introduction to the basic concepts of research and problem identification

1. Research Methods
Introduction
By
Harriet Angwech, BSE, MSc., PhD

2. How is research defined?
Research is an organized and systematic approach to obtaining
new and reliable knowledge.
・Systematic approach：
Research follows a sequence or series of steps.
・Organized
in that there is a structure or method in going about doing
research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is
focused and limited to a specific scope.
Purpose of research is new knowledge
=what is not already known.

3. What is research?
 Research is not:
a) Accidental discovery,
b) Data collection,
c) Searching out published
research results in
libraries.
 Research is:
a) Searching for
explanations of events,
phenomena,
relationships, and
causes.
b) A process
As such, research is
planed and managed.

4. Research defined
 An organized, systematic, data-based critical
scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific
problem, undertaken with the objective of
finding answers or solutions to it.

5. Reliability and Personal Objectivity
 The knowledge must be reliable =demonstrable to others
based on reason and evidence.
 Objectivity of researcher is the lifeblood of reliable
knowledge.
 Objectivity is that which is independent of characteristics of
mind; it relies on what is demonstrable, by observation,
measurement and logic.
 Subjectivity is that which is conditioned by personal
characteristics of mind.
 We can’t deal with personally subjective matters in science
or research because there is no way to derive reliable public
knowledge from personal subjective positions by themselves.

6. Classification of Research
(1) Basic vs. Applied research
(2) Problem-solving Research
Evaluation Research
Action Research

7. Classification of Research (1)
Basic (Pure) research: research undertaken to determine
or establish fundamental facts and relationships within a
discipline or field of study.
 This is research done with the primary aim of getting
new knowledge.
 Its main interest is to build on the body of knowledge in
a discipline without any immediate practical application
of the results in the mind of the researcher.

8. Classification of Research (1)
 Applied (Problem-solving) research: research undertaken
specifically for the purpose of obtaining information to
help resolve a particular problem.
 It is research designed to solve a specific-problem for a
specific decision maker.
 Problem-solving research is not more problem oriented
than the other types, but the problems it addresses are
more oriented to specific, individual applications.

9. Classification of Research (1)
 Evaluation research:
 This is carried out to assess the worth of a practice,
programme or research. E.g. Impact assessment,
feasibility or baseline studies.

10. Research methods
 All those methods/techniques that are used for
conduction of research
 Refer to the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations
 Method used by the researcher

11. Research methods
Put into 3 groups,
 1.Methods which are concerned with data
collection
 2.Statistical techniques for establishment of
relationship b/w data & unknown
 3.Evaluating the accuracy of results obtained

12. The process of Research
Question/problem
Formulate
goals/objectives
Plan & design
research
Generate
research result
Interpret results &
draw conclusions Formal
Training

13. Find Questions/ Problems
Literature Review
Formulate Hypothesis/Model
Deciding the method of data
collection & analysis
Data collection
Data analysis
Interpret results & draw conclusion
Write research report/thesis
Make research proposal
What is already known?
Survey secondary data
Interviews, experiment, observation, etc.

14. Find a research problem
 Choose interesting topics for you.
 Choose an approach which suits your
personality and abilities.
 Inspiration for the topic of your research comes
from
a. your own life experience
b. literature review (e.g. journals,
internet articles, books)
c. news report
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16. Your own experience as a source of
interest
 What problems your parents face on the farm?
 What products or services are not meeting your
needs as a consumer?
 Which government policies are making it
difficult for your uncle to establish a business or
for your cousin to market the commodities she
grows?
 Why has malaria persisted besides several
attempts to bring the situation under control?
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17. 17
2/5/2024
Criteria for developing a good research
question/problem/topic
 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant

18. 18
2/5/2024
Good research question?
 Feasible
 Subjects
 Resources
 Manageable
 Data available?
 Interesting
 Novel
 In relation to previous
findings
 Confirm or refute?
 New setting, new
population
 Ethical
 Social or scientific value
 Safe
 Relevant
 Advance scientific
knowledge?
 Influence a practice?
 Impact public policy?
 Guide future research?

19. Questions a researcher should ponder
over include:
 Am I competent to plan and carry out a study?
 Are pertinent data accessible?
 Will I have the needed financial resources?
 Will I have enough time to complete the
project?
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20. Constraint of your research
 What you can achieve is constrained by your
time, skills, contacts, physical and financial
resources.
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21. Clearly define your research
1st step get some idea of your
field or fields of interest.
2nd step specify the problem in a
broad context
3rd step narrow the problem down
to exactly what you will
be researching on
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22. Example
 1st step
A recent report from the Ministry of Health
shows that, “malaria remains the most
prevalent infectious disease in Uganda besides
established control efforts.”
Your interest would be
“Is it true? If it’s true, why does it happen?”
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23. Example
 Second step : specify the problem in a
broad context
High incidence of malaria in Uganda besides available control efforts
Problems of the efficiency of control tool being used
 Problems of acceptability and adoption of available control tools?
 Resistance to the drug of choice?
 Problem of access to treatment for most at risk and hard to reach
population?
 Insecticide resistance, residual and outdoors transmission?
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24. Example
 Third step
Among several topics related to the problem, choose one topic and clearly
define your research problem.
Research problem (example)
In over a decade, remarkable achievements in malaria control have been made. Malaria
mortality rates have been reduced by 47% in all age groups worldwide, between 2000 and
2013, leading to an estimated 4.3 million malaria deaths averted during the same period. A total
of 64 countries that had on-going malaria transmission in 2000 are actually meeting the
millennium development goals (MDG) target of reversing the incidence of malaria, and 55 of
these countries are on track to meet roll back malaria (RBM) and World Health Assembly
targets of reducing malaria case incidence rates by 75% [1].
However, Uganda recently witnessed an upsurge in the incidence of the disease in districts
where IRS, ITN and ACT that are considered the most effective control measures are being
used. In the last decade, resistance to commonly used insecticides has been emerging and
poses a major threat to the sustainability of these progresses. Monitoring of the resistance
trends at country level is crucial to properly quantify and address those threats. This study
therefore seeks to investigate the insecticide susceptibility status of An. gambiae. and An.
funestus against bendiocarb, deltamethrin and permethrin in Apac, Lira, Soroti and Tororo,
Uganda.
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