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The Research Process

School of Healthcare FACULTY OF MEDICINE & HEALTH. The Research Process. HECS 1004 Monday 2 nd October 2006 Paul Arnold p.m.arnold@leeds.ac.uk. What is Research?. Definition (Oxford English Dictionary OED): “to search into (a matter or subject); or “to investigate or study closely.”

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The Research Process

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  1. School of Healthcare FACULTY OF MEDICINE & HEALTH The Research Process HECS 1004 Monday 2nd October 2006 Paul Arnold p.m.arnold@leeds.ac.uk

  2. What is Research? • Definition (Oxford English Dictionary OED): • “to search into (a matter or subject); or • “to investigate or study closely.” • Also, • “to engage in research upon • (a subject, a person, etc.).”

  3. What is Research? • Audit & Governance • Governance (Def-OED): • “to make an official systematic examination of (accounts), so as to ascertain their accuracy.” • Is this research?

  4. Why Research? • To validate experience • To create, expand or test evidence base • To evaluate new ideas or processes • To test theory • As part of training coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/BloomsT/start.htm

  5. Experience • Is practice through experience a bad thing? • What have you learned through experience?

  6. Serendipity • Is serendipity a bad thing? • "You don't reach Serendip by plotting a course for it. You have to set out in good faith for elsewhere and lose your bearings serendipitously.“John Barth (1991)

  7. Serendipity • Columbus discovered America instead of reaching the Indies • Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by accident

  8. The Research Process • Step 1: Select area of practice to research • Step 2: Identify existing knowledge • Step 3: Identify research team • Step 4: Decide research parameters • Step 5: Study population • Step 6: Timing, location & duration of study • Step 7: Research proposal • Step 8: Undertaking the study • Step 9: Analysis of results • Step 10: Dissemination

  9. The Research Process: Step 1 • Select area of practice to research • Begin with an idea, opinion, hunch or even the necessity for change • Your research topic may be: • A new theory to improve practice or process • A challenge to existing research findings • To confirm or disprove previous research findings

  10. Times 8th August 2006 The Research Process: Step 1 For example: “Do probiotic drinks improve a persons health?”

  11. The Research Process: Step 1 • Before moving beyond step 1, ask yourself: • “How will the results of this study influence future practice?” • If you can’t answer this - is your research valid?

  12. The Research Process: Step 2 • Identify existing knowledge • What evidence has been published? • Journal articles • Textbooks • National or local Guidelines • Internet • Media?

  13. The Research Process: Step 2 • Identifying existing knowledge Drug Discovery Today (2003) Volume 8, Issue 15, pp 692-700.

  14. The Research Process: Step 3 • Identify research team • Who will lead? • Is it possible to delegate tasks? • Collaborators / external members? • How do you intend to disseminate research findings?

  15. The Research Process: Step 4 • Decide research parameters (focus & scope) • Too many variables can be difficult to control • Beware confounding variables • Keep within the limits of your ability or knowledge • Understand the limitations of your study • Matching the study design to a recognised research strategy will ease the next steps in the process

  16. The Research Process: Step 5 • Study population • Who or what are you going to research? • Number of samples or participants needed for validity? • Inclusion & exclusion criteria? • Do you need ethics committee approval?

  17. A combination of fibre-rich rye bread and yoghurt containing Lactobacillus GG improves bowel function in women with self-reported constipation Hongisto, SM et al (2006) European Jnl of Clin Nutrition: 60; 319–324. The Research Process: Step 5 • Inclusion & exclusion criteria Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of fibre-rich rye bread and yoghurt containing Lactobacillus GG (LGG) on intestinal transit time and bowel function, and to test whether they have an interaction in cases of self-reported constipation. Subjects: A total of 59 healthy women with self-reported constipation, recruited by advertisement. Is this a fair selection process?

  18. The Research Process: Step 6 • Practical issues: timing, location & duration of study • Where are you going to perform this study? • When are you to undertake the research? • How long do you intend to follow the subjects or samples? • Would a pilot study be appropriate? • Do you have the time & resources?

  19. The Research Process: Step 6 • Practical issues: Who needs to be informed or involved? • Clinicians? • Managers? • Staff? • Participants?

  20. The Research Process: Step 7 • Research proposal • Write an introduction or overview to the topic • Summarise & compare your findings from the published literature • Write your method of study including how you intend to analyse the data • This may save a lot of wasted time later • Collecting data on everything is not a sensible option

  21. The Research Process: Step 7 • Why write a research proposal? • This is useful to help focus the study • Can ensure that all research team are agreed on protocol • Useful for informing staff of your intentions • May be adapted easily for participant information leaflets • Required if you have to apply for ethics approval • Essential if funding is to be sought

  22. The Research Process: Step 8 • Undertaking the study • Apply for appropriate approval & funding • Once approved, undertake pilot study if relevant • Ensure you select patients according to the agreed protocol • Analysing how well the protocol works at this stage is arguably more important than the results • Can the results be evaluated as intended?

  23. The Research Process: Step 8 • Undertaking the study • Inform all participants if appropriate • Keep variables to a minimum if undertaking experimental research • It is usually good practice to keep to the research protocol • File results / data in an easy to analyse format

  24. The Research Process: Step 9 • Analysis of results • Analysis should be easy if protocol is clearly set out at commencement • How will you analyse & display the results?

  25. The Research Process: Step 9 Hongisto, SM et al (2006) European Jnl of Clin Nutrition: 60; 319–324.

  26. The Research Process: Step 10 • Dissemination • Remember this is the end product: • Report or presentation to peers • Regional, national or international conference • Published paper http://www.phdsymposium2004.upc.es

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