Scientific inquiry & research methodology (SIRL401): Course Outline (SIRL401)

This course includes a discussion on basic quantitative methods and designs, including concepts of reliability and validity, interpretation of inferential statistics related to research designs, co-relational statistics & designs, interclass correlation coefficients, and critical appraisal of the literature.

• Identify the basic concepts of research and scientific inquiry and its methodologies
• Identify appropriate research topics
• Define the appropriate research problem and parameters
• Construct a project proposal to undertake a research project.
• Discuss scientific Inquiry, its principles, and its application in medical research.
• Describe Search techniques for the literature review
• Differentiate between different levels of evidence, appraisal, and different studies with respect to their effectiveness in literature.

• Literature review
• Selection of research topic & submission of research proposal

       

Research fundamentals

• Research in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• Role, importance, principles and application of Ethics in Rehabilitation research. Basic vs applied research.
• Research Problems / Questions, and Hypotheses, Research Paradigms, Research Validity and reliability.

Sampling

• Discuss Selection of sample: sample & population, basic considerations in sampling, determination of sample size, elimination of sampling bias and types of sampling such as: Random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling and systematic sampling.

Research design

• Describe different research designs.
• Differentiate between experimental & non-experimental, qualitative and quantitative and epidemiological research designs.
• Discuss different research methodologies used in experimental, and non-experimental, qualitative and qualitative and epidemiological research designs.

Research project

• Discuss various components of the research synopsis and Thesis.
• Develop a Research Plan while taking into account, the ethical, legal and professional obligations.

Instrumentation and data collection

• Discuss, objectivity and standardization, types of tests and scales, validity and reliability of an instrument, assessment of validity and reliability, and development of tests/scale.

Data analysis & interpretation

• Analyze data.
• Describe types of measurement scales, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics.
• Perform data entry and Analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

Preparation of a research report

• Use Formatting & styling, citation, references & bibliography.
• Differentiate these writing, dissertations & journal articles writing.

Scientific inquiry

• Describe scientific inquiry, Evidence-based approach to scientific inquiry, Principles of scientific inquiry, the application of scientific inquiry to physical therapy.
• Access digital libraries and different research databases, Effective searching and reviewing literature material.
• Interpret Critical appraisal of published research in the areas of:
• Examination and Evaluation
• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Intervention
• Harm
• Interpret Critical evaluation of Randomized Control Trial (RCT), Systemic review, Diagnosis and screening tests, Case reports.Discuss how to conduct clinical research and the hierarchy of evidences in clinical researches

Research fundamentals

• Research in physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• Role, importance, principles and application of Ethics in Rehabilitation research. Basic vs applied research.
• Research Problems / Questions, and Hypotheses, Research Paradigms, Research Validity and reliability.

Sampling

• Discuss the Selection of sample: sample & population, basic considerations in sampling, determination of sample size, elimination of sampling bias, and types of sampling such as Random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling.

Research design

• Describe different research designs.
• Differentiate between experimental & non-experimental, qualitative and quantitative, and epidemiological research designs.
• Discuss different research methodologies used in experimental, and non-experimental, qualitative and qualitative and epidemiological research designs.

Research project

• Discuss various components of the research synopsis and Thesis.
• Develop a Research Plan while taking into account, the ethical, legal, and professional obligations.

Instrumentation and data collection

• Discuss, objectivity and standardization, types of tests and scales, validity and reliability of an instrument, assessment of validity and reliability, and development of tests/scales.

Data analysis & interpretation

• Analyze data.
• Describe types of measurement scales, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics.
• Perform data entry and Analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

Preparation of a research report

• Use Formatting & styling, citation, references & bibliography.
• Differentiate these writing, dissertations & journal articles writing.

Scientific inquiry

• Describe scientific inquiry, Evidence-based approach to scientific inquiry, Principles of scientific inquiry, the application of scientific inquiry to physical therapy.
• Access digital libraries and different research databases, Effective searching and reviewing literature material.
• Interpret Critical appraisal of published research in the areas of:
• Examination and Evaluation
• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Intervention
• Harm
• Interpret Critical evaluation of Randomized Control Trial (RCT), Systemic review, Diagnosis and screening tests, Case reports
• Discuss how to conduct clinical research and the hierarchy of evidence in clinical research