Introduction to Research

Dr. Teshome Gensa (Bsc, Msc, PhD)

 Content of Course
 Introduction to Research

Proposal writing

 Data collection and analysis

 Research report writing

 Research
What is Research

 A systematic collection, analysis and

interpretation of data to answer the question,
solve certain problem, test hypothesis, gain new
knowledge.

 Systematic means conducted objectively

according to specific principles and procedures
Types of Research
1. Based on Functions:

• Basic/fundamental  (building knowledge) undertaken

to extend the base of knowledge in a discipline, or to
formulate or refine a theory.

• Applied /action/operational  (solution to problems).

Applied research focuses on finding solutions to existing
problems. Includes identifying priority problems

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Types of research
Quantitative research:
• Is based on the measurement of quantity.
• Involves the generation of data through observation and
measurement
E.g: student grade level and factors affecting it
Qualitative research:
• Is concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes,
opinions and behavior.
• Answer why and how questions
• help us understand behaviors, attitudes, perceptions, and
culture. Eg. What people think, feel, about quality
education in Somaliland.

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Cont.…
Steps
Always research start with idea.
 Identifying general research area
 Developing focus research question
 Creating appropriate research protocol
 Data Collection, analysis and interpretation
Model of funneling and research planning
 Problem
Problem Planning
Planning
identification
identification research?/proposal/
research?/proposal/

Implementing
Implementing
Application
Application research
research

Disseminating
Disseminating
findings
findings

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Cont..
 Proposal Writing
• Introduction scientific research
• Contents of research proposal
 Title
 Background
 Statement of problem
 Justification of the study
 Objectives
 Literature review
 Methods and materials
 Referencing
 RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
• Plan or Protocol developed as a guide for a
study
• Rod map (GPS) of research activity
• Format and Content of research proposal
depends on the type of research and
organization
Cont.…
Two general components of Research
proposal

1. Descriptions of research question/problem to be

answered

2. Plan (Methodology) for answering the research

question
 Cont.
The Purpose of a Research Proposal

 To persuade your reader of the value of your

research question
 To show you have a clear idea where your research
sits in existing knowledge
 To demonstrate how you plan to answer your
question
It is means to convince necessity of your research to
donors
Cont..
A good proposal attracts the attention
of:
• Peer reviewers (Gate-keepers, Guardians of
science)
• Funding Organizations
• Research institutions
• Partners (joint venture)
• Third parties (society, industry, government)
Questions should be raised
before proposal writing
• What do I want to study?
• What is the relevance ? (for your career)
• How does it build upon research already conducted
(Originality)
• What expected outcome (Realistic)
• What are resource needed (Person, equipment and
time)
• Why is this best choice of research to do
Then plan ………..
Main Contents of Research Proposal

 Title
 Introduction(background, Problem
statement, Study justification, significance of
study)
 Objectives
 Literature Review
 Methodology
 Work plan and budget breakdown
 Reference
Title selection
 Title selection
 Choosing a research topic to work on is a tough
decision to make
 Needs deep search of Literature and needs deep
look to the environment
 Is it really researchable title?
 Did you get real existing gap in knowledge?
 Is it feasible to make bridge for the gap?
Cont.…
• Title is first point of contact between the
reader and the paper

• It is part of your paper available to everyone

for free (publishers and databases)

• Scholars use it for search engines

Title …
• Title should be well crafted
• It should be clear, specific and informative
• Easy to understand and convey the main
focus of research
• Don’t promise more than what you are
going to do
Criteria for Selecting
Research Topic
1. Relevance – Priority problem/issue
2. Avoidance of duplication (if addressed, no need
for further wastage of resources)
3. Feasibility (attainable with resource on hand)
4. Government and community concern
5. Applicability of possible results and
recommendations
6. Urgency of data needed
7. Ethical acceptability
Tips to write effective research title

