Survey Research in Public Health

in

SURVEY

RESEARCH

Public Health

P. Ramachandran C.A.K. Yesudian

K.R. Thankappan P. Sankara Sarma

•

•

` 195.00

SURVEY RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH

P. Ramachandran, C.A.K. Yesudian, K.R. Thankappan and P. Sankara Sarma

© 2012 by PHI Learning Private Limited, New Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN-978-81-203-4595-9

The export rights of this book are vested solely with the publisher.

Published by Asoke K. Ghosh, PHI Learning Private Limited, M-97, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001 and Printed by Raj Press, New Delhi-110012.

iii

Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgements ix

Chapter 1

_INTRODUCTION

SURVEY RESEARCH AND THE APPLICATIONS 2

PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEY: THE BASICS 4

Survey Research in Public Health Practice 4

WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT 6

FORMAT OF THE BOOK 7

Chapter 2

PROBLEM FORMULATION

Introduction 9

PROBLEM FORMULATION: THE STEPS 9

Identifying Probable Problems for Research 10

Selecting a Problem for Study 10

Formulating the Objectives of the Study 11

Clarifying the Objectives 11

THE FIVE EXAMPLES 16

Example One: Child Health and Related Issues 17

Example Two: Adolescent Health and Related Issues 21

Example Three: Women’s Health and Related Issues 24

Example Four: Non Communicable Diseases and Related Issues 25

Example Five: Communicable Diseases and Related Issues 26

Chapter 3

_{RESEARCH STRATEGY}

RESEARCH STRATEGY: THE STEPS 28

Step One: Generic Research Strategy 28

Step Two: Specific Research Designs 33

IV ● CONTENTS

Chapter 4

_{METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION}

INTERVIEW METHOD 35

Interviewing Techniques and Tools 37

Questionnaire Method 43

Difference between Questionnaire and Interview Schedule 43

THE FIVE EXAMPLES 44

Example One: Child Health and Related Issues 45

Exercises 45

Chapter 5

_{SAMPLE DESIGN}

POPULATION AND SAMPLE 47

Population 47

Sample 48

Census Survey and Sample Survey 48

SAMPLE SELECTION 56

Some Concepts in Sampling 56

Sample Frame 56

Sampling Procedures 57

THE FIVE EXAMPLES 61

Example 1. Child Health and Related Issues 61

Example 2. Adolescent Health and Related Issues 62

Example 3. Women’s Health and Related Issues 62

Example 4. Non-communicable Diseases and Related Issues 63

Example 5. Communicable Diseases and Related Issues 63

Exercises 63

Chapter 6

_{ANALYSIS DESIGN}

Exercises 69

Chapter 7

_{FIELD DATA COLLECTION}

RESEARCH STUDY: STAGES 70

Recruiting and Training Field Investigators 70

Data Collection 73 Coding 82 HOW TO CODE 83 Open Questions 84 Code Book 85 Exercises 90

CONTENTS ● v Chapter 8

_{COMPUTER DATA PROCESSING AND}

ANALYSIS USING SPSS

COMPUTER DATA ENTRY AND PROCESSING 92

Creating Files for Computerised Data Processing 92

DATA ANALYSIS 99 Univariate Analysis 99 SEEKING ASSOCIATIONS 103 Bivariate Analysis 103 Tests of Association 104 Exercises 107

Chapter 9

COMPUTER DATA PROCESSING AND

ANALYSIS USING EPIINFO

COMPUTER DATA ENTRY AND PROCESSING 109

Creating Variable Names and Code Book 109

Creating Files for Computerised Data Processing 112

DATA ANALYSIS 115

Univariate Analysis 116

Seeking Associations 117

Chapter 10

REPORT WRITING

THE AUDIENCE 120

Researchers and Academicians 120

Community Leaders 121

Policy Makers 121

FORMAT OF A TYPICAL RESEARCH REPORT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH 122

