methodology of research

Research has always been considered as a powerful tool in creating change and development and like any other process it demands careful planning, providing facilities and special resources. Investigating research trends can pave the way for systematic thinking in this regard. This study was conducted to examine trends in research methodology in order to promote the research quality in Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, data regarding research methodology and its administration was evaluated by a questionnaire during six years from 1997 to 2003. The data regarding the author of the research were collected through the interview. These data were then analyzed by SPSS software (release 12) using descriptive statistics. Between 1997 and 2003, 196 research proposals were approved. The number of research designs increased from 3 to 45 during this period. Most of these studies (58.2%) had cross-sectional design. The experimental researches came second with 43 cases (21.9%). During this period the number of trials and analytic studies increased, but descriptive studies were still in the highest rank. Only 32% of the proposals were completed properly and in most of the cases they were not completed in the proper way and some subsections of the forms such as design, variable table, methods of data analysis, data collection procedures and administration problems were incomplete or missing in most of the designs. These problems were more evident before the establishment of research consultation office in 2001. 75% of the researchers had attended research workshop before conducting any research. The findings indicated a remarkable increase in the number of researches compared to the preceding years. Moreover, they have been more analytically-oriented. However, descriptive researches are in the top rank. Some necessary measures have to be taken in order to improve the present condition.