Week 5 Assignment 1

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Week 5

Research Methods and Data Types

Health research is systematic (follows a sequential process) and principled (carried out

according to explicit rules) way to gather information to investigate health issues and

solve health-related problems. As such, these guidelines are what constitutes a research

method. In health research, the term method refers to a strict set of rules, including (a)

how knowledge should be acquired, (b) the form in which knowledge should be stated,

and (c) how the truth or validity of knowledge should be established (Polgar & Thomas,

2019). This is very different from your project’s methodology, which consists of the

research design, sample size, data collection procedures, instrumentation, and paradigm

(Glicken, 2003).

There are three overarching conceptual foundations of health research methods:

quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.

Quantitative research involves the use of mathematics in the discovery of

relationships among a variety of variables.

This research method uses a positivist paradigm, experimental designs, and

the scientific method to generate results that may reveal such relationships

that are generalizable to other people, places, and events (Polgar & Thomas,

2019).

Qualitative research is an examination of phenomena within the cultural and social

environment in which it takes place.

It is not designed to determine cause-effect relationships or the ability to

generalize to other people, places, and events (as is found in quantitative

research); rather, it incorporates participant observations, in-depth

interviews, focus group discussions, and textual (nonnumeric) data to

identify themes and patterns to eventually generate new theories (Jacobsen,

2017).

A mixed-methods approach involves the use of the combination of both

quantitative and qualitative methods.

Here, the researcher has the advantage of data being produced including

both objective facts (statistical analysis) and subjective experiences

described by the study participants (Polgar & Thomas, 2019).

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Books and Resources for this Week

Bazeley, P. (2015). Mixed methods in

management research: Implications for

the field. Electronic Journal of Business

Research Methods, 13(1), 27-35.

Data can be derived from a primary study, secondary sources, or a systematic review of

the literature. A primary study involves the collection of firsthand, often never-before-

seen information by the person who actually conducted the research being reported. The

analysis of an existing (historical) dataset that was written by someone other than the person

who conducted the research constitutes a secondary source. A systematic review includes a

predetermined, comprehensive and transparent search and screening process to identify,

collect, critique, and synthesize all of the relevant studies on a particular topic. If the review

combines data from a number of studies into one calculated outcome, then it is referred to as

a meta-analysis (Forister & Blessing, 2016).

Be sure to review this week's resources carefully. You are expected to apply the information

from these resources when you prepare your assignments.

References

Forister, J. G., & Blessing, J. D. (2016). Introduction to research and medical literature for

health professionals (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Glicken, M. D. (2003). Social research: A simple guide. Boston, MA: Pearson Education,

Inc.

Jacobsen, K. H. (2017). Introduction to health research methods: a practical guide (2nd

ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Polgar, S., & Thomas, S. A. (2019). Introduction to research in the health sciences (7th ed.).

Edinburgh: Elsevier, Ltd.

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Goff, W. M., & Getenet, S. (2017).

Design-based research in doctoral

studies: Adding a new dimension to

doctoral research. International

Journal...

Humphrey, R., & Simpson, B. (2012).

Writes of passage: Writing up

qualitative data as a threshold concept

in doctoral research. Teaching in Higher

Edu

Landrum, B., & Garza, G. (2015).

Mending fences: Defining the domains

and approaches of quantitative and

qualitative research. Qualitative

Psychology,

Mligo, E. S. (2016). Introduction to

research methods and report writing: A

practical guide for students and

researchers in social sciences and...

Wellington, J., & Szczerbinski, M.

(2007). Research methods for the social

sciences. London, UK: Continuum

International Publishing Group.

Yoshikawa, H., Weisner, T. S., Kalil, A., &

Way, N. (2013). Mixing qualitative and

quantitative research in developmental

science: Uses and...

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Quantitative Link

Qualitative: Link

Mixed Methods: Link

DHA-7008 Week 5 Assignment Word Document

Use of evidence.... PDF document

Week 5 - Assignment 1: Evaluate Research Methods Assignment

Due November 10 at 11:59 PM

For this assignment, you will review the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods

articles found in this week’s resources under Articles for Review.

For each article, you will need to provide the following:

An APA-formatted reference list entry

Identify the problem under study

Identify the purpose statement

Emphasize key points of the study

Differentiate why the methodology was chosen

Discuss how researchers addressed ethical considerations in the study

Length: 4-6 pages, not including the title page. A reference page is not needed for this

assignment.

References: 3 references are provided

Your annotated bibliography should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas

and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights

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Week 5 - Assignment 2: Determine Secondary Data

Sources Assignment

Due November 10 at 11:59 PM

relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect graduate-level writing and

APA standards.

For this assignment, you will use the table provided and identify at least two possible

secondary data sources for each project type listed in the first column. You will need to

describe more specifically what your possible project may be for each project type in the

second column. This helps frame the data sources and your rationale for choosing that

source. Make sure you include the URL for those sources retrievable from the Web.

Project Type

Project Description

Secondary Data

Source Rationale

Complet APA

Referenc

Quality Improvement/Performance Management Project

This type of project leads to measurable improvement in healthcare systems, services, and/or health status of targeted populations.

Healthcare Policy Analysis/Policy Development

This type of project is broad and may include the analysis

of policy process or policy content, and links to health outcomes. It is used to help influence stakeholders’

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decisions.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Project, Program, Intervention, Services, etc.

This type of project is used to gain insight, improve practice, assess effects, and/or build capacity.

Table 1. Project Type Table

Length: 1-2 pages, not including the title page. A reference page is not needed for this

assignment.

References: Include a minimum of 6 scholarly and/or professional data sources

Your table should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are

presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this

topic. Your response should reflect graduate-level writing and APA standards.