Research for the Heath Research for the Heath ProfessionalProfessional

OverviewOverviewInitial stagesChoosing a Research MethodQualitative Research DesignsQuantitative Research DesignsStumbling Blocks

Initial StagesInitial Stages

Identify a topicIdentify a research question

HypothesisStumbling blocks

Identify a topicIdentify a topic

◦One that is interesting to you

◦Keep it simple◦Do a pilot study to iron out the kinks

◦Keep writing to clarify thoughts.

Identify a Research Identify a Research QuestionQuestionDoes it add to the greater body

of knowledge?Does anyone else care?Identify available resourcesIdentify subjects

HypothesisHypothesisWhat is your hunch of a possible

outcome from the research.It may or may not be supported,

you must speculate why.

Stumbling BlocksStumbling Blocks

You may need help in the form of a research partner

Discuss your ideas with others for clarification and to check if the question peaks interest

Choosing a Research Choosing a Research MethodMethodQualitative ResearchQuantitative ResearchComparisonStumbling Blocks

Researcher typesResearcher typesPositivist

◦Search for the universal “truth.”◦Usually Quantitative data

Relativist◦There is no one “truth,” everyon

experiences the world differently.◦Usually Qualitative data

Qualitative ResearchQualitative ResearchTry to generate and understand

descriptive theory.Naturalistic setting

◦Understand subject within the context of the subject’s own world.

Groundedness◦The data is collected at the site, not

through secondary sources

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research (contd)(contd)Phenomenological perspective

◦Identifying and locating the meanings people place on events, processes, and structures of their lives. (perceptions, assumptions, judgments and suppositions) become clear and can be placed into proper context.

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research StrategiesStrategiesEthnography—studeies that

attempt to describe a culture or aspects of culture.

Ethnography of communication—focuses on understanding the culture by studying all forms of communication within a culture.

Ethnometholdology—how individuals create and understand their daily lives.

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research StratagiesStratagiesPhenomenology—study culture from

the informants’ own point of viewNonreactive Research—the

investigator takes the role of an observer, making an effort to be unobtrusive.

Participant Observation—the investigator does take part in the participants’ world to obtain more data.

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research StrategiesStrategiesInterview— not only interview;

investigative journalism, biography, oral history

Archival—literacy criticism, historical research, content analysis, and philosophical relsarch; artifacts used as research.

Quantitative Research Quantitative Research Answer a question with evidence

in which the data can be organized in a certain way

True ExperimentalQuasi-ExperimentalNonexpermimental

3 Aspects of Quantitative 3 Aspects of Quantitative DesignDesignManipulation—doing something

to the subjects in the studyControl—the experimenters

ability to eliminate interfering and irrelevant influences

Randomization—ensuring that a a group represents the population and that experimental and control group are similar.

VariablesVariablesIndependent Variables—the variable

being manipulated by the experimenter.◦Candy given or not given to subjects

Dependent Variables—the results that can be measured after the independent variable is manipulated.◦Test scores of those who did not receive

candy and test scores raised by those who did.

True Experimental DesignsTrue Experimental DesignsThere must be control,

independent variables, subjects must be manipulated, subjects must be randomly selected.◦The class is randomly assigned into

Group X and Group Y.◦Group Y and X are given a pre-test◦Group Y is given a candy bar◦Group X and Y are given a post-test◦The test scores are averaged to

determine if the candy bar had effect.

True Experimental DesignTrue Experimental DesignO = Observation, R = Random

selection, X = manipulationGroup Y: R O X OGroup X:R O O

Quasi-experimental Quasi-experimental designdesignSimilar to True experimental, but

either lacking either control or randomization.

Researchers use subjects as their own control; there is no second group without treatment.

O X1 O O X2 O O X3 O

Non Experimental DesignNon Experimental DesignNo manipulation of independent

variable, no control and no randomization.

A variable cannot be manipulated (age, weight, height, or

A variable that cannot be changed because it has already happened (head injury, child abuse).

Researcher wants to measure and compare two variables to check for relationship.

Stumbling BlocksStumbling BlocksBe careful about claiming cause-

and-effects relationship without proof.

Choosing the wrong design.Not really having random selection.Drowning in data because the

question wasn’t specific enough.Ending the data analysis too early