2. Research - What Research all about, How to initiate a research, Types of research, Health research

Research is not a rocket science. Health and care requires continuous update of new knowledge and new evidence.
Many health staff find it difficult to initiate research as they are not quite sure about the basics of a scientific research.
This presentation outlines the basics of research and health research how it fits on to the various health disciplines.
Also, it guides how to develop research question, hypothesis and objectives.

1. DEFINE HEALTH?

2. HEALTH

3. HEALTH Discussion 1 What are the principles set out by the WHO in the preamble of its constitution on health and right of the person to enjoy health?

4. SEVEN ELEMENTS OF HEALTH - NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES ( nhs ) Improving personal health and wellbeing Relationships Fulfilment at work Managers and leaders Environment Data insights Professional wellbeing support

5. What is research? – Key words 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6. Why do we conduct research? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

7. Research A systematic process of finding answers to a question , using a strict, unbiased process of data gathering, analysis, and interpretation

8. HEALTH RESEARCH Health research entails systematic collection, analysing and interpretation of the data with the aim of generalising the knowledge on the health challenges and planning out the best responses to them

9. Research Is an audit research? No, but why? Audit is a cyclical process aimed to find out how well resources are used or to quantify output Therefore, if audit stops here, it does not lead to new knowledge However, if an audit leads to new understanding, then it can be termed as research, provided it contains all ingredients of research

10. Research components Research topic Literature search Research question(s) / objective(s) Specific research question(s) / objective(s) ± hypothesis Research method – systematic data collection Systematic data analysis and interpretation Answers to research questions Generalization beyond the research

11. Research Identifying a research problem & Developing a research hypothesis

12. Research Problem A research problem is a specific issue, challenge, gap in knowledge, or contradiction in theory or practice that your research aims to investigate and address Unlike a broad research topic, a research problem is focused and clear, providing the foundation for the entire investigation

13. Research How to identify and define a research problem? How to write general and specific objectives? How to develop a research hypothesis?

14. Research – Building Block What? Why? How? These three questions should be asked at least in three iterative cycles

15. How? Why? What? What? Why? How? What? Why? How? 1 2 3 Research question 1 Broad considerations 2 3 Specific considerations Final considerations

16. Step 1: Select a broad topic area; e.g. Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance   Step 2: Who are your subjects – the study population; i.e. with whom you intend to carry out the research; e.g. All students in SL or University students   When deciding on the subjects you should consider future problems that you may encounter when recruiting research participants; e.g. ethics, resources, timeline, unprecedented risks What - I

17. Step 3: Why do you think that this research topic is useful? e.g. What is the current estimation knowledge on impact of sleep deprivation on academic performance in University students? Has it at all been studied? Do the students complain about their academic performances due to sleep deprivation? What benefits would quantification of impact of sleep deprivation on aceramic performance bring to students? Do you have the resources to investigate the research question(s)? Why - I

18. Step 4: Carry out a literature search – the purpose of this literature search is to get to know what kind of research has been carried out in the research area that you have chosen; e.g. Keywords for the literature search for the above example may be: Sleep deprivation Students/University students Academic performance Impact How - I

19. If the number of hits you get is unmanageable, you may narrow down the search criteria by specifying filters to your initial search; e.g. ‘Sri Lankan’ may be a filter for the keywords ‘University students’ - First read only the abstracts of all the articles - Then choose the relevant articles and read in full Read any review articles Reference lists of review articles may provide references that your search may not have captured How - I contd…

20. Review article It is a survey of previously published research on a topic A review article can also be called a literature review, or a review of literature It should give an overview of current thinking on the topic. Unlike an original research article, it will not present new experimental results Writing a review of literature is to provide a critical evaluation of the data available from existing studies Review articles can identify potential research areas to explore next, and sometimes they will draw new conclusions from the existing data

21. If you find the answers to any of the questions in steps 1 – 4 unsatisfactory (e.g., you have doubts about: your research topic; why you will do it; and whether you will be able to do it): Go back to the relevant question that you are uncomfortable with and make the necessary changes Once you have made the changes, critically review the steps 1 – 4, to make sure that you are absolutely satisfied. Review, reflect and revise - I

