HAND BOOK OF BASIC QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN HEALTH CARE

Moving Forward

 We have worked on a hypothesis and a resear
hypothesis and question), and the aims/objectiv
literature, well, as much as possible. We have a
study. We have a good feeling about the study (h

rch question (or maybe more than one
ves of the research. We have reviewed the
list of variables that we feel are important to
hopefully)

Dummy Tables

The next step is to create dummy tables.
Dummy tables are mock tables that you create PR
I prefer creating them BEFORE I create my data c
Obviously, I can't create my dummy tables if I am
the answers I am seeking and the variables I nee

RIOR to the data collection and analysis
collection sheet and data entry sheet
m not clear about my research question,
ed to get my answers!7

Dummy Tables-2

 Each Dummy Table will have rows and columns
table is not populated with data
 I would think over my plan to answer the resea

 There are two types of tables I create- a) an ex
the data in detail and that leads to b) a set of tab

s that mimic a regular data table, except the

arch question and then create the dummy tables.
xploratory set of tables that I create to explore
bles that I use to present data

Examples Da

Characteristic Me
Age in Years
Sex Ma
Education
No
Sec
Inte

ata

ean (SD), Median, Range

ale (%), Female (%)

o schooling, Primary schooling,
condary Schooling, High School,
ermediate, Graduate and above

Example

Characteristic Study Group-1

Mean Age (SD)
Males (n, %)
Graduates (n,%)

Study Group-2 Statistical
Significance (name
of test, p value)

Example-3 P

Test Characteristic
Sensitivity
Specificity
Positive Predictive Value
Negative Predictive Value
Positive Likelihood Ratio
Negative Likelihood Ratio
Area Under ROC Curve

Point Estimate (95% CI)

Dummy Tables

Why would I do my dummy tables BEFORE I crea
crystallize the structure of my variables and to m
question

Why would I do it before analysis? Because it let
the plan of analysis will aid me in answering my

What is the other reason I love dummy tables? It

ate my data collection sheet? Because it helps to
make sure the variables are useful to answer the

ts me know (even before I collect data) whether
research question
t often makes me feel like a dummy!

Data Collecti

JOURNAL OF FETAL RADIOLOGY BY

ion Form

Y AMMA ERF & KREST KOCHI

Moving Forward

 We have worked on a hypothesis and a resear
hypothesis and question), and the aims/objectiv
literature, well, as much as possible. We have cr
to the research study. We created Dummy Table

rch question (or maybe more than one
ves of the research. We have reviewed the
reated a list of variables that we feel are relevant
es. We have a good feeling about the study

Data Collection Form

Let us move on to create our data collection form
As we do that, let me share some of my thought
1. The aesthetics of the form are not as import
2. Keep forms simple
3. Pursue a logical order
4. Have headers and sub headers as appropriat
5. Provide keys for every entry (this can be prov

ms

m
ts
tant as the content of the form

te
vided as a separate document)

Data Collection Form

As you develop the form, please revisit each var
1. Do you really need this information?
2. How will you collect it?
3. When will you collect it?
4. How will you use it?
5. How does it add value to your research?
6. Is the format of collection appropriate and u

ms

riable

useful to answer your question?

Data Collection form

You can group data to make sure that you do no
You can group them based on different characte
For example, all demographic data can be unde
pressure, we can group them under one header.

Personally, I like grouping or categorizing the for
may create sub headers or subgroups here. This
data necessary at a particular point and reduces
information. This is my preference.

ms

ot miss any data
eristics
er one header, if we are collecting data on blood
r.

rm based on the date/time of data collection. I
s helps me to ensure that I have collected all the
s the chance of missing collection of any

Data Collection Form

1. Ensure that each person has a unique ID that

2. Ensure that client/subject privacy is protecte

3. Ensure that the data collection forms are sto
privacy of subjects

4. To me, each data collection form is a part of
data with me. I have to respect the form the
helps me. This, to me, is very important and

5. Prepare your plan to store the data collectio

Please note that the data collection form can end
information if you do not take care to align your l
aims.

ms

at can be linked to all their forms
ed
ored carefully protecting confidentiality and

the person who graciously agrees to share their
e same way I respect the person who shares and

non negotiable.
on forms carefully.
d up being a mine of not useful or not necessary
list of variables with your research question and

Study Design

JOURNAL OF FETAL RADIOLOGY BY

ns

Y AMMA ERF & KREST, KOCHI

Moving Forward

 We have worked on a hypothesis and a resear
hypothesis and question), and the aims/objectiv
literature, well, as much as possible. We have a
study. We created dummy tables and created a d
feeling about the study (hopefully)

rch question (or maybe more than one
ves of the research. We have reviewed the
list of variables that we feel are important to
data understanding form. We still have a good

Answering your Ques

The next step is to focus on the way to answer yo
question can lead to different answers. The same

We have a focused question and we want focused
area better.

Approaching a question in the appropriate mann
answers

stion

our question. As in most things relating to life, a
e answer may be obtained by different questions
d answers that help us understand the research

ner helps to arrive at appropriate and focused

The Question, The An

The method (the design) we use to answer the r
research question and the anticipated answer.

In earlier modules, we had mentioned the impor
writing down your anticipated answers.

The study design we choose is intricately linked t
resources

nswer

research question is thus dependent on the

rtance of having a focused question as well as

to both as well as what is feasible with available

The Quantitative Des

 The Case Report and the Case Series
 The Cross Sectional Study
 The Case Control Study
 The Cohort Study
 The Clinical Trial

signs

The Case Report and

The Case Report and the Case Series focus on ind
These are usually reserved for rare conditions or
They may form the basis for hypothesis generatio
Although important, we shall not focus much on
However, this does not mean that these are not im
important research has come out of the observat

d Series

dividual cases or a series of cases
rarer/new variants of conditions already known
on but are not useful for hypothesis testing
this genre for the moment.
mportant, quite the contrary, as several
tion of a single case or a case series.

The Cross Sectional D

Useful to answer question relating to determin
Design).

Useful to answer questions pertaining to the in
disease is shorter (when the duration of disease
poisoning) or when repeat cross sectional survey

Useful to determine associations or risk factors

Design

ne the prevalence of a condition (Preferred

ncidence of a disease but only if the duration of
e is short, incidence=prevalence. Example- food
ys are used to determine incidence
s for diseases (alternate design)

The Case Control Des

Useful to answer questions relating to determin
(Preferred Design).

sign

ne risk factors for a disease or condition

The Cohort Design

Useful to answer questions relating to multiple
factor
Useful to answer question pertaining to causat

e outcomes or outcomes after exposure to a
tion

The Clinical Trial Desi

Useful to answer questions relating to effective
design)

ign

eness or outcomes of interventions (preferred

Summarizing

Choose a cross sectional design if our question pert
condition; the cross sectional design will also allow

Choose a case control design if we want to look ON
design DOES NOT help to determine prevalence

Choose a cohort design if we want to look at multip
determine evidence of causation

Choose a clinical trial if we want to look at effective

tains to the determination of the prevalence of a
us to simultaneously explore for risk factors
NLY for risk factors for a condition; the case control

ple outcomes from an exposure or if we want to

eness of interventions

Summarizing

These are the basic study designs in quantitative
We will look at each design in greater detail in ot
Clarity of the research question helps to determ
The design becomes complex and cluttered if the
a cluttered design will lead to cluttered answers.

e research; there are sub designs too!
ther modules
mine a clean design.
e research question is cluttered. Needless to say,
.