INTRODUCTION TO

RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
:Definition
The word "research" is derived from the
Latin word
".meaning "to know
Research is the systematic collection,
analysis and interpretation of data to
answer a certain question or solve a
.problem
Research is an organized and
systematic way of finding answers to
.questions
Systematic because there is a definite
set of procedures and steps which
.you will follow
Organized in that there is a structure or
.method when doing research
Types of research:

:Health research serves two major purposes

 First, Basic research is necessary to
generate new knowledge and
technologies to deal with major
.unresolved health problems
 Second, Applied research ,based on
laboratory “applied research” is necessary
to identify priority problems and to design
and evaluate policies and programs that will
deliver the greatest health benefits, making
optimal use of available resources.
 :Reasons for Doing Research
Research

. Advances knowledge
 Improves practices
 Improves technologies
 Helps create meaningful education
.programs
 Helps health managers in good decision
making processes
The importance of Research

? Why do we carry out research

It is generally recognized that there is a wide
gap between data available, and data
needed for management , planning and
.decision making
So research is needed to bridge this gap
:Classification of health research

Based on application of biological, social and

behavioral sciences, there are four types of
:research
Biomedical research ,focus on individuals-1
e.g biological processes, body function
Clinical research e.g drug efficacy-2
Epidemiological research e.g distribution-3
and causes of diseases
Health system research e.g policy research-4
Bio medical research-1

Bio Medicinal research focuses on the 

individual
It concentrates on how the body works 
Biological process , body structure and
functions , and the pathological mechanisms
occurring within the body
:example
The effect of anti-tuberculosis therapy on plasma
zinc status in childhood tuberculosis
Clinical research .2
Clinical research focuses on the individual. It
deals with the response of the body to various
preventive , diagnostic or therapeutic
interventions
-:Example
The efficacy of long acting penicillin on
tuberculous patients
-:Epidemiological research .3

Epidemiological research focuses on the

population , and considers the frequency ,
distribution and determinants of diseases
-:Example
Epidemiology of malaria in Khartoum state
Pattern of health problems in under five
. children in Omdorman area
Health system research (H.S.R.) .4

Health system research focuses on how well

is the health system functioning , such as cost
and quality of health services etc
Health system research aims to provide
.information which improve the health system
?What is a Research Question
 A research question is a precise query
about a problem that can be examined
and analyzed and that will yield useful
new knowledge.
 A research question is always stated in
question form. It may start general and
become focused and refined later on.
Identification of a research topic
Whether a problem situation requires
:research depends on three conditions
There should be a gap between what .1
;exists and the ideal or planned situation
The reason(s) for this difference should .2
be unclear (so that it makes sense to
develop research questions); and
There should be more than one possible .3
answer to a question or more than one
.solution to the problem
Criteria for prioritizing topics for
:research
Relevance .1
Avoidance of duplication .2
Urgency of data needed (timelines) .3
Political acceptability of study .4
Feasibility of study .5
Applicability of results .6
Ethical acceptability .7
:Scales for rating research topics

Relevance
Not relevant = .1
Relevant = .2
Very relevant = .3

Avoidance of duplication
Sufficient information already available = .1
Some information available but major = .2
issues not covered
No sound information available on which to = .3
base problem- solving
 Urgency
Information not urgently needed = .1
Information could be used right away but a delay of some = .2
months would be acceptable
Data very urgently needed for decision-making = .3

Political acceptability
Topic not acceptable to high level policymakers = .1
Topic more or less acceptable = .2
Topic fully acceptable = .3

Feasibility
Study not feasible, considering available resources = .1
Study feasible, considering available resources = .2
Study very feasible, considering available resources = .3
Applicability
No chance of recommendations being = .1
implemented
Some chance of recommendations being = .2
implemented
Good chance of recommendations being = .3
implemented

Ethical acceptability
Major ethical problems = .1
Minor ethical problems = .2
No ethical problems = .3
Summarizing the results

All scores are added, resulting in a total

score for each topic. The topics are then
ranked, according to the score they
.received
:Analyzing the problem
After identifying the core problem you
:should
 Identify factors that may have
.contributed to the problem
 Clarify the relationship between the
.problem and contributing factors
THANKS