Research Methodology

Research Methodology

Mohamed M. B. Alnoor

CHP400:

Community Health Program - lI

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What isResearch ?

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What is Research?

• Take home message

• Title of the study

• Hypotheses

• Research Objectives

• Steps in conducting Research

• Definition of Research

Content

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What is Research?

The Pontiac Story!

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What is Research?

systematic collection analysis and interpretation of data to answer a certain question or

solve a problem.

Re / search Research

Research is the

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What is Research?

demands clear statement of the problem

requires a plan builds on existing data should answer the original research

question

Research

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What is Research? Steps in conducting Research

Selection / statement of Research Problem

Literature review

Formulation of Objectives

Study Methodology

Proposal submission and approval

Field Work

Data Analysis

Report Writing and Presentation

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S t u d y P r o t o c o l

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What is Research? Identifying Problems for

ResearchCommon Research Questions

Description of Health Problem Magnitude of a health problem/disease Distribution of the health problem in

person, place and time Identification of risk factors and causes

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What is Research? Identifying Problems for

ResearchCommon Research Questions

Effect of an intervention: Drug, vaccine, risk factor cessation, health education

Evaluation of on-going interventions: Coverage of Target Groups, Quality, Cost, Effect/Impact

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What is Research?

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVESWhat are study 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.

to identify the reasons for this low utilization.

if the problem is

low utilization of child welfare clinics

the objective should be gy

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eg.

Research Objectives

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What is Research?

Why should research objectives be developed?

• Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials);

• Avoid collection of data that are not strictly necessary for understanding and solving the problem.

Formulation of objectives will help to:

Research Objectives

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What is Research?

• Are realistic considering local conditions; and• 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.

How should you state your objectives?Take care that the objectives of your study:

Research Objectives

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What is Research?

Hypotheses:

A HYPOTHESIS is a prediction of a relationship between one or more factors and the problem under study, which can be tested.

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What is Research?

• Based on your experience with the study problem, it might be possible to develop explanations (formulate hypotheses) for the problem in addition to the study objectives.

Hypotheses:

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What is Research?

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.

Eg. low utilization of child welfare clinics

It would be possible to formulate and test the following hypotheses:

Hypotheses:

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What is Research?

Title of the study

• The title should be in line with your general objective.

• Make sure that it is specific enough to tell the reader what your study is about.

NOT: “A study of utilization of child welfare clinics”

BUT: “A study of the reasons for low utilization of child welfare clinics in District X”

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What is Research?

Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Research Objectives

Take home message

Documents

Research Methodology