Introduction to Research
Methods Supercourse
Formulating Research
Problems, Questions
and Hypotheses
Introduction to the course
and to your assignment
This project is made possible by
the support of the American
people through the United States
Agency for International
Development (USAID).
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Special thank you to
workshop organizers and
Nazarbayev University for
hosting us
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What is this course designed
to achieve?
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Introduce the concept of research
methods
Describe basic biostatistical methods
Introduce trainees to biostatistical
software
Introduce trainees to publication and
research process
Introduce steps needed in research
development
Introduce the Central Asian Journal of
Global Health (CAJGH)
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Course assignment:
Develop a research project
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Learn the general steps in the research process
from research idea to project implementation
Identify a research problem
Define research questions, directional and nondirectional hypotheses
Identify the best possible research design for your
hypotheses
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Research Defined
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Research is an organized and
systematic way to find answers to
questions
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Research is a creative process
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Why is research important to
medicine and public health?
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Knowledge obtained from sound
research is transformed into clinical
practice, leading to medical practice
that is evidence-based.
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The Research Idea
Professional experience
 Burning questions
 Literature
 Professional meetings
 Discussions
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Criteria for developing a good
research question
 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant
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Cummings et al. 2001
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Good research question?
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Feasible
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Subjects
Resources
Manageable
Data available?
Interesting
Novel
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In relation to previous
findings
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Ethical
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Social or scientific value
Safe
Relevant
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Advance scientific
knowledge?
Influence clinical practice?
Impact health policy?
Guide future research?
Confirm or refute?
New setting, new
population
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A Research Question Must
Identify
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The variables under study
2.
The population being studied
3.
The testability of the question
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Variables in research
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Have 2 or more properties or qualities
 Age,
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sex, weight, height
Is one variable related to another?
“
Is X related to Y? What is the effect of X on Y?” etc.
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Variables in research
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Independent
variable:
 has
a presumed effect
on the dependent
variable (outcome)
 May or may not be
manipulated
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Dependent variable:
 Something
that varies
with a change in the
independent variable
 Outcome variable
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Hypothesis
Statement about the relationship
between 2 or more variables
 Converts the question into a statement
that predicts an expected outcome
 A unit or subset of the research
problem
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Characteristics of hypotheses
Declarative statement that identifies the
predicted relationship between 2 or
more variables
 Testability
 Based on sound scientific
theory/rationale
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Directional vs. Non-Directional
Hypotheses
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Directional hypothesis
 Specifies
the direction of the relationship
between independent and dependent
variables
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Non-directional hypothesis
 Shows
the existence of a relationship
between variables but no direction is specified
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Finding appropriate research
design
Cohort
 Cross sectional
 Case control
 Clinical trial
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Prepare PowerPoint
presentaiton
10 minutes long
 ~10 slides
 Select 1 presenter from each group
 Present during the last day
 Each presentation should include
research area, significance, hypothesis,
and rough design of the experiment
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Practical applications of this
project?
Create your own research project
 Understand published research papers
 Understand presentations at scientific
conferences
 Publish your research!!
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Central Asian
Journal of Global
Health
Welcome!
What is CAJGH
Biannual open access journal
 Focus area is Central Asian Region
 Peer reviewed
 Started in April 2012 as a part of USAID
project
 Distinguished Editorial Advisory board
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Questions?
Faina.linkov@gmail.com
3/24/2016
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