Welcome! Seminar – Monday 6:00 EST HS Seminar Unit 7 Prof. Jocelyn Ramos

HS305 Research Methods for Health Sciences Audio Seminar! Please be sure your speakers are on! 2 Slide presentation by Ellen Weston with modifications

Agenda Review of unit 6 project Preview of unit 8 project Key Terms Analyzing a population

Unit 6 Project: Questionnaire Two Parts –Cover letter and questionnaire –Discussion of data collection method You might want to try Survey Monkey: s:ps:yahoo s:ps:yahoo –Free and fun to use!

Unit 6 Questionnaire Cover letter Write for expected participants Be clear and to the point Identify purpose of questionnaire to –Enhance likelihood of completion –Add to the credibility of the project Be concise. You want them to move on to complete the questionnaire!

Unit 6 Questionnaire Survey section Appropriate for ethnology research questions (no more) including: –2 fixed alternative questions with only 2 potential answers –5 fixed alternative questions with 4-5 potential answers –1 open-ended question –Other questions for a minimum of 10 questions; maximum of 15 questions

Basic Principles of Writing Survey Questions Avoid confusing phrasing & jargon Use correct grammar and spelling Be concise, but clear. Use shorter rather than longer words & sentences Relate questions to the purpose of the questionnaire See Research Process PowerPoint Step 4c Research Methods – Questionnaires for many hints!

Types of Questions Allow respondent to fill in own answer May ask for specific information or May ask for narrative response –Respondent says/writes whatever he/she wants Respondent chooses from list of possible responses May also be called –Fixed choice questions –Forced choice questions Open-Ended Fixed Alternative

Examples of Types of Questions What is your annual income? Check appropriate box:  no income  Less than $5000  $ $20,000  More than $20,000 Open-EndedFixed Alternative

Fixed Alternative Questions Must have mutually exclusive and exhaustive response categories –Exhaustive=all possible choices included –Exclusive=only one possible response

Unit 6 Questionnaire Part 2 Analyze how you would conduct your survey Approximately 1 page + title page and a reference page Use Standard English Use APA format with citations and references

Methods to conduct a Questionnaire Telephone Internet Mail Self administered question given in a group of people Face to face Interview More information in Research Process Step 4c Research Methods – Questionnaires!

Professional Writing Write clear & concise answers Check spelling & grammar Avoid “you” & “we.” Use third person Organize you paper well Use APA formatted title page, citations & a reference list Analysis is important! 13

Key Terms Descriptive Research Designs –Correlational designs –Observation Studies –Developmental Designs Sampling –Population –Sample

Unit 8 Paper Critical Analysis of the Research Designs in a Peer-Reviewed Article Introduction Research Design Ethical Standards Conclusion

Unit 8 Paper: Introduction Why did you choose the article? Problem statement for the research. Summarize; DO NOT quote! Discuss if the article –Gave a clear picture to help you understand the research problem –Clearly discussed why the problem merited an in- depth investigation Remember always provide your analysis as well as your opinions!

Unit 8 Paper: Research Design Section (1) Discuss the designs used. Use the categories in our text, i.e., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Define your terms! Analyze effectiveness of the design for indentifying trends in Health Science

Unit 8 Paper: Research Design Section (1) Identify and analyze another design that might have been used.

Unit 8 Paper: Research Design Section (2) For analysis of designs, discuss Strengths Weaknesses Challenges for implementing the designs to research the problem that is the focus of the article

Unit 8 Paper Ethical Standards Section Were ethical challenges considered in the article? How were ethical standards upheld in the research? Were any standards ignored that might have resulted in harm to participants?

