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Research Methods for Health Sciences

Competencies
  • General
    General
    • Course Registration Questionnaire
    • Peer Corner Forum
    • Pre-Test Quiz
  • How to create an account and enroll in the course?

     

     

    • Research Methods Homepage


         

      Welcome to the Research Methods for Health Sciences course. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design a research project and present it in the form of a research proposal.

      The Research Methods for Health Sciences course is sponsored by the University of the Incarnate Word. Like all NextGenU.org courses, the Research Methods for Health Sciences course is competency-based, referencing competencies from the Health Services Research Doctoral Core Competencies (2018), Development of the Learning Health System Researcher Core Competencies, and WHO-ASPHER 2020. It uses learning resources from accredited, world-class organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization.

      The Research Methods for Health Sciences course was developed in collaboration with the University of the Incarnate Word and was designed by Hugo Rojas, MD, MSc, DiplEd; Pablo Baldiviezo, MD, DiplEd; Carolina Bustillos, MD, DiplEd; Felix Emeka Anyiam MPH, MScPH, DataSc., Ph.D.; Jean Pierre Musabyimana MSc; Genikka Camille Gabral, B.ED, MSc; Glenda Niles PhD.

      For publications on NextGenU.org’s courses’ efficacy, see “A Novel Integration of Online and Flipped Classroom Instructional Models in Public Health Higher Education” (2014), BMC Medical Education, “Building Public Health Capacity through Online Global Learning,” (2018), Open Praxis, or on NextGenU.org’s publication page. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of future updates, new courses, and to be part of our community.

                                                                                                                                       

       

      There are 6 modules to complete, which provide an introduction to:

      • Module 1: Introduction to Research Methods
      • Module 2: Research Questions, Research Objectives, and Hypotheses
      • Module 3: Quantitative Studies
      • Module 4: Qualitative and Mixed Studies
      • Module 5: Literature Reviews and Critical Appraisals of Research
      • Module 6: Scientific Skills

      The completion time for this course is estimated at 143 hours, consisting of 27 hours of learning resources, 55 hours for time to study content and assimilation, and 61 hours of participating in learning activities and quizzes, to assist the learners in the synthesis of learning materials. This course is equivalent to 3 credit hours.

      The course requires the completion of all activities i.e., quizzes, peer activities, discussion forums, and a final assignment that are needed to complete the course. At the end of each module, there is a practice quiz of ten (15) multiple-choice questions. After you’ve completed each lesson, quiz, peer activity, and learning activity, you will have access to a final exam consisting of fifty (50) multiple-choice questions and a chance to evaluate this course. The final exam will be designed so that participants can have multiple opportunities to answer correctly until the required score of 70% or higher is obtained. Once you’ve passed that last test, you will be able to download a certificate of completion from NextGenU.org and our course’s co-sponsoring organizations (listed above). We keep all of your personal information confidential, never sell any of your information, and only use anonymized data for research purposes. Also, we are happy to report your testing information and share your work with anyone (your school, employer, etc.) at your request. 


      Engaging with this course:

      You may browse this course for free to learn for your personal enrichment; there are no requirements. To register in this course, it is required that learners have obtained a college-level/bachelor's degree.  

      To obtain a certificate, a learner must first register for the course and then successfully complete:

      • All reading requirements,
      • All quizzes and pass with a score of 70% with unlimited attempts,
      • All peer activities,
      • All discussion forums,
      • Final assignment,
      • The final exam with a minimum score of 70% and a maximum of 3 attempts, and
      • The self and course evaluation forms.

      To obtain credit:

      • Complete all requirements listed above for the certificate, and
      • Your learning institution or workplace should approve the partner-university-sponsored NextGenU.org course for educational credit, as they would for their learner taking a course anywhere.  

      NextGenU.org is happy to provide your institution with:

      • A link to and description of the course training, so they can see all its components, including the co-sponsoring universities and other professional organization co-sponsors; 
      • Your grade on the final exam;
      • Your work products (e.g., case study activities) and any other required or optional shared materials that you produce and authorize to share with them;  
      • Your evaluations -- course, and self-assessments;
      • A copy of your certificate of completion, with the co-sponsoring universities and other organizations listed.

      To obtain a degree, NextGenU.org co-sponsors degree programs with institutional partners. To obtain a full degree co-sponsored with NextGenU.org, registrants must be enrolled in a degree program as a student of a NextGenU.org institutional partner. If you think that your institution might be interested in offering a degree with NextGenU.org, contact us.

      We hope that you will find this a rewarding learning experience, and we count on your assessment and feedback to help us improve this training for future students.

      Here are the next steps to take the course and earn a certificate.

      • Complete the registration form.
      • Take the pre-test.
      • Begin the course with Module 1: Introduction to Research Methods. In each lesson, read the description, complete all required readings and any required activities, as well as take the corresponding quizzes.

      • Module 1: Introduction to Research Methods

        Instructional Goals covered in this module:

        • Understand research terminologies and the scientific method.
        • Analyze the theoretical basis of research paradigms and health models.
        • Describe the ethical principles of research, ethical challenges, and informed consent.
        • Module 1: Lesson 1: The History of Research and Evolution of Key Terminologies

          Student Learning Outcomes:
          • Describe terms such as epistemology, empirical research, variables, units of analysis, and others.
          • Describe the concept and process of the scientific method.
          • Give specific examples of how the scientific method has contributed to the development of modern society.
          Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 7 hours and 7 minutes.

          Click here to start this lesson

          6 URLs, 1 Forum
          • Required Learning Resources and Activities
          • Glossary of Research Terms. URL

            Read the entire page. (28 minutes)

            University of Southern California - 2020

          • Perspective: Dimensions of the scientific method URL

            Read the entire page except for the "References" section. (35 minutes)

            PLOS Computational Biology - 2019

          • The Scientific Method. URL

            Read the key takeaway titles under Roots of the Scientific Method. (11 minutes)

            Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - 2015

          • Timeline of the Human Condition — Milestones in Evolution and History URL

            Read the following sections: 8. Technological Revolution” and 9. Sustainability Revolution. (33 minutes)

            University of Southampton, United Kingdom - 2021

          • Addiction Medicines Under Development URL

            Read the entire webpage and watch the entire video The video explores how science leads to new developments of addiction medicines. (60 minutes)

          • Discussion Forum 1: Scientific Method and the Development of Modern Society (200 minutes).

            In this activity, you will select a date or an event in the given “development of modern society” timeline and will analyze how the scientific method has contributed to the selected date/event.

