Homework 1

1. Visit MOSTI and MOHE websites

2. Findout:
a) what are the main research areas that are funded under this ministries.
b) what are the available research funding schemes under each ministry

Exercise 1

1. Duration: 45 -60 minutes


2. Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the session students
a) will be able to classify the various types of pharmaceutical related research in different research categories

b) will be able to acquire knowledge of contemporary issues in pharmaceutical

c) will acquire life long learning through group discussions and consultations with instructors


3. Work is to be done in groups.

a) Students are to list the topics of researches carried out by researchers based in Research Universities.

b) Students are to classify these researches into the 4 major areas of pharmaceutical/health sciences.

c) Students are to identify and classify these researches into priority areas as defined by MOSTI in the 9th. Malaysian Plan

Characteristic of Qualitative Research

1. Qualitative research commonly undertaken for exploratory studies

2. Main purpose of exploratory studies is to gain insights and understand on issues that are not well conceptualized

3. Involves qualitative responses

4. Use of research questions (not hypotheses).

5. Examples of Qualitative Research

- Establishment of Performance Indicator for Water Supply Services Industry
- Investigation On Animal Post Mortem Radiogrpahic Changes For Application In Human Virtual Autopsy

Characteristic of Quantitative Research

1. Deals with quantitative data

2. Use of statistical analyses are common

3. Data collection using instruments such as questionnaire and experimental equipments

4. Hypotheses are normally developed and tested statistically

5. Research findings usually conclusive

6. Sample is usually large and representative of the population

7. Probability sampling techniques are often used:

- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Cluster sampling

8. Examples of Quantitative Research

- Effects of Different Substrates on Nitrate Utilization Rate

Qualitative & Quantitative

Quantitative Method

1. Survey

2. Experiment

3. Secondary Data

4. Observation that is quantified in terms of frequency, variances, etc


Qualitative Method

1. Total observation

2. Participant observation

3. Face-to-face interviews

4. Focus group interviews

5. Historical data/document analysis

Example of Ex-post Facto

1. Traffic accident black spot study for Kuantan

2. Assessing causes of carbonation of reinforced concrete under marine environment

Example of Experimental Research (PMSA)

1. Prototype: Behavior of PSSD slab in multi-storey building

2. Model testing: model investigation of piles groups in sands

3. Simulation: Experimental evaluation of performance of bridge pier shapes against scour

4. Analog Computer: Finite element analysis of steel-concrete composite beam sections of bridges.

Example of Co-relational Research

1. Co-relation between in-situ concrete strength with laboratory tested cored samples for R.C. beam.

2. Inter-relationship between microwave and conventional method in strength of timber.

Examples of Descriptive Research

1. Survey: “Aggregate sources for road construction”

2. Case-study: “Parking needs study for IIUM Kuantan Campus”

3. Normative: “Proficiency in site safety standards of Pharmacist”

4. Content Analysis: “Comparative study on waste treatment process in Asean countries”

Example of Historical Research

1. Tracing the historical development of railroad in Peninsular Malaysia

2. Reconstructing the events leading the failure of Highland Towers

Applied research

1. Conducted based on theories & findings of basic research

2. Applying previous findings to new equipment, material, products, systems, processes etc.

3. Findings have direct applications or can be commercialized.
- technology development
- product development
- process development

4. Keywords: Development of…., analysis of…., new approach of…., bioactivity-guided isolation of….

5. Examples:

Development of Fluorescing Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strain as a Tool for Rapid Screening of Antibacterial of Natural Products.

Mutational Analysis of Ras Gene Family in Oral Cancer using Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (dHPLC).

Chemical analysis of semiochemicals of female Aedes aegypti (L)

Bioactivity-guided isolation of cytotoxic constituents from the leaves of Alnus sielboldiana

Development of Ontology for Healthcare Information Integration

Effectiveness of Ops Sikap in reducing accidents during festive seasons on Malaysian Roads

Isolation of anti-snake venom tannins from Mimosa pudica L. and investigations of theirefficacy and safety

Fundamental or pure research

1. Has the primary aim of acquiring deeper understanding of a topic/issue/subject.

2. Has no immediate or direct application.

3. Add to new theories and explains phenomena.

4. Proven to have applications in the long term.

- scientific research
- social research
- policy research

5. Keywords: study on.., search for…, preliminary studies…, study the effect ..

6. Examples

- Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on L-NAME Induced Renal Damage in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat.

- Electroanalytical Studies and Voltammetric Determination of Antibiotic Drug (Vancomycin) in Human PlasmaSamples.

- A Study on 24 Hours Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Among Hypertensive

- Patient Attending IIUM Health Centre.

Categories of Research

1. By Purpose

a) Fundamental or pure research
b) Applied research


2. By Method (HDCEEN)

a) Historical
b) Descriptive- case study,survey,normative,content analysis
c) Co-relational
d) Experimental- prototype,model,simulation,computer or Analog simulation
e) Ex-post Facto (causal)
f) Naturalistic mode of inquiry- participant observation, Ethnographic.


3. By data treatment

a) Qualitative or quantitative
b) Spss analysis

Learning outcomes

At the end of this lecture students will:

1. be able to describe with examples different types of researches

2. be able to classify research by purpose, method, and data treatment

3. be able to compare and contrast the different types of researches

Definition of research

1. To search or investigate exhaustively

2. Studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts

3. Revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts,

or

practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

4. The collecting of information about a particular subject

© Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition

Introduction

1. What is research?

2. Purpose of research & research process

3. Identifying and analysis of the research topic

Assignment 1

References

Required:
WHO (2001). Health Research Methodology: A Guide for Training in Research Methods. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (2nd ed.). Retrievable from http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_929061157X.htm).

Recommended:

1. Aviva Petrie & Caroline Sabin (2000). Medical Statistics at a Glance (1st ed.). Blackwell Publishers.

2. Beth Dawson et al (2004). Basic & Clinical Biostatistics (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical.

3. Darren George & Paul Mallery (2004). SPSS for Windows Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference 12.0 update (5th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

Course assessment

Mid-Semester Exam

1. Practical/Report

2. MCQs 10 Questions

3. Short Essays - 4 out of 6 questions

4. Long Essays - 1 out of 2 questions


End-Semester Exam

1. Practical/Report

2. MCQs - 10 Questions

3. Short Essays - 4 out of 6 questions

4. Long Essays - 2 out of 4 questions

Week 1 - 3

Week 1

-


Week 2

1. Purpose of research & research process (1)
Dr. Siti Zaiton

2. Identifying and analysis of the research topic (2)
Dr. Siti Zaiton

3. Bias & its remedy (3)
Dr. Siti Zaiton

4. Cross sectional study (4)
Dr. Siti Zaiton


Week 3

5. Cohort study (5)
Dr. Siti Zaiton

6. Clinical trial (6)
Dr. Siti Zaiton