1 / 35

Writing up your project 06.12.12

Research Methods. Writing up your project 06.12.12. Research Projects. Background Literature Aims and Hypothesis Methods: Study Design Data collection approach Sample Size and Power Reliability and Validity Analysis strategy. Research Project. Results Discussion and Conclusion

harvey
Download Presentation

Writing up your project 06.12.12

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Research Methods Writing up your project06.12.12

  2. Research Projects • Background Literature • Aims and Hypothesis • Methods: • Study Design • Data collection approach • Sample Size and Power • Reliability and Validity • Analysis strategy

  3. Research Project • Results • Discussion and Conclusion • Limitations • Acknowledgements • Disseminating your findings and getting published

  4. Plan for the day • Results presentation and writing up • Discussion • Conclusion • Getting published

  5. RESULTS • Summary of your findings • Consistent with your research method • Use appropriate display of information and analysis of data • Relevant statistical techniques where appropriate

  6. RESULTS: How to present? • How will you display your findings? What are the options?

  7. RESULTS Aim – to present your information in a way that can be easily understood, yet includes relevant detail

  8. Data analysis • Data cleaning: analyse mistakes/ illegible responses/ inconsistent results/ implausible numbers • Clarify which are accurate respondants • May need to discard some data or go back to check data

  9. Data analysis • Missing data- identify if any missing data? Errors or omission

  10. Data analysis Re-coding • To group variables in a form in which you wish to analyse them e.g. from continuous data to grouped sets Eg age to age groups • Should spot-check for errors • Repeated by independent person – compare and check results

  11. Data analysis: Browsing data • Central tendancy or characteristic of data • Mean- arithmetic average • Median- middle value • Mode- most common

  12. Browsing Data Variation in the data • Range of values: Min – Max • Standard Deviation – the average distance of individual observation from the group mean

  13. Data analysis Differences within the data Difference between means (t-test) Differences between proportion (chi-squared)

  14. Data analysis • Relationships within the data Relationship between 1 variable and another using statistical method • Correlation • Regression

  15. Data analysis • Data transformations • Transform variables: • Re-code • Counts • Scaling • Conditional transformations (transform 1 variable depending on another)

  16. Types of data analysis • Univariate analysis: single variables • Time series analysis- measuring changes over time • Bivariate analysis: pairs of data • Multivariate analysis: >2 variables • Cost effectiveness analysis • Use effectiveness analysis

  17. Comparing variables • Comparing variables – distribution between 2/+ groups • Testing difference between means (t-test) • Comparing proportions: (Chi Squared) • Comparing % in same sample at 2 different points of time (McNemar test) • Comparing > 2 means (ANOVA- analysis of variance)

  18. Results Section Describe basic data – first things first! • Text • Table • Graph • Use of number, n and % • Decimal points: general to 2 decimal 1.25 E.g. Number of patients included, excluded Demographic data

  19. Results • Describing data • Range • Mean/Mode/Median • Any basic trends • Confidence Intervals and p-values Progress into more detailed statistical analysis as appropriate

  20. Results Ensure use of tables/ graphs/charts is appropriate and to scale Title, label and provide a key if needed • Pie charts- percentages • Bar charts- comparison of different data • Line graphs- change over time • Histograms- continuous charted data

  21. Results: tables • Should be concise • Make sure it makes sense to read on its own • May need more than one table if it is becoming large and unwieldy • If complex data, a graph may be better

  22. Presenting results • Takes more thought and practice than you might imagine Exercise: Plan how you would present the findings of your research – what graphs, tables etc. would you use and why? Draft some examples – dummy tables

  23. Conclusion & Dicussion • Summarise your findings – key points • Relate findings back to the literature base and your own aims and objectives • Discuss benefits of your study • Discuss limitations

  24. Getting published! • A significant achievement – personally, for cv and career • But cannot be taken for granted • Consider the requirements of journals and their reviewers

  25. Preparing a publication • Why do you want it to be published? • What does your research have to contribute to the field? • Is it timely, relevant and of interest? • Consider WHO is audience? • WHICH JOURNAL to publish in?

  26. Preparing a publication • Consider which Journal might be willing to publish your research • Area of interest • Audience • Type of research/ article • Impact factor

  27. Journal Style • Look at the Journal Guidance for Authors- what is the style required for writing up • Spacing • Font • Margin Size • Numbering • Headings • Number and style of tables, graphs etc.

  28. Journal Style • Abstract style • Authorship • Conflicts of interest • Word Count, Which type of paper your research meets – case report/ review/ original research/ commentary etc..

  29. Journal Style • Referencing • Number of references • Reference style – Vancouver, Harvard etc.

  30. Writing up for publication • What is key finding? Structure article in way that will take the reader with you and engage them with the relevance of your findings

  31. Writing up for publication Write a draft Revise Revise Revise again! Don’t get too disheartened.. Get feedback from others..

  32. Writing up for publication • Submit article – online log-in often • May need to suggest reviewers • Ensure you get submission deadline and provide correct contact details • Agree who is lead author on paper and corresponding author • Wait for feedback… and keep waiting.. Until hopefully you get a positive result!!

  33. BARRIERS TO RESEARCH INTERNAL • Previous experiences (good/bad) • Knowledge, skills and confidence • Own beliefs about research value • Prioritisation of time for research In 5 minutes jot down your positive and negative internal influences on your research

  34. BARRIERS TO RESEARCH EXTERNAL • Other commitments- practical/ work/ personal • Technology issues • Research supervision • Support from others Spend 5 minutes identifying external barriers to your research

  35. Overcoming Barriers Spend 5-10 minutes identifying an action plan for your research protocol- think about targets being: • Specific • Measurable • Achievable • Realistic • Timely

More Related