MEDI 6302 Session 1 Research Questions Fremantle Broome

MEDI 6302 Session 1 Research Questions Fremantle Broome Sydney 1

What is Scientific Research? o ‘The systematic investigation of a question of interest using the scientific method. ’ o Etymology (Fr): recherché ‘to seek out with care’ o Aims of research: -to answer questions of interest or importance -discovery, adding to the ‘tree of knowledge’ -making a difference (e. g. medical discovery) © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 2

Scientific Method Idea Aims The scientific method is about ‘distilling’ an idea Research Question Hypothesis Test Accept or reject hypothesis If the hypothesis is rejected, re-design & re-test the experiment? © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 3

Research Idea © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 4

Research Idea o All great research starts with a great idea. o Ideas: from observations, real-life experience, prior research. o Ideas: from brain-storming, collaborations, literature review. o Idea has to be ‘do-able’ & preferably ‘new’ o You don’t want to ‘reinvent the wheel’ (new science). (confirmation studies are fine). o Idea has to really interest you (or you might ‘give up’ on your project). o Will need time to ‘mull-over’, discuss & develop your idea. o Idea → is then developed (‘distilled’) into your research question(s). © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 5

Learning task 1 Your Research Idea(s) o List the main research idea(s) you want to explore in your study. o Develop these ideas into a statement (a few paragraphs) you can include in your introduction or abstract. o How can you find out if your idea is a ‘new idea’? o Hints: http: //scholar. google. com. au/ http: //www. anzctr. org. au/ https: //clinicaltrials. gov/ © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 6

Aims o Aims statement ‘makes the case’ for your research. o Important for grant applications (it’s your ‘sales pitch’). o Motivation, justification, support, objectives. o Presents your research question(s). o Sets stage for presenting the hypothesis. o Written at end of the introduction. o One or two paragraphs. o Clear & concise (so a layman can understand it). © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 7

Learning task 2 Stating your Aims o Write a statement outlining the aims of

© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 9

Research Question(s) © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 10

Research Question(s) o A good research question focuses and clarifies your ideas. o It re-states the aims of your study. o Plausible, testable & preferably ‘novel’ (new science). o Meaningful (practical benefits, groundwork for more research? ). o A paragraph-or-two as part of the AIMS statement. o Clear & concise (so a layman understand it). o Research question → is developed into your hypothesis statement. © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 11

Research Question(s) Your research question(s) should state the… …of your study. © Eric J.

Designing your Research Question The PICOT approach o POPULATION you are studying? (who) o INTERVENTIONS you are testing? (what, how) o COMPARISONS or CONTROLS? o OUTCOMES you are measuring? (what, why) o TIMELINE of your study? (when) ‘Research Fundamentals’, A/Prof Skull, PMH 2017. Thabane L, Thomas T, Ye C, Paul J. Posing the research question: not so simple. Can J Anaesth. 2009; 56(1): 71– 79. doi: 10. 1007/s 12630 -0089007 -4. https: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/19247780 © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 13

Learning task 3 Research Question o Using the PICOT approach, write the research question(s)

© Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 15

Hypothesis H 1 o Etymology (Gk): Hypo (supports) — thesis (idea or statement) o Synonyms: postulation, prediction, expectation, ‘best-guess. ’ o ‘H 1 is a statement which postulates the experimental outcome. ’ o Must be ‘testable’ (by an experiment, usually a controlled trial). o Must be ‘verifiable’ or ‘refutable’ (using a statistical test). o H 1 is ultimately either ‘accepted’ or ‘rejected. ’ © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 16

Hypothesis Statement o Remember: A H 1 is NOT a question, but a testable statement. o H 1 must outline the study variables. -interventions, controls & outcomes o Use the PICOT approach to develop your H 1 statement. o H 1 is usually stated at beginning of methods section. o That’s because the H 1 determines the experimental method. o Statement must be specific, clear & concise (one paragraph). o H 1 should be reflected in abstract & title of the paper. © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 17

Learning task 4 Types of Hypotheses Define the following terms: o Experimental hypothesis. o Working hypothesis. o Alternative hypothesis. (H 1) o Null hypothesis. (Ho) © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 18

Learning task 5 Hypothesis Statements Using the PICOT approach, write the following hypothesis statements for your study: o Alternative hypothesis. (H 1) o Null hypothesis. (Ho) ‘Encompass’ your hypothesis in the title of your paper. © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 19

Learning task 6 Glossary of terms & key learning outcomes Define the following terms: o Research. o Scientific Method. o Research Idea. o Research Aims. o Theory. o Thesis. © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 20

Learning task 6 Glossary of terms & key learning outcomes o What are the key features of a research question? o What are the key features of a hypothesis? o Compare and contrast these two terms. o What is the place of hypothesis testing in a systematic review or meta-analysis? END © Eric J. Visser 2017 UNDA. All rights reserved 21