RESEARCH
Professor Syed Amin Tabish
FRCP (London), FRCP (Edin.), FAMS, MD (AIIMS)
Postdoc Fellowship, Bristol University (England)
Doctorate in Educational Leadership (USA)

Research
Research is an
ORGANIZED and
SYSTEMATIC way of
FINDING ANSWERS to
QUESTIONS

Research - II
SYSTEMATIC
 Because there is a definite set of
procedures and steps which you will
follow.
 There are certain things in the
research process which are always
done in order to get the most
accurate results.

Research - III
ORGANIZED
 in that there is a structure or
method in going about doing
research.
 It is a planned procedure, not
a spontaneous one. It is
focused and limited to a
specific scope.

Research - IV
FINDING ANSWERS
 is the end of all research.
 Whether it is the answer to a
hypothesis or even a simple
question, research is successful
when we find answers
 Sometimes the answer is no, but
it is still an answer.

Research - V
QUESTIONS
 Are central to research. If there
is no question, then the answer
is of no use
 Research is focused on relevant,
useful, and important questions
 Without a question, research
has no focus, drive, or purpose.

Research - VI
It is an attempt by careful enquiry,
experimentation, study,
observation, analysis and
recording to:
 discover new facts, knowledge
and information,
 develop new interpretations of
facts, knowledge or information,
or discover new means of
applying existing knowledge.

Types of Research
 Disciplinary research (focus on
Theory)
 Biomedical Research (focus on
Organisms)
 Clinical Research (focus on
Individuals)
 Health Services Research (focus on
Systems)
 Public Health Research (focus on
Community)

Basic (Primary) Research
 A theoretical or
experimental investigation
to advance scientific
knowledge where
immediate practical
application is not a direct
objective.

Secondary Research
An experimental
investigation to
advance scientific
knowledge where
immediate practical
application is a direct
objective

Applied Research
An experimental
investigation which
makes use of existing
knowledge for new
applications or to
significantly improve
existing applications

Quality Research
 Quality of any research study
depends on how well both
design and execution phases of
the project are accomplished.
 There is a positive relationship
between the research protocol
and overall quality and
acceptance of the resulting
research study

Components of a Research Protocol
 A descriptive title
 The name, titles, degrees,
addresses and affiliations of the
investigators and co-investigators
 Introduction & Background
 Literature review
 Justification/ Rationale
 Study objective and /or research
questions

The Components of Protocol-II
Study Methodology
Study population and its
recruitment
Study design
Study setting
Study duration

Components (contd.)
Sample size determination
Sampling strategy
Variable list
Methods of data collection
Data collection tools
Plan of Analysis

The components (contd.)
 Ethical considerations & humane
subject protection
 Quality control
 Expected benefits from the study
 Operational plan & budgeting
 Plan of dissemination of results
 References
 Biographical information on
investigator and institution

Study Title
 It should be brief and
explanatory.
 Better to include type of study
and setting.
 Like `A case-control study of
risk factors of acute hepatitis
B in Al-Qassim`.

Introduction & Background
Relevant details about
the problem.
The pathophysiology of
the disease, global
burden, similar settings
and then local (if
available)

Literature Review
 A description about what other
in this field in other countries
and in your country has done.
 Literature review should be in
depth to identify potential
cofounders and effect
modifiers and to determine the
areas in which knowledge is
needed.

Justification/Rationale
It should tell that why
you want to do this
study.
Is there any gap in the
existing knowledge that
you want to fill?

Study Objective/Research Question
 It should identify the
immediate purpose of study
and be very clear.
 Objective always start with
`to` (word of accomplishment)
 Like `To identify the risk
factors of acute Hepatitis B in
Qassim`

Research Question
 The Research Question is
expressed in ideas & concepts
 Research Design is the plan of
how the research will be carried
out
 Hypothesis: sets of ideas or
concepts
 Question comes as a flash of
inspiration; or may arise from
routine observed events

Exploring the Question
 Having identified a Question
 Investigate the Background of
question
 Has someone else had a go at
answering it
 Is the answer known
 Has someone formulated it in a
better way

Sample Questions
 Do Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory
agents cause cancer
 Are patients who complain of
dizziness likely to suffer from a
serious disease
 Is Asthma more common in only
children
 Is there an association between H.
Pylori and Coronary artery disease

Methodology
It should include the detail
description of methods
with reasoning.

