TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH; PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND

OBJECTIVE FORMULATION
Josephine M. Carnate, MD.

RESEARCH PROCESS BASED ON RESEARCH DESIGN

DEFINITION Kind of Research General Aim of the Research Design
Research is the SYSTEMATIC SEARCH for pertinent Descriptive  Describe the characteristics of a
information on a specific topic. Research phenomenon/event
 Careful  Concerned with the patterns of
 Organized disease occurrence; magnitude
 Well-planned and distribution
Research is the SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION of a specific  Generate hypothesis
problem. Analytic Research  Test a hypothesis of relationship
 Adequacy and representativeness of subjects
 Impartiality
 Reproducibility (to double check)

PURPOSE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

Examples
Descriptive research
1. The proportion of pregnant women with Zika virus
infection
2. The proportion of infants born with microcephaly
KINDS OF RESEARCH 3. Knowledge and attitudes on Zika virus of mothers
with microcephalic infants
 Based on purpose
4. The prevalence of drug addiction among Filipino
 Based on broad objectives
High School students in the Philippines
 Based on research design
5. The prevalence of drug addiction among Filipino
High School students in private schools
BASED ON PURPOSE 6. The health-seeking behavior of families with drug-
Kind of Research Purpose addicted High School members
Basic /  Aims at better understanding of Analytic research
Fundamental the universe 1. The relationship between infant microcephaly and
Research  To know what’s normal and maternal Zika virus infection
current 2. Comparison of incidence of microcephaly among
 To learn more about the basic infants born to mothers with and without Zika virus
laws of nature infection
Applied / Directed  Aims to discover or develop 3. The difference in incidence of microcephaly among
Research application of basic knowledge infants born to mothers with and without Zika virus
towards solution of problems infection
 Puts into use the information 4. Comparison of drug addiction prevalence in public
gained from basic research and private High Schools
5. The relationship of drug addiction and type of High
BASED ON BROAD OBJECTIVES School
Kind of Subjects Broad objectives
Research
Basic Healthy  To develop better
Research humans, understanding of the
experimental nature of normal
animals events in the human
body
 What is normal
Epidemiologic Populations,  To identify the risk
Research healthy and factors and causes of
sick disease
 What transforms
normal to abnormal
Clinical Sick humans,  To understand the
Research experimental disease process
animals  What is abnormal
made sick

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STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS Examples of research topics
The prevalence of
extensively drug-resistant
tuberculosis (XDR TB) in the
Philippines, 2016
(not feasible)
The proportion of medical
students with ascariasis in
Region IV, SY 2016-2017
Comparison of socio-
economic profile of people
who voted for and against
RRD
(not significant)
The relationship of gender
SELECTION OF TOPICS FOR RESEARCH and the risk of cervical
Sources of a Research Topic/Problems
cancer among Filipinos,
 Intellectual Curiosity 2016
o for “non-professional” researchers The relationship of gender
o based on personal interest and the risk of prostatic
 Serendipity cancer among Filipinos,
o for “non-professional” researchers 2016
o by chance (not significant)
 Analysis of needs and practice The effectiveness of
o for “professional” researchers platelet-rich plasma
o gaps/lack in research are identified injections in the reduction
 Organized and systematic determination of research of joint pain in
needs and practice osteoarthritis
o panel of experts determine gaps
The prevalence of
extensively drug-resistant
tuberculosis (XDR TB) in
Region IV, 2016
The proportion of medical
students with ascariasis in
Year Level 2, Row 2,
COMMED Class, De La Salle
College of Medicine
(problem with critical mass;
too specific)
Comparison of socio-
economic profile of people
who use and do not use
herbal supplements for
dengue
The relationship of gender
and diabetic retinopathy
among Filipinos, 2016
The effectiveness of
tretinoin in the treatment
of acute promyelocytic
leukemia

STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Restate the research problem into question form

Examples
1. What is the prevalence of extensively drug-resistant
tuberculosis in Region IV, 2016?
2. What is the proportion of medical students with
ascariasis in Region IV, SY 2016-2017?
3. Is there a relationship between the socio-economic
profile of people who use and do not use herbal
supplements for dengue?
4. What is the relationship of gender and diabetic
retinopathy among Filipinos?
5. Is platelet-rich plasma injections effective in the
reduction of joint pain in osteoarthritis?
6. Is tretinoin effective in the treatment of acute
promyelocytic leukemia?

Researchable topics/problems
 Significance
o Will the research have practical application?
o Will it fill an important gap in knowledge?
o Will it improve the practice and delivery of
health services?
 Feasibility
o Can the research be carried out?
 Critical mass
o Is the problem broad/large enough, or is it
too small and specific to be of use?
 Interest
o Is there current interest in the problem?
F-easible F-easible
I-nteresting I-nteresting
N-ovel N-ovel
E-thical E-thical
R-elevant S-ignificant
T-imely

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FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS OBJECTIVE FORMULATION
Hypothesis Objectives
 suggested/tentative answer  the aim or goal of the research
 nature of the relationship between the different  what the research wants to achieve
variables being studied  the outcome the researcher hopes would be
 only for analytic research produced by the study

Identification of variables Importance of objectives

 Constant - phenomenon whose value remains the Provide the general direction in the conduct of the research
same in persons, through place and time project
 Variable - phenomenon whose value cannot be  Variables of the study
predicted with certainty  Choice of research design to be used
o Independent Variable (Exposure/Predictor):  Data to be collected
presumed to cause, to bring about, to  How the results will be analyzed
influence or stimulate the outcome; may be
manipulated Types of objectives
o Dependent Variable (Outcome/Disease):  General Objective
response, output o Over-all purpose of the research
o Confounding Variable Control): confuses o Generic statement describing in broad
the relationship between the dependent terms what is to be accomplished
and independent variables  Specific Objectives
 may also produce changes in the o Aims of the research stated in greater detail
dependent variable and in measurable terms
 associated with the independent
variable Formulation of objectives
 Research question -> declarative form + “to
Examples determine” / “to compare” / “to identify” / “to
1. What is the average duration of hospital stay of describe” etc
dengue patients admitted in public and private
hospitals -> NONE. Descriptive research.
2. Is there a relationship between gender and academic
performance?
a. IV: gender
b. DV: academic performance
c. Hypotheses
i. There is a relationship between
gender and academic performance
(nondirectional hypothesis)
ii. Women have better academic
performance than men (directional
hypothesis)
3. What is the relationship between length of duty Qualities of a good objective
hours and incidence of medication errors? S-pecific
a. IV: length of duty hours M-easurable
b. DV: incidence of medication errors A-ttainable
c. Hypotheses R-ealistic
i. Length of duty hours is related to T-ime-bound
incidence of medication errors
(nondirectional) END OF TRANSCRIPTION
ii. The higher the duty hours, the
higher the incidence of medication
errors (directional)
4. What is the proportion of TB patients who develop
extensively drug-resistant TB? -> NONE. Descriptive Transcription Team 2019
5. Is the risk of traumatic soft tissue injuries higher Transcribed by: Sharmaine Tablada
among Pokemon Go players than non-players? Edited by:
a. IV: playing Pokemon Go References: Batch 2016 trans
b. DV: risk of traumatic soft tissue injuries Lecture ppt
c. Hypotheses Lecture notes
i. There is a relationship between Remarks: This is mostly the
playing Pokemon Go and the risk trans from Batch
of traumatic soft tissue injuries 2016. I just added my
notes and the
(nondirectional)
examples given
ii. The risk of traumatic soft tissue
through the exercises
injuries in higher in Pokemon Go
players than non-players
(directional)

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