RESEARCH TOPICS / RESEARCH PROBLEMS Step 3 - Ensure that the topic is manageable and that material

is available

Step 4 - Make a list of key words

SELECTING RESEARCH TOPIC
Step 5 – Be flexible

Step 6 – Define topic as focused research question

FACTORS IN SELECTING RESEARCH TOPICS
Step 7 - Research and read more about the topic
Based on finding ideas to consider
Step 8 - Formulate a thesis statement
• Previous research

• Current practice
STEP 1: BRAINSTORM FOR IDEA
• Future practice
Brainstorming – is problem solving technique that involves
• Personal experience the spontaneous contribution of ideas from members of
group.
• Other disciplines
Four rules in brainstorming
• Resources • No judgements

Based on ideas to pursue • Think freely

• Study anomalies • The more ideas, the better.

• Study fundamental issues • More heads ate better than one

• Simplify complex theories

• Create new values / methods / designs STEP 2: READ GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Fit with current and future research • Read article, journals on the two or three topics being
considered.
• Reading a broad summary / abstracts enables researcher to
get an overview of the topic and see how idea relates to
CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM broader, narrower, and related issues. It also provides a great
source for finding words commonly used to describe the
• Data availability
topic.
• Expertise

• Relevance
STEP 3: FOCUS ON YOUR TOPIC
• Magnitude
• Keep it manageable.
• Interest
• A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or
• Measurement narrow. Narrowing broad topic ba be done:

• Ethical considerations – By Geographical area

– By culture

PROCESS OF SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC – By method/teachnique

Step 1 - Brainstorm for idea – By discipline

Step 2 - Choose a topic that will able you to read and – By time frame
understand the literature
– By population group
Topics may be too difficult to research if it is: • Write a thesis statement. This may be the answer to the
research question and/or a way to clearly state the purpose of
• Locally confined research.
• Recent

• Broadly interdisciplinary GUIDELINES IN WRITING THE TITLE

• Popular • It should be clear and specifically stated .

• The main concept s should be included like subject matter

of the study , place of study, the population involved, the
STEP 4: MAKE A LIST OF USEFUL KEYWORDS period when the data were gathered
Keep track of the words that are used to describe selected • The variables being investigated should always be part of
research topic. the title
• Search for articles and background and general information • The number of words in the title should not exceed twenty
substantive words, function words not to be included in the
• Find broader and narrower terms, synonyms, key concepts
counting (Baker and Shutz,1999)
for key words to widen search capabilities
• Certain forms of title phrasing such as a “ Study of . . ..An
• Make note of these word
Analysis . . . “A Scientific Study of . . . “An experimental
Investigation. . . and A Preliminary study of . . . , are to be
avoided. They are vague and not acceptable for inclusion in
STEP 5: BE FLEXIBLE research title.

• It is common to modify research topic during the research • If the title contains more than one line, it must be written
process. Researcher can never be sure of what to find. like an inverted pyramid, all words in capital letters.

• When researching, it is advice not to change topic, but may

decide that some other aspect of the topic which can be more
interesting or manageable. FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH QUESTION

• Keep in mind the assigned length of the research paper,

project, bibliography or other research assignment. Be aware
of the depth of coverage needed and the due date. RESEARCH QUESTION

• These important factors may help researcher to decide how It is the uncertainty about something in the population
much and when to modify research topic. that the investigator wants to resolve by making
measurement on his study subjects.

No shortage of questions as on leads to another.

STEP 6: DEFINE TOPIC AS A FOCUSED RESEARCH QUESTION

• Begin by constructing questions related to research topic.

ORIGINS OF A RESEARCH QUESTION

For established investigator:

STEP 7: RESEARCH AND READ MORE ABOUT THE SELECTED
TOPIC – The best research questions usually emerge from
findings problems faced and observed in prior studies, and
• Use the key words to research in the catalog, article
in those of other works in the field also known as “Major
databases, and Internet search engines.
players”.
• Find more information to help answer research question.
For new and other investigators:

– Mastering the literature

– Being alert to new ideas and techniques

STEP 8: FORMULATE A THESIS STATEMENT
– Keeping the imagination roaming • Not enough subject variables

– Attending seminar, workshops and conferences Solutions:

• Expand the inclusion criteria

FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM • Eliminate or modify exclusion criteria

Potential research questions may occur to us on a regular • Add other sources of subjects
basis, but the process of formulating them in meaningful
way is not at all an easy task. (Meenanghan & Twoomey, • Lengthen the time frame for entry into study
1985)
• Use strategies to decrease sample size