Electronic Citations 125

Chapter 11

PLANNING FOR ACTION

PLANNING 127 Steps in Planning 127 Process of Planning 130 CONCLUSION 133 Exercises 133 References 135 Index 137–138

1

CHAPTER

1

Introduction

There is an evident need for introductory, elementary yet sound material which the students and the practitioners alike can master in a relatively short period of time and apply them for their dissertation work as well as use them in the field for planning public health programmes. This book is for the public health students and practitioners as well as for teachers and trainers who engage their students and trainees in public health research. The aim of this book is to guide and help the students in conducting research works in public health. The gap this book aims to fill is the short, easy to readable manual which instructors may give to their students or trainees to be used in executing field studies within the restrictive time frame.

The postgraduate and doctoral students learn substantially about research methods including knowledge about survey research. But when it comes to apply this knowledge into their dissertations and theses, the students are unable to visualize and apply the same. Gaining knowledge of survey research is something different from translating it into survey research skills and applying it to their dissertations and theses. This book aims to translate the survey research knowledge into a set of simple survey research skills.

Public health practitioners come across problems in the field for which they do not have ready answers. They would like to look for the tools in the field to address their problems. However, due to their busy schedule they do not have the time to gain ample survey research knowledge. So, this book aims to fulfill this need of the public health practitioners by giving them simple survey research skills in a step-wise manner, which a practitioner can gain during their training period.

9

CHAPTER

2

Problem Formulation

Introduction

As in music, we begin with sa-re-ga and in learning english, we begin with a-b-c, in research, we begin with problem formulation. This is the most important stage in research. For, this stage has a key role to play in determining the subsequent stages and steps in research. It is the reference point in deciding the general research strategy as well as the specific designs that will be adopted to execute the study. More the effort put into this stage the more productive will be the outcome of the study. The less effort you put into it and more indifferent you are to problem formulation, your fears will increase as you proceed, especially after you have collected all the information that you have decided to gather. For, you will not know what to do with whatever you have collected.

PROBLEM FORMULATION: The Steps

The primary function of the problem formulation stage is to decide, as precisely as possible, the research question(s) to be studied. We have to formulate the research problem or rather the research question(s) for which we wish to find answers. This is best done through the following four sequential steps:

1. Identifying the probable problems or questions for research 2. Selecting the specific research problem or question(s) to study 3. Formulating the objectives of the study

SURVEY RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH

RAMACHANDRAN, P. YESUDIAN, C.A.K.THANKAPPAN, K. R.

SHARMA, P. SANKARA

ISBN: 978-81-203-4595-9

Pages: 152

Price:

R

195.00

About The Book

Description:

Health education plays a pivotal role in creating awareness among the masses, and survey research in public health forms an integral part of the subject. This book is a step-by-step study guide to educate the researchers and the students on how to conduct health surveys and prepare the reports.

The book begins with a discussion on health research and its importance. It then moves on to the sensitive, yet most important health research areas like Child Health, Adolescent Health, Women Health, Communicable diseases and Non-communicable diseases, by citing their sample reports. The examples are cited to explain the methods of data collection, research strategies and problem formulation strategies, besides illustrating the methodologies of sample design, analysis design, and field data collection.

The book also helps in learning the advanced tools to conduct researches like SPSS statistics software and EpiInfo software. The concluding chapter shows how to write a report skillfully and in an organised manner.

The book is intended for the postgraduate students of Public Health, Management, and Social Work. KEY FEATURES :

Easy language and simple presentation Sample Examples taken from the Real-Life cases

Chapter-end Questions to judge Students knowledge on the subject Contents:

Preface

Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Problem Formulation Chapter 3 Research Strategy Chapter 4 Methods of Data Collection Chapter 5 Sample Design

Chapter 6 Analysis Design Chapter 7 Field Data Collection

Chapter 8 Computer Data Processing and Analysis Using SPSS Chapter 9 Computer Data Processing and Analysis Using EpiInfo Chapter 10 Report Writing

Chapter 11 Planning for Action References

Index