Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
13:44
Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
How to … Choose a Methodology for Health Professions Education Research
Marina Politis1, Heidi Stelling1, Megan Brown1
1School of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
The Clinical Teacher
|May 27, 2026
Summary
This guide offers a six-step framework for selecting research methodologies in health professions research. It addresses the need for explicit guidance, helping early career researchers navigate complex methodological choices.
Area of Science:
- Health Professions Education
- Research Methodology
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Explicit guidance on selecting research methodologies in health professions research is lacking.
- Methodological decisions significantly impact research processes and outcomes.
- Early career researchers face challenges in navigating a fragmented methodological landscape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a practical framework for selecting appropriate research methodologies.
- To offer a structured, six-step process for methodological decision-making.
- To support early career researchers in health professions research.
Main Methods:
- Development of a six-step decision-making framework.
- Inclusion of a worked example to illustrate the process.
- Emphasis on reflexivity and individual heuristics in methodology selection.
Main Results:
- A systematic, six-step process for choosing research methodologies.
- Recognition that no single 'best' methodology exists.
- A practical tool to aid researchers in making robust methodological choices.
Conclusions:
- The proposed framework serves as a valuable starting point for methodology selection.
- Effective methodological choices are crucial for successful health professions research.
- The guide acknowledges the subjective nature of decision-making, encouraging reflexivity.
Related Concept Videos
01:18The Scientific Method in Nursing Process
The scientific method provides the foundation for any research. It is the most reliable and objective of all forms of gaining knowledge and guides in applying research-based evidence in practice and conducting future research.
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...
01:26Introduction to Epidemiology
Epidemiology, known as the cornerstone of public health, involves studying the distribution and determinants of health-related events in defined populations and applying these insights to control health issues. This is essential for understanding how diseases spread, identifying populations at greater risk, and implementing measures to control or prevent outbreaks. Epidemiology addresses not only infectious diseases but also non-communicable conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease,...
01:20Study Designs in Epidemiology
Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
A model is a theoretical way to understand a concept or an idea. Models can overcome barriers to health regardless of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, models make the task easier by providing different ways to approach complex issues. There are two major health promotion models: the health belief model and the health promotion model.
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
01:13Psychology as a Science
Psychology, as a scientific discipline, aims to understand the mind and behavior through rigorous and systematic methods. The foundation of psychological research is evidence-based, relying heavily on the scientific method to derive and validate knowledge. This structured approach ensures that findings are reliable, valid, and applicable to broader contexts.
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
01:25Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods: