How to present a research topic in a clear and concise manner with sufficient data?

How to Present a Research Topic with Sufficient Data

Start by formulating your research question using the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) and ensure it meets FINER criteria (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant) before gathering supporting data. 1

Structure Your Research Question First

The foundation of any presentable research topic is a well-formulated question that explicitly states what knowledge you seek, not what methods you'll use or what you expect to contribute. 2 This distinction is critical because:

• 65% of published rehabilitation research articles in 2008 formulated their questions as methods or expected contributions rather than as knowledge being sought 2
• Poorly formulated questions lead to suboptimal study design, analysis, sample size calculations, and results presentation 2
• The research question should arise from a clinical practice issue to provide motivation for completion and relevancy for affecting medical practice changes 3

Apply the FINER Criteria to Validate Your Question

Before gathering data, ensure your research question is:

• Feasible: Can be completed with available resources, time, and expertise 1
• Interesting: Captures your sustained interest and that of your audience 1
• Novel: Generates new knowledge with clinical impact 1
• Ethical: Can be conducted within ethical boundaries 1
• Relevant: Addresses an important clinical or scientific gap 1

Use PICO to Refine and Narrow Your Focus

Transform your broad topic into a structured, answerable question by defining: 1

• Population: Who are you studying?
• Intervention: What is being done or exposed?
• Comparison: What is it being compared against?
• Outcome: What are you measuring?

This framework helps narrow your focus from a broad topic to a specific, testable question. 1

Prune Your Research Question

After initial formulation, cut away anything unnecessary so only the essence remains: 4

• Determine both latent (underlying) and stated objectives 4
• Use specific pruning questions to eliminate extraneous elements 4
• Engage with clinical experts, experienced researchers, and relevant stakeholders to enhance the question's relevance, feasibility, and efficiency 3

Gather Supporting Data Systematically

Once your question is refined:

• Conduct a systematic literature review to inform your research idea and establish what is already known 3
• Use a building-block approach to organize knowledge from existing research literature 5
• Create a simple visual mechanism to conceptualize the study area 5
• Develop a conceptual framework that clarifies your research idea 3

Prepare Your Presentation Materials

Design your study in three sequential, iterated phases: 3

• Theoretical design: Framework and rationale
• Data collection design: Experimental vs. non-experimental, sampling approach, time features
• Statistical analysis design: How you'll test your hypothesis

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Randomized trials, cross-sectional studies, and measurement studies most often have poorly formulated research questions 2
• 30% of research questions require substantial reworking before they are truly answerable 2
• Avoid stating what you might do or what results might contribute; focus solely on what knowledge you seek 2

Final Preparation Steps

Before presenting: 4

• Prepare a brief protocol
• Conduct a pilot study if feasible
• Draft your paper including draft tables to ensure your question generates presentable, actionable data