            Step 1: Review

            Review this timeline of human conditions: milestones in evolution and history. Select one date or event under sections “8. Technological Revolution” and “9. Sustainability Revolution.”

            Step 2: Analyze

            Analyze the role of the scientific method in the emergence and development of the selected event/date. Focus on the following key questions:

            • What is the most prominent or distinctive feature/ element of the selected event/ date?
                • Example: 2019 - first case of COVID-19 coronavirus (Wuhan, China, 1/12/2019) → pandemic, triggering unprecedented lockdowns of nations and societies worldwide.

            • Is the event deemed to be a positive event or a negative event?
            • How is the scientific method utilized or related to this event? Give specific examples.
            • Does the use of scientific methods have a positive impact on the event? Give specific examples.

            Step 3: Respond

            Write a 300-500 word discussion post that answers all the questions in Step 2.

            Step 4: Share

            To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

            Step 5: Interact

            To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

          • Recommended Additional Readings
          • Scientific Method URL

            Read the information under the headings "Scientific Method" and "Discourse on scientific method". (16 minutes)

            Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - 2021

        • Module 1: Lesson 2: Research Theory: Paradigms, Methodologies, and Designs in Health Research

          Student Learning Outcomes:
          • Differentiate the concepts of paradigm, method, and design in research theory.
          • Identify the most significant characteristics of the positivist, post-positivist, constructivist, and critical research paradigms.
          • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the positivist, post-positivist, constructivist, and critical research paradigms.
          • Examine the most significant aspects of ontology, epistemology, and methodology according to different research paradigms.
          Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 5 hours and 33 minutes.

          Click here to start this lesson

          4 URLs, 1 Forum
          • Required Learning Resources and Activities
          • An Expose of the Relationship between Paradigm, Method and Design in Research. URL

            Read the content under the heading "Introduction" and "Research Paradigms" until the end of the article. (64 minutes)

            The Qualitative Report. - 2017

          • Research Paradigms: A Slippery Slope for Fresh Researchers URL

            Read the entire article. (34 minutes)

            Life Science Journal - 2013

          • Understanding Depression from Different Paradigms: Toward an Eclectic Social Work Approach URL

            Read content under the following headings: "Abstract, Introduction, Paradigm, Post-Positivist Paradigm, Social Constructivist Paradigm, Critical Theory Paradigm". (21 minutes)

            British Journal of Social Work - 2015

          • Understanding and Applying Research Paradigms in Educational Contexts URL

            Read the content under Section 2 on page 26: "What Are the Essential Elements of a Research Paradigm? Pertinent Literature". (14 minutes)

            International Journal of Higher Education - 2017

          • Peer Activity 1: A video presentation explaining the approaches to studying a research problem using different paradigms and their strengths and weaknesses (200 minutes). Forum

            In this activity, you will select a research problem. You will create a video presentation explaining the different approaches to study the problem from different paradigms, including how ontology, epistemology, and methodology differ. For each paradigm, you will make a comment on the strengths and weaknesses of each.

            Step 1: Review

            Review the components of Module 1 Lesson 2, especially the four common research paradigms in medical education: positivist, post-positivist, constructivist, and critical research. After reviewing, select a particular health issue of your interest. 

            Example:

            Health issue: Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the US population.

            Step 2: Analyze

            • 2.1: Select four research paradigms and think of examples about how each of them can help you discover different aspects of a health issue of your choice.
            • 2.2: Now, select one paradigm and reflect on how ontology, epistemology, and methodology differ according to your selected paradigm. The table in this link and the following questions will help you to complete this task:
              • Ontology: What is out there to know? / What is reality?
              • Epistemology: How can I know reality?
              • Methodology: How do I acquire knowledge?

            Step 3: Create

            Create a 5-minute video presentation that includes:

            • Your examples on how each research paradigm would help you discover different aspects of the health issue of your choice.
            • How ontology, epistemology, and methodology differ for a selected paradigm. Use examples related to your selected health issue to illustrate your arguments.

            Feel free to use slides for the presentation. You can use the free version of Loom to record and share your video.

            Step 4: Share

            Post a shareable link to your presentation in the forum. To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your link in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

            Step 5: Interact

            To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

            Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
            Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
            Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

        • Module 1: Lesson 3: Research Ethics and Integrity

          Student Learning Outcomes:
          • Discuss the importance of informed consent in public health research.
          • Explain the ethical principles in public health research and their importance.
          • Describe the core values of integrity in research.
          • Summarize the history of research ethics, the Nuremberg Code, and the Belmont Report.
          • Using the example of substance abuse research, discuss ethical challenges in research with potentially vulnerable participants.
          Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 6 hours and 59 minutes.


          Click here to start this lesson

          10 URLs, 1 Forum
          • Required Learning Resources and Activities
          • Importance of consent in the research URL

            Read the entire article. (8 minutes)

            International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health - 2020

          • What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important? URL

            Read from page 1 to page 5. (11 minutes)

            National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - 2013

          • Guiding Principles for Ethical Research. URL

            Read the entire page. (5 minutes)

            National Institutes of Health - 2016

          • Foundations of Integrity in Research: Core Values and Guiding Norms. URL

            Read the entire article. (35 minutes)

            National Academy of Sciences - 2017

          • Research Ethics Timeline URL

            Read entire page. (46 minutes)

            National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - 2021

          • The Nuremberg Code 70 Years Later URL

            Read the entire article. (10 minutes)

            JAMA Network American Medical Association - 2017

          • The Belmont Report at 40: Reckoning With Time URL

            Read all sections except for Acknowledgment and References. (16 minutes)

            American Public Health Association - 2018

          • Ethical Challenges of Researchers in Qualitative Studies: The Necessity to Develop a Specific Guideline. URL

            Read the entire article. (21 minutes)

            Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine - 2014

          • How to obtain informed consent for research URL

            Read the entire article. (22 minutes)

            NCBI - 2018

          • Ethical Issues in Research Involving Participants With Opioid Use Disorder URL

            Read the entire article. (20 minutes)

            Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science - 2018

          • Discussion Forum 2: Informed Consent (210 minutes).

            For this activity, you will reflect about the unique risks that arise in research with individuals with substance use disorder and link them with the ethical principles of research.

            Step 1: Reflect

            Review the readings listed below and reflect on how unique risks in research with individuals with substance use disorders are related to specific principles of ethical research and core values and guiding norms of integrity research.

