wmi 606: research methods course - research questions...

WMI 606: Research Methods Course

Research questions and Hypothesis testingsession 3

Thumbi Mwangi

1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University2KEMRI - Center for Global Health Research

3Wangari Maathai Institute, University of Nairobi

February 11th, 2015

WMI 606: Research Methods Course

..Your Research Proposal......

Before the all exciting field work and datacollection, you will be required to:

Prepare a research proposal, andDefend it

and note less is more

state only that which you are able to achievedetermine if it fits within your resources?(time available/research monies available...)if you achieve more; that will be great

..Your Research Proposal......

Before the all exciting field work and datacollection, you will be required to:

Prepare a research proposal, andDefend it

and note less is more

state only that which you are able to achievedetermine if it fits within your resources?(time available/research monies available...)if you achieve more; that will be great

..for your Research Proposal......

you are research work/thesis is judged against:

hypothesis you set to testobjectives in your proposalhow successful you have been in meeting theset objectives

Remember to maintain rigorous academicenquiry

..components of your Research Proposal......

1 IntroductionBackground - What the proposed study will be about, and whyit is important and timely

Problem statement - identify gaps in knowledge concerning thesubject or problems to be addressed in the study

Objectives - clearly state how the problem will be addressed.Research questions or hypothesis should be included, andshould tally with objectives

2 Literature review

information on the evolution and present state of theory,practice and research on the topic

should demonstrate a intellectual review of most recent andrelevant publications, which should be properly cited in thereferences section of the proposal

1 IntroductionBackground - What the proposed study will be about, and whyit is important and timely

Problem statement - identify gaps in knowledge concerning thesubject or problems to be addressed in the study

Objectives - clearly state how the problem will be addressed.Research questions or hypothesis should be included, andshould tally with objectives

2 Literature review

information on the evolution and present state of theory,practice and research on the topic

should demonstrate a intellectual review of most recent andrelevant publications, which should be properly cited in thereferences section of the proposal

3. Materials and Methods

Provide details on how each of the study objectives will be met

Include study area, sample size determination, data collectionmethods, data analysis plan etc

Keep it detailed enough such that the study can bereplicable/reproducible

Provide adequate references for any standard methods youpropose to use

4. Work plan

Indicate the planned activities and duration each will take in alogical sequence

5. Budget

Showing detailed costs for all items and relevant researchactivities proposed

6. References -

list of all references cited in the proposal

7. Appendices -

e.g questionnaires/data collection tools used in the study

1 The Research problem

Clear statement of the “smaller” componentof the general problem indicated in yourintroduction that you would like to address

Be clear on the reasons why your research isimportant:

to academic enquiry

to the target population

to the wider society in general

1 The Research problem

Clear statement of the “smaller” componentof the general problem indicated in yourintroduction that you would like to address

Be clear on the reasons why your research isimportant:

to academic enquiry

to the target population

to the wider society in general

1 The General Objective

Broad overview of the main intention of thestudy

describes expected implications orcontributions from the study

what do you expect to achieve

Example,“To determine the relationship betweenenvironmental degradation and communityhealth”

1 Specific Objectives

General objectives broken down into smallerlogically connected objectives

Systematically address various sub-intentionsof the study - addressing the questions:

what you will dowherefor what purpose

1 Specific Objectives

General objectives broken down into smallerlogically connected objectives

Systematically address various sub-intentionsof the study - addressing the questions:

what you will dowherefor what purpose

..good specific objectives should be......

1 S - specific

2 M - measurable

3 A - achievable

4 R - realistic

5 T - time bound

..specific objectives......

1 General Objectives

“to determine the relationship between environmentaldegradation and community health”

2 your specific objectives?

a1) to determine the level of environmental degradation

a2) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover

a3) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya

a4) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 - 2014

“to determine the link between environmentaldegradation and community health”

Example,what would be your specific objectives?

a) to determine the level of environmental degradation bymeasuring forest cover changes in Tetu and Othaya between1994 and 2014

b) to determine the rate of diarrhea disease in district hospitalsin Tetu and Othaya between 1994 and 2014

c) to determine associations between community diarrheadisease rates and the rate of forest cover loss

Introduction toHypothesis testing

Hypothesis: an “educated guess” basedon prior knowledge or observation,explaining a phenomenon

Statement or prediction of therelationship between two or more factors

Provisional explanation of something -needs to be proved!

Hypothesis testing: method for testing aclaim/hypothesis about a parameter in apopulation, using data measured in thesample

the purpose is to choose between twocompeting hypothesis about the value ofa population parameter

The hypothesis to be tested is given thesymbol H0, and commonly referred to asthe Null Hypothesis

it is assumed to be true, unless there isstrong enough evidence against it

.......the jury analogy........

person is assumed innocent until proven guiltyjury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guiltydecision NOT on whether guilty or innocentAll evidence in a trial is to show the defendant is guiltyThe evidence either shows guilt (decision: guilty) or does not(decision: not guilty).

.....reading on hypothesis testing....

http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/40007 Chapter8.pdf

wmi 606: research methods course - research questions...

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