This document discusses how to formulate a research question and hypothesis. It defines the different types of research (basic, applied, qualitative, quantitative) and fields of research. A research question seeks to answer something about a topic, while a hypothesis predicts the outcome of an experiment. A well-built research question includes the PICO elements - population/patient, intervention, comparator, and outcome. Characteristics of a good research question are that it is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, relevant, and clear. The document provides examples of strong and weak research questions and emphasizes thoroughly selecting a topic and framing the question or hypothesis.

1. FORMULATING A RESEARCH
QUESTION/
HYPOTHESIS
PRESENTED BY:
SHUBHA SHARMA
M.SC. PHARMACOLOGY
RUHS-CMS, JAIPUR

2. CONTENTS
• Types Of Research
• Fields Of Research
• Research Question And Hypothesis
• Research Question
• Hypothesis
• Essential Elements Of Research Question : PICO
• Framing A Research Question
• Conclusion

3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
BASIC
RESEARC
H
APPLIED
RESEARC
H
QUALITATIV
E
RESEARCH
QUANTITATIV
E
RESEARCH

4. BASIC RESEARCH :
• Research driven by the curiosity or interest of a scientist in a
particular subject.
• Main purpose is to expand the existing pool of knowledge
• There is no obvious/immediate commercial value of the
outcome of basic research.

5. EXAMPLES
1. What is the mechanism of infection by HIV virus?
2. What is the genetic code for humans?

6. APPLIED RESEARCH:
• It is designed to solve some practical problem or to improve
prevailing conditions.
• Examples: 1. How can one cure HIV infection?
2. How to alter genetic code to detect and cure disease?

7. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: (What? When?)
• Exploratory in nature.
• Used when we do not know what to expect.
• Commonly used for understanding human knowledge, attitude,
behavior, feelings, values and opinions, etc.
• Conducted in natural setting.

8. EXAMPLES :
1. What is the prevalence of tobacco smoking in medical
students?
2. Did boys or girls perform better in CBSE class 12 examinations in
the year 2018?

9. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: (How? Why?)
• Conclusive in nature.
• Inquiry into an identified problem
• Usually based on testing a hypothesis
• Measured with numbers and analyzed using statistical
methods.

10. EXAMPLES:
1. How can one cure HIV infection?
2. Why do medical students smoke?
Qualitative research may generate ideas or hypotheses for exploring
the subject further through quantitative research.

11. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
Some of them are listed below:
1. Intracellular and biological processes, genetic studies, studies
on properties of drugs, animal experiments.
2. Distribution of diseases and/ or health- related characteristics
in the population.
3. Profile of cases of a specific disease.

12. 4. Risk factors and their contribution to the condition
5. Efficacy of treatment: drugs, procedures
6. Efficacy of diagnostic tests
7. Health economics, cost effectiveness
8. Quality of healthcare, and quality of life
9. reviews, meta-analysis

13. RESEARCH QUESTION AND
HYPOTHESIS

14. WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?
It is the question that we are trying to answer when we do
research on a topic.
More than one research question can framed on a topic.

15. • The research question can be of different levels:
• Descriptive RQ : seeks description of a phenomenon. It usually
covers only one variable.
Example:
1. What is the prevalence of scabies in primary children in
jaipur?
2. What is the socioeconomic status of patients presenting with
scabies at dermatology OPD of Jaipuria hospital?

16. • Inferential RQ: aims at drawing inference from a sample of population.
It involves a min. of two variables- dependent and independent.
Example:
1. What is the relationship between socioeconomic status and occurrence
of scabies among the students of primary school in jaipur?
2. Is drug A is better than drug B for treating scabies in children?

17. WHAT IS HYPOTHESIS?
• It is a statement that makes a prediction about the result of
an experiment.
• A hypothesis is very specific and it is based on previous
empirical research. Hypothesis is used in quantitative
research.

18. FORMS OF HYPOTHESIS
NULL HYPOTHESIS
• Predicts that no relationship or
significance difference exists
between two or more variables.
ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS
• There exist a significant
difference between two or more
variables.
• Non- directional hypothesis or
Directional hypothesis.
Null hypothesis is a hypothesis to be disproved. When the null
hypothesis is rejected, alternate hypothesis accepted- at least for the
time being.

19. PICO: Essential Elements of Research Question
• A well built RQ usually contain four elements represented by:
PICO
Stands for :
P Patient, population or problem
I Intervention
C Comparator
O Outcome

20.  The intervention and comparator - Independent variable
The outcome – Dependent variable

21. Example 1
In ventilated patients (P), head-of-bed elevation of 45
degrees (I)compared to 20 degrees (C) reduce
incidence of ventilated associated pneumonia (O).

22. Example 2
In hospitalized children,(P) does the Wong-Baker Pain
FACES Rating Scale (I) compared to the Child Medical
Fear Scale (C) more effectively evaluate the child's level
of pain (O)?

23. Example 3
In non-ambulatory patients, (P) does turning the
patient (I) compared to pressure mattresses (C) reduce
the risk of pressure ulcers (O) ?

24. FRAMING A RQ/ HYPOTHESIS
Choose an interesting broad topic
Do some preliminary research on your general topic.
Narrow the topic that suits your and research community’s interest
Frame an appropriate RQ/Hypothesis
Check for PICO Elements
Test for goodness: novelty, relevance, clear, ethical. Interesting,
feasible, appropiately complex

25. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RQ
FINER Criteria for a Good Research Question
• Feasible
Adequate number of subjects
Adequate technical expertise
Affordable in time and money
Manageable in scope
• Interesting
Interesting enough to engage student, supervisor & research community

26. • Novel
Addresses a defined gap in knowledge
• Ethical
Acceptable to study population, no potential harm to them
• Relevant
To scientific knowledge
To clinical and health policy
To future research

27. • Clear
Well defined
focused
• Appropriately complex
Neither very ambitious nor very simple
well suited to caliber of student & supervisor
• Often start with……… How? Which? Why?

28. BAD RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• Have simple and easy answers
• Can be answered in one word or one sentence
• Have no answer
• Are purely opinion
• Often start with ………. Who? Where? How many? When?

29. EXAMPLE 1
Unclear: How should social networking sites address the harm they
cause?
Clear: What action should social networking sites like Instagram
and Facebook take to protect users’ personal information and
privacy?

30. EXAMPLE 2
Unclear: Do the patients suffering from carcinoma lung smoke more?
Clear: Is the frequency and quantum of smoking- in terms of pack
years- greater among patients diagnosed as carcinoma lung by biopsy,
as compared to the controls?

31. EXAMPLE 3
Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global
warming?
Focused: What is the most significant effect of glacial melting on the
lives of penguins in Antarctica?

32. EXAMPLE 4
Unfocused: What is the effect of television viewing on students?
Focused: Does increase in the duration of television viewing adversely
affect the sleep pattern of the primary school students?

33. EXAMPLE 5
Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in India?
Appropriately Complex: What main environmental, behavioral, and
genetic factors predict whether Indians will develop diabetes, and how
can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in
prevention of the disease?

34. CONCLUSION
• Exercise thoroughly in selecting research topic and framing the RQ/
hypothesis
• Reflection on all the currently available info on the proposed topic is
vital.
• Evaluate RQ for the application of PICO strategy & compliance of
goodness criteria.

36. Thank
You