Successful research development

Question 1

What is FINER?

Answer 1

An acronym used when creating research questions

F- Feasible –> It can be answered
I - Interesting –> You are enthusiastic
N - Novel –> Breaks new ground
E- Ethical –> No harm to subjects
R - Relevant –> The ‘so what?’ test

Question 2

How to achieve writing a research question

Answer 2

Step 1:
Identify a research area and then a research topic

Step 2:
Undertake background work to get to know your research topic in order to define a question

Step 3:
Refine and finalise a question

Question 3

What is step 1 of writing a research question?

Answer 3

Identify the research area
Narrow this down to a research topic by making a list of relevant ideas or concepts
Linking ideas/ concepts
Write the link as an initial general research question (if possible)

Question 4

Differences between idea and question

Answer 4

Idea
- Creative
- Impulsive
- Undefined
- Unverified
- No limits

Question
- Methodical
- Considered
- Reserved
- Finite
- Verifiable
- Limited
- Time period
- Equipment
- Fixed budget

Question 5

What is step 2 of writing a research question?

Answer 5

Background work - Learning about topic in order to ask a ‘good’ question

To find out what are they key:
- Questions
- Findings
- Underlying concepts and theories
- Methodologies used (that do and don’t work)
- Researchers -> any key papers or presentations?
- What’s not yet known (what their next questions were)

Question 6

What are the end goals of background work?

Answer 6

1. Survey of literature
2. Theoretical perspective
3. Revised and refined research question (may have one or more testable hypotheses if quantitative research)
4. Clear about feasibility of study (data sources etc.)

Question 7

What is step 3 of writing a research question?

Answer 7

Refining the question

The ‘virtual investigation’
In order to help ensure this is a good question, carry out the study in your mind and undertake a virtual investigation.
Consider how it will be carried out. Clarify whether it is a question which will be best answered through the use of a quantitative or qualitative design, or mixed methods.
Particularly important when thinking about feasibility issues… sampling, recruitment process, undertaking assessment/ procedures etc.

Start to think about how the study will run.
Identify method type
Mapping out a draft protocol

Question 8

Differences between quantitative and qualitative questions

Answer 8

Qualitative questions
- More open ended
- Descriptive
- Interpretive
- Process-oriented –> ideas and views on the issue of relevance

Quantitative
- More closed - reduce bias
- Probable cause/ effect
- Use of theories
- Assessing differences and magnitude: collects numerical data

Question 9

What is another technique that can be used to formulate a question or deciding a topic area?

Answer 9

Who, what, why, how

Who
- Who or what specifically is being studied?

What
- What exactly is the issue being addressed?

Why
- Why is your study important?
- What are you doing that is new?

How
- How will you address the issue?
- What will you measure or observe about this issue?

Question 10

What vs Why

Answer 10

Why
- Broad
- Unfocused

What
- More specific
- Focused
- Refined

Question 11

What is PICO?

Answer 11

Question framework

P
- Patient or problem being addressed

I
- The intervention or exposure being considered

C
- The comparison intervention or exposure, when relevant

O
- The clinical outcomes of interest

(T - Timeframe)

Question 12

What is SPIDER?

Answer 12

Often used in qualitative research
Focused on samples rather than populations

Sample
Phenomenon of Interest
Design
Evaluation
Research type