research_methodology in qunatitative research

quantitative research

1. Research Methodology

2. What is research?
•“investigate systematically.
•The systematic investigation into and study of
materials and sources in order to establish
facts and reach new conclusions.

3. Defining Research
•Research 
is a process of systematic inquiry
that entails collection of data; documentation
of critical information; and analysis and
interpretation of that data/information, in
accordance with suitable methodologies set
by specific professional fields and academic
disciplines.

4. Sources of Research Ideas
•Where do ideas or problem originate
•Where should we look for a researchable problem?
•Common sources of problem are existing theories
and past research
•As a clinician we can have our own clinical
experience and every day events to get ideas to
start research
•The things we see read about or hear about can
serve as a research idea

5. Research Process
Formulate a
Question
Select an Appropriate
Research Design
Collect Relevant
Data
Interpret
Findings
Publish
Findings
Review the
Available Literature

6. Research process- Steps
•1. Formulation a of a research problem
•2. Creation of a research design
•3. Constructing instruments for data collection
•4. Selecting a sample
•5.Writing the research proposal
•6. Collecting data
•7. Processing data
•8. Writing the report

7. Formulating research problem
•Tasks:
•Literature review
•Formulating the research problem
•Identifying variables
•Constructing hypotheses

8. Literature review
•To make your research problem clear and
bring focus into it
•Develop your methodology
•To know where you are
•To have a broader knowledge in your area of
research

9. Contd.,
•Search and select literature pertaining to your
area
•Review selected literature
•Develop a theoretical framework (theories
and issues related your study)
•Develop a conceptual framework (aspects you
select from theoretical framework that form
the basis of your research)

10. Contd.,
•Sources:
•Books
•Journals
•Electronic resources: online and offline
•Medical Data bases i.e. Pub med , e-med,

11. How to write the literature review
•Write under themes
•Some may follow chronological order
•Your analytical Stance rather than using descriptive stance
•Compare Different authors on same theme and conclude
at the end of the paragraph
•Conclude literature Review find Gaps in previous studies
and than start
•Highlight your arguments
•Provide references

12. Formulating Research Problem
•Any question that needs answer can be a
research problem. However, not all questions
can be transformed into research problems.
•What matters here:
•Your knowledge in research methodology
•Your knowledge of the subject area
•Your understanding of the issues to be
examined

13. Contd.,
•Formation of a research problem is the first
step in the research. Identify the destination
before you start the journey. It is the
foundation of your building.
•Sources of research problems:
•People (individuals, groups, organizations,
communities)
•Problems (Issues, situations, associations,,
needs, demographic)

14. Contd.,
•Research problem is your topic.
•Consider the following when selecting a topic:
•Your interest
•Your level of expertise as well as of your supervisor
•Use concepts that can be measured
•Topic should be relevant to your profession/ subject
area
•Availability of data
•Ethical issues

15. Formulation of objectives
•Objectives are goals of your study
•Main objectives
•Secondary or sub-objectives
•They must be clear, complete and specific

16. Identifying variables
•A concept or perception that takes on
different values and that can be measured is a
variable. It is something that varies.
•Types:
•Independent variables (they are responsible
for bringing about change in a phenomenon,
situation)

17. Contd.,
•Dependent variables (effects of a change
variable, the outcome of the changes brought
about by changes in an independent variable)

18. Constructing hypotheses
•“a tentative statement about something, the
validity of which is usually unknown’ (Bailey,
1976:126)
•It may be right, partially right or wrong
•It should be simple, specific and conceptually
clear

19. Research design
•It is the plan, structure and strategy of
investigating the research problem
•It is an operational plan
•Procedures to be adopted
•Testing the design

20. Constructing an instrument for
data collection
•Data collection methods:
•Primary sources
•Observation
•Interview
•Questionnaire
•Use of secondary sources
•Establish the validity of the selected instrument

21. Selecting a sample
•“Process of selecting a few from a bigger
group”
•Bigger group is the population and the
selected few is the sample
•Larger the sample size the more accurate will
be the findings

22. Sampling types
•Sampling strategies are numerous. They can
be categorized into three groups:
•Random/probability sampling
•Non-random/probability sampling
•Theoretical sampling

23. Research proposal
•It is your plan of research
•It reveals what you are going to do, how you
plan to do and why you have selected the
proposed procedures
•It guides you as well as your supervisor
•It is an academic piece of writing
•It shows the strength of your proposed
research

24. Elements
•Introduction (an overview of the main area under
study, historical background, philosophical issues
etc., trends, major theories, main issues under
consideration, out comes of other studies, aims,
etc.)
•Importance (rationale of the study) (Why you do
it? What are the benefits?)
•Problem (Your research problem or the research
questions)
•Literature review

25. Contd.,
•Objectives ( main and secondary)
•Hypotheses
•Study design (population, sample, data
collection methods etc.)
•Setting (brief description of the community,
organization or agency in which you are going
to carry out the research)
•Analysis of data (methods you are going to
use)

26. Contd.,
•Structure of the report or chapterization
•Limitations and problems you may encounter
•Work plan or schedule
•Budget (optional)

27. Collection data
•Ethical issues relating to research participants
( their consent, incentives, sensitive
information, harm to participants etc.)
•Ethical issues relating to the researcher
(avoiding bias, using appropriate research
methodology, correct reporting etc.)

28. Processing data
•Editing data
•Coding data
•Verifying coded data
•Analyzing data
•Displaying data (charts, diagrams, tables)

29. Writing the report or thesis
•Follow standards (International standards or
departmental guidelines)
•Use appropriate referencing/citation system
•Preparation of a bibliography
•Avoid plagiarism