Research methods for medical students. step by step with examples

1. Research methodology
For medical students.
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2. Research methodology…..
Learning objectives:
At the end of this session, students will be able to:
1. Define what a 'Health Research' is.
2. Recognize benefits of engaging medical
students in health research.
3. List the major characteristics of research.
4. Describe steps of conducting a health
research.
5. Prepare and present a brief summary of a
health research proposal.
6. Describe the main components of a
research report.
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3. Introduction: Scientific research
- important role in our efforts to maintain health
and combating diseases.
-Research helps us create new knowledge
- tools for the use of existing knowledge.
-provides evidence for policies and decisions on
health and development.
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4. Benefits of Engaging Medical Students in Health
Research:
-Targeting medical students early in their careers
is a long-term strategy for promoting health
research in general.
-Most of the research to date, on the
effectiveness of such a strategy, has shown that
research experience, as a medical student, is
strongly associated with postgraduate research
involvement.
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SUCCESSFUL
PROJECT

6. •searching and critically appraising the
medical literature.
•independent continued learning.
•writing research papers.
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7. Research is the systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of data to answer a certain question or
solve a problem.
Characteristics of research:
1. It demands a clear statement of the problem.
2. It requires clear objectives and a plan
3. It builds on existing data, using both positive and
negative findings.
4. New data should be systematically collected and
analyzed to answer the original research
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What is research?

