Research Methodologies and Study Designs in Healthcare Research

This report delves into the core of research methodologies, specifically focusing on their application within the healthcare sector. It begins by differentiating between qualitative and quantitative research methods, outlining the characteristics and applications of each. The report then explores various study designs, including experimental, observational, cohort, and cross-sectional studies, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, it emphasizes the crucial role of research ethics, covering aspects such as participant autonomy, data protection, beneficence, and justice. The report also examines the significance of research in advancing healthcare practices, from new medicine development to addressing health inequities. It underscores the importance of ethical considerations throughout the research process, including participant consent, data privacy, and the overall societal impact of research findings. The document concludes by reinforcing the necessity of continuous research for improvements in healthcare outcomes.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Research Methodologies
Developing knowledge about issues and the proper mitigation processes research should
be conducted besides the practical knowledge development processes. On this context, it has
been seen there are different types of research processes conducted predominantly in different
sectors, including health care. Mostly different research methodologies are classified in two
primary sections, such as the qualitative and quantitative method and the secondary research also
divided in qualitative and quantitative method (Bryman2016). The primary research methods
would be dependent on two types which are experimental study and non-experimental study
(Walliman2017). On this context, it can be stated that the process of the experimental study can
be dependent on the statistical correlation, which is a quantitative analysis process. Moreover,
the process of the research would be done based on the quantitative data collection process,
which can be done by the randomised control trial process. In this process, the experimental
groups and the control groups are compared, and the quantitative data collected and analysed;
thus, this can be classified as the quantitative study. On the other hand, the process of the
observational study can also be classified as an experimental study. However, this is a qualitative
study as it focuses on the feelings, experiences and knowledge of the participants whereas,
quantitative study depends on statistical data collection (McCusker and Gunaydin2015). Other
than this, the process of the cohort study and the cross-sectional study can also be classified as
the experimental study, and both these processes can be a qualitative and quantitative method
(Walliman2017). Furthermore, the process of the literature review and the record maintenance
along with the process of the case study analysis can be stated as the secondary study. The
literature review can be divided into the systematic literature review, which is qualitative
research, and the meta-analysis can be quantitative analysis. Thus, these two are secondary

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qualitative research and secondary quantitative research, respectively. Other than all these
processes, the research can also be conducted through the focus group analysis, survey and
ethnographic research method. The focus group analysis can be quantitative, and the survey is
also a quantitative research method. Moreover, the ethnographic research method which focuses
on the characteristics of a specific population is also a type of research method which can be
classified as the qualitative research methodology. Moreover, the mixed method is also used in
many cases which are the qualitative and quantitative data collection and data analysis process in
single research design (McCusker and Gunaydin2015).
Implementation
Research studies are the practices that can effectively help in the development of the idea
about the social, environmental and health condition of a population (Drake, Rancilioand
Stafford2017). Hence, in the nursing or health care field, continuous research is essential for the
development of the knowledge about the situation and requirement of innovative or alternative
interventions to mitigate the negative issues. On this context, it has been found that the
experimental and quantitative studies can be able to develop the most effective ideas about the
concept of disease and the required intervention for that disease as well (Leung2015). However,
sometimes the qualitative and observational studies also play a crucial role in terms of obtaining
ideas about the present situation. Based on the observation, the changes can be implemented.
Thus, it can be found that the process of research is very much effective in the health care sector.
Moreover, it can also be stated that the research study is required with priority in the health care
sector as it helps in the advancement and improvement of the care processes. New medicine
development, learning processes development, new intervention development and health literacy
development are the aspects which can be addressed by research (Drake, Rancilioand

