This document outlines a course on research methodology for year II health science students at Arsi University in Ethiopia. It provides details on the course credit hours, facilitators, learning objectives, evaluation criteria, and an overview of topics to be covered including defining research, identifying research problems, developing hypotheses, literature reviews, and avoiding plagiarism. The course aims to equip students with skills in writing research proposals, study designs, sampling, data analysis, and critically assessing research papers. Reference materials are also listed.

1. 1
Arsi University
Assela College of Health Sciences
Course out line for year II HO students
Course: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Credit hour – 3 Course number – COMH 218
Time : -Tuesday &Thursday 8- 12 AM
Course Facilitators
 Hailu Fekadu (MPH)
 Abay Burussie (MPH)

2. Learning objectives
2
 At the end of the course the students will be able to:
1.List the major types of research ,characteristic and purpose of research
2. Describe ways of writing statement of the problem, significance of the
study, objective, and literature reviewing
3.List ways of writing objective, types of study designs & sampling
methods
4. Prepare a research protocol and write a simple research proposal
5. List the major elements that need to be examined when making a
critical assessment of a research paper.
6. Describe common statistical packages useful for data processing and
analysis

3. Evaluation
3
1. Problem solving exercises 20%
2.Atendance & class activity 10%
3. Mid-term examination 20%
3. Final Examination 50%

4. Reference books
4
 Babbie, Earl R. 1973. Survey Research Methods. Wadsworth publishing Company,
Inc. Belmont, California.
 Best, John W. 1983. Research in Education (Fourth Edition). Prentice Hall of India
Private Limited, New Delhi.
 Lastrucci, Carlo L. 1963. The Scientific Approach. Basic principles of the scientific
method. Schenkmann Publishing Company, Inc. Cambridge, Massachussets. Chapters
1-2
 Rosnow, Ralph L. and Rosenthal, Robert. 1996. Beginning behavioural research (2nd
edition): A conceptual primer. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
 Tavanec, P.V. 1970. Problems of the logic of scientific knowledge. D. Reidel Publishing
Company, Dordrecht, Holland, pp. 41-51.

5. Overview of Research Methods
5
 Brain storming
What is a research?
Types of a research
Function of a research

6. Definition
6
 Research is the systematic collection , analysis, and
interpretation of data to answer a certain question or solve a
problem.
 Health research : the generation of new knowledge using
scientific methods to identify and deal with health
problems.
Example:
1. Biomedical science
2.Population science
3.Health policy science

7. Characteristic of research
7
 It demands clear statement of the problem
 It requires plan(it is not aimlessly “looking” for some thing
in the hopes that you will “come across in a solution”)
 It builds an existing data using both positive and negative
findings
 It needs new data collection to answer the original research
question(S)

8. Types of research
8
 Basic research: extending the base of knowledge in a discipline to
understand it
 Research to refine theories(add knowledge)
 Applied research: research concerned with search of solutions for
problems of practical in nature
 Operational research is alternative term .
 Generates new knowledge to that is applied to solve problem

9. Functions of health research
9
 Identify and set priority among health problems
 Guide and accelerate application of knowledge to solve
health problem
 Development of new tools and fresh strategy
 Advance the basic understanding of the frontiers of
knowledge

10. 2 Identification of problem to be researched
10
 This is the first step in research process
 It is what the research project is all about
 The subject area of research can be obtained from:
 Experience and know how of researcher
 Reading of literatures
 Consultations with experts in the area of the topic

11. How to judge whether the problem
thought needs research or not?
11
1. If there is discrepancy between what is and what it should
be
2. Absence of clear reason for observed discrepancy
3. Presence of two possible or plausible answers for the
problem
If any of the above conditions exist the problem needs
research.

