RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Prof. Mona Abdelmoneim Mohamed Abdelmageed
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define research in general and health
systems research in particular
2. Enumerate the characteristics of research
3. Identify the different types of research
4. List the essential features of health systems
research
5. Describe the broad divisions (steps)
involved in the research process
6. Explain the roles of research in development
INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Research in the context of public health thus
aims to provide all aspects of information
necessary for planning and the effective
implementation of a health system. For all
communities, whether affluent or poor, health
research is the top priority. The research
questions are formidable: how to join with policy
makers and communities in assessing priority
needs, planning, financing and implementing
programs, and evaluating them in terms of
coverage, efficiency and effectiveness.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Realities and pitfalls of research
Approaches, strategies and methods
Techniques and procedures for data
collection and analysis
Appropriate use of information technology
RATA
TERMINOLOGY
Methods: The techniques and procedures used
to obtain data
Methodology: The theory of how research
should be undertaken. [Saunders et al.
(2009)].
DEFINITION:
Research is a scientific inquiry aimed at
learning new facts, testing ideas, so It is the
systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of data to generate new
knowledge and answer a certain question or
solve a problem.
‘Something that people undertake in order
to find things out in a systematic way,
thereby increasing their knowledge’
GENERAL TERMS
Health research: is the application of principles of research on
health. It is the generation of new knowledge using scientific
method to identify and deal with health problems.
Biomedical research: It is the most basic part of health research
which demands more resources, facilities and skilled
investigators. The results of biomedical research are more often
of universal importance and thus of general significance
Essential health research: Consists of activities to define the
health problems of a given country or community, to measure
their importance and to assure the quality of activities to deal
with them.
Clinical research: In its widest sense, this group of topics ranges
from studies of the prevention and diagnosis of diseases
through new methods of treatment to problems of care and
rehabilitation.
HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH
It is a component of health research.
Research that supports health development
has come to be known as Health Systems
Research.
It is ultimately concerned with improving the
health of a community, by enhancing the
efficiency and effectiveness of the health
system as an integral part of the overall
process of socioeconomic development.
THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Selecting a field and topic
Planning the research
Writing up the protocol
Submitting the protocol as research
proposal for funding
Result analysis and interpretation
Write and publishing a scientific paper and scientific
presentation
ETHICAL committees
CHARACTERISTICS
Demands clear statement of the problem
Requires clear objectives & methods
Builds on existing data
Involves systematic process
Have clear vision of outcome
So
Data are collected systematically : ie. It requires a plan (it is not aimlessly “
looking” for something in the hope that you will come across a solution)
Data are interpreted systematically: It builds on existing data, using both
positive and negative findings
There is a clear purpose to find things out so It demands a clear statement of
the problem
New data should be collected as required and be organized in such a way that
they answer the research question(s)
FEATURES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH:
Researcher draw on knowledge from other
disciplines
Researchers are more likely to allow access if
they see
commercial or personal advantage
Researcher require research to have some
practical consequence
TYPES OF RESEARCH
The classical broad divisions of research are:
basic and applied research.
The basic research is necessary to generate new
knowledge and technologies to deal with major
unresolved health problems.
Applied research is necessary to identify priority
problems and to design and evaluate policies and
programs that will deliver the greatest health benefit,
making optimal use of available resources.
BASIC AND APPLIED
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCHES
quantitative” research is concerned with investigating
things which we could observe and measure in some
way and obtained in the research of natural sciences
such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology etc.
Qualitative research is concerned with developing
explanations of social phenomena. It is concerned
with the social aspects of our world and seeks to
answer questions about:
• Why people behave the way they do
• How opinions and attitudes are formed
• How people are affected by the events that go on around them
• How and why cultures have developed in the way they have
DEFINITION OF “HEALTH SYSTEM”
it consists of what people believe and know about
health and illness and what they do to remain healthy
and cure diseases. Beliefs and action are usually closely
connected. For example, if in a society people perceive
germs as the cause of disease, they will look for
modern (biomedical) health care.
A health system may be described as:
A set of cultural beliefs about health and illness that forms
the basis for health-seeking and health-promoting behavior.
The institutional arrangements within which that behavior
occurs; and
The socioeconomic (political) physical context for those
beliefs and institutions.
The institutional arrangements may include:
1. The individual, family and the community
2. Health care services:
private sector: traditional and modern medical practice
(legal or illegal)
Public (govern mental) sector Health workers, health
institutions, etc.
3. Health related sectors education, agriculture,
etc.
4. The international sector, including bilateral and
multilateral donor agencies (UNICEF, WHO, etc.)
that may support health as well as Essential
Features of Health Systems Research (HSR)
THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF HSR
• HSR should focus on priority problems.
• It should be action oriented (i.e., aimed at developing
solutions)
• An integrated multidisciplinary approach is required
(research approaches from many disciplines)
• The research should be participatory in nature (from
policy makers to community members)
• Research must be timely.
• Emphasis should be placed on comparatively simple,
short-term research designs that are likely to yield
practical results.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF ANY RESEARCH
WORK
I. Preparing a research proposal
II. Fieldwork (i.e., data collection)
III. Analyzing data and preparing a research report
N.B.
The roles of health managers and the community
should be identified in the various phases of the
research process.
EXERCISES
Describe the characteristics of HSR by giving
your own examples.