Formulating a Research question/ 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
- 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
- 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