standard format of a research study

Standard Format Of A Research

StudyAn overview

By Dr Mahfud Al-Atty

How does it start?

It starts with a question!

A problem that face you in your daily practice A problem is obvious in a population A Phenomenon among a society or a

population A new material or technique draws an

attention

Protocol

It is a document that clearly states why and how are you going to perform your research!

Protocol

ProtocolProtocol

In the Protocol you should:Set the aim(s) of the study (research)Set null and alternative hypothesesSet the study designSet the sample source & sizeSet materials to be used in the studySet ethical and legal approval Estimate Time and cost

Protocol

Standard Format Of A Research Study

Title of the study Abstract Introduction Methodology Results Statistical analysis Discussion Summary and conclusion Bibliography and references

With little variation, most published researches that appear in the literature forms adhere to the following design:

Standard Format

Title of Studytopic and focus of study

Briefly indicates the topic and the focus of the study.

Should reflect the central question being posed.

Novelty, used to attract the reader. (but should not at expense of briefness making it too lengthy!)

Title of the Study

The importance of the title comes from the fact that it attracts the attention of the potential reader, so:It is necessary to make it as short and to the point as possible.

Why It is important ?

Title of the Study

Orthodontic Treatment of Gummy Smile Using Anterior and Posterior Miniscrews (Temporary Anchorage Devices TADs), a Prospective Clinical

Study

Investigation of Effectiveness of Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) in Treatment of Gummy

Smile

Temporary Anchorage Devices and Gummy Smile

Title Of StudyTitle of the Study

The last title comes straight to the point without stating the obvious. It not only attracts the attention of a reader, but it immediately tunes them into the subject matter.

Title of the Study

Abstract

Appears at the head of the article. It summarizes the study (around 250 words) It may include “key words” for indexing the study in the

database. The purpose of abstract is to quickly figure out if the study

is of interest! It is submitted for publication in journals and for

presentations in scientific events

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction &

Literature Review

Introduction

IntroductionEducates the reader regarding the importance and

the history of the problem summarizes Previous controversiesClarifies question

Introduction

Educate the reader regarding the importance and the history of the problem

Summarize Previous controversies (literature review)

Clarify question

Introduction

Review Of LiteratureProvide a summary of field to dateObligated to make reader aware of the relevant

past research and findings to:Define the key issues Define variablesDefine questions involvedCreate context and rationale for your study

Literature Review

Hypothesis The theory being tested is stated The rival hypotheses are reviewed

Literature Review

Aim of the work After you have given a broad picture of your topic, it is

time to clearly state your objective(s) of your work or study

Aim of the Work

After you have given a broad picture of your topic, it is time to clearly state your objective(s) of your work or study.

Aim of the Work

Methods:The methods section should fulfil the following objectives:

The reader is able to assess the validity of the study and the reliability of measures;

The reader should be provided with specific and detailed information regarding how the study was conducted.

Methodology

Methods

The reader should be able to develop independent conclusion after reviewing the methods and results sections

The reader should be able to replicate the study (level of evidence )Level 1: Systemic replication of results from well controlled, multiple, randomized trails in which the outcomes are relatively homogenous

Methodology

Methods section includes four subsections:The sampling strategyMeasurement strategies and instruments The experimental designStatistical analysis

Methods Methodology

The sampling strategy: The sample size ( does it allow the researcher to properly

test the study hypostasis?) The methods of sample selection (to assure randomization) Where human subjects are involved:

How they were oriented and how “informed consent” was elicited

The reader should be able to decide whether the results from the sample are properly attributed to the population being studied.

Methods Methodology

Sample source, size and randomization

OrientationLegal concerned

Methodology

The sampling strategy:

In experimental studies, the reader want to know whether:

In vivo (in the organism it self)Or

In vitro (in the test tube, on extracted teeth, etc.)

Methods Methodology

Measurement strategies and instruments: What is actually measured determines the real meaning of variable. Clear statement of how the variables are measured determines

exactly what is being studies. For example: Dental caries lesion: visual evidence of demineralization is not

enough Compliance could mean different things! only the measurement itself can provide a clear definition of the

variable.

Methods Methodology

Measurement strategies: The reader will want to determine whether the

descriptive(mean, SD, median, etc.) and inferential statistics (probability, tests of significance, etc.) used are appropriate scale employed to measure dependent and independent variables.

Methodology

The measurements:ReliabilitySensitivitySpecificity

Methodology

Instruments:The following should be stated clearly: The method of the examiner(s) calibration:

Intra and inter examiner calibration.Equations and tests for examiners reliability.

Instruments calibration.

Methodology

The experimental design: The study design should be described operationally in a

step-by-step sequence. Should be detailed that the reader is able to replicate the

study

Methodology

Methodology

Statistical analytic procedures:Statistical procedures and the strategy of

quantifying, evaluating and analysing the results must me clearly presented.

Statistics

Statistics

Results: The finding should be reported descriptively no

interpreted. Tables, charts, and graphs may be used when

appropriate. “Post hoc” analysis may provide important cues for

further studies and explorations of the topic.

