Designing research

How to design an effective research project.

1. Choosing the topic.2. Defining the research question3. Writing a research outline

Choosing the Topic

Where do topics come from?

• A problem that needs to be addressed?• Inspired by previous research?• A gap in the literature?• Does current practice work?• Could we do something better instead?

Is it an import topic?

• What is the size and extent of the problem? • Will the question provide an answer?• Who is it important to?• Will the results of the research be widely

applicable?

Is the research timely?

• It could take several years for results to emerge.

• Will the research still be relevant?

• Will the world or technology have moved on?

Is the research original?

• Has the question already been answered?– Literature search or systematic review.

• Remember … it is often useful to replicate previous research in a new setting

Is the research achievable?

• Can you conduct a study to address the question?

• Do you have access to the data?• Sample size – how many participants?• Can you recruit participants? Evidence?• Funding needed?• How long will it take?• Do you have the skills?

Recruitment

• How many eligible people are there?• Will they agree to take part• How many will consent?• How good is your access to those people?• Will you retain patients?

Defining the Research Question

Acknowledgements to Prof Mike Clarke, CTSU, University of Oxford

Research Question

• Is a vegetarian diet good?

Is a vegetarian diet good?

• What is a vegetarian diet?

Is a vegetarian diet good?

• What do we mean by good?

Is a vegetarian diet good?

• Good for whom?

Is a vegetarian diet good??

• Compared to what?

Is a vegetarian diet good??

• Over what time frame?

Is a vegetarian diet good?

• What is a vegetarian diet?• What do we mean by good?• Good for whom?• Compared to what?• Over what time frame?

PICO-T• Population & Participants• Intervention• Comparator• Outcomes• Timeframe

Research Questions 1• EDUCATION Do primary children in the UK (P)

in small class sizes (I) achieve better test results (O) at age 11 than those in larger classes (C)

• HEALTH Does the speech (O) of people with stroke (P) improve after speech and language therapy (I), compared to people who get lay support (C)

Research Question 2• POLITICS Does involvement in local

communities (I) by young people (15-25) (P) increase their interest in politics (O)?

• SOCIOLOGY Are donors (P) more likely to give to charity (O) if they are offered public recognition (I) than if they are not (C)?

Other approaches• PICOT is very useful when reading or designing studies that

involve an INTERVENTION. But not always the case.• Other common approaches in quantitative social science

include:– Descriptive research (e.g. What parties did people in the UK vote

for last election).– Comparison of outcomes between groups (e.g. Does household

income vary by ethnic group?)– Is one thing affected by another (e.g. Does parental education

and/or household income affect children’s exam results?)• Population and Outcome Measures – need to be carefully

chosen.

Population

• Unit – individuals, classes, streets?• Choose sample carefully – external validity• Recruitment and consent • Ethics• Power calculation is essential

Outcome measurement

• Choose an outcome that is:– Sensitive– Reliable– Valid

• Observed behaviour “Unobtrusive measures”• Routine measures – scores, tests, etc• Questionnaires

Writing a research outline

Write an outline for your research

• Background• Research question • Research Design/Methods • Expected benefits• 100 words