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Research methods, evidence and public health
Anne Kavanagh1, Jeanne Daly, Damien Jolley
1Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Victoria. a.kavanagh@latrobe.edu.au
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|September 18, 2002
Summary
Research methods in public health are often restricted by practical factors, potentially limiting innovation and skewing the knowledge base. Understanding these "filters" is crucial for broadening methodological approaches and improving public health action.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Research Methodology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Research method selection is theoretically driven by research questions.
- In practice, political context, disciplinary norms, research setting, and peer review act as filters influencing method choice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors influencing research method selection in public health.
- To understand how methodological choices shape the public health knowledge base and impact public health action.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of factors influencing research method selection.
- Exploration of the 'filtering process' researchers encounter.
- Documenting the relationship between public health problems and chosen methods.
Main Results:
- Researchers tend to favor methods that have previously 'survived' the filtering process.
- This can lead to a restricted array of methods being applied to public health problems.
- Innovative research, including interdisciplinary work, may be disadvantaged by these filters.
Conclusions:
- The current research process may inadvertently limit methodological diversity in public health.
- A deeper understanding of research "filtering" is needed to ensure a robust and comprehensive public health knowledge base.
- Encouraging a broader range of research methods can enhance public health problem-solving and action.