Hussein Sabit, PhD is an associate professor of molecular genetics and vice dean for community services at the College of Biotechnology. The document discusses various aspects of conducting research including defining a research problem, formulating research questions, different types of research (exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, predictive, pure, applied, theoretical, empirical), and the research process. It provides guidelines for selecting a topic, stating the problem, dividing it into subproblems, and checking if a question is suitable for research. The document emphasizes selecting an interesting, significant problem that can be solved given available resources and without ethical issues.

1. Hussein Sabit, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics
Vice Dean for Community Services
College of Biotechnology, MUST
Hussein Sabit
Formulation of the Research
Question

2.  Is being a top student enough?
 Neither necessary nor sufficient…
 Are you extremely motivated?
 All you need is passion…
Prepare Yourself!
Research is not a job, it is
more like a hobby!

3. What is research?
Any honest attempt to study a problem systematically
or to add to man’s knowledge of a problem may be
regarded as research.

4.  To investigate some existing situation or problem.
 To provide solutions to a problem.
 To explore and analyse more general issues.
 To explain a new phenomenon.
 To generate new knowledge.
Why undertake research?

5. Exploratory research
Takes place where there is little or no prior knowledge of a
phenomenon.
Descriptive research
Describes a particular phenomenon, focusing upon the issue of
what is happening, or how much of it has happened, rather
than why it is happening.
Types of research

6. Explanatory research
This type of research is involved in explaining
why something happens, and assessing the
relationships between variables.
Predictive research
Forecasts future phenomena, based on the
interpretations suggested by explanatory
research.
Types of research

7. Pure research
Takes place to simply gain a better understanding
of an overall concept or phenomenon.
Applied research
is undertaken to solve a specific problem or
provide a solution to a practical question.
Types of research

8. Theoretical research
Generally uses the findings from existing works to
develop new ideas through analysing existing
theory and explanations.
Empirical research
Supports the development of new ideas through
the collection of data (empirical = observation or
measurement rather than theoretical reasoning).
Types of research

9. Basic terminology
 Research problem: is enigmatic (not clear
to the understanding), perplexing (lacking
clarity of meaning), or troubling condition.
 The purpose of research is to solve the
problem or to contribute to its solution by
accumulating relevant information.
 Problem statement: a problem statement
articulates the problem to be addressed and
indicates the need for a study.

10.  Research questions: are the specific
queries researchers want to answer in
addressing the research problem.
 Researchers: who make specific
predictions regarding answers to the
research question pose hypotheses that are
tested empirically.
Basic terminology

11. Why Research?
Amount of
knowledge
Advancement of
Technology
Utility of
Applications
Quality of
Life
Basic Research
Applied
Research
Application
Development

12. The Process of Topic Selection

13. • WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it? Do
you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO are the information providers on this topic? Who might
publish information about it? Who is affected by the topic? Do
you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is there a debate
about the topic? Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to
consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or
international level? Are there specific places affected by the
topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an
historical issue? Do you want to compare your topic by time
periods?
Think of the who, what, when, where
and why questions

14. Do you have a question?

15. Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
 Alice: “Would you tell me,
please, which way I have
to walk from here?”
 Cat: “That depends on
where you want to get to”
 Alice: “I don’t much care
where”
 Cat: “Then it doesn’t
matter which way you
walk”

16. You are one of the following:
 Those who know precisely what they want to
do and have a well conceived problem.
 Those who have many interest areas and are
having difficulty deciding exactly what they
want to study.
 Those who do not have any idea about a
worthwhile research problem.
Identifying the Problem
Don’t be like Alice!

17. • What is the key thing you want to find out?
• Can you answer the question within the time and
resources available?
• Will you be able to collect the data needed to answer
the question?
• Are there any ethical issues?
• Has the question already been answered by other
researchers?
• Will the answer to the question be genuinely useful?
• Does it have the potential to have an impact and
effect change?
About your question

18. Sources of research questions
The selection of a research question is often
the result of many factors
• Personal interests, experiences, values, and
passions
• The desire to satisfy scientific curiosity
• Previous work -- or the lack of it -- on a topic
• The current political, economic, and social
climates
• Being able to get access to data
• Having a way to fund a study

19. Don’t ask vague questions!
Why cancer is a problem?
Why Breast Cancer is a health and
economic problem in Egypt?

20. Research topic and problem
Important questions about research
problem
 Does it really interest me?
 Can it be answered with scientific inquiry?
 Do I have the resources?
 Are there irresolvable ethical problems?
 Is it theoretically or practically important?

