Chapter 12 - Additional research approaches. This chapter includes contents: Additional approaches in research in HHP, historical approach, nature of historical research, sources of historical data, primary sources, secondary sources, evaluating historical data,...
Chapter 12 Additional Research Approaches Additional Approaches in Research in HHP Methods not as prevalent as those previously presented, but may have application in some areas of HHP • • • • Historical Epidemiological Single Participant Creative Activities Historical Approach The researcher attempts to record and understand events of the past in order to better explain present events and suggest possible future directions Nature of Historical Research Involves collection of data Through the eyes of other people who witnessed an event or wrote about it Why we do certain things today is based on what has happened to us in the past • Need to understand the past • Discovery of new data/information may lead to new interpretations Sources of Historical Data Primary sources Secondary sources Primary sources Source is directly connected to the event of interest Original documents or physical artifacts People that can provide eyewitness testimony Highest credibility and preferred data source Secondary sources Secondhand accounts of historical happenings Hearsay evidence . . . person is not directly tied to event Textbooks, newspapers, encyclopedias, etc Considered less reliable source of data Evaluating Historical Data Historical data must be critically evaluated to determine authenticity and worth External criticism • Physical or chemical tests of documents • Tests of signature, script, and handwriting • Consistency of language usage Internal criticism • Assesses the meaning of the content • Author’s motives • Consistency with other reports of same event Two or more independent sources are needed to verify a historical fact Oral History Oral history research is conducted through taped interviews with individuals in a position to recall various events or movements Oral history information can be very subjective and opinionated Strict application of external and internal criticism should be observed Biographical Research Study of the life, career, and contributions of persons of interests . . . often leading scholars, coaches, educators, etc Often based on extensive personal interviews of the person of interest supplemented with interviews of others Epidemiological Approach Descriptive epidemiology – • seeking to identify patterns or trends in disease, injury, or death Analytic epidemiology – • seeking to determine causation of disease, injury, or death Common in public health fields Research Designs Cohort studies • a.k.a as prospective studies – a study that begins with a group of people (a cohort) and follows them over time Casecontrol studies • AKA as retrospective studies – a study comparing a group who already have a condition of interest to a group that does not Case group – the group with the characteristic of interest (e.g., cancer) Control group – the group without the characteristic of interest Epidemiological Statistics Used to Measure Strength of an Association Relative risk (RR) Odds ratio (OR) Attributable risk (AR) Relative Risk (RR) The extent to which it is more (or less) likely that a health problem or condition will occur in an exposed group compared to an unexposed group • RR = 1 no relationship between exposure and condition • RR > 1 positive relationship; means that those exposed are x times more likely to contract the condition • RR