research methodology abdulelah nuqali intern. what it’s made ofhow it works
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Research Methodology
Abdulelah NuqaliIntern
Research
Anatomy PhysiologyWhat it’s made of How it works
AnatomyWhat it’s made of
Anatomy
•The structure of a research project is set
out in its protocol•Which is helping the investigator to
organize her/his research in a logical, focused, and efficient way
Outline of the Study Protocol•Research questions•Background and significance•Design•Subjects•Variables•Statistical issues
Should people eat more fish?
Research questions
How often do Saudi people eat fish?
Research questions
Does eating fish lower the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Research questions
Do fish oil supplements have the same effects on cardiovascular disease as dietary fish?
Research questions
Good Research question
FINER
interesting
novel
ethicalrelevant
feasible
New Questions Arise
Results Interpreted
Data Collected
Question Identified
Hypotheses Formed
Research Plan
Closed-loop conceptualization of the research process (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996)
Descriptive Analytical
Observational
Cross Sectional
Case Series
Case Report
Randomized Clinical Trial
Cohort
Case-Control
Study Design
Experimental
Descriptive
Observational
•Analytical study of multiple patients•“ rare” phenomenon occurring multiple times
Case Series
•Analytical study of one patient•Detailed profile of a “ rare” presentation or unusual side effect of drug
Case Report
•A descriptive survey •One to one questionnaire, Email, telephone, online
Cross Sectional
Example:
•You interview subjects about current and past history of fish intake and correlates results with history of CHD
Advantages of a cross sectional study
•Cheap•Fast•Simple
Disadvantages of a cross sectional study
•Failing to take time•Biases:Selection biasInformation biasConfounding bias
Analytical
Observational
Note:
•Exposure = Risk Factor
•Outcome = Disease
Case-Control
Example:•You examine a group of patients with
CHD and compares them with a group who did not have CHD (the controls), asking about past fish intake
CHD
NoCHD
High fish
intake
Low fish
intake
Cohort
Example:•The investigator measures fish intake at
baseline and periodically examines subjects at follow-up visits to see if those who eat more fish have fewer coronary heart disease (CHD) events
CHD
NoCHD
High fish
intake
Low fish
intake
Randomized Clinical Trials
Experimental
Randomized Clinical Trial
Example:
•You randomly assign subjects to receive fish oil supplements or placebo, then follows both treatment groups for several years to observe the incidence of CHD
Randomized designs
•Methods of randomization:– Several choices, from “flipping a coin” to
stratified randomization•Blinding/masking:– Participant, study investigator (and
anybody else involved in follow-up)– Ideally, double-blinded
PhysiologyHow it works
Physiology
•Internal validity•External validity (also called generalizability)
The Last Slide•Can I do research?
Yes•How?Assemble a research teamAsk a general questionDo a literature searchAsk a good research questionFind a mentor
Conduct your research project
