Research Methods for the Health Sciences
Research Methods for the Health Sciences
The SLP for this course is designed to allow you to apply the research concepts and principles introduced throughout this course to a “real-world” health problem. As such, you will be asked to devise your own research question, to use the empirical literature to identify knowledge gaps in the field with regard to that research question, formulate a corresponding research hypothesis, propose an appropriate study design for testing that research hypothesis, and devise a sampling and recruitment plan to strengthen the generalizability of your study’s findings. In Module 4, you will upload a final paper consisting of all of these elements.
For quick practice, review the article below and and identify the research question:
Okigbo, C. C., Speizer, I. S., Domino, M. E., Curtis, S. L., Halpern, C. T., & Fotso, J. C. (2018). Gender norms and modern contraceptive use in urban Nigeria: a multilevel longitudinal study. BMC women’s health, 18(1), 178. doi:10.1186/s12905-018-0664-3. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6206649/
(HINT: Research questions are often phrased in a statement form, as the study/research aim.) If you are having trouble identifying the research question, please contact your instructor before proceeding with the tasks listed below.
Your Task for this Assignment:
After reading the background materials for this module, select one of the following research topics and derive a corresponding research question and hypothesis.
Next, write a 2- to 3-page paper in which you identify your research question and hypothesis.
In devising your research question, apply the “Attributes of a ‘Good’ Research Question.” Your paper should clearly delineate the extent to which each of the following criteria has been satisfied:
Relevance
Novelty
Focus
Consisting of two core concepts (at minimum)
Feasibility
A hypothesis should:
Be stated clearly and concisely
Express the relationship between two or more variables
Be testable
Be based upon theory and/or clinical experience
Research Topics:
Organizational culture and patient outcomes
Genetics and Breast cancer risk
Country‘s GDP and Life Expectancy
Obesity and Diabetes Risk
Physical Activity and Stroke Risk
Health Insurance Status and Health Care Utilization
Education and Mortality Risk
Drug Addiction and Criminal Behavior
Cancer Therapy and Tumor Growth — select a specific type of therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, gene therapy, etc.)
Guidance on how to develop good research questions can be found here: https://guides.library.queensu.ca/health-science-research/research-questions
Another key aspect of conducting research is ensuring that all activities comply with ethical guidelines for scientific research. View the following interactive training video and place a brief statement in the cover page of your module 1 SLPA assignment that you have viewed the video:
Interactive Training Video – The Office of Research Integrity (ORI, 2017) and the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) have created The Research Clinic, an interactive training video to educate clinical and social researchers on the importance of appropriately protecting research subjects and avoiding research misconduct. To access the full training module, please visit: https://ori.hhs.gov/TheResearchClinic.
Length: 2-3 pages typed, double-spaced.
SLP
Devise a viable research question in accordance with established criteria, and formulate a research hypothesis corresponding to the research question.
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