Research in Homeopathy

What Basic We Need to Know

Dr. Saurav Arora BHMS (DLI), Gold Medalist Senior Research Fellow (CCRH) Founder: Initiative to Promote Research in Homeopathy www.audesapere.in

Problems associated with Research

Problems associated with Research

Poor motivation Wrong approach Inadequate exposure to research Inaccessibility to published research Lack of Expertise Scarce resources

Manpower Funds Institutional support

Research Awareness

Research Literacy
Research Proficiency/Understanding

Research Expertise

Aim of this workshop

By the end of this interaction, you should be able to learn:

Basics about research in homeopathy (need) Research question and hypothesis generation Literature review Brief about research methods and scientific
attitude

Evidence level

For easy comprehension and detailed discussion.

Let us discuss one by one

Basics about Research in Homeopathy

(Need)

Research Question and Hypothesis

generation

Literature Review Brief about Research methods and

Scientific attitude

Basics about Research in Homeopathy

Why Research: Open Discussion!

Research.
Research has many definitions. It is the exploration for answers of unanswered questions. The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach conclusion Systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed phenomenon

Search, verify, present and predict

Why Research in Homeopathy

Why Research in Homeopathy

Since the discovery of Homeopathy in 1796 it has been used universally, because of its affordability, availability, easier applicability and no side effects.
It is gaining popularity due to clinical effectiveness. But it faces controversies for

Its mode of action, Lack of standardization in preparation/ prescription/ dissemination. Physico-chemical nature of ultra high diluted medicines Effectiveness of homeopathy in various disease conditions etc.

To address such issues Research is the

Why to Understand Research

Why to Understand Research

To Read Research To Evaluate Research To Protect Ourselves From Quacks To Be a Better Physician To Be a Better Thinker To Be Scientifically Literate To Do Your Own Research To have a Name

What benefits one can get ????

Research is usually considered as a dry subject

and

Many a time people ask what are benefits to

invest so much of time and brain in research?

The answer is Your contribution and support towards science Satisfaction you get In addition..

In addition.

Name, fame and experience Skill development We can actually feel the struggle our stalwarts went through to make homeopathy acceptable.

Where to start thinking?? Or Where is my cup of tea??

Research needs
A spark
An idea An observation A hypothesis An establish fact you want to testify

Decision lies on the level of research literacy one has

Level of Evidence in Research

Now let us move to.

Research Question and Hypothesis

generation

Literature Review Brief about Research methods and

Scientific attitude

Research Question and Hypothesis Generation

A research question is from

Area of interest
Area of choice

Area of uncertainty
Observed Phenomenon

A good research question should meet the FINER criteria

Feasible
Interesting

Novel
Ethical

Relevant
FINER

The Research Hypothesis (H1)

The research hypothesis is a formal affirmative statement predicting a single research outcome a tentative explanation of the relationship between two or more variables is directional

Deduction and Induction

Deduction

Induction

Possible Outcomes in Hypothesis Testing

True Accept False Error

Correct

Reject

Error

Correct

Possible Outcomes in Hypothesis Testing

True Accept Correct Decision False Error
Type II Error

Reject

Error
Type I Error

Correct Decision

Type I Error: Rejecting a True Hypothesis Type II Error: Accepting a False Hypothesis

Now its time to move to..

Literature Review Brief about Research methods and

Scientific attitude

Literature Review

The Literature Review

The review of the literature is defined as A broad Comprehensive In-depth Systematic, and Critical review of Scholarly publications, unpublished scholarly print materials, audiovisual materials, and personal communications.
29

Relationship Of Review Of Literature To Theory, Research, Education And Practice

Research

Review of Literature Education Practice

Theory
30

Purposes of Literature Review

Discovering knowledge
Determines What is known about a subject and what is not known Duplicity of work Gaps, consistencies & inconsistencies Strengths & weaknesses of earlier work An appropriate research design/method (instruments, data collection and analysis methods) The need for replication of a well designed study or refinement of a study
Provides motivation for future work. There is no point spending time and energy for work already done, but yes 31 you may re-test it!

