Writing Methodology Section in public health
- 1. Writing Methodology Section in Research Proposal Kamarul Imran Musa MD (USM), M Community Med (USM), PhD (Lancaster) Member, Biro Latihan, PPPKAM
- 2. A bit of myself • Profesor VK7 (Epidemiologi Perubatan & Biostatistik), PP Sains Perubatan, USM • Penyelaras Penyelidikan, Kampus Kesihatan dan IPPT • Penyelaras, Unit Sains Kesihatan Digital, PP Sains Perubatan • Ketua, Kluster Penyelidikan Kesihatan dan Profession Digital , PP Sains Perubatan • Profesor Madya Adjunct (Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan dan Kehidupan, Universiti Sunway) • Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam (NSR: 135728) • Felo, American College of Epidemiology (FACE) • Ahli Panel Penilai (2023-2028), Program Kepakaran Perubatan, Majlis Perubatan Malaysia (MMC)
- 3. Contents MOTIVATION FOR WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL MOTIVATIONS FOR WRITING THE METHODOLOG Y SECTION GENERAL STRUCTURE OF METHODOLOGY SECTION STRUCTURE FOR QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPERIENCE AS A PANEL
- 4. Motivations • Present Evidence of Thorough Research: • A research proposal demonstrates that you have thoroughly considered your research topic and have a clear plan for investigation. • It provides evidence that you are well-prepared to undertake the research. • To Secure Funding: • Academics often write research proposals to seek funding for their projects.
- 5. • To Get Approval: • If you’re a student, writing a research proposal may be required as part of a grad school application or before starting your thesis or dissertation. • It helps convince your educational institution or supervisor that your research is worth pursuing. • To Formulate a Plan: • A research proposal outlines the steps you’ll take to conduct your research. • It forces you to think through the methodology, data collection, and analysis, ensuring a well-structured approach. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 6. • To Generate Ideas: • The process of writing a proposal encourages you to explore different angles, consider alternatives, and refine your research question. • It sparks creativity and helps you generate new ideas.
- 7. Motivations • Methodology is critically important in research proposal writing. • The methodology section outlines the approach or methods that will be used to conduct the research. • It provides a detailed description of how the research will be carried out, including the techniques, procedures, and tools that will be utilised.
- 8. • Validity and Reliability: • A well-defined methodology ensures that the research findings are valid and reliable. It outlines the steps that will be taken to collect and analyze data in a systematic and rigorous manner, minimizing bias and errors. • Replicability: • A clear methodology allows other researchers to replicate the study, verifying the findings and building upon the research. Transparency in the methodology enhances the credibility of the research. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
- 9. • Alignment with Objectives: • The methodology should be aligned with the research objectives and questions. • It should demonstrate how the chosen methods will address the research problem and contribute to knowledge in the field. • Ethical Considerations: • The methodology section should address ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and data protection. • It should demonstrate that the research will be conducted ethically and with respect for the rights and well-being of participants. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 10. • Feasibility: • The methodology should be feasible given the resources, time constraints, and logistical considerations of the research project. It should demonstrate that the proposed methods are practical and can be implemented within the available constraints. • Justification: • The methodology section should justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for addressing the research questions. It should discuss the strengths and limitations of the chosen approach and why alternative methods were not selected. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- 11. Structures • Introduction to Methodology: • Provide a brief overview of the methodology section • Outlining the key approaches and methods that will be used to address the research questions or objectives. • Research Design: • Describe the overall research design, including the overarching strategy or approach that will be employed • Justify why the chosen research design is appropriate for the research questions and objectives. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
- 12. • Data Collection Methods: • Describe the specific methods that will be used to collect data. This may include techniques such as surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, archival research, or document analysis. • Provide details on how participants will be recruited or selected, the sampling strategy (if applicable), and any inclusion/exclusion criteria. • Data Analysis Methods: • Outline the procedures that will be used to analyze the collected data. This may involve statistical techniques, qualitative analysis methods, or a combination of both. • Describe how the data will be processed, coded, and interpreted to address the research questions or test hypotheses.
