Microsoft Word research method fm doc

entire research procedure
with a small sample. 

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Research methodology 
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Pretesting 
is:  1. Simpler
2
. Less time consuming  
3. Less costly than conducting an entire pilot study. 
Therefore, pretesting is recommended as an essential step in the development of the 
research projects. It is useful in examining the practicability, reliability and suitability of the 
method. 
The comments of the respondents will help in improving the sequence and layout of the 
questionnaire. It is also important to know the time taken by the interview. 
In a community study, cooperation can be enhanced by suitable public relations and 
preparatory educational work
in the community. The best results are provided by contacts 
with key individuals
and organizations in the community. 
 
6.13 Exercises
1. Identify the most appropriate study design for the research proposal you are 
planning to develop. 
2. Describe the various data collection techniques and state their uses and limitations. 
3. State the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods by 
giving appropriate examples. 
4. A nutritionist wants to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among under 5 
children in Amhara region. If a sample of 3000 children is required, what is the 
sampling technique he should use to select the required subjects. Write a short note 
on the procedures (steps) he should follow in selecting these subjects.
5. In a school there are about 1800 students and the investigator wants to determine 
the prevalence of a certain character (eg., KAP on HIV/AIDS) by taking 450 
students. The following table gives the distribution of students by grade and number 
of sections. 

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Research methodology 
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Grade Number of 
students 
Number of 
sections 
9 
10 
11 
12 
600 
500 
400 
300 
8 
7 
6 
5 
Total 
1800 
26 
a) What type of sampling technique do you use? Why? 
b) How do you select the subjects who will be included in your sample? 
6. A multi-national clinical trial is proposed to investigate the value of a gradually 
increasing dose schedule of a beta blocker in the treatment of severe heart failure. 
The trial will be randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled. Each patient is to 
be followed for 2 years, and the main treatment comparison is for all cause 
mortality. Previous experience suggests a 2 year mortality rate of around 30%. The 
investigators propose that a one-third reduction in mortality due to beta-blockade 
would be important to detect. They suggest that type I and type II errors be set at 
.05 and .1, respectively. 
a) Calculate the required number of patients to be recruited. 
b) Suppose one anticipates that 10% of patients randomised to beta-blockade will fail 
to comply with the intended treatment policy. What change in required sample 
size would you suggest? 
7. Prepare your data-collection tools, taking care that you cover all important variables 
of your proposed study. 

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Research methodology 
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