Introduction to Health Research Methods. A Practical Guide

•  Chapter  1  The Health Research Process

  STEP 1:   IDENTIFYING A STUDY QUESTION

•   Chapter  2  Selecting a Research Question
•   Chapter  3  Reviewing the Literature
•   Chapter  4  Defining Specific Aims
•   Chapter  5  Professional Development
•   Chapter  6  Coauthoring

  STEP 2:   SELECTING A STUDY APPROACH

•   Chapter  7  Overview of Study Designs
•   Chapter  8  Case Series
•   Chapter  9  Cross-Sectional Studies
•   Chapter  10  Case-Control Studies
•   Chapter  11  Cohort Studies
•   Chapter  12  Experimental Studies
•   Chapter  13  Qualitative Studies
•   Chapter  14  Correlational Studies
•   Chapter  15  Synthesis Research

  STEP 3:   DESIGNING THE STUDY AND COLLECTING DATA

•   Chapter  16  Research Protocols
•   Chapter  17  Ethical Considerations
•   Chapter  18  Ethical Review and Approval
•   Chapter  19  Population Sampling
•   Chapter  20  Sample Size and Power
•   Chapter  21  Questionnaire Development
•   Chapter  22  Collecting Quantitative Data
•   Chapter  23  Collecting Qualitative Data
•   Chapter  24  Additional Assessments
•   Chapter  25  Secondary Analyses
•   Chapter  26  Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
•   Chapter  27  Writing Grant Proposals

  STEP 4:  ANALYZING DATA

•   Chapter  28  Data Management
•   Chapter  29  Descriptive Statistics
•   Chapter  30  Comparative Statistics
•   Chapter  31  Regression Analysis
•   Chapter  32  Qualitative Analysis
•   Chapter  33  Additional Analysis Tools

  STEP 5:  REPORTING FINDINGS

•   Chapter  34  Posters and Presentations
•   Chapter  35  Article Structure
•   Chapter  36  Citing
•   Chapter  37  Critically Revising
•   Chapter  38  Writing Success Strategies
•   Chapter  39  Reasons to Publish
•   Chapter  40  Selecting Target Journals
•   Chapter  41  Manuscript Submission
•   Chapter  42  Peer Review and Publication

  Glossary  

Designed to empower new investigators to conduct their own original research projects, the third edition of Introduction to Health Research Methods:  A Practical Guide leads the reader step-by-step in performing quantitative and qualitative research in medicine, public health, and other clinical and population health fields. 

Organized in five sections, the text covers the entire research process from formulating a study question and selecting a study approach to collecting and analyzing data and then disseminating the findings.  Chapters about methods for primary studies (collecting new data), secondary analyses (analyzing existing data), and tertiary studies (conducting literature reviews and meta-analyses) provide comprehensive coverage of the scope of health research. 

By breaking the research process down into a series of achievable steps, Introduction to Health Research Methods shows students and early career scholars how they can contribute to improving the health of individuals and communities through research.

• Expanded coverage of qualitative research methods, including new chapters on qualitative study design, data collection, and data analysis.
• Additional glossary terms that clarify key terminology for all stages of the research process and a diversity of study approaches.
• Enhanced explanations of how to select and implement quantitative and qualitative research and analysis methodologies. 
• New and updated coverage of topics such as framing research questions, developing testable hypotheses, defining specific aims, responsibly conducting research, selecting study designs, minimizing bias, applying theoretical paradigms, ensuring rigor and reproducibility, conducting quality assessment, managing grants, and more.
• Each new print copy includes Navigate 2 eBook Access to read your digital textbook online or offline, on computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

Kathryn H. Jacobsen, MPH, PhD - Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Dr. Jacobsen is a professor of epidemiology and global health at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She has written more than 175 peer-reviewed articles and is the author of Introduction to Global Health and Introduction to Health Research Methods.