Lecture_research_question.pdf new presenta

Lecture_research_question.pdf new presenta

1. Research Proposal Writing: Research Questions
Ann Mwangi, PhD
Moi University
Ann Mwangi, PhD (Moi University) 15th October 2019 1 / 38

2. Denition and Concepts
Research is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of
data to answer a certain question or solve a problem
Research is an organized quest for new knowledge based on curiosity
or on perceived needs
Research may consist of systematic empirical observation or
hypothesis testing and use of a pre-planned research design such as
an experiment
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3. Types of Research
Basic Research
to deal with major unresolved child-focused problems
(Discovery Research)
Applied Research
and evaluate policies and programs that will deliver the
greatest benet, making optimal use of available resources
(Action Research)
Evaluation Research
particular program on a certain social problem the program is
trying to solve. Some classify it as a form of applied or
action research
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4. Evaluation Research
Evaluation research, sometimes called program evaluation, refers to a
research purpose rather than a specic method
This purpose is to evaluate the impact of social interventions such as
new treatment methods, innovations in services, and a host of others.
Evaluation research is a form of applied research|it is intended to
have some real-world eect
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5. Features of Applied Research
Focus on priority problems
Action-oriented
Multi-disciplinary
Participatory| involving all parties concerned from policy makers to
implementers
Research must be timely|results must be available when needed for
key decisions
Results should be presented in formats most useful for administrators
and decision makers
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6. Steps in the Research process
1
Select a broad research area of interest in which you would like to
conduct research (Research area of interest)
2
Identify a topic or idea that you would like to research within this area
of interest (Research topic or idea)
3
Clarify your motivation for undertaking research on this particular
topic (Motivation for research)
4
Identify a researchable problem within the selected area and dene
the research gap (Research gap)
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7. Cont:Steps in the Research process
1
Conduct a literature review to rene the researchable problem and the
research gap
2
Consult colleagues and mentors on the suitability and innovation of
the problem
3
Write a problem statement and study justication
4
Further analyse and conceptualize the problem and draw a conceptual
framework with an accompanying narrative
5
Further conduct literature review to rene the problem statement,
justication and conceptual framework
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8. Cont:Steps in the Research process
1
Formulate your research questions, hypotheses and objectives
2
Select appropriate study design(s) and sampling method
3
Agree on detailed data collection methods
4
Design data collection tools
5
Prepare for eld work
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9. Questions in the Planning Phase
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10. Criteria for Selecting a Research Topic
1
Relevance
2
Avoidance of duplication
3
Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
4
Political acceptability of study
5
Feasibility of study
6
Applicability of results
7
Ethical acceptability
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11. Relevance
Has the topic been investigated before?
In the proposed study area?
Under similar conditions?
If the topic has been investigated before, are there any unanswered
questions?
Can the answers to the problem be found in already available,
unpublished information or through common sense?
If yes, then drop topic
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12. Urgency (Timeliness)
How urgently are the results needed for making decisions or
developing interventions?
Which research should be done rst?
Which research should be done later?
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13. Political Acceptability of Study
Topic should have the interest and support of the local and national
authorities
Enhances probability of utilization of research ndings
Also, study may be required to show need for adjustment of
government policy
Get buy-in from policy makers early on
Potential for confrontation
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14. Feasibility
What is the complexity of the problem?
What are the resources required to carry out the study? manpower,
time, equipment and money
Are the resources readily available locally?
Are the resources readily available nationally?
Do you need technical and/or nancial assistance from external
sources?
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15. Applicability
Is it likely that the recommendations from the study will be applied?
Are the resources for implementing the recommendations available
locally? Nationally?
Is the opinion of potential clients likely to inuence the
implementation of the recommendations?
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16. Ethical Applicability
How acceptable is the research to those who will be studied?
Can informed consent be obtained from the research subjects?
Will the subjects needs be taken care of? What if this interferes with
the study results?
Will the results be shared with those who are being studied? Will the
results be helpful to those being studied?
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17. Concept of the Research Gap
Gaps in the existing body of literature. It is identied through
extensive literature review
Gaps between what is known and what is not known
Whatever research that you do should have as one of its intentions:
To help ll the research gap
To contribute to the existing body of literature
To add to what is known about the subject matter
To generate new information
The research gap and the presence of a researchable problem are the
starting points of research
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18. Identication of a Researchable Problem
There should be a perceived dierence or gap between what exists
and the ideal or planned situation
The reason(s) for this gap should be unclear (so that it makes sense
to develop a research question)
There are more than one possible answers to the question or solution
to the problem and we do not know which is best
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19. Research Gap
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20. What is a Research Gap?
A research gap is a research question or problem which has not been
