Introduction to the course by Dr Rim Bogatfa

2. Plan
 Sources of knowledge
 Definition of research
 Types of research
 Criteria of a research topic
 Phases of a research study
 Proposal, Protocol and Thesis
 Outline of Research Proposal Vs Thesis
 Basic terminology in research

3. Sources of knowledge
Authority
Scientific
methods
Reasoning
Tradition
Trial and
error

4. What is research?
 “Oxford Dictionary”
Careful study or investigation to discover new
facts or information.
 “Scientific definition”
The systematic collection, analysis and interpretation
of data to answer certain question or solve a
problem.

5. Research Types
 Basic Research
- Generates new knowledge to deal with major
unsolved health problems
 Applied Research
- Identifies priority problems and designs and
evaluates polices and programs using existing
knowledge and available resources

6. Health Research
Individual or
Sub-individual
Biomedical
Research
Clinical
Research
Population or
Public Health
Epidemiological
Research
Health System
Research

7. Biomedical Research
 Focus on how the body works
- Biological processes
- Structures and functions of the body
- Pathological mechanisms

8. Clinical Research
 Focus on the response of the body to various
diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic interventions
e.g. drug efficacy and side effects
 Natural history of the disease

9. Epidemiological Research
 Focuses on frequency, distribution and causes of
disease or ill health

10. Health System Research
 Focuses on the organized response to health and
disease
- The functioning of the health system (how ??)
- The cost and quality of health services provided
- Distribution of resources within the health system (who
??)

11. Characteristics:
 Interdependency and overlap often exists between
different types of research
 Health research can further be classified according
to the focus of the study
 Each plays a different role to achieve the overall goal
in Health Development

12. Qualitative Research
 Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth
understanding of human behavior and the reasons
that govern such behavior.

13. Quantitative Research
 Research carried out where data is collected in
quantities (numerical manner)
 It refers to the systematic investigation of
quantitative properties and their relationships.

14. Criteria of a Research
 Relevance
 Avoidance of Duplication
 Applicability
 Feasibility
 Urgency
 Political acceptability
 Ethical acceptability

15. Phases of a Research Study
 Developing a question
 Developing a method to answer the question
 Collecting data
 Analyzing, interpreting and reflecting on the data
 Sharing the information

16. Proposal, Protocol & Thesis
 A research proposal is a document written to
describe in details the proposed scientific
investigation.
 Proposal Vs. Protocol
 A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted for
a degree or professional qualification presenting the
author's research and findings.

17. Outline of a Research Proposal
 Research Title
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Methodology
 Work plan (project management)
 Budget
 References
 Annexes

18. Outline of a Research Thesis
 Research Title
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Methodology
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusion
 Recommendations
 References
 Annexes

19. Variable
 Is a quality, characteristic or constituent of a person,
object or phenomenon that is changeable and
measurable
 Types of variables
 Dependant variable
“The variable used to measure the problem under
study”
 Independent variable
“The variable used to describe or measure the factors
assumed to cause or influence the problem”

20. Data
 Observations made on individuals making the
study sample
 Types of data
 Quantitative data
“Numerical data or data based on numbers”
 Qualitative data
“Non-numerical data or data based on qualities”

21. Population
 An aggregate of individuals of people, things,
events or anything in common
 Types of populations
 Target population
“The whole population targeted by the study”
 Study population
“Part of the target population best reflecting the
phenomenon under study”

22. Terminology related to sample
 Sample
“Part of the study population from which the
information is obtained”
 Sampling
“The process of selecting study units from a defined
study population”
 Sampling frame
“List of all individuals in the study population from
which a sample is to be selected”
 Sample size
“The number of individuals (study units) in the sample”

23. Study
population /
Sampling
frame
Sample
Target
population

24. Research outcome
 Accuracy
“The exactness and freedom from error”
 Repeatability (reproducibility)
“The ability of getting the same results if using the
same methods for the same study sample”
 Generalizability
“The ability of assuming representativeness of the
results obtained from the study sample to the target
population”

25. Validity
 Internal validity
“Here, the results are accurate and repeatable for
the same study sample using the same
methodology”
 External validity
“It means the results are accurate and
generalizable to the target population”

26. Bias
 Systemic error that can distort the study and
tends to produce results or conclusions that differ
from the truth