Chapter 3

Topic: the U.S. healthcare system its future

3 pages

Chapter III: Methodology: In general, this chapter describes how the data were collected that answer the research question and its component parts. It is important to utilize appropriate methods of data collection in order to be able to support or reject the research hypotheses. This chapter should begin with a description of the research design used in the project. Depending upon your project, you will typically have two or three sources of data. A minimum of two sources of data is required. Chapter III will most likely include the following subsections:

Setting: if important to the research, describe the time and place of data collection.

Description of the Subjects: depending on the type of data used in the project, this subsection can include either subjects involved in primary data collection (if you used observation method), or those described in published research studies. If the project involves human subjects, it is necessary to comply with all requirements set for by the University’s Institutional Review Board

Description of the Research Instrument(s): fully describe all questionnaires and tests, if appropriate. Include a copy of questionnaires in the Appendix.

Description of Variables: list and describe the dependent and independent variables that will be used to answer the research question or test the hypothesis/es. If appropriate, describe how concepts have been operationalized.

Definition of Terms: list definitions for only those terms which might be unfamiliar to the reader, especially those which can be considered terms of art and operational definitions.

Procedures: describe in full detail how data were collected. If different methods were used, each method must be described. This subsection should also include a description and rationale for any statistical procedures used to support or reject the research hypothesis or hypotheses.

Limitations: describe any limitations that may pose internal or external threats to validity and reliability. There are typically two types of limitations: those imposed by the researcher on the nature and scope of the research, and those that are related to a specific research method. Describe the (potential) effects the particular limitations may have on your research.

Chapter 3

Methodology

· Step by step discission of how you are going to collect and analyze your data (i.e. your research design)

· The recipe card

· Identify data set that will be used for study (i.e. government statistics, case, studies, research studies)

· Secondary studies not used in chapter 1 or chapter 2

· Include description of methodology for each study if using secondary data

Inherit data collection and methodology

· Explain how you are going to analyze data to answer research question (data must relate to research question)

· No actual analysis in this chapter

First paragraph of chapter will briefly present the research design that will be used to collect and analyze your study data in relation to research question stated in chapter 1. You should address the following in this paragraph:

1- What type of data set will the study use?

Likely it will be secondary data from published scholarly studies

2- Will the data collected be quantitative or qualitative (dependent on secondary studies)

3- How will you analyze this data?

Comparative analysis

Content analysis

Statistical analysis

Chapter 3 – Methodology

Sub-Headings

Explain data and how you will analyze it by identifying the elements of each of the following chapter 3 sub-headings

1- Setting- where, what

2- Subject – who (demographics)

3- Instruments -depending on study

4- Variables- state out the dependent and independent variables

5- Procedures – exactly what you will do with the data to analyze it

6- Limitations- restrictions to the data set

Chapter 3 template

Chapter III: Methodology