answered appropriately or at all in a given eld of study (Moeini,
2014).
Ask yourself: what would be the benets for public health if I were
able to ll that gap with credible data?
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21. A research gap might include any of the following:
A particular aspect of a wider issue that is under-researched and has
potential policy importance;
The use of a technique or method in a novel context that has not
been previously explored;
A barely studied geographical area, or population;
The use of a new theoretical framework or approach;
The application of novel concepts from another, related discipline.
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22. Why is documenting the gap so important?
Science grows in piecemeal fashion as gaps in knowledge are identied
and lled. You perform a task that others left undone;
You need to show publishers or funders why your work is worth
publishing or supporting;
You have to demonstrate how your research could contribute
knowledge that is useful to humanity;
The ability to document a gap from a critical study of the literature
adds to your credibility as a scholar.
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23. Challenges in documenting your gap
An essential function of your literature review chapter. Dont neglect
it.
Requires a critical and analytical approach to the literature.
Dont just summarise. Learn to relate, compare, and contrast.
Your research question must drive your reading and analysis.
Use a mind map to create a visual map of the problem.
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24. A mind map is a way of helping you to organize, visualize and summarize a
complex idea and store information on one page. To build a mind map you
must make inferences and conceptualize.
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25. Research
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26. Formulation of Hypothesis, Research Questions and Objectives
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27. Denition of Hypothesis
A Hypothesis is a statement or prediction of an expected relationship
between one or more factors and the problem under study which can
be tested eg
Factors represented by IVs, EVs and DVs
Utilization of child welfare clinics is lowest in the rainy season due to
the high workload of mothers during that period
Hypotheses are most appropriate for explanatory studies (intervention
or evaluative studies) but not for diagnostic or exploratory studies
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28. Hypothesis
Hypotheses serve to direct and guide the research
A hypothesis requires sucient knowledge of the problem to be able
to predict relationships among factors which then can be explicitly
tested
Prematurely posing a hypothesis can limit the scope of the research
so that important relationships are never observed
Need to distinguish between the independent and dependent factors
or variables
In HIV/AIDS operations research, the hypotheses of most importance
are those which consider program activities as independent variables
eg. Inputs such as Information, education and communication (IEC),
VCT or condom promotion
The intention of the research is usually to determine the eect of the
IV (independent variable) on the DV (dependent variable) that is the
central concern of the problem statement
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29. Research vs Statistical Hypothesis
Need to distinguish between research and statistical hypothesis
The research hypothesis is stated prior to the conduct of the research
The statistical hypothesis is stated after the conduct of the research
but prior to data analysis
1
The null hypothesis
2
The alternative hypothesis
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30. Hypotheses Vs. Open Research Questions
A hypothesis is formulated when there is sucient insight into the
problem to predict relationships between variables (IVs, EVs and DVs)
Open research questions are formulated when the investigators do not
have sucient insight into the problem being studied
Open research questions are mainly used in exploratory research but
can also be used explanatory research where there are relationships
with insucient insight
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31. Open Research Questions
Criteria for open research questions include:
Focused
Ordered
Realistic
Operational
Measurable
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32. Denitions of Goal and Objective
AGoalis a lofty, ambitious statement signifying the end of an action.
It may be achievable or unachievable
AnObjectiveis something towards which an eort is directed. It is
synonymous with: An intention, an end of action or an aim
Usually state 1 general objective and 3-4 specic objectives
Alternatively can state a purpose and aims of a study
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33. General Objective
The general objective is a broad overview of the main intention of the
study. It is sometimes also referred to as:
The purpose of the study, the development objective or the ultimate
objective
It describes the expected implications or contributions arising from
the study.
It states what is expected to be achieved by the study in general terms
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34. Specic Objectives
The general objective is broken down into smaller, logically connected
specic objectives
Specic objectives should systematically address the various
sub-intentions of the study
They should specifywhatyou will do in the study,whereand for
what purpose
Properly formulated specic objectives will facilitate the development
of your research methodology
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35. Specic Objectives
S
M
A
R
T
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36. Specic Objectives
When properly formulated specic objectives
Focus the study on the essentials
Guide the design of the investigation
Orient the collection, analyses and interpretation of the data
Specic objectives dene the scope of the study
Specic objectives are formulated beginning with an action verb
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37. Choice of Verbs
Need to carefully select the appropriate action verbs:
To compare
To assess
To verify
To describe
To measure
To establish
To determine etc, etc, etc
Avoid repetition of the action verbs
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38. Intended Actions of the study
The intended actions of the study are important to keep in mind
when selecting the wording of the general and specic objectives
Intentions may include, to study the:
Impact
Eect
Contribution
Relationships
Roles
Implications
The investigators should maintain the link between the general and
specic objectives to ensure a logical ow
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