Procedures for Conducting Operational – PST06210 Operational Research

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NTA Level 6 • Semester 2 • PST06210

Procedures for Conducting Operational

Operational Research • Source Session/Topic 7
Full source-text version: all educational wording from the extracted learning source is retained; only presenter/tutor metadata and web-layout noise are removed, while formatting is improved for readability.

Session 7: Procedures for Conducting Operational

Research

Total Session Time: 120 minutes

Prerequisites

 None

Learning Tasks

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

• Outline the major characteristics of research
• Identify essential guidelines in conducting operational research
• Describe procedural steps for conducting operational research

Resources Needed

 Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape

 Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers

 Computer and LCD Projector

SESSION OVERVIEW

Activity/

Step Time Content

Method

1. 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Tasks

Presentation Major characteristics of research

2. 15 minutes

Brain storming

Presentation Essential guidelines for conducting operational

3.

30 minutes Buzzing research

60 minutes Presentation Procedural steps for conducting operational research

4. Group

discussion

5. 05 minutes Presentation Key Points

6. 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 48

SESSION CONTENTS

STEP1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)

READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks and clarify

ASK students if they have any questions before continuing

STEP 2: Major Characteristics of Research (15 minutes)

Activity: Brainstorming (5 minutes)

ASK students to brainstorm on the following question for 3minutes

 What are the major characteristics of operational research?

ALLOW few to respond

WRITE their response on the flip chart/board

CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below

Operational research encompasses a wide range of problem-solving

techniques and methods applied in the pursuit of improved decision-making and

efficiency. Therefore, it must have certain characteristics as follows:

• It demands a clear statement of the problem.
• It requires clear objectives and a plan (it is not aimlessly looking for something in the

hopes that you will come across a solution).

• It builds on existing data, using both positive and negative findings.
• New data should be systematically collected and analyzed to answer the original research

objectives.

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 49

STEP 3: Essential Guidelines for Conducting Operational Research

(30 minutes)

Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes)

ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 minutes

• What are the essential guidelines for conducting operational research?

ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not mentioned

WRITE their responses on the flip chart/whiteboard

CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below

Operational research is undertaken primarily to provide information to support decision-

making that can improve the functioning of the health system. Some essential guidelines for

success include:

• It should focus on priority problems in health care.
• It should be action-oriented, i.e., aimed at developing solutions.
• An integrated multi-disciplinary approach is required, i.e., research approaches from

many disciplines are needed since health is affected by the broader context of socio-

economic development.

• The research should be participatory in nature, involving all parties concerned (from

policymakers to community members) in all stages of the proposal.

• Research must be timely. Otherwise, it loses its purpose.
• Emphasis should be placed on comparatively simple, short-term research designs which

are likely to yield practical results relatively quickly.

• It should be cost-effective operational research should focus, to a large extent, on low-

cost studies that can be undertaken by management and service personnel in the course of

daily activities.

• Results should be presented in formats most useful for administrators, decision-makers

and the community.

• Evaluation of the research undertaken should concentrate on its ability to influence

policy, improve services and ultimately lead to better health

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 50

STEP 4: Procedural Steps for Conducting Operational Research (60 minutes)

Activity: Small Group Discussion (20 minutes)

DIVIDE students into small manageable groups

ASK students to discuss on the following question

• ‘What steps to follow in conducting operational research?

ALLOW students to discuss for 10 minutes

ALLOW few groups to present and the rest to add points not mentioned

CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the contents on the flow chart below

• Research Proposal: A document written by a scientist that describes in detail the

program for a proposed scientific investigation.

• It can be envisaged as the process (step by step guidelines) of planning and giving

structure to the prospective research, with the fina1 aim of increasing the validity of the

research.

• It is a written submission to spell out the nature of the design and the means and strategies

that are going to be used in a logic format.

• Purpose of Research Proposal

o Provides a defined topic scope for researching.

o Helps you to understand further how to address the technical problems of writing

research.

There are several steps to follow in chronological order in writing a research proposal:

• Step 1; Select, analyze and state the research problem

This step involves

o identification of the problem

o Problem prioritization

o Problem analysis

o Stating the problem

–

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 51

• Step 2: Review literature and other available information
• Step 3; Formulate Objectives
• Step 4; Develop research methodology

o variables

o types of study

o data collection techniques

o sampling

o plan for data collection

o plan for data processing and analysis

o ethical consideration

o pretest/pilot study

• Step 5: Prepare the work plan
• Step 6: Identification of resources required and preparation of a budget
• Step 7: Plan for project administration and utilization of results
• Step 8 Collect data in the field (implement the proposal)
• Step 9: Analyze collected data and interpret results
• Step 10: Prepare and present a final report of the research findings, including

recommendations

• Step 11: Prepare plan of action for implementation of recommendations

Writing Introduction to Research Proposal

This is written when all sections of the proposal have been completed. The introduction leads

the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of inquiry.

 It establishes the scope, context, and significance of the research being conducted by

summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, stating

the purpose of the work in the form of the research problem supported by:

o a hypothesis or a set of questions,

o explaining briefly the methodological approach used to examine the research

problem,

o highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, and

o outlining the remaining structure and organization of the paper

 Think of the introduction as a mental road map that must answer for the reader these four

questions:

o What was I studying?

o Why was this topic important to investigate?

o What did we know about this topic before I did this study?

o How will this study advance new knowledge or new ways of understanding?

 According to Reyes, there are three overarching goals of a good introduction:

o First, ensure that you summarize prior studies about the topic in a manner that lays a

foundation for understanding the research problem

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 52

o Second, explain how your study specifically addresses gaps in the literature,

insufficient consideration of the topic, or other deficiency in the literature

o third, note the broader theoretical, empirical, and/or policy contributions and

implications of your research

STEP 5: Key Points

 Operational research focuses on priority problems, it is action-oriented, uses multi-

disciplinary approach, is participatory, should be timely and cost effective,

 Operational research is done systematically step by step and there are several steps to be

followed when implementing it.

STEP 6: Evaluation

 What are the characteristics of an operational plan?

 What are the steps to be followed in implementing operational research?

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 53

References

Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D.J., Williams, T.A., Freeman, J. & Shoesmith, E. (2007).

Basic Statistics and epidemiology (2001). A practical guide, Radcliffe Medical Press,

United Kingdom

Beaglehole R, Bonita R and Kjellstrom (1993) Basic epidemiology, World Health

Organization, Geneva

Kazaura, M. R., Makwaya, C. K., Masanja, C. M. and Mpembeni, R.C. (1997). Lecture notesin

Biostatistics, manual of biostatistics: Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences,

Dar es Salaam

Polit, D. F and Beck, C. T (2004) Nursing Research – Principles and Methods, (7th Ed):

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia

Rao, J. S., & Richard, J. (2002). An introduction to biostatistics-a manual for students in

helthsciences (3rd. Ed): New Delhi, India: Prentice-Hall of India Pvt.Ltd

Rosner B (2010): Fundamental of Biostatistics (7th Ed.): Boston, USA: Cengage Learning

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PST 06210 Operational Research NTA Level 6 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 54

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