8. Basic vs Applied Research
• Basic – to determine or establish fundamental
facts and relationships within a discipline or
field of study. Develop theories .
• Applied – undertaken specifically for the
purpose of obtaining information to help
resolve a particular problem-Basic has little
application to real world policy and
management but could be
done to guide applied research
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9. Steps of conducting a health research:
A. Prioritizing and selecting a research topic- research
questions.
B. Review of literature and other existing information
C. Development of a research proposal
D. Implementation of study:
i. Data collection
ii. Data processing and analysis
iii. Interpretation of results
iv. Final report writing
v. Presenting the results: Scientific
publication, presentation at meetings,
seminars, workshops or conferences, and
presentation for administrators and policy-
makers
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10. A. Prioritizing and selecting a research topic
Criteria for selecting a research topic:
1. Relevance: The topic you choose should be a priority
problem.
2. Avoidance of duplication: it is important that you find out
whether the suggested topic has been investigated before,
If the topic has been researched, the results should be
reviewed to explore whether major questions that deserve
further investigation remain unanswered. If not, another
topic should be chosen.
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11. B. Literature review
Why is it important to review already available
information when preparing for a research?
•It prevents you from duplicating work that has been
done before.
•It helps you to find out what others have learned and
reported on the problem you want to study. This may
assist you in refining your statement of the problem.
•It helps you to become more familiar with the various
research methods that might be used in your study.
•It should provide you with convincing arguments for
why your particular research project is needed.
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12. C. Development of a research proposal
Contents
I. Title of the research
II. Introduction: Background information and
Statement of the research problem
(Scientific justification for the study)
III. Research objectives
IV. Research hypothesis
V. Methodology
VI. Work plan
VII. Plan for utilization and dissemination of
research results
VIII. References
IX. Annexes
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13. I. Title of the research
•A good title should be short, accurate, and
concise.
•It should make the central objectives of the
study clear to the reader.
•It is important to specify what population will be
investigated, and where it will be conducted.
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14. II. Introduction (Background information and
Statement of the research problem)
This section should convince the reader of the
relevance of the study (magnitude, severity of the
problem). It should provide enough background
data for an outsider to understand the different
aspects of the problem, or the different factors
influencing the problem and the context in which it
occurs. Your review of available literature and
reports should further illustrate why the problem is
important, not only in your own working area but
probably also beyond.
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15. III. Research objectives
Research objectives are the goal to be achieved by a
research.
- Why should research objectives be developed? The
formulation of objectives will help you to:
1. Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials)
2. Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly
necessary for understanding and solving the problem you
have identified
3. Organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases
- Properly formulated, specific objectives will facilitate the
development of your research methodology and will help
to orient the collection, analysis, interpretation and
utilization of data.
- How should you state your objectives?
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16. IV. Research hypothesis
A hypothesis can be defined as a prediction or
explanation of the relationship between one or more
independent variables (PREDISPOSING/RISK FACTORS)
and one dependent variable
(OUTCOME/CONDITION/DISEASE)). A hypothesis, in
other words, translates the problem statement into a
precise, clear prediction of expected outcomes. It must
be emphasized that hypotheses are not meant to be
haphazard guesses, but should reflect the depth of
knowledge, imagination and experience of the
investigator. Therefore, in the process of formulating
hypotheses, all variables relevant to the study should be
identified.
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17. V. Methodology
This section summarizes the most important points of
the research design including:
• Variables: It is necessary to identify the variables that
will be involved in the research project being designed.
Four types of variable are important in research:
Independent (predisposing/risk factors), Dependent
(outcome/condition/disease), Confounding, and
Background variables. It is also necessary to specify
whether these variables are Numerical
(continuous/discrete), or Categorical (ordinal/nominal).
Operational definition of different study variables should be
clearly phrased.
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18. VI. Work plan
- A work plan is a schedule that summarizes, in a
clear fashion, various components of a research
project and how they fit together.
- It should include:
1. The various tasks to be performed
2. When the tasks will be performed
3. Who will perform the tasks
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19. VII. Plan for utilization and dissemination of research
results
- The proposal should indicate what reports or other
means of disseminating research findings are
planned.
- Any or all of the following are appropriate for
disseminating the results of the study:
⇒ Progress reports
⇒ Final report
⇒ Publications
⇒ Seminars, workshops, and conferences
⇒ Discussion with policymakers and program
managers
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20. VIII. References
The references in your text can be numbered
in the sequence in which they appear in the
report and then listed in this order in the list
of references (Vancouver system).
Please refer to the 'Reference' section of the
final report described below.
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21. IX. Annexes
These may include:
- Interview schedule/ questionnaires
(and/or other data collection tools).
- Informed consent form
- Institutional/Ethical approval for the study
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22. D. Final Report Writing
Main components of a research report:
I. Title or cover page
II. Abstract
III. Introduction
IV. Objectives
V. Methodology
VI. Research results (findings)
VII. Discussion
VIII. Conclusions
IX. Recommendations
X. References
XI. Annexes or appendices (data collection
tools, tables)
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23. I. TITLE OR COVER PAGE
Cover page includes: research title, names of the
authors with their titles and positions, and the
institution that is publishing the report.
The research title could consist of a challenging
statement or question, followed by an informative
subtitle covering the content of the study and
indicating the area where the study was
implemented.
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24. II. ABSTRACT (SUMMARY)
The abstract/summary should be written only after the
final draft of the report has been completed.
It should contain:
- a very brief description of the problem (WHAT)
- the main objectives (WHY)
- the place of study (WHERE)
- the type of study and methods used (HOW)
- major findings and conclusions
- the major recommendations
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25. III. INTRODUCTION
It should certainly contain some relevant
background data related to the problem, then the
statement of the problem should follow. It should
contain a paragraph on what you hoped to
achieve with the results of the study.
Note: Be selective, remembering that this section
serves to justify your study, not to display your
ability to read literature.
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26. IV. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The general and specific objectives should be
included as stated in the proposal.
If necessary, you can adjust them slightly for
style and sequence. However, you should not
change their basic nature.
If you have not been able to meet some of the
objectives, this should be stated in the
methodology section and in the discussion of the
findings.
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27. V. METHODOLOGY
The methodology you followed for the collection of
your data should be described in detail.
The methodology section should include a description
of:
⇒ the study type
⇒ major study variables on which data was collected
⇒ the study population, sampling method and the size
of the sample
⇒ data-collection techniques used
⇒ how the data was collected and by whom
⇒ procedures used for data analysis, including
statistical tests (if applicable)
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28. VI. RESEARCH RESULTS (FINDINGS)
- The systematic presentation of your findings in
relation to the research objectives is the crucial
part of your report.
- A description of the findings may be
complemented by a limited number of tables or
graphs that summarize the findings.
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29. VII. DISCUSSION
- The findings can now be discussed by objective
or by cluster of related variables.
- The discussion may include findings from other
related studies that support or contradict your
own.
- It is important to present and discuss the
limitations of the study.
- Some general conclusions may be included as
well.
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30. VIII. CONCLUSIONS
- The conclusions should follow logically from the
discussion of the findings.
- As the discussion will follow the sequence in
which the findings have been presented (which in
turn depends on your objectives) the conclusions
should logically follow the same order.
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31. IX. RECOMMENDATIONS
- The recommendations should follow logically from
the discussion of the findings.
- Recommendations may be summarized according to
the groups towards which they are directed, for
example:
⇒ policy-makers
⇒ health and health-related managers at different
levels
⇒ health and health-related staff who could
implement the activities
⇒ potential clients
⇒ the community at large
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32. X. REFERENCES
-References should be written in 'Vancouver style'.
-Citing References
1. Number references consecutively throughout the body
of the text in the order in which they are first mentioned.
2. DO NOT include references in your abstract. Identify
references in text, tables and legends by numerals in
parenthesis e.g. (1), (2,3) or (3-6).
3. Some journals require references to be indicated in
superscript which makes typing more difficult.
4. DO NOT use abstracts as your source of information,
you must consult the full text of the article before using it
as a cited reference.
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33. XI. ANNEXES OR APPENDICES
- The annexes should contain any additional
information needed to enable professionals to
follow your research procedures and data
analysis.
- Examples of information that can be presented
in annexes are:
⇒ Tables referred to in the text but not included
in order to keep the report short.
⇒ Interview schedule/ questionnaires (and/or
other data collection tools).
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34. Clinical and biochemical evaluation
of anemia amongst students of IMS.
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35. Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea
Amongst female medical students of
IMS.
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36. Perception of medical students for
utility of mobile technology use in
medical education
The lessons learned from this study are-majority of the
students use Smartphone mainly for communication, learning,
and entertainment purpose. With increasing use of portable
devices by students, it is logical to expect the next step to
incorporate these devices in the learning environment and
should, therefore, be appropriately considered for curriculum.
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37. Ebola virus: Awareness about the
disease and personal protective
measures among junior doctors of a
tertiary hospital in Bangalore
The knowledge of junior doctors was sub-optimal and
despite the stress on universal work precautions, not
all felt the need to follow them for this disease which
has such a high case fatality rate.
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38. Association of body mass index
with perceived stress in male
students
Therefore, it is suggested that students reported a higher
level of perceived stress may be due to academic and peer
pressure. This emphasizes the need for measure to be
taken to control obesity in young undergraduates to control
the stress and anxiety.
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39. Waist circumference is an
important predictor of pulmonary
functions in medical students
There is a significant deteriorating effect of
smoking on lung function on lung age. WC
appears to be a better predictor of pulmonary
function and lung age than BMI in normal weight
young adults.
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Int jour of clin and expt physiology , 2015, vol2,
issue 4.

