Developing A Research Project

1
Developing A Research Project

• K. Scott Coffield
• Professor of Surgery/Urology
• Texas AM Systems HSC/ Scott White

2
Developing A Research Project Is Not New

• Shen Nung, the father of putative medicine
  described experimentation with poisons and herbal
  therapy 2737 B.C.
• Daniel described comparative protocol of diet
  and health outcomes in Chapter 111-16
• legumes and water made for healthier youths
  than the kings rich food and wine

3
Why Develop A Research Project? Six Reasons

• My Patient requires it.
• My Conscience (Ethics) requires it.
• My Practice (patients) requires it
• My Education requires it.
• My Program requires it.
• My Speciality Certifying Board requires it.

4
Initiating The Research Project

• Every research project begins with a question.
• The question is born of need( ie, patient need,
  knowledge gap, curiosity, system need)
• All are potentially related to outcomes of
  patient care

5
Initiating A Research Project, The ?

• Key to success is subject to the willingness of
  the investigator to see the project to
  completion. That is stick to the question, if it
  is worth asking it is worth answering.
• Key to success is to frame a relevant question
  that is answerable with the time, money, staff,
  and other resources available to the
  investigator.

6
Initiating A Research Project, The ?

• The question should be simple.
• The question should be relevant.
• The question should be answerable.
• The question should be a single question.
• The question should be phrased in terms of a
  relationship between variables.
• The question should be as basic to the system of
  inquiry as the medical literature permits.

7
Initiating A Research Question

• Factors that might reveal or be constraints to
  development of a relevant answerable research
  question
• Literature review
• Time
• Cost of materials, tests, assistants, etc
• Sufficient number and types of subjects
• Ability to gather and store data
• Ethical issues
• Critical mass of colleagues interested in research

8
Initiating A Research Question Steps

• Generate an Idea
• Identify a Simple Question
• Modify the Question
• Form a Hypothesis
• Identify Measures of the Hypothesis
• Consultant analysis (mentor, peer,biostatistics)
• Literature Search

9
Intiating A Research Project

• Keythe process is circular
• The question determines the type of study
• The question determines the statistical method
• The type of study and statistical method used
  determine whether the question is answerable