This document outlines the key points about formulating research objectives and questions. It discusses the importance of objectives in establishing what a research project should achieve. Objectives should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound). A research question is a concise question that the research aims to answer. A good research question should fill a knowledge gap, be answerable and relevant. Research questions can come from literature, clinical experience or peers. The PICO framework helps develop research questions by focusing on the population, intervention, comparison and outcomes. Examples of objectives and a PICO research question are provided.

1. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Formulating
Objectives &
Research Questions
Lecture 7
Level 8
Year 4

2. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
OBJECTIVES
• What are the research objectives?
• How to make research objectives SMART?
• Research Questions:
1. What is a research question
2. Criteria of a good research question
3. Sources of research questions
4. Elements of a research question
5. Criteria for a bad research question
6. Example of a research question
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY COURSE COMMITTEE
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3. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Why do we need OBJECTIVES ?
• These are the statements that establish what the
research project should achieve after its completion
• Properly formulated specific objectives will facilitate:
• the development of the research methodology
• help to orient the collection, analysis,
interpretation and utilization of data.
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY COURSE COMMITTEE
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4. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Classification of OBJECTIVES
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY COURSE COMMITTEE
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5. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
GOAL /AIM:
• The goal is a short and general sentence
defining:
• The overall aim of the project and the
contribution of the project in a bigger context;
thereby describing the purpose of the project.
• It is therefore a very general statement.
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY
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6. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
EXAMPLE
• An example of a project goal may be: “TO STUDY
THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE STUDENTS’
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE COLLEGE OF
MEDICINE FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2017/2018".

7. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
General vs. specific Objectives
General objective (aka
goal/ aim)
Specific objectives
• It identifies in general
terms, what is to be
accomplished by the
research project and why
• It state what is expected
to be achieved by the
study in general terms.
• Identify in greater details the
specific aims of the research
project;
• often breaking down what is to be
accomplished into smaller logical
components.
• the specific objectives are the
breakdown of the general
objectives into smaller logically
connected parts

8. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Good specific objectives:
• Objectives should be closely related to the statement of the
problem.
• Cover all aspects of the problem and its contributing factors
in a coherent way and in a logical sequence.
• Answering three questions (3 Ws) in operational terms,
specifying exactly what (work to be done), where (place) and
when (time).
• Realistic (feasible) with regard to local conditions (time
period, financial resources etc.).
• Use of action verbs which can be measured e.g. determine,
compare, verify, calculate, describe, measure, and identify.
• Avoidance of the use of vague non-action verbs such as
appreciates, understand, study, notice, observe and believe.

9. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
specific objectives should be
SMART
S Specific
M Measurable
A Achievable
R Realistic/Resource
T Time-specific.
It is good to include timelines in objective. However, If not in the objective,
timelines can be defined in the indicator(s) correspondent to that objective

10. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
EXAMPLE
• For the project goal : “TO STUDY THE EEFECT OF UTILIZING THE
LIBRARY SERVICES ON THE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN
THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/2018".
• Examples of Specific objectives:
1. To compare the level of utilization of the library services among
various levels of academic performance groups;
2. To establish the pattern of utilization of the library services in
two semesters of the year;
3. To verify whether increasing use of library services increased the
students’ grades in the academic year 207-2018;
4. To describe students’ perception of the quality of the library
services provided at the college .

11. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Quick TASK
• Divide yourselves in groups of 4-5
• Develop a research project goal
• LIST 3-5 specific objectives for your research
project
• Present it to your colleagues

12. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
CLASSIFICATION OF OBEJCTIVES
Depending on the research questions to be answered by the
study specific objectives are either:
1. Estimation objectives:
Estimating certain features e.g. to determine incidence rates,
prevalence rates, level of utilization of services etc.,
2. Association objectives:
Investigation of the association between a factor of interest
and a particular incidence e.g. to identify whether there is
association between the utilization of child welfare clinics,
and the different seasons, or
3. Evaluation objectives:
Evaluate the effect of an intervention

13. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
Formulating a
research question

14. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
1. What is a research question
• A research question is a concise question which
expresses what the research project aims to
address; it is the question the researcher wishes
to answer.
• The first step in any research project is to clearly
define the research question, since it will be the
basis for developing and conducting the research
project.

15. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
2. Criteria of a good research question
• Should attempts to fill a knowledge gap in the literature,
• Enough to be answerable and researchable
• Should be relevant to the study’s objective
• Should avoid duplication of previous work
• Should be feasible and cost effective
• should be doable within a specified time frame allocated
for the research project.
• Moreover, it needs to meet the minimum ethical
standards.

16. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
3. Sources of research questions
• The researcher formulates a research question
through different means.
• Literature reading might help a researcher identify
the areas that need further study, and thus a hint
towards a research question.
• Patients’ observation through clinical experience
which might pose different researchable
questions.
• Peers: previous research, journal clubs, and
conferences

17. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
4. Elements of a research question
• A "well-built" research question should include
four elements of a research question that need
to be addressed; referred to as PICO
• The PICO concept is important in narrowing
down the research question, providing search
terms, and saving time in literature search.

18. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
PICO
• PICO letters stand for:
a. P: Patient or Population.
• The first step in the PICO process is to identify
the patients or population to be studied.
• More specifically, it describes patients’
characteristics, such as age, gender, disease
status, or any other patient-related
characteristic.

19. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
PICO (2)
• b. I: Intervention to be tested.
• Identifying the intervention is the second step in the PICO
process.
• It is important to identify the exposure intended to be studied
in the research project.
• This may include the use of a specific diagnostic test,
treatment, adjunctive therapy, medication, etc.

20. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
PICO (3)
• c. C: Comparison used in the research project. It is the alternative
exposure to which the intervention will be compared, which
might be the standard of care or a placebo. The comparison
component is the only optional one in the PICO question, since
the researcher might study the intervention alone because either
due to no interest in comparison or the lack of a comparable
group.
d. O: Outcome to be measured as a result of the intervention. It is
the evaluation of the intervention’s effect. This may include cure
or level of control of a disease, efficacy of a medication or a
diagnostic test, etc.

21. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
6. Example of a research question
Topic of
interest:
Narrowed
topic:
Focused topic:
Women’s health
Women and cancer
Women smokers and breast
cancer
PICO:
P = Women (age more than 35)
I = Cigarette smoking
C = No smoking
O = Breast cancer

22. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
5. Criteria for a bad research question
a) Vagueness of the research question.
b) The research question is too broad to reach conclusive
results.
c) The research question might fail to reveal the relevance
of the topic under investigation.
d) Other criteria which are related to the logistic aspects of
the study, such as the time needed to carry out the
study, high cost with limited funding, limited resources
such as availability of expertise, special equipment,
and/or information.
e) Research question might be limited by ethical
considerations or requirement of authorities’ approval.

23. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
GROUP WORK
• Within the same groups you made in the
previous task, using the same topic you chose:
• Develop one PICO research questions for your
topic

24. Research Methodology and
Evidence Based Healthcare (EBHC481)
References
1. Introduction to Clinical Research for Residents,
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, 2014
2. National Ministry Of Health in collaboration
with the World Health Organization, Health
Research Methodology: a guide for
Researchers Part I, December 2010
3. Health Research Methodology- A Guide for
Training in Research Methods, 2nd Ed WHO,
2001
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