QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

 

INTRODUCTION:  In the social and medical sciences there are two broad approaches to enquiry: qualitative and quantitative or unstructured and structured approaches. Qualitative research is based upon the philosophy of empiricism, follows an unstructured, flexible and open approach to enquiry, aims to describe than measure, believes in in-depth understanding and small samples, and explores perceptions and feelings than facts and figures.

To be more detailed, in qualitative research numbers, ratios and percentages are not a matter at all and instead, words matter throughout the process.

Qualitative research is good for research studies that are aiming at finding the truth amidst myth and misconceptions, getting a starting point for research, and exploring into the unknown ideas.

RELATED;

1.  QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

2.  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RANDOM STUDY DESIGN

 

INTRODUCTION:  In a random design, the study population groups as well as the experimental treatments are not predetermined but randomly assigned to become control or experimental groups.  Random assignment in experiments means that any individual or unit of the study population has an equal and independent chance of becoming a part of the experimental or control group or, in the case of multiple treatment modalities; any treatment has an equal and independent chance of being assigned to any of the population groups.  It is important to note that the concept of randomization can be applied to any of the experimental designs.

RELATED;

1.  Randomisation

2.  After only design

3.  The blind study designs

4.  Phases of clinical trials

BLOOD CLOTTING

Introduction: Coagulation, also known as clotting, is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot also sometimes refered to as a platelet plug. It potentially results in hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, followed by repair. The mechanism of coagulation involves activation, adhesion, and aggregation of platelets along with deposition and maturation of fibrin.  Disorders of coagulation are disease states which can result in bleeding that presents as hemorrhage or bruising, or obstructive clotting that leads to thrombosis.

Benefits of blood clotting: Coagulation is highly conserved throughout biology and in all mammals, coagulation involves both a cellular process involving platelets and a protein cascade which in that case are the coagulation factors. Coagulation begins almost instantly after an injury to the blood vessel has damaged the endothelium lining the vessel. Exposure of blood to the space under the endothelium initiates two processes: changes in platelets, and the exposure of sub-endothilial tissue factor to plasma. Factor VII, which ultimately leads to fibrin formation. Platelets immediately form a plug at the site of injury. This is called primary hemostasis. Secondary hemostasis occurs simultaneously: Additional coagulation factors or clotting factors beyond Factor VII respond in a complex cascade to form fibrin strands, which strengthen the platelet plug.

RELATED;

1.  Composition of blood

2.  The coagulation cascade

3.  The ABO blood grouping

REFERENCES

ACCIDENTAL SAMPLING

 

INTRODUCTION:  As quota sampling, is based upon your convenience in accessing the sampling population, quota sampling attempts to include people possessing an obvious/visible characteristic, accidental sampling makes no such attempt. Any person that you come across can be contacted for participation in your study. You stop collecting data when you reach the required number of respondents you decided to have in your sample.

Related:  

1.  Terms used in sampling  

2.  Systematic sampling

3.  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

ACTION RESEARCH

In common with participatory research and collaborative enquiry, is based upon a philosophy of community development that seeks the involvement of community members in planning, undertaking, developing and implementing research and programme agendas. Research is a means to action to deal with a problem or an issue confronting a group or community. It follows a cyclical process that is used to identify the issues, develop strategies and implement the programmes to deal with them and then again assessing strategies in light of the issues.

Related readings; 

Research topics for students

Conceptual framework

Introduction to study designs

THE AFTER-ONLY STUDY DESIGN

 

In an after-only design the researcher knows that a population is being, or has been, exposed to a medical intervention and wishes to study its impact on the population.  In this type of design, baseline information (pre-test or before observation) is usually constructed either on the basis of respondents’ recall of the situation before the intervention, or from information available in existing records, such as secondary sources.  Let’s take an example, if one is looking at most common side effects of Plaziquantel.  This drug is already being distributed in community surrounding shores of Lake Victoria to prevent spread and transmission of Bilharzias.

RELATED;

1.  THE CROSS-SECTIONAL DESIGN

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