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

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

3. 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

4. Research Process is Cyclical

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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

12. Weaknesses of Qualitative Research Designs

13. 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

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

15. Step 4 Research Design Quantitative Research
What is quantitative research?

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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. Strengths of Quantitative Research Designs

20. 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

21. Weaknesses of Quantitative Research Designs

22. 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

23. 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

24. What do researchers consider in Choosing Research Designs?

25. 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

26. 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)

27. 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)

28. 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)

29. Purpose
From: Table 5.1 Leedy & Ormrod (2010)

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

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

32. Questions? Comments?

33. 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!

34. 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

35. The End Sridhar Rajappan!