Do exports and imports affect GDP growth of countries?
aktarag1
Lecture1.pptMS611 Project
Formulating Research Problems, Questions and Hypotheses
Introduction to the course and to your assignment
All lectures from Workshop - http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/CentralAsia/workshop.htm
This project is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of the University of Pittsburgh and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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Course assignment:
Develop a research project
- Learn the general steps in the research process from research idea to project implementation
- Identify a research problem
- Define research questions, directional and non-directional hypotheses
- Identify the best possible research design for your hypotheses
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Research Defined
- Research is an organized and systematic way to find answers to questions
- Research is a creative process
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The Research Idea
- Professional experience
- Burning questions
- Literature
- Professional meetings
- Discussions
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Criteria for developing a good research question
- Feasible
- Interesting
- Novel
- Ethical
- Relevant
- Cummings et al. 2001
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Good research question?
- Feasible
- Subjects
- Resources
- Manageable
- Data available?
- Interesting
- Novel
- In relation to previous findings
- Confirm or refute?
- New setting, new population
- Ethical
- Social or scientific value
- Safe
- Relevant
- Advance scientific knowledge?
- Influence clinical practice?
- Impact health policy?
- Guide future research?
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A Research Question Must Identify
The variables under study
The population being studied
The testability of the question
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Variables in research
- Have 2 or more properties or qualities
- Age, sex, weight, height
- Is one variable related to another?
- “ Is X related to Y? What is the effect of X on Y?” etc.
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Variables in research
- Independent variable:
- has a presumed effect on the dependent variable (outcome)
- May or may not be manipulated
- Dependent variable:
- Something that varies with a change in the independent variable
- Outcome variable
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Hypothesis
- Statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables
- Converts the question into a statement that predicts an expected outcome
- A unit or subset of the research problem
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Characteristics of hypotheses
- Declarative statement that identifies the predicted relationship between 2 or more variables
- Testability
- Based on sound scientific theory/rationale
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Directional vs. Non-Directional Hypotheses
- Directional hypothesis
- Specifies the direction of the relationship between independent and dependent variables
- Non-directional hypothesis
- Shows the existence of a relationship between variables but no direction is specified
Finding appropriate research design
- Cohort
- Cross sectional
- Case control
- Clinical trial
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Prepare PowerPoint presentaiton
- 5-10 minutes long
- ~5 slides
- Each presentation should include research area, significance, hypothesis, and rough research design
Practical applications of this project?
- Create your own research project
- Understand published research papers
- Understand presentations at scientific conferences
- Publish your research!!
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