Lecture 2 RM Types of Health Research

Types of Health Research
Dr. Muhammad Tahir Rizwan Khan

MBBS (Dow), MS Biostatistics & Epidemiology (Dow), M.Phil (University of Oslo)
Assistant Professor
Lecture Outline
 Definition of Quantitative & Qualitative research

designs
 Comparison between Quantitative & Qualitative
research designs
 Types of Quantitative & Qualitative studies research
designs
2 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

Little Recall
Finding previously unknown truth or knowledge Or

confirm established truth or knowledge

Many Colours of Research
 Based on the way of categorization, there can be
many ways to classify research
 Based on discipline:
Scientific Research, Social Research, Medical Research etc
 Based on role of investigator:
Observational and Experimental
 Based on Research methodology:
Quantitative, Qualitative and mixed methods research

Types of Research based on methods
 Two commonly used research methodologies are:

 Quantitative Data is Numerical (in numbers)
 Qualitative Data is Non-Numerical ( NOT in

numbers)

Quantitative Paradigm
 “an inquiry into a social or human problem based

on testing a theory composed of variables,
measured with numbers, and analyzed with
statistical procedures, in order to determine
whether the predictive generalizations of the
theory hold true.”
(Creswell, J. Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.

Sage: 1994.)

Principles:
 Objectivity is of key importance
 Hence all external factors must be controlled for
 Deductive approach-from general to specific
 Aristotle’s famous example of deductive
reasoning was:
All men are mortal, Socrates is a man,
Socrates is mortal

Deductive approach in Health Research
20% of those who smoke develop lung cancer while
only 10% who don’t smoke develop it;
hence if you smoke, you have twice the risk for

developing Lung Cancer

Deductive approach-GENERAL to SPECIFIC
Obese people have been
observed to die of
Cardiovascular Diseases
twice as more frequently than
non-obese
Mr. Anderson is
OBESE
Mr. Anderson
has twice the
risk of dying of
CVD

 Is about QUANTIFYING any magnitude or
relationship
e.g. relationship between smoking and lung ca
 Tests theories or hypotheses
 Assumes sample is representative of the
population
 Subjectivity of researcher in methodology is
recognized less
 Less detailed than qualitative data and may
miss a desired response from the participant

Typical Quantitative research questions

Research Questions typically answered by
Quantitative Research methods
 How many?
 What is the prevalence of Diabetes in Pakistan?

 Is the number rising or falling?
 Is the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus more today than

that in year 2004?

 What factors predict a certain outcome?
 What are the factors which are associated with Diabetes

Mellitus?

 Testing of any hypothesis
 HA: Poor glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus causes

early onset of complications

Hypothesis
 A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that accounts
for a set of facts and can be tested by further
investigation
 Null Hypothesis
 Alternative or Research Hypothesis

Variables
 A variable, as opposed to a constant, is anything

that can vary, or be expressed as more than one
value, or is in various values or categories (Simon,
2006).
 Variables are concepts that are measured,
manipulated, or controlled in a study.
 Quantitative designs have at least two types of
variables: independent and dependent (Creswell,
2004).
 Independent variable can be manipulated,
measured, or selected prior to measuring the
outcome or dependent variable
An example…

Another division of variables
 Concrete variables: temperature, weight
 Abstract variables: creativity, empathy, intention

to join a weight loss program, a woman’s age

Types of Quantitative Research
Epidemiological
Studies
Observational Interventional
With Without
Descriptive Analytical
Randomization Randomization

Observational Descriptive
Involves describing the characteristics of a

particular situation, event or case. Describes an
event in time, place, person. Can answer when,
where, who for an event.
Time: year, month, week, day, duration
Place: Climatic zones, country, urban rural,
institutions
Person: Age, gender, education, socioeconomic
background, habits
Observational Descriptive types
 Cross Sectional Studies- also know as Snap-Shot

studies
 Case Report- descriptive discussion regarding a
single case (rare clinical findings etc)
 Case Series- descriptive discussion of multiple
cases which doesn’t fulfill eligibility of Cross-
Sectional study
 Correlational Studies- Examine the relationship
between two or more variables
Observational Analytical
 Quantifies an association between Exposure and
Outcome
 Based on the results who test the hypothesis

Observational Analytical Types
 Case Control- compares cases (those with the
disease) with controls (those without that disease)
 Cohort studies- Compares those with particular

exposure and those without that exposure and
follow-up for a specific time to see how many in both
groups develop the outcome (disease for example)

