Introduction to Research

Methods Supercourse
Formulating Research
Problems, Questions
and Hypotheses
Introduction to the course
and to your assignment
This project is made possible by
the support of the American people
through the United States Agency
for International Development
(USAID).

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Special thank you to
workshop organizers and
Nazarbayev University for
hosting us

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What is this course designed
to achieve?
 Introduce the concept of research methods
 Describe basic biostatistical methods
 Introduce trainees to biostatistical software
 Introduce trainees to publication and research
process
 Introduce steps needed in research development
 Introduce the Central Asian Journal of Global
Health (CAJGH)

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Course assignment:
Develop a research project
 Learn the general steps in the research process
from research idea to project implementation
 Identify a research problem
 Define research questions, directional and non-
directional hypotheses
 Identify the best possible research design for your
hypotheses

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Research Defined
 Research is an organized and
systematic way to find answers to
questions

 Research is a creative process

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Why is research important to
medicine and public health?

 Knowledge obtained from sound

research is transformed into clinical
practice, leading to medical practice
that is evidence-based.

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The Research Idea
 Professional experience
 Burning questions
 Literature
 Professional meetings
 Discussions

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Criteria for developing a good
research question
 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant

 Cummings et al. 2001

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Good research question?
 Feasible  Ethical
 Subjects  Social or scientific value
 Resources  Safe
 Manageable
 Relevant
 Data available?
 Advance scientific
 Interesting knowledge?
 Novel  Influence clinical practice?
 In relation to previous findings  Impact health policy?
 Confirm or refute?  Guide future research?
 New setting, new population

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A Research Question Must
Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied
3. The testability of the question

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Variables in research
 Have 2 or more properties or qualities
 Age, sex, weight, height

 Is one variable related to another?

“ Is X related to Y? What is the effect of X on Y?” etc.

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Variables in research
 Independent  Dependent variable:
variable:  Something that varies
 has a presumed effect with a change in the
on the dependent independent variable
variable (outcome)  Outcome variable
 May or may not be
manipulated

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Hypothesis
 Statement about the relationship
between 2 or more variables
 Converts the question into a statement
that predicts an expected outcome
 A unit or subset of the research
problem

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Characteristics of hypotheses
 Declarative statement that identifies the
predicted relationship between 2 or
more variables
 Testability
 Based on sound scientific
theory/rationale

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Directional vs. Non-Directional
Hypotheses
 Directional hypothesis
 Specifies the direction of the relationship
between independent and dependent
variables
 Non-directional hypothesis
 Shows the existence of a relationship
between variables but no direction is specified

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Finding appropriate research
design
 Cohort
 Cross sectional
 Case control
 Clinical trial
?

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Prepare PowerPoint
presentaiton
 10 minutes long
 ~10 slides
 Select 1 presenter from each group
 Present during the last day
 Each presentation should include
research area, significance, hypothesis,
and rough design of the experiment
Practical applications of this
project?

 Create your own research project

 Understand published research papers
 Understand presentations at scientific
conferences
 Publish your research!!

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Central Asian
Journal of Global
Health
Welcome!
What is CAJGH
 Biannual open access journal
 Focus area is Central Asian Region
 Peer reviewed
 Started in April 2012 as a part of USAID
project
 Distinguished Editorial Advisory board
Questions?
Faina.linkov@gmail.com

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