1. First steps -- 2. Types of investigation -- 3. Stages of an investigation -- 4. Formulating the objectives -- 5. The objectives of evaluative studies -- 6. The study population -- 7. Control groups -- 8. Sampling -- 9. Selecting cases and controls for case-control studies -- 10. The variables -- 11. Defining the variables -- 12. Definitions of diseases -- 13. Scales of measurement -- 14. Composite scales -- 15. Methods of collecting data -- 16. Reliability -- 17. Validity -- 18. Interviews and self-administered questionnaires -- 19. Constructing a questionnaire -- 20. Surveying the opinions of a panel: consensus methods -- 21. The use of documentary sources -- 22. Planning the records -- 23. Planning the handling of data -- 24. Pretests and other preparations -- 25. Collecting the data -- 26. Statistical analysis -- 27. Interpreting the findings -- 28. Making sense of associations -- 29. Application of the study findings -- 30. Writing a report -- 31. Rapid epidemiological methods -- 32. Clinical trials -- 33. Programme trials -- 34. Community -oriented primary care -- 35. Using the Web for health research -- Appendix A. Community appraisal: a check list -- Appendix B. Random numbers -- Appendix C. Free computer programs
Summary
A simple and systematic guide to the planning and performance of investigations concerned with health and disease and with health care; Offers researchers help in choosing a topic and to think about shaping objectives and ideas and to link these with the appropriate choice of method; Fully updated with new sections on the use of the Web and computer programmes freely available in the planning, performance or analysis of studies.
Notes
Rev. ed. of: Survey methods in community medicine. 5th ed. 1999