Ethical principles for Research with Human Participants

Ethical Principles for Research with Human Participants Protection from harm Informed consent Right to privacy; confidentiality Honesty with Professional Colleagues

Unit 8 Paper: Conclusions Briefly identify the solutions to the research problem suggested by this research

Project Requirements Be thorough Summarize, do not copy Review grading rubric in weekly announcement before submitting Ask questions if needed! 24

Writing Requirements Organize your paper well Be clear and concise Check spelling and grammar Use APA formatting NEVER plagiarize! 25

Professional Writing Write clear & concise answers Check spelling & grammar Avoid “you” & “we.” Use third person Organize you paper well Use APA formatted title page, citations & a reference list Analysis is important! 26

Analysis Define & briefly discuss concepts, e.g. define the type of design(s) used Justify choice by explaining your reasons for your conclusions and opinions –Relate what was done in the study to the description of the type of design Identify gaps if any in research or article 27

Scientific Research Process Step 4b. Create a Sampling Plan Sampling: identifying a population (the elements with the information about the topic) and a workable subset of the population Probability techniques Non-probability techniques

Sampling Key Terms Population

Sampling Key Terms Population – the total set of individuals, objects or events to be studied Sample

Sampling Key Terms Population – the total set of individuals, objects or events to be studied Sample – a subset of the population Element

Sampling Key Terms Population – the total set of individuals, objects or events to be studied Sample – a subset of the population Element – a single component of the population Sampling

Sampling Key Terms Population – the total set of individuals, objects or events to be studied Sample – a subset of the population Element – a single component of the population Sampling – means of selecting the subset of the population

POPULATION SAMPLE 5 ELEMENTS

Choosing Sampling Technique Purpose – MOST important factor Scope of study –Large study – Probability sampling preferred if “doable” –Small study- depends on other factors Cost. Convenience Population characteristics: –Extremely important: Is there a list of everyone in the population? –Must have a list to do probability sampling 35

Population to be Sampled 36 Group of elements from which sample is drawn that have the information that is the focus of the research Specific and often narrowed to a area (eg. State) and/or specific group (e.g. patients seen at a clinic)

Sampling Categories 37

Sampling Categories Probability Non-Probability Remember there is a PowerPoint on sampling in the Research Process PowerPoint section of doc sharing with additional information 38

Probability Sampling Relies on random selection; chance Mathematical formula can identify the likelihood that a specific element would be selected Formula can estimate how much the sample will differ from the population 39

Probability Sampling Types Simple random – like picking names from a hat Systematic random – every nth element from a list Cluster – mainly used with geographic areas Stratified (i.e. layers) random – list grouped by specific criteria before sampling from each group (e.g. gender, country of origin)

Population Analysis Using analysis checklist on Extra! Extra! link, Dr. Know found Population was not homogeneous. Patients were from many countries Numbers of people from different regions varied considerably Make up of each group varied in terms of the family size and configuration of generations

What Sampling Technique would you Suggest? Refer to p. 212 Table 9.3. Assume: Population is NOT homogeneous [many immigrant groups], has many layers (strata) [i.e., immigrant groups] that differ in composition and size [multi-generational and/or various family size], but live in a small geographic area Simple random – like picking names from a hat Systematic random – every nth element from a list Cluster – mainly used with geographic areas Stratified random – list grouped by specific criteria before sampling from each group

Probability Sampling for Dr. Know’s study- a suggestion Stratified random sampling. Strata = immigrants. A random sample would be taken from each immigrant group separately. Proportional to the % that group represents in the whole clinic population

Is Probability the Best Sampling Method to choose? Small strata from each country make it difficult to get enough information Those chosen may refuse to participate Solution: Use Non-probability sampling

Non-Probability Sampling 45

Non-Probability Sampling Probability of an element being chosen cannot be determined Often used in social science research Population list is usually not known 46

Non-Probability Types Availability Sampling Quota Sampling Purposive or Judgment Sampling Snowball Sampling Remember to review PowerPoint on sampling!

Non- Probability Sampling for Dr. Know’s study-a suggestion Snowball sampling A small group is likely to volunteer They let others know it is a good idea and safe to volunteer as well

Plan the Sampling & Data collection process carefully! Plan process step by step before beginning any observation! What are some steps you need to consider?

Safeguards can be used to prevent Bias Need to identify countries of origin of all eligible in population. –Compute % by country –Compare % in sample with % in population Learn about culture!

Coming Attractions: Unit 8 Seminar: Variables and Controls Discussion: Analysis of an experimental study Unit 8 Project

Thanks for Participating! 52