Introduction to Research

Methodology

1
 Overall objectives
 Developing research proposal

 Critical review of the literature in specific area

 Data collection and data analysis

 Managing research projects

 Handling ethical issues

2
 1. What is research?
• It is systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of data to generate new knowledge
and answer a certain question or solve a problem.

• Research is a scientific inquiry aimed at learning

new facts, testing ideas, etc

3
 2. PURPOSE OF HEALTH RESEARCH
• The ultimate goal of any national health development
process is to enable its people to reach a level of health
that enables them to make meaningful participation in
the social and economic life of the community

• For this, countries should decide on the best

approaches to adopt

• However, this requires detailed and accurate

information on the existing health systems
4
 Cont’d….

Unfortunately, such information are often

lacking, inadequate or unreliable
Decisions are based on assumptions and unjustified
conclusions and often result in inappropriate policy
choices

5
 Cont’d…
 Thus, aims of health/Medicine research is to provide all
aspects of information necessary for planning and the
effective implementation of a health system

 Without this knowledge, effective action is impossible

because it has no logical or empirical basis
 Progress in health (medicine) can only be achieved if good
quality information are generated through research to
guide interventions and to inform the general public.

6
 3. FUNDAMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
ASSUMPTIONS
1. Human disease does not occur at random.

2. Human disease has causal and preventive

factors that can be identified through
systematic investigation.

7
 Health research
• Is the application of principles of research on health
• It is the process of systematically obtaining knowledge
and technology which can be used for improvement of
health of individual/ groups
 Provides basic information on state of health and diseases of the
population
• It aims to develop tools to prevent and cure illness and
attempts to devise better approaches to health care

8
 Basic Vs Applied Research
Basic research (also called fundamental or pure research)

• Its primary objective is the advancement of knowledge and

the theoretical understanding

• Basic research provides the foundation for further research.

• It is necessary to generate new knowledge and technologies

to deal with major unresolved health problems

9
 Basic Vs Applied ….
Applied Research:
 Is a research that seeks to solve practical problems
 Applied research is necessary:
To identify priority problems

To design and evaluate policies and programs that will

deliver the greatest health benefits

Making optimal use of available resources

10
 Types of research

Quantitative and Qualitative

• Quantitative –observation and measurements
that can be made by objective and can be
repeated by other researchers
 concerned with question about How much?
How many? How often? To what extent? etc
11
 Types of research cont..

• Qualitative –which increase our

understanding of why things are the way they
are in social world and why people act the
way they do
developing explanation of social phenomena

concerned with the question why? How? In what Way?

12
 Health research cont…
Also HR have 3 overlapping groups
1. Clinical research:-Ranges from studies of
prevention and diagnosis through new
methods of treatment to care and
rehabilitation

Example: studying the effectiveness of coartem

in treating malaria

13
 Health research cont…
2. Biomedical research: It is basic part of health
research which demands more resources,
facilities ,and skilled investigation and relating
to both biology and medicine

Example: Experiment in cell culture and

structure of drug resistant M.TB to see
variations from the naïve tubercle

14
 Health research cont…
3. Health system research(HSR)
Health system is :
• A set of cultural beliefs about health and
illness that form basis for health seeking
behavior
• Institutional arrangement within which that
behavior occur and
• Socioeconomic(political) context for those
belief and institutions
15
 Types of R….
• HSR- is health research concerned with improving
the health of the community by enhancing the
efficiency and effectiveness of health system
• HSR
Example: Study of the underlying reasons for
emergency hospital admission of patients with
diabetes.

16
 HSR cont…
HSR are done for decision making
Therefore, should
• Focus on priority problems
• Be action oriented(aimed at developing solutions)
• Have integrated multi disciplinary approach
• Be participatory(Decision makers and community)
• Be timely
• Use simple, short term research designs
• Use formats most useful for administrators, decision makers
and community to evaluate the research undertaken
• Cost-effective
17
 Characteristics of research
 It demands a clear statement of the problem
 It requires a plan (it is not aimless, it is “looking”
for something in the hope that you will come
across a solution)
 It builds on existing data, using both positive and
negative findings
 New data should be collected as required and be
organized in such a way that they answer the
research question(s)
18
 In summary-Research is
• A systematic investigation, involving the collection
of information (data), to solve a problem or
contribute to knowledge about a theory or
practice

• Relies on methods and principles that will

produce credible and verifiable results

• Research helps provide scientific understanding

and solves practical problems 19
 In summary, Research is not
• Gathering information from resources such as
books or magazines
B/c has no contribution to new knowledge
• Research isn’t the transportation of facts:
– Merely transporting facts from one resource to
another doesn’t constitute research.

20
 Good Research Is
• Is simple

• Has good rationale

• Has clear objectives

• Uses appropriate methodology

21