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Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Framing The Right Research Question
Dr Sandeep ButtanMS, MSc CEH (ICEH, London) Program Development Advisor (Health, Asia)Sightsavers
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Objectives
• Understand the importance of a well-developed research
question.
• Be aware of formal method(s) for generating a research
question.
• Develop a concise research question.
• Be able to evaluate the quality of a research question.
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
From Curiosity to Research…
Curiosity is the source of our questions – we ask because we want to know;
Research is the means by which we find an answer.
Research is “diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts,
theories, applications, etc.”
Curiosity is “the desire to learn or know about
anything; inquisitiveness”
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
What is the Research Question?
A clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which the research
process is centred.
It defines: The focus of the research, The scope of the research
Importance of the Question
The research question is the starting point of the study. Everything
flows from the research question.
It will determine the population to be studied, the setting for the study,
the data to be collected, and the time period for the study.
A clear and concisely stated research question is the most important
requirement for a successful study.
Importance of the Question
The research question helps you plan the research in an appropriate
manner conserving resources that include your time, effort and costs
A vague question or a series of unrelated questions will clutter the
research process and make it difficult to obtain clear answers
More clutter leads to more noise and less focus
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
What is your Question?
?Question
Study Design
Significance levels
Sample Size
Analysis Plan
Conclusions
Variables
Feasibility
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
What is your Question?
?Question
Study Design
Significance levels
Sample Size
Analysis Plan
Conclusions
Variables
Feasibility
‘The answer can only be as good as the question
asked….’
…It all begins with an “IDEA”
The Research Cycle/ Process..
• RAW IDEAS / thoughts
• Literature review
• Focused thinking and prioritization
• Refining an idea into a SMART “RESEARCH QUESTION”
• Develop and test “METHODOLOGY”
• Implement the methodology, collect and analyze “DATA”
• Convert Data into “CONCLUSIONS” specific to the research question.
FROM IDEAS TO ‘RESEARCH QUESTION’
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Finding the Questions
A question of interest may come in to your mind in many ways
A critical reading of the scientific literature
Clinical experience
Personal experience
Interactions with peers and experts
Observations
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Research Methodology Workshop 2015
……Step by Step approach
Pick a TOPIC
Narrow the topic
List some potential Questions
Pick a Question
Refine the QUESTION
From ideas to ‘Research Question’
Pick a TOPIC
Your field of interest
‘Broad’ enough subject
‘Research need’ i.e. has unanswered questions
Acceptable
Fundable
Realistic (time, resources, base knowledge)
Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Direction of research
Study Question options: Types
Question Type
What proportion of the population is newly diagnosed with this problem each year?
Incidence
What proportion of the population is currently living with this problem?
Prevalence
Is this an effective treatment for this problem? Therapy
How good is this test at detecting this problem? Diagnostic test accuracy
How effective is this test at improving patient health outcomes?
Diagnostic testeffectiveness/screening
What is the likely outcome of this problem? Prognosis
Will there be any negative effects (of an intervention)? Harm
What causes this problem? Causation
Will this prevent development of the problem? Prevention
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Narrowing and Clarifying
Narrowing, clarifying, and even redefining your
questions is essential to the research process.
Forming the right ‘questions’ should be seen as
an iterative process that is informed by reading
and doing at all stages.
© Sightsavers Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Narrowing and Clarifying
P: People or Population
I: Intervention or Exposure
C: Control or comparison
O: outcome
Identify the study question- PICO
Study Question
People or Population- Who are the relevant patients?
– Define condition or disease, including explicit diagnostic criteria
– Population and setting of interest (age, race, sex, community,
hospital, outpatient)
Children with visual acuity impairment
Children aged 3–5 years with mild to moderate unilateral visual acuity impairment
Study Question
Intervention or Exposure - What is the intervention/risk factor/exposure
of interest?
– Timing of exposure(s)
– Route of administration
– Dose intensity
– Duration of exposure or therapy
Glasses plus full time patching for 4.5 years
Moxifloxacin 0.04 % topical four times a day for one week
History of heavy smoking for more than 5 years
Study Question
Control or Comparison- What is the comparison intervention/risk
factor/exposure of interest?
– Placebo
– No treatment
– No exposure
– Standard care
Study Question
Outcome: What is the outcome/condition of interest?
– Criteria for defining outcomes
– Clinically important (relevant*)
– Important to patients
Change in best corrected Visual acuity (how many lines?)
Decrease in mid day IOP (mm Hg ?)
Research Questions-SMART
S- Sharp, Specific , Simple to understand and Seeking new knowledge
M- Measurable- Able to assess pertinent variables and outcomes
A- Achievable within a realistic (realistic from the point of several
stakeholders) timeframe
R- Relevant – actual value additions to existing knowledge or adding
new knowledge
T- Time bound-Preferably obtain relevant answers within the lifetime of
the investigators
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Research Methodology Workshop 2015
Worksheet
1. What topic, problem, or issue are you interested in?
2. What specific part of the topic are you interested in?
3. List a few possible questions about your specific topic area.
Do some background research to find out more about it.
Break down topic and group ideas in clusters Pick one cluster or part of one.
Ask: What? Who? When? Where? Why? How?
4. Choose one to be your main research question.
5. Make your question as clear and specific as possible.
6. State your working HYPOTHESIS
Why or How questions are best. Specify (P : People or Population, I: Intervention or Exposure, C: Control or comparison, O: outcome). Clarify any vague words.
It should summarize the answer to your main research question, and will likely change after you do some research.
Characteristics of a good research question
FINER– Feasible
• Adequate numbers of subjects?• Adequate technical expertise?• Affordable in time and money?• Is it possible to measure or manipulate the variables?
– Interesting• To the investigator?
– Novel• To the field?
– Ethical• Potential harm to subjects?• Potential breech of subject confidentiality?
– Relevant• To scientific knowledge/theory?• To organizational, health or social management and policy?• To individual welfare?
Caveat
Not all questions can be pursued to their logical conclusions even if the
questions are focused and relevant
Focused questions need not necessarily lead to clear answers- the
answers may very well end up muddying the waters!
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