The scope and focus of the

Research
MD2 Lecture
 What is research?
• Research is a careful and exhaustive
investigation of a phenomenon with an
objective of advancing knowledge
• “It is a systematic and objective attempt to
study a problem for the purpose of deriving
general principles”
• It is a systematic investigation to find solutions
to a problem.
• The investigation is in most cases guided by
the previously collected information.
• The men’s knowledge grows by studying what
is already known and revising past knowledge
in the light of new findings.
 Types of research
• Empirical research, that involves observation of facts
or interaction with people
• Library research, it is done in library situation
• Social research, it is a research that focuses on the
study of human groups or the processes of social
interaction.
• Scientific research, it is a building of knowledge
through empirically verifiable facts. The term
verifiable means “which can be checked by others for
accuracy.
 Emphasis on empirical research
• It is a systematic and controlled research, i.e., the
investigation is so ordered that investigators can have
confidence in research outcomes.
• The investigation is empirical, i.e., subjective belief is
checked against objective reality.
• It is a critical research
• Therefore the scientific method of research is the
“building of a body of scientific knowledge through
observation, experimentation, generalization and
verification.
 Characteristics of a scientific research
• Verifiable evidence, i.e., factual observations
that other observers can see and check.
• Accuracy., i.e., Describing what really exists.
-It means truth or correctness of a statement or
describing things exactly as they are and avoiding
jumping to unwarranted conclusions, either by
exaggeration or fantasing.
• Precision, i.e. Making it as exact as necessary or
giving number or measurement.
• Systematization, i.e., Attempting to find all the
relevant data, or collecting data in a systematic and
organized way so that the conclusions drawn are
reliable.
• Objectivity, i.e., being free from all biases and vested
interests.
-The observation is unaffected by the observer’s
values, beliefs and preferences to the extent possible
he has seen and accept facts as they are, not as he
might wish them to be.
• Recording, i.e., noting down complete details
as quickly as possible. Researcher will not
depend on the recalled facts but will analyze
the problem, on the basis of the recorded
data.
• Conclusions based on recalled unrecorded
data are not trustworthy.
 Steps in scientific research
• Definition of a problem
• The problem is stated in terms of a particular
theoretical framework and related to relevant
findings of previous problem.
• Hypothesis related to the problem, using the
previously accepted theoretical principles.
• Preparation of research design.
• Data collection.
• Data coding and cleansing
• Data analysis to determine if the hypothesis is
verified or rejected
• The conclusions of the study are related to the
original body of theory, which is modified in
accordance with the new findings.
 Scope of Research
• It depends on the type of research, i.e.,
whether it is exploratory research or
explanatory or descriptive research.
• In other words, the research depends upon
the general goals, the academic goals, the
theoretical goals, and the pragmatic goals of
research.
The important aims of a scientific research.

• To understand different health problems

• To understand effects of diseases on the
individuals and community.
• To evaluate the health problems, their effects
on the community and to find out possible
solutions.
How does a researcher start with an idea about
what he wants to research on?
• Taking a clue from existing abstract theory.
• Through observations in the concrete world
• Trough curiosity
• Through investigations.
Formulation of research questions
The selection of the research problem is to be
linked with the:
1. The purpose of the study
2. How much is already known
3. Is additional information necessary?
4. Can the required data be collected
5. Will the respondents give correct
information?
• Research questions constitute the most
important element of any research
• They are different from the research
objectives
• They describe the ideas contained in the
research objectives, however research
questions emerge after the research
objectives
• They point out the data that are required to be collected
in a study.
• Research questions is a starting point of research
• The questions have to related to three aspects, of why,
what, and how
• What questions seek descriptions(descriptive study)
• Why questions seek explanations and
understanding(explanatory study)
• How questions seek interventions to bring about
change.(exploratory study)
• The major questions are intended to understand,
describe, explore, explain, evaluate and assess the
impact of some aspects of the phenomenon under
study.
• And also point out the change and to predict the
clear direction of the study.
• Most researchers select topics on the basis of on-
going research in their particular field of study, e.g. a
criminologist take more interest in the topics like
patterns of crime
 Sources of selecting research topics
The ideas stem from varied sources; such as:
1. Researches conducted by others
2. Exposure to professional seminars and conferences
also sometimes throws some ideas of research.
3. Review of literatures and ideas from books and
articles.
4. Questions that either others have posed or that
arise in the course of one’s reading could become
research questions.
5. Experience; one’s own life experiences in
professional work or the general life
experiences.
6. Prevalent theories:(Popular theories but not
scientific ones.
7. Some observed phenomenon, e.g., adult child
interaction, health providers interaction with
the community.
• The research questions depends upon the
purpose of the understanding the research,
the agency sponsoring research, and the time
and money available for the research.
 Techniques of developing research
questions
• Recording all questions that occur in mind
after reading literatures or after discussions
with others or after thinking on various
aspects of study.
• Review the questions whether each question
is necessary and delete those that are outside
the scope of the study.
• Remove overlapping questions.
• Classify questions on the basis of their nature,
i.e., separate what, why and how questions
• Examine the scope of the questions, depending
on the time and money available for the study,
the scope cannot be too ambitious.
• Highlight areas that could be manageable within
the time and resources.
• Separate major or key questions from subsidiary
questions.
Purpose of research questions.
– The main purpose of research questions is to define the
scope of the research, i.e., to determine what is to be what
is to studied and the extent to which it will be studied.
– Sometimes the researcher is distracted for his original
objectives of the research.
– This may be due to influences like encouraging new ideas,
discussion with colleagues, reading more literatures, and
ideas that he gets during the course of research.
– However, he doesn’t neglect his original research.
– Sometimes, he may change some research questions and
ask some new questions from the respondents.
 Deciding on the focus and scope of the
Research
The following are issues particularly important
to consider.
1.Usefulness of the information:
• Will the information to be collected on the
identified problem help improve health and
health care?
• How study findings related to the highlighted
factors would be studied?
• How would the findings be used?
2. Feasibility:
• Is it feasible to analyze all factors related to the
problem in the 4-6 months available for research?
3.Duplication:
• Is some of the information related factors readily
available?
• What aspects of the problem need further research?