Introduction

In the previous study sessions you became familiar with conducting a community survey and using the data to create a community profile for the community in which you will be working. You were also introduced to the general principles of health research and how they apply to any small-scale research projects that you may be able to conduct as a health professional in a rural area at some time in the future. Although you may not be involved directly in research at an early stage in your career, it is important that you know about some simple research methods and how you could use them to inform your understanding of health problems in your area.

Selection of a research strategy and study design is the most important decision a researcher has to make before beginning any research activity. The main focus of this study session is to outline the essential components of research strategies and study designs, which include defining the population of interest and the study variables. These terms will be fully explained in this study session. You will also learn about the selection of an appropriate study design for your particular study population and variables, and how to collect useful data that has the potential to improve the health services you provide in your community.