            • Guiding Principles for Ethical Research
            • Foundations of Integrity in Research: Core Values and Guiding Norms
            • Ethical Issues in Research Involving Participants With Opioid Use Disorder

            Step 2: Respond

            Write a 250-450 word post in which you:

            • Select one or two unique risks that arise in research with individuals with substance use disorders
            • Explain how these unique risks are related to the guiding principles for ethical research and the core values and guiding norms of integrity research 
            • Discuss how these principles, values, and norms, can reduce risks when working with these potentially vulnerable populations

            Step 3: Share

            To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

            Step 4: Interact

            To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

          • Quiz: Module 1
            Restricted Not available unless:
            • The activity Course Registration is marked complete
            • The activity Pre-Test is marked complete

            To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

        • Module 2: Research Questions, Research Objectives, and Hypotheses

          Instructional Goals covered in this module:

          • Formulate research problems, questions, aims, objectives, and hypotheses that are clear and practicable.
          • Module 2: Lesson 1: Research Problems and Research Questions

            Student Learning Outcomes:
            • Define a research problem and a research question.
            • Describe the characteristics of clear and practicable research problems and research questions for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research.
            • Formulate clear and practicable quantitative and qualitative research problems and research questions.
            Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 3 hours and 31 minutes.

            Click here to start this lesson

            6 URLs, 1 Forum
            • Required Learning Resources and Activities
            • Formulating the Research Problem URL

              Read the entire page. (2 minutes)

              University of London - 2014

            • Research Problem: Identification and Formulation URL

              Read the entire article. (17 minutes)

              International Journal of Research (IJR)-2014

            • Mixed-Methods Research URL

              Read the entire article. (18 minutes)

              Stanford University - 2016

            • Formulation of Research Question – Stepwise Approach URL

              Read the entire article. (19 minutes)

              Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons - 2019

            • Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Question-PICO vs. SPIDER URL

              Read the entire Document except the "References" part. (19 minutes)

              American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) - 2021

            • Quantitative Research Questions. URL

              Read the entire page and the next page for qualitative research questions. (16 minutes)

              Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources from the University of Texas at Arlington - 2018

            • Peer Activity 2: Research Problem Statement and Questions (120 minutes). Forum

              In this activity, you will write a research problem statement keeping in mind that it will be used to work on the activities in the entire course, including the final assignment. Then, you will write qualitative and quantitative research questions for your identified problem.

              Step 1: Review

              Review this Learning Resource.

              Step 2: Respond

              Think about a health issue that you might be interested in studying and complete the following:

              • Write a problem statement that:
                • Reflects a need
                • Is based on factual evidence
                • Is meaningful; has testable hypotheses
                • Has a relevant and manageable problem 
              • Using this to guide you, write between 3 and 5 research questions to guide your study of the problem. Ensure that you have a combination of qualitative and quantitative questions.

              Step 3: Share

              To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

              Step 4: Interact

              To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

              Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

              If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

          • Module 2: Lesson 2: Research Aims and Research Objectives

            Student Learning Outcomes:
            • Define a research aim and research objective.
            • Differentiate research aims and research objectives.
            • Give examples of research objectives and research aims that are clear and practicable for qualitative and quantitative research.
            • Write research aims and objectives that are clear and practicable.
            Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 2 hours and 32 minutes.

            Click here to start this lesson

            2 URLs, 1 Forum
            • Required Learning Resources and Activities
            • Setting a research question, aim and objective URL

              Read the following sections: Aims, Objectives, and Conclusion. (10 minutes)

              Nurse Researcher - 2016

            • Developing Research Aims and Objectives URL

              Read the entire journal article. (26 minutes)

              Sage - 2013

            • Peer Activity 3: Research Aims and Objectives (120 minutes). Forum

              Based on the research problems and questions developed in M2 L1, you will write qualitative and quantitative research aims and objectives.

              Step 1: Review

              Review the learning resources for Lesson 2.

              Step 2: Respond

              • Write the aim(s) of your research. Ensure that it clearly states what you want to achieve by the end of the research project.
              • List your research objectives:
                • Write between 3-5 research objectives
                • Make sure to have a combination of qualitative and quantitative objectives
                • Remember that they should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-constrained)

              Step 3: Share

              To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

              Step 4: Interact

              To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

              Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

              If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

          • Module 2: Lesson 3: Research Hypotheses

            Student Learning Outcomes:
            • Describe the common types of research hypotheses for health research.
            • Differentiate qualitative and quantitative research hypotheses.
            • Formulate clear and practicable quantitative and qualitative research hypotheses.
            Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 3 hours and 8 minutes.

            Click here to start this lesson

            5 URLs, 1 Forum, 1 Quiz
            • Required Learning Resources and Activities
            • Original Research: Creating a Hypothesis URL

              Read the entire page. (1 minute)

              Austin Peay State University - 2021

            • Research Questions and Hypotheses URL

              Read the content under the heading "Quantitative Research Questions and Hypotheses" on pages 132 to 136, and "Mixed Methods Research Questions and Hypotheses" on pages 138 to 143. (30 minutes)

              Sage Publishing. - 2008

            • Visually Hypothesising in Scientific Paper Writing: Confirming and Refuting Qualitative Research Hypotheses Using Diagrams URL

              Read the following sections: 
              Abstract
              3.3.What Is a Research Hypothesis?
              3.4. Analogical Arguments in Support of Using Hypotheses
              3.5. Can a Hypothesis Be “Tested” in Qualitative Research?
              4. The Process of Developing and Using Hypotheses in Qualitative Research. (15 minutes)

              MDPI or Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute - 2019

            • Developing Research Questions: Hypotheses and Variables URL

              Read the content under the sections: "Formulating Hypotheses" and "Variables of Interest". (7 minutes)

              University of Central Arkansas - 2013

            • Peer Activity 4: Research Hypotheses (120 minutes). Forum

              In this activity, you will build on previous work and write quantitative and qualitative research hypotheses for your research proposal.

              Step 1: Review

              Review the Section on Formulating Hypotheses.

              Step 2: Respond

              Recalling your research problem, which you formulated in Module 2 Lesson 1:

              • Write at least two hypotheses to predict the result of your research. Make sure to have at least one qualitative and quantitative hypothesis. 
              • For each hypothesis, write a 50-150 word paragraph explaining the rationale for the prediction.

              Step 3: Share

              To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

              Step 4: Interact

              To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

              Item A is ..... because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item B is ..... because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
              Item C is ..... because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
               Item D is ..... because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 
               Item E is ..... because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 

              If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


            • Quiz: Module 2

              To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

            • Recommended Additional Readings
            • Qualitative versus Quantitative Research URL

              Read entire table. (2 minutes)

              Xavier University - 2012

          • Module 3: Quantitative Studies

            Instructional Goals covered in this module:

            • Develop a quantitative study design, including a strategy for sampling and data collection, hypothesis testing, and data analysis.
            • Module 3: Lesson 1: Quantitative Study Designs

              Student Learning Outcomes:
              • Understand the hierarchies of quantitative study designs.
              • Understand the levels of evidence based on study designs.
              • Describe the concept and classification of descriptive study designs.
              • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of descriptive study designs such as cross-sectional studies, case reports, and case series.
              • Select a descriptive study design to address a given research question.
              • Describe the concept and classification of analytic study designs, including observational and experimental studies.
              • Break down the different observational study designs (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies).
              • Describe the concept of quasi-experimental studies.
              • Describe the concepts of randomization and experimental study designs.
              • Examine the different types of clinical trials.
              • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of common observational and analytical study designs.
              • Select a quantitative study design to address a given research question.
              Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 7 hours and 56 minutes.

              Click here to start this lesson

              11 URLs, 2 Forums
              • Required Learning Resources and Activities
              • A nurses’ guide to the hierarchy of research designs and evidence URL

                Read the entire document. (16 minutes)

                Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing - 2016

              • Evidence-Based Research: Levels of Evidence Pyramid URL

                Read the entire document. (8 minutes)

                Walden University - 2021

              • Study designs URL

                Read the section under overview of the design tree. (8 minutes)

                University of Oxford - 2009

              • Selecting the Appropriate Study Design for your Research: Descriptive Study Designs. URL

                Read the entire article. (15 minutes)

                Journal of Health Specialties - 2015

              • Study Designs: Part 2 – Descriptive Studies. URL

                Read the entire article. (12 minutes)

                Perspectives in Clinical Research - 2019

              • Observational and interventional study design types; an overview URL

                Read the entire article EXCEPT for these sections: Standards of research and reporting and Conclusion. (35 minutes)

                Biochemia Medica - 2014

              • Design, Applications, Strengths and Weaknesses of Cross-Sectional, Analytical Studies (Including Cohort, Case-Control and Nested Case-Control Studies), and Intervention Studies (Including Randomised Controlled Trials). URL

                Read the content under cross-sectional, case-control design and cohort stduy design. (32 minutes)

                HealthKnowledge - 2018

              • Observational Study Designs: Synopsis for Selecting an Appropriate Study Design URL

                Read the following components of the Review section: Cross-sectional, Case-control, and cohort studies. (6 minutes)

                Cureus Journal of Medical Science - 2020

              • Quasi-experimental study designs series – Paper 4: uses and value URL

                Read pages 6-11 of the manuscript. (19 minutes)

                Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - 2017

              • Module 2: Research Design - Section 2 URL

                Read entire page including the hyperlinked page: Random Assignment. (8 minutes)

                Office of Research Integrity by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - 2017

              • Types and Phases of Clinical Trials URL

                Read the entire page. (17 minutes)

                American Cancer Society - 2021

              • Discussion Forum 3: Selecting Appropriate Study Designs (180 minutes)

                In this activity, you will analyse a given set of research questions and will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of studying one of the questions with at least 2 types of descriptive and analytical study designs.

                Step 1: Review

                Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                Step 2: Analyze

                Analyze the following research questions:

                1. Is there a correlation between diet and stomach cancer survival in people aged 50-65?
                2. How effective is immunotherapy in the fight against breast cancer?
                3. What are the perceptions of residents in rural communities about vaccinations?
                4. Are middle/low-income countries more likely to have low rates of COVID vaccine uptake?
                5. Was there an increase in mental health disorders as a result of lockdown measures imposed in Italy between March and May 2020?

                Step 3: Respond

                • Select one question from the list above.
                • Write a post of 250-350 words in which you:
                  1. Choose at least 2 types of study designs (descriptive and/or analytical) that can be used to answer this question.
                  2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of utilizing each study design to answer the research question.

                Step 4: Share

                To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                Step 5: Interact

                To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least one post made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, asking thought-provoking questions or making suggestions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


              • Peer Activity 5: Quantitative Study Design Selection (120 minutes). Forum

                In this activity, you will continue to build upon previous work by selecting a study design for the quantitative component of your research proposal.

                Step 1: Review

                Review the research questions which you wrote in Module 2 Lesson 1. Select the quantitative question(s).

                Step 2: Respond

                Choose the best quantitative study design which will help you to answer the question(s). Write a 200-350 word post in which you:

                • Summarize the selected design for the chosen questions
                • Give a rationale for its selection

                Step 3: Share

                To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                Step 4: Interact

                To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                 Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 

                If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”



            • Module 3: Lesson 2: Sampling and Data Collection for Quantitative Research

              Student Learning Outcomes:
              • Understand the uses of probability and non-probability sampling methods.
              • Give examples of probability and non-probability sampling methods.
              • Determine a sampling strategy and sample size for a quantitative study.
              • Describe the data collection methods in quantitative research.
              • Determine a data collection method for a quantitative study.
              Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 3 hours and 40 minutes.

              Click here to start this lesson

              4 URLs, 1 Forum
              • Required Learning Resources and Activities
              • Sampling Strategy and Sample Size Calculation. URL

                Read the entire document. (51 minutes)

                People's University - 2016

              • Sampling Methods in Research Methodology: How to Choose a Sampling Technique for Research. URL

                Read the entire article. (21 minutes)

                International Journal of Academic Research in Management - 2016

              • Data Collection Methods in Quantitative Research. URL

                Read the entire article. (23 minutes)

                Indian Journal of Continuing Nursing Education - 2017

              • Selecting Data Collection Methods. URL

                Read the entire document. (5 minutes)

                CDC - 2014

              • Peer Activity 6: Quantitative Data Collection (120 minutes). Forum

                For this activity, you will determine a sampling strategy, sample size, and data collection strategy for the quantitative component of your research proposal.

                Step 1: Review

                Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                Step 2: Respond

                Recalling the quantitative research questions, design, and objectives already designed, write a post of 200-350 words in which you explain:

                • Sampling strategy with a description of the study population
                • Sample size along with:
                  • Justification for the calculation strategy
                  • Margin of error and confidence level
                • Data collection strategy

                Step 3: Share

                To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                Step 4: Interact

                To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                 Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 

                If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

            • Module 3: Lesson 3: Quantitative Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing and Tests of Significance

              Student Learning Outcomes:
              • Describe the process of quantitative data analysis.
              • Explain the different data measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio).
              • Differentiate between continuous and discrete data.
              • Explain the purpose of hypothesis testing.
              • Explain the components of hypothesis testing (null hypothesis, alternative hypothesis, Type I Error, Type II Error, and power).
              • Describe the meaning of a test of significance.
              • Define the different tests of significance (Chi-Square, T-Test, ANOVA, F-Statistic, etc).
              • Differentiate the different tests of significance (Chi-Square, T-Test, ANOVA, F-Statistic, etc).
              • Define probability value (P-value).
              • Give examples of the use of P-value in a research context.
              • Determine a data analysis strategy for a given research question.
              Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 7 hours and 3 minutes.

              Click here to start this lesson

              13 URLs, 1 Forum, 1 Quiz
              • Required Learning Resources and Activities
              • Quantitative Methods URL

                Read the entire page. (17 minutes)

                University of Southern California - 2021

              • Analyzing Quantitative Data for Evaluation URL

                Read the entire page. (9 minutes)

                CDC - 2018

              • Scales of Measurement and Presentation of Statistical Data URL

                Read the entire page. (16 minutes)

                Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia - 2018

              • Levels of Measurement URL

                Read the following sections: 
                -Introduction
                -Nominal
                -Ordinal
                -Ratio
                -Interval and watch the videos that accompany each. (11 minutes)

                University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences - 2016

              • Adapted - Quantitative Data URL

                Read the entire document. (11 minutes)

                NextGenu.org - 2019

              • Hypothesis Testing and Sampling. URL

                Read the entire document. (4 minutes)

                NextGenu.org - 2019

              • Introduction to Hypothesis testing URL

                Read the entire document. (24 minutes)

                University of Dallas 

              • Tests of Significance URL

                Read the entire document. (20 minutes)

                University of West Georgia

              • What Statistical Analysis Should I Use? Statistical Analyses Using Stata URL

                Read the entire document. (45 minutes)

                UCLA - 2021

              • 6 Basic Statistical Tools URL

                Read the entire page. (40 minutes)

                Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

              • P-Values URL

                Read the entire page. (6 minutes)

                Boston University School of Public Health - 2019

              • What does the p value really mean? URL

                Read the entire article. (5 minutes)

                Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia: Continuing Education: Scientific Methodology - 2015

              • Peer Activity 7: Quantitative Data Analysis (200 minutes). Forum

                In this activity, you will write the first part of the "Data Analysis" section of your research proposal. It will include a description of the type of data you expect to collect in the quantitative component and the analysis strategy(ies) you plan to utilize.

                Step 1: Review

                Review the following resources from the lesson’s readings:

                • Analyzing Quantitative Data for Evaluation
                • Quantitative Methods - Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper
                • Scales of Measurement and Presentation of Statistical Data 

                Step 2: Respond

                Write the first few paragraphs of the Data Analysis section of your proposal. Your post should be 200-350 words long. Ensure that you include:

                • Type of data to be collected
                • Appropriate data analysis strategy(ies) to be used for each type of data

                Step 3: Share

                To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                Step 4: Interact

                To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

                If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

              • Quiz: Module 3

                To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

              • Recommended Additional Readings
              • Ziliak and McCloskey’s Criticisms of Significance Tests: An Assessment URL

                Read the content under the heading Introduction, The Meaning of Significance Tests, Z-M's Criticism of Significance Tests to page 265. (19 minutes)

                Econ Journal Watch - 2012

            • Module 4: Qualitative and Mixed Studies

              Instructional Goals covered in this module:

              • Develop a qualitative study design, including a strategy for sampling, data collection, and data analysis.
              • Module 4: Lesson 1: Qualitative Study Designs

                Student Learning Outcomes:
                • Describe the concept and defining characteristics of qualitative research.
                • Categorize the different qualitative study designs (grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology, participatory action research, case study, and historical studies).
                • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research.
                • Determine an appropriate qualitative design to address a given research question.
                Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 6 hours and 16 minutes.

                Click here to start this lesson

                5 URLs, 2 Forums
                • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                • Qualitative Research Design URL

                  Read the entire document. (21 minutes)

                  Public Health U - 2020

                • Qualitative Research: Key Concepts and a Brief Overview of its application in Geriatrics/Gerontology URL

                  Read the entire article. (21 minutes)

                  Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging - 2017

                • Qualitative Methods in Health Care Research URL

                  Read section: Types of Qualitative Research Designs. (10 minutes)

                  International Journal of Preventive Medicine - 2021

                • Participatory action research URL

                  Read entire page. (12 minutes)

                  Australian Institute of Family Services - 2015

                • The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches and Methods in Language “Testing and Assessment” Research: A Literature Review URL

                  Read Section: 3. Qualitative Research Approaches and Methods. (12 minutes)

                  Journal of Education and Learning: Canadian Center of Science and Education - 2016

                • Discussion Forum 4: Qualitative Study Designs (180 minutes)

                  For this activity, you will analyse a given set of research questions, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of studying the question with at least 2 types of qualitative research designs.

                  Step 1: Review

                  Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                  Step 2: Analyze

                  Analyze the following research questions:

                  1. How do cancer survivors perceive their quality of life after chemotherapy and radiation treatment?
                  2. Does early intervention in obese children result in healthy body weight as adults?
                  3. Is vaccine hesitancy more prevalent among immigrant populations in rural areas?
                  4. Do mental health disorders increase with substance abuse? 

                  Step 3: Respond

                  • Select one question from the list above.
                  • Write a post of 250-350 words in which you:
                  1. Choose at least 2 types of qualitative study designs (phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, ethnography, participant action research, historical study) that can be used to answer this question.
                  2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of utilizing each study design to answer the research question.

                  Step 4: Share

                  To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                  Step 5: Interact

                  To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least one post made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, asking thought-provoking questions, or making suggestions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


                • Peer Review 8: Qualitative Research Design (120 minutes). Forum

                  In this activity, you will start working on the qualitative component of your research proposal. You will select a study design from the ones addressed in this lesson to study your qualitative research questions.

                  Step 1: Review

                  Review the research questions which you wrote in Module 2 Lesson 1. Select the qualitative question(s).

                  Step 2: Respond

                  Choose the best qualitative study design which will help you to answer the question(s). Write a 200-350 word post in which you:

                  • Summarize the selected design
                  • Give a rationale for its selection

                  Step 3: Share

                  To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                  Step 4: Interact

                  To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                  Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                   Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 

                  If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


              • Module 4: Lesson 2: Sampling and Data Collection for Qualitative Research

                Student Learning Outcomes:
                • Describe the common sampling strategies for qualitative research (purposeful, convenience, snowballing, quota).
                • Explain the common qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, observation, document reviews, and visual methods).
                • Determine the sampling and data collection methods to address a given research question.
                Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 2 hours and 48 minutes.

                Click here to start this lesson

                4 URLs, 1 Forum
                • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                • Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling URL

                  Read pages 1-3 from "Introduction" to "Purposive Sampling Methods". (14 minutes)

                  American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics - 2015

                • Enhancing the sample diversity of snowball samples: Recommendations from a research project on anti-dam movements in Southeast Asia URL

                  Read content under "Introduction" and "On Snowball Sampling". (10 minutes)

                  PLoS One - 2018

                • Sampling in qualitative research URL

                  Read content under Non-probability Sampling and Types of Non-probability sampling. (12 minutes)

                  Radford University - 2021

                • Overview of Qualitative Research Methods. URL

                  Watch the entire video. (12 minutes)

                  Center for Research Quality - 2015

                • Peer Activity 9: Qualitative Data Collection (120 minutes) Forum

                  In this activity, you will continue working on the qualitative component of your proposal by defining a sampling and data collection method that matches your preferred study design.

                  Step 1: Review

                  Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                  Step 2: Respond

                  Recalling the qualitative research questions and objectives already designed, write a post of 150-250 words, in which you explain:

                  • Sampling strategy 
                  • Sample size and justification
                  • Data collection method

                  Step 3: Share

                  To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                  Step 4: Interact

                  To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                  Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                   Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are…. 

                  If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

              • Module 4: Lesson 3: Qualitative Data Analysis

                Student Learning Outcomes:
                • Describe the concept and defining characteristics of qualitative data analysis.
                • Describe the main approaches to qualitative data analysis (deductive, inductive, thematic, and content analysis).
                • Determine a qualitative data analysis strategy to address a given research question.
                Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 4 hours and 23 minutes.

                Click here to start this lesson

                5 URLs, 1 Forum
                • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                • Qualitative Data, Analysis, and Design URL

                  Read from the content under the heading "Research Designs" on page 365 to the heading "Mixed Methods" on page 369. (22 minutes)

                  Sage Publishing - 2014

                • Analysing qualitative data URL

                  Read the entire page. (4 minutes)

                  NSW government website - 2020

                • Qualitative research: deductive and inductive approaches to data analysis URL

                  Read content under "Data Analysis". (11 minutes)

                  Qualitative Research Journal - 2018

                • Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131 URL

                  Read from "Introduction" to "When to use thematic analysis". (12 minutes)

                  Medical Teacher - 2020

                • Content Analysis URL

                  Read the entire page. (14 minutes)

                  Columbia Public Health - 2021

                • Peer Activity 10: Qualitative Data Analysis (200 minutes) Forum

                  For this activity, you will select a data analysis strategy for the qualitative component of your proposal and provide a justification/rationale.

                  Step 1: Review

                  Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                  Step 2: Respond

                  Based on your qualitative research questions, select the most appropriate data analysis strategy/strategies and write a 200-350 word post in which you include:

                  • The type of data to be collected
                  • The strategy/strategies you will use to analyse it
                  • A justification for your selection.

                  Step 3: Share

                  To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                  Step 4: Interact

                  To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                  Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                  Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

                  If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


              • Module 4: Lesson 4: Mixed Methods Research

                Student Learning Outcomes:
                • Describe what is meant by mixed research methods.
                • Identify the characteristics of common mixed research designs (convergent, sequential, triangulation, explanatory, exploratory, embedded).
                • Outline the advantages and shortcomings of employing mixed method designs.
                Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 2 hours and 50 minutes.

                Click here to start this lesson

                3 URLs, 1 Forum, 1 Quiz
                • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                • Mixed Research Method as the Third Research Paradigm: A Literature Review URL

                  Read Section 2: Mixed Method Research Defined. (5 minutes)

                  International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) - 2013

                • Mixed-Methods Research URL

                  Read the entire document. (22 minutes)

                  Public Health U - 2020

                • Mixed Methods Research: An Overview for Beginner Researchers URL

                  Read Sections 4,5,6 of the paper. (8 minutes)

                  Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics - 2019

                • Discussion Forum 5: Mixed Methods (120 minutes).

                  Based on your experience working on the peer activities so far, for this activity, you will provide 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using a mixed methods approach.

                  Step 1: Review

                  Review the resources from this lesson, particularly this article.

                  Step 2: Respond

                  Write a post of 150-250 words in which you discuss:

                  • 3 advantages of using a mixed method approach
                  • 3 disadvantages of using a mixed method approach

                  Step 3: Share

                  To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                  Step 4: Interact

                  To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, asking thought-provoking questions, or making suggestions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

                • Quiz: Module 4

                  To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

              • Module 5: Literature Reviews and Critical Appraisals of Research

                Instructional Goals covered in this module:

                • Appraise the importance and application of literature reviews for health sciences research.
                • Conduct a systematic search and critical appraisal of research.
                • Module 5: Lesson 1: Types and steps of Literature Reviews

                  Student Learning Outcomes:
                  • Explain the narrative, scoping, and systematic reviews of literature and meta-analysis.
                  • Differentiate the types of systematic reviews and their importance (Rapid review, Narrative review, Meta-analysis, Mixed methods/mixed studies)
                  • Explain the steps to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis.
                  • Reflect on the contributions of each type of review for the advancement of health sciences research.
                  Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 4 hours and 48 minutes.

                  Click here to start this lesson

                  6 URLs, 1 Forum
                  • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                  • NCCMT - URE - Types of Reviews - What kind of review do we need? URL

                    Watch the entire video. (10 minutes)

                    National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools - 2016

                  • Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach URL

                    Read whole article. (31 minutes)

                    BMC Medical Research - 2018

                  • Types of Reviews. URL

                    Read the entire document. (16 minutes)

                    Public Health U - 2020

                  • Systematic Reviews: the process: Types of Reviews URL

                    Read the entire page. (7 minutes)

                    Duke University: Medical City Library

                  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses URL

                    Read the entire document. (10 minutes)

                    Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - 2011

                  • Systematic Reviews & Other Review Types. URL

                    Read the entire article. (14 minutes)

                    Temple University - 2021

                  • Discussion Forum 6: Literature Reviews (200 minutes).

                    For this activity, you will use one of the quantitative and qualitative research questions developed in your previous peer activities. For each question, you will write a short reflective paragraph on how each type of literature review addressed in the module could help answer the research question (narrative, scoping, systematic review, meta-analysis).