12. Criteria for topic selection for
research
12
 Relevancy
 Feasibility
 Politically acceptability
 Avoidance of duplication
 Applicability
 Cost effectiveness
 Ethical acceptance

13. Commonly committed mistakes in
topic selection (If)
13
A. The topic does not interest the researcher
B. The topic is to simple(no new knowledge)
C. The topic is too difficult to researcher
D. There is inadequate literature on the topic
E. The topic is too broad
These problems can be prevented

14. 14
Who decide on topic selection for research?
 Researcher
 Health manager of the area
 Community leaders

15. 3.Statement of the problem
15
3.1 Analysis of the problem
.It is brainstorming exercise of different parties
.Helps to know the problem in depth
Pooling of knowledge from different person is achieved
Help to refine the problem (narrowing of the broad topic )
Enable to decide the focus and scope of the study

16. Statement of the problem
16
 Following specification of the problem
It is written together with brief description of the background
 In background:
 what previous research lead to this study?
 What this study is to add?
 How the addition happens?
 Are the questions to be answered

17. Importance of formulating statement of
the problem
17
 To describe the problem
 It is the foundation for development of research proposal
 Make it easer to find information and reports of similar
studies
 Enables to systematically describe the problem and point
out why the proposed research should be under taken and
what is hoped to achieve with the study results.

18. Significance of the study
18
 This is about rationale of the study
 Who uses the out come and how
 What are the specific importance of the study
 Brief short listing of significance of the study
 Generally Why do you want to study this issue at this
time

19. 4. Study Framework
19
 A schematic presentation showing the association
between factors and outcomes
 We use arrows to show relations
 You should mind how arrows are drawn and try to
interpret it
 Mind also how you will be analyzing the data
 It is advisable to use a standard framework

20. Study Framework
20
 A standard framework
 Will be easier to compare your findings with the
findings of others
 To apply a standard methodologies
 In case you cannot get a standard framework you
may develop your own, after you did an
exhaustive literature search

21. Example of Conceptual /study frame
work
21
FP utilization
acce
ssibili
ty
religio
n
cultur
e
Edu
leve
l

22. 5. Research Questions
22
 Formulate study question (s) from identified gaps
 You may have more than one research question
in a thesis
 However, you are advised to address few
research questions
Eg. 1. What is the level of contraception
 in the study area?
 by urban/rural residence type?
 Muslims and Christians?

23. 23
Problem
statement 1
Disseminatio
n of results
7
Writing
6
Data analysis 5
Data management
4
Data
collectection 3
Proposal
2
Research follows seven interconnected
steps

24. 6. Hypotheses
24
 Hypothesis
 Assumption
 Guess
 Premise
 Proposition
 Speculation
 Suggestion
 Supposition
 Theory, etc.

25. What is a Research Hypothesis?
25
 A hypothesis is a guess (or conjecture) about the
nature of some process or interaction which is tested
by collecting facts which leads to its acceptance or
rejection.
 Instead of collecting data with the aim of ‘let’s see
what we get’ it is to collect data to prove or disprove
guesses
 A hypothesis can be defined as “a tentative prediction
or explanation of the relationship between two or
more variables

26. Hypotheses
26
 Hypotheses emanate from research questions in a
structured way
 Convert your research question into statistical
hypotheses
 Null vs. alternative hypothesis
Example
1. H0: There is no difference in contraception between rural
and urban residents
HA: There is difference in contraception among urbanites
and rural residents

27. 7.Literature review
27
 What is literature review?
 Why literature review?
 What are the materials to review for literature?
 How literature review is conducted?

28. What is a literature review?
28
The works cited or works consulted
 An annotated bibliography
A brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph or
summary (the annotation) of each article that
one has reviewed.
 Literature review is not just a descriptive list of
the material available or summarizing
professional literature.

29. A literature review
29
 is a critical analysis of a published body of knowledge
on specific topic through summary, classification, and
comparison of prior research studies, reviews
theoretical articles.
A literature review
Focuses on a specific topic of interest and includes a
critical analysis of the relationship among different
works, and relating this research to selected study area
.

