THE RESEARCH STUDY SETTINGS

OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCUSSION:  By the end of this article, the reader/medical student will be able to;

1.  Outline the importance of a research study setting

2.  Explain the different types of research study setting

INTRODUCTION:  The setting is the location where a study is conducted. There are three common settings for conducting medical research: natural, partially controlled, and highly controlled. A natural setting, or field setting, is an uncontrolled, real-life situation or environment. Conducting a study in a natural setting means that the researcher does not manipulate or change the environment for the study. Descriptive and correlational quantitative studies, qualitative, mixed methods, and outcomes studies often are conducted in natural settings.

THE PARTIALLY CONTROLLED SETTING:  A partially controlled setting is an environment that the researcher manipulates or modifies in some way while conducting a study. This may include studies conducted in hospital settings.

THE HIGHLY CONTROLLED SETTING:  A highly controlled setting is a structured environment that often is artificially developed for the purpose of conducting research. Laboratories, research or experimental centers, and test or highly structured units in hospitals or other healthcare agencies are highly controlled settings. Often experimental and sometimes quasi-experimental studies are conducted in these types of settings. A highly controlled setting reduces the influence of extraneous variables, which enables researchers to examine accurately the effect of an intervention on an outcome.

 

RELATED;

1.  HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

2.  COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

3.  CHAPTER THREE:  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

4.  STUDY DESIGNS

5.  MOST PREVAILING RESEARCH PROBLEMS 2022/2023