KMTC-ISIOLO CAMPUS

CLASS KRCHN YEAR 2 SEM 1

MODULE: RESEARCH METHODS
SEPT 2022 HOURS: 50 HRS
COURSE OUTLINE
MODULE COMPETENCE
This module is designed to enable the learner conduct research
Module outcomes
By the end of this module, the learner should:
 Apply concepts of research
 Perform literature review
 Design an appropriate research methodology
 Write a research proposal
 Apply ethical requirements in conducting research
 Compute data
 Collect data
 Write a research report
Module units
 Introduction to research 02 hrs https://youtu.be/wd8C0Zan__U
 Literature review 06 hrs
 Methodology 10 hrs
 Proposal writing 04 hrs
 Bioethics 02 hrs
 Biostatistics 10hrs
 Data collection 02 hrs
 Report writing 14 hrs
Module content
Introduction to research
 Definitions
 Purpose of research
 Importance of research in health
 Benefits of research
 Types of research (basic & applied)
 Approaches in research (quantitative/ qualitative)
  Conceptual and theoretical frameworks
 Research concepts & process; introduction (research idea, problem identification,
back ground of the study problem, problem statement, research questions, research
objectives, hypothesis, (purpose, characteristics, types), classification of variables
( control, extraneous, intervening, antecedent, suppressor, distorter, exogeneous and
endogenous), justification, purpose of study, Assumptions of a study, Scope of study

Literature review
 Definition
 Reasons for reviewing literature
 Scope of literature review
 Performing literature search- formulating answerable questions
 Sources of literature (primary & secondary)
 How to retrieve literature (steps)
 Tips in reviewing of literature and organization of literature
 Citation and referencing (referencing style (APA), Havard)
 Intellectual skills (reading, writing, argument formation, reasoning, critical thinking)
Methodology
 Research designs: -
o Observational and experimental
o Characteristics of a good design
 Study area
 Study population
 Target population
 Sampling frame
 Sampling bias
 Sampling errors (type I and type II)
 Sampling methods: probability (simple random, systematic, stratified, cluster,
multistage); Non probability (purposive sampling, snowball sampling, quota sampling,
convenient sampling)
 Sample size determination (statistical sample size determination tables)
 Data collection method (qualitative/quantitative)
Tools for data collection:
 Qualitative (observation, key informants interview, desk review, social mapping),
organization, advs & disadvs;
 Quantitative (structured interviews (types, adv & disadv, rules pertaining to interviews,
communications during interviews, training of interviewers), self-administered
questionnaire (types, rules for constructing questionnaire & questionnaire items, general
principles for writing questions, steps in developing questionnaire, ordering of items in a
 questionnaire, types of questions, types of responses, structure of a questionnaire (format
and layout, question order, length of questionnaire, the cover letter), presentation of a
questionnaire, pretesting of a questionnaire
Data processing and analysis methods
 Steps in data analysis-(quantitative & qualitative),
 Qualitative data analysis methods (categorization, themes, subthemes), statistical
packages used in qualitative data (Excel).
 Quantitative data analysis ( Excel, SPSS, STATA), levels of measurements (nominal,
ordinal, ratio)
Data presentation;
 Ratios, rates, percentages, proportions,
 Frequency distribution (tables, contingency, cross tabulation), graphs and charts (bar
graphs, line graphs, histograms, scatter graphs, pie charts),
 How to create tables and figures from data, how to label tables and figures, choosing a
method of data presentation
 How to present findings (narrative, draw table/ figure, title)
Bioethics
 Definition
 Development and history of bioethics in research
 Reasons for addressing bioethics in research,
 Principles of bioethics (respects to persons, beneficence, distributive justice, informed
consent, elements of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality)
 Bioethical issues for special and vulnerable groups
 Regulation of conduct of research: authority letters (institution, National Commission for
Science and Technology, Institutional Ethics and Research Committee)
Proposal writing
Components
 Title
 Fore matter
 Background of the problem
 Problem statement
 Purpose of the study
 Objective of the study
 Research questions
 Theoretical background or conceptual framework
 Limitations and assumptions
 Literature review
  Methodology
 References
 Appendices
o Time schedule
o Budget
 Qualities of a good research proposal
 Preliminary activities before writing a project proposal
Biostatistics
 Introduction to data analysis
 Data tabulation and display
 Measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio)
 Pilot study
 Purpose of descriptive statistics (measures of central tendencies and measures of
dispersion or variability,
 Measures of relationship, inferential statistics (Chi-square, Analysis of variance, T-test)
Results
 Differentiating between findings and interpretations
 Linking findings to research questions
Discussion
 Interpret and discuss the findings as per specific objectives
 How to link the findings with existing literature
 Explain the emerging issues (contradictions with previous findings)
 Discuss implications of findings, meaning of the findings, constructing a discuss
Conclusion
 How to conclude (base conclusions on findings/specific objectives, indicate whether
purpose of study was achieved), no citation
Recommendation
 Based on findings and research results
 Recommendations for further research based on emerging issues that were not within the
scope of current study
Report writing
 Title, dedication, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, figures, abbreviations and
acronyms
 Introductions
 Literature review
 Methodology
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusion
 Recommendations
 References
 Appendices (country map, map of study area, authority letters (training institution,
national commission for science and technology), tools for data collections
 Forums for dissemination of research findings