1. Keep your title short! Do not include more

than 20 words
It should not include unnecessary words and
jargons
2. Do not use a period at the end of your title
3. Be sure that the keywords you use truly
represent the content of your paper
4. Do not use abbreviations in your title
The topic should indicate the WHAT, WHO and
WHERE clearly.
Examples of effective research title

• The Impact of Social Media Influencers on

Consumer Behaviour in Telesom Company,
Somaliland
• Effectiveness of Online Learning Platforms: A
case study of Gollis University, Hargeisa
• The impact of climate change on maize
production in Somaliland
cont.
Practical workout
- An investigation of association between
hormones and premenstrual syndrome among
school girls in Hargeisa, Somaliland, 2023
- This study is a randomized trial that
investigates whether gene therapy improved
cognitive function in 40 dementia patients from
10 states in the US.
- Qualitative study on Assessment of religious
leaders role and their dialogue with politicians
for the restoration of peace in Somali, 2023.
Cont..
• Write the corrected title???
 PROPOSAL BODY
The part in proposal describing 3 things
 Work is original, new and relevant
 Methods are appropriate
 The work is feasible and you are capable of
conducting it
 Includes Introduction, Literature review and
Methodology
 Introduction
Includes different section

1.1 Background

1.2 Problem statements

1.3 Justification/Rationale for the study

1.4 Study Objectives

 1.1 Background

 First section introducing what

you will do
 Context, circumstances,
and history that led to the
research problem
 Provides the reader with a
comprehensive
understanding of the
subject matter
 Should be clear and
understandable to everyone
Cont.

Information Included

• Identify the problem: clearly state the research problem

• Provide context : brief overview of research topic

(Definition of research topic, theories and concepts)

• Current information about the problem (summarize

relevant literatures)

• The extend of problem in different setup

Cont.
• Go from general to specific
• Avoid repetitions and praise that do not add
new information
• Be as precise as possible and write short
sentences
• Avoid jargon and keep abbreviations to a
minimum
• Reduce whole draft to a few pages
1.2 Problem Statements

• Explain why the project topic matters

• Magnitude and severity of consequence of

the problem to society

• Its relevance and urgency of need to be

resolved

• Consequence of not solving the problem

Cont.…
For practical research, focus on the
concrete details of the situation:
• Where and when does the problem
arise?
• Who does the problem affect?
• Is the problem limited to a certain
time period or geographical area?
• How has the problem been defined
and debated in the scholarly
literature?
Cont..

• What attempts have been made to solve

the problem?

• why previous studies and attempts not addressed the issue

• The discrepancy between what is and what

should be

• The statement closed by describing the aim

of research

Every thing should be supported by review

1.3 Study Justification/Rationale of the study

• Gap on existing literature (what is know

and what is not known)
• Explain why we need to undertake the
particular study to tackle the problem/fill the
gap
• We need to tell why this is the best way to
address the problem
• Show it is current and existing problem/issue which
needs solution in the way you aimed to do
• Being a problem which concerns the planners,
policy makers and the communities at large
Cont..
NB: it is not repetition of Problem Statement

 Statement of problem is
problematising the research issue
by succinctly and clearly
demonstrating the problem
Where as
 Justification of study is more of the
value of current research to
overcome the problem
Cont..
• Describe how the current research
is different from previous existing
researches
• Can describe soundness of your
methodology that can address the
point which is not addressed by
the others
• Show new unbroken ground that
study will break
Go until you fill ‘’Wow……
hhhoa….the effect of my
Justification …..
• Show advancements in research compared
to previous (Methodology, analysis,
Geographical, study population,…)

• How accessible and cost-effective are the

data required to answer the research
questions

• It help to convince scholars, policymakers,

stakeholders
Justification..
Common Mistakes
• Justification is not assuming the outcomes of the
study

‘’Outcome can be any kind’’

