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Conducting Rigorous Research Seminar Workbook

2 Seminar One

In the lecture this week

2.1 Task 1

Assessment launch

2.1.1 Instructions

  • As part of your module content you will plan and conduct a pilot study
  • You will individually produce an academic infographic to communicate the findings of the pilot study at a simulated conference
  • You will have 20 minutes to individually present the hypothesis, methodological features and data analysis of the pilot study

2.1.2 Further guidance

  • Based on previously published work you will design and conduct a pilot study based on an area of personal interest
  • You will need to prepare a study protocol in accordance with good reporting guidelines and demonstrate ethical considerations (risk assessments, participant documentation, competency checks etc.)
  • You will need to formulate a null and alternate hypothesis
  • In planning the trial, you will need to think carefully about the methodological features used (CRABS)
  • Identify the most appropriate statistical test and perform data analysis
  • Using the template provided, design an academic infographic that accurately communicates the findings
  • Study materials such as cue cards are permitted in this assessment

2.2 Task 2

2.2.1 Formulating a research question

The goal of this task is to develop an effective research questions for a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) through a structured brainstorming

2.2.2 Step One

Separate a piece of paper into four sections; modules, career, general interest, supervisor

  1. Modules:
  • Under the “Modules” section, list your favorite or strongest performing modules.
  • Beneath each module, identify and write down the specific components of the module that captivated your interest the most.
  1. Career:
  • Under the “Career” section, list the area of employment you are interested in pursuing (e.g., clinical, pitchside, postgraduate courses).
  • Identify the most contemporary or current topics within that career field.
  1. General Interest:
  • In the “General Interest” section, write out specific topics within the field that interest you the most (e.g., kinesiotaping, ergogenic aids, variable resistance training, mobilizations).
  1. Supervisors:
  • Under the “Supervisors” section, list your two preferred supervisors.
  • For each supervisor, detail the areas in which they are experts or have research interests.

2.3 Task 3

Review your notes and identify if there are any common themes/intersections or if these themes can be woven into a cohesive research question.

2.4 Task 4

In the context of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), the PICOS framework is a helpful tool for formulating a well-defined and focused research question. PICOS stands for:

  1. Population (P):
  • Define the characteristics of the population or participants that will be included in the study.
  • Specify any relevant demographic information, such as age, gender, health status, or other relevant factors.
  1. Intervention (I):
  • Clearly describe the intervention or treatment being studied.
  • Specify the key elements of the intervention, including its dosage, frequency, and duration.
  1. Comparison (C):
  • Identify the comparison group against which the intervention will be evaluated.
  • This could be a placebo, standard care, or an alternative intervention.
  1. Outcome (O):
  • Define the primary and secondary outcomes that will be measured to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.
  • Outcomes should be specific, measurable, and relevant to the research question.
  1. Study Design (S):
  • Specify the study design, with a focus on the randomized controlled trial aspect.
  • Indicate if it’s a parallel group design, a crossover design, or any other relevant design feature.

2.4.1 Characteristics of a Good RCT Question using PICOS:

  1. Clarity and Precision:
  • The question should be clear and specific, leaving no ambiguity about the population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design.
  1. Feasibility:
  • The question should be feasible in terms of participant recruitment, intervention implementation, and data collection.
  1. Relevance:
  • The research question should address a clinically or socially relevant issue, ensuring that the results have practical implications.
  1. Ethical Considerations:
  • The study should adhere to ethical principles, ensuring the well-being and rights of participants.
  1. Measurability:
  • Outcomes should be measurable and objectively assessable to provide reliable and valid results.
  1. Generalizability:
  • Consider the external validity of the study by ensuring that the population and conditions studied are representative of the target population.
  1. Scientific Rigor:
  • The study design, including randomization and control groups, should be robust to minimize biases and confounding factors.
  1. Reproducibility:
  • The study should be designed in a way that allows other researchers to replicate it, contributing to the overall reliability of scientific knowledge.

Here’s an example of a research question using the PICOS framework:

In adult patients (P) with type 2 diabetes, does a structured physical activity intervention (I) compared to standard care (C) result in a significant reduction in HbA1c levels (O) over a 12-week period, as assessed in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial (S)?

2.5 Task 5

In order to better understand whether the research question you have develop is suitable, you should explore the existing body of evidence to see what has been done before, and whether your question needs refining.