WMI 606: Research Methods Course
Research questions and Hypothesis testingsession 3
Thumbi Mwangi
1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University2KEMRI - Center for Global Health Research
3Wangari Maathai Institute, University of Nairobi
February 11th, 2015
WMI 606: Research Methods Course
..Your Research Proposal......
Before the all exciting field work and datacollection, you will be required to:
Prepare a research proposal, andDefend it
and note less is more
state only that which you are able to achievedetermine if it fits within your resources?(time available/research monies available...)if you achieve more; that will be great
..Your Research Proposal......
Before the all exciting field work and datacollection, you will be required to:
Prepare a research proposal, andDefend it
and note less is more
state only that which you are able to achievedetermine if it fits within your resources?(time available/research monies available...)if you achieve more; that will be great
..for your Research Proposal......
you are research work/thesis is judged against:
hypothesis you set to testobjectives in your proposalhow successful you have been in meeting theset objectives
Remember to maintain rigorous academicenquiry
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 IntroductionBackground - What the proposed study will be about, and whyit is important and timely
Problem statement - identify gaps in knowledge concerning thesubject or problems to be addressed in the study
Objectives - clearly state how the problem will be addressed.Research questions or hypothesis should be included, andshould tally with objectives
2 Literature review
information on the evolution and present state of theory,practice and research on the topic
should demonstrate a intellectual review of most recent andrelevant publications, which should be properly cited in thereferences section of the proposal
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 IntroductionBackground - What the proposed study will be about, and whyit is important and timely
Problem statement - identify gaps in knowledge concerning thesubject or problems to be addressed in the study
Objectives - clearly state how the problem will be addressed.Research questions or hypothesis should be included, andshould tally with objectives
2 Literature review
information on the evolution and present state of theory,practice and research on the topic
should demonstrate a intellectual review of most recent andrelevant publications, which should be properly cited in thereferences section of the proposal
..components of your Research Proposal......
3. Materials and Methods
Provide details on how each of the study objectives will be met
Include study area, sample size determination, data collectionmethods, data analysis plan etc
Keep it detailed enough such that the study can bereplicable/reproducible
Provide adequate references for any standard methods youpropose to use
..components of your Research Proposal......
4. Work plan
Indicate the planned activities and duration each will take in alogical sequence
5. Budget
Showing detailed costs for all items and relevant researchactivities proposed
6. References -
list of all references cited in the proposal
7. Appendices -
e.g questionnaires/data collection tools used in the study
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 The Research problem
Clear statement of the “smaller” componentof the general problem indicated in yourintroduction that you would like to address
Be clear on the reasons why your research isimportant:
to academic enquiry
to the target population
to the wider society in general
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 The Research problem
Clear statement of the “smaller” componentof the general problem indicated in yourintroduction that you would like to address
Be clear on the reasons why your research isimportant:
to academic enquiry
to the target population
to the wider society in general
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 The General Objective
Broad overview of the main intention of thestudy
describes expected implications orcontributions from the study
what do you expect to achieve
Example,“To determine the relationship betweenenvironmental degradation and communityhealth”
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 The General Objective
Broad overview of the main intention of thestudy
describes expected implications orcontributions from the study
what do you expect to achieve
Example,“To determine the relationship betweenenvironmental degradation and communityhealth”
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 The General Objective
Broad overview of the main intention of thestudy
describes expected implications orcontributions from the study
what do you expect to achieve
Example,“To determine the relationship betweenenvironmental degradation and communityhealth”
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 Specific Objectives
General objectives broken down into smallerlogically connected objectives
Systematically address various sub-intentionsof the study - addressing the questions:
what you will dowherefor what purpose
..components of your Research Proposal......
1 Specific Objectives
General objectives broken down into smallerlogically connected objectives
Systematically address various sub-intentionsof the study - addressing the questions:
what you will dowherefor what purpose
..good specific objectives should be......
1 S - specific
2 M - measurable
3 A - achievable
4 R - realistic
5 T - time bound
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”
2 your specific objectives?
a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation
a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover
a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya
a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”
2 your specific objectives?
a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation
a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover
a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya
a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”
2 your specific objectives?
a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation
a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover
a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya
a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”
2 your specific objectives?
a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation
a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover
a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya
a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”
2 your specific objectives?
a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation
a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover
a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya
a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the link between environmentaldegradation and community health”
Example,what would be your specific objectives?
a) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 and 2014
b) to determine the rate of diarrhea disease in district hospitalsin Tetu and Othaya between 1994 and 2014
c) to determine associations between community diarrheadisease rates and the rate of forest cover loss
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the link between environmentaldegradation and community health”
Example,what would be your specific objectives?
a) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 and 2014
b) to determine the rate of diarrhea disease in district hospitalsin Tetu and Othaya between 1994 and 2014
c) to determine associations between community diarrheadisease rates and the rate of forest cover loss
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the link between environmentaldegradation and community health”
Example,what would be your specific objectives?
a) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 and 2014
b) to determine the rate of diarrhea disease in district hospitalsin Tetu and Othaya between 1994 and 2014
c) to determine associations between community diarrheadisease rates and the rate of forest cover loss
..specific objectives......
1 General Objectives
“to determine the link between environmentaldegradation and community health”
Example,what would be your specific objectives?
a) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 and 2014
b) to determine the rate of diarrhea disease in district hospitalsin Tetu and Othaya between 1994 and 2014
c) to determine associations between community diarrheadisease rates and the rate of forest cover loss
Introduction toHypothesis testing
Hypothesis: an “educated guess” basedon prior knowledge or observation,explaining a phenomenon
Statement or prediction of therelationship between two or more factors
Provisional explanation of something -needs to be proved!
Hypothesis testing: method for testing aclaim/hypothesis about a parameter in apopulation, using data measured in thesample
the purpose is to choose between twocompeting hypothesis about the value ofa population parameter
The hypothesis to be tested is given thesymbol H0, and commonly referred to asthe Null Hypothesis
it is assumed to be true, unless there isstrong enough evidence against it
.......the jury analogy........
person is assumed innocent until proven guiltyjury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guiltydecision NOT on whether guilty or innocentAll evidence in a trial is to show the defendant is guiltyThe evidence either shows guilt (decision: guilty) or does not(decision: not guilty).
.....reading on hypothesis testing....
http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/40007 Chapter8.pdf