Instructions
Purpose: Apply knowledge of scientific research to create a research proposal that addresses a major healthcare issue.
Task: In this project you are requested to develop a proposal that contains the basic elements of a research project, and demonstrate your understanding of research methods. This will build on a previous exercise where you provided the outlines of a research design. Your write-up should have the following elements:
Title. Provide a meaningful and specific tile concerning the relationships you are examining (e.g. The impact of information technology on quality of care).
1. Introduction
Describe the context/background of your research study. What is known about the issue you are addressing? What could be useful (new) to learn about this issue and why is it important (e.g. Does it save or spend money? Does it improve or impacts lives? etc.).
2. Literature Review
Discuss some of the existing literature on this topic. You should cite at least 4 related studies to your topic from reputable scientific journals. Make sure to identify and use studies that are as close to your topic as possible.
Note (as the chapter readings indicate) the literature review serves as a basis for your research question or hypothesis. The literature review is not going to completely address your research question (if it did you would not need any additional study!)
If there is sufficient evidence to warrant a hypothesis, (1) you should propose a hypothesis to a specific and new context. For example, there is plenty of research showing how PFAS (e.g. material in Teflon pans) impact fertility. You can summarize some of the research, and then propose a hypothesis such as: H1: In the NY population, PFAS will be found to impact female and male fertility.
If there is not enough evidence for your research, (2) you should instead propose a research question. For example, maybe there is research showing that information technology can increase quality of patient care. However, there is no research on "How AI technologies can be used to assess interactions between medications", which could be your new research question.
Note also (as the chapter readings indicate) the hypothesis is more specific and quantitative, with something measurable. However, the research question is broader and more qualitative. Either way, the hypothesis and/or research question should be stated at the end of the literature review, as a next step from it. Moreover, you should attempt to be as specific as possible. For example, there are many ways to assess "fertility" (e.g., testing hormones, semen quality, reproductive organs, etc.) and different types of AI technologies (e.g., image recognition, LLMs, etc.). There more specific you are the better your research will be.
3. Research Methods
Here you should identify (1) the data sources; and the (2) analytical approach for the data analysis.
Review examples from the textbook, previous assignments, my comments to your assignments, and papers from the scientific literature to help you discuss what kind of data would be useful to you, and how you could acquire it. Write a few words about the population that will be studied (e.g. children in upstate NY, healthcare workers in a specific clinic, etc.), why they are selected, and how this data could be collected (e.g. source of existing datasets, interviewing patients, etc.).
Similarly, discuss the analytical approach to your data analysis. See Table 18.2 on Designs of research to help you with this (from HIM textbook). Discuss at least one method of data visualization and how/why it could be useful to your analysis. Identify at least one method of inferential statistics that could be used, as we have employed in our work or in other work you are familiar with (e.g. t-test, regression analysis). Explain why you are using such an approach.
4. Potential results
In this section identify some expected results of your study. Explain how your results and study build on existing theory/research. Do you expect it to confirm or contradict existing theory/research? Why? Does it lead to a new theory/general understanding of the topic? Explain how/why your study will be particularly important for the context you are trying to address (tying it back to Introduction).
5. Limitations
Discuss some of the limitations of your study. How much can it improve or transform the scientific literature and understanding? Is it incremental or revolutionary? What are some specific threats to validity or reliability to your study (identify at least 2)?
Submission: Submit 1 organized report with your research proposal in DOC or PDF format. The whole proposal should be between 800 and 1000 words. Make sure to have a title related to your specific project, proper headings and a coherent narrative throughout.