General Guidelines to Writing a Literature Review

Sit with an aim to point out a major research topic rather than a global problem.

For example: Number of Homoeopaths in all countries vs. No. of Homoeopaths in India.

Discuss the topic with your peers, colleagues and mentors.

Dont attempt to cover everything - Pick out the most relevant research.

Where to Start??

Offline Resources

Journals Books

Thesis
Dissertations Unpublished reports

Online Resources Biomedical Search Engines

Source
Pubmed ScienceDirect Wiley Online Library Google Scholar Microsoft Academic Research Mendeley (free reference manager and academic social network)

Link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu bmed/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ http://scholar.google.co.in/ http://academic.research.micros oft.com/ http://www.mendeley.com/

Homeopathic Databases
Source CAM-QUEST: Quick-Finder for Homeopathy and other types of complementary medicine Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI) International Journal of High Dilution Research (IJHDR) Veterinary Research Database Database of Scientific Publications in Homeopathy Link www.cam-quest.org/en/

www.homeoinst.org

Institute for the History of Medicine www.igm-bosch.de/content www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index .php/ijhdr/index homeopathicvet.org www.audesapere.in

The Search in Over.. Now what??

Organize Your Search Results Topical Order organize as per main problem and its results Chronological Orderby the dates the research was published Problem-Cause-Solution OrderProblem to the solution General-to-Specific Order(Also called the funnel approach) Examine broad-based research first and then focus on specific studies that relate to the topic Specific-to-General OrderTry to make discuss specific research studies so conclusions can be drawn

Organizing Your Literature Review

S. Title No. Author Citation (Journal/Vol/Pag No.) Salient Points

Search Cite but Dont Misuse

Plagiarism includes

1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.

Using another writers words without proper citation

Using another writers ideas without proper citation Citing a source but reproducing the exact word without quotation marks Borrowing the structure of another authors phrases/sentences without giving the source Borrowing all or part of another students paper

Using paper-writing service or having a friend write the paper

Brief about Scientific Research methods and Scientific attitude

Preliminary Step
After

Learning Why Research in Important

Identifying Area of Interest Research Question Literature Review Formulating Objectives

The time is to learn about Research Methods

Scientific Method, and Research

By definition Research is methodical

It should be undertaken using scientific methods Scientific Method

involves the principles and processes on

set norms

process or approach to generating valid

and trustworthy knowledge

Scientific Method, and Research

Research Methods (Methodology)

The ways one collects and analyzes

data Methods developed for acquiring trustworthy knowledge via reliable and valid procedures

Outline of Research Process

Phase 1: essential first steps

Phase 2: data collection

Phase 3: analysis and interpretation

Broadly
The research goes like this:

Research Question Specific Objective(s) Preparation of Protocol Data Collection Data Analysis and Interpretation Data Reporting (Publication)

Structure of Research
The "hourglass" notion of research
begin with broad questions narrow down, focus in operationalize

OBSERVE
analyze data reach conclusions

generalize back to questions

Important Factors in Research

Objective(s)
Variable

any observation that can take on

different values

Attribute

a specific value on a variable

A Research Report
A Research Report should generally include:

Statement of problem Review of relevant literature Statement of hypothesis or research objectives Description of research design Selection and operationalization of variables Description of sample selection procedure Description of how data was collected Data presented and summarised in words Conclusion, limitations, and implications Bibliography or references cited Appendices

Last but not the least.I know many things.. What Should I Do Now?
Share your idea with person(s) you trust Invite their suggestions, comments and criticism Alone one cannot do research so Make a team The team should consist at least one statistician Plan your research and prepare a time line Divide the work according to expertise of each member of team

Discuss it with team from time to time

Follow the time line strictly Identify a Mentor

Leave you valuable feedback at www.audesapere.in/contact or dr.saurav.arora@gmail.com