Research Methodology

Farzin FarahbakhshMedical StudentResearch Fellow, Sports Medicine Research Center

Thanks to Kamyar Mollazadeh Moghaddam and Fatemeh Adili-Aghdam for their wonderful slides

What is Research?

• Re ---------------- Search• Re means (once more, afresh, anew) OR

(back; with return to a previous state) • Search means (look thorough or go over

thoroughly to look something) OR (examine to find anything concealed)

What is Research?, Cont’d

• Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS or FINDING SOLUTION to PROBLEMS.

What is Research?: SYSTEMATIC• SYSTEMATIC because there is a definite set of

procedures and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results.

What is Research?: ORGANIZED• ORGANIZED in that there is a structure or method

in going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope.

What is Research?: FINDING ANSWERS

• FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.

What is Research?: QUESTIONS/PROBLEM

• QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose. • “A PROBLEM well-defined is half solved”

What is Research?: What Makes a Good QUESTION

Feasible (answerable with a robust method)InterestingNovelEthicalRelevant

FINER criteria

Any Good QUESTIONS?

Why Do Research?

• Research allows you to pursue your interests• Experience active vs. passive learning• Advance career and graduate study options• Apply learning to professional issues• Prepare for a life-time of learning and a world of

change• Enhance self-directed learning skills • To hone your problem-solving skills• CV

What is CV?

• Curriculum Vitae (or CV)• Latin origin• Means “the course of one’s life”

What is CV?: Why do this now?• Time will go by quickly• Helps you notice your progress over time• Good for self assessment• It will help you organize important things

for your future career• Assists in setting goals for your future• Helps when getting recommendation

letters and applying for positions• Some grants and awards applications

require this

Resume vs. Vitae• Length: Short• Content: All-inclusive

summary of skills, experiences and education• Purpose: to get an

interview or employment

• Length: As long as it takes• Content: Area-specific

listing of education and academic background• Purpose: promotion and

tenure, grants, specialist positions, awards, etc.

Types of Research

• Basic• Applied• Applied/Basic

Types of Research: Basic

• Driven purely by curiosity and a desire to expand our knowledge• not directly applicable to the real world in a direct

way• Why bother?• Basic research feeds applied research

• Example: Evaluations,

Types of Research: Applied

• To answer a specific question that has direct applications to the world. • Solves a problem• Example: 'How should a student study?'

Types of Research: Applied/Basic• More common• Example: Different aspects of a disease

Source: NIH.gov

What is Research Process?

• Series of various actions, which are necessary to effective research work.• Research process consist of a number of closely

related activities.• Various steps involved in a research process are

not mutually exclusive; nor they are separate & distinct.

What is Research Process?: Steps• 1ST STEP-Formation and Development of a Working

Title• 2ND STEP-Literature Review • 3RD STEP-Determining research design • 4TH STEP-Writing a Proposal• 5TH STEP-Data Collection• 6TH STEP-Data Analysis• 7TH STEP-Preparing and presenting final research report• 8TH STEP-Dessimination

Research Protocol

• Protocol- “ …a complete written description of, and scientific rationale for, a research activity …” (Protomechanics NIH) • Why?

• To check if the objectives can be achieved• To check the feasibility of the study• To estimate needed time and funds• Prevents failure to collect crucial information• Lays down the rules for all partners• To obtain approval of ethical committee(s)• Application for funds• Makes it much easier to write article

1st STEP -Formation and Development of a Working Title

• The selection of a research title is often the result of many factors

• Personal interests, experiences, values, and passions• The desire to satisfy scientific curiosity • Previous work -- or the lack of it -- on a topic• The current political, economic, and social climates • Being able to get access to data • Having a way to fund a study

What is a Good Title?

• Rationale • Avoiding Duplication• Feasibility • Social and political acceptance• Cost-effectiveness• Urgent need for research evidence• Ethical Issues

Avoid Duplication!

• If there’s a similar work• Setting

• Time• Place• Subjects• Limitation of previous studies

• Inconsistency of previous results • Try to make it better

• If there’s no similar work