F.I.N.E.R. FRAMEWORK
• Methods beyond the skills of the investigator
• FINER stands for feasible, interesting, novel, ethical and Solutions:
relevant.
• Colaborate with those who have skills
• The FINER is used for formulating research questions.
• Consult and review the literature for alternative methods
• FINER allows researchers to ponder the philosophical,
logical, and scientific implications of writing research
questions.
• Too expensive

Solution:
FEASIBLE CRITERIA
• Consult and modify the research question
• Ensure adequacy of research design

• Guarantees adequate funding

INTERESTING CRITERIA
• Recruits target population strategically
• Engages the interest of principal investigators
• Aims an achievable sample size
• Attracts the attention of readers
• Prioritizes measurable outcomes
• Presents a different perspective of the problem
• Optimizes human and technical resources

• Accounts for clinicians commitment

NOVEL CRITERIA
• Procures high adherence to the treatment and low rate
of dropouts • Provides different findings

• Opts for appropriate and affordable frame time • Generates new hypotheses

• Improves methodological flaws of existing studies

Potential problem – feasibility • Resolves a gap in the existing literature

• Too broad

Solutions: ETHICAL CRITERIA

Specify a smaller set of variables and narrow the question • Complies with local ethical committees

• Safeguards the main principles of ethical research

• Guarantees safety and reversibility of side effects • Relevant

• Feasible

RELEVANT CRITERIA • Logical

• Generate new knowledge • Observable

• Contributes to improve clinical practice • Unequivocal

• Stimulates further research • Measurable

• Provides an accurate answer to a specific research

question.
NEED OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The formulation of research objectives will help the

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE researcher:

• It is a clear, concise, declarative statement, which • To focus on the study with clearly defined objectives
provides direction to investigate the variables
• To avoid the collection of data which are not strictly
• Generally research objective focuses on the way to necessary for understanding and solving problem that the
measure the variables such as identify or describe them, researcher has defined.

• Are result sought by the research at the end of the • To organize the study in a clearly defined parts or phases
research process.
• Properly formulate specific objective will facilitate the
• Objective should be closely related to the statement of development of research methodology and will help to
the problem orient the collection, analysis, interpretation and utilization
of data.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

TYPES OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• Objectives is a purpose that can be reasonably achieved
within the expected timeframe and with the available General objective/s
resources
• Are broad goals to be achieved
• It summarizes what is to be achieved by the study
• State what the researcher expects to aachiev by the
• It includes obtaining answers to research questions or study in general terms.
testing the research hypothesis
• General objectives are usually less in numbers
• Research objective us a concrete statement describing
what the research is trying to achieve.

S.M.A.R.T. Specific objectives

• Specific • Are short terms ad barrow in focus

• Measurable • General objectives is met through accomplishing all

specific objectives
• Attainable
• Are more in number and they systematically address
• Realistic various aspects of problem as defines under “the
statement of the problem” and t=key factor that assumed
• Time-bound to influence or cause the problem

Research objective should be: • Should specify what the researcher will do in study,
where and for what purpose.
 • To appreciate

Example: • To understand

Research topic: • To study

In a study on occurrence of kidney disease in National • To believe

Capital Region.

General objective:
OBJECTIVE STATEMENT
• Toassess geographical spread of kidney disease in NCR
Research objectives can be stated as:
Specific objectives:
• Questions
• To find out the magnitude of disease spread
• Positive sentences
• To examine the reasons for high incidence of disease.
• Hypothesis – is a prediction of relationship between one
or more variable and the problem under study.

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

We need to: GUIDELINES OF STATING OBJECTIVES

• Focus the study • Should be presented briefly and concisely

• Avoid collection of data that are not strictly necessary for • Cover different aspects of the problem and its
understanding and solving the identified problem contributing factors in a coherent way and in a logical
sequence.
• Organize the study in clearly defined parts
• The objective are clearly phrased in operational terms
Stating the objective specifying exactly what researcher is going to do, where
and for what purpose
• Cover the different aspects of the problem and its
contributing factors in a coherent ways and in a logical • They are realistic considering local conditions
sequence
• Use action verbs that are specify enough to be evaluated
• Are clearly expressed in measurable terms
• Example: To assess, to identify, to find out, to determine,
• Are realistic considering local conditions to compare, to find, to verify, to calculate, to describe, to
analyze, to establish etc.
• Meet the purpose if the study

Use action verbs that are specific enough to be measures:

• To determine

• To compare
GOAL VS. OBJECTIVE
• To verify
• Goals are broad, generalized statements of instructional
• To calculate
intent. The overall goal of this presentation is to help
• To describe participants understand how to write SMART learning
objectives
• To find out

• To establish

Avoid the used of vague non action verbs such as: