Public Health Research: Choosing Appropriate Study Design and Methods

This report analyzes a public health research project focusing on determining students' preferences for a recreational school trip. The study employs a quantitative research design to gather objective data on students' choices, contrasting it with the limitations of a qualitative approach. Random sampling is selected to ensure unbiased responses, and data collection will be conducted using a multiple-choice questionnaire administered through a cross-sectional survey in the classroom. The report discusses the rationale for these methodological choices, emphasizing the efficiency and objectivity of the chosen methods. The assignment also includes a discussion on the choice of data collection tools, the impact of time as a confounding factor, and references relevant literature supporting the chosen methodologies.

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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The research project referred to previously, will be considered, which comprises of a
study across a class of 200 students, to understand students’ preferred places of visit for the
next recreational school trip.
Select the study design you will use to answer your research question, and defend
why it is most appropriate for your research question, goals, and objectives: A
quantitative study design will be chosen for this project since it allows for the collection of
data which is objective and quantifiable. A qualitative research will not be preferred since it
calls for a more in-depth exploration of subjective feelings and views of participants
(McCusker & Gunaydin, 2015) In the case of this project, a quantitative research will be
relevant because it will allow the school authorities to conveniently understand students’
preferences, say out of limited and objective choices of the art gallery and the museum. A
qualitative approach would have led to a large amount of subjective data which would have
taken considerable time by the authorities to sort, quantify and understand students’ choices
(Brannen 2017).
Describe the approach you feel would be most appropriately employed for
selection of your sample population, and explain your reasoning: Random sampling will
be the preferred sampling approach performed for this research project and will comprise of
randomly selecting names of students and collecting responses from them. A random
sampling method will be the most appropriate approach since it will leave no room for
incorrect or skewed responses as a result of bias towards any particular choice for
recreational visit (Emerson 2015).
Where will you collect your data? What tools and resources will you use?: A
survey questionnaire comprising of multiple choice questions will be the preferred of data
collection tool since it will allow to cost effectively collect objective data on student’s

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preferences over a short time period. To prevent the impact of time as a confounding factor a
cross-sectional survey will be carried in the classroom during a fixed point of time (Nardi,
2018).

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References
Brannen, J., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Emerson, R.W., 2015. Convenience sampling, random sampling, and snowball sampling:
How does sampling affect the validity of research?. Journal of Visual Impairment &
Blindness, 109(2), pp.164-168.
McCusker, K., & Gunaydin, S. (2015). Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed
methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), 537-542.
Nardi, P.M., 2018. Doing survey research: A guide to quantitative methods. Routledge.