1. Explain the difference between a study population and a study sample.
2. Describe various sampling methods.
3. Analyze the effect that sampling methods have on study findings.
Introduction
Welcome to Week Three, where we will focus on the topic of sampling. By now you should be familiar with reading and interpreting many of the key elements and terms used in health research. This week, we will dig a bit deeper into how we select the participants for research studies and what effect the sampling procedures have on how relevant the findings from research are to the study population. In addition, you will begin the process of writing your final paper by reviewing the article you will use and outlining its basic components. There is no discussion this week, but because you will be writing two longer (four to five pages each) papers, you are strongly encouraged to not leave all of the work until the end of the week. In addition, note that the readings for this week will also be covered in the Week 4 quiz. As always, please let me know if you have any questions along the way!
Required Resources
Book Chapter
Hebl, N. & Lane, D. M. (n.d.) Inferential statistics. In Lane, D. M. Online statistics education: An interactive multimedia course of study (Chapter 1.5). Retrieved from http://onlinestatbook.com/2/introduction/inferenti…
World Health Organization and University of Amsterdam. (2004). Sampling. How to Investigate the Use of Medicines by Consumers(Chapter 5). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/drugresistance/Manual1_HowtoIn…
Articles
Peltzer, K., Preez, N. F., Ramlagan, S., & Fomundam, H. (2008). Use of traditional complementary and alternative medicine for HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. BMC Public Health, 8, 255. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-255. Retrieved from the PubMed Central database online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC250397…
- This article describes a cross-sectional study that assessed the use of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine for HIV patients prior to initiating antiretroviral therapy in three public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is one of the options to use for this week’s assignment.
Suresh, K., Thomas, S. V., and Suresh, G. (2011). Design, data analysis and sampling techniques for clinical research. Annals of Indian Academy Neurology, 14(4), 287-290. Retrieved from the PubMed Central database at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC327146…
- This article explains various sampling methods that can be appropriately used in medical research with different scenarios and challenges.
Westrom, K. K., Maiers, M. J., Evans, R. L., & Bronfort, G. (2010). Individualized chiropractic and integrative care for low back pain: The design of a randomized clinical trial using a mixed-methods approach. Trials, 11, 24. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-11-24. Retrieved from the PubMed Central database at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC284116…
- This article describes a study that aims to determine the relative clinical effectiveness of monodisciplinary chiropractic care and multidisciplinary integrative care in adults with non-acute low back pain, and is one of the options to use for this week’s assignment.
Website
Herek, G. M. (2012). A brief introduction to sampling. Retrieved from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/fact_sa…
- This article provides an overview of sampling and how it is applied to health research.
Recommended Resources
Article
Chaturvedi, N. & McKeigue, P. M. (1994). Methods for epidemiological surveys of ethnic minority groups. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 48(2), 107-111. doi:10.1136/jech.48.2.107
- This article reviews the available sources of mortality and morbidity data in the UK, and assesses their uses and limitations for research involving ethnic minority groups.
Multimedia
Chaturvedi, K. (n.d.) Sampling methods [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from www.pitt.edu/~super7/43011-44001/43911.ppt
- This slideshow provides an overview of the reasons for sampling, sampling methods, differences between probability and non-probability sampling, and advantages and disadvantages of the different methods.
Websites
The Pennsylvania State University. (2015). Stat 100: Statistical concepts and reasoning. Retrieved from https://onlinecourses.science.psu.edu/stat100/
- Lesson 2.2: The beauty of sampling. Retrieved from https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat100/lesson/2/2.2
- Lesson 2.3: Relationship between sample size and margin of error. Retrieved from https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat100/lesson/2/2.3
- Lesson 2.4: Simple random sampling and other sampling methods. Retrieved from https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat100/lesson/2/2.4
Building the Final Paper
In this assignment, you will review the article you will be using as the basis of your final paper and describe its basic components. This week’s assignment is the foundation (i.e. “rough draft”) for your Week 5 final paper. (Please read the Week 5 final paper assignment instructions in the Week 5 tab prior to completing this assignment.) In your Week 5 final paper, you will then analyze each of the components that you describe in this assignment. You will utilize the feedback from your instructor on the Week 3 assignment to edit the content, which you should include in your final paper.
Review the articles (listed in the Week Five readings) by Crespo, Elder, Ayala, Slymen, Campbell, Sallis,…Arredondo (2012) and Duffy, Kilbourne, Austin, Dalack, Woltmann, Waxmonshy, & Noonan (2012), and select one to use as the basis of your final paper. In your paper:
- Describe the hypothesis and/or research question posed by your selected study.
- Summarize the methodology used to address the research question/hypothesis.
- Describe the sampling methods used to obtain the study sample.
- Describe the measurement methods used to assess the research question.
- Explain the ethical considerations discussed by the author(s).
- Identify the author(s) conclusion(s).
- Describe the limitations of the study.
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