21. Stating the problem
Guidelines
 State the problem clearly and completely.
 Think through the feasibility of the project
that the problem implies.
 Say precisely what you mean.
 Edit your work.

22. Dividing the problem into
subproblems
Characteristics of subproblems
 Each subproblem should be a completely
researchable unit.
 Each subproblem must be clearly tied to
the interpretation of the data.
 The subproblems must add up to the
totality of the problem.
 Subproblem should be small in number.

23. What It Takes to Do Research
 Curiosity: allow you to ask questions.
 Critical thinking: allow you to challenge
assumptions.
 Learning: take you to the frontier of knowledge.
 Persistence: so that you don’t give up.
 Respect data and truth: ensure your research is
solid.
 Communication: allow you to publish your work.

24. The Good Research Problem
 Well-defined: Would we be able to tell whether
we’ve solved the problem?
 Highly important: Who would care about the
solution to the problem? What would happen if
we don’t solve the problem?
 Solvable: Is there any clue about how to solve
it? Do you have a baseline approach? Do you
have the needed resources?
 Matching your strength: Are you at a good
position to solve the problem?

25. New Questions
Arise
Results
Interpreted
Data
Collected
Question
Identified
Hypotheses
Formed
Research
Plan
Research cycle

26. Sources of research topics
 Personal interest
 Observation
 Practical problems
 Readings
 Solving a problem
 Hot topics under discussion
 Brainstorming

27. Good Question Checklist

28.  Will the question hold my interest?
 Can I manage any potential biases I may
have?
1. Is the question right for me?

29.  Will the findings be considered
significant?
 Will it make a contribution?
2. Is the question right for the field?

30.  Are the terms well-defined?
 Are there any unchecked assumptions?
3. Is the question well articulated?

31.  Can information be collected in an attempt to
answer the question?
 Do I have the skills and expertise necessary to
access this information? If not, can the skills
be developed?
 Will I be able to get it all done within my time
constraints?
 Are costs likely to exceed my budget?
 Are there any potential ethics problems?
4. Is the question doable?

32. 6 Ways to Find a Topic

33. 1. Flash of Brilliance Model
 You wake up one day with a new
insight/idea.
 New approach to solve an important
open problem.
Warnings:
 This rarely happens.
 Even if it does, you may not be able to
find an advisor who agrees.

34. 2. The Apprentice Model
 Your advisor has a list of topics.
 Suggests one (or more!) that you can
work on.
 Can save you a lot of time/anxiety.
Warnings:
 Don’t work on something you find
boring, fruitless, badly-motivated,…
 Several students may be working on the
same/related problem.

35. 3. The Phoenix Model
You work on some projects and think
deeply about finding a new or de novo
approach to solve the problem.
Warnings:
You may be working without “a topic” for a long
time.

36. 4. The Stapler Model
 You work on a number of small topics that
turn into a series of conference papers.
 You figure out somehow how to tie it all
together, create a chapter from each
paper, and put a big staple through it.
Warnings:
May be hard/impossible to find the tie.

37. 5. The Synthesis Model
 You read some papers from other subfields in
Medicine or Pharmacology or any other related
field (e.g., Biology).
 And look for places to apply insight from
another (sub)field to your own (e.g.,
Pharmacy)
Warnings:
 You can spend a career reading papers!
 You may not find any useful connections.

38. 6. The Expanded Term Project
Model
 You take a project course that gives
you a new perspective.
 The project/paper combines your
research project with the course
project.
Warnings:
 This can distract from your research if you
can’t find a related project/paper

39. Plagiarism is the act of presenting the
words, ideas, images, sounds, or the
creative expression of others as your
own.
Plagiarism!

40. Paraphrase!!!
Plagiarism!

41. Direct quote from research:
“Japan’s beautiful Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707 and
is now classified as dormant. Dormant volcanoes
show no signs of activity, but they may erupt in the
future.”
Non-plagiarized paraphrase:
Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, is actually
a dormant volcano. Dormant means that it is not
active. The last time Mount Fuji erupted was in 1707,
and there is always the possibility of a future eruption.
Plagiarism vs. Paraphrasing

42. Some advices!
 Its not about how many downloads, brochures are in
your computer, it is about your notes, research and
how the information is used.
 You need to take notes and annotate work, not just
highlight downloads. You also need to summarize the
notes per subquestion.
 Creating a timeline and sticking to it is important.
 You need to plan to use a variety of resources not
just Google and the internet- use also books and
journals.

43. The only way you can improve
yourself is to learn things that you
are the most afraid of!

44. Finally ..

45. Ask a clear question and
you will receive a clearer
answer!
Hussein Sabit