22. Step 5 Based on the literature search, formulate research question(s). Now you will appreciate that the topic area that you selected in step 1 needs to be more specific: Preliminary research question: What is the relationship between sleep deprivation and academic performance among university students? What are the study options? e.g., What factors contribute to sleep deprivation in this population? Does improving sleep quality lead to better academic outcomes? What - II

23. Step 6: Does exploring the research question still bring the benefits identified in step 3? e.g., Do you reasonably expect that finding out the relationship between sleep deprivation and academic performance among university students will bring above benefit to the university students? Is there evidence that improving sleep quality led to better academic outcomes ? Can we find out the factors contribute to sleep deprivation in university students? Do you have the resources to investigate the research question(s)? Why - II

24. Step 7: What is the best option (i.e., groups of university students) available to explore the preliminary research question? e.g., How have other similar studies been carried out? Can University students be readily recruited? Will there be ethical /logistical issues in selecting a particular group? Write down steps of carrying out each research option. Compare the steps of different research options to find out the most suitable for your situation You should be able to justify why you chose this research option How - II

25. If you find the answers to any of the questions in steps 1 – 7 unsatisfactory (e.g., you have doubts about: your research topic; why you will do it; and whether you will be able to do it): Go back to the relevant question that you are uncomfortable with and make the necessary changes Once you have made the changes, critically review the steps 1 – 7, to make sure that you are absolutely satisfied. Review, reflect and revise - II

26. Step 8: Identify the best research option Refine the intermediate research question. Now you will appreciate that the topic area that you selected in step 1 needs to be narrower: Intermediate research question : What is the relationship between sleep deprivation and academic performance among Jaffna university students? What factors contribute to sleep deprivation in this population? Does improving sleep quality lead to better academic outcomes? What - III What factors contribute to sleep deprivation in this population? Does improving sleep quality lead to better academic outcomes?

27. Step 9: Do you still think that investigating this options can be justified? e.g., Can you justify selection of this option with literature and/or contextual evidence ? Is it cost-effective? Is it beneficial? Is it ethical? Are there adequate resources? Go through each step of the selected study option carefully when answering these questions. Why - III

28. Step 10: How do you define the research variables? e.g., What do you mean by “sleep deprivation”? What do you mean by “academic performance”? What are the inclusion and exclusion criteria? Inclusion criteria: All Jaffna university students of a particular faculty or batch students Exclusion criteria: Students not attended to exams Students who are on compulsory home stay due to disciplinary procedures How - III

29. If you find the answers to any of the questions in steps 1 – 10 unsatisfactory (e.g., you have doubts about: your research topic; why you will do it; and whether you will be able to do it): Go back to the relevant question that you are uncomfortable with and make the necessary changes Once you have made the changes, critically review the steps 1 – 10, to make sure that you are absolutely satisfied. Review, reflect and revise -III

30. Research How to identify and define a research problem? How to write general and specific objectives? How to develop a research hypothesis?

31. If you’re not sure where you are going, you are likely to end up somewhere else - and not even know it. Importance of Objectives Robert Mager, 1962

32. Research General objective Broad general statement of research intent Indicates the goal Less specific than specific objectives

33. Research Specific objectives More precise, more detailed statement relating to different aspects of the fulfilment of a specific aim A desirable end-point is expressed Expressed in terms of what should be achieved at the end of the project

34. To determine the impact of …….. General objective  Research question

35. To determine the Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance of Jaffna medical faculty final year Students General objective  Research question

36. Specific objectives should be SMART Specific Measurable; i.e. assessable Achievable Relevant Time-bound S M A R T

37. Specific objectives  a breakdown of general objective To describe the socio demographic characteristics of the Jaffna medical faculty final year Students To define and determine the sleep deprivation in Jaffna medical faculty final year Students To assess the academic performances of the Jaffna medical faculty final year Students To determine the impact of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance in Jaffna medical faculty final year Students

38. Research How to identify and define a research problem? How to write general and specific objectives? How to develop a research hypothesis?

39. Research HYPOTHESIS Hypothesis: a tentative assumption, made to draw out and test its logical and empirical consequences Null hypothesis: There is no impact due to Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance of Jaffna medical faculty final year Students Directional/Alternative hypothesis: There is impact due to Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance of Jaffna medical faculty final year Students

40. Research Identifying a general question Narrowing it down to a specific research question Initial steps of designing an experiment Defining the research question Writing general and specific objectives Developing a research hypothesis

41. Thank you