This document provides an overview of the key steps involved in research methodology. It discusses 14 steps that should be followed in research studies: 1) formulating the research question, 2) literature review, 3) drawing up a protocol, 4) formulating objectives, 5) defining the study population, 6) determining the sample and sampling technique, 7) defining the variables, 8) defining the disease, 9) determining the type and scale of measurements, 10) constructing questionnaires, 11) methods of data collection, 12) data processing methods, 13) analyzing and interpreting results, and 14) writing the report. For each step, important considerations and definitions are outlined.
2. Introduction to Research Methodology
• Research – finding an answer to an
unanswered question.
• Acceptable to scientific community
• If necessity is the mother of invention, the
awareness of the problem is the mother of
research
• Certain important steps to be followed in
research studies
3. Steps to be followed
1. Preliminary step- Formulation of research
question or topic and clarifying the purpose
2. Review of literature
3. Drawing up of protocol
4. Formulating objectives
5. Defining the study population
6. Sample and sampling technique
4. 7. Defining the variables
8. Defining the disease
9. Type of scale and scale of measurements to be used
10. Construction of questionnaire
11. Methods of data collection
12. Method of processing of data
13. Analysis & interpretation of results
14. Writing the report
5. Formulation of research question or topic and
clarifying the purpose
• Selection of problem, topic of question
• Significance and relevance- contribute in terms knowledge,
benefit to health professional or the community, formulating
the policy or decision making
• Researchability- not all problems are amenable to scientific
study( involving ethical and moral issues)
• Feasibility – physical setting, financial resource, time frame,
acceptability and availability of subjects, facilities and
equipments.
• Personal curiosity- maximize creativity and academic
excellence
• Why of the study ?
6. Literature review
• Indicate the presence and nature of research
problem( background)
• Helps in formulating and delimiting the
problem, minimize duplication, feasibility of
study, choose appropriate variable, design,
methods to evaluate etc.
• Made easy by electronic media ( Google, pub
med, indmed, Medline, medbioworld for
search of journals)
7. Drawing up of protocol
• If prior knowledge is not available a pilot study
may be essential.
• Protocol serves to introduce to every
members involved in the research project
(collaborative or multi-centric study)
8. Protocol
• Aims and objectives
• Study population, inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Sampling method number to be studied etc.
• Information to be collected
• The problem of non response
• Processing and analysis of collected data
• Time requirement
9. Formulating objectives
• May stated in general terms – objectives that
are too general will not be helpful.
• Objectives should be ‘SMART’
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable and appropriate
• Realistic and relevant
• Time frame
10. Study population
• The required decision are
• What is the study population? (persons,
families, medical records, certificates, nursery
school, specimen of blood, animal etc.)
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria in study
population
• Choosing the sample population
12. Sampling technique
• Haphazard selection may not be representative
population
• Probability sampling- (each individual has a
probability of being selected)
• Simple random sampling( need sampling frame)
• Systematic random sampling
• Stratified random sampling
• Cluster sampling
• May be two stage or multistage sampling
13. Defining variable
• The characteristics that are measure are referred to as
variables
• Selection of variable should be on the basis of their
relevance to the objectives.
• Most of the research study the association between two
variable ( dependent and independent variable e.g.. Age
(independent ) and disease( dependent)
• Variable – conceptual and operational or working
definition.
14. Defining the disease
• Disease – conceptual and operational or
working definition( based on signs and
symptoms- diagnostic criteria)
15. Type of scale and scale of
measurements to be used
• Type of scale – nominal scale( religion, sex,
marital status) no quantitative significance
• Ordinal scale-(social class, years of education,
severity of disease, weight and height)
quantitative significance
16. Construction of questionnaire
• First define the variables
• Closed end questionnaire
• Open end questionnaire
• Open on closed end questionnaire
• Valid , no ambiguity and not offensive
17. Method of collecting data
• Personal observation
• Interview
• Mailed or administered questionnaire
• Others like case studies , records etc.
18. Processing and analysis
• Coding and data entry
• Statistical analysis software- SPSS, Minitop
etc.)
