How can you use research design to address health disparities?

1 Define your research question and objectives

The first step in any research project is to define your research question and objectives, which should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Your research question should be informed by the existing literature, the needs and preferences of the stakeholders, and the gaps in knowledge and practice. Your objectives should reflect what you want to achieve with your research, such as testing a hypothesis, exploring a phenomenon, developing a theory, or evaluating an intervention. You should also consider how your research question and objectives address the health disparities that you are interested in, and how they can contribute to the evidence base and the policy implications for health equity.

4 Use mixed methods and triangulation

Mixed methods are the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in a single research project, which can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the health disparities that you are exploring. Quantitative methods can help you to measure and compare the magnitude, distribution, and trends of the health disparities across different groups and settings, using numerical data and statistical analysis. Qualitative methods can help you to explore and explain the meanings, experiences, and perceptions of the health disparities from the perspectives of the people who are affected by them, using textual or visual data and thematic analysis. Triangulation is the process of comparing and integrating the findings from different methods, sources, or perspectives, which can enhance the credibility, validity, and richness of your research.

5 Evaluate your research impact and outcomes

The final step is to evaluate your research impact and outcomes, which should reflect how your research has contributed to the advancement of knowledge, practice, and policy for addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. Your research impact is the effect or influence that your research has on the intended or unintended audiences, stakeholders, or beneficiaries, such as researchers, practitioners, policymakers, or communities. Your research outcomes are the specific changes or improvements that your research has achieved or facilitated in the health status, behavior, access, or quality of care of the target population or group. You should use appropriate indicators and measures to assess and demonstrate your research impact and outcomes, and to identify the challenges, limitations, and lessons learned from your research.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?