Introduction to Research M ethodology

1. Introduction to Research Methodology A. Prof. Maha Al-Nuaimi

2. Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this presentation you will able to: 1- Define and explain related concept and terms. 2- Clarify the Sources of knowledge/truth 3- Characteristics of good research and researcher. 4 - Identify and explain the features of broad research classification.

3. Basic Concepts and Terms

4. Research Methodology • A science of studying how research is done scientifically. • A way to systematically solve the research problem by logically adopting various steps. Aims: • To describe and analyze methods, • Throw light on their limitations and resources, • Clarify their presuppositions and consequences.

5. Why it is important to know about methodology? • In writing your research, make sense of how your methods all worked. • The methodology piece explain: • why you did what you did. • write about what you did not do and why, • Write about the weaknesses or limitations of your project as well as its strengths. • Every research has a limitation, it is perfectly acceptable to identify the weaknesses of your own study. 

6. MEANING OF RESEARCH • Is a search for knowledge. • It is actually a voyage of discovery to establish facts … TO .. extend, correct or verify knowledge, through objectives and systematic methods … for its advancement. • The inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge and method, man employs for answering the questions.

7. As such the term ‘research’ define as the • systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts and reaching conclusions either in the form of solutions(s) or reaching making deductions towards the concerned problem .

8. Approaches to Knowledge Five sources of evidence in the pursuit of truth: • 1. Authority • 2. Custom and tradition • 3. Personal experience • 4. Deductive reasoning • 5. Scientific inquiry (research) 

9. MOTIVATIONS IN RESEARCH • 1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits; • 2. Desire to be of service to society; • 3. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, • 4. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work; • 5. Desire to get respectability. • 6. OR … directives of government, employment conditions …..

10. What Is The Purpose Of Research? What Is The Main Aim Of Research? Objectives Of Research: 1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (exploratory research studies); 2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (descriptive research studies); 3. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (hypothesis-testing research studies). 4. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (diagnostic research studies);

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCH METHOD • The research process must be a permanent sequence of analysis, statement, action, reflection, etc. • There must be sufficient time allowed to the research process to deal with the complexity of the problem. • Allows for “reciprocal relationship” by the researchers and the members of the culture where the research is done CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCHER • The ability to effect such reciprocal relationship. he is capable of making mistakes as the other participants in the research do. • The researcher must also possess the ability to constantly evaluate what is happening.

12. Choose a subject • Based on an idea • Based on your experience • Based on your reading • Originality

13. Criteria for a “good research and topic, title & RQ” A good research topic should be: • Concrete statement. • Feasible (can be done), • Interesting, • Novel, • Ethical • Relevant (has an implication). • These criteria have been collectively called the • C. F.I.N.E.R

14. Feasibility • The possibility to recruit the number of subjects, within the timeframe of the planned research. • The research facilities available to the investigators (equipment, supplies and other requirements …. ) • The investigators must have the required expertise. • The cost must be affordable and the financial resources available. 

15. Interest - YOU - OTHERS • Novelty • up to-date literatureS. • new information. • Novel … necessary ??? • Research …… • Novel ??? but whether it will add to the existing body of knowledge • The progress of science is incremental ….

16. Ethics • Ethical issues … stage of selecting the research topic. • Others …. in planning the research. • Should not be considered from the beginning. • In experimentation • If a new therapy or procedure, evidence should already be available to suggest that it can be superior. • Adequate data must be available from animal studies and from studies on a small number of human subjects to confirm safety and to suggest effectiveness, • The research should not conflict with the society’s cultural, moral, religious and legal values.

17. Relevance • This criterion can be called: the “so-what?” test. • For the research to be considered relevant it must have: • Our locality • All Community

18. Qualities of Good Research • Objectives clearly defined • Carefully planned design leading to objective results • Complete frankness; flaws reported and their effect estimated • Adequate and appropriate analysis of data. • Carefully checked data for validity & reliability • Conclusions confined to those justified by the data • Confidence, competence/ reputation, experience, honesty & integrity of researcher

19. Qualities of Good Research contd.. • SYSTEMATIC - Reject the use of guessing & intuition. • CONTROLLED – Variables are identified & controlled, wherever possible • LOGICAL - Guided by rules of logical reasoning • REPLICABLE - Verified by replicating the study

20. Broad Research Classifications • • System #1: – Basic research – Applied research – • system #2:- (Objectives of the research) a-Descriptive b-Correlational c-Explanatory • • System #3: – Quantitative research – Qualitative research – • • System #4: – Experimental research – Non-experimental research

21. Pure/ Basic research: Involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are intellectually challenging but may or may not have practical application at the present time or in the future. The knowledge produced through pure research is sought in order to add to the existing body of research knowledge. • Applied research: is done to solve specific, practical questions; for policy formulation, administration and understanding of a phenomenon. It can be exploratory, but is usually descriptive. It is almost always done on the basis of basic research

22. System #2 a-Descriptive research: Attempts to provide an accurate portrayal of characteristics of a particular individual, situation, problem, phenomenon, service or program. b-Correlational research: refers to the systematic investigation of relationships among two or more variables, without necessarily determining cause and effect C- Explanatory research: attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two or more aspects of a situation or phenomenon.

23. System #3 • Quantitative research : (Structured approach). Here …. objectives, design, sample, and the questions that you plan to ask of respondents- is predetermined It is more appropriate to determine the extent of a problem, issue or phenomenon by quantifying the variation. • qualitative research (Unstructured approach) This approach allows flexibility in all aspects of the research process. It is more appropriate to explore the nature of a problem, issue or phenomenon without quantifying it. Main objective is to describe the variation in a phenomenon, situation or attitude. Note: In many studies you have to combine both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

24. Which is better research ????

25. Experimental vs. Non-experimental • Experimental research is an objective, systematic, controlled investigation for the purpose of predicting, examining probability and causality among selected variables. • Non -Experimental research…..

26. Additional references: • Designing Clinical Research. 4thedition. Stephen B. Hulley, MD, MPH. • Research methodology. Step by step guide for biginners. 3rd edition.