• It should describe advantage of having this project

itself
1.4 Objectives
• Specific goals or aims of
a research study
• It is the main focus and
guide of research
• It based on the research
questions and
hypotheses formulated
Objectives..
Steps to follow when writing
research objectives
• Identify the research problem
(problem you are trying to address)
• Define the research questions
• Identify the variables (what are key
variables)
• Write specific objectives
• Revise and refine it
Objectives….
• General objective
• Should be an encompassing statement of the focus of the
study (title)
• Usually stated in one sentence
• Specific Objective
• Between 2 to 5 specific things
• Should be SMART
• Specific,
• Measurable,
• Achievable,
• Realistic and
• Time bound
How should we state our
objectives?
We have to make sure that our objectives:
► Are clearly expressed in measurable terms
► Are realistic considering local conditions
► Meet the purpose of the study
► Use action verbs that are specific enough to
be measured
 Cont..
Examples of action verbs Avoid the use of vague
 to determine non-action verbs such as
 to compare - to appreciate
 to verify - to understand
 to calculate - to study
 to describe - to believe
 to find out - to know
 to establish
 to assess
Cont..
Common mistakes of students

 Writing too many objective out of the

study scope
 Not addressing objectives in the
methodology and result sections
 Writing it with vague unmeasurable words
Literature Review
 Literature Review….
• A survey of relevant literature or related
previous work on the subject matter
• it needs a critical reading of the selected
literature to find out how it can be useful to
the current research
• Can be from published works, grey literature,
library, books
• Be concise and include only relevant
literature
 Literature review…
Advantages
 Avoid reinventing the Wheel/avoidance of
duplicating previous work
 It gives you confidence why your particular
research project is needed
 Broaden your knowledge on subject that
may assist you in refining your "statement of
the problem“
 Learn the various methods used
 Good Vs poor Literature Review

A‘good’ literature review A ‘poor’ literature review

 synthesis of idea and
 Copying of someone's work
concepts from research
 Confined to description
 Critical evaluation

 Appropriate breadth and  Narrow and shallow

depth  Confusing
 Clarity and conciseness
Literature review is not a shopping everything that exists in others work,
but a critical analysis of it and a relationship between the different works
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 Pitfalls in Literature Review

• Lacking organization and structure

• Being repetitive and verbose

• Lacking focus and coherence

• Failing to cite influential papers

Sources of Literature Review
 Databases example: PubMed, Medline,
google scholar, Science base…..etc
 Journal articles: these are good
especially for up-to-date information
 Nationals reports
 Scientific conference
 Books: tend to be less up-to-date
 Thesis and dissertations
Ethical considerations on
literature review
• Careless presentation and interpretation of data may put
readers who want to use the study’s findings on the wrong track

• The presentation of research results or scientific publications

from other writers without quoting the author may take to
court

• Direct copy even with quoting is not allowed

• Any distortion of information on other work to suit your own

study objectives is research misconduct

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 Cont..

Practical hand on of literature search and organization

 Conceptual map

• A conceptual map is simply a diagram of the

concepts and relationships expressed in a
theoretical/conceptual framework

• A conceptual map is an efficient way to

communicate what is known about a phenomenon

• Arrows indicate the proposed direction of the

relationships among the concepts
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 Conceptual map….
Example
• Health Workers Job Satisfaction and Factors
affecting their Satisfaction Level (title)

• Dependant and independent variables are

identified as job satisfaction level and (Socio-
demographic characteristics, Motivation
factors, Management condition, Staff
relationship, and Resource & material)
Respectively.

• Conceptual framework relates these two

variables diagrammatically as follows:
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 Conceptual frame work
Motivation factors
Socio-demographic House
characteristics Incentives (top up)
Sex Free health care
Age Farther education
Marital status Training
Service year
Professional category

Job satisfaction level

Management
condition Resource &
Staff involvement in material
decision making Medical
Recognition for task instruments
well done Medical reagents
Co-operation between Staff relationship Essential drug s
managers &staff Working relation ship Infrastructures
Job description. Colleagues support Salary
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