Problem statement, justification & formulation of hypothesis, research question and objectives by Dr. Andrew Kumwenda BSc.(HB), MBChB (UNZA), MPhil.(Stellenbosch), MPH (University of Western Cape), MMed. (OBGYN) (UNZA), PhD candidate (Witwatersrand) - UNZ

Problem statement, justification & formulation of hypothesis, research question and objectives Dr. Andrew Kumwenda BSc.(HB), MBChB (UNZA), MPhil.(Stellenbosch), MPH (University of Western Cape), MMed. (OBGYN) (UNZA), PhD candidate (Witwatersrand) MBChB VI Research Methods Course, School of Medicine, UNZA. Tuesday 2nd February, 2021. Introduction to research Research is important in any profession and an integral part of healthcare practice, education and management Therefore, a “research-mindedness” needs to be fostered in healthcare professionals from the start of their training The healthcare professionals need to be aware of, and knowledgeable about the application of research in their practice What is research? This is the systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting information in order to increase understanding of phenomena of interest It is also a systematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer questions or solve problems The ultimate goal of research is to develop and expand knowledge Components of a research project As a student, you will be expected to conduct a research project at some point To do that, you will need to develop a research protocol which is the written plan of the research Protocols help the researcher organize their research in a logical, focused and efficient way Components of a protocol Title Introduction Literature review Statement of the problem / rationale / study justification Research question(s) Components of a protocol Hypothesis Objectives Research methods Data analysis Ethical Issues Components of a protocol Time table Budget References Appendices Focus for today: Statement of the problem Problem Justification / rationale Formulating: Hypothesis, Research questions and Objectives Statement of the problem This is a concise description of an issue or condition to be addressed or improved upon. It identifies the gap between the current and desired states of a process or product Effective problem statements answer the question “Why does this research need to be conducted.” It is concise and concrete Problem justification / rationale This provides a compelling argument to justify the proposed study It is based on the belief in the need for additional or completely new research on a subject It should explain, defend, and / or prove that the current literature (if any) & current findings (if any) on the given problem are inadequate, outdated, and / or inaccurate. Problem justification / rationale It should identify the reasoning and justification for writing a dissertation on the particular subject. This is an attempt to show the urgency and relevance of the proposed study. It builds on the review of literature and argues that the knowledge gaps are so serious as to warrant further study to address them. Problem justification / rationale It is not sufficient to say “no previous study has been done on this subject at the UTH” The justification must capture the reader and make them interested in the product of the research. Demonstrate that an important knowledge gap exists which needs to be addressed urgently, and your research intends to do this.