                    Step 1: Review

                    Review the learning resources for this lesson.

                    Step 2: Respond

                    For each of your research questions, write a paragraph of between 100-200 words in which you reflect on how each of the types of literature reviews can help you to answer the research question.

                    Step 3: Share

                    To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                    Step 4: Interact

                    To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two  posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, asking thought-provoking questions or making suggestions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

                • Module 5: Lesson 2: The Systematic Search and Critical Appraisal of Research

                  Student Learning Outcomes:
                  • Understand the concept and defining characteristics of systematic searches.
                  • Explain the steps and best practices to conduct a systematic search.
                  • Apply the techniques for a systematic search for the research question of interest.
                  • Describe the importance of critical appraisal of research.
                  • Describe the commonly used tools for critical appraisal of research (CASP and JAMA).
                  • Reporting a critical appraisal and systematic review in general.
                  • Apply the tools to critically appraise a research paper.
                  Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 4 hours and 23 minutes.

                  Click here to start this lesson

                  3 URLs, 1 Forum, 1 Quiz
                  • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                  • A systematic approach to searching: an efficient and complete method to develop literature searches URL

                    Read this section of the document: CREATING A SYSTEMATIC SEARCH STRATEGY. (26 minutes)

                    Journal of the Medical Library Association - 2018

                  • Dissecting the literature: the importance of critical appraisal URL

                    Read the section: Why is critical appraisal needed? (2 minutes)

                    The Royal College of Surgeons of England - 2017

                  • Critical Appraisal Tools URL

                    Read the entire page. (20 minutes)

                    University of South Australia

                  • Peer Activity 11: Systematic Search and Assessment (200 minutes). Forum

                    For this activity, you will conduct a systematic search based on one of your research questions and will share the results with your peers (process and databases employed, search terms, number of results).

                    After completing the systematic search, you will then select a research paper from the results. Based on the tools studied in the module, you will identify an appropriate tool to assess the paper and provide a rationale for using that particular tool. 

                    Step 1: Review

                    Review the learning resources for this module.

                    Step 2: Search

                    Assume you are doing a systematic review as part of your thesis:

                    • Select a research question of your preference and design search terms to conduct a systematic search. Make sure that the terms make good use of operators such as (), AND, OR, “”, and others.
                    • Select at least two databases of your preference. You can use open databases such as ERIC, PubMed, or Google Scholar.
                    • Insert your search terms, assess the results, and make adjustments to the terms until you feel satisfied with the number and quality of results obtained.

                    Step 3: Assess

                    From your results, select any research paper of your preference and get ready to make a critical appraisal.

                    • Choose a tool/checklist to assess the paper. Feel free to use the tools mentioned in the course readings or identify any other of your preference.
                    • Use your selected tool to assess the paper.

                    Step 4: Report

                    Prepare a 400-700 word report in which you include details under the following headings:

                    1. Systematic Search
                      1. Research Question
                      2. Search Process utilized (logical and clear)
                      3. Database(s) used
                      4. Search Terms used
                      5. Number of results obtained in each database
                    2. Critical Appraisal
                      1. Write a rationale for your tool selection and the main observations you have made about the paper. Make sure to include positive and negative aspects.

                    Step 5: Share

                    To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste both parts of your response in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                    Step 6: Interact

                    To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least one post made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                    Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                    Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                    Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                    Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                    Item E is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                    Item F is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

                    If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”

                  • Quiz: Module 5

                    To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

                • Module 6: Scientific Skills


                  Instructional Goals covered in this module:

                  • Write and present scientific research, following appropriate style and referencing standards.
                  • Module 6: Lesson 1: Scientific Writing

                    Student Learning Outcomes:
                    • Distinguish between scientific and regular writing.
                    • Implement scientific writing principles in research products.
                    • Describe the strategies for effective oral communication.
                    • Demonstrate oral communication skills in presenting research products.
                    Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 1 hour and 53 minutes.

                    Click here to start this lesson

                    7 URLs
                    • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                    • The Science of Scientific Writing URL

                      Read the entire article. (56 minutes)

                      The Pennsylvania State University-2018

                    • Ten Simple (Empirical) Rules for Writing Science. URL

                      Read the entire article. (11 minutes)

                      PLOS Computational Biology - 2015

                    • The Basics of Scientific Writing. URL

                      Read the entire page. (7 minutes)

                      University of Nebraska-Lincoln - 2016

                    • Writing for Science Subjects: 10 characteristics of scientific writing URL

                      Read entire document. (14 minutes)

                      University of Leeds - 2015

                    • Principles of Scientific Writing URL

                      Read entire document. (10 minutes)

                      University of Colorado Denverr - 2014

                    • Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies. URL

                      Read the entire page. (10 minutes)

                      University of Waterloo - 2013

                    • 10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills. URL

                      Read the entire page. (5 minutes)

                      Harvard Division of Continuing Education - 2020

                  • Module 6: Lesson 2: Plagiarism and Referencing Styles

                    Student Learning Outcomes:
                    • Describe the concepts of intellectual property and plagiarism.
                    • Explain the common recommendations to avoid plagiarism in academic writing.
                    • Identify the different referencing styles and their uses.
                    • Apply a referencing style to cite and reference research studies.
                    Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 4 hours and 31 minutes.

                    Click here to start this lesson

                    6 URLs, 1 Forum, 1 Quiz
                    • Required Learning Resources and Activities
                    • What is intellectual property? URL

                      Read entire document. (30 minutes)

                      World Intellectual Property Organization - 2020

                    • What is Plagiarism? URL

                      Read the entire page. (8 minutes)

                      University of Michigan - 2020

                    • Avoiding Plagiarism - A Guide. URL

                      Read entire page. (15 minutes)

                      Trent University - 2021

                    • Quoting Versus Paraphrasing Versus Summarizing. URL

                      Read the entire document. (4 minutes)

                      Memorial University of Newfoundland - 2012

                    • Citation Styles URL

                      Read the entire page. (15 minutes)

                      University of California - 2021

                    • Peer Activity 12: Introduction of Research Proposal (180 minutes). Forum

                      In this activity, you will write a few introductory paragraphs for your research proposal that will follow scientific writing principles and a referencing style of your preference.

                      Step 1: Review

                      Review the learning resources for this module.

                      Step 2: Respond

                      Using the following as a guide, write the introductory paragraphs to your Research Proposal. Include the following:

                      • Problem statement and the background
                      • The relevance and contribution of your planned project
                      • Reference list, stating the referencing style used

                      Step 3: Share

                      To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post and paste your response in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. Ensure that you reference others’ contributions by using an appropriate referencing style which was learned in the module. (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                      Step 4: Interact

                      To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least one post made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                      Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

                      If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


                    • Quiz: Module 6

                      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the "Preview quiz now" button to respond to the questions.