Results

Results

Discussion Interpretation explanation of the results Make sense of the findings Review the hypothesis and the theory in the light of the findings Speculate on the methodology It is an opportunity for the researcher to: editorialize (express your opinion) & dialogue with the reader to

propose different ways to conceptualize (from an idea) the outcome data

and to reconceptualise the theory

Discussion

Summary & Conclusion At the end the researcher: Provides a summary and interpretation of the study findings. Attempts to draw conclusions related to the original theory and study questions.

Summary & Conclusion

N.B. It is tempting for the busy clinician or student who is

reviewing a large body of literature to read only the introduction and conclusions.

With out carefully reviewing the methods and results sections, it would be easy to be misled and to accept unsupported assertions!

Summary & Conclusion

References

Citation & Bibliography

References, Citation & Bibliography

Why is referencing important in academic writing?Acknowledge the ideas or words of the othersAvoid plagiarism Provide authority for your statements

There are two main styles of citation and bibliography:Harvard citation styleVancouver citation style


There are two components of referencing:

• In-text citations• The reference list


• Citations in the text:

It is an ’author/date’ system, so in-text citation consists of author(s) and year of publication.

The Harvard citation style can vary in minor features such as punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, and the use of italics.

(Smith

Harvard style

(Mohamed, El-Kadi & Abo-Shamaa 2013)

Harvard style

When citing a work by two or three authors or authoring bodies, cite the names in the order in which they appear on the title page.

; If two or more works by

different authors or authoring bodies are cited at one point in the text, use a semi-colon( ; ) to

separate them!

Harvard style

If you quoted directly from an author or paraphrase a specific idea or piece of information from a source, you need to include the page number of the quote or passage in your text citation.

Harvard style

Block quotationsIt consists of more than 30 words The actual quote is in slightly smaller font and indented from the left hand margin to distinguish it from the surrounding text.

For example: It was stated that:If any similar qualitative research is to be undertaken in the future, then stringent controls should be put in place to ensure such statistical anomalies don not occur through lack of methodological rigor, particularly through corruption of data inadequately stored processes (Mullane 2006, P.66)

Harvard style

• The reference list:

All in-text citations should be listed in the reference list at the end of your document.

Reference list entries contain all the information that someone needs to follow up your source. Reference lists in Harvard are arranged alphabetically by first author.

Harvard style

Vancouver style

The Vancouver Style is formally known as: Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (ICMJE Recommendations).

It was developed in Vancouver in 1978 by editors of medical journals.

Vancouver style

• Citations in the Text:Placement of citations: In-text citation numbers should be placed after the relevant part of a sentence. it is acceptable to place it before or after the period. Be consistent.

References are numbered: Consecutively in the order they are first mentioned. Place each reference number in parentheses throughout the text, tables, and

legends. If the same reference is used again, re-use the original number.

Vancouver style

Personal communication: • Weak evidence.• Should be avoided, unless it provides essential information

not available from a public source. • Do not include them in the reference list; instead cite the

name of the person and date of communication in parentheses in the text.

Internet sources May, in time, be deleted, changed, or moved, so it is a good idea to keep a hard copy for your records. Also, take care to critically evaluate the reliability of the information.

• Citations in the Text:

Vancouver style

Example:Recently, the health sciences community has reduced the bias and imprecision of traditional literature summaries through the development of rigorous criteria for both literature overviews (1-3) and practice guidelines (4,5). Even when recommendations come from such rigorous approaches, however, “it is important to differentiate between those based on weak vs. strong evidence” (6). Recommendations based on inadequate evidence often require reversal when sufficient data become available, (John Doe, April 1, 2002) while timely implementation of recommendations based on strong evidence can save lives (3).

• Citations in the Text:

Vancouver style


• The last page of your paper is entitled References.

• References are single spaced, with double-spacing between references.

• List all references in order by number, not alphabetically.

Vancouver style

• Each reference is listed once only, since the same number is used throughout the paper.

• List each author’s last name followed by a space and then initials without any periods.

• There is a comma and space between authors and a period at the end of the last author.

• If the number of authors exceeds six, give the first six followed by “et al.”


Vancouver style

For edited books: place the editors’ names in the author position and follow

the last editor with a comma and the word editor (or editors).

For edited books with chapters written by individual authors, list the authors of the chapter first, then the chapter title, followed by “In:”, the editors’ names, and the book title.

Vancouver style


Title: Capitalize the first letter of the first word in the title. The rest of the title is in lower-case.

with the exception of proper names. Do not underline the title; do not use italics.

If there is an edition for a book, it appears after the title, abbreviated and followed by a period, for example: 3rd ed.

Vancouver style

Publication information: Journals: I. List the abbreviated journal title, II. place a period and a space, year, (and abbreviated month

and day if applicable), III.semi-colon, volume, IV. issue number in parentheses, colon, V. page range, and a period. VI.For example, Brain Res. 2002;935(1-2):40-6. VII.(The issue number may be omitted if the journal is

paginated continuously through the volume.)

Vancouver style

1. Majourau A, Nanda. R. Biomechanical Basis of Vertical Dimension Control During

Rapid Palatal Expansion Therapy. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1994;106:322-8.

2. Alatey M.Temporary Anchorage Devices & Gummy Smile. Libyan Dent J

2015;5:1-5.

Thank You!

standard format of a research study

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