Research Fundamentals: Concepts and Methodology

Generating Research Ideas

• Observation or personal experience
• Reformulation of ideas or beliefs based on new information or knowledge
• Knowledge derived from previous research
• Failure in applying known techniques for problem-solving
• Unexpected findings
• Follow-up to previous studies
• Adaptation or update of existing concepts
• Relating problems across different disciplines
• Need to define new objects of study

Critical Analysis in Research

When conducting critical analysis, consider the following:

• Assessing the type of design used in the study (e.g., qualitative, case-control, cohort, cross-sectional)
• Characteristics of included participants (e.g., race, geography, general medical history, comorbidities)
• Adherence to protocols
• Monitoring procedures
• Bias (e.g., studies not considered in the final analysis, or disadvantages being undervalued in research)

Key Components of a Research Study

Guidelines for assessing a research study's introduction and overall structure typically include:

1. Research Problem
2. Literature Review
3. Theoretical Framework
4. Objectives and Hypotheses
5. Research Design
6. Population and Sample
7. Ethical Considerations
8. Data Collection
9. Data Presentation
10. Data Analysis
11. Discussion and Conclusion
12. Bibliography

Understanding Research Hypotheses

A hypothesis is a temporary answer or assertion to a research question. Key characteristics include:

• Assertions that can be proven or falsified by research results.
• Generally establish relations of causality between variables (especially in correlational studies).
• Qualitative studies may provide descriptive hypotheses.

Defining Research Variables

Variables are observable characteristics of an object, issue, or event that can be described by a well-defined measurement scheme. They are identified in the research objectives.

• The dependent variable is not manipulated but measured to observe the effects of the independent variable.
• The independent variable is manipulated (often in two or more levels or grades) to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Types of Research Variables

• Quantitative (Numerical) Variable: That which can be measured numerically.
• Qualitative (Categorical) Variable: Those that can only be classified.
• Nominal Variable: Indicates a property without a specific order (e.g., names, gender).
• Ordinal Variable: Has an order property between the values (e.g., poor, fair, good, excellent).
• Dichotomous (Dummy) Variable: Attributes only two values (e.g., sex: female - male).
• Polytomous Variable: Attributes more than two values (e.g., marital status: widowed, divorced, cohabiting, single).