                    • Recommended Additional Readings
                    • Which Referencing Style Should you use? URL

                      Watch the entire video. (4 minutes)

                      University of Reading - 2019

                  • Final Assignment

                    Click here to start this Final Assignment

                    1 Forum
                    • Final Assignment (480 minutes) Forum

                      For the Final Assignment, you will add to the work that you have already completed to prepare your research proposal. You will then create a 10-minute video presentation of your research proposal. 

                      Step 1: Review

                      Review your submissions for the previous activities in the course. Pay close attention to any feedback suggested by your peers.

                      Step 2: Create

                      Create your thesis proposal using the materials developed for the peer activities in this course. You can decide to propose a mixed methods approach or to use only a quantitative or qualitative approach. The proposal should have an extension of 3-4 pages and use the following outline:

                      • Title
                      • Introduction (background, relevance, contribution)
                      • Research Problem
                      • Research Questions
                      • Research Aim and Objectives
                      • Hypothesis
                      • Methods (specify the qualitative and quantitative components in each category if the study follows a mixed methods approach)
                        • Study design, including a justification for the proposed design 

                        • Population

                        • Sampling

                          • Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

                        • Data collection and analysis

                      • References

                      Use the following as a formatting guide:

                      • Font: Arial or Calibri
                      • Font Size: 11-point
                      • Spacing: 1.5
                      • Headings: bold, flush left (Methods will have level 2 headings: flush left, bold, italics)

                      Step 3: Present

                      Prepare a 10-minute video presentation of your research proposal. You are free to use slides to present the information.  You can use the free version of Loom or any other screen recording software to record and share your video.

                      Step 4: Share

                      To share your work, click on the “Reply” button under this post, then upload your written research proposal and paste a shareable link to your video in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

                      Step 5: Interact

                      To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least one post made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner, using the items in this Rubric to guide you. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. You may use the following as a guide:

                      Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item E is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item F is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item G is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
                      Item H is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

                      If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “post to forum.”


                  • Final Exam

                    Click here to start Final Examination4568


                    • Final Exam Quiz
                      Restricted Not available unless any of:
                      • All of:
                        • All of:
                          • The activity Course Registration is marked complete
                          • The activity Pre-Test is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 1 is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 2 is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 3 is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 4 is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 5 is marked complete
                          • The activity Quiz: Module 6 is marked complete
                        • All of:
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 1: Scientific Method and the Development of Modern Society (200 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 1: A video presentation explaining the approaches to studying a research problem using different paradigms and their strengths and weaknesses (200 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 2: Informed Consent (210 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 2: Research Problem Statement and Questions (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 3: Research Aims and Objectives (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 4: Research Hypotheses (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 3: Selecting Appropriate Study Designs (180 minutes) is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 5: Quantitative Study Design Selection (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 6: Quantitative Data Collection (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 7: Quantitative Data Analysis (200 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 4: Qualitative Study Designs (180 minutes) is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Review 8: Qualitative Research Design (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 9: Qualitative Data Collection (120 minutes) is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 10: Qualitative Data Analysis (200 minutes) is marked complete
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 5: Mixed Methods (120 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Discussion Forum 6: Literature Reviews (200 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 11: Systematic Search and Assessment (200 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Peer Activity 12: Introduction of Research Proposal (180 minutes). is marked complete
                          • The activity Final Assignment (480 minutes) is marked complete
                      • You belong to Public Health U

                      To take the final exam, you must complete all quizzes and complete all the required activities. The final exam consists of 50 questions, and you will have 100 minutes to complete it. When the time is over, you will have two minutes to submit your attempt before it expires, and your progress is discarded. You will not be able to answer additional questions in the grace period.

                      To access the exam, click on the name of the exam provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to respond to the questions.

                  • Course and Self Evaluation & Certificate

                    4569

                    In this section, you can provide feedback about this course to help us make NextGenU.org better. Once evaluations are completed, you will be able to download your certificate of completion.

                    Click here give your feedback

                    • Course Evaluation Questionnaire
                      Restricted Not available unless: The activity Final Exam is complete and passed
                    • Self Evaluation Questionnaire
                      Restricted Not available unless: The activity Final Exam is complete and passed
                  • Course Activities

                    2 Pages
                    • Discussion Forums Page
                    • Peer Activities Page
                  Skip Course Activities and Resources
                  Course Activities and Resources

                  • Syllabus
                  • All Resources
                  • All Peer Activities
                  • All Discussion Forums
                  • Quizzes

                  • Research Methods
                  • General
                  • How to create an account and enroll in the course?
                  • Research Methods Homepage
                  • Module 1: Introduction to Research Methods
                  • Module 1: Lesson 1: The History of Research and Evolution of Key Terminologies
                  • Module 1: Lesson 2: Research Theory: Paradigms, Methodologies, and Designs in Health Research
                  • Module 1: Lesson 3: Research Ethics and Integrity
                  • Module 2: Research Questions, Research Objectives, and Hypotheses
                  • Module 2: Lesson 1: Research Problems and Research Questions
                  • Module 2: Lesson 2: Research Aims and Research Objectives
                  • Module 2: Lesson 3: Research Hypotheses
                  • Module 3: Quantitative Studies
                  • Module 3: Lesson 1: Quantitative Study Designs
                  • Module 3: Lesson 2: Sampling and Data Collection for Quantitative Research
                  • Module 3: Lesson 3: Quantitative Data Analysis: Hypothesis Testing and Tests of Significance
                  • Module 4: Qualitative and Mixed Studies
                  • Module 4: Lesson 1: Qualitative Study Designs
                  • Module 4: Lesson 2: Sampling and Data Collection for Qualitative Research
                  • Module 4: Lesson 3: Qualitative Data Analysis
                  • Module 4: Lesson 4: Mixed Methods Research
                  • Module 5: Literature Reviews and Critical Appraisals of Research
                  • Module 5: Lesson 1: Types and steps of Literature Reviews
                  • Module 5: Lesson 2: The Systematic Search and Critical Appraisal of Research
                  • Module 6: Scientific Skills
                  • Module 6: Lesson 1: Scientific Writing
                  • Module 6: Lesson 2: Plagiarism and Referencing Styles
                  • Final Assignment
                  • Final Exam
                  • Course and Self Evaluation & Certificate
                  • Course Activities
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