Experimental
 Randomized Clinical Trials- compares two
therapeutic methods or medicines by allocating
subjects to either group
 Quasi Experiments- without randomization,
especially when randomization allocation of subjects
is not possible

Qualitative Model
 Qualitative researchers study things in their natural

settings, attempting to make sense of or interpret
phenomenon in terms of the meanings people bring
to them. (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000, p.3).
 Naturalistic approach

Qualitative Model
Principles:
 Subjectivity rather than Objectivity
 Naturalistic approach
 Inductive- from Specific to General

11/23/2016 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 28
Inductive approach-SPECIFIC (observations)
to GENERAL (theory/hypothesis)
All living beings are

made up of cells
Plants are living beings and are made

of cells
Humans are living beings and made of
cells
Fish are living beings and made of
cells

Types of Qualitative Methods
 Interviews
 Focus Group Discussions
 Case Studies
 Ethnographic Methods

Comparison between the two methods

Quantitative Qualitative
Quantitative versus
Overall Qualitative
Process
It explains & predicts controlled It explains & gains insight & understanding
phenomenon through focused collection of of a phenomenon through intensive
numerical data collection of narrative data
Approach to inquiry
It is deductive, value free (objective), focused It is inductive, value -laden (subjective),

& out come oriented holistic & process oriented
Based on the methods used in the natural Based on methods which are said to be
sciences humanistic
Hypothesis
It has specific, testable & stated prior to Its hypothesis is tentative, evolving & based
particular study on particular study
Literature review
Extensive Very limited

Research Setting
Controlled to the degree possible Naturalistic to the degree possible

Sampling
The random sampling technique is used to Here the purposive sampling technique is
acquire large representative sample in order used to select a small sample not necessarily
to generalize to general population representative sample in order to acquire in
depth understanding
Measurement
Standardized measurement Non standardized narrative measurement
Design and Methods
Involves structured, inflexible research Utilizes flexible design, non

design. Involves intervention, intervention, minimal disturbance.
manipulation & control. Descriptive, Historical, ethnographic research, case
causal-comparative, co relational, study
experimental
Data Collection
Non participant observation, semi Participant observation, unstructured
structured formal interviews . informal interviews. Taking of extensive
Administration of tests & detailed field notes
questionnaires
Data Analysis
Numbers or numeral are raw data. Raw data are words. Essentially on
Performed at the end of the study. going research involves synthesis
Involves statistics for analysis of data
Data Interpretation
Conclusion & generalization Conclusions are tentative, reviewed on
formulated at the end of study, stated going basis, generalizations speculative
with predetermined degree of certainty or non existent

 Try to identify the type of research question by
analysing the title and information given in abstract
 How many?
 Is the number rising of falling?
 What factors predict a certain outcome?
 Testing of any hypothesis

References
 http://libweb.surrey.ac.uk/library/skills/Introduction
%20to%20Research%20and%20Managing%20Informa
tion%20Leicester/page_61.htm
 Research methodology Health for Professionals : by
Goyal , RC.
 http://quizlet.com/20248761/educ-6114-chapter-9-
flash-cards/#

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Types of Health Research

Dr. Muhammad Tahir Rizwan Khan

 Definition of Quantitative & Qualitative research

2 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

Finding previously unknown truth or knowledge Or

3 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

4 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

 Two commonly used research methodologies are:

 Qualitative Data is Non-Numerical ( NOT in

5 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

 “an inquiry into a social or human problem based

(Creswell, J. Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.

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hence if you smoke, you have twice the risk for

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9 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

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 What is the prevalence of Diabetes in Pakistan?

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 Is the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus more today than

13 Dr. M. Tahir Rizwan Khan 11/23/2016

 What are the factors which are associated with Diabetes

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 HA: Poor glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus causes

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 A variable, as opposed to a constant, is anything

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 Concrete variables: temperature, weight

 Abstract variables: creativity, empathy, intention

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Involves describing the characteristics of a

 Cross Sectional Studies- also know as Snap-Shot

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 Cohort studies- Compares those with particular

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 Qualitative researchers study things in their natural

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All living beings are

Plants are living beings and are made

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It is deductive, value free (objective), focused It is inductive, value -laden (subjective),

Extensive Very limited

Controlled to the degree possible Naturalistic to the degree possible

Design and Methods

Involves structured, inflexible research Utilizes flexible design, non

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