Design
What you want to do, how you are
going to recruit subject, & how
to follow :
 Randomized controlled clinical trial
 Cohort Study
 Case Control Study
 Cross-sectional Study
 Case series
 Case reports

Study population & its recruitment
 Description of study
population
 Inclusion and exclusion
criteria (Exclusion criteria
apply after those who are
included in study).

Study Setting
 Description of the setting whether
it is a community or a hospital
 In case of hospital what are the
important characteristic of
this/these hospital which type of
patient visit this; what is its
catchment area, how big it is and
what diagnostic and treatment
facilities it have. Is it a special
centre for some specific disease.

Study Duration
If you are mentioning
the field work duration
specify it

Sampling strategy
How sampling will be
done; whether is random
(type of random sampling)
or convenient sampling.
How cases and controls
will be identified.

Variables List
What variables you want
to measure.

Methods of Data Collection
 What method you are going to
apply as records, questionnaire
and in person interview, mailed
questionnaire etc
 What test you are applying and
what is reason for applying this
test.
 Specificity & sensitivity of the
test, if some new test is to be
applied.

Plan of analysis
 How you are going to analyze your
data. For what you are looking for
and which statistical method will
apply.
 Whether you run descriptive
analysis or go for hypothesis
testing and may be multivariate
analysis.
 It is better to get help from
biostatistician for sample size and
data analysis.

Other Considerations
 Expected benefits from the study
 Who will and how benefit from the study
 Operational plan & budgeting
 Detail time line and budget for the study
 Plan of dissemination of results
 How the findings will be shared
with others: presentations, publishing
results in journal etc.

Dissemination of Results
How the findings will be
shared with others
presentations,
publishing results in
journal etc.

SUMMARY
STEPS IN
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

STEP 1
 Statement of :
 What is bothering you or what are you
interested in
 An idea that needs to be verified
 A problem that needs to be solved
 A technique that needs improvement
 A hypothesis that needs to be proved
 A solution that needs to be bettered
 A gap in knowledge that needs to be
filled

STEP 2
 Review of literature
 What has been written or done on the
subject
 Helps you understand your concern /
questions better
 Tells you how other people have done
the study
 Also tells you what the results of other
studies were
 If review already answers your
question (s) then you may not need to
do the study on this subject

STEP 3
Defining the objectives
precisely and concisely
in the light of what has
been done or what is
known (literature
review)

STEP 4
How to achieve the
objectives
The methodology

STEP 5
 What is the hypothesis (statement
of belief)?
 Are you seeking a hypothesis by
trying to find a relationship
between many variables or are
you testing a hypothesis?
 Your study question or
hypothesis will determine the
methodology including the study
design

STEP 6
 Determine the importance of the
study
 Rationale of the study….why do
you want to do the study
How will your study benefit
New discovery?
Add to existing knowledge?
Improve services?

STEP 7
 Develop a detail methodology in
consultation with a statistician and
other disciplines you plan to use
 Where……site of study
 What……..study subjects
 When…….Sequence of work
 How
 Study design
 Data collection instrument
 Data collection methods
 Data analysis method
 Quality check of data collected

STEP 8
 Can valid conclusions be drawn by
the methods you plan to use?
 In other words, what is the validity of
the measuring instruments/methods?
 Is the number of subjects,
observations statistically adequate
and is the method of sampling used
correct
 Has all the possible effort been made
to remove / reduce bias in the
designing and sampling of the study?

STEP 9
Determine the feasibility of the study
Can the study be done
In the time available
In the resources available
Will it require help from other
disciplines (laboratory, radiology,
medical records dept etc)…..will this
help be available
Will you require help to gain
permission from other sources….will
permission be given etc etc

Thank you
very much