RSCH410 Introduction to Health Research Writing a Research Proposal Research Methodology Mohamed M....
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Transcript of RSCH410 Introduction to Health Research Writing a Research Proposal Research Methodology Mohamed M....
RSCH410 Introduction to Health Research
Writinga
Research Proposal
Research Methodology
Mohamed M. B. AlnoorMona M. H. Diab
Writing a Research Proposal
What is research ? What is a research proposal?
Basic Proposal Outline:• Title page• Abstract• Introduction• Literature review• Methodology• Expected results• Ethical issues• Timeline • Bibliography (or References)
Steps in conducting research
Content
Writing a Research Proposal
What is research ?
search Research Re /
Research is the systematic collection analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a problem.
Writing a Research Proposal
What is research ?
Research
demands clear statement of the problem
requires a plan
builds on existing data should answer the original research
question
Writing a Research Proposal
Identifying Problems for Research
Common Research Questions
What is research ?
Description of Health ProblemMagnitude of a health problem/diseaseDistribution of the health problem in
time, place and person. Identification of risk factors and causes
Writing a Research Proposal
Identifying Problems for Research
Common Research Questions
What is research ?
Effect of an intervention:Drug, vaccine, risk factor cessation, health education
Evaluation of on-going interventions: Coverage of Target Groups, Quality,
Cost, Effect/Impact
Writing a Research Proposal
Why research ?
Writing a Research Proposal
Why, proposal?
The primary functions of the proposal are to:
SELL the research idea Commit to do the research in a
systematic way Explains the significance/importance
of the research Explains the research methods
Writing a Research Proposal
Why, proposal?
The proposal also serves to: Show interest in academic
improvement and publication. Show that sufficient preliminary
reading/ research in the area of interest have been done
(Generate funds to sustain the research units operation)
What is a proposal?
A good proposals quickly and easily answer the following questions:
What is to be achieved. What difference will the research
project make to: • the university• the discipline• the state, the nation
Writing a Research Proposal
What is a proposal?
What has already been done in the area of the project? How is it intended to be done?How much time will it take? How will the results be evaluated?
Writing a Research Proposal
Writing a Research Proposal
Steps in conducting Research
Selection / statement of Research Problem
Background / Literature review
Formulation of Objectives
Study Methodology
Proposal submission and approval
Field Work
Data Analysis
Report Writing and Presentation
gy
R e s e a r c h P r o p o s a l
1 2
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Basic Proposal Outline:
Title page Abstract Introduction Literature review Methodology Expected results Ethical issues Timeline (Budget) Bibliography (or References)
Writing a Research Proposal
Title page• Personal data (name, academic title, contact
information)• Title of the research report: The title should be brief(ten words or 60
characters), it should be accurate, descriptive and comprehensive, clearly indicating the subject of the investigation.
• The name(s) of the supervisor(s), and their affiliation.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Abstract (100 - 200 words), • Should be a concise summary of the WHOLE
project:
Background
Objectives
Methods
Result
Conclusion
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Writing a Research Proposal
Introduction• Topic area: Starts broad and then focused: Step 1: Choose a subject or area of interest. Step 2: Conduct a preliminary exploration of
the subject. Step 3: Narrow and shape the subject into a
specific topic.
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific) Hypotheses• Significance to knowledge Rationale & importance Impact(benefit from the
research)
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific) Why should research objectives be developed? (Formulation of objectives will help to:) Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials); Avoid collection of data that are not necessary for
understanding and solving the problem.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific) Why should research objectives be developed? (Properly formulated, specific objectives will:) Facilitate the development of your research
methodology. Help to orient the collection , analysis,
interpretation, and utilization of data.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)Formulation Of Research Objectives:The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be achieved by the study.The objectives should be closely related to the statement of the problem.
Writing a Research Proposal
to identify the reasons for this low utilization.
if the problem is
low utilization of child welfare clinics
the objective should be gy
gy
gy
eg.
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)General objective: states what is expected to be achieved by the study in general terms. Specific objectives: It is possible (and advisable) to break down a general objective into smaller, logically connected parts.
(Specific objectives should specify what isintended to be done in the study, where, and when.)
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific) The general objective “to identify the reasons for
low utilization of child welfare clinics in District X & to find solutions,”
could be broken down into smaller more specific objectives, such as:
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)Specific Objectives, such as:
1. To determine the level of utilization of the child welfare clinics in District X, over the years 1998 and 1999.
This first objective focuses on quantifying the problem.
Often use can be made of available statistics or of the health information system.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)
Specific objectives, such as:
2. To identify variations in utilization of child welfare clinics, related to the season, type of clinic, and children served.
Objective 2 further specifies the problem, looking at its distribution.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)Specific objectives, such as:
3. To identify factors that make the services attractive or not attractive to mothers.
This objective examines possible factors that may play a role in the problem
This objective may be divided into smaller sub-objectives focusing on factors such as distance to the clinic, quality of the services, their acceptability to mothers
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question Objectives(general & specific)Specific objectives, such as:
4. To identify socioeconomic and cultural factors that may influence the mothers’ utilization of services.
Again, this objective may be broken down into several sub-objectives.
