2 formulating & clarifying research topic2

Research Methods Sherzad Ali Ismael, Community Medicine Dept, College of Medicine.

Generate ideas that will help in the choice of a suitable research topic;

Identify the quality of a good research topic; Turn research ideas into a research question,

aims (s) & objectives.

2 Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 2: Formulating & clarifying research topic

Independent part of the research (Done by students only)

Choose something to maintain the interest.


Research idea

Research Question

Research Aim (s)

Research Objectives


Interested to the researcher. Capability to undertake the research. (Access

to the data) Feasible. The topic can be linked to the theory. Clearly defining & relating research questions

and objectives. Consider your career goals.


RATIONAL THINKING

Examining your own strengths and interests

Looking at past project titles

Discussion Searching the literature Scanning the media.

CREATIVE THINKING

Keeping a notebook of ideas

Exploring personal preferences using past projects

Relevance trees Brainstorming


Examining your own strengths and interests:

a topic in which you are likely to do well

have some academic knowledge

Think about your future.


Looking at past project titles

Thesis and dissertations.

How to read? Scan!

Noted down any title which grab your attention

Think of new ideas!


Discussion: Colleagues, friends and university tutors are

all good sources of possible project ideas “ideas can be obtained by talking to

practitioners and professional groups” (Gill and Johnson 2002).

Record any idea during discussion.


Searching the literature: Sharp et al. (2002) discuss types of literature that

are of particular use for generating research ideas: ▪ articles in academic and professional journals;

▪ reports;

▪ books.

Of particular use are academic review articles. Searching for publications is only possible

when you have at least some idea of the area in which you wish to undertake your research.


Scanning the media.

Stories which occur everyday in the newspapers in both traditional print and online versions, may provide ideas which relate directly to the item.


Keeping a notebook of ideas

noting down any interesting research ideas as you think of them and, of equal importance.


Exploring personal preferences using past projects Past project reports from your university

Raimond (1993) suggests that you: ▪ Select six projects that you like. For each of these six projects,

note down your first thoughts in response to three questions: ▪ What appeals to you about the project?

▪ What is good about the project?

▪ Why is the project good?

▪ Select three projects that you do not like. For each of these three projects, note down your first thoughts in response to three: ▪ What do you dislike about the project?

▪ What is bad about the project?

▪ Why is the project bad?


Relevance trees:

use of relevance trees is similar to that of mind mapping (Buzan 2006).

Example:

▪ Community Medicine ▪ Research Methods

Study types;


Brainstorming

a problem-solving technique on many business and management courses, can also be used to generate and refine research ideas.

It is best undertaken with a group of people.


Brainstorming To brainstorm, Moody (1988) suggests that you:

▪ Define your problem ▪ Ask for suggestions ▪ Record all suggestions, observing the following rules:

▪ No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before all ideas have been considered

▪ All suggestions, however wild, should be recorded and considered ▪ As many suggestions as possible should be recorded

▪ Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each.

▪ Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which applied to you most as research ideas and why?


Capability: is it feasible? Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?


Capability: is it feasible?

Is the topic something you are really interested in?

Do you have, or can you develop the necessary research skills?

Is it achievable within the available time?

Is it achievable within the financial resources?

Can you access to the data?


Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?

Is the topic meet the standards set by the institution? (HMU)

Is the research topic contain issues that have a clear link to theory?

Able to state your research question and objectives clearly?

Will the proposed research be able to provide a clear understanding of the topic?


“Role of exercise ECG test in coronary artery disease”.

“Role of exercise ECG test in determining the extent of coronary artery disease in comparison to coronary angiography”.


Writing research questions (RQ):

A research question:

▪ state the purpose of your research project

▪ guides you through the process of research.

Reflects the aim (objectives)/ or the purpose of the study.


RESEARCH IDEA

Health Education & Internet.

Ethics & Surgery

Motivation & Use of drugs

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

How does the use of health/ medical websites affect education of people?

How the informed consent is taken from preoperative women undergo Caesarian section?

What are the factors determine the use of drugs made by (X) company?


Research aims; Aim is to try to achieve something. (Oxford Dictionary)

Use your research question as a base from which you write a set of research aim.

Aims are more generally acceptable to the research community as evidence of the researcher’s purpose and direction.


Research objectives: The aim is the overall driving force of the research

and the objectives are the means by which you intend to achieve the aims. Maylor and Blackmon (2005) recommend that personal

objectives may be added to the list of research objectives. (E.g. Stat. software)

Objectives should be SMART: ▪ S (Specific) ▪ M (Measurable) ▪ A (Achievable) ▪ R (Realistic) ▪ T (Timely)


RESEARCH QUESTION

How does the use of health/ medical websites affect education of doctors?

How the informed consent is taken from preoperative women undergo Caesarian section?

RESEARCH AIM

To determine the effectiveness of the use of health/ medical websites on doctors’ health education levels in--from the period between-- & --.

To describe the process of preoperative informed consent among women undergo CS in – from– to --.


To measure the proportion of doctors have internet access at home &/ or office.

To measure the

frequency of women who give informed consent .

To know the demographic profile of women undergo CS.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The process of formulating and clarifying your research topic is the most important part of your research topic.

Generating and refining research ideas makes use of a variety of techniques

Clear research questions, based on the relevant literature, will act as a focus for the research that follows.


Identify a research idea in your field of interest, turn it into a research question, a research aim (s) and objectives.

Write down in a an MS word in English language.

Send your assignment within 2 weeks, from (11/12/2012 -25/12/2012) to the following email address:

[email protected]

Research Methods-Sherzad Ali Ismael- MODULE 2: Formulating & clarifying research topic 27


Documents

2 formulating & clarifying research topic2