Introduction to Research

09/01/2020
Definition of Research
 Process of asking questions and answering
them in an organized way through:
 Survey
 Experiment
 Involves:
 Examination of limits of knowledge
 Assessing what is known up to that point
 Defining unanswered questions
 Devising ways of answering them in an oranized
and meaningful way
 Within the capability of every thinking person
 Steps of the Research Process
 1. Choice of institution, field, supervisor and topic
 2. Comprehensive period of background reading
 3. Formulation of research question (objective) and
suggested answer (hypothesis)
 4. Define method of investigation with appropriate
form of statistical analysis
 5. Conduct of the study
 6. Generating meaningful conclusions
 7. Reporting of the study to the appropriate
audience
Requirement of Research
 An enquiring mind
 will recognize the existence of questions
that need to be answered
 Define unanswered question(s)
 Medical Research Areas
 Basic Medical Research
 Clinical Research

 Show slides on Medical Research (Basic &

Clinical)
Topic of Research
 Choice of Field is based on:
 Department’s preference
 Student’s interest
 Process
 1. Department defines the field
 2. Student identifies a specific topic
 3. Discuss topic with adviser and come up with a
clear question and a proposed answer
 Characteristics of a Good Topic
 Original or with good reason to repeat study
 Sufficient scientific merit and interest
 Appropriate depth of study to satisfy degree
 An outcome is assured whether + or -
 Research Problem has viable proposed solution
 Not too difficult or impossible
 Within capabilities
 Appropriate to skills and understanding of student
 Task to be done
 Can be completed in allocated time
 With reasonable chance of success
 Not too complex but sufficiently detailed
 Where to look for Topics
 Scientific Literature:  Scientific Literature:
 Gaps  Suggestions
 Inconsistencies  Alternative explanations
 Areas of Uncertainty  Unsubstantiated Claims
 Questions  Unqualified Statements
 Unexpected findings  Speculations
Background Reading
 Clarify the problem to be studied
 Set up a reading plan
 1. General textbook
 2. Specific textbook of monograph
 3. Look for leading articles & reviews that,
 Lay down basic principles
 Identify prime references
 4. Trace articles frequently mentioned in reviews
and read them
 5. Get advise from supervisor or experienced
worker on the main papers to be read
Critical Reading
 Look for evidence for every statement in the:
 Methods, Materials, Form of Analysis, Results
 Expert opinions are still hypothesis and have
never been tested or proven
 Make sure that conclusions are
 justified by the methods & results and
 not based on unsubstantiated claims and
speculations
 Look for
 Gaps, inconsistencies, unexplained and
serendipitous findings
Principles of Research Design

 Statistics used to:

 Assess how reliable sample results reflect
what is happening in the population from
which they are drawn
Statistical Analysis
 Types
 Descriptive
 Inferential
 Application of Statistics Requires:
 Sound logic
 Keen eye for unexpected trends in data
 Understanding of statistical concepts
Ways to Investigate
 Survey
 Collecting evidence from naturally
occurring events
 Taking place
 Have taken place
 Controlled Experiment
 Controlling one or more independent
variables
 Measuring the effect