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Stafford2017). Hence, it is evident that without research or experiment the medical science and
also the health care process would be stagnant and will not improve with time. Thus, to develop
useful ideas, health care professionals should research and develop new ideas to evolve the care
procedure. Furthermore, the aspect of the health inequity, literacy gap, socio-economic structure,
cultural and racial discrimination, addictive habits of people and other negative aspects should
also be reviewed (Carter, Laurie and Dixon-Woods2015). The research process would be helpful
in the data collection about these aspects and also provide the proper idea to mitigate these
issues. Hence, to eliminate the health care professionals should conduct all the negative aspects
of research and based on the data collected by the research, the professionals should develop new
ideas to mitigate these issues. Hence, it can be stated that the scope of implementation of the
research methodologies is higher in the health care sector, and the research should be conducted
with priority (Leung2015).
Study designs
The study designs are dependent on the process of the participant selection and the
research questions. Moreover, the process of the research should be developed based on the topic
of the research. The study designs can be either a qualitative study or a quantitative study and
developed considering the findings of the research (Walliman2017). Hence, the research design
is developed to justify the expected outcome of the research. Thus, the development of research
design is also dependent on participant autonomy, cost of the research and the culture and
diversity of the selected population (Carter, Laurie and Dixon-Woods2015). On this context, it
can be reported that the process of the research or study design is focused on the process of data
collection and subsequent analysis process. It can be found that experimental study is developed
based on the expected outcome. Thus, the cohort study or the cross-sectional study would be

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considered as the study design. Furthermore, the study design of the observational study also can
be developed based on the timeframe, and thus, the cohort and the cross-sectional study design
would be considered. Other than these, the factor of the quantitative or the qualitative study can
be conducted with the consideration of the randomised control trial study design, which would
be focusing on comparing data collected from different groups(McCusker and Gunaydin2015).
Moreover, secondary research can also be conducted based on the systematic literature review
and also the meta-analysis study design. On this context, it can be stated that the quantitative
research method is the most effective process in terms of the analysis and assessment of any kind
of situation and required mitigation process. Moreover, the cohort and the randomised control
trial are the most effective study design for the quantitative research method (Walliman2017).
Thus, it can be stated that experimental study is most effective as it can be able to provide the
possible interventions for change of the situation in terms of any disease or malpractice or other
aspects in the health care field (Bromleyet al. 2015).However, the observational study would
also be effective in terms of developing the idea of the present condition of the social and
environmental aspects. Based on that data, the experimental study design can be developed as
well. Mixed method is one of the most effective methods as it involves both qualitative and
quantitative research method and provides effective knowledge as well(McCusker and
Gunaydin2015).
Research Ethics
To conduct research, the ethics of the research procedure should be considered with
priority. It can be stated that research ethics lies in different aspects. The aspects are the
confidentiality and willingness of the participants; data protection; permission to research the
authorised body; permission from the participants before conducting survey or interview;

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research should benefit the society and not harm any living being. Thus, it can be stated that the
research should be developed with the focus of all these aspects before proceeding with the
research (Boulwareet al. 2016). Hence, it can be stated the permission obtaining by the research
authentication body and the permission of the participants are the crucial factors for proceeding
with the research. On this context, the data protection, willingness of participants and
confidentiality of the participants are the factors of autonomy consideration as per the research
ethics. On this context, the data breaching is one of the factors that should be checked, and the
data protection should be considered with priority; otherwise, the autonomy of the participant
would be breached. Thus, it can also be stated that the factor of research should benefit society
and not harm any living being are the factors of beneficence and justice of the research ethics
(Harriss, MacSweenand Atkinson2017). The beneficence focuses on wellness, and subsequently,
justice focuses on what is right for people (Drake, Rancilioand Stafford2017). Hence, both these
aspects of research ethics should also be considered to develop an ethically correct research
process. On this context, it can also be stated that the ethico-moral aspects are one of the factors
of the research procedure which follows the regulations of the research authentication bodies of
different sector (Harriss, MacSweenand Atkinson2017). These rules and regulations should not
be breached and followed properly to be certified as authentic research. Hence, it can be stated
that research ethics is one of the predominant factors in the success of the research procedure
(Bromleyet al. 2015). The research ethics would also consider the elimination of participants
regarding their socio-economic structure, race; ethnicity and culture or disability and treating
everyone equal (Boulwareet al. 2016). The ethical committee should also check the behavioural
aspects of the researchers to develop a safe and secure condition for the participants.

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