It also examines possible factors that may play a role in the problem
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question
Characteristics of Good Objectives
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic/Relevant
Time-Bound
Writing a Research Proposal
SMART
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Research question How to state the objectives?
Cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing factors in a coherent way and logical sequence;
Are clearly phrased in operational terms, specifying exactly what you are going to do, where, and when
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Make sure that the objectives of the study:
How to state the objectives?
Use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated. eg.: to determine, to compare, to verify, to calculate, to describe, and to establish.Avoid the use of vague non-action verbs, such as: to appreciate, to understand, or to study.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Make sure that the objectives of the study:
How to state the objectives?Eg. Utilization of child welfare clinics, more specific objectives may be:1. To compare the level of utilization of the child welfare clinic services among various socioeconomic groups;2. To describe the pattern of utilization of child welfare clinic services in various seasons of the year;
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Hypotheses It is a prediction of a relationship
between one or more factors and the problem under study, which can be tested.
Based on experience with the study problem, it might be possible to develop explanations (formulate hypotheses) for the problem.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:Research question
Hypotheses
eg. low utilization of child welfare clinicsIt would be possible to formulate and test the
following hypotheses:1. Utilization of child welfare clinics is lowest in
the rainy season due to the high workload of mothers during that period.
2. Utilization of child welfare clinics is lowest in those clinics in which staff are poorly motivated to provide preventive services.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
• Significance to knowledge Rationale & importance Impact(benefit from the research) Why is it important to answer this question? What are the implications of doing it? How is it significant to the body of knowledge? How does it stand to inform policy making? How does it plug the holes in the knowledge?
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Literature review
• Previous research: others & yours International-regional- local Cover research that is relevant
and explains the relationship between variables being studied.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Literature review Chronological Order—by the dates of
publication. Problem-Cause-Solution Order—move from
the problem to the solution General-to-Specific Order: Examine broad-
based research first and then focus on specific studies that relate to the topic
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline: cont.
Common Errors Made in Literature Reviews
• Review isn’t logically organized• Review isn’t focused on most important facets of
the study• Review doesn’t relate literature to the study• Too few references or outdated references cited• Review isn’t written in author’s own words• Review reads like a series of disjointed
summaries• Review doesn’t argue a point
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Methodology• Approach• Data needs• Analysis
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Methodology• Approach qualitative Research DesignIdentify and describe the proposed quantitative or
the qualitative research designs . Provide a brief description for research designs that were chosen to study the topic. Study Area and Population Identify and describe where the study will take
place, including city, state and institution.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline: Methodology• Approach qualitative
Sample Identify and describe the sampling method for
the portions of the proposed study (i.e., simple random sampling, convenience sampling, etc.
Indicate the anticipated sample size for each of the quantitative and quantitative study. Describe the expected demographic characteristics
of the quantitative and qualitative samples Specify inclusion & exclusion criteria
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Methodology• Data needs Measures and Instrumentation For the quantitative portion of the study:
Identify the independent and the dependent variables.
Describe the type of quantitative study instrument being used, such as a questionnaire, a case record review form, or if the data are supposed to come from administrative data.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline: cont.
Methodology• Data needs Measures and Instrumentation For the quantitative portion of the study:
Describe the reliability of the study instrument, if known. If not known, then describe how you would address reliability issues.
Describe the validity of the study instrument, if known. If not known, then describe how you would address validity issues.
• Data analysis: Describe how collected data will be analyzed Describe how data will be presented(dummy tables) What statistical tests will you use? Be sure the statistics are appropriate for the study
design Analysis should be linked to the hypotheses and clear
how each hypothesis will be tested
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Ethical Considerations Describe how you will obtain informed
consent, ensure participants’ confidentiality or anonymity, Fairness , Honesty, protect them from harm, and submit your proposal to an IRB for review and approval.
Data Collection Procedures (if the proposed study includes an intervention, describe the intervention )
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Writing a Research Proposal
Title selection Objectives formulationBackgroundLit search Methods
Proposal submission and approval
Timeline
Basic Proposal Outline:
Area & Pop SamplingInstrumentAnalysis plan
Writing a Research Proposal
Subject/wks1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-14 15-16
Title selection
Objectives
Background
Lit review
Area & Pop
Sampling
Instrument
Analysis plan
Proposal/ submission and approval
Bibliography (or References) What is referencing? A standardised way of acknowledging the
sources of information. It allows the sources to be identified. Why reference? Is important to:• Avoid plagiarism. • Enable readers to follow up what is written.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Bibliography (or References) Steps in referencing Record the full bibliographic details. Follow the guidelines of the institution. Insert the citation at the appropriate place
in the text of the document. Include a reference list at the end of your
document.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Bibliography (or References) Include only the literature which was
actually cited References may be done in either the
Harvard or Vancouver style.
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline:
Bibliography (or References) References may be done in either the
Harvard or Vancouver style. Harvard style:(Parenthetical referencing)• partial citations—for example, "(Smith
2010, P1)" Vancouver style:(author-number system)• A superscript number is inserted in the text
e.g.(Type 2 diabetes,1but it has been……)
Writing a Research Proposal
Basic Proposal Outline: