Research protocol overview

1. Research Methodology
3. FORMULATION OF RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES

3. "Objectives summarize what is to
be achieved by the study"

4. Why?
 To focus the study:
 narrowing it down to essentials
 To avoid collection of data that are not
strictly related to the objectives
 To organize the study in clearly defined
parts or phases

5. Why?
 Properly formulated objectives will:
 facilitate the development of your
research methodology
 will help to guide the:
collection,
analysis,
interpretation and
utilisation of data

6. Objectives and problem statement
 Objectives should be closely related to
the statement of the problem and
research question
 If the problem is “low utilization of
immunization services”:
 the objective of the study could be
“to identify the reasons for low
utilization, in order to find solutions”.

7. Types of Objectives
 General (ultimate) objective
 Specific (immediate) objectives

8. General objective
 What is expected to achieved by the
study, e.g.:
To identify the reasons for low vaccination
coverage in district "A" and to find solutions

9. Specific objectives
 Break down the general objective and
specify what you will do in your study,
where, and why e.g.:
 Quantifying the problem
 Distribution of the problem
 The reasons behind the problem
 How the results will be used:
 especially for HSR

10. Specific objectives
 Quantifying the problem: e.g.
To determine the level of vaccination
coverage in district "A" over the year
2017 as compared to the target
 Distribution of the problem: e.g.
Identify whether there are variations
in vaccination coverage related to rural
vs. urban, type of clinic etc.

11. Specific objectives
 The reasons behind the problem: e.g.
- To establish the reasons for low coverage as
seen by the clients, Health Worker, and
Community leaders e.g.
- distance between the home and clinic, availability
of refrigerator, acceptability of the service etc.
- the socioeconomic and cultural factors that may
influence the utilization of the service

12. Specific objectives
 How the results will be used: e.g.
- Make recommendation to all parties
concerned ( EPI' DG, Area DG, health staff and
mothers) concerning what the changes should
be made to improve coverage
- Work with all parties concerned to develop a
plan for implementing the recommendations

13. Objectives
SMART

14. Specific
 What exactly are we going to do and
for whom?
 Clear about:
what,
where,
When

15. Measurable
 Is it quantifiable?
 Can we measure it?
 How will we know we’ve achieved it?

16. Achievable
 Can we get it done in:
the proposed time frame
with the resources and support
available

17. Realistic/Relevant
 Why are we doing this?
 Is it really what we want?
 Able to obtain the level of change
reflected in the objective

18. Time bound
 Stating the time period in which the
objectives will be accomplished.

19. How should you state your objectives?
 Cover the different aspects of the
problem and its contributing factors in:
 a coherent way
 in a logical sequence

20. How should you state your objectives?
 Are clearly phrased in operational terms:
 specifying exactly:
what you are going to do
where
for what purpose

21. How should you state your objectives?
 Are not statement of the methods:
 To carry out a survey… 
 To compare treatments… 

22. How should you state your objectives?
 To determine
 To measure
 To identify
 To calculate
 To evaluate
 To assess
 To establish
 Determine
 Measure
 Identify
 Calculate
 Evaluate
 Assess
 Establish
 Use action verbs that are specific enough
to be evaluated:
OR

23. How should you state your objectives?
 Avoid the use of vague non-action verbs
e.g. to understand, to study, to know
 The research objectives should not be too
many or too ambitious
 When the study is evaluated, the results
will be compared to the objectives
 If the objectives have not been spelled
out clearly, the study cannot be evaluated

24. HYPOTHESES
 It might be possible, in addition to objectives, to
develop explanation (hypothesis) for the
problem that can be tested
 Hypothesis is a prediction of a relationship
between one or more factors and the problem
under study that can be tested e.g.
 Vaccination coverage is lowest among non
educated mothers who does not know its
importance
 Vaccination coverage is lowest in the clinics
which has irregular supply with vaccine

25. Research question
 A hypothesis can be stated as a research
question e.g.:
“Is the vaccination coverage differ
according to educational status?”
“Is the vaccination coverage differ from
urban to rural areas?”

26. TITLE OF THE STUDY
 The title should be in line with your
general objective
 Make sure that it is specific enough to
tell the reader what your study is about
and where it will be calculated
 Not “Study of vaccination coverage”
 But “A study of the reasons for low
vaccination coverage in Area "A" , 2014”

27. TITLE OF THE STUDY
 You might also consider fancier titles:
 ‘Why children are not immunized ? A study
of the reasons for low vaccination coverage
in governorate “A”, 2014”
 ‘Do We Care? A study on cost and quality of
counselling for HIV/AIDS patients in Yemen’
 ‘WORKSHOPS: Blessings or Burdens? A
study of the workshops held in 1999 in
Province Y - Their utility and consequences
for daily working activities of health staff’

28.  According to what you have learnt
about formulation of objectives:
1. Write for your study:
a. general and
b. specific objectives
1. Think about:
Hypothesis/Research question
3. Write a title for your proposed study
Now it is your turn!
for your study

29. Good luck