- 13. • Validity and Reliability: • Discuss measures that will be taken to ensure the validity and reliability of the data. This may include pilot testing, inter-rater reliability checks, triangulation of data sources, or validity checks for instruments. • Ethical Considerations: • Describe any ethical considerations related to the research, such as informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and potential risks to participants. • Explain how ethical guidelines and regulations will be followed to protect the rights and well-being of participants. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 14. • Limitations: • Acknowledge any limitations or constraints associated with the chosen methodology, such as sample size limitations, access to resources, or potential biases. • Milestone • Gantt chart
- 15. Tips: Rubric Objectives Pop/Sample Data Source Data collection Variables Assumptions Analysis Limitations • A rubric • Objectives and corresponding methods • Examples of objectives • Estimate prevalences of premature CVD in Asian using SR from 2000 to 2020 • Describe risk factors for premature CVD among Malaysian population using population-based data from 2000 to 2020 • Estimate relationship of RF and premature CVD using GAM among Malaysian population-based data from 2000 to 2020
- 17. Milestone • Develop the 1st draft of SR paper(end of Feb 2025) • Obtain ethical approval (end of April 2025) • Complete prelim analysis of premature CVD (end of June 2025) • Develop models of risk factors for premature CVD (end of Aug 2025) • Submit paper for modelling of CVD premature mortality (end of Dec 2025) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 18. Gantt chart Jan-Feb Mac-Apr May-June July-Aug Sept-Oct Nov-Dec Research proposal SR analysis Preliminary analysis Modelling Drafting paper
- 19. Fancier Gantt Chart Free Online Gantt Chart Software
- 20. Structures for qualitative study • Introduction to Qualitative Methodology: • Explain why a qualitative approach is appropriate for addressing the research aims, such as exploring complex phenomena, understanding social processes, or gaining insights into subjective experiences. • Research Design: • Describe the overall research design, such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study, or narrative inquiry. • Justify the chosen research design based on its suitability for the research questions, context, and objectives.
- 21. • Sampling Strategy: • Describe the criteria and procedures for selecting participants or cases. • Explain the rationale behind the sampling strategy, such as purposeful sampling, snowball sampling, or theoretical sampling. • Data Collection Methods: • Detail the methods used to collect qualitative data, such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation, or document analysis. • Explain how data will be collected in naturalistic settings and the role of the researcher in data collection. • Provide information on any tools, guides, or protocols used during data collection.
- 22. • Data Analysis Methods: • Describe the approach to analyzing qualitative data, such as thematic analysis, content analysis, narrative analysis, or discourse analysis. • Explain the steps involved in data analysis, including coding, categorization, and interpretation. • Validity and Reliability: • Discuss strategies for ensuring the validity and reliability of qualitative findings, such as prolonged engagement, triangulation, or reflexivity. • Address issues related to researcher bias, subjectivity, and interpretation. • Explain how credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability will be established. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- 23. • Ethical Considerations: • Describe ethical considerations relevant to the study, such as informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and respect for participants' rights. • Explain how ethical guidelines and protocols will be followed to protect participants and ensure ethical conduct throughout the research process. • Reflexivity: • Reflect on the researcher's role, positionality, and biases in the study. • Describe strategies for maintaining reflexivity and minimizing the impact of researcher bias on the study findings. • Limitations: • Acknowledge any limitations or challenges associated with the qualitative methodology, such as potential for subjectivity, generalizability, or resource constraints.
- 24. Common weaknesses in proposal • Lack of Clarity or Detail: • One of the most common weaknesses is a lack of clarity or detail in describing the methodology. If the methodology is not clearly explained, reviewers may struggle to understand • Inadequate Justification of Methods: • Another weakness is insufficient justification for the chosen research methods. • Sampling Issues: • Weaknesses related to sampling can include inadequate sample size justification, lack of representativeness, or inappropriate sampling methods.
- 25. • Bias and Confounding: • Failure to address potential sources of bias and confounding can weaken the methodology section. Researchers should discuss how they will minimize bias in study design, data collection, and analysis. • They should also consider potential confounding variables and describe strategies for controlling or adjusting for them. • Limited Generalizability: • Weaknesses related to generalizability occur when the sample or study population is not representative of the target population, or when the findings cannot be generalized beyond the study sample. Researchers should carefully consider the external validity of their study and discuss the limitations of generalizability. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY- SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- 26. • Ethical Considerations: • Ethical weaknesses may include inadequate protection of human subjects, lack of informed consent procedures, or failure to address potential risks to participants. • Insufficient Attention to Validity and Reliability: • Weaknesses related to validity and reliability occur when researchers fail to address threats to the internal validity of the study or do not adequately consider the reliability of their measures. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- 27. Research Proposal for PPPKAM Grant • Study Title • Field of Study • Background / Introduction • Justification/rationale • Research questions • Research Objectives • General objective • Specific objectives • Methods • Ethical considerations • Expected outputs Link : Latest PPPKAM RESEARCH GRANT 2024/2025.docx - Google Docs
- 28. Research Proposal for PPPKAM Grant • Expected outcomes • Project timeline • Budget • RM10,000 • RM5000 • References • Appendices
- 29. Experience as a panel, I have found that some • Not motivated • Not convincing • Lack of details • Too much details • Not following format • Lack rigour • Not your area of expertise • Too time consuming • Too people consuming • Characters • Technicalities • Scholarly • Resources
- 30. Thank you Apologies for shameless promotion • Email : drkamarul@usm.my • Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/drkim29 • Twitter : kamarul_imran This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 31. Acknowledgements • Persatuan Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Malaysia