Unit 5—HS 305 Research Methods in Health Science Sridhar Rajappan

Agenda Questions about what we have covered so far? Key Terms Comparison of research designs Preview of unit 6

Key Terms Correlation Correlational Research Descriptive Research Designs Developmental Designs Interviews Qualitative Research Designs Observation Studies (also known as “naturalistic observation”) Open-Ended Question Survey Research

Research Process is Cyclical

Scientific Research Process Step 4. Collect New Data Identify a Research Design Create a Sampling Plan Apply Research Methods

Scientific Research Process Step 4. Collect New Data Research Design =

Scientific Research Process Step 4. Collect New Data Research Design = the process for conducting the study Categories

Scientific Research Process Step 4. Collect New Data Research Design = the process for conducting the study Categories Qualitative Quantitative Mixed

Step 4: Research Design Qualitative Research What is qualitative research?

Step 4: Research Design Qualitative Research Aimed at achieving an in depth understanding of a phenomenon What are the strengths of qualitative designs?

Strengths of Qualitative Research Designs In depth study Great for new areas in which there are no identified measurable variables Flexible – go were the research takes you Uses multiple sources of data

Weaknesses of Qualitative Research Designs

Weaknesses of Qualitative Research Designs Time consuming Can be difficult to find sources of information Requires creativity to find and retrieve information from sources of data Requires organizational and intuitive skill to categorize and analyze data

Step 4 Research Designs Qualitative Research Designs Case Study Ethnography Phenomenological Grounded Theory Content analysis Historical research

Step 4 Research Design Quantitative Research What is quantitative research?

Step 4 Research Design Quantitative Research Aimed at finding out statistical patterns of variables related to a problem

Step 4 Research Designs Quantitative Research Designs Experimental True experiment Quasi-experimental Ex Post Facto Factorial Meta-analysis Descriptive Observation Studies Correlational Research Developmental Designs Survey Research Checklists and Rating Scales

Quantitative Research Designs Observation—Count & measure—in terms of numbers. Done with the help of check list to count objects & rating scale to measure events. Correlation—Focuses on differences in the value of one variable & how it relates to difference in other characteristics. It measures characteristic features of one or two groups. It does not indicate that one variable causes another. Developmental—Focuses on people as they grow older. Survey Research—Participants(group) will choose from a set of responses for each question.

Strengths of Quantitative Research Designs

Strengths of Quantitative Research Designs Excellent for identifying statistical relationships between variables Clear guidelines for conducting research and analyzing data Multiple statistical analysis tools Validity and Reliability of results can be estimated statistically

Weaknesses of Quantitative Research Designs

Weaknesses of Quantitative Research Designs Requires knowledge of statistical analysis Numbers can appear more convincing than is really apt Careful planning needed to effectively gather numerical data

Step 4 Research Designs Mixed Designs Combine aspects of qualitative and quantitative designs Very common Actually there are few purely qualitative research studies, because most include some basic descriptive data

What do researchers consider in Choosing Research Designs?

Choosing Research Designs Depends on purpose of research Data available How results are expected to be used Realistic constraints including funding Ethical issues must be considered

Scientific Research Process Step 4: How to Choose A Research Design? Literature review: sufficient info? No - Qualitative Yes - Based on purpose, etc. Data resources currently available? No – qualitative OR quantitative by creating a tool to collect original data Program exists or can be developed? No – qualitative to identify one No – mixed design: qualitative to identify or develop a program and then quantitative to test it Yes – Quantitative or Mixed design based on purpose, etc. (Leedy and Ormrod, 2010)

Scientific Research Process Step 4 Research Design Categories Qualitative Quantitative Aim: Complete, detailed description Aim: Classify features, count them, construct statistical models to help explain what is observed Researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for Researcher knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for Design choice in early phases of research projects Design choice latter phases of research projects (Neil, 2007)

Scientific Research Process Step 4 Research Design Categories Qualitative Quantitative Design emerges as the study unfolds All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected. Researcher is data gathering instrument Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects Data is in the form of numbers and statistics (Neil, 2007)

Purpose From: Table 5.1 Leedy & Ormrod (2010)

Nature of Process From: Table 5.1 Leedy & Ormrod (2010)

Data type and Collection From: Table 5.1 Leedy & Ormrod (2010)

Questions? Comments?

Scientific Research Process Step 4a. Identify Research Design Research Design = the process for conducting the study Qualitative designs Quantitative designs Mixed Methods Which type do you think would work best in your field? Explain your answer!

Coming Attractions: Unit 6 Seminar: Review of expectations for unit 6 paper Pros and cons of distribution techniques Discussion: Data collection tools used in a research study Project: create your own questionnaire

The End Sridhar Rajappan !