Identifying and formulating a research question: Ayurveda Perspective
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The document discusses the process of formulating effective research questions, emphasizing various factors such as feasibility, novelty, ethical considerations, and relevance. It outlines the types of research questions, the importance of a clear and focused research inquiry, and the steps necessary to narrow down a broad topic. Additionally, it distinguishes between observational and experimental studies, providing a systematic approach to developing research questions.
Identifying and formulating a research question: Ayurveda Perspective
- 1. Searching the right research question patwardhan.kishor@gmail.com
- 2. Possibilities Social motivation Educational motivation Personal motivation Motivated by someone’s work Financial motivation Long standing open problem Curiosity driven
- 3. Factors to be considered Institution Supervisor Expertise Experience Collaboation
- 4. •Feasible •Interesting •Novel •Ethical •Relevant FINER Manageable Appropriate Potential value and publishability Systematic
- 5. Feasible - Availability of adequate funding - Availability of adequate expertise to be trained in newer techniques (Institution/ People) - Availability of infrastructure (Lab/ patients) - Institutional support (Being able to perform other duties) - Personal circumstances (Travel etc)
- 6. Interesting -Engages the interest of all investigators involved -Attracts the attention of readers / researchers/ colleagues -Presents a different perspective of the problem Novel -Provides different / new findings -Generates new hypotheses -Improves methodological flaws of existing studies -Resolves a gap in the existing literature
- 7. Ethical - Complies with local ethical committees - Safeguards the main principles of ethical research - Guarantees safety and reversibility of side effects, if any Relevant - Generates new knowledge - Contributes to improve current practices in the field - Stimulates further research - Assures an accurate answer
- 8. • Simple • Measurable • Achievable • Reproducible • Time-bound SMART Objectives
- 9. A good question Details the problem statement Further describes and refines the issue under study Adds focus to the problem statement Guides data collection and analysis Sets context of research
- 10. PICOT (For clinical studies) (P) Population refers to the sample of subjects you wish to recruit for your study. (I) Intervention refers to the treatment that will be provided to subjects enrolled in your study. (C) Comparison identifies what you plan on using as a reference group to compare with your treatment intervention. (O) Outcome represents what result you plan on measuring to examine the effectiveness of your intervention. (T) Time describes the duration for your data collection.
- 11. Types of Research Questions Descriptive Associational Causal
- 12. Existence: Are BAMS graduates adequately skilled to handle primary healthcare? Does a particular species of plant exist in Himalayas? Description and classification: Funding pattern of different state governments for AYUSH research Types of past research work in Panchakarma
- 13. Composition: Types of patients visiting Ayurveda hospitals Prescription pattern of different Ayurveda doctors Chemical analysis of a Bhasma Chemo-profiling of a compound formulation
- 14. Relationship: Is funding associated with the quality of a clinical trial? Is physical activity associated with academic excellence? Is economic background associated with self-esteem?
- 15. Descriptive—comparative: Are rural BAMS doctors more likely to prescribe allopathy urban doctors? Is the research output better in government funded institutions than private ones? Is Panchakarma commonly prescribed to wealthy patients than to poor?
- 16. Causality: Is Vamana effective in controlling the severity of symptoms of Tamaka Shvasa? Causality—comparative: Is Simhanada Guggulu more effective in RA in comparison to Standard of Care? Causality–Comparative interactions: Is Vamana coupled with Virechana more effective in Sthaulya than coupled with Kashaya Basti?
- 17. How to develop a research question? Begin by identifying a broader subject of interest Do preliminary research on the general topic to find out what research has already been done and what literature already exists. Therefore, one should begin with “information gaps” (What do you already know about the problem?) What do you still need to know? What are the implied questions: The need to know about a problem will lead to few implied questions. Each general question should lead to more specific questions Narrow the scope and focus of research
- 18. Is RQ clear? With so much research available on any given topic, RQs must be as clear as in order to be effective in helping the writer direct his or her research Is the RQ focused? RQs must be specific enough to be well covered in the space available Is the RQ complex enough? RQs should not be answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or by easily found facts. They should, instead, require both research and analysis on the part of the writer
- 19. Is the RQ one that is of interest to the researcher and potentially useful to others? Is it a new issue or problem that needs to be solved or is it attempting to shed light on previously researched topic Is the RQ researchable? Consider the available time frame and the required resources. Is the methodology to conduct the research feasible? Is the RQ measurable and will the process produce data that can be supported or contradicted? Is the RQ too broad or too narrow?
- 20. Brainstorm/Concept map for formulating research question First, identify what types of studies have been done in the past? Is there a unique area that is yet to be investigated or is there a particular question that may be worth replicating? Begin to narrow the topic by asking open-ended “how” and “why” questions Evaluate the question Develop a Hypothesis (Hs) Write down the RQ.
- 21. Writing down the research question State the question in your own words Write down the RQ as completely as possible. Divide your question into concepts. Narrow to two or three concepts Specify the population to be studied Refer to the exposure or intervention to be investigated, if any Reflect the outcome of interest
- 22. Observational Vs Experimental Observational study (Descriptive/ Associational RQ) The investigators stand apart from events taking place in the study. They simply observe and record. Experimental or intervention study (Causal RQ) The investigators introduce an intervention and observe the events which take place in the study.
- 23. References Ratan SK, Anand T, Ratan J. Formulation of Research Question - Stepwise Approach. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg. 2019;24(1):15-20. doi:10.4103/jiaps.JIAPS_76_18 Fandino W. Formulating a good research question: Pearls and pitfalls. Indian J Anaesth. 2019;63(8):611-616. doi:10.4103/ija.IJA_198_19 WHO: A practical guide for health researchers (2004)