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Summary LECTURES 1 - 8 RESEARCH METHODS FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
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Research Methods in Health Sciences HC 1introduction
Research Methods in Health Sciences HC 2
Research Perspectives
To do: Read chapter 1 and 2 of Gray
Aims:
Understand differences between positivism (objectivist) and
interpretivism (constructivist) research perspectives
get acquainted with different research methodologies
Get acquainted with transdisciplinary research
Understand the three guiding principles for a researcher
Understand the concept of objectives
Examples of research agenda’s
What is (the purpose of) research?
Biomedical: the purpose of health science is finding an objective,
generalizable, truth
Epistemology: what does it mean to know?
What are the perspectives of research?
First important question: Am I searching for an objective truth, laws about
the world or do you think the real world cannot be measured in this way,
and you believe that the understanding of underlying mechanism (in your
study context) is more important than generalizing.
Positivism (objectivism)
Presenting facts as truth
Knowledge can be formulated into laws
Reality as something ‘out there that is waiting to be found
There is one single reality
Natural sciences
Interpretivism (constructivism)
Truth and meaning are constructed by the researchers
interactions with the world
As human beings our own presence as researchers influences
what we are trying to measure
, Researchers are inherently view the world through their frame
of reference
Multiple realities (are experienced), and meaning is not stable
Social sciences
different perspectives, different types of knowledge need to integrate
all perspectives
Research methodologies
Believes, also those about truths, are leaps of faith. But not all leaps of
faith are equal. They are based on the collection and interpretation of
anecdotes [data]. We always collect and interpreted anecdotes. We check/
test if our interpretations are correct. The extent to which we can reduce
anecdotes to fragments that can be made distinguishable and have a
limited variability determines how we can analyze these.
How do I abstract data from the real world?
Deductive: look at your data with clear units of analysis structured.
when there is a clear idea of what to look for
Inductive: analyse data for emerging patterns theory
unstructured. you don’t know what to look for
not often purely deductive because you look at data and maybe change
your theory a bit.
you can check inductive research with deductive research
Examples of methods:
,(Quasi) experimental: the independent variable is manipulated to
determine effect on the dependent variable so there is control over the
variables. Causality can be determined. The experiment could be
replicated and there are clear indicators to determine the outcome. The
aim of an experiment is to generalize and it is associated with positivism /
deductive approaches.
Analytical survey: this is used in observational studies to test theories in
the field or explore / determine associations / predictors. It’s about
measuring the world. Structured questions leads to control of variables.
There are limited options for respondents. Analytical surveys are highly
deductive and the aim is to generalize to a larger population.
Phenomological studies: to understand social reality this reality has to be
grounded in people’s experiences. This type produces thick descriptions of
peoples experiences and seeks subjective accounts and interpretations of
participants. Studies are relatively less structured and inductive, and the
epistemology is constructivism using qualitative data.
Case study research: is the inquiry of a phenomena in its real life setting.
It is the in depth analysis of a case (person, group, organisation, event).
The aim is to understand the world and critical factors / explain what will
happen. This study type uses mixed methods often with clear qualitative /
quantitative units of analysis. Can be either inductive of deductive.
(Participaroty) Action Research (PAR): there is collaboration between
researchers and practitioners and users to change practice. It’s about
transforming the world. This is of iterative design and uses mixed
methods. The aim is to understand perspectives in order to determine
change and measuring change. Deductive and inductive reasoning are
both used.
Research objectives: research is not only classified by the perspective or
methodology by also by its objectives.
Exploratory
Descriptive
Explanatory
Transformative
Now you have selected methodology to address your topic, you need to
determine how you collect data. What methods are there? Structured
interview, observations, physical examination (drawing blood samples),
covert, photo voice, etc.
Research and transdisciplinary
, Most public health issues are complex problems that require inter- or
transdisciplinary research. But parts of these can be solved using a mono-
disciplinary focus.
Transdisciplinary research is a new form of learning and problem solving
involving co-operation between different parts of society and science in
order to meet complex challenges of society. TDR starts from tangible real
world problems. Solutions are devised in collaboration with multiple
stakeholders.
Problem focussed: Qol, epidemiological, behavioural, environmental,
etc.
Solution focussed: developing interventions, to assess interventions,
impact, etc.
What are the guiding principles for being a good researcher
1. Be a designer
2. Problematising is not taking anything for granted or at face value
3. Interpreting is relating to your data. How do you frame what is out
there?
The research outline is linear on paper but iterative in the making.
Introduction (problem statement
Theory and concepts
Research question
Objective/ main RQ
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Answer / conclusion
New research question
Research designs + objectives and example of research
agenda’s
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