Research Methodology by

Abramson
Chapter 3,4,5

Expectations from today's

session
Understanding stages of investigations.
Steps to consider when Formulating the
objectives.
Concepts behind the objectives of descriptive,
analytical and evaluating studies.

Stages of investigations.

1. Preliminary Steps
Clarifying the purpose .
Reviewing the literature.
Ethical Considerations.
Formulating the topic.
2.Planing
3.Preparing for data collection
4. Collecting the data.
5.Statistical analysis
6.Interpretations of the results.
7.Writing reports

Stages of investigations.
Planning Phase.
1.Formulation of study objectives.
2.Planning of methods
a. The study population
Selection and definition
Sampling
Size
b. Variables
Selection and definition
Scales of measurement
c. Methods of collection data
d. Methods of recording and processing

Formulating the

objectives.

What to study?
Why?
Topic
Purpose
Knowledge learnt and shared
Questions that it answers

Good Research Question must be

FINER
F-FEASIBILITY
I- INTERESTING
N-NOVEL
E-ETHICAL
R-RELEVENT

A Well-built question should

PICOthat identify the

include four parts,reffered to

P-Patient problem or
I -Intervention
C-Control or Comparision
O- Outcome

as

Population

Objectives Should Be SMART..

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Relevant
T - Time bound

Formulating the objectives.

Objective of descriptive surveys

Objectives of analytical studies
Objectives of evaluative studies

Objective of descriptive surveys

Targeting a set of population with diagnostics purpose ( usually
easy to formulate)
Investigator can choose the characteristics that one wants to
measure.
Can include Disease , Deaths and disabilities, discomforts
Positive aspects may also be covered like Physical fitness,
Mental ability, Quality of life etc.
Some neutral aspects may also be covered which include
somatic or psychological characteristics e.g. body weight,
biological markers, left handedness etc.

Objective of descriptive

surveys Contd..

Thumb rule.
Characteristic(C) a proxy measure for Disease(D).
C just a screening Test
E.g. High casual BP measurement (C) in a
community can be an indicator for a person for
further investigation of (D).
C proceeds D in time it can be used as risk marker.

Objective of descriptive surveys Cont..

If C is amenable to change and if a change in
C will reduce the risk of D , then there may be
a case for intervention at C, in such instances
C is termed as modifiable risk factor.

General objectives of a descriptive

study is to determine the prevalence
of or to identify people who have
specified factors( modifiable and non
Modifiable risk factors).

Objectives of analytical studies

Analytic studies seek information about two variables.

Aim of Analytical Studies are:

Explain the health status of a specific

group of population

Seek new knowledge about factors affecting health an d

disease or
Test the value of tools used in health care. E.g screening or
diagnostics
tests or risk markers etc.

Analytical studies have a descriptive as well as analytical

element.

The objective of Evaluative studies

Evaluation of a treatment/studies should be based on facts
and explicit criteria must be used and should not be based
on subjective elements.
An evaluative study sets out to collect these facts and the
facts to be collected should be specified in the study
objectives.
Evaluative studies may be descriptive, analytic or both and
their objective should be formulated accordingly.

The basic question of

Evaluative studies

1.Requisiteness
To what extent is care needed?
2. Quality
How satisfactory is the outcome
Attainment of desirable effects? (Effectiveness)?
Absence of undesirable effects

(Harmlessness)?

How satisfactory is the process?

Performance of the activities by providers of care?
Compliance and utilization of services by recipients of care?
How satisfactory are the facilities and settings (structure)?

The basic question of evaluative

studies Contd..
3.Economic Efficiency
How efficiently are resources used?
Types:
Cost Benefit Analysis
Cost Effectiveness Analysis.
Cost Utility Analysis.
4.Satisfasction
How satisfied are the people concerned?
5.Differential value

Thanks

Presented by
Dr. Umar Nazir
PG 1st Year