exploring the relationship between consequences
height and the CAD? c. it is related to on-going
projects
d. fills a gap in knowledge
Hypothesis: or technology
e. has practical application
Genetic variants that affect a trait provide a f. it will improve the
means of exploring the relationship between practice of the profession
height and CAD. 4. Feasibility
– can be investigated with
available resources)
5. Critical mass
Research problem – statement (not a question) – the research is broad
– it is not too specific/small that it
limits the researcher/s
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6. Interest Formulating the title
7. Research questions should investigate
- try to complete this sentence, “My study
relationships
is about…”
– the two qualities are
- frame the answer to this question in such
connected/associated in some
a way that a colleague will be able to
way
easily understand/grasp the meaning of
a. Is there a relation b/w the
the paper
chronotype(?) of
- straightforward / not complicated
individual and their
intelligence?
b. Is there a relation
between BMI and Rules in formulating the title:
asthma? 1. Be brief
– Example: 2. Avoid wasting of words
3. Eliminate unnecessary words such as
“An approach to…”, “A study of…”
4. Avoid talking of the place where the
study will be done. For example, at
Fatima University Medical Center (do
not hospital – “a tertiary hospital in
Valenzuela”
5. May use a single or a double title
6. Consider a title no longer than 12 words,
Formulating a research problem: eliminating most articles and preposition

1. Identify or determine the topic of

interest. Dissect the broad area into sub From APA (American Psychiatric
areas. Association) Manual:
2. Clarify the problem statement
 An example of a good title is:
o “Effect of Transformed Letters
on Reading Speed”
 Titles are commonly indexed and
WRITING THE TITLE AND compiled in numerous reference words.
INTRODUCTION Therefore, avoid words that serve no
useful purpose; they increase length and
can mislead indexers.
FORMULATING THE TITLE  For example, the words method and
results do not normally appear in a title,
nor should such terms as “A study of…”
 Working on a title is going through or “An experimental investigation of…”
many revisions.  Avoid using abbreviations in the title for
accurate indexing.
 The length is no longer than 12 words.
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 The title is typed in uppercase and a. What is that gap in knowledge

lowercase letters (no all uppercase),
positioned in the center & upper part of
the page.
From ICMJE (International Committee of
Medical Journal Editors)
 No more than 40 character (including
letters and spaces).
o Electronic indexers may limit the
length of the title.
 The title provides a distilled description
of the complete article and should
include information that, along with the
Abstract, will make electronic retrieval
of the article sensitive and specific.
WRITING THE PAPER
Acknowledgement (from the Lecture)
“Some slides were taken from the lecture of Dr. Josie Lapeña of UP-
PGH and the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors.”
that you are trying to fill in?
3. Provide context of your work
4. State your focus by way of stating you
research hypothesis or research
questions
5. Give justification for your work
INTRODUCTION
The way the context, focus and justification of
your work in the introduction is written will set
the direction you will take in the discussion.
5 parts of the Introduction:
1. The research problem or concept
2. Studies that have addressed the problem
3. Deficiencies in the past literature
4. Significance of the study
5. Purpose of the study

Writing the Introduction:

IMRAD Format  The three paragraph rule
 Introduction o 1st – Problem
o Why did you make the study?  describe the problem to
 Methods be investigated,
o Who, What, When, Where, and summarize the research
How did you make the study? o 2 – Gap in the Literature
nd

 Results  review the relevant

o What did you find? research to provide
 Discussion rationale, show the gap in
o What do the findings mean? the general knowledge,
o 3 – Hypotheses
rd

 describe the ideas,

aims/objectives
Purpose of the Introduction
1. Familiarize and orient
2. It does so by providing context of your
work, stating your focus and giving
justification for your work.
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Pitfalls in the Introduction (Don’t do)

1. Overlong and unnecessary background
in introduction section
2. Exaggerating (or understating) the
importance of your work
3. Extensive listing of reference and review
4. Too many objectives and not clearly
stated (make sure that all the objectives
will be answered in the results)
5. Inclusion of results and conclusion in the
introduction section
6. Use of improper tenses (Introduction is
largely present tense)

SDL (HANDWRITTEN)
I. Read two journals about a topic in FMCH
(Family Medicine and Community Heath)
that you would like to research on.
II. From this journal, determine the gaps that
can be researched on.
III. Create:
1. Research problem
2. Research questions
3. Hypothesis
4. Proposed title of your research

Additional Info:
PMC Matrix
P–
M–
C–