Welcome!

Seminar – Monday 6:00 EST

HS305-02Seminar Unit 7Prof. Jocelyn Ramos

HS305 Research Methods for Health Sciences

Audio Seminar!

Please be sure your speakers are on!

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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: http://www.surveymonkey.com/?cmpid=us:ps:yahoo – Free and fun to use!

Unit 6 Questionnaire Cover letter

Write for expected participantsBe clear and to the pointIdentify 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 QuestionnaireSurvey section

Appropriate for ethnology research10-15 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 & jargonUse correct grammar and spellingBe concise, but clear. Use shorter rather than longer words & sentencesRelate 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 responsesMay 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

$5001 - $20,000

More than $20,000

Open-Ended Fixed 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

TelephoneInternetMailSelf administered question given in a group of peopleFace to face Interview

More information in Research Process Step 4c Research Methods – Questionnaires!

Professional Writing

Write clear & concise answersCheck spelling & grammarAvoid “you” & “we.” Use third personOrganize you paper wellUse APA formatted title page, citations & a reference listAnalysis is important!

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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 investigationRemember 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!

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Writing Requirements

Organize your paper well

Be clear and concise

Check spelling and grammar

Use APA formatting

NEVER plagiarize!

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Professional Writing

Write clear & concise answersCheck spelling & grammarAvoid “you” & “we.” Use third personOrganize you paper wellUse APA formatted title page, citations & a reference listAnalysis is important!

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Analysis

Define & briefly discuss concepts, e.g. define the type of design(s) usedJustify 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

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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. ConveniencePopulation characteristics:– Extremely important: Is there a list of

everyone in the population?– Must have a list to do probability sampling

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Population to be Sampled36

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

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Sampling Categories

Probability

Non-Probability

Remember there is a PowerPoint on sampling in the Research Process

PowerPoint section of doc sharing with additional information

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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

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Probability Sampling Types

Simple random – like picking names from a hatSystematic random – every nth element from a listCluster – 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 foundPopulation was not homogeneous. Patients were from many countriesNumbers of people from different regions varied considerablyMake 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 hatSystematic random – every nth element from a listCluster – mainly used with geographic areasStratified 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

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Non-Probability Sampling

• Probability of an element being chosen cannot be determined

• Often used in social science research

• Population list is usually not known

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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!

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