Research Question

Question 1

Research problem

Answer 1

A proper, relevant, research problem should provide information about:
• What is the problem?
• Who has the problem?
• What are the possible solutions for the problem?

Question 2

Features of the research question

Answer 2

• Relevant (it is an issue covered by the research)
• Manageable
• Specific ( it is measurable or investigable)
• Clear and simple
• Interesting
• Legitimate (it is a question, not a statement)
• Answerable

Question 3

What does a research question consider?

Answer 3

• Is the patient/problem identified ?
• Which variable will be measured?
• Which variable will be manipulated?
• Is there a comparison? What is being compared?

Research question determines everything (study design, methodology, analysis) about a study.

Question 4

PICO

Answer 4

P: Patient/Population/Problem
I: Intervention
C: Comparison
O: Outcome

Used in Quantitative Research!

Question 5

Patient/Population/Problem

Answer 5

Consider age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.

Which people, what condition.

Question 6

Intervention

Answer 6

Therapeutic measure, medication, diagnostic test, ect.

What therapy/treatment will be used?

Question 7

Comparison

Answer 7

Another intervention, placebo, standard of care, diagnostic gold standard. Comparison not always present.
Control group or usual care?

Question 8

Outcome

Answer 8

The desired outcome should be measurable.

What does the intervention aim to change?

Question 9

Types of Questions

Answer 9

• Diagnosis
• Therapy
• Prognosis
• Etiology/Harm
• Prevention

Question 10

Diagnosis

Answer 10

How to select and interpret diagnostic tests in order to confirm or exclude a diagnosis, based on considering their specificity, sensitivity, likelihood ratios, expenses, safety, etc.

Are MRI scans more accurate in diagnosing elite athletes compared with echography for hamstring injuries?

Question 11

Therapy

Answer 11

How to select treatment to offer patients that do more good than harm and that are worth the efforts and costs of using them.

In elite athletes, what is the effect of HIIT on muscle strength compared with usual care?

Question 12

Prognosis

Answer 12

How to estimate the patient’s likely clinical course over time and anticipate likely complications of disease.

Does HIIT influence muscle strength in patients who have hamstring injuries?
How long does it take to heal from…?

Question 13

Etiology/Harm

Answer 13

How to identify causes for disease.

Are elite athletes who have HIIT at increased risk of hamstring injuries compared with elite athletes without HIIT?

Question 14

Prevention

Answer 14

How to reduce the chance of disease by identifying and modifying risk factors and how to diagnose early by screening.

For elite athletes does the use of HIIT reduce the risk of hamstring injury compared with usual care?

Question 15

PICo

Answer 15

Qualitative Research

P: Population / Patient / Problem
I: Interest
Co: Context

Question 16

SPICE

Answer 16

Qualitative studies

S: Setting (where) 
P: Perspective (for whom)
I: Interest / Experience / Intervention (what)
C: Comparison (what else)
E: Evaluation (how well, what result)

Question 17

SPIDER

Answer 17

Qualitative & mixed methods studies

S: Sample Population / Patient / Problem
PI: Phenomenon of Interest
D: Design
E: Evaluation
R: Research type

Question 18

PICo Example: How do people who care for their spouse with Parkinson’s disease deal with the pain their spouse is experiencing?

Answer 18

P: Spouses of people with PD who act as their carers
I: Ability to deal with their loved one’s pain
Co: Home caring environment

Question 19

SPICE Example: What are the coping skills of parents of children with autism undergoing behavioral therapy in schools?

Answer 19

S: Schools
P: Parents of children with autism
I: Behavioral therapy
C: None
E: Coping skills, attitudes

Question 20

SPIDER Example: What are the experiences of sexuality of young men with spinal cord injury?

Answer 20

S: Young men with SCI
PI: sexuality
D: Interview or focus group
E: Experiences with / attitudes towards
R: Qualitative study