The advancement of knowledge and practice in health care depends on the education of individuals who are competent in undertaking health research and evaluations. Research is fundamental to the health sciences. Technological advances and an increasing demand to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and quality of health services have ensured that research is a high priority for the health care industry. Consistent with the previous versions, the fifth edition of "An Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences" has two overall aims. One is to introduce the fundamental principles of research methodology and explain how these principles are applied for conducting research in the health sciences. And the second is to demonstrate how evidence produced through research is applied to solving problems in everyday health care. This book is written in an accessible style. It maintains the traditions of the previous editions, with examples, questions, feedback sections, and an extensive glossary. In addition, this new edition: includes a chapter focussing on the use of qualitative methods in health research and a chapter for discussing systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and contains more revision questions as well as updated figures.

Table of Contents

Preface. Section 1: The scientific method. Chapter 1 - Methods and health research. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 2: Research planning. Chapter 2 - Research planning. Chapter 3 - Sampling methods and external validity. Chapter 4 - Causal research and internal validity. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 3: Research designs. Chapter 5 - Experimental designs and intervention studies. Chapter 6 - Surveys and quasi-experimental designs. Chapter 7 - Single case (n=1) designs. Chapter 8 - Qualitative research. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 4: Data collection. Chapter 9 - Questionnaire design. Chapter 10 - Interview techniques and the analysis of interview data. Chapter 11 - Observation. Chapter 12 - Measurement. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 5: Descriptive statistics. Chapter 13 - Organisation and presentation of data. Chapter 14 - Measures of central tendency and variability. Chapter 15 - Standard scores and normal curve. Chapter 16 - Correlation. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 6: Inferential statistics. Chapter 17 - Probability and sampling distributions. Chapter 18 - Hypotheses testing. Chapter 19 - Selection and use of statistical tests. Chapter 20 - The interpretation of research evidence. Discussion, questions and answers. Section 7: Dissemination and critical evaluation of research. Chapter 21 - Qualitative data analysis. Chapter 22 - Presentation of health science research. Chapter 23 - Critical evaluation of published research. Chapter 24 - Syntheses of research evidence. Glossary. References and further reading. Answers to questions. Appendices. Index.