This document provides an overview of research methodology. It defines research as a systematic, organized investigation to discover new facts or answer questions about unknown phenomena. The scientific method uses objective, well-controlled techniques to obtain or correct knowledge. Research methodology refers to the logical steps a researcher takes to study a problem, including the design, objectives, data collection and analysis. Some key steps outlined are choosing a research problem, conducting a literature review, developing research questions and hypotheses, determining study design such as case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials, sampling, data collection and analysis, and disseminating findings through publication.

1. Introduction to research
Methodology
Dr Mahbub Hussain
MS (OMFS) BDS
Lecturer
Dhaka Dental College

2. Research
• Research is a scientific, systematic,
organized & ethical investigation into
a phenomenon to discover new facts
about the unknown in an attempt to
find answer to a question & its
solution.

3. Scientific Method
• Scientific methods are systematic and
well controlled body of procedures
and techniques rooted in objective
realities which are applied in carrying
out investigation targeted at obtaining
new knowledge or correcting previous
knowledge about natural phenomena.

4. Research methodology
• It is the way to deal with the various
steps adopted by a researcher to
study the research problem
systematically along with the logic,
assumption and rationale behind
them.

5. Why do research?
• Validate intuition
• Improve methods
• Demands of the Job
• For publication

6. Steps of Research

7. 1. Choose Researchable
Problem
• Based on every day life
• Based on brain storming
• Based on our reading
• Leading from past research

8. 2. Knowledge building
(literature review, books,
government data, news paper,
magzines
3. Statement of the
Problem
Title, magnitude of problem, time
frame, area, population affected,
influencing factors.

9. 4. Formulation of research
Questions/ Hypothesis
Research question:
Descriptive- what?
Relationship- Is there any
association?
Difference – Is there any
difference?
Hypothesis:
Research hypothesis
Statistical hypothesis

10. 5. Define objectives
• It should be, specific, measurable,
actionable, achievable, reliable and
time bound.
• Needs to be realistic.
• Closely related to research
questions/ hypothesis.
• The more variables the more
difficult.
• Ethical issues needed to be
considered.

11. 6. Study design
• 1. Qualitative:
• eg; case study, phenomenological
study
• 2. Qantitative:
• i) Observational
• A) Descriptive
• a) Case Report
• b)Case Series
• c) longitudinal
• d) Cross sectional

12. Study design
• B) Analytical Study
• a) Cohort
• b) Case Control
• c) Cross Sectional
• ii) Interventional Study
• A) True Experimental
• a) RCT
• b)Community Trial
• c) Field Trial
• B) Quasi experimental Study

13. A Case report
• Description of one interesting
and unusual case
• This is anecdotal and may form
the basis for further study
• This may be the only way to
report on something very rare

14. Case series
• Description of several cases in
which no attempt is made to
answer specific hypotheses or
compare results with another
group of cases.

15. Cross sectional study
• A survey of the frequency of
disease, risk factors or other
characteristics in a defined
population at one particular
point in time.

16. Cohort study
• An observational study of a
group of people with a specific
characteristic or disease who
are followed over a period of
time to detect change
• Comparison with control group
is allowed

17. Case control study
• An observational study where
characteristics of people with a
disease (cases) are compared
with selected people without
the disease (controls)

18. Controlled Trials
• An experimental study in which
an intervention is applied to one
group and the outcome
compared with that in a similar
group (controls) not receiving
the intervention.

19. 7. Determining Sample
Design
• Sampling: it is the subset of
population among which
information is actually derived
in order to study the population.
• Probability sampling
• Non probality sampling

20. 8.Development of Data
Collection Instrument
Questionnaire
Schedule
9.Data Collection
• By observation
• Through personal interview
• Through telephone interview
• By mailing of Questionnaires
• Through schedules

21. 9. Execution of the project
• Time line
• Quality check
10. Analysis of data
Data editing, presentation,
tabulation, analysis and
drawing statistical
inferences.

22. 11. Hypothesis testing
• t-test
• z-test
• Chi square test

23. 12. Research report writing
13. Preparation of report for
presentation of the result,
i.e. formal write up of
conclusion.

24. 14. Dissemination of
research report through
publication and
presentation.

25. Authorship
Author Should be directly
involved at the
• Idea stage
• Protocol development
• Actual performance of the study
• Interpretation of results
• Writing up

26. Authorship
• All authors must take full
responsibility for the study.
• That is why it is important to be
involved fully.

27. Thank
you