30. A literature review
30
Can be written as
 a stand-alone paper or
 part of a research , thesis or dissertation to
provide a theoretical framework and rationale for
the study

31. Why literature review when
conducting a research?
31
Literature review is an essential research activity,
because.
All research needs to be informed by existing
knowledge in a subject area. Identification of gap
Literature review is a core part of the academic
communication process and helps create a map
of knowledge
It means that we don't have to find out everything
for ourselves all over again or reinvent the wheel.

32. 32
Writing a literature review helps demonstrate
skills in two areas
 information seeking:
the ability to scan the literature efficiently
 critical appraisal:
the ability to apply principles of analysis to identify
unbiased and valid studies

33. Major principle behind literature
review
33
 Literature review multiplies knowledge exponentially.
But
learning depends not only on the sharing of
knowledge but also on the questioning of knowledge.
 That means , It relies on both the acknowledgement
and critique of the work of other scholars

34. Purpose /function of the literature review
34
 To justify choice of research question, theoretical or
conceptual framework, and method
 To establish the importance of the topic
 To provide background information to understand the study
 To show readers you are familiar with up-to-date research
relevant to the topic
 To develop knowledge in your field

35. Purpose / function of the literature review contd
35
 Not to duplicate work that has already been done.
 Provides clues future or recommend areas on which to
focus.
 Highlights key findings.
 Identifies inconsistencies , gaps and contradictions in the
literature.
 Provides a constructive analysis of the methodologies and
approaches of other researchers

36. Sources for Literature
36
 Journal articles
 Computerized databases
 Conferences proceedings
 Dissertations
 Consulting people knowledgeable in the area
 Government reports and reports from other bodies
 Historical records
 Statistical handbooks , etc.

37. Example Of A Literature Grid
37
Author(s
)
Journal,
Year
Subject/
Key
words
Sample Methodo
logy
Statistic
al
Method
Main
Findings
Finding
Relevant
to My
Research
Question

38. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
38
Academic integrity is the central principle on which the
academic community depends.
If a researcher falsifies data to support an hypothesis,
or if a scholar steals the clever ideas of another and
claims them as his or her own,
 the climate of trust that fosters the growth of
knowledge and the creation of new ideas is destroyed.

39. What Is Plagiarism?
39
Plagiarism is
 a combination of stealing and lying about it afterwards.
 using others' work and misrepresenting that work as your own
without giving the author credit: this includes
 ideas, words, data, computer programming, or any other creative
Endeavour .
 Taking the ideas or words from other writers without acknowledging
them.
 Along with fabricating results, it is considered to be one of the worst
academic sins!

40. Avoiding plagiarism
40
 Referencing/ Citations
makes your work appear to be more academic ;
provides an authority to back up your arguments.
create the impression that your argument is founded
logically and systematically on previous work (hence, is
credible). As a result,
 the more you reference the more scholarly your paper
will be.
Referencing also benefits others who are interested in
pursuing the subject beyond your paper.

41. Methods of Citation of reference
41
 Two systems available
1. Vancouver styles
2. Harvard system

42. 42
1. Vancouver styles : used commonly in biomedical journals
Consecutive numbers are used in the text to indicate the references.
Then at the end of the paper or chapter (of a book) the reference
will be listed in that order, using the format below:
For an article:
author(s)’ surname followed by Initials, Title of article, Name of
journal, Year; Volume (number): page numbers of article.
Example
Fantahun M, Abebe T. Self reported disease conditions among
workers of the textile mill in Bahir Dar , northwest Ethiopia.
Ethiopian J Health Dev1990; 1(2) 151-156.

43. 43
 For a book
 Author(s) (last name first ). Title of book .Edition ,
place: publisher, year : number of pages in the book.
 Example
 Abramson JH. Survey methods in community
medicene.2nd ed. Edinburgh: churchill
Livingstone,1979: 229.

44. 2. Harvard system
44
 In this system of citation , the reference at the end of
proposal should be listed in alphabetical order and
publication year comes following authors name in brackets.
E.g for a book:
 Abramson JH(1990). Survey methods in community
medicine. 4th ed. Eduinbrgh: churchill Livingstone.

45. 45
Thank you!