Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences

Stephen Polgar works in the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Shane A. Thomas is Professor and Director of Primary Care Research, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaHonorary Professor Research School in Population Health, Australian National UniversityProfessor and Director, International Institute for Primary Health Care Research,Health and Family Planning Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center of Shenzhen, China

• SECTION 1 METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH RESEARCHFoundations of health researchQuantitative and qualitative methodsThe research processSECTION 2 RESEARCH PLANNINGThe formulation of research questionsSampling methods and external validityEthicsSECTION 3 RESEARCH DESIGNSExperimental designs and randomized controlled trialsSurveys and quasi-experimental designsSingle case (n = 1) designsQualitative researchSECTION 4 DATA COLLECTIONQuestionnairesInterviewing techniquesObservationMeasurementSECTION 5 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICSOrganization and presentation of dataMeasures of central tendency and variabilityStandard scores and normal distributionsCorrelationSECTION 6 DATA ANALYSIS AND INFERENCEProbability and confidence intervalsHypothesis testing: selection and use of statistical testsEffect size and the interpretation of evidenceQualitative data analysisSECTION 7 EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH RESULTSCritical evaluation of published researchSynthesis: systematic reviews and meta-analysesGlossary of research termsReferences and further readingAppendixA. z scores and associated areas between z and mean and beyondB. t distributionC. Chi-square (x2)Evolve ResourcesMCQsTrue/false questionsShort answer questionsAdult Basic Life Support SequencePaediatric Basic Life Support Algorithm