Epidemiology study design - Research Proposal Example

Health Sciences and Medicine In designing and deciding a research methodology it is first important to decide what the objective and motivation is behind the research. Using this information you can then decide what methodology is most suitable for your needs. The field of epidemiology focuses on the health of the population and relies on the scientific methods. The research methods are those methods and techniques that are actually used while the researcher is conducting the research (Research…).

The research methodology is a systematic way that is used to solve the research problem, which is defined before the start of a research.The research methodology will include identifying the problem to be solved, as well as reviewing existing literature and study regarding the defined problems. A hypothesis should then be generated using what is already known; the hypothesis should be specific and related to the research being completed. This hypothesis will continue to guide the research throughout its course and ensure that the focus remains the same throughout and is not changed by the introduction of new variables that can occur during the research.

The research design will consider how the information that is needed will be obtained, the abilities of the researchers, cost factors, and the time available for the research study. The researchers then will decide on a population or sample group that will be used in the research study. Often in epidemiology this may be known as a case study. Collecting and analyzing the data will lend to hypothesis testing at which point conclusions can be made. Epidemiology studies can be observational and interventional.

An interventional study is used in clinical trials and studies the association between interventions and outcomes. Epidemiology studies are especially concerned with how well the sample or group the research study uses represents the larger population. It is the epidemiologist’s primary focus to find out how related study variables are (Jung).ReferencesResearch Methodology: An Introduction. (n.d.). New Age Publishers. Retrieved January 26, 2012, from http://www.newagepublishers.com/samplechapter/000896.

pdfJung, B. (n.d.). A Brief Introduction to Epidemiology. Retrieved January 26, 2012, from www.pitt.edu/~super7/2011-3001/2181.ppt