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How to formulate a research question
1. How to Formulate
a Research Question
Dr. Bassem S. Kurdi, MBBS
Demonstrator
Department of Pediatrics
Faculty of Medicine, KAU
2. Objectives
What is a research question?
Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Sources for the RQ
What makes a good RQ?
Common problems in RQs
What’s after the RQ
References
4. What is a Research Question?
The first methodological step to resolve a
scientific uncertainty.
It is an organized and more specific
inquisitive statement of the topic under study
that can be translated into a research project
“The single most important component of a
study... It is the keystone of the entire
exercise” (1)
5. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest Topic RQ Hypothesis
6. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest: A general interest in a specific field
Topic: A broad idea requiring further analysis
– Could include population, variables, etc.
RQ: Brings a piece of the topic into focus
Hypothesis: A tentative explanation that
accounts for a set of facts and can be tested.
– Conjectural statement that identifies the predicted
relationship between two or more variables. (2)
7. Topic vs. RQ vs. Hypothesis
Interest: Endocrinology. Type II DM.
Topic: Vit. D3 and its relationship to Type II DM
RQ: Does administration of 4’000 IU of Vit. D3
daily in addition to Metformin in adults with
newly diagnosed T2DM improve glycemic
control, compared to Metformin alone?
Hypothesis: Our expected answer for the RQ!
8. The Hypothesis!
Terms of interest: (3)
Null Hypothesis: Ho
– Innocent till proven guilty
Alternative Hypothesis: H1
Directional vs. Non-directional Hypothesis
N.B. PICO Clinical Question in EBM
10. Sources for the RQ
Clinical Experience
Mentor
Literature Overview
Conferences
Research Experience
11. Clinical Experience
Parents of infants with colic use caraway to
sooth their babies. A primipara mother asks
you if this home remedy a safe and effective
treatment for her newborn child.
12. Mentor
Discuss ideas with an experienced physician
in the area of your interest.
Other benefits.
Do your homework
13. Literature Overview
Journals: Pediatrics, NEJM, JAMA, Saudi
Medical Journal, etc.
Online Databases: MedLine. PubMed,
Google Schoolar
Local university publications database
Don’t re-invent the wheel!
16. What Makes a Good RQ?
FINER Criteria (4)
Feasible
Interesting
Novel
Ethical
Relevant
17. FINER: Feasible
Time. Can this be done in a reasonable time
frame for me?
Money. Can sufficient funding be collected?
Is it too expensive?
Population. Can a large enough sample size
be secured?
Skills. Are any special skills required and
available?
Resources. Can I secure the required
resources?
18. FINER: Interesting
Is it interesting to me?
Is it interesting to others around me?
Is it interesting to journal editors?
19. FINER: Novel
Don’t reinvent the wheel
Am I addressing something new?
Am I addressing something old in a new
way?
20. FINER: Ethical
Are there any ethical issues?
What are the risks vs. benefits?
Will my Local Research Ethics Committee
accept the proposal?
21. FINER: Relevant
What will it add to the existing body of
knowledge?
Will the results be applicable?
Will the results be generalizable?
23. Common Problems
Reinventing the wheel: Review literature
thoroughly, give it a new spin
Ethically questionable: Local research
committee
Question too broad or too narrow: revise your
question. Discuss with a mentor
Unavailable resources: patient records,
money, investigations: Allah m3ak!
Unsupportive faculty: find someone else!
24. What’s Next?
Extensive literature review
Revise your RQ and Hypothesis
Determine variables and confounding factors
Discuss your project with an expert
Check local university & college policies
Proceed to study design
25. References
1. Bordage G, Dawson B. Experimental study design
and grant writing in eight steps and 28 questions.
Med Educ. 2003;37(4):376-85
2. Geri LoBiondo-Wood & Judith Haber. Nursing
Research: Methods and Critical Appraisal for
Evidence-Based Practice, 7th Edition
3. Steps Statistical Glossary v1.1
http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/index.html
4. Hulley SB, Cummings SR, eds. Designing clinical
research. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1998
26. How to Formulate a Research Question
This presentation can be found at:
www.bassemkurdi.com
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