40. Prolonged use of mosquito coil,
mats, and liquidators: A review of
its health implications
Mosquito coils are burnt indoors and outdoors in India to control mosquitoes. Human beings
get exposed to a chemically complex mosquito coil smoke containing small particles (<1 μm),
metal fumes, and vapors that may reach the alveolar region of the lung. Coils consist of an
insecticide/repellant, organic fillers, binders, and additives such as synergists, dyes, and
fungicide. Thus, the smoke contains pollutants of health concern. The concentrations of
pollutants resulting from burning mosquito coils may exceed health-based air quality
standards and have ill effect on health. Hence, in this review, we have discussed the health
implications due to burning of mosquito coil, mats, and heating of mosquito refill
liquidators.
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41. Assessment of learning style preferences of
medical undergraduate students: A cross-
sectional study
visual, auditory, read/write, kinesthetic
questionnaire, version 7.3 developed by Neil
Fleming. The students were then scored to
assess the predominant learning modality
used
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Int jour of medicine and public health

42. Morning Blood Pressure vs Evening
blood pressure in students
Evaluated for Hypertension
Nice project to initiate
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43. http://www.gjmedph.org/uploads/o5-
vo2no4.pdf
• An assessment of communication skills of the
students of institute of medicine Bangalore .
• This base line study of MD/MS residents shows that
over all MD/MS residents are deficient in almost all
the components of interpersonal communication
skills. A communication skills training course in
postgraduate medical education could